Mission accomplished in Asia

Starting my roadshow through Asia from Tokyo, to visit local players and attend Medical Japan exhibition! As Japan’s premier trade show for the medical, elderly care, and pharmacy industries, Medical Japan is a B2B event covering all aspects of these sectors. It serves as a platform for presenting the latest advancements and innovative technologies, bringing together professionals and experts from around the world. Connecting with our valued customers, exploring opportunities, forging partnerships, and driving progress in medical and healthcare fields.

An inspiring visit to Shirakawa, benchmark company in the world of nylon monofilament sutures. Founded in 1948 as a family-owned business, their commitment to excellence spans generations. Thanks to Mr. Noritsugu Suzaki (Medical Devices Sales Division Chief) and Mr. Yusuke Nakano (Sales Manager) for having me… Let’s explore potential synergies!

A remarkable day spent visiting Crownjun Kono Co., Ltd., a benchmark company specializing in micro, nano, neuro, and cardiovascular surgeries. This visit left a deep impression on me, as Crownjun, much like our own company, is family-owned and has been a key player in the medical devices market for over 60 years. Their seamless transition from low-tech to hi-tech is truly inspiring.

What sets Crownjun apart is the strong sense of belonging that emanates from all of its employees. This unique culture fosters an intimate and unconventional approach to business. It’s a blend of learning from the past, art influencing hi-tech, cross-generational collaboration, technology merging with traditional craftsmanship, and the unwavering courage and perseverance to reach the so-called “villages without doctors”, particularly in the field of micro and nano surgery. Their mission is to serve even the smallest patient populations, such as infants or those with rare diseases, leaving no one behind.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Asaoka and Mr. Yan for the insightful meeting, the delightful lunch, and the enlightening site tour. Crownjun is a company we are excited to collaborate with. A special thanks to Ms. Wang Yan for graciously hosting my visit.

An eventful day in Tokyo, starting with a visit to Bear Medic in the morning and concluding with my attendance at Medical Japan in the afternoon. I extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. Yamauchi, Mr. Shito, and Mr. Tanaka for hosting me at Bear Medic’s offices for a highly technical meeting, focused on various new product discussions.

Beyond their remarkable expertise in needle production, I learned that they excel in the technology of crafting titanium intracranial and hand implants, with a clear potential for expanding their product portfolio into the realm of Sports Medicine. It seems only logical to consider the entry into the UHMWPE round and tape sutures for soft anchors, as an adjacent market. Exciting possibilities lie ahead!

Bear Medic team:
• Yasua Shito (Manager International Business)
• Naoto Yamauchi (Senior Executive Director)
• A. Tanaka (Marketing Manager)

At Mani Inc. HQ in Tsunomiya (Japan), engaging in a highly productive technical meeting at the R&D level. I extend my gratitude to Omoto Sanae (Sales Manager SA), Naomi Matsumoto (R&D Planning Group R&D Division), Teppei Hatanaka (R&D Planning Group R&D Division), Kazuhiko Matsutani (R&D Sutures Group R&D Division), Arata Tsuji (R&D Eyeless Needle Group R&D Division), Masayuki Watanabe (R&D Planning Group R&D Division), Yuya Tanaka (R&D Eyeless Needle Group R&D Division), Yasushi Suzuki (Leader R&D Suture Group R&D Division), and Kawamata Youshihito (Sales & MKT Manager).

Arriving in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, excited to kick off a week of visits and meetings, starting with Cure Pharmatech today. A company specialized in manufacturing and distributing high-quality standard and functional absorbable sutures. We spent three hours in discussions with Ms. Sherrah Park (Development & Overseas Business Manager). It’s clear there’s incredible potential for synergies between our companies, and I look forward to exploring the possibilities ahead.

Visiting the M.Base company at their Seoul offices. I was deeply impressed by their rapid growth since their establishment in 2017, initially focused on manufacturing threads for facial tissue fixation and later introducing the LUXX Series (absorbable PDO and PCL) sterile single-use products with needles. Equally remarkable is their successful expansion into 20 countries in just four years, consistently delivering top-quality products. M.Base is also poised to evolve from a medical device manufacturer to a specialty medical company focusing on medical sutures. We hope to lay the foundation for a lasting partnership. I extend my gratitude to Mr. Yoo Jinho (CEO) and Ms. Yunha Jang (Planning Manager) for welcoming me and showing me the immense potential of M.Base.

A fantastic visit to JWorld Hugel in Seoul with Danny Namkung (Global Marketing & Sales Director) and Kathy Han (Global Marketing & Sales Specialist). The company is specialized in developing aesthetic medical devices for a healthier and better life. Grateful for the opportunity to learn more about their company and introduce ours to them!

I extend my gratitude to Mr. Seoulhak Jo (CEO of DFIX), Mr. Youngjiae Lih (General Manager), and Ms. Isabel for an engaging meeting. It’s clear that our visions are aligned for the future ahead.

Starting other week now in China, with a visit to Tiananmen Square and gearing up for this exciting phase of our roadshow. Meeting 28 clients in 6 different cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Xiamen, and Shenzhen, spanning over 11 days.

I had the honor of visiting AND company in Suzhou, a significant player in the trauma and spine industry and now expanding into sports medicine area. Thanks to Mr. Ding (R&D Manager) for the meeting and kind reception.

Back at CMEF, reconnecting with industry leaders and exploring new opportunities. Exciting days ahead at one of Asia’s largest medical exhibitions! The China International Medical Equipment Fair, a medical equipment exhibition, brings together international medical equipment brands to connect with globally licensed medical equipment distributors, resellers, manufacturers, doctors, regulators and government agencies.

Wrapping up my 4-week roadshow across Asia, starting from Beijing, China. I had the privilege of visiting 63 customers and suppliers in 3 different countries (Japan, South Korea, and China). Next stop: São Paulo, Brazil, and shortly after, Düsseldorf, Germany for the Medica Trade Fair.

Claudio Mazzaferro | CEO