With latest-generation medical devices, able to compete with those of the large American companies, and innovative, cutting-edge experimentation, from robots used in operating theatres to tiny micro-invasive products and telemedicine, Ab medica is a marvellous success story. The company was founded in Lainate, in the province of Milan, in 1984 and has grown year by year to arrive at a turnover of 63 million Euros in 2007.

The secret is to launch yourself into new challenges and surpass yourself, or at least this has always been the life philosophy of Aldo Cerruti, the company’s founder and CEO. We asked him, as the heart of ab medica, what were its strong points, which were the foreign market worth investing in and what were the challenges the company expects in the future.

Mr. Cerruti, what is the added value of ab medica?

Competence and very high quality machinery. We started off as importers of medical surgery and we now provide the best service in Italy.

In which foreign markets do you work most?

As far as foreign markets are concerned, we began with Switzerland, we are also well established in Croatia and we have now bought a company in the centre of France that produces steel surgical material. This allows us to integrate the production of sophisticated machinery, such as that for robotic surgery, with more commonly used instruments.

Are there any markets that could represent a challenge for the future?

I would say all of Europe. By this I mean that we view the entire European market as an inspiring challenge. We are looking in particular at dynamic countries such as Germany. Now that we have acquired credibility and made a name for ourselves, we also hope to be successful with a line of products that carries our own trademark.

What does the future hold for ab medica?

Certainly the most important investment we have made recently has been in telemedicine. We have just acquired the Aethra company in Ancona, which had valid capabilities in the field of telecommunications but was declared bankrupt. This company’s involvement in telemedicine and the realisation of the capabilities we had at our disposal led us to consider investing in this sector, as an important opportunity for growth. Telemedicine can save hospitals something like 500 Euros per day, which is the cost of admission to a hospital bed, and this can often be avoided by treating the patients at home with telematic instruments.

How important is it to invest in research and development?

It is fundamental. We used to rely on other companies for research and development but now we are trying to do it ourselves. We are testing remote subcutaneous electrodes, together with a world-famous neurosurgeon, that can detect the onset of epileptic fits, and we have an ongoing project involving a cardiac ring with the radiosurgery unit of the United Hospitals of Bergamo.