1/2008

CZEC

H M

edic

al, O

ptic

al, a

nd M

easu

ring

Dev

ices

Sup

ple

men

t o

f C

zech

Bu

sin

ess

and

Tra

de

CZECH MEDICAL, OPTICAL, AND MEASURING DEVICES

Supplement of:Czech Business and Trade 01-02/2008

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

3 |

MK ČR E 6379

This magazine is published as a supplement to the economic bi-monthly issued in English (Czech Business and Trade), German (Wirtschaft und Handel inder Tschechischen Republik), French (Industrie et commerce tchèques), Spanish (Empresas y negocios en la República Checa), and Russian (óe¯cÍaflÚop„o‚Îfl Ë Ôe‰ÔËÌËÏaÚeθcÚ‚o).

Managing Editor: Jakub HavelEditor: Naďa VávrováGraphic Design: Helena Dvořáková, Miloslav Bucvan

Address: PP Agency s.r.o., Myslíkova 25, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech RepublicPhone: +420 221 406 623, 221 406 626, Fax: +420 224 930 016E-mail: journal@ppagency.czwww.ppagency.cz, www.mpo.cz/cbt

Deadline: 22/11/2007

Attitudes expressed by the authors of articles in this magazine are not necessarily consistent with the viewpoint of the Publisher.

PP Agency Company with the ISO 9001 certified quality management system for publishing services

CONTENTS:

4 Editorial

ANALYSIS4 Prospects in the Manufacture of Medical, Optical, and Measuring Devices6 The Development of Medical Devices Is Supported by a Professional Association7 The Flow of Investment into the Branch Supports Its Development

EDUCATION8 Long Tradition in Optics Education

WE ARE INTRODUCING10 Optics for Sport and Astronautics

ENTERPRISE12 Linet – Number One Manufacturer of Healthcare Equipment

CZECH TOP14 Rodenstock – Mark of Exquisite Quality and Design16 EGO Zlín – Specialist in the Field of Rescue Systems18 Unique Radiotherapy Systems20 AMEST Bets on Precision Measuring

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT22 Modern Prevention and Diagnostic Method23 Scientific Research in Optics

SURVEY26 Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Area of Medical, Optical, and Measuring Devices

INFORMATION30 Fairs and Exhibitions in the Sector of Medical, Optical, and Measuring Devices in 200830 Important Contacts

PRESENTATION OF COMPANIES:

2 PURO-KLIMA, a.s.9 LARM a.s.11 Meopta - optika, s.r.o.11 Ing. Antonín Šimánek15 ALFAMEDIC s.r.o.17 ORTIKA a.s.19 Chirana Group, a.s.21 Český metrologický institut25 IMMUNOTECH a.s.29 RMT s.r.o.31 Mesing, a.s.32 Veletrhy Brno, a.s.

Cov

er p

hoto

: Ph

otoc

ombo

arc

hive

s

Linet – Number One Manufacturer ofHealthcare Equipment

Rodenstock – Mark of Exquisite Quality andDesign

EGO Zlín – Specialist in the Field of RescueSystems

A N A LY S I S

Prospects in theManufacture ofMedical, Optical, and MeasuringDevices

Josef Klofáč, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: klofac@mpo.cz, www.mpo.cz

The manufacture of medical, optical, and measuring devices(NACE 33) is a competitive branch with a wide product range. Itplaces high demands on co-operation between mechanical andelectrical engineering and electronic professions, not only in thedevelopment of those instruments, but also in their practicaluse.

Legislation and ManufactureIn the area of both technical and ecological regulations, Czechlegislation was broadly compatible with the legislation of theEuropean Union already at the time when the Czech Republichad joined the EU.

The continuously shortening innovation cycles in productionare forcing manufacturers to steadily rationalise theirproduction processes and reduce their costs. The companies’response, therefore, is to seek different kinds of assistance,programmes to support employment or the building oftechnological centres. To facilitate and accelerate thedevelopment cycles, they started to form free associations ofenterprises, so-called clusters, which can cover a part of theiroperating and development costs by drawing money from EUstructural funds. The interest of Czech and foreign investors incapital investment, especially in new projects, createsprerequisites for the continuous growth of competitiveness ofthis branch.

Characteristics of the BranchThe technologically largest sectors within the branch aremeasuring and control instruments, and healthcare equipment.

The healthcare equipment sector, together with themedicaments sector, is the only industrial branch having aninfluence on living biological entities. From this ensues the greatneed for research in the branch and the development ofinstruments and equipment often based on the requirements ofscientific medicine.

According to the branch classification of economic activitiesNACE 33, the following sectors are included in the branch:33.1 Medical devices33.2 Measuring and regulation apparatus33.3 Automation devices33.4 Optical instruments and photographic equipment33.5 Time measuring instruments

2008Dear Readers, In 2008, we have devoted the first sector supplement

of Czech Business and Trade magazine to medical,

optical, and measuring devices. This sector of Czech

industry encompasses a wide product range and

enjoys a good and promising position.

The competitiveness, expertise, and growth of these

sectors is ensured by universities and research

establishments, which enjoy a long tradition in the

Czech Republic and have attained many a success

in the field of research and development. An example

that speaks for all is, for instance, that of Professor

Otto Wichterle and his inventing of the contact lens.

The further growth of the sector is boosted by

investment projects promoted in the Czech Republic

in particular by CzechInvest, the Investment and

Business Development Agency. The presence of

companies such as Arrow International, Honeywell,

and Delong Instruments is a testament to the fact that

the Czech Republic is a destination of interest to

foreign investors.

On the other hand, a number of Czech companies

sell their products successfully on foreign markets.

Linet is one such company. It ranks among the largest

manufacturers of hospital beds worldwide.

Linet’s products are exported to over 75 countries the

world over. Meopta-optika, again, is the number one

on the optics market. It specialises in the development

and manufacture of sports and military technology.

AMESZ is an example of a successful manufacturer of

measuring devices and equipment, 70% of which are

intended for export. The three mentioned companies

are just a small example of the fact that the

manufacture of medical, optical, and measuring

devices constitutes an inseparable part of Czech

industry.

| 4

5 |

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

Main Economic IndicatorsThe revenues from the sale of ownproducts and services conclusively revealthat the branch is growing at a high rate.A comparison of figures for 2001 and2006 shows that revenues from the saleof products and services of the branch as

a whole grew significantly. The mostsignificant growth of revenues in thatperiod in absolute figures was shown by

the sector "Measuring and regulationapparatus". Another fast-growing sectoris "Medical devices", which grew bymore than EUR 140 million.

Direct Foreign InvestmentThe flow of foreign capital into themanufacturing industry has resulted infavourable structural changes. Foreigninvestment in organisations within thebranch is growing and accounts for animportant part of new manufacturingfacilities. Organisations under foreigncontro l en large the i r ex i s t ingenterprises and at the same time newinvestors keep arriving, whereby theirshare of the country’s economic resultsi s increas ing each year. Fore igninvestors are primarily interested in"green-field" projects and in industrialparks with the infrastructure already inplace.

Foreign TradeA typical feature of this branch is itsunfavourable balance of trade as a resultof high imports, especial ly ofsophisticated products from renownedcompanies and of semi-finished productsand special components. In spite of this,

between 2001 and 2006 the trade deficitdeclined.

As can be seen from the graph below,

the dominant position is held byGermany, which is caused primarily byownership relations, as the majority offirms under foreign control are Germancompanies. Some of the parentcompanies make deliveries of semi-

finished products and materials formanufacturers in the CR and then takefinished products back, also fordistribution to other countries.

International Comparisons andCompetitivenessThe Czech market is fully comparablewith markets in other countries. Czechmanufacturers are doing well even in theface of keen competition from foreigncompanies, such as Siemens orRodenstock. This concerns primarily themanufacture of a selected range ofcontrol equipment, instruments andcomponents, f inal production ofsterilisers, hospital furniture, surgicalinstruments and optical elements witha higher mechanical work input. Incomparison with previous years,manufacturers compete successfullyowing to the use value and the price oftheir products. The development of thebranch goes hand in hand withinvestment in new technologies and thedevelopment of new advanced andsophisticated products. The labourproductivity indicator derived from addedvalue, however, is still lagging behindWest European countries. For example, in1999 productivity of labour was on thelevel of 39% of labour productivity inGermany and Austria. Currently thisindicator is around 50%.

