Prospects are looking healthy for Tyneside medical firm

Dec 1 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

In addition to winning 16 accounts in October and November, the company is now looking to the US market. It is waiting for approval from the US authorities to introduce the machine there at the turn of the year.

Mr Duggan said: “The US should be an enormous market. It is also highly automated. The growth in the States has already been more than 100% with manual products. It will be the biggest market going forward.”

The predicted extra business will lead to 50 more IDS jobs worldwide next year, although the company was unable to pinpoint exactly how many would be in Boldon, where it currently employs 82 people.

However, the headquarters has benefited from additional research and development (R&D) work, along with an IDS plant in Liege in Belgium, following the closure of its small R&D site in Finland.

The company is also continuing to develop its specialities. It plans to have six different products on the market by the end of March and a total of 10 by the end of next year.

It signed a licence in September with Newcastle-based Biosignatures Ltd to use new bio-markers associated with kidney disease. Mr Duggan said the company will continue to look for further acquisitions.