Communication, Author at DEMCON

Demcon acquires JOHAN Sports

11 January 2021 by Communication

Investment in improving sports performance
Nowadays, data makes all the difference in sports, including team sports. Increasingly more data is collected during training and matches using smart technical devices, such as the sensors developed by JOHAN Sports. The new JOHAN V5-sensor is a GPS tracking sensor with an integrated heart rate sensor that makes it possible for teams to monitor their players live. JOHAN Sports entered into a partnership with technology developer and producer Demcon for the development of the V5. This turned out to be such an excellent partnership that JOHAN Sports has now become part of Demcon and in the near future will move into Demcon’s premises in Delft (NL). “This way we combine their technical knowhow with our knowledge of the market, human movement sciences and the data needs of sport coaches.”
Since 2014, JOHAN Sports has been developing systems for monitoring the movements of players during training and matches. The teams can improve the physical performance of their players on the basis of the data collected. A GPS sensor continuously records their position on the field. The current V4-sensor logs all of the data, which is read out for analysis at the end of the match and training. The new V5-sensor, which will be available on the market in the spring, integrates the GPS tracking sensor with a heart rate sensor and makes it possible for teams to monitor their players live. JOHAN Sports will then be one of the few parties able to offer an integrated solution of this nature. The data is forwarded real-time through the new Bluetooth 5 connection, which has a 400-metre reach. JOHAN Sports has extensively tested its tracking and communication technology during matches of football clubs such as FC Volendam and FC Twente. The tests were completed successfully in packed stadiums where the public’s smartphones could have caused interference. The live monitoring makes it possible to start up the data analysis during the match itself, allowing the coach to adjust his/her coaching plan in real time.

Everything under a single roof
JOHAN Sports was looking for a technology partner for the development of the V5-sensor, says CEO Ralph van Baasbank. “Demcon has a great deal of knowledge about the required technology. We felt there were opportunities for combining their technical knowhow with our knowledge of the market, human movement sciences and the information needs of sports coaches. Even though in the current corona period we were primarily located at a distance from each other, the partnership felt right.” So when an investor pulled out, it was a logical step for the parties to intensify their partnership and this resulted in the acquisition by Demcon. “We have since started working under the Demcon banner with five employees and in the near future we will move to their location in Delft. Having development, production and sales under a single roof is a good thing; it makes for shorter lines and that in turn increases the chances of success.”

Low-threshold software
JOHAN Sports currently operates in more than 25 countries with over 125 teams as customer. This is a highly competitive market, says Van Baasbank, who has worked with top Dutch sportspersons as a sports marketeer and developed a fascination for the data that makes the difference in their performance. “We differentiate ourselves on the basis of high quality value-for-money solutions. Currently only a few parties offer the same product we do. This includes live monitoring with integrated heart rate monitoring and the product is affordable for not only professional teams, but amateur sport teams as well. For the rest, the hardware provided by most suppliers closely resembles each other; it is the software we have developed that has made the difference all this time. Our software is written for the non-specialist. Top clubs, such as Ajax and Bayern München, may have as many as ten human movement scientists and data analysts in employ. These individuals are able to interpret the rough sensor data and translate it into training programs themselves. Our software is especially for clubs with a limited staff, who have a fitness trainer or one physiotherapist available for this purpose. This person, without any knowledge of data analysis, can extract optimal training programs from the data. Our software includes a low-threshold training module for this purpose, developed by our own human movement scientists.

Next Generation
For the time being, JOHAN Sports is aiming at sports such as soccer, hockey and rugby, Van Baasbank says. But applications outside the sports domain are also conceivable, such as healthcare, industry and defense. “It may also be important to monitor the physical performance of people in these segments. But for the time being we are focusing all of our energy on sports. In the meantime, JOHAN Sports has been developing concepts for the next generation, the V6 sensor. This sensor will also be useable for indoor sports. GPS does not work inside and a different position detection technology is therefore required. In addition, the company is thinking about the possibility of combining sensor data with camera images. “That would make it possible for teams to link the data about the physical performance of players to their tactical analysis based on camera images; for example the speed with which a soccer player executes a smart passing maneuver or running action.”