The condition of remaining competitiveis continuous development, both ofproducts and manufactur ingtechnologies. This is only possible on thebasis of new scientific knowledge andresearch, where the bui lding oftechnological and development centres isbecoming very useful.

■

Revenues from the sale of own products and services in current prices

(EUR million) current prices 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006*

Revenues from sale of own products and services NACE 33 10 656.0 11 557.1 10 165.7 12 802.8 3734.7 16 840.7

Revenues from sale of own products and services/Manufacturing industry 65 153.9 66 000.0 67 478.7 78 826.5 90 008.9 106 195.2

* estimateNACE – Statistical Classification of Economic Activities within the European CommunitiesSource: Czech Statistical Office, MIT estimate

Shares of the sectors in revenues from the sale of own products and services in 2006

Source: Czech Statistical Office, MIT estimateNote: Data in current prices

Territorial Structure of Foreign Trade in 2006

Source: Czech Statistical Office, MIT estimate

Medical devices 23.8%

Measuring and regulationapparatus 56.1%

Automation devices 10.9% Optical instruments andphotographic equipment 8.7%

Time measuringinstruments 0.5%

Export territories in 2006 Import territories in 2006

Other 26%Germany 43% Germany 31%Other 30%

France 4%

United Kingdom 4%

USA 13%

Japan 5%China 5%Switzerland 4%

Italy 4%

Slovakia 9%USA 5%

Italy 4%Netherlands 4%

France 3%Spain 3%

Poland 3%

The Development of Medical Devices Is Supported by a Professional Association

As in other branches of industry, in thearea of medical devices, too, effortswere made in the 1900s to set up anassociation of companies doing businessin that branch. The Association ofManufacturers and Suppliers of MedicalDevices was established in 1992. Itsprincipal mission is to create optimumconditions for the development of themedical devices sector and to defend theinterests of its members.

The Target is the SuccessfulDevelopment of the SectorThe Association’s attention is focused onthe development of the sector. In itsframework, the Association is inciting itsmember companies to innovation,mainly in the area of research, designand quality.

To attain these aims, the associatedcompanies co-operate with a number ofresearch insitutions and universities. In thisrespect, the Medical Devices Associationstimulates its members to participate inprojects organised by the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade and seek financialsupport for their research or to apply forsubsidies from EU structural funds.

Several associatedcompanies, such as Linet,PATRON Bohemia, andING corporation, alreadyhave exper ience indrawing money fromthose funds.

The AssociationSupports Exportsand Products forDisaster MedicineAnother area in whichthe Assoc iat ion i sinvolved is marketing. Inrecent years , theAssoc iat ion madearrangements for thepart ic ipat ion of i t smembers in the fairsMedica Düsseldorf and Arab Health inDubai. Both fairs proved success for thecompanies, which gained new outletsfor their products. The Association’smembers currently export 85% of theiroutput. Very successful companies are,for example, Linet with its hospital beds,BMT with steam sterilisation devices,Borcad with gynaecological beds, and

UJP with cobalt and X-ray irradiationdevices.

The Association pays special attentionto the development of medical devicesfor disaster medicine. For this area, theAssociat ion organises specia l i sedconferences.

Support of Life-long EducationThe third area which the Associationsupports, is life-long education. Its mainconcern is legis lat ion, qual i tymanagement, and the disposal of wastesfrom the production of electrical devices.In this area, the Association organisesseminars and conferences not only forthe companies’ senior management, butalso for the technical personnel.

Future ProspectsThe Association has set itself the aim tocontinue developing the medical devicessector by monitoring world trends inareas such as nanotechnology andmicro-systems for the construction of instruments, devices for theminimisation of invasive methods,introduction of information technologiesin the health service, urgent medicine,and disaster medicine.

■

A N A LY S I S

| 6

Otakar Fenik, Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices (Asociace výrobců a dodavatelů zdravotnickýchprostředků), e-mail: asociacebrno@iol.cz, www.medtechnik.cz

From the History of the Medical Devices Sector in the CR

The history of the medical devices sector goes back to the 1920s, when artisan

production began to develop into an industry, starting with surgical and dental

instruments, X-ray apparatus, sterlisers, and dental devices. A qualitative change

occurred with the appearance of electronics. At that time, the Czech Republic

scored success with its products worldwide. For example, at the EXPO 1958 World

Exhibition in Brussels, Czech products – cardiac defibrillator and electron

microscope – won gold medals. Production began to develop of electronic medical

devices (electrocardiographs, respiratory and anaesthetic units, physical therapy

devices, etc.). Other world achievements were the Nobel Prize awarded to Professor

Jaroslav Heyrovský for his polarograph, and the invention by Professor Otto

Wichterle of the modern contact lens. Professor Delong, in his turn, was granted

a patent for his electron microscope. In total industrial production, the medical

devices sector is relatively small, but in terms of achievements and recognition it

exceeds other branches of industry.

Phot

o: P

hoto

com

bo a

rchi

ves

The medical device sector has a longhistory in the Czech Republic. Thegrowth of the sector owes much tothe favourable geographical positionof the Czech Republic, which lies inthe c lose v ic in i ty of the largestmarkets of the European Union. Theoptical and measuring device sector,too, is doing well, benefiting from thecons ide rab le f l ow o f fo re igninvestment into the branch. Its goodstanding desp i te keen Europeancompetition is attested by the factthat about two-thirds of its totaloutput goes for export.

CzechInvest Supports LifeSciencesSupporting companies operating in theLife Sciences sector is one of the aimswhich CzechInvest, the Investment andBusiness Development Agency, has seti t se l f . Between 1992 and 2007,CzechInvest supported 12 Life Sciencesinvestment projects worth nearly EUR280 million.

There are many large foreign investorsin the Czech Republic operating in thearea of medical devices, such as the USbased Arrow International company,which has built an enterprise in thecountry for the research, development,and manufacture of different kinds ofhospital equipment, e.g. for cardiologyand X-ray departments. Another largeinvestor operating in the CR is theBritish company Laminar Medica, whichspecialises in the development, testing,manufacture , and va l idat ion ofinsulated transport systems usedworldwide by the pharmaceutical andbio-technological industries. Lohmann& Rauscher, Austria, manufacturesdressing material, sanitary products andfirst-aid equipment. Otto Bock CR,Germany, manufactures and distributesin the Czech Republic prostheses andortheses, wheelchairs, rehabilitationequipment, special home aids for thehandicapped, and orthopaedic shoes,while the Swedish company Mölnlycke

Health Care manufactures surgerymaterial and equipment.

Measuring and Optical Devicesin the Czech Aircraft IndustryThree technical universities and severalspecialised firms are involved in theresearch of measuring and opticalinstruments for the aircraft industry.One of them, for example, is the UScompany Honeywell, which openeda branch in the CR in 1991. I tspecialises in the development ofadvanced avionic systems. Honeywellhas its bases in Prague, Brno, andOlomouc, which employ 2 300 peoplein total.

Research in this area relies on thegood work of Czech universities, whichhelp especially domestic sports planemanufacturers with their expertise andknowledge. It is encouraging thatCzech technical universities are seekingpartners in the private sectors to helpshorten the time needed for theintroduction of new and more efficientinstruments and optical devices intopractical use. At the same time, theschools and other research institutescan draw money for the developmentof these activities from European funds.

Optical Instruments and DevicesThe Czech Republic boasts a longhistory of projects in the area ofresearch, deve lopment , andmanufacture of optical instruments anddevices. Figuring high on the list of theprojects are electron microscopes. Thedevelopment of these instruments inthe Czech Republic goes back to the1950s and it is linked with names suchas A. Delong, L. Zobač, and V. Drahoš.They were the only ones in the formerCzechoslovakia to build an electronmicroscope prototype.

Their successful work was at the baseof the programme of the Tesla Brnoenterprise and the InstrumentationEngineering Institute (Ústav přístrojovétechniky), which rank among pioneers

in this branch on the European scale.After 1989 and after the extinction ofTesla Brno, many of its former highlyskilled researchers set up their ownfirms, which operate successfully untiltoday.

