Acoma takes over line of failed x-ray company

Acoma Medical Imaging purchased the x-ray business of Amerisysfrom Apotex of Toronto this month. The U.S. subsidiary of AcomaX-ray of Tokyo will shift production of the radiographic and radiographic/fluoroscopicline to its Wheeling, IL, plant, said vice president John Lee.

The Amerisys x-ray products will receive a technological boostthrough the replacement of existing generators with Acoma high-frequencygenerators manufactured in Wheeling. Use of its own generatorsshould also provide Acoma with a cost advantage in the competitiveU.S. x-ray market, Lee said.

Amerisys, founded by a group of x-ray dealers in 1987, initiatedits own manufacturing when it purchased Elscint's x-ray businesstwo years ago (SCAN 3/1/89). The Elscint line had been purchasedfrom the now-defunct Xonics x-ray firm in Chicago. Litton wasthe original owner of this business, prior to Xonics. Severaltop executives at Acoma, including Lee, are former Xonics managers.

"There is a long history to this product line. It holdsmemories and sentiment. We are familiar with it and can make ita success," Lee said.

Acoma attempted to purchase the x-ray business directly fromElscint in 1989, but was outbid by Amerisys, Lee said. Unableto make the business profitable, the dealer group sold controlof Amerisys to Apotex last year (SCAN 3/28/90). Excessive debtand continuing losses forced the Canadian firm to seek a buyerlate last year (SCAN 12/26/90).

Acoma is a major supplier of mammography systems and othermedical imaging equipment to U.S. OEMs. The firm will continueits OEM sales and service efforts while gearing up manufactureof the x-ray products. Acoma will also import a remote controltable and other products from Villa of Italy as part of the Acomax-ray line, he said.

No decision has been made about maintaining Amerisys dealers,he said.

"We want to keep some, but some of the dealers overlapwith good Acoma dealers. We have to sort it out," Lee said.

Apotex was also interested in selling the chiropractic imagingbusiness of Apotex Imaging, formerly York Medical Systems, butAcoma has not made a decision regarding this business. The firmwill study that option during the next month, he said.