07.20.23
Rank: #14 (Last year: #15)
€8.50 Billion ($9.07 Billion)
Prior Fiscal: €7.86 Billion ($8.9 Billion)
Percentage Change: +8.1%
R&D Expenditure: €541M
No. of Employees: 65,055
Global Headquarters: Melsungen, Germany
KEY EXECUTIVES:
Anna Maria Braun LL.M., CEO, Region Asia Pacific, B. Braun Avitum Division
Dr. Annette Beller, Member of the Board Finance, Taxes and Controlling, Central Service Departments
Priv-Doz. Dr. Stefan Ruppert, Member of the Board Chief Human Resources Officer and Director Labor Relations
Markus Strotmann, Member of the Board, Hospital Care Division
Dr. Jens von Lackum , Member of the Board, B. Braun Aesculap Division
Jean-Claude Dubacher, Chairman & CEO, B. Braun of America Inc.
Plastic waste from medical devices and its manufacturing has been an ongoing concern for some time—but with greater attention put toward environmental impact in recent years, the spotlight has perhaps never been brighter. Fortunately, many companies are attempting to tackle the issue, trying to resolve it within their own firms, which, of course, could lead to best practices other organizations could replicate.
In the latter portion of 2022, B. Braun announced it had secured a state grant to fund a recycling project involving medical plastics waste. The goal of the effort was reported to leverage advanced technology to recycle non-hazardous plastic waste from the company’s Hanover Township manufacturing site and the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cedar Crest Hospital.
Scrap materials from the B. Braun location as well as packaging materials, non-PVC IV bags, disposable gowns and masks, and irrigation bottles from the hospital would be collected and recycled. Both organizations are working with PureCycle Technologies, a company that uses a patented technology to separate color, odor, and other contaminants from certain non-hazardous plastic waste feedstock to transform it into virgin-like recycled polypropylene.
“This project provides an opportunity to make a big impact on the growing challenge of reducing plastic waste from hospitals in our healthcare system,” said Pennsylvania Senator Pat Browne, Chairman of the PA Senate Appropriations Committee, who helped secure the grant. “I commend B. Braun and Lehigh Valley Health Network for having the vision to work together to address this important sustainability issue.”
Its recycling project wasn’t the only positive environmental news to involve B. Braun during its 2022 fiscal. According to WFMZ-TV, a regional news outlet for the area, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the company’s Allentown facility was not among the 23 highest risk locations involving ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions. During the agency’s Dec. 1 webinar, it also stated the firm didn’t break any rules regarding those emissions.
The EPA based its assessment on data from a two-year study that ended in July 2022. It was also revealed the risk radius for exposure to the emissions dissipated at a quarter to a half mile from the site.
During the EPA’s webinar, a representative of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was complimentary of B. Braun and the actions taken to eliminate as much risk as possible. The company worked with the DEP to update equipment to minimize the EtO emissions. “Once it became clear that there was a risk in that area, B. Braun proactively installed controls,” explained Andy Sweitzer, air quality environmental group manager for the state DEP. “I wish other facilities were as proactive as B. Braun.”
B. Braun’s FY22 financials also had a positive story to tell. The firm finished the year with an 8.1% rise over the prior year. In real figures, that translated into €7.86 billion in 2021 to grow to €8.5 billion in 2022. Gains were enjoyed across every region of the world in which the firm sells medical products with the exception of Germany, which saw a minor decrease year over year.
Digging deeper, each of B. Braun’s three primary businesses each posted growth in their sales figures. Hospital Care jumped 10.1% to close its books at €4.54 billion, attributed to inflation-driven price adjustments and stable demand. The Aesculap division mirrored its sister segment with a 10% progression over the previous year, adding €2.06 billion to the company’s coffers. These gains were primarily a result of increases in demand for knee and hip implants, surgical instruments, and suture materials. With a modest 1.7% bump, the Avitum division came in at €1.86 billion, noting extracorporeal blood treatment therapies as a leading reason.
In 2022, B. Braun also took a number of steps to ensure its financials continue to travel in the right direction. In the middle of the year, it launched its new Introcan Safety 2 IV Catheter with one-time blood control. The product was developed with clinician safety in mind as it reduced needlestick injury risk and blood exposure. The device’s Blood Control Septum is designed to restrict the flow of blood from the catheter hub after needle removal until first connection of a Luer access device.
Continuing with the IV products topic, the company also declared it had gained the FDA’s approval for a new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Daytona Beach, Fla. It was stated the site would produce 0.9% sodium chloride for Injection in the organization’s Excel Plus IV Bags (available in both 1,000 mL and 500 mL sizes). B Braun noted the Daytona Beach facility was part of its more than $1 billion investment to address IV fluid shortages in the United States.