Th is change marked anothermilestone in the history of the branch inthe Czech Republic, which has becomeone of European and maybe even worldcentres of this top-standard technologycomparab le , for example , wi thCambridge. Three companies arecurrently involved in this sector in theCzech Republic: FEI Company, TESCANand Delong Instruments.

FEI is an international companyconcerned with the development andmanufacture of electron microscopes. Itcame to the Czech Republic in the late1990s and through Philips ElectronOptics merged with the Czech DELMIcompany. This company, too, was setup by the employees of the former Tes la Brno. Current ly i t employsapproximately 120 people, about fiftyof whom work in research anddevelopment.

TESCAN i s another example ofa successful company established byformer employees of Tesla Brno in1991. The company concerns itself withthe development and manufacture ofscanning electron microscopes andelectronic measuring devices. It employsabout 70 people, who develop andmanufacture Vega and Miramicroscopes.

The third such manufacturer operatingon the Czech market i s De longInst rument company, which wasestab l i shed in 1990. Under theguidance of Professor Armin Delong,the company devotes itself primarily toelectron and X-ray microscopy andvacuum technology. The company’sactivities cover the areas of researchand development, manufacture, andtesting of equipment.

■

The Flow of Investment into the BranchSupports Its Development

Martin Partl, CzechInvest, e-mail: martin.partl@czechinvest.org, www.czechinvest.org

7 |

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

Long Tradition in Optics Education

Zdeněk Hradil, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Department of Optics, e-mail: hradil@optics.upol.cz,www.optics.upol.cz

E D U C AT I O N

| 8

Optical education and research havea long tradition in Olomouc. TheDepartment of Optics was founded atPalacký University in the 1960s. Thebeginnings of optical studies in Olomoucwere linked with precision mechanicsand opt ica l instruments. Laterdevelopment, mainly thanks to thevariety of laser-based instruments andapplications, brought optics closer tosolid-state physics, electronics, andquantum mechanics. These moderntrends are at the base of the currentstudy of optics at the Department ofOptics, in co-operation with the JointOptics Laboratory of Palacký Universityand Institute of Physics, Czech Academyof Sciences.

The Core Branch: Optics andOptoelectronicsThis specialisation can be studied inthree-year Bachelor courses followed bya two-year course for a Master’s Degreeand the follow-up doctoral study. Thewhole study is conceived so as to allowpermeability between students of otherphys ics-or iented studies at otheruniversities. The Bachelor course givesstudents good basic knowledge inmathematics and physics, and additionalknowledge in the area of optics. Specialattention is paid to photonics followingmodern trends in optics, optronics, andquantum optics.

The fol low-up course fora Master’s Degree leads students togreater specialisation in areas which thestudents wi l l choose themselves.Currently there are three main lines forfurther specialisation. The first coversoptical instruments and systems, wherein the focus of attention are opticalcalculations, optical technologies,technical optics, and design of opticalsystems with software. Thisspecialisation is combined with attractiveresearch focused on the transmission ofthe mechanical effects of light and theconstruction of what is called opticaltweezers. The second line is oriented tooptoelectronics and photonics covering

Partial view of a laboratory at the Department of Optics of the Faculty of Science of PalackýUniversity in Olomouc

Phot

o: T

he a

utho

r’sar

chiv

es

the subjects, such as electronics andmicro-electronics, optical informationprocessing, laser physics, and integratedoptics. The third line is focused onquantum opt ics and quantuminformation processing. Here, studentsbecome acquainted with subjects suchas quantum electrodynamics, quantumprotocols and communications, andquantum optics. This study is supportedby a number of research projectscovering a wide range of topics, such asquantum cryptography and informationdetection and processing. Many studentstake advantage of the possibility ofwinning scholarships and spend one ortwo terms at a partner university abroad.So far, students have served internshipsat universities in Graz, Austria, Grenoble,France, Lyngby, Denmark, and Umei,Sweden. After having defended theirtheses, the gifted students may continuetheir studies in post-graduate courses,

which will prepare them for their ownscientific careers.

Optical InstrumentsIn addition to the follow-up forms ofstudy, students of the Department ofOptics can take up professionallyoriented Bachelor courses. One of themis a three-year course in OpticalInstruments. Its main purpose is to trainstudents to become qualified specialistsin the area of modern optics andoptronics, with a good general survey ofoptical branches and the ability to solvetechnical problems. The graduates aretrained for qualified technical work inlaboratories concerned with designingoptical and optronic systems andinstruments, the application of opticalmethods in metrology and medicine,computer-aided designing and devisingoptical technologies. Their universaltraining makes them easily adaptable to

9 |

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

team work. According to their ownchoice they can become specialised invarious optical technologies includingaudio visual systems or medical opticalsystems and instruments. The studytakes into account the requirements ofenterprises operating in the CentralMoravia Region. The curriculum wasprepared in close co-operation withthose enterprises and the graduates findwork as medium-level technicalspecialists.

Bachelor-level OptometricStudiesThe last line of optical studies at theDepartment of Optics is an independentprofessional three-year course fora Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry, whichis quite popular with students. Thecurriculum is based on the requirementsof the Ministry of Health of the CR, inthe framework of which the graduateswill gain the authorisation to provide the

healthcare profession of Optometrist.The curricula are being continuouslyharmonised with practical needs and arecompatible with the EuropeanOptometrist Diploma requirements. Thestudy consists of subjects coveringgeneral knowledge in optics andselected pre-clinical and clinical medicalsubjects having the system of vision intheir focus. Special attention is paid toophthalmology and optometric subjects,including practical study, and subjectsrelating to ophthalmic optics. The studyalso includes courses in professionalethics and the rudiments of economyand legislation. These subjects are thejoint responsibility of the Department ofOptics and institutes of the MedicalFaculty of Palacký University, especiallyits Ophthalmic Hospital. Some of theteachers are external optometry andophthalmic specialists. The study isterminated with an examination for theBachelor’s Degree. The graduates

become authorised "Optometrists" withopportunities to work in healthcarefacilities in the sense of the act on non-medical healthcare professions. They canalso work as specialists in contact lensapplication centres, as ophthalmicopticians, in the contact lens business, inbusinesses deal ing in opt ica l ,ophthalmic, and other medicalinstruments and optical materials, or inthe production of spectacle glasses,spectacle rims, contact lenses, etc.

Opportunities for GraduatesAlthough optics as a science dealingwith light belongs to classical disciplinesof physics, it has good prospects also intoday’s IT world. The graduates of thistechnically oriented university study haveno problems in finding a good job,because demand for them greatlyexceeds the supply.

■

W E A R E I N T R O D U C I N G

| 10

Optics for Sport and Astronautics

Zuzana Veselá, Meopta – optika, s.r.o., e-mail: vesela@meopta.com, www.meopta.com

The company was founded in 1933under the name of Optikotechna. Its firstproducts were magnifying lenses, latermagnifying instruments, cameras,motion-picture cameras, and projectors.

After 1990, Meopta was divided intoseveral entities. At that time, co-operation was established with thecompany TCI New York, which, byinvesting in the company and enlargingits activities, gained a majority stake inMeopta. In 2006, the divided parts ofthe company merged again into onefirm, Meopta–optika, which changed itslegal status to become a limited liabilitycompany.

Product PortfolioThe company’s production programmecovers several areas. It consists of sportoptics, mainly riflescopes for hunters andsportsmen, and binocular andmonocular te lescopes. In theoptoelectronic instrument category itmakes personal night-vision devices, day,night, and combined observation devicesand direction finders for armouredvehicles, and night-vision directionf inders for smal l f i rearms. OEM

optoelectronic systemsare part of larger

technological units– medical ,

aircraft, ands c i e n t i f i c

instruments. Meopta also manufacturesoptomechanical systems – f i lmprojectors, lenses, eyepieces, prismaticsystems, TIR colour prism assemblies,optical waveguides, etc.

The company’s product portfolio alsoincludes optical elements, such as glassprisms, lenses, and filters forming thebasis of optical instruments servingvarious purposes, including science,measuring, manufacture, avionics andastronautics.

