Siemens turns bright quarter amid economic gloom
Siemens reported solid revenue and profit growth in healthcare, despite tough market conditions, when the company reported first-quarter results Jan 27. Profits for healthcare grew to €342 million, with imaging and healthcare IT serving as one of the company's top contributors. Imaging & IT increased its first-quarter profit 13% year-over-year, to €262 million.
The overall medical imaging market in the U.S. remains challenging, with demand limited by tight credit and the Deficit Reduction Act, according to Siemens. Even so, Imaging & IT achieved a 7% rise in revenue and a 1% increase in orders. On an organic basis, revenue was up 4%, although orders were 2% below the level of the prior-year period. As a whole, Siemens Healthcare revenue and orders in the first quarter rose 11% and 3%, respectively. These figures included new volume from the acquisition of diagnostics provider Dade Behring. Overall, Siemens revenue rose 7% to €19.634 billion, as profit climbed 20%, to €2.005 billion, led by broad-based profit growth in its energy division.
Carestream readies DRX-1 for Canada
Authorities in Canada have awarded a license to Carestream Health for its wireless digital x-ray detector, DRX-1, clearing the way for the company to begin taking orders in that country. The cassette-sized DRX-1 fits into buckys designed for film cassettes and provides relatively easy and inexpensive digital retrofits of existing radiography rooms. Carestream is planning to begin shipping the detector to U.S. customers in February.
IDC wins mega-unit order from China
Imaging Dynamics Company has signed with the China Charity Federation to supply 300 units of its CCD-based DR imaging technology to the charitable organization. In conjunction with the Chinese government, CCF will install IDC's digital radiography systems at healthcare facilities across China. The organization provides disaster and poverty relief, care for seniors and orphans, education, medical assistance, and help for disabled persons.
