Leaders in powered surgical instruments
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deSoutter Medical
 
 
About Us        
  • Profile
  • Design & Development
  • Sales & Distribution
  • Manufacturing & Quality
  • Our History
 
 
Company Profile
MANUFACTURING & QUALITY
 
 

Company Profile

Founded in 1990, De Soutter Medical is a leading European manufacturer of surgical power tools. Our goal is to develop and produce advanced surgical cutting solutions for a rapidly changing global healthcare market.

De Soutter Medical produces first class, cost effective surgical power tools. Through continuous product research and development, we are developing new technologies and expanding our intellectual property portfolio. This ensures that we remain at the cutting edge of the medical power tool market, and respond directly to our customers’ needs.

The De Soutter Medical product range is primarily focused on the orthopaedics and trauma marketplace. Our instruments are used for both large and small bone surgery.

We also manufacture powered instruments for maxillo-facial, oral, ENT, cardiothoracic, neuro, spinal and plastics procedures.

Our surgical range includes both modular and dedicated instruments, with a choice of battery, electric or pneumatic power options.

In addition, we produce a full range of cast saws and autopsy saws. All De Soutter Medical surgical instrument systems are supported by an extensive range of sterile packed consumables, comprising the Stericut® line of burs and blades, and the unique ECO Pulse™ lavage system.

Design & Development

At De Soutter Medical, we fundamentally believe in the need for continual investment in research and development (R&D). This ensures that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation.

All of our products are designed and developed in house by our team of world class specialist engineers. Our design team incorporates a broad range of engineering disciplines, from mechanical and electronic to manufacturing and software. 

De Soutter Medical has developed close relationships with leading surgeons and clinical staff over many years, throughout the UK and overseas. This has provided a valuable insight into surgical practices, and enabled our design team to test and develop innovative solutions to problems in the operating room.

Whilst offering excellent clinical performance, our products continue to fulfil the specific needs of surgeons and their teams.

We continue to invest heavily in R&D, which demonstrates our commitment to remaining at the cutting-edge of the medical sector. We are forward thinking. Our intellectual property portfolio is continuously expanding, enabling De Soutter Medical to retain competitive advantage

As part of our R&D programmes, De Soutter Medical has a growing relationship with universities and we welcome the knowledge that these organisations can bring from their specialisms. If you are interested in joining our growing design team, please contact us through our Careers Page.

Sales & Distribution

De Soutter Medical is a leading European manufacturer of surgical power tools. Our goal is to develop and produce advanced surgical cutting solutions for a rapidly changing global healthcare market.

We offer our customers a comprehensive range of quality products, which are both technically innovative, and represent optimal long-term value.

The company has established direct sales organisations in the UK, Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy. More recently, we opened a US sales office in North Carolina. The rest of the world is serviced with an ever-growing network of specialist distribution partners, which currently extends to more than sixty countries. If you wish to join our successful team of distributors, please register today and ‘become a distributor’. We would be delighted to welcome you.

MANUFACTURING & QUALITY

Our products are manufactured to the highest quality standards at our purpose built facility in Aston Clinton. Our assembly technicians and test engineers are highly skilled. The Aston Clinton site also houses our clean room packaging plant, which processes our sterile packed blades, burs and drills.

Most mechanical component parts are machined at our world class Tewkesbury plant, using the latest CNC turning, grinding and machining centres.

These operations take place under one roof which means we have complete control over every process. It also allows us to continually make improvements to our quality and efficiency. In turn, this enables us to better meet our commitment to the rigorous international quality standards.

The company is accredited to ISO 13485 and all our products comply with the appropriate European CE marking Medical Directives. Likewise most products are FDA registered.

Our History

Start timeline
1883 to 1916
1924 to 1962
1970 to 2000
2005 to 2017
2019 to Today
 
1916

The production of duralumin limbs required numerous holes to be drilled, which were very difficult to produce with the machinery of the day. Charles draws on his experience of making air motors for his model aeroplanes and develops the world’s first six cylinder pneumatic drill.

1914

In 1914, Charles and Marcel set up Desoutter Bros at 73 Baker Street, London, specialising in the manufacture of lightweight limbs. The outbreak of the First World War sees an increase in the demand for artificial limbs.

