Hologic expands its digital radiography role

Hologic finalized its acquisition of the U.S. business assets of Trex Medical (SCAN 8/30/00) earlier this month and will use these assets to reposition itself as a full-line, digital-focused x-ray supplier, according to S. David Ellenbogen, chairman and CEO of the Bedford, MA, bone densitometry vendor.

The amorphous selenium flat-panel digital detector technology of Hologic’s Direct Radiography (DRC) subsidiary, acquired a year ago, will be applied to both of Trex’s product lines, mammographic and radiographic, Ellenbogen said.

“The acquisition of Trex is really a scheme of vertical integration,” Ellenbogen told SCAN. “The centerpiece for the strategy will continue to be the plates, which we will use for both radiographic and mammographic purposes.”

Hologic will keep production of the Trex radiographic line, combining manufacture of products formerly sold by Continental X-ray, Bennett X-ray, and XRE, in its Littleton, MA, facility but will market this equipment under the Hologic label. The Lorad label will be continued for the mammographic products produced in Danbury, CT.

As one of his first moves to reposition the former Trex business, Ellenbogen hired Jack Cumming as Lorad president. Cumming is a veteran medical imaging industry analyst who runs his own company, HealthCare Markets Group, out of Hilton Head, SC.

Hologic plans to take over the Trex booth at the upcoming RSNA meeting, Ellenbogen said. The firm will show initial work on converting the former Trex digital mammography technology over to the DRC flat-panel detector, although this work-in-progress system will also be on display with its original CCD-based detectors.