Philips and Sectra extend successful PACS technology partnership
12/3/2002 3:00 AM EST
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) and Sectra, the Swedish-
based IT and medical technology provider, today announced they have
extended their global partnership for another five years, to maximize
their complementary strengths in PACS (Picture Archiving and
Communication Systems).
Philips is the world's leading customer choice for PACS and under the
terms of the agreement Sectra will continue to provide the core image
management technology in Philips' PACS.
Philips and Sectra have an established and proven partnership that began
in 1997. Together the companies have shown repeatedly that they have
succeeded in being first to market with cutting-edge PACS solutions, at
the same time providing customers with some of the highest uptimes
recorded in PACS.
"Purchasing a radiology PACS represents a major financial investment so
it is essential that customers are confident that the system they choose
is scalable and future-proof", commented Stan Smits, head of Philips'
Medical IT. He continued, "Our continuing partnership with Sectra
reinforces Philips' total commitment to provide leading PACS solutions
that offer customers an open platform for expansion and a long-term
relationship for the future."
"Working together, Philips and Sectra offer rock-solid system stability
and speed-to-market, making today's partnership agreement a winning PACS
combination," added Torbjörn Kronander, president of Sectra Imtec AB,
Sectra's medical division. "Philips Medical Systems is a highly
successful and competent global partner with a professional sales and
support organization. Through our co-operation, Philips' PACS offerings
are helping to improve and increase effectiveness of healthcare for
customers throughout the world."
Philips and Sectra have garnered numerous top rankings for PACS in
customer surveys and expert evaluations. Earlier this year research firm
Frost & Sullivan awarded Sectra its European Product Quality Award in
PACS.
Philips and Sectra extend successful PACS technology partnership (page
2)
About PACS
The benefit of PACS to streamline workflow within a radiology department
and beyond is well documented. PACS enables the electronic management of
images and reports, which dramatically impacts the radiology operation
by improving patient care through more rapid turnaround of images and
reports to referring physicians and clinicians.
About Sectra
Sectra Imtec AB is one of today's major PACS providers with more than
300 PACS installations worldwide. The Swedish-based company operates
through partners in most of the world, but delivers directly to end-
customers in some markets. Sectra's core business is to deliver top-of-
the-line high-availability, robust enterprise PACS for 24/7 operation.
In Sweden and Norway, which are currently the countries with the largest
penetration of PACS in the world, Sectra holds a dominant market
leadership with more than 50 per cent of all film-free installations.
The company has its largest number of installed systems in Sweden,
Norway, Finland and Denmark but has also systems installed in Italy,
Germany and the US. Philips PACS, using Sectra technology, has a large
installed base in the US, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands,
Turkey, Portugal, Switzerland and the Far East. For more information,
visit www.sectra.se
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's
biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR
32.3 billion in 2001. It is a global leader in color television sets,
lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient
monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 184,000 employees in more than
60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics,
domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems.
Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt,
Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at
www.philips.com/newscenter.
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For further information please contact:
Philips Europe: USA:
Diana van Dongen Heidi Wilson
Tel: +31 40 27 64718 Tel: +1 978 659 7302
Sectra Torbjörn Kronander Jan-Olof Brüer
President Sectra Imtec AB Group Manager Sectra AB
Tel: +46 13 23 52 27 Tel: +46 13 23 52 09