Rising Sales of ProductsThe company’s success is based on

the work of experienced teamsof researchers and designers

of devices and opticalsystems, the work of

precis ion me-chanics, h igh-

tech manu-facture ofoptical ele-ments, in-cluding spe-cial coating,

precision assembly, and the testing ofproducts and components.

One of its achievements in recent yearshas been the growing share of its salesof Meopta sport optics in the USA. It isalso scoring success with the sale of itshigh-tech systems, such as laser scannersused in the manufacture of micro-processors and colour division systemsfor high-performance digital projection.

Massive Exports and New Itemson the MarketMore than 95% of the company’s outputare exported, especia l ly to WestEuropean states. Its other importantoutlets are the USA, Switzerland, andIsrael. Its new items include a new seriesof Meostar sport opt ics , whoseparameters rank the company amongthe world’s leading manufacturers in thebranch, mainly of riflescopes, monoculartelescopes, and binoculars. The rangesof these products are enlarged each yearwith the addition of new models.

■MEOSTAR S1 spotting scope section

MEOSTAR R1 spotting scope section

Phot

o: M

eopt

a –

optik

aar

chiv

es

Linet – Number One Manufacturer of Healthcare Equipment

| 12

E N T E R P R I S E

Linet is companynumber one on theCzech market in thehospital bed sectorand is one of theworld’s five largestcompanies in thebranch. Linet exports86% of its output to75 countries. Itslargest customers areEU states. In the2006/07 business year,the turnover of thecompany, which has460 employees,amounted to EUR 58.5million. Linet, based atŽelevčice u Slaného,manufactures morethan 33 000 bedsa year, plus a widerange of mattresses,bedside cabinets, andhospital furniture. Tolearn about thecompany’s plans wemet with its director,Mr Zbyněk Frolík, andasked him a fewquestions.

The Linet company was established in 1990 asa green-field project. Can you give our readersa brief outline of its development?I founded Linet in 1990 with a clear vision: to manufacturesophisticated hospital beds, which at that time were not widelyavailable, especially in the Czech Republic. In planning theirconstruction, we placed emphasis on design and comfort withrespect to the work of the nurse. At that time, it was a relativelygreat innovation and at the same time a great risk, as money inthe Czech health service was in short supply. From the verybeginning, however, we focused on the customer. We studiedconditions in hospitals and healthcare homes, we talked to nursesand physicians and designed beds that would help them in theirwork.

At the beginning, the company had its workplace in an oldfarmstead near Prague, where machine tools were our onlyequipment. We made all sorts of things, from cages forlaboratory animals to weldments. Our first major order forhospidal beds came from the University Hospital in Prague-Motol.Our "Motol" bed had specific parameters focused on thecustomer’s needs. Already at that time we started building theimage of the firm so as to reflect its care for the customer and tofit its products to his ideas.

A breakthrough was the placing on the market of its Multicareand Eleganza beds, which differed so much from rival productsthat a comparison between them was like comparing"a Porsche with ordinary road vehicles". They meanta revolution not only in terms of design, but also in the widerange of their functions. In the year 2000, the beds opened theway for us to the market and started our massive expansion toforeign countries. The beds gained prestigious awards for theirdesign. A real revolution was the lateral tilt construction, whichwas adopted also by rival manufacturers and has since becomea hospital bed standard.

Can you give us a brief description of yourproduction?Our main product group is hospital and nursing beds. Theoverwhelming majority of our beds are top-standard, highlysophisticated beds in eight product ranges affording a multitudeof functions for the comfort of both the patient and the nursingpersonnel. Conventional simple mechanical beds are on thedecline and account for a mere 3% of Linet’s total turnover. Thebest-selling types are the modern lateral tilt beds Eleganza andMulticare. Much appreciated are their unique functions andinnovative design. Our programme naturally comprises a varietyof other healthcare equipment, such as bedside cabinets,mattresses, and hospital and nursing-room furniture. Ph

otos

on

page

s 12

-13:

Lin

et a

rchi

ves

Universal hospital bed supporting the patient’s movements

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

13 |

Linet is an important company. What is behind yoursuccess?Linet’s greatest strength in comparison with rival firms worldwideis its massive investment in new products. Innovation and humanresources are the decisive factors of Linet’s success. Our strategyis innovation, which we apply to all the company’s processes –from marketing and trade to development, from production tologistics and customer service.

At the centre of our attention is marketing in the broadest senseof the word. Communication on the web, all sorts of supportgiven to our trading partners, public relations and advertising area matter of course. We have gone still further and are trainingour potential customers, we co-operate with clinics and supportthe education of healthcare employees. Marketing, which, inaddition to the customary activities, also comprises productmanagement and the management of product development, hasindeed a strong position. Rather unique is the inclusion in thissection of the customer service, whereby we are getting animmediate response from customers. We find it vitally importantto have well-educated employees capable of creative andinnovative thinking. It is therefore our aim to have well-educatedand satisfied employees. Linet is continuously developing, andour great concern is the professional attention to thecompany’s personnel issues, so that our people may cope withthe steady growth of the enterprise and that they be prepared forfurther expansion in connection with production abroad.

Your company can boast many awards. Can youmention at least some of them?One of our most recent awards, for the year 2007, is tenth placewe won in the Most-Admired Company in the CR – Czech Top100 competition. Other achievements include the prize weobtained in the Design Prestige Competition – for long-term andintensive efforts in the area of design in 2006. Inthe same year we became Company of the Year.Another prize we won in 2006 was in the CzechBrain Industry competition for our bed Image,which also won the Excellent Design prize in thesame year.

You are expanding to foreign markets.Which of them are the most importantfor you and which products are yourmost popular export items?Linet is a company which exports 86% of itsoutput. Its most important outlets are EU states,but other markets, on all continents, are alsoimportant – North and South Africa, Asia –Japan, China, Australia, and also the MiddleEast. South America is another outlet forLinet’s products. Currently we are makingdeliveries of 25 000 beds for 250 hospitals inVenezuela. Also promising are our exports to thedemanding North American market.

Our number one export items are beds of theEleganza series.

You have subsidiaries in othercountries. Where do they operate andhow are they faring?Linet has five subsidiaries: four in Europe (LinetFrance, Linet Italia, Linet Sweden, and Linet UK)

and one office in Peking (Linet Far East). It has a 25% stake in thecompany Desan Flex, which is the largest Spanish supplier ofhealthcare equipment. In addition, Linet has direct commercialrepresentations through partner firms in other 32 states. Its mostimportant partners include Siemens/Dräger, Philips, and VamedEngineering.

All our subsidiaries are faring well on their domestic markets.The direct market participation strategy has proved very useful ona long-term basis.

Which new items have you prepared for 2008?We are placing on the market new items developed in 2007. In2006, Linet increased its investment in product development by27%, to EUR 1.9 million. This has resulted in the development oftwo new products with unique functions. One of them is thereasonably priced electrically adjustable bed Latera, which greatlyfacilitates care for immovable patients by way of lateral tilting.The bed is intended for both the healthcare and nursing segment.It radically reduces physical strain in manipulating immovablebed-ridden patients and completely eliminates injuries to thenursing personnel’s backs. The other item is another bed modelin the Eleganza series, Linet’s flagship product, Eleganza XC,making it possible to X-ray patients reliably straight on the bed,and to weigh them accurately. Here, production costs have beencut by one-half.

Naďa Vávrová

Intensive care hospital bed

Rodenstock – Mark of Exquisite Quality and Design

Milan Pytlík, Rodenstock ČR s.r.o., e-mail: milan.pytlik@rodenstock.cz, www.rodenstock.cz

C Z E C H T O P

| 14

Rodenstock CR, a subsidiaryof the German companyRodenstock GmbH, based inMunich, has been in theCzech Republic since 1994.The gradual enlargement ofthe manufacturing centre in Klatovy has turnedRodenstock into the largestlens manufacturer in theCzech Republic, and indeedthe largest manufacturingplant of Rodenstock GmbH.Its main specialisation is themanufacture of high-qualitysingle-focal, bifocal, andprogressive lenses. About90% of the company’s totalturnover of EUR 31 millionis destined for export.

