Atlas Copco Medical Gas Solutions showcased its cutting-edge product and service portfolio by hosting a customer day at the company’s head office in Jet Park, Johannesburg, on 20 June 2019.

The event presented customers with the opportunity to learn more about the product portfolio through presentations by Charl Ackerman, Business Line Manager of Atlas Copco’s local Medical Gas Solutions division and Mark Allen, Vice President, Medical Marketing, Medical Gas Solutions division, Atlas Copco USA. “The day also gave our valued customers insight into our state-of-the-art solutions during a product expo and provided a perfect platform to address their questions on a one-on-one basis,” explains Ackerman.

“Our comprehensive medical gas suite includes medical and surgical air plants, medical vacuum and oxygen plants, anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (AGSS), manifold control systems, medical gas alarm panels and pipeline components from BeaconMedæs, part of the Atlas Copco Group.” The portfolio also extends to the supply of Laboratory gas equipment.

Atlas Copco products, whether in the industrial, mining or medical space, are defined by quality. In health care facilities, ultra clean medical gasses, which are pharmaceuticals, are vital life support functions that are critical to patient safety.  So when it comes to the quality and reliability of medical air, vacuum and oxygen, there can simply be no compromise. In line with Atlas Copco’s commitment to responsibility and accountability, all BeaconMedæs medical products which are classified as medical devices, adhere to the European Pharmacopoeia monograph and strictly comply with international standards - ISO 7396-1 and HTM 02-01. All products are designed and manufactured to the ISO 13485 quality management systems.

Ackerman is also pleased to announce that Atlas Copco’s licensing application for the BeaconMedæs medical gas solutions portfolio has been approved by SAHPRA (the South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority). “The licence which is in line with recent amendments to regulations relating to medical devices and in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) in terms of Section 22C (1)(b) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965, was granted on 31 May 2019 and allows Atlas Copco to manufacture medical devices.”

Discussing the importance of compliance in the medical industry, Allen emphasised that at the end of the day it is all about the patient. “With patient safety being the most important thing accomplished by standards, the importance of adhering to these standards and regulations can never be underestimated.

Furthermore, the first rule of medical gas is ‘always supply the patient’, and with our ISO 7396-1 compliancy, we ensure that our products not only meet the three non-negotiables of quality, quantity and continuity of gas and air supply but also address the three potential problems that surround the supply of medical gas i.e. no gas, bad gas or the wrong gas.”

Following the presentations, customers stepped outside where they had the opportunity to get a close-up view of all the products on display. They expressed their appreciation that Allen travelled from the USA to share his valuable knowledge and give them a deeper understanding of the medical air and gas solutions. Describing the day as “most informative”, Roland Whitfield from Dynamic Air Solutions in Durban commented that he thoroughly enjoyed viewing the actual products up close.

Des Naude from Medical Gas Solutions, a company responsible for installing medical gas solutions all over the Northern Cape including Kimberly, considered the customer day to be most relevant not only to his business but also to the South African health industry as a whole. Dickon Wash from Mediclinic Gauteng North (Tshwane) was impressed by the fact that Atlas Copco was not trying to sell but rather educate the customers on their medical air solutions offering.

Summing up the event, Allen said, “It was a great pleasure to be part of this presentation and to interact with people within the medical gas industry. Our aim is to build long-term partnerships with customers and this will be something that will be done step-by-step over time. Through our medical gas solutions products, we aim to improve the standards of medical gas solutions in the healthcare industry.”

Atlas Copco purchased Beacon Holdings Corp, parent company of BeaconMedæs and Medaes Ltd., in 2006, positioning BeaconMedæs as the global competence centre for medical solutions within Atlas Copco. Having established deep roots across the entire medical gas industry, BeaconMedæs is a market leader in innovative medical gas and laboratory systems and services providing complete solutions for health care facilities, source equipment to plant room. With customer centres in 180 countries, Atlas Copco caters to the compressed air, pneumatic tools, and medical equipment sectors.