Gambro
Encyclopedia
Gambro is a global medical technology company
that manufactures products for Dialysis
treatment.
The company is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and
supplying products and therapies for Kidney
and Liver Dialysis, Myeloma Kidney Therapy, and other
extracorporeal therapies for Chronic and Acute patients.
Gambro was founded in Lund
, Sweden
in 1964 by Holger
Crafoord and has approx. 8,000 employees, production
facilities in 9 countries, and sales in more than
100 countries.
invented one of the first artificial kidneys in 1961. Three years later he met industrialist and businessman Holger Crafoord
who was impressed by Alwall’s invention and felt compelled to develop and market this life-saving innovation.
The development of single-use artificial kidneys began in Lund
, Sweden
and mass production started in 1967 with the “Ad-modum-Alwall” dialyzer. The company adopted the name Gambro, which is the abbreviation of the original Swedish company name: “Gamla Brogatans Sjukvårdsaffär Aktiebolag". Roughly translated, this means “The Old Bridge Street Medical Supplies Company". The company’s first plant outside Sweden was built in Hechingen
, Germany
in the 1970s. In 1983, Gambro became listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. On April 3, 2006, Indap AB, joint-owned by Swedish investment companies EQT and Investor AB
, announced a public cash offer to the shareholders of Gambro to acquire all outstanding shares in the company. The new ownership structure of Gambro became effective in June 2006.
In recent decades, Gambro’s range of products and therapies has grown - through the introduction of new products, as well as several acquisitions, such as Hospal in 1987, COBE in 1990 and the latest addition of CHF Solutions Inc. in 2010. CHF Solutions designs and manufactures therapies and products for treating fluid overload by means of ultrafiltration
.
The company says it focuses on bringing new innovative products and therapies to the market and today owns the rights to more than 1800 patents. Gambro has 350 R&D employees in 4 locations all over Europe.
The company has offices and representatives in more than 100 countries. Around 350,000 chronic renal disease patients are treated with Gambro products every year; this is approximately one quarter of all dialysis patients worldwide.
that manufactures products for Dialysis
Dialysis
In medicine, dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure...
treatment.
The company is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and
supplying products and therapies for Kidney
and Liver Dialysis, Myeloma Kidney Therapy, and other
extracorporeal therapies for Chronic and Acute patients.
Gambro was founded in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1964 by Holger
Crafoord and has approx. 8,000 employees, production
facilities in 9 countries, and sales in more than
100 countries.
History
Professor Nils AlwallNils Alwall
Nils Alwall , a Swedish professor, was a pioneer in hemodialysis and the inventor of one of the first practical dialysis machines. Alwall pioneered the technique of ultrafiltration and introduced the principle of hemofiltration...
invented one of the first artificial kidneys in 1961. Three years later he met industrialist and businessman Holger Crafoord
Holger Crafoord
Holger Crafoord was a Swedish industrialist and founded Gambro along with Nils Alwall, a company that would commercialize Alwall's research into artificial kidneys. He donated the initial funds for the establishment of the Crafoord Prize for scientific research.-See also:*Lund School of Economics...
who was impressed by Alwall’s invention and felt compelled to develop and market this life-saving innovation.
The development of single-use artificial kidneys began in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and mass production started in 1967 with the “Ad-modum-Alwall” dialyzer. The company adopted the name Gambro, which is the abbreviation of the original Swedish company name: “Gamla Brogatans Sjukvårdsaffär Aktiebolag". Roughly translated, this means “The Old Bridge Street Medical Supplies Company". The company’s first plant outside Sweden was built in Hechingen
Hechingen
Hechingen is a town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated about south of the state capital of Stuttgart and north of Lake Constance and the Swiss border.- City districts :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the 1970s. In 1983, Gambro became listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. On April 3, 2006, Indap AB, joint-owned by Swedish investment companies EQT and Investor AB
Investor AB
Investor AB is a Swedish investment company, founded in 1916 and still controlled by the Wallenberg family through their foundation asset management company FAM. The company owns a controlling stake in several large Swedish companies with smaller positions in a number of other firms. In 2006 it had...
, announced a public cash offer to the shareholders of Gambro to acquire all outstanding shares in the company. The new ownership structure of Gambro became effective in June 2006.
In recent decades, Gambro’s range of products and therapies has grown - through the introduction of new products, as well as several acquisitions, such as Hospal in 1987, COBE in 1990 and the latest addition of CHF Solutions Inc. in 2010. CHF Solutions designs and manufactures therapies and products for treating fluid overload by means of ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration is a variety of membrane filtration in which hydrostatic pressure forces a liquid against a semipermeable membrane. Suspended solids and solutes of high molecular weight are retained, while water and low molecular weight solutes pass through the membrane...
.
Organization
Gambro has production facilities in 9 countries. The company’s newest plant is a manufacturing facility in Opelika, Alabama, USA which started production in 2009. The largest manufacturing facility is located in Hechingen, Germany, employing approx. 1,380 people.The company says it focuses on bringing new innovative products and therapies to the market and today owns the rights to more than 1800 patents. Gambro has 350 R&D employees in 4 locations all over Europe.
The company has offices and representatives in more than 100 countries. Around 350,000 chronic renal disease patients are treated with Gambro products every year; this is approximately one quarter of all dialysis patients worldwide.