GE buys German ultrasound vendor

GE Medical Systems has acquired German ultrasound vendor KranzbuhlerMedizinische Systeme (KMS), a Solingen-based firm that has beenworking closely with the Milwaukee vendor since 1994. KMS employs93 people and had revenues of DM62 million ($40.6 million) lastyear.

KMS claims a considerable market share in Europe for color Dopplerultrasound systems, and helped GE with the launch of the Logiq500 scanner. Some 73% of KMS revenues are derived from ultrasoundsales, with the rest coming from monitors for cardiotocographicanalysis as well as patient data management systems for hospitalmaternity wards.

In other GE international news, the company formed a joint venturewith a Chinese partner for manufacturing and marketing of ultrasoundequipment in China. GE Haiying Medical Systems will be based inWuxi, Jiangsu province, and is a partnership between GEMS andthe China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

GE Haiying is the third joint venture between GEMS and a Chinesepartner. Other joint ventures include GE Hangwei Medical Systems,for the manufacture of CT scanners, and a joint venture establishedin March to manufacture x-ray equipment.