Unomedical - Birthplace of Modern Wound Dressings

Hospital patients all around the world owe a debt of gratitude to the West Midlands. It was here that one of the first modern wound dressings was developed by a Redditch-based company called Unomedical. Wounds can heal five times faster and dressing changes are virtually painless since the introduction of Sorbsan, the world's first calcium alginate dressing.

The reason for this is that alginate - which is extracted from seaweed - creates a moist environment that aids natural healing. Unomedical was the first company to develop the technology for extracting this vital ingredient. In association with another West Midlands company, Acordis, Unomedical produced the first commercial alginate dressings in the 1980s. Today, Sorbsan remains one of the most popular brands of wound dressing across Europe, the US, Australia and Japan.

Since winning the Queens Award for Industry in 1989, Unomedical has continued to pioneer more effective forms of wound dressing. In recent years, it has introduced dressings for each stage of wound healing and for different types of wounds.

Historically, the company has always played an important role in the worldwide medical industry. It began here more than 200 years ago as a manufacturer of ophthalmic (cannulae) and speciality needles. By then, Redditch already had a worldwide reputation for needle manufacturing, and it has continued to this day. Unomedical remains one of the top 3 cannulae manufacturers in the world. Marketing Manager, Tom Moss explains:

"There is a concentration of skills within this area. The history of needlemaking here means that the knowledge and expertise is just not available anywhere else. It has enabled us to remain at the forefront of the ophthalmic needle industry for generations."

As well as leading the development of wound care, Unomedical is also a pioneer in the ophthalmic industry. In association with an ophthalmic surgeon, it recently developed a laparoscopic cholangiography needle and it is actively involved in creating a new range of ophthalmic products to correct squints and repair damage to the retina. The company supplies cannulae for the recently emerged lasik procedure, which carries out focal length correction through laser eye surgery. All products are developed and manufactured in the West Midlands.

Tom concludes:

"We are ideally situated here. The company is in close proximity to other pioneers in the medical field, such as Acordis in Coventry. We are at the heart of the UK road and rail network, which is vital for distribution, and we are just a few miles from Birmingham International Airport."

The future for the company looks bright. Unomedical is continuing to lead the development of modern wound care and to work with ophthalmic surgeons to produce an increasingly sophisticated and specialised range of cannulae. That's good news for the medical profession and it means faster recovery and less pain for patients.

Interview given by Tom Moss, Marketing Manager.

For more information about Unomedical visit www.unomedical.com.