1913

Louis’ second son, Marcel, works as a mechanic and part-time exhibition pilot at the Bleriot flying school in Hendon. Sadly, in 1913 he is involved in a crash and breaks both legs. One leg is amputated above the knee and he is fitted with a wooden leg. Marcel's younger brother, Charles, uses his experience as a model maker to design and make the world's first lightweight articulated duralumin leg.

1883

In 1883, Louis Albert Desoutter, a French watchmaker, settles in England and in time, starts his own business in Maddox Street, London. He has six children; all five sons are apprenticed as fully trained watchmakers.

1916
1914
1913
1883
 
1962

Charles’ son, Roger Desoutter, is appointed Managing Director of Desoutter Bros. Under his astute management, the business grows into an international market leader of industrial power tools, establishing subsidiaries in the USA, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Austria and South Africa.

1949

The limb division is sold, enabling the business to concentrate on developing industrial power tools. The company’s medical heritage is maintained with the launch of its first surgical tool - the M8B bone drill. By 1951 the company had gone public, forming Desoutter Bros Holdings plc, and the range of industrial tools is broadened further still.

1939

With the outset of the Second World War the company extends its range of aircraft tools, in particular the development of the M2 Mighty Atom corner drill is designed to drill rivet holes in Spitfire wings.

1924

By the early 1920s the company had outgrown its Baker Street premises and Desoutter Bros moves, to what was then, a green field site in Colindale. Charles continues to take out patents to protect the unique features of the company’s lightweight limbs.

1962
1949
1939
1924
 
2000

The company relocates to a new 12,000 sq/ft site in Berkhamsted and launches the MCX range; its first generation surgical battery tool system.

1995

A clean room facility is commissioned, and the Stericut® range of single use saw blades and burs is launched. The company achieves ISO 9001/EN46001 accreditation. In 1997, the MPX MultiDrive™ modular large bone system is introduced, offering exceptional power to weight for hip and knee surgery.

1990

In 1990, Desoutter Bros Holdings is acquired by Atlas Copco, a Swedish compressed air group. The small medical division is sold to the Desoutter family as a private company, forming De Soutter Medical Ltd. The new business relocates to a 3,000 sq/ft facility in Kings Langley. The M100 surgical tool range and the CC1 cast cutter are now manufactured by the newly formed company.

1970

The company continues to expand and develop industrial power tools and automation systems, becoming an industry standard for the automotive, aerospace and consumer goods industries.

2000
1995
1990
1970
 
2017

In 2017 we launched our osteodrive™ small bone system with improved ergonomics, unique attachment recognition and class-leading performance.

2016

Our Netherlands branch office was successfully opened in 2016, perfectly located near Utrecht, in the centre of the Netherlands.

2015

2015 saw De Soutter Medical celebrating 25 years of supplying high quality medical equipment as an independent company. However, as can be seen, our heritage and production of precision instruments stretches back some 100 years.

2011

On completion of a new 35,000 sq/ft facility in Aston Clinton, the company is able to expand its research and development activities. This enables new manufacturing techniques to be adopted, which in turn, reinforces De Soutter Medical's confidence in the future. In the same year, two significant products were launched. Firstly, the orthodrive® system, a high performance large bone power tool, and secondly Lithium Ion batteries, with a unique integral fuel gauge.

2005

The construction of a purpose built manufacturing facility in Tewkesbury is completed, and an extensive investment program in CNC machinery is implemented. The company expands its surgical range to include systems for shoulder, ankle, ENT, spinal, neuro and hand surgery.

2017
2016
2015
2011
2005
 
2022

The company launches the first and only Carbon Neutral Pulse lavage. In a changing world, the Eco Pulse P30 range offers customers a number of savings.

2020

Continuing the 'gold standard' for plaster rooms, the CC7 CleanCast™ System is released. We listened to our customers for many years, to develop the smaller, lighter, user friendly cast saw system.

2019

Named after the Ancient Egyptian God of magic and medicine, the hekaDrill™ high speed motor was the first product to feature innovations such as customisable user profiles and wireless foot pedals.

2022
2020
2019
 
 

 

 

 

 

About Us

About Us

De Soutter Medical continues to produce first class, cost effective surgical power tools which respond directly to our customers’ needs

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About Us

Servicing

Our service team is available to answer any questions about De Soutter Medical equipment before and after sales

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About Us

Products

For further information on any of our innovative powered surgical instruments please do not hesitate to contact us

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