Ohio rises in medical equipment - State ranks 2nd in Midwest with 625 companies in field

3/12/2008

Ohio's manufacturing history might have been focused on automotive and industrial markets, but another industry has quietly risen to powerhouse proportions.

The state is now No. 2 in the Midwest for medical devices, with 625 manufacturers and distributors registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

BioEnterprise, a bioscience business development organization with offices in Cleveland and Akron, did an analysis of FDA registration records and found Ohio even surpassed well-regarded medical research hubs such as Georgia and North Carolina.

BioEnterprise President Baiju Shah said part of the growth comes from established manufacturers redirecting their specialized skills in materials and electronics toward the high-growth and profitable bioscience sector.

The equipment and expertise needed to manufacture precision industrial components and assemblies are similar to those needed for medical devices.

''From an industry-building perspective, our medical device firms are advantaged by having a vibrant, local supplier base,'' he said.

According to a recent BioEnterprise study, the bioscience sector now accounts for nearly 18 percent of Ohio's $146 billion economic output.

''The state should continue to encourage other traditional companies to participate in this growth sector,'' Shah said.

Leading the Midwest in medical device companies is Illinois, with 966, followed by: Minnesota (577), Michigan (448), Indiana (359), Wisconsin (350), Missouri (310), Kansas (145), Kentucky (103) and Iowa (83).

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