The future of sport
Dennis Schipper, CEO of Demcon, is happy with the acquisition of JOHAN Sports, for business, as well as personal reasons. “We believe the sports & technology market is a growth market and have already accumulated experience with wearable devices for monitoring individual persons. We are now deploying the required technology – such as sensor technology, wireless communications and artificial intelligence – in support of JOHAN. For me personally as a Commissioner of FC Twente it was of course good to see that they found my club willing to provide the testing grounds they needed to test their V5-sensor.”
The FC Twente academy has already experience using the V4 sensor. Ellery Cairo, physical coach FC Twente/Heracles Academy: ‘JOHAN Sports helps us with the optimization of the training planning and with the mapping of the load and the taxability of players. That’s why we’re very happy with the cooperation.’

About Demcon
Demcon (750 employees) develops, produces and supplies technology and innovative products. The Demcon Group has branches in Best, Delft, Enschede, Groningen, Münster (Germany), Japan and Singapore. The company was created as a result of the passion of its founders for combining creativity and technical skills focused on solving complex issues. These issues are of a technological and social nature and generally have a direct or indirect impact on people and their everyday life. Whether this concerns medical systems, systems that monitor our security or sustainable solutions relating to themes such as water and energy, Demcon makes a contribution for current and future generations. In addition to developing technical solutions, Demcon also focuses its efforts on promoting entrepreneurship and investing in talent and education.

More information
For more information, please contact Marleen Markvoort, Corporate Communications Specialist at Demcon, via Tel: +31 (0)88 11 52 000 or marleen.markvoort@demcon.com,
or Ralph van Baasbank, CEO JOHAN Sports, Tel: +31 (0)6 24 24 10 92, info@johan-sports.com or www.johansports.com.

Demcon invests in SmartQare’s intelligent wearable and healthcare platform

23 December 2020 by Communication

Comprehensive healthcare solution in response to the greying population

Many seniors would like to retain their autonomy and continue to live independently at home as long as possible. This way they also help reduce pressure on the healthcare system caused by the greying population, in a personal and financial sense. This can be done from a medical perspective by continuously monitoring their condition (24/7). SmartQare has developed a comprehensive solution for this purpose. This solution consists of an intelligent, wearable care band and a platform for healthcare professionals and institutions. The smart analysis of the data produced by the wearable helps healthcare providers to intervene efficiently and on time. The wearable is the first medical device to make use of the Internet of Things for this purpose. Technology developer and producer Demcon, in close cooperation with SmartQare, will continue to develop this innovation into a professional product. In addition, Demcon, together with other parties, will be investing in the start-up.

SmartQare, founded in 2017, has developed a wearable device for home monitoring that is put on the client’s arm as a care band. The wearable continuously – 24 hours per day, 7 days per week – monitors the wearer’s vital functions. This includes parameters such as heartbeat, oxygen saturation and skin temperature. In addition, the wearable includes fall detection and accurate location determination in case the client has fallen or starts wandering. Naturally, it also includes an alarm button. The SmartQare stands out due to its ease of use, wearing comfort and long battery life.

Value-added platform and data
The real added value of this innovation lies in the platform provided by SmartQare. The healthcare providers, ranging from the family doctor, informal caregiver and home care provider to the nursing institution and the hospital, are involved in the monitoring via this platform. This enables the right instance to take action in the event of an alert. First of all the healthcare system benefits because this device reduces the use of expensive facilities in healthcare institutions, because people continue to live at home longer. Second, fast response and effective interventions due to the continuous monitoring limit healthcare costs. The platform collects medical data via the wearable, naturally with effective data security measures in place and with due consideration to the privacy regulations. This is the first medical device to make use of the Internet of Things for this purpose. This makes outdoor monitoring possible and does not limit the wearer’s – healthy – freedom of movement. Healthcare professionals can use the data for analyzing the medical problems and healthcare needs of seniors. Over time this can help further improve the quality of life, design a more efficient healthcare delivery system and optimize cooperation among parties involved in the platform.

Development
SmartQare will be introducing its innovation in cooperation with healthcare professionals and institutions, and when proven successful, will also supply consumers directly. Technology developer and producer Demcon has been engaged to develop this innovation into a professional product. ‘If seniors can live independently at home for longer, this is very important for themselves and for society,’ says Jemy Pauwels, Director Investment at Demcon. ‘We have a great deal of experience developing medical technology that can contribute to solutions for social problems, such as the overburdened healthcare system. Demcon has all the expertise in-house needed for designing systems that meet the requirements of healthcare professionals and patients alike. In addition, we are able to reliably produce wearable devices in accordance with the guidelines for medical products.’

