With a view to explore and expand its market reach across the globe the Brazilian Medical Devices Manufacturers Association (ABIMO) in collaboration with Apex-Brasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) is set to showcase its technologically advanced products at MEDICA 2012 in Düsseldorf, Germany.  By participating in this event, the association plans to utilise this platform to exhibit their highly competitive equipments manufactured by the Brazilian health devices companies developed through intensive research and innovation techniques.

In line with the growing demand for innovative technology, more than 70 per cent of the Brazilian companies producing health equipment are investing in technological research and innovation. As a result of these efforts, exports of high technology products by the medical and electro-medical industries have seen a 34 per cent increase in 2011.

This was the highest growth amongst overall health equipment sector for the period. Brazil's health equipment companies have earmarked 3.6 per cent of their revenues to research and development (R&D) in order to maintain their high quality and expand into new markets, ensuring that the country becomes more competitive within the sector.

The Brazilian health devices industry brand was launched in the last year's edition of MEDICA and this year, Brazil will arrive in Düsseldorf aiming to outdo its results from 2011, when the companies led by ABIMO closed deals to the tune of US$ 22 million.

The participation of Brazil's health equipment companies at MEDICA is coordinated by ABIMO, in partnership with Apex-Brasil, with an aim to increase the export of Brazilian products. Worldwide.

According to the Brazilian Medical Devices Manufacturers Association (ABIMO) vice president Paulo Fraccaro, “In order to survive and grow in a sector such as ours, which requires high technology, constant research and development, the industry needs to innovate. Thus we constantly take initiatives and develop programmes to encourage technological innovation and research within the health sector's industries.”

Citing examples he pointed out that the Inova Saúde (innovating health) award, an annual prize given to companies that stand out for their innovative manufacturing technologies is one such incentive. Companies interested in participating this event need to prove that their product is the result of an increased competitive edge, has potential in the international market, is original, confers advantages and is environmentally friendly.

In addition to stimulating technological development, ABIMO also gives precedence to sustainable development, leading it to support the CTI (Renato Archer Center for Information Technology) coordinated AMBIENTRONIC Programme. The programme, is the first of its kind to promotes the manufacturing of electrical and electronic products in an environmentally correct manner, without impacting on their ability to compete.

Brazilian companies in the electro-medical sector comply with the restrictions regarding the use of hazardous substances in their products and processes, in conformity with the demands in force in the international market. For example, they are already gearing themselves up for the new European Union legislation that, as of 2014, will require compliance with the RoHS directive, which prohibits the use of heavy metals in the equipment. They will also comply with WEEE, another directive, which requires electrical and electronic products to be made of at least 70 per cent of recyclable material.