“Avalon Laboratories provides connections
to life.”
October 2, 2007 — Avalon Laboratories Mexico Ships its 1,700,000th Cannula
August 1, 2006 — Terumo and Avalon Laboratories Extend Exclusive Supply Agreement to 2013
May 1, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories to Supply New Organ Transplant Cannula for TransMedics
January 1, 2006 — Medtronic and Avalon Laboratories Sign New 7 Year Exclusive Supply Agreement
October 3, 2005 — Avalon Laboratories Announces Completion and Validation of Mexico Facility
May 3, 2004 — Avalon Laboratories Announces Creation of New R&D Operation in Michigan
Avalon Laboratories Mexico Ships its 1,700,000th Cannula
Rancho Dominguez, CA — October 2, 2007 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has shipped 1,700,000 cannulae from its manufacturing facility in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Avalon Mexico, a division of Avalon Laboratories LLC., manufactures critical components and cardiovascular cannulae in a brand new, state of the art facility. Avalon Laboratories expanded to Mexico in late 2005 to increase manufacturing capacity and reduce labor costs.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “This is another important milestone along the way of delivering to our customers the best product at the right cost. Over the last 2.5 years Avalon Mexico has truly become a world class operation and I am extremely proud of the entire company for continuing to meet the needs of our customers. We have successfully transferred Avalon’s unique manufacturing process and core company principles to our plant in Mexico. Avalon’s long time culture of manufacturing excellence has been integrated into the Mexico facility in order to ensure the best health care solution to patients and a better product to our customers.”
Avalon Laboratories and AorTech International plc Sign Exclusive Supply Agreement for Advanced Materials
Avalon Gains Exclusive Access to Elast-Eon For Catheters and Cannulae
Rancho Dominguez, CA — December 4, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has secured a worldwide exclusive Supply Agreement with AorTech International. The 10-year agreement provides Avalon with exclusive access to AorTech International’s Elast-Eon material for cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary catheters and cannulae.
Elast-Eon, a patented material developed by AorTech International, is a high silicone content polyurethane copolymer with unique biostable and hemo-compatible properties. Elast-Eon is a hybrid material combining the biostability of silicone with the strength and durability of polyurethane.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “The Elast-Eon material has some remarkable properties and it has found important applications in several implantable products. We’ve been extremely impressed with this innovative material and believe it will have a tremendous benefit to the new products we are developing. The first catheters and cannulae using Elast-Eon will be for innovative support devices to be introduced in 2007.”
Avalon Laboratories Acquires License to Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Cannula
Avalon signs Exclusive IP License Agreement with The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Rancho Dominguez, CA — September 19, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has secured a worldwide exclusive license to intellectual property from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston relating to work done by Joseph Zwischenberger, M.D. and Dongfang Wang, M.D. on a novel double lumen extracorporeal life support (ECLS) cannula. The new double lumen ECLS device will allow single site percutaneous cannulation and is designed to provide total respiratory support for ICU patients when coupled with an external pump and oxygenator.
Under the terms of this exclusive license agreement, Avalon will manufacture, market and distribute the innovative ECLS device. Avalon will also collaborate with UTMB’s Dr. Zwischenberger and Dr. Wang on further development of extracorporeal life support cannula.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “This license agreement with The UTMB at Galveston represents an extremely important expansion to our intellectual property portfolio and proprietary product pipeline. This ECLS cannula and its derivatives have the potential to be the key to a new platform of care for ICU patients in urgent need of respiratory support. The cannula is designed to address the health problems associated with mechanical ventilators and current limitations of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.”
Avalon Laboratories Announces Shipment of 500,000th Cannula Produced in Mexico Facility
Avalon Mexico Celebrates Milestone
Rancho Dominguez, CA — September 15, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has shipped the 500,000th cannula manufactured at Avalon Mexico in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Avalon Mexico, a division of Avalon laboratories, provides world class cardiovascular cannula manufacturing in a lower cost environment.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “The people who worked hard to create Avalon Mexico did a phenomenal job. The transfer teams from our California and Michigan operations did an amazing job of taking our U.S. based manufacturing processes and replicating and even improving them in our Avalon Mexico operation. This 500,000th cannula production milestone reflects the successful achievement of our goals when we designed Avalon Mexico.”
Terumo and Avalon Laboratories Extend Exclusive Supply Agreement to 2013
Avalon to Manufacture Over 100 Different Product Codes for Terumo Cardiovascular Systems
Rancho Dominguez, CA — August 1, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has extended its exclusive supply agreement with Terumo Cardiovascular Systems through 2013.
Under the terms of the agreement, Avalon will exclusively manufacture all of Terumo’s dipped arterial and venous heart cannulae until 2013 along with other components. Arterial and venous cannulae are the flexible tubes that are used during heart surgery to connect a patient’s heart with a heart/lung machine. Avalon has been a supplier to Terumo for more than 16 years and currently manufactures more than 100 different product codes for Terumo Cardiovascular Systems.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “Avalon greatly appreciates the relationship we have with Terumo Cardiovascular Systems and we look forward to continuing this partnership through the life of this agreement and beyond.”
Avalon Laboratories to Supply New Organ Transplant Cannula for TransMedics
Avalon to Manufacture Novel Cannula for TransMedics’o; Organ Care System
Rancho Dominguez, CA — May 1, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has reached an agreement to manufacture new perfusion and drainage cannula for TransMedics’ Organ Care System.