New ProductsOne of the most recentinnovations in Rodenstock’srange of eyeglass lenses isImpress ion FreeSign ® –a multifocal lens affordingperfect v i s ion comfort ,matched to the individual requirementsand visual habits of the person wearingeyeglasses.

Another innovation, this time in thearea of services, is ImpressionIST®,offering advice to buyers of eyeglasslenses and rims.

Porsche Design and RodenstockRimsAnother type of product is rims,featured in the

Porsche Des ign and Rodenstockcollections. Besides current correctionrims, the Rodenstock collection alsocomprises sunglass frames and a largesupply of sports glasses.

Prizes for Design and QualityIn recent years, Rodenstock’s high-quality products have won prestigiousprizes for the design and quality ofeyeglass lenses.

For example, in October 2006,Rodenstock was awarded in Paris

the much-sought-after "Silmod’Or" award for its individual

single-vision lens Impression® Mono,one of the most prestigious awards inthe world of optics.

At the Opta fair in Brno, the first prizewas won by the Porsche Design P’8438model.

In 2007, Rodenstock set newstandards for individual multifocallenses with its Multigressiv MyView®

model.

DistributionRodenstock products are distributedthrough specialised optician’s shops.Even the most discerning customers will

appreciate their services andinformat ion about the

company’s innovatedproducts and fashionable,well-serving rims.

■ Phot

o: R

oden

stoc

k ar

chiv

es

Modern eyeglass rims created in cooperation with Italian designers

Eyeglass lenses for different uses and different light conditions

EGO Zlín was established in 1992. It is animportant suppl ier of biologicalprotection systems, mobile workplaces,and rescue devices for use inextraordinary situations, war conflicts,military operations, and humanitarianmissions in case of disaster.

The company is a member of theAssociation of Manufacturers andSuppliers of Medical Devices of theCzech Republic, of the Defence IndustryAssociation of the Czech Republic, anda member of the Czech NBC Team.

Production ProgrammeFor the medical sector, the companymanufactures comprehensiveprotection systems for casesof infection, with a biologicalagent based on theunderpressure pr inciple,overpressure tents anda number of mobile fieldworkplaces serving as rescuestations, warehouses, andfield hospitals. It also suppliesthe complete inter iorequipment of theworkplaces. Within thebiological protection systemin the case of biologicalinfection, EGO manufacturesbiological bags, bio-boxes,decontamination modules,protect ive c lothing,pathological bags forinfected persons, etc.

Its product portfolio alsoincludes mobile workplacesconsisting of inflatable tents,containers, rigid constructiontents (al l types of f ieldhospitals, logistic facilities for al l kinds of troops,decontamination andquarantine infection workplaces, rapidtraumatology and surgical teams,dressing stations, arrangement ofhumanitarian missions, etc.)

The company also manufactures rescuesystem devices (vacuum fixation devices,helicopter suspension bags, emergency

bags, stretchers, field beds, defibrillators,battery and manual suction bottles,resuscitation bags). Other importantitems in EGO’s production programmeare surgery and radiotherapy devices.First-aid training and testing are also partof the company’s business activities.

Achievements and AwardsRecently, the company made a delivery ofa biological system worth approximatelyEUR 53 000 for the protection of thepopulation in Angola.

EGO’s achievements include an awardto its product BIOBOX EBXT witha decontamination module designed to

isolate infected persons from the externalenvironment and a price for its BIOBOXEBX-04 product, awarded to it by IDETNEWS magazine on the occasion of theIDET 2005 International Fair of Defenceand Security Technologies in Brno. Otherdistinctions the company has gained are

awards for its products TRANSPORT BAGEBV – 20 BIOBAG and its IZS MOBILEWORKPLACE from HOSPIMEDIC theInternational Fair of Medical Devices andPharmacy in Brno.

EGO Zlín in Other CountriesEGO Zlín maintains trade relations withmore than 20 countr ies on f ivecontinents. It supplies its medicalproducts regularly to hospitals and rescueservices not only in the Czech Republic,but also in other countries, such asSlovakia, Poland, Lithuania, and Belgium.It has its permanent representations inthe USA, Australia, New Zealand,

Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, SouthAfrica, Germany, Austria, Poland,Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Turkey, andthe United Kingdom.

■

EGO Zlín – Specialist in the Field of RescueSystems

Jitka Suchánková, EGO Zlín, spol. s r.o., e-mail: js-export@egozlin.cz, www.egozlin.cz

| 16

C Z E C H T O P

EBV-30 transport bag for moving infected persons

Phot

o: E

GO

Zlín

arc

hive

s

Unique Radiotherapy Systems

UJP PRAHA a.s. came into being in 2002by the transformation of ŠKODA-ÚJP,Praha a.s. The company’s current businessactivity benefits from the long experienceand know-how created by the formerNuclear Fuel Institute, established in 1966as part of the one-time Czechoslovakuranium industry, and from the follow-upenlargement of its business activities.

Production The company’s product portfolio coversseveral areas. Its core productionprogramme is the manufacture of specialmedical devices, especially the TERABALTdigital radiotherapy irradiation system.

It comes in four versions, with a fullydigitalised control system, with a variety ofaccessories and supplementary devices.A completely new product is the TERASIXdigital X-ray simulator with the uniqueVirtual Beam View technology, usedespecial ly for the planning andpreparation of radiotherapy. To enhancethe quality of the treatment, the companysupplies systems for the planning andverification of the treatment. The PlanWplanning system can work with bothcobalt irradiators and linear acceleratorswith a photon or electron beam. Anotherproduct is its well tried and testedTERAGIS verification system.

UJP PRAHA makes complete deliveries ofthese systems, including the preparationof the technology project, installation,training of the attending personnel, andfollow-up servicing of the systems at theuser’s workplace.

In the area of medical devices, thecompany supplies the IRACEL bloodirradiation system.

In its other activities, the companybenefits from the experience gained inpast years in the development oftechnologies and the research of materialsused in nuclear power stations. Thecompany uses technologies for depleteduranium processing and manufacturescontainers and shields for the storage andtransport of radioactive substances. Thecompany currently supplies about 40different types of containers for differentkinds of radio isotopes used especially indefectoscopy, geology, and medicine.

New Items in theCompany’s ProductionProgrammeA new feature of thecompany’s productionprogramme is the develop-ment and manufacture oftungsten materials based ontungsten pseudo-alloys.These high-density materialsare used as a basis for themanufacture of radioactiveradiation shielding and themanufacture of its newlydesigned armoured-piercingshells.

The company has a numberof special workplaces,including places for workwith uranium and itscompounds and materialresearch workplaces. All thecompany’s activities are incompliance with theintegrated quality manage-ment system. The company isentitled to mark selectedproducts with the CE label.

Innovation and ModernisationThe company owes its success to thesuitable division of its productionprogramme and unique know-how, theuse of advanced technologies, and thequality of its entire product portfolio.Recent ly, the company began toconcentrate on the innovation andmodernisation of its radiotherapydevices. By innovating and modernisingtheir control systems, the companyraised their quality, which is comparablewith world top standards, while keepingtheir prices on a competitive level. Itsother achievement is the commercialut i l i sat ion of i ts research anddevelopment in the area of tungstenpseudo-alloys, especially in the defenceindustry.

Radiotherapy Systems for ExportIn its export of radiotherapy systems, thecompany has oriented itself mainly on thestates of the former Soviet Union. Infuture, it would like to expand to markets

in African, Asian, and Arab countries.Already now, its containers and shields areexported to practically the whole world,except North and South America.

Awards for theCompany’s ProductsThe company’s new series of radiotherapyproducts has gained a number of awardsrecently. Its TERABALT radiotherapysystem won First Prize in the InnovationCompetition in the Czech Republic in2006, organised by the Association ofInnovative Entrepreneurship of the CR,and a Prize for Excellent Design 2007 inthe category of industrial design,organised by the Czech Design Agency.The TERASIX X-ray simulator won a GoldMedal at the Hospimedica 2007International Medical Fair in Brno.