Investment
In addition to technology development and production, Demcon also makes a contribution by making an investment. It is participating in the new investments round SmartQare requires to bring the innovation up to a professional, market-ready product. Walter van Kuijen, CEO of SmartQare, emphasizes the importance of this investment: ‘Our system has the potential of being the catalyst for a shift in the medical world towards greater autonomy and care at home. Our goal is to enable our clients to experience freedom by giving them the certainty that they will receive suitable care at the right time and at the right place. The biggest challenge in innovations like this is to involve the healthcare world. The fact that partners such as Demcon are giving this their full support opens doors to healthcare professionals, healthcare insurers and other medical parties.’ And to other investors, Pauwels adds: ‘The fact that Demcon is now on board as technology and production partner gives them the confidence that SmartQare’s innovation can grow into a socially valuable product.’

About Demcon
Demcon (750 employees) develops, produces and supplies technology and innovative products. The Demcon Group has branches in Best, Delft, Enschede, Groningen, Münster (Germany) and Singapore. The company was created as a result of the passion of its founders for combining creativity and technical skills focused on solving complex issues. These issues are of a technological and social nature and generally have a direct or indirect impact on people and their everyday life. Whether this concerns medical systems, systems that monitor our security or sustainable solutions relating to themes such as water and energy, Demcon makes a contribution for current and future generations. In addition to developing technical solutions, Demcon also focuses its efforts on promoting entrepreneurship and investing in talent and education.

Demcon wins the German-Dutch Prize for Economy 2020

4 November 2020 by Communication

Demcon is the winner of the German-Dutch Prize for Economy 2020. Last spring, we developed a new ventilation system for corona patients within a month. With this cross-border collaboration, we won this award against 28 other candidates. The prize was awarded by the German-Dutch Chamber of Commerce (DNHK) on November 4 during the digital general meeting of members.

“We have been awarding the prize for thirteen years, but never before in such challenging times as now”, says DNHK director Günter Gülker, referring to the corona crisis. “Demcon is a perfect example of how companies take their social responsibility and provide solutions in record time thanks to a bi-national approach”. Partners from both countries were involved in the development of the DemcAir ventilator. We also developed a machine for the production of medical masks, also in German-Dutch cooperation. “We are very happy with the award”, says Eric Tielemans, managing director of Demcon Advanced Mechatronics Best. “A nice recognition of the hard work of our colleagues.”

Innovation boost despite corona
The other nominees were Royal Auping and Next Kraftwerke thanks to their innovative, bi-national projects. The Dutch bed and mattress specialist Auping, together with partners from both countries, developed the world’s first fully circular mattress and launched it on the market in May. Next Kraftwerke operates the largest virtual power plant for renewable energy and, together with Dutch partners, developed ways to use electric cars and greenhouses to stabilize the energy network. The three companies were selected as a finalist by the jury from 29 entries. The public then determined the winner by voting for their favorite online. With this Demcon won the German-Dutch Prize for Economy 2020 – a prize for special innovations in the cross-border economy.

For more information, visit the DNHK website.

CE certification for DemcAir ventilator

19 October 2020 by Communication

The DemcAir ventilator received the CE certification last month. In March, we started an accelerated development process to realize a ventilation system that is suitable for corona patients in intensive care (IC). Thanks to intensive cooperation with the Dekra (the certification body), who, among other things, allowed us to monitor the preparation of the technical documentation and risk management, we were able to deliver the first systems within a month and 500 systems to the Dutch government soon after. These systems were not yet medically certified, but they were safe and functional. The certification follows exactly six months after the start of the development process.

Read more about the DemcAir breathing system in the showcase.

Demcon nominated for the Dutch Innovation Award 2020

9 October 2020 by Communication

Demcon is one of the three finalists for the Dutch Innovation Award 2020! We were selected on the basis of participation in the Dutch Innovation Monitor 2020 and additional research. The other nominees are Bolesian and Protix. The winner will be announced during the broadcast of the AVROTROS program The World of Tomorrow. It will be broadcast on NPO1 on Monday 19 October 2020. An expert jury will nominate the winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2020.

