Innovate Orthopaedics, a revolutionary orthopaedic business that moved into the 3M BIC in 2014, has relocated to larger premises at The Globe, a new innovation centre in Slaithwaite, as it gets ready for further expansion following a recent break into international export markets.
Founded by husband-and-wife team, Alex Gutteridge and Hannah Longbottom, Innovate set out to challenge the way medical devices are designed, working directly with surgeons to create solutions to existing problems in surgery, with a specific focus on sports injuries.
Since it was established, its flagship product has been sold across private hospitals in the UK, some NHS hospitals, and currently exports to New Zealand and Israel.
Innovate’s move to The Globe from the 3M BIC marks the next stage in the business as it moves to larger premises to allow it to expand its team following a successful year breaking into the export market. The business looks set to double its turnover as it works towards FDA approval and finalising distribution agreements for exporting to the US.
As a tenant at the 3M BIC, Alex and Hannah have been able to take advantage of the facilities on offer to help the business grow. Working with the in-house design team they were able to produce iterative CAD designs and visualisation of its first custom surgical instrument and produce prototype variations of the surgical instrument in both polymer and surgical stainless steel.
Commenting on the move, Hannah said: “The move to The Globe has been in the pipeline for a while. It is the perfect next step for our business as we continue to grow. We need larger premises to store and distribute our products and expand the team, we’re also local to the building, which is ideal.
“Since we established Innovate in 2014, the 3M BIC has been an invaluable platform that has enabled us to kick-start the business and build on the international company it is now. We have been very fortunate to have had access to the Centre’s expertise to create prototypes, evaluate ‘first-off’ designs, collaborate with academic institutions and ultimately be involved in publishable research that contributes to the scientific community.
“We’re very much looking forward to what the future holds for Innovate, as well as playing a bigger part in the Slaithwaite community where we already have our roots.”
Click here to find out more about Innovate.
