Medilink North West News Spring 2014 | Seite 2

FORWARD CHRIS MEREDITH MANAGING DIRECTOR ADVANCED MEDICAL SOLUTIONS GROUP PLC (AMS) beginnings in 1991, we now have a global customer base, manufacture out of four countries and employ over 400 people. To achieve the success we have to date has taken a lot of hard work, a skilled and committed workforce and of course a portfolio of innovative wound care products. As a company that has enjoyed significant growth over the last 10 years we would certainly advise budding entrepreneurs to make the most of the help that can be provided by organisations such as Medilink. As a Medilink member it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this SME themed issue of Medilink North West News. AMS is a UK-based developer and manufacturer of world-leading advanced wound care and wound closure products, based in Winsford, Cheshire. AMS has been in existence for almost 25 years – and from humble NEW MEMBERS ACT Meters International Ltd (Corporate) Supplier of specialist test equipment and alarm troubleshooting products Find out more in our ‘Focus On’ feature on page 8. www.actmeters.com Butters Innovation (Corporate) Product innovation consultancy See more in our ‘Meet a Member’ feature on page 7 www.butters-innovation.co.uk Research & Innovation Services Liverpool John Moores University (Associate) New service created by the realignment of three individual service teams See more in our ‘Expert View’ feature on page 6 www.ljmu.ac.uk/RIS/ Touchstone Medical (Corporate) Distributors of innovative products for niche healthcare markets www.touchstonemedical.co.uk 02 Being a Medilink member has helped us to engage across the Healthcare Technology sector, including new markets, new technology and ways to improve patient care, whilst also providing us with up-to-date information and support in areas such as innovation and funding. Another important organisation looking forward will be the new Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs). Fast tracking new product development and then securing early adoption of new products into the NHS has always been a challenge for UK businesses. We welcome the creation of AHSNs, which have a remit to speed up the adoption of new technologies to support service transformation and to work much closer with local businesses to stimulate wealth. This issue of Medilink North West News has a two-page feature on SMEs with case study examples (page 4-5) of how companies from the region are attempting to take their organisations to the next level. The importance of SMEs to the British economy cannot be understated – and I am delighted that organisations such as Medilink can provide support to help healthcare technology companies in order to achieve commercial success and ultimately provide improvements to patient care. To find out more about Advanced Medical Solutions please visit: www.admedsol.com