■

C Z E C H T O P

| 18

Jaromír Shejbal, UJP PRAHA a.s., e-mail: shejbal@ujp.cz, www.ujp.cz

Phot

o: U

JP P

raha

arc

hive

s

TERASIX X-ray simulator

AMEST Bets on Precision Measuring

Aleš Folwarczny, AMEST a. s., e-mail: folwarczny@amest.cz, www.amest.cz

C Z E C H T O P

| 20

AMEST a.s. was established in 1990 andsince then has developed into a successfulcompany in its branch. Its specialisation is the development, construction,manufacture, installation and servicing ofmeasuring and control stations,monitoring devices, and control fixtures.The core of the company is formed bya team of designers, electronic specialists,and system programmers, who have longexperience and are in close contact withworld progress in the branch.

AMEST Metering Devices for ExportThe company exports 70% of its output.Its main export territory is Germany, whereits partners are GM Powertrain, VWKassel, INA Herzogenaurach, KOKITechnik Niederwurschnitz and TRW,followed by Hungary, with partners such

as General Motors, and Poland, whereAMEST products are accepted by MahleKrotoszyn. Recently, the company enteredthe Ukrainian market, where it enteredinto a contract with OAO INTERPIPEDnepropetrovsk. AMEST is also doing wellin Russia with its exports of axles forrailway wagons.

New Precision Measuring and Control Technologies For gear control, AMEST has developed

a new way to measure gear and grooveparameters. This method makes possiblehigh-precision control of pitch circlediameters, roundness deviat ions,eccentric running and untrue running tothe centre of the wheel or the workcentres of crankshafts and differences inrun-out in neighbouring tooth space. Theshort operating time (around 30 seconds)and easy control of the metering deviceensure one-hundred-per-cent control ofwheels even in large volume serialproduction. Its use increases significantlythe efficiency of production control andat the same time reduces productioncosts. AMEST has installed dozens ofthese stations in leading Czech andforeign enterpr ises, such as GMPowertrain Vienna and VW Kassel. In itslaboratories, AMEST has developeda completely new principle of accurate

cylindrical hole and surface meteringwith the help of a measuring head fittedwith a changeable dynamic plug contactor an outside contact crown. Theapplication of this principle in AMESTmetering stations makes it possible tocontrol quickly and most accurately thediameter, roundness, cylindrical form,and perpendicularity of the hole axis inrelation to the plane and even therelative position of the measured holes.The metering results are evaluated by

a special AMEST programmableelectronic device.

Automatic Measuring Station forRail Wheel Production ControlIn mid-2007, AMEST engineerssuccessfully completed work on anextremely demanding order for theUkrainian enterprise OAO INTERPIPEDnepropetrovsk. In co-operation withselected Czech firms they developed andput into operat ion an automaticmeasuring station for the one-hundred-per-cent control of rail wheels madeser ial ly in continuous three-shiftoperat ion. A unique system wasdeveloped to ensure the required highprecision, reliability, and performance ofthe station.

At this station, the precision andreliability of rail wheel production controlis ensured by a system of lasers andspecial cameras. The device controls 29parameters specified for the wheel huband disc and the running profile,including the facets. Accurateposit ioning and automatic wheelhandling during control is secured bya programmable optical sensor andservo-drive system.

The scanned values of the controlledparameters are evaluated by a specialelectronic device. In view of the highfrequency of optically scanned data andthe strict statistical processing andrecording requirements and the need forthe marking and reliable filing of data foreach wheel being controlled, threespecial-purpose computers had to beattached to the electronic system, whichensure the automatic control of theentire operation of the station, inaddition to the registration of thescanned data.

The station can be easily set for allwheel types and sizes. Its performancecorresponds to the speed of theproduction line, with sufficient reserve.A record is made of each wheel beingcontrolled, making it possible to identifythe causes of potential accidents. Thisapplies particularly to the wheels of trainstravelling at very high speeds.

■

Differential case measuring

Phot

o: A

MES

T ar

chiv

es

R E S E A R C H & D E V E L O P M E N T

| 22

Modern Prevention and Diagnostic Method

Jaromír Volf, Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, e-mail: jaromir.volf@fs.cvut.cz, www.fs.cvut.cz

Modern medic ine tends to thedevelopment of advanced non-invasivediagnostic methods. An instrument fullyin keeping with this trend is the pressuredistribution scanner, which, whilemaking it possible to diagnose alreadydeveloped orthopaedic disorders, has

the abi l i ty to point to potent ia lpathological conditions. PlantographV05 is used by general practitioners for making timely diagnoses, and it i s appreciated by sports phys i -c ians, rehabi l i tat ion doctors, andorthopaedists.

Its development is the outcome of co-operation between researchers anddesigners of the Czech TechnicalUniversity in Prague - Faculty ofMechanical Engineering (Department of Instrumentat ion and ControlEngineer ing and Department of

Pressure distribution scanner makes it possible to diagnose already developed orthopedic disorders but also to prevent the occurence of pathological conditions Phot

o: T

he a

utho

r’s a

rchi

ves

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

23 |

Mechanics, B iomechanics, andMechatronics) and Faculty of ElectricalEngineering, the Faculty of PhysicalEducat ion and Sport of Char lesUnivers i ty in Prague, and theRehabilitation Clinic of the Facultyhospital Královské Vinohrady in Prague.

How Does It Work?The system is used for making analysesof human walk, measuring the pressuredistribution on the sole, indicating thecondition of large joints and measuringbody stability (balance disorders) etc. It isa compact portable device which, ifconnected to the PC or the notebook,can process, in real time, signals ofpressure changes in static and dynamicload conditions. Its construction is basedon the principle of the dependence ofthe change of the conductive elastomerresistance on mechanical pressure. Thesystem consisting of a computer-controlled scanner can analyse up to 300whole pictures per second. This capacityranks it among high-standard worldproducts. The colour picture of pressuredistribution is available as a two- orthree-dimensional photograph.

The measuring can be started at oncefrom the PC, externally or by scanneractivation, e.g. by treading fully on thefoot.

All the measured data can be fed backinto the programme at any time andthey can be processed as if they were

just measured, or they can be displayedand processed externally.

The System Allows the Use of Two Basic Modes:The first is continuous display. It displaysthe current distribution of pressures onthe scanner in real time. The speeddepends on the computing rate and isup to 50 pictures/second. This mode isused especially for setting parameterswith immediate visual control for later,accurate measuring, or for obtainingone-shot pictures that can be stored.

The second mode is accuratemeasuring. The data being measured arenot directly displayed, but they arestored on the internal disc (HDD) forlater transfer to the PC. The rate is up to300 pictures/second. The size of the discdepends on the particular requirements.The device has a standard 160 GB disk,which amounts to approximately 4 hoursof recording. Several records can bestored on the disc for their later one-offstorage on the PC.

The system can be controlled from the connected PC. Dur ing eachmeasurement several parameters can beset independently (some parameters areonly relevant for a certain mode).

The Plantograph Has BeenDeveloped for the FollowingMain Uses:– In the area of medical orthopaedics

and bio-mechanics for the study ofpressure distribution on the solesurface and its dynamic changes inpacing. Determining the pressuredistribution of pressure on the solesurface and its change in time isvaluable information for non-invasivediagnostics of motoric disorders,orthopaedic defects, and variousdiseases.

– For the prevention of pathologicpressures on the human body,resulting in decubitus.

– For measuring stability in stabilometry.– In physiotherapy for rehabilitation, the

development of rehabilitation aids andprostheses and in biological feedback.

– For measuring pressure in prosthesesand their optimum adjustment to thelimb.

– For designing seats for paraplegics andfor prevention feedback.

– For designing anatomic shapes of seatsand backrests, especial ly in theautomotive and aircraft industries.

– In sports medicine and methodology.– In robotics for the stability and

balancing of robots – finding the firmspot for gripping, determining thestrength, etc.

– In other industrial applications wherepressure distribution is needed.

■

Research in modern conventional optics,quantum opt ics , and quantuminformation has a long tradition. Thelargest project being currently addressedat the Department of Optics, in co-operation with the Joint Laboratory ofOptics, is the long-term researchprogramme "Measuring and Informationin Optics", supported by the Ministry ofEducation of the CR. The programme

spans over seven years, from 2005 to2011. The research plan links all researchactivities carried out at the Departmentof Optics providing a platform formonitoring trends in modern optics.