The jury includes Hans Boumans – Technology Transfer Manager TNO, Lotte de Bruijn – Director NLdigital, Thomas Grosfeld – Specialist Innovation and Top Sector Policy of VNO-NCW, Mariëtte Hamer – Chairman of the Social and Economic Council, Geert Huizinga – Director of Advocacy FME, Mark Pehlig – Deputy Chairman Koninklijke NLingenieurs, Sjaak van der Tak – Chairman LTO Glaskracht Nederland, Doekle Terpstra – Chairman Technology Netherlands, Focco Vijselaar – Director General Business and Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, Pieter Waas – Director Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Economic Affairs Business and Climate, Henk Volberda – Professor of Strategy & Innovation, Amsterdam Business School, University of Amsterdam and Director of the Amsterdam Center for Business Innovation (research leader and jury chairman).

Click here for more information.

Demcon nominated for the German-Dutch Prize for the Economy 2020

1 October 2020 by Communication

We have been nominated for the German-Dutch Prize for Economy 2020. We received this nomination for, among other things, the development and realization of a production machine for medical mouth masks and a respiration system for corona patients in intensive care.

The public determines the winner by voting for their favorite. At the moment you can vote via this website. The other nominees are Royal Auping and Next Kraftwerke.

Read more about the production machine for the medical face masks and the DemcAir.

Demcon invests in LiGalli’s vaginal MedRing

1 July 2020 by Communication

More effective drug delivery and better diagnostics for women

Incontinence is an extremely annoying condition for which current treatment, in the form of pills, has many side effects. LiGalli has developed a unique vaginal ring that delivers controlled incontinence medicine in a liquid form, as a result, the woman experiences fewer side effects. LiGalli’s MedRing enables more effective drug delivery and better diagnostics, and is controlled via a smartphone app. In this way, incontinence can be treated in a targeted manner, so that women can go through their day with more control. Recently, technology developer and producer Demcon completed the development and first production of the MedRing on behalf of LiGalli. The partners are now working together on new versions of the MedRing, for the delivery of other medicines, and also for diagnostics. This week, LiGalli closed an investment round to finance the market launch of the first MedRing and the development of subsequent versions. In addition, LiGalli and Demcon have intensified their cooperation, as Demcon has also come on board as a new shareholder. “We want to build a Dutch company together”, says LiGalli CEO Willem de Laat, “and ensure that the benefits of our ring become available to as many women as possible.”

As many as one in six women suffer from an overactive bladder. There are medicines available in the form of pills, but these have many side effects. As a result, incontinence continues to be an extremely unpleasant condition for many women, hindering them in their daily lives and social activities. A ring that releases the drug oxybutynin in the vagina in liquid form offers a solution. This drug is expected to give a much better result, with fewer side effects. Due to its excellent perfusion, the vaginal wall is the ideal location for the effective uptake of medicines. There are already many types of vaginal rings, but they only provide the continuous delivery of a fixed dose of medicine. LiGalli has now developed a unique vaginal ring for controlled delivery, diagnostics, and communication. The patient is able to insert and remove the ring herself, and operate it with a smartphone app.

Second-generation vaginal ring
LiGalli was founded by Willem de Laat, who trained as a gynecologist and is the former chief medical officer of Organon. At Organon, he was responsible for introducing the first vaginal ring, the NuvaRing, for the delivery of contraceptives. Now he is the inventor of the second-generation vaginal ring. “As far as we can tell, our MedRing is the first and only one that is controlled from an app and can collect data for diagnostics. We have obtained a patent for this. The human body is not only able to absorb medicines, it also continuously sends out a lot of data about its own condition. Our ring is equipped with a temperature sensor that can measure whether the medicine has actually been delivered. Doctors have a lot of interest in this objective information, because until now they had to rely on patient confirmation. In the future, we will use specific sensors to also measure, for example, glucose or hormone levels. In addition to physiological data, we can collect therapeutic data so that drug delivery can be adapted to the measured values. In this way, with the help of the app, the doctor can tailor the treatment to the individual patient.”