TransMedics’investigational technology is designed to maintain organs for transplant in a warm functioning state outside of the body. Avalon will manufacture all cannula necessary to maintain blood oxygenation for the transplant organ in the TransMedics Organ Care System.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “This is a totally new application for our core technology and a valuable step forward for organ transplant recipients. We are pleased that Avalon cannulae are integral components of TransMedics’ Organ Care System.”
Medtronic and Avalon Laboratories Sign New 7 Year Exclusive Supply Agreement
Avalon to Manufacture Over 165 Different Product Codes for Medtronic’s Cardiac Surgery Business
Rancho Dominguez, CA — January 1, 2006 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has secured a new 7 year supply agreement with Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT). Under the terms of this agreement, Medtronic will purchase all their dipped arterial and venous cannulae as well as other cannulae and components exclusively from Avalon. Arterial and venous cannulae are the flexible tubes that are used during heart surgery to connect a patient’s heart with a heart/lung machine.
Avalon has been a supplier for Medtronic since 1990 and currently manufactures more than 165 different product codes for Medtronic’s cardiac surgery business. Avalon was owned by Medtronic from 1996 to 2002. In 2002, the founder Robert Foster repurchased the company. This new supply agreement is an extension of long standing manufacturing agreements between Avalon and Medtronic.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “Medtronic is an extremely important customer of our business. We have a long and successful history of helping Medtronic bring to market these life saving products.“
Avalon Laboratories Announces Completion and Validation of Mexico Facility
Production of First Cannulae to Begin Immediately
Rancho Dominguez, CA — October 3, 2005 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has completed the construction, equipment installation and manufacturing process validation of its cardiovascular cannula manufacturing facility in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. The production of the first cannulae transferred from current Avalon product lines will begin immediately.
Michael Kelly, President of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “When we designed Avalon Mexico we started with a clean sheet of paper. In the layout of the plant we took the best ideas from our U.S. operations and successfully replicated them in our Guaymas facility. The inauguration of production at Avalon Mexico is part of our commitment to being the lowest cost as well as the highest quality manufacturer of cardiovascular cannula.”
Avalon Laboratories Announces Planned Construction of Low Cost Manufacturing Facility in Guaymas, Mexico
Avalon Signs Agreement with The Offshore Group to Create New Low Cost, World Class Facility
Rancho Dominguez, CA — March 3, 2005 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has entered into a 10 year agreement with The Offshore Group to provide Avalon with outsourced manufacturing support in Mexico. Avalon plans to construct and operate a low-cost, world-class cardiovascular cannula manufacturing facility in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.
The Offshore Group partners with medical device, electronics, aerospace automotive and optics manufacturers to reduce the overall costs and risks related to the intricacies of doing business in Mexico. Companies that work with The Offshore Group do so via an agreement with Offshore International, Inc. of Tucson, Arizona, and, therefore, operate in Mexico within the framework of the U.S. legal system.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “Avalon Mexico will be fully integrated with our U.S. operations in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and our headquarters in Rancho Dominguez, California. At Avalon Mexico we will replicate our U.S. manufacturing process in a lower cost environment. Initially, we will move the production of several existing product lines to our Guaymas operation. Ultimately, Avalon Mexico will be our primary cannula manufacturing facility.”
Avalon Laboratories Signs Agreement with West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative
Locates New R&D Operation in Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences
Rancho Dominguez, CA — May 13, 2004 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative to locate Avalon’s new research and development operations at Grand Valley State University's new Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bill Sidor, Vice President for Research and Development of Avalon, will head the R&D operations at the new facility.
The West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative is located in Grand Valley State University's new $60 million Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, and is a partnership between the Right Place, Inc., Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Valley State University, the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Community College.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “The West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative has been incredibly helpful in securing for us a spectacular location for our new research and development operations.”
Avalon Laboratories Announces Creation of New R&D Operation in Michigan
Bill Sidor, formerly of DLP/Medtronic, named New Avalon V.P. for R&D
Rancho Dominguez, CA — May 3, 2004 — Avalon Laboratories announced today that it will create a new Research and Development operation in Michigan to develop new products for contract cannula customers and innovate new proprietary products. Bill Sidor, former Director of Research & Development at DLP/Medtronic Cardiac Surgery, has been named Vice President for Research and Development of Avalon, and will head the new R&D operation.
Robert Foster, CEO of Avalon Laboratories, commented, “Avalon is currently the premier manufacturer of cardiovascular cannula. This new research and development operation will allow us to leverage our knowledge of cannula manufacturing processes and extend our expertise into product development. Our ultimate goal is to enable Avalon to have the ability to turn a cannula concept into a finished product.”
Bill Sidor, Vice President for Research and Development of Avalon, added, “I see the creation of Avalon’s new R&D operation as a great opportunity to coalesce some of the best technical talent in the industry in one company and push the boundaries of cannula development.”
About Avalon Laboratories
Avalon Laboratories, headquartered in Rancho Dominguez, California, is the leading supplier of cardiopulmonary vascular cannulae in the world, manufacturing more than three-quarters of all wire reinforced venous and arterial cannulae used globally. Cardiopulmonary vascular cannulae are critical disposable components that connect patients to heart/lung machines and other support devices. Avalon combines science, technology, and innovation to provide the highest quality cannulae to help medical professionals deliver superior health care and save lives.