Aims of the ProjectOne of the aims of the project is topropose new quantum and informationprotocols. This signifies new procedures

in the manipulation of light, which takeadvantage of its quantum nature. Forthis purpose, it is possible to use lightwhose intensity is extremely faint, or onthe contrary extremely strong. The basicelement in quantum optics is thephoton. It is the smallest energy unitlinked with light propagation. Thenumber of photons determines whetherthe light field will be faint, a field that

Scientific Research in Optics

Zdeněk Hradil, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Department of Optics, e-mail: hradil@optics.upol.cz,www.optics.upol.cz

| 24

R E S E A R C H & D E V E L O P M E N T

would be invisible to the naked eye, oron the contrary, whether it will bea strong coherent source, such as semi-conductor lasers in a CD player. Opticaleffects which are present in our everydaylife are based on the ability of our eye todistinguish the quantity of light, andsometimes also its colour. Quantumoptics, however, makes it possible totake advantage of a number of otherdetai ls for the transmiss ion andprocessing of information. To bring itcloser to everyday life, we often borrowterminology from other areas and useterms such as quantum teleportation,cloning and erasing information, andquantum cryptography or quantumtomography. Similarly, in the frameworkof modern optics it is possible to studynew types of l ight f ie lds boththeoretically and practically in thelaboratory. We may prepare the wellfocused beams as the so-cal lednondiffracting beams, light fields, whichhave a helical structure (vortex beams) orbeams which are strongly entangled,even though they are distant from eachother. Although, for the time being,none of these effects of quantum opticsare to be seen in our everyday life, just astwenty years ago no one used theInternet or the mobile phone, there is nodoubt that these effects will find a placefor themselves in the informationtechnologies of the future.

National and InternationalProjectsSubjects covered by the research planare studied in a number of smallerindependent projects. Primarily, it is theproject of the Ministry of Education,Youth, and Sports designed for thepersonal support of young scientificworkers, ca l led "Modern OpticsCentre", where the Department ofOptics co-operates with the Institute ofInstrumentation Engineering of theAcademy of Sciences in Brno. Part of theproject is the investigation of quantuminformation processing protocols, a taskaimed at devising a compact source ofentangled light beams, and the study ofhelical beams and an analysis ofinformation us ing spat ia l l ightmodulators.

Another project, supported by theMinistry of Industry and Trade of the CR,is the project "Systems for thegeneration of nondiffraction beams andthe transmission of the mechanicaleffects of light", covering the years

2005-2007. In co-operation with theMeopta Přerov company and theInstitute of Instrumentation Engineeringin Brno, we are developing a functionalsample of laser tweezers for micro-object manipulation by means of light.As a part of the 6th EU Framework

Programme, in 2004-2007 we co-operated as partners on the projectCOVAQIAL (Cont inuous Var iableQuantum Information with Atoms andLight), the principal aim of which wasthe study of new quantum protocols ofinformation processing. In 2004, wejoined the 6th EU FrameworkProgramme in the European QUACS(Secure Communication and QuantumCryptography) network, the purpose of which is the se lect ion andimplementation of a system for safequantum communication by way ofquantum cryptography. In addition tothe large national and internationalprojects, there are several projectssupported by the Grant Agency of theCR, which are being addressed byresearchers at the Department of Optics.Specifically, there are two projects

covering the years 2006-2008, called"Characterisation and utilisation ofspatial degrees of freedom of light" and"Chaos in non-linear electron-phononquantum systems" and two projects,which are just being completed,"Analysis of faint photon fields using

pulsed homodyne detection" and"Entanglement preparat ion andquantum information processing inatomic systems".

Modern Optics and ItsDevelopmentToday, modern optics is much more thanjust spectacle glasses or the law ofreflection and refraction. Currentresearch is much more deeply involved inthe study of the nature of opticalphenomena so as to create prerequisitesfor their future potential use. TheDepartment is endeavouring to reachthis aim by both theoretical research andthe systematic building of laboratorieswith the support of experiments inmodern optics and quantum informatics.

■ Phot

o: T

he a

utho

r’s a

rchi

ves

S U R V E Y

| 26

Poll of Successful Companies Operating in theArea of Medical, Optical, and Measuring Devices

BMT a. s.

Cejl 50, 656 60 Brno, phone: +420 545 537 111, fax: +420 545 211 750, e-mail: mail@bmt.cz, www.bmt.cz

Turnover: CZK 460 million – approx. EUR 16.2 millionNumber of employees: 360Contact: Mr Tomáš Tuček, e-mail: tomas.tucek@bmt.czExport: 53%, of which Europe 27%, Asia 14%, America 5%,Africa 1%

BMT a.s., a member of the German MMM Group, is an importantworld manufacturer of medical and laboratory devices. It developsand manufactures steam and hot-air sterilisers, steriliser pressurevessels, steam generators, laboratory incubators, drying chests,and stainless furniture. The distribution and servicing of itsproducts is ensured by the worldwide network of theGroup’s affiliations and commercial and service representations.Owing to its comprehensive offer of products and services forhospitals, surgeries, scientific institutes, laboratories, and thepharmaceutical industry, BMT a.s. has become an establishedcompany known for the high quality of its products and itsinnovative strategy.

What did the entry of the foreign partner bring toBMT?The entry of the foreign partner in BMT has brought especiallynew products that are in compliance with European legislation.With its own development and in co-operation with the parentfirm MMM (Münchener Medizin Mechanik GmbH), the companyhas completely upgraded its range of steam sterilisers and steamgenerating equipment formerly manufactured under the Chiranatrademark.

During its existence, BMT has worked its way among theworld’s most important companies in its line of business. All itsproducts are designed and manufactured so as to meet stricttechnical and hygienic standards and environmental requirements.BMT has a certified quality management system entitling it toexport its medical devices to EU markets and its pressure

equipment to markets in the EU, the USA, and China.

Which countries are your largest customers andwhat products do they take?Owing to the company’s export experience of more than 60 yearsand the technical standard and quality of its products, it has tradepartners in more than 80 countries. Export is of key importance forBMT. To promote its sales, the company has opened its ownaffiliations in countries with good trading prospects, such asGermany, Spain, the USA, Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, andSlovakia. Currently our products are sold on all continents. Verypromising, apart from Europe, are markets in Asia and the USA.We export the full range of our devices – small and large steamsterilisers (bearing the STERIDENT, STERIMAT, UNISTERI ANDSTERIVAP trademarks), laboratory driers and incubators (ECOCELL,VENTICELL, STERICELL, VACUCELL, INCUCELL, FRIOCELL,CLIMACELL).

Medin, a. s.

Vlachovická 619, 592 31 Nové Město na Moravě, phone: +420 566 684 336, e-mail: marketing@medin.cz, www.medin.cz

Turnover: CZK 317 million – EUR 11.1 millionNumber of employees: 520Contact: Mr Bohumil Novotný, e-mail: bohumil.novotny@medin.czExport: EU 75%, the rest of Europe and Turkey 9%, Arab countriesand Israel 3%, Latin America 5%, USA and Canada 1%

MEDIN was established in 1992 as the legal successor of the formerstate corporation Chirana Nové Město na Moravě. The object of itsbusiness is the manufacture, development, and sale of surgical and

dental instruments and surgical implants.The largest share of the company’s production and sale is

accounted for by medical instruments for all main medicalspecialisations, including bone surgery and implants.

How do you see the future development of yourcompany?Our mission is the development, manufacture, and supply of high-quality instruments and implants for surgical operations,

Steam steriliser

Phot

o: B

MT

arch

ives

Medical Devices

C Z E C H M E D I C A L , O P T I C A L , A N D M E A S U R I N G D E V I C E S

27 |

ERILENS, s. r. o.

