It’s a Power Punch of 2D, 3D Surgical Planning Products as Materialise Acquires OrthoView

Just announced today: OrthoView is now a Materialise company. Materialise keeps the headlines rolling, and today it is on the expansion front, as they announce the acquisition of OrthoView Holdings Limited, further solidifying their base in the medical sector.

OrthoView’s 2D digital pre-operative planning and templating software is used by about 11,000 orthopedic surgeons in the world in planning for surgeries such as hip and knee arthroplasties, orthopedic traumas, osteotomy and spinal assessment, and pediatric deformities. Surgeons and hospitals rely on their precision tools for detailed pre-operative planning with online plans and templates.

With headquarters in the UK and a strong presence in the United States, OrthoView is an obvious asset for Belgium-based Materialise, a company specializing in 3D pre-operative planning tools that makes headlines on a regular basis regarding 3D printed implants and 3D printed models which surgeons and medical experts can use for treatment plans, as well as for education for patients. With the combination of OrthoView’s 2D planning software and Materialise’s 3D scanning and 3D printed medical tools, hospitals and doctors should be looking forward to seeing what these two companies can create together with innovative, progressive solutions for diagnosing, planning, and communicating regarding surgical procedures.

“We are extremely proud that OrthoView has joined the Materialise Group. With an outstanding reputation in the surgical pre-planning world, complementary product portfolio and a robust sales reach, OrthoView is an ideal fit for Materialise. Its X-ray based, pre-operative planning software is used in 2,000 hospitals worldwide and is connected to many Picture Archiving Communications Systems (PACS),” said Materialise founder and CEO Fried Vancraen.

“Our combined expertise and sales force will allow us to offer, through various channels, a complete range of services and solutions to surgeons and hospitals; with 2D as well as 3D planning tools for almost any type of medical images and with the possibility to offer corresponding 3D printed surgical guides and models. With our combined team, Materialise is now even better positioned to bring new patient-specific healthcare innovations to market to cost-effectively deliver improved and customized solutions to patients.”

Materialise acquired OrthoView for a cash payment of £8.47 million, and a possible additional earn out payment of up to £0.36 million. The two forerunners in pre-operative planning should be a substantial force to be reckoned with in the medical software and device industry. Materialise, founded 25 years ago by Wilfried Vancraen, is famous for pushing boundaries in innovations for medical specialists, with their 3D medical image-based engineering and 3D printing expertise. Materialise provides 3D software and 3D printed products for:

• Biomedical engineering software and services
• Surgical solutions for orthopedic surgeons
• Cranio-maxillofacial surgical solutions

With Orthoview as an asset, Materialise will be presenting a comprehensive package for medical professionals who wish to employ cutting edge software and 3D printing technology.

“OrthoView is thrilled to become part of Materialise,” stated John Chambers, the company’s co-founder and CEO. “Surgeons and PACS partners have always seen 3D planning as a natural addition to the OrthoView product portfolio, but building up that kind of expertise requires years of development and a huge investment. With Materialise already at the forefront of this technology, our team can quickly expand the solutions we offer to surgeons worldwide.” Mr. Chambers, who will continue his career within the Materialise group, also sees potential to increase the global reach of OrthoView’s current product portfolio as a result of the transaction.

What do you think of Materialise’s recent acquisition? Tell us about it in the Materialise Acquires Orthoview forum at 3DPB.com.