Synthes

Synthes, Inc. was a Swiss- American medical technology company. The company developed, produced and marketed instruments, implants and biomaterials for the surgical treatment of bone fixation, correction and regeneration of the human skeleton and its soft tissues.

In June 2012, Synthes was taken over by the American company Johnson & Johnson.

Synthes employees worldwide about 10,000 people and generated 2009 sales of 3.394 billion U.S. dollars. The company was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1996. Main shareholder was with a share of 40 percent of the Chairman and long-time CEO, Hansjörg Wyss.

History

The company has its roots in the 1954 by Reinhard Straumann founded in Waldenburg Institut Straumann, which spawned the Straumann Group. The Institut Straumann specialized in the development of new metal alloys, testing of material properties and the exploration of practical applications. In 1974, the North American operations of Straumann under the name Synthes USA was independent and directed from 1977 by Hansjörg Wyss.

In 1990, the fixation division was spun off in a management buyout of the former Institut Straumann AG under the name Stratec and headquartered in Oberndorf. In 1996, the IPO of Stratec. 1999 Stratec was merged with the also spawned from the Institut Straumann USA Synthes Synthes -Stratec, Inc. 2003 saw the acquisition of specialized on the development of artificial discs Spine Solutions. In 2004, Synthes -Stratec osteosynthesis division of Mathys Medical Ltd founded in 1946 and became Synthes, Inc