Papírenská 114/5, 160 00 Praha 6, phone: +420 234 123 456, fax: +420 234 123 360, e-mail: info@erilens.cz,www.erilens.com

Turnover (2006): CZK 102.8 million – approx. EUR 3.6 millionNumber of employees: 51Contact: Ms Helena Karešová, e-mail: hkaresova@erilens.czExport: France, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania

ERILENS s.r.o. is a family company established in 1992. In the earlydays of its existence it was a pioneer in the manufacture anddevelopment of intraocular lenses and held the leading position onthe market. Keen competition forced the company management tostart developing new activities on the ophthalmology market andenlarge its product portfolio. Its pride is a new range of high-qualityand technologically advanced ophthalmic instruments made inCanada (OTI), Switzerland (Ziemer), the USA, and other countries.ERILENS specialises in the distribution of surgical instruments forvitreo retinal, cataract, and refraction surgery of renownedcompanies, such as ASICO, Geuder, and Synergetics. In 1997, thecompany opened two new divisions, REHA, which manufactures andsells locomotion aids, and ROOMER, specialising in transport systemsfor immobile patients.

Your company has three divisions. Can you give usa brief outline of their activities?REHA makes locomotion aids, ROOMER distributes transport systemsfor immobile persons, and the third division, OPHTHA, specialises in

the manufacture,distribution, andservicing of ophthalmicsurgery materials andproducts, i.e. medicalmaterial, and themanufacture and saleof intraocular lenses,distribution ofdiagnostic and displaylasers, ophthalmicsurgery instruments,repair of handpiecesand MEDPORimplants.

Which countriesare the largestcustomers foryour products?After the Czech Republic’s accession to the EU, the companysignificantly raised its exports to EU states. Its main customers arefirms in France, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, and Romania. In 2001 itopened a new branch in Bratislava, Slovakia.

PASCAL dynamic contour tonometer

Optics

traumatology, and stomatology. We draw on the latest scientific,technical, and clinical findings to continuously improve our products.

Can you tell us something about new items in yourproduction programme?A new item we have placed on the market is the Gracey curette forremoving scale. A new material was used for its ends, which lendsthe instrument high cutting efficiency and resistance to the edge.The thin-walled hollow handle makes the instrument extremely lightand easy to operate. The end is connected to the handle by laserwelding. Its unique properties, resulting from the use of the most up-to-date material, afford great comfort to the physician.

Another new item is the diamond grinder coming in new shapes,enabling highly efficient treatment of dental tissues andstomatological materials.

Novel item of the year 2007 – diamond grinder

ZPA Smart Energy, s. r. o.

Komenského 821, 541 01 Trutnov, phone: +420 499 907 111, fax: +420 499 907 497, e-mail: zpa@zpa.cz, www.zpa.cz

Turnover: CZK 182 million – approx. EUR 6.3 millionNumber of employees: 165Contact person: Mr Josef Křepinský,

e-mail: josef.krepinsky@zpa.czExport: Bulgaria 80%, Slovakia 10%, Poland 3.4%,Switzerland 2.9%

Measuring Devices

Phot

o: M

edin

arc

hive

sPh

oto:

Eril

ens

arch

ives

S U R V E Y

| 28

MESING, spol. s r. o.

Mariánské nám. 1, 617 00 Brno, phone: +420 545 426 211, fax: +420 545 426 219, e-mail: info@mesing.cz, www.mesing.cz

Turnover (2006): CZK 56 million – EUR 1.9 millionNumber of employees: 35Contact: Mr Jan Kůr, e-mail: jan.kur@mesing.czExport: Slovakia 48%, Switzerland 5%, Poland 2%, Germany 1%

MESING is a company specialising in the construction andmanufacture of customised measuring devices (meters, stations,automatic devices) and automatic control and technological lines.In the Czech Republic the company is a leading supplier ofcalibrating meters and readers. A new programme introducedrecently covers the development of straightening presses andsurface defect measuring devices.

A major part of your production goes for export.Which are your main foreign outlets and your mostimportant customers?Our main customers are companies in the automobile,antifriction-bearing, electrical engineering, textile, and plasticsindustries. Our largest customers include VW, BOSCH, KRUPP –PRESTA, INA, TRAMEC, KINEX, SIEMENS, NOVIBRA, ANDVISTEON, among many others.

Which are your latest achievements?We won a Gold Medal at the 2007 International Engineering Fairin Brno and the Annual Prize of the Czech-Moravian ElectricalEngineering Association for our automatic machine for surfacedefect measuring of injection pump casings. Textile spindle control and technology line

Phot

o: M

esin

g ar

chiv

es

ZPA Smart Energy is continuing the activities of itspredecessor, ZPA Trutnov, a traditional supplier of instrumentsfor industry, in particular power engineering.

Its long-term specialisation is the development andmanufacture of ripple control receivers and household andindustrial electrometers. Its largest customers are the Pražskáenergetická and České energetické závody companies.Currently, ZPA makes deliveries of automated metre readingand automated metre management (AMR, AMM) systems.AMM systems make possible backward regulation andconsumption control, and they are the most up-to-dateexpression of efforts to control and regulate the take-offnetworks of different media. Its other successful products arestreet lighting systems and energy management systems.

Your products are widely exported. Which areyour important foreign markets and customers?We are regular exporters of electrometers to the companiesEMU Elektronic AG, Switzerland, Termotehna Čačak, Serbia,EnTech Krakow, Poland, and Sofia District Electrict Bulgaria.Our customers for ripple control receivers are the Dutchcompany IMBEMA Controls B.V. Haarlem and the Slovakcompanies ZSE Bratislava and VSE Košice.

What new items have you prepared for the year2008?The development and marketing departments are working onthe development of AMR and AMM systems. The systemsconsist of the technological level (water, gas, heat, and

electricity measuring instruments), communication modules,concentrators and application servers for data concentration,and filing and system control.

ZPA Smart Energy workshop

Phot

o: Z

PA S

mar

t En

ergy

arc

hive

s

| 30

I N F O R M AT I O N

Fairs and Exhibitions in the Sector of Medical,Optical, and Measuring Devices in 2008

Important Contacts Ministries

Ministry of Industry and Trade www.mpo.cz mpo@mpo.cz

Associations and Unions

Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic www.spcr.cz spcr@spcr.cz

Czech Chamber of Commerce www.hkcr.cz office@komora.cz

Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Medical Devices www.medtechnik.cz asociace@iol.cz

Universities

Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Measurements www.feld.cvut.cz dean@fel.cvut.cz

Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science www.feec.vutbr.cz rousova@feec.vutbr.cz

University of West Bohemia, Plzeň

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Technologies and Measuring www.fel.zcu.cz fel@fel.zcu.cz

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science (OPTICS) www.upol.cz kancler@upol.cz

Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín

Faculty of Applied Informatics www.utb.cz info@utb.cz

Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science www.fei.vsb.cz sekretariat.fei@vsb.cz

Research Organisations and Institutes, Testing

Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic www.cas.cz info@cas.cz

Institute of Scientific Instruments, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno www.isibrno.cz institute@isibrno.cz

Czech Metrological Institute www.cmi.cz info@cmi.cz

Czech Standards Institute www.cni.cz info@cni.cz

OPTA14th International Fair of Optics and Ophthalmology22–24 February 2008Veletrhy Brno, a.s., e-mail: opta@bvv.czwww.bvv.cz

PRAGOMEDICA30th International Medical Fair15–18 April 2008Prague – Exhibition Grounds, e-mail: m.benesova@incheba.czwww.incheba.cz/pragomedica

AMONG US – DAYS OF THE HANDICAPPEDSales exhibition of compensation, rehabilitation, and prostheticaids; offer of services for the handicapped12–14 June 2008Olomouc – Flora Exhibition Grounds, e-mail: info@flora-ol.czwww.flora-ol.cz

PRAGODENT16th International Dental Apparatus, Instruments, SurgeryEquipment, and Service Fair16–18 October 2008

Prague – Exhibition Grounds, e-mail: m.benesova@incheba.czwww.pragodent.eu

HOSPIMedica Brno 2008International Fair of medical Devices, Rehabilitation, and Health21–24 October 2008Veletrhy Brno, a.s., e-mail: hospimedica@bvv.czwww.bvv.cz

Official participation of the Czech Republic in internationalfairs and exhibitions abroad

MEDICA40th World Forum for Medicine International Fair with Congress19–22 November 2008Düsseldorf, Germany, e-mail: mhorakova@bvv.czwww.medica.de

MOSCOW – ZDRAVOKHRANENIEInternational Fair of Medical Equipment8–12 December 2008Association of Medical Device Manufacturers and Suppliers, e-mail: asociacebrno@iol.cz, www.medtechnik.cz