Addressing another challenge (this one regarding a cybersecurity concern), the company announced it earned UL 2900-2-1 (Software Cybersecurity for Network-Connectable Products, Part 2-1: Particular Requirements for Network Connectable Components of Healthcare and Wellness Systems) certification for its Space Infusion Pump System. The achievement was accomplished through the UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program.
According to a news release, the evaluation included a review of all of B. Braun’s development processes for software to determine if they reflected “cybersecurity best practices and a security-minded approach.” It also involved an examination of internal processes to determine the organization’s ability to inform customers of cybersecurity issues, mitigate them, and provide updates.
“The value of integrated systems must never be taken at face value without also remembering that cyberattacks are a serious threat in any clinical setting,” said Jonathan Stapley, senior director marketing—Active Devices at B. Braun. “The importance of taking proactive steps to minimize risk cannot be overstated. We sought third-party experts at UL Solutions to evaluate our Wireless Space Infusion Pumps and the processes that support them to confirm that.
The company also sought to expand its product catalog through M&A. This transaction (financial details were not disclosed) involved the onboarding of the Clik-FIX catheter securement device portfolio from Starboard Medical. The Clik-FIX portfolio is comprised of several components.
Maintaining an eye on the future, September saw a ribbon cutting ceremony for an expanded Allentown, Pa., plant. The 310,000-square-foot facility boasts approximately 110,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The company explained that while the location was designed for high-speed, high-volume automation, it should provide 300 to 500 jobs in the coming years.
A final noteworthy development for B. Braun during its 2022 fiscal was its collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a research hospital, to generate technologies that would improve patient care and enhance the well-being of healthcare workers. Citing the challenges of the pandemic and the stresses it caused for hospital staff, Hiyam Nadel, MBA, CCG RN, director of the Center for Innovations in Care Delivery at MGH, predicted many ideas for solutions could come from those same professionals. Through a combination of B. Braun’s incubator team with the clinical expertise of MGH staff, innovations could be conceived that would help with the difficulties faced, especially in addressing digital documentation fatigue. It was reported B. Braun and MGH intended to publish findings of the venture in hopes of commercializing those with the greatest potential.
€8.50 Billion ($9.07 Billion)
Prior Fiscal: €7.86 Billion ($8.9 Billion)
Percentage Change: +8.1%
R&D Expenditure: €541M
No. of Employees: 65,055
Global Headquarters: Melsungen, Germany
KEY EXECUTIVES:
Anna Maria Braun LL.M., CEO, Region Asia Pacific, B. Braun Avitum Division
Dr. Annette Beller, Member of the Board Finance, Taxes and Controlling, Central Service Departments
Priv-Doz. Dr. Stefan Ruppert, Member of the Board Chief Human Resources Officer and Director Labor Relations
Markus Strotmann, Member of the Board, Hospital Care Division
Dr. Jens von Lackum , Member of the Board, B. Braun Aesculap Division
Jean-Claude Dubacher, Chairman & CEO, B. Braun of America Inc.
Plastic waste from medical devices and its manufacturing has been an ongoing concern for some time—but with greater attention put toward environmental impact in recent years, the spotlight has perhaps never been brighter. Fortunately, many companies are attempting to tackle the issue, trying to resolve it within their own firms, which, of course, could lead to best practices other organizations could replicate.
In the latter portion of 2022, B. Braun announced it had secured a state grant to fund a recycling project involving medical plastics waste. The goal of the effort was reported to leverage advanced technology to recycle non-hazardous plastic waste from the company’s Hanover Township manufacturing site and the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cedar Crest Hospital.
Scrap materials from the B. Braun location as well as packaging materials, non-PVC IV bags, disposable gowns and masks, and irrigation bottles from the hospital would be collected and recycled. Both organizations are working with PureCycle Technologies, a company that uses a patented technology to separate color, odor, and other contaminants from certain non-hazardous plastic waste feedstock to transform it into virgin-like recycled polypropylene.
“This project provides an opportunity to make a big impact on the growing challenge of reducing plastic waste from hospitals in our healthcare system,” said Pennsylvania Senator Pat Browne, Chairman of the PA Senate Appropriations Committee, who helped secure the grant. “I commend B. Braun and Lehigh Valley Health Network for having the vision to work together to address this important sustainability issue.”
Its recycling project wasn’t the only positive environmental news to involve B. Braun during its 2022 fiscal. According to WFMZ-TV, a regional news outlet for the area, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the company’s Allentown facility was not among the 23 highest risk locations involving ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions. During the agency’s Dec. 1 webinar, it also stated the firm didn’t break any rules regarding those emissions.
The EPA based its assessment on data from a two-year study that ended in July 2022. It was also revealed the risk radius for exposure to the emissions dissipated at a quarter to a half mile from the site.