Development partner and investor
LiGalli was looking for a partner to help develop the MedRing into a medical product. “We have searched all over the world for an engineering firm that is good at two things: medical product development and miniaturization. That’s how we ended up at Demcon. It was a very challenging job for them to build this ring with the right layout, the right materials, the correct functioning, and all of this in miniaturized form. They have succeeded in turning the ring into a beautiful product in which a small pump, a miniature medicine reservoir, electronics, an antenna, and a small battery have been correctly integrated. Their people are incredibly motivated to make the ring a success. In our meetings we sit around the table with an extraordinary group of people, featuring engineers and pharmacists, as well as a gynecologist, a biochemist, a patent expert, and more. Demcon CEO Dennis Schipper is a true entrepreneur and visionary. He shares his thoughts about the future of the company and the ring. There is a match between us, because neither of us wish to go for the quick buck – we want to build a Dutch company. The great thing is that Demcon is now also participating in our new investment round. That says something about their confidence.”

This week, LiGalli raised six million euros in new investments from existing and new shareholders, including Demcon as mentioned above. With this capital injection, LiGalli will finance the market introduction of the MedRing for incontinence medication, and the development of new MedRing applications, where Demcon will take care of both the hardware and the software. The operation of the ring has now been demonstrated, and Demcon has almost completed the assembly of the first rings. The first tests with the administration of oxybutynin in patients will follow in a few months.

Solution to a social problem
Demcon develops technological solutions to social problems, explains Jemy Pauwels, director investment at Demcon. “An overactive bladder affects more than 600 million people worldwide, most of them women, of whom about 100 million require treatment. In severe forms it can even lead to depression. The major advantages of LiGalli’s MedRing over alternatives are the reduced side effects and greater social acceptance. A further plus is the possibilities for monitoring the patient, also in the future for other conditions. Together with LiGalli we are looking for the ‘holy grail’: controlled drug delivery based on diagnostic measurements. As Demcon, we are happy to contribute to these new treatment options for women with engineering, production, and investment. We do this with confidence, because the current management has earned its spurs, and is supported by a wide range of skilled advisers and an expert supervisory board.”

About Demcon
Demcon (750 employees) develops, produces, and supplies technology and innovative products. The Demcon group has locations in Best, Enschede, Delft, Groningen (the Netherlands), Münster (Germany), and Singapore. The company was born out of the founders’ passion for combining creativity and technical skills aimed at solving complex issues. These issues are of a technological and social nature, and often have a direct or indirect impact on people and their living environment. Whether medical solutions, sustainable innovations for themes such as water and energy, or systems that guard our safety, Demcon contributes – for current and future generations. In addition to developing technical solutions, Demcon is committed to stimulating entrepreneurship, and investing in talent and education.

More information
For more information, please contact Renée Koekkoek op Munsterhuis, public relations & press officer at Demcon, tel. +31 88 11 52 000. See also www.ligalli.nl.

16 November 2020 – ZIE

11 March 2020 by Communication

On the 16th of November Demcon will be present at ZIE, the annual event of Holland Instrumentation. This year the main subject will be ‘People-oriented technology’. The conference brings entrepreneurs, scientists, investors and governments from the western Netherlands together and it shows opportunities for new products, new business, networks and financing opportunities.

For more information visit the website of Holland Instrumentation.

2 & 3 December 2020 – Kunststoffen

22 June 2020 by Communication

Demcon will be present at the Kunststoffen 2020 in Veldhoven on 2 & 3 December. This is the trade fair and meeting place for the entire plastic and rubber industry. For more information, visit the Kunststoffen website.

Demcon invests in Mellon Medical’s surgical instrument

15 June 2020 by Communication

Suturing reinvented for better quality of life

Abdominal wall closure after surgery is a time-consuming and critical job. In the conventional method – with needle holder, tweezers, and suture – the surgeon literally and figuratively has his hands full. The faster and more precise the suturing, the better the result, and for the patient that translates into a better quality of life after the procedure. Dutch company Mellon Medical has devised an instrument for fast and precise suturing using one hand: the Switch suturing device. Contact with technology developer and producer Demcon has resulted in a collaboration for the further development of the device and subsequent production. Now Demcon is also taking part in a new investment round, which provides Mellon Medical with the capital needed for entering the medical market with the Switch. “Surgeons worldwide are willing to learn this technique.”

