On Solid Ground

The foundation is the quiet hero when building a house, although it is rarely discussed, founding your house on a solid base is key to ensuring it stays firm no matter what may come. In the same way that every house needs a solid foundation, every surgeon needs solid medical devices that are able to rise to meet their needs under every circumstance. With over 25 years on the market under our belt, ALBOMED GmbH is a time-tested pioneer in the development, manufacture and distribution of modern viscoelastics. We offer a full portfolio of viscoelastics, on which ophthalmologists and orthopedic surgeons alike can build their practices, with the peace of mind that only comes from knowing that you’re in safe and expert hands.

ALBOMED is one of a select few companies focused solely on viscoelastic technology and devices. This specificity, alongside our determination to uncover all there is to know about viscoelastic substances, our drive to be the manufacturer of choice for our customers, and our German quality and precision, has resulted in our story being one of continuous success as we have developed, produced and distributed medical devices up to risk class III in accordance with the European directive and legislation. Alongside this, our ophthalmic products have been MDR registered since January 2022, and we have grown to capture a 30 percent market share in our home country of Germany.

Our journey started in 1995 with our first product, Pe-Ha-Visco, which was based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Pe-Ha-Visco provided a less expensive and easier to manufacture alternative to the natural viscoelastic, derived from rooster comb, that were the only options prior. Later we introduced bio-fermented sodium hyaluronate which has greater viscosity – enabling it to maintain space more effectively in the eye, making surgery safer and more effective. From there we have also introduced Pe-Ha-Guard, a wetting agent also based on HPMC that hydrates the epithelium of the eye during ocular surgery.

As we have continued to innovate and expanded both our portfolio and company, we have aimed to continue to offer the small-business feeling – even if we are now medium-sized – with scope for further growth. We do this, by championing innovation and flexibility as core tenets, and bringing knowledgeable and experienced people into the ALBOMED family – many of whom have years, if not decades in the ophthalmic business – from all across Europe. However, we are not only an Own Brand Label (OBL) manufacturer, but have also enjoyed years of fruitful collaboration with a wide variety of international collaboration partners – including renowned institutes, clinics and universities. One of our greatest strengths is meeting the individual needs of our customers by offering professional support in the development of new viscoelastics, implementation of individual development steps, and resolving of any potential issues.

Alongside this, we work with our suppliers and collaboration partners to make sure that any products borne out of these collaborations meet the same extremely high-quality requirements that we place on our OBL products – we received our first CE certificate in 1997 and, from this year, are certified according to the ISO 14001 environmental managements system. However, we don’t stop at merely obtaining certificates, but instead make sure that we comply with additional standards including pharmacopoeia and GMP, and subject our management system to regular internal and external audits. It is through efforts like this, constantly evolving and developing our processes, adapting to market changes and the dedication of each and every one of our employees that ALBOMED has become synonymous with excellence, a reputation that we are continually striving to further solidify.

By clustering our experience and knowledge, we have managed to build up our presence on a global scale and, today, we export our high quality products all around the world. Both our collaboration partners and our OBL customers appreciate ALBOMED’s superior quality which surpass the standards of the medical device industry, something you have probably already experienced – as we have a lot of brands in the market it is likely that you have actually used ALBOMED products without even knowing it! We recognize that our products may not be the center of attention, but the truth is without viscoelastics there is no modern ophthalmology surgery possible. In the same way that you shouldn’t have to worry whether the foundation of your house is about to give way, you shouldn’t have to worry about the viscoelastics you use during surgery. Although we can’t necessarily say for sure about the building you’re in right now (though you should be fine...), if you’re using ALBOMED products, you’re definitely on solid ground.