During the EPA’s webinar, a representative of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was complimentary of B. Braun and the actions taken to eliminate as much risk as possible. The company worked with the DEP to update equipment to minimize the EtO emissions. “Once it became clear that there was a risk in that area, B. Braun proactively installed controls,” explained Andy Sweitzer, air quality environmental group manager for the state DEP. “I wish other facilities were as proactive as B. Braun.”
B. Braun’s FY22 financials also had a positive story to tell. The firm finished the year with an 8.1% rise over the prior year. In real figures, that translated into €7.86 billion in 2021 to grow to €8.5 billion in 2022. Gains were enjoyed across every region of the world in which the firm sells medical products with the exception of Germany, which saw a minor decrease year over year.
Digging deeper, each of B. Braun’s three primary businesses each posted growth in their sales figures. Hospital Care jumped 10.1% to close its books at €4.54 billion, attributed to inflation-driven price adjustments and stable demand. The Aesculap division mirrored its sister segment with a 10% progression over the previous year, adding €2.06 billion to the company’s coffers. These gains were primarily a result of increases in demand for knee and hip implants, surgical instruments, and suture materials. With a modest 1.7% bump, the Avitum division came in at €1.86 billion, noting extracorporeal blood treatment therapies as a leading reason.
In 2022, B. Braun also took a number of steps to ensure its financials continue to travel in the right direction. In the middle of the year, it launched its new Introcan Safety 2 IV Catheter with one-time blood control. The product was developed with clinician safety in mind as it reduced needlestick injury risk and blood exposure. The device’s Blood Control Septum is designed to restrict the flow of blood from the catheter hub after needle removal until first connection of a Luer access device.
Continuing with the IV products topic, the company also declared it had gained the FDA’s approval for a new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Daytona Beach, Fla. It was stated the site would produce 0.9% sodium chloride for Injection in the organization’s Excel Plus IV Bags (available in both 1,000 mL and 500 mL sizes). B Braun noted the Daytona Beach facility was part of its more than $1 billion investment to address IV fluid shortages in the United States.
Addressing another challenge (this one regarding a cybersecurity concern), the company announced it earned UL 2900-2-1 (Software Cybersecurity for Network-Connectable Products, Part 2-1: Particular Requirements for Network Connectable Components of Healthcare and Wellness Systems) certification for its Space Infusion Pump System. The achievement was accomplished through the UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program.
According to a news release, the evaluation included a review of all of B. Braun’s development processes for software to determine if they reflected “cybersecurity best practices and a security-minded approach.” It also involved an examination of internal processes to determine the organization’s ability to inform customers of cybersecurity issues, mitigate them, and provide updates.
“The value of integrated systems must never be taken at face value without also remembering that cyberattacks are a serious threat in any clinical setting,” said Jonathan Stapley, senior director marketing—Active Devices at B. Braun. “The importance of taking proactive steps to minimize risk cannot be overstated. We sought third-party experts at UL Solutions to evaluate our Wireless Space Infusion Pumps and the processes that support them to confirm that.
The company also sought to expand its product catalog through M&A. This transaction (financial details were not disclosed) involved the onboarding of the Clik-FIX catheter securement device portfolio from Starboard Medical. The Clik-FIX portfolio is comprised of several components.
- Clik-FIX Peripheral catheter securement device: An all-in-one integrated securement device with bio-occlusive dressing.
- Clik-FIX PICC/Central catheter securement device: A universal device designed to secure most peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and central catheters with an active dual locking mechanism.
- Clik-FIX Universal catheter securement device: Designed to stabilize and secure any medical tubing junction with a Luer lock connection.
- Clik-FIX Neonatal PICC catheter securement device: Compatible with most neonatal PICC lines, it features a soft foam securement base with no hard plastic parts to cause pressure, bruising, or trauma to a baby’s skin.
- Clik-FIX Soft PICC/Central securement device: With a soft foam securement base and no hard plastic parts to cause pressure, bruising, or trauma to the skin, it is also compatible with most PICC and central lines.
Maintaining an eye on the future, September saw a ribbon cutting ceremony for an expanded Allentown, Pa., plant. The 310,000-square-foot facility boasts approximately 110,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The company explained that while the location was designed for high-speed, high-volume automation, it should provide 300 to 500 jobs in the coming years.
A final noteworthy development for B. Braun during its 2022 fiscal was its collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a research hospital, to generate technologies that would improve patient care and enhance the well-being of healthcare workers. Citing the challenges of the pandemic and the stresses it caused for hospital staff, Hiyam Nadel, MBA, CCG RN, director of the Center for Innovations in Care Delivery at MGH, predicted many ideas for solutions could come from those same professionals. Through a combination of B. Braun’s incubator team with the clinical expertise of MGH staff, innovations could be conceived that would help with the difficulties faced, especially in addressing digital documentation fatigue. It was reported B. Braun and MGH intended to publish findings of the venture in hopes of commercializing those with the greatest potential.