Closing the abdominal wall requires supreme concentration from the surgeon, made more challenging as it has to be done just after performing major surgery. Handling a needle holder and tweezers, with which a semicircular needle is transferred, requires great manual dexterity using both hands. In this way the surgeon applies what are known as “big bites”: sutures that are one centimeter apart. Research led by Erasmus MC, published in top medical science journal The Lancet, has shown that “finer” suturing, with “small bites” five to seven millimeters apart, yields better results. It results in fewer complications – for example, the number of incisional hernias is halved. As a result, the number of repairs required is drastically reduced, and an estimated $2 billion a year in healthcare costs can be saved in the US alone.

Precision and quality
In the conventional way, however, applying “small bites” is difficult. Mellon Medical has come up with a solution: the Switch suturing device. This instrument has two jaws that the surgeon can move toward each other to automatically transfer a straight needle from one jaw to the other using only one hand. The surgeon then has their second hand free to present the tissue to be sutured. This improves the precision and thus the quality of the suture. In addition, the surgeon can suture twice as fast this way. Initial experiences were already very positive, declares Prof. Hans Jeekel, emeritus professor of surgery at Erasmus MC and co-author of the 2015 Lancet article. “At Erasmus MC, highly experienced surgeons have tested this instrument on patients for closing the abdominal wall. Their findings showed that this smooth instrument, even in the prototype phase, can contribute to a simple and precise application of the ‘small bites’ technique, which we think is essential for surgeons around the world to adopt over the coming years.”

Expert review
After Mellon developed the first design, they called in Demcon for an expert review in 2019. The review covered: whether the design is robust, what needs to be changed for use in general surgery (after first having sought application in vascular surgery), and is the Switch easy to produce? Another important question was, which indication technique can ensure that the sutures are placed exactly five to seven millimeters apart? The results of the expert review and the contact between Mellon and Demcon were so satisfactory that the partners decided to further collaborate on the development of the instrument and subsequent production. “We selected Demcon because they have a broad experience in medical product development,” explains Mellon CEO Jan Benschop. “In the Netherlands, they have everything in house for that: development, production, and quality control.” Demcon production has the necessary assembly facilities in place, and Demcon metal injection molding commands the appropriate technique for making the precision parts of the Switch.

Commitment
To underline the mutual commitment, Demcon is participating in the new financing round of €4 million, which Mellon concluded this month with its current shareholders Thuja Capital, regional development companies Oost NL and BOM, and RvO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency). The new investment will allow Mellon to introduce the Switch to the medical market. The global market for sutures and suturing devices is estimated at $3 billion a year. “Our instrument can accelerate the introduction of the ‘small bites’ technique for suturing,” Benschop says. “This can greatly improve the quality of life for patients and contribute to the reduction of healthcare costs.”

Collaboration
The partnership with Mellon is in line with Demcon’s views on corporate social responsibility, explains Jemy Pauwels, investment director at Demcon. “We develop technology that can provide solutions to social problems. Our conversations with surgeons have confirmed that this new instrument responds to the wishes of the medical world, making suturing much easier and faster, and thus increasing patient well-being and surgeon efficiency. As a result, the surgeon can perform the procedure themselves with more control, and is less dependent on OR assistants. In our expert review, we explored what our developers still have to do to arrive at a market-ready product. We also investigated the relevance of our production capabilities, and the height of a realistic cost price. We are now investing in Mellon because we have confidence in the potential of the product and technology, and in the quality of its management. That’s why we like to present ourselves as an engineering and manufacturing partner.”

About Demcon
Demcon (700 employees) develops, produces and supplies technology and innovative products. The Demcon group has locations in Best, Enschede, Delft, Groningen (the Netherlands), Münster (Germany), and Singapore. The company was born out of the founders’ passion for combining creativity and technical skills aimed at solving complex issues. These issues are of a technological and social nature, and often have a direct or indirect impact on people and their living environment. Whether medical solutions, sustainable innovations for themes such as water and energy, or systems that guard our safety, Demcon contributes – for current and future generations. In addition to developing technical solutions, Demcon is committed to stimulating entrepreneurship, and investing in talent and education.

More information
For more information, please contact Renée Koekkoek op Munsterhuis, public relations & press officer at Demcon via tel. +31 88 11 52 000. See also www.mellonmedical.com.