Bed purchasing costs rise with soaring fuel and materials prices
SPECTARIS, the German Industry Association for Optical, Medical and Mechatronical Technologies, has predicted a significant increase in the cost of hospital beds since double-digit price increases for raw materials and fuel has put manufacturers under pressure.
Along with energy costs, the manufacturers are particularly hit by price increases for steel, aluminium and wood – the major raw materials. With the situation being exacerbated by an innovation backlog, manufacturers have been forced to introduce rationalisation measures because the cost-saving potential has been fully exploited. ‘Companies will have to react to this development and pass on the cost increase to their clients,’ predicts Jan Wolter, director for medical aids at SPECTARIS.
In Germany, for example, the association estimates the turnover for hospital beds to reach about 100 million euros this year.
* SPECTARIS represents about 150 companies in the capital goods and medical aids sectors, which focus on high tech products and are strongly export-oriented. In 2007, German medical technology manufacturers reported a combined turnover of approx. 17.4 billion euros; 1,246 companies employed over 95,000 people.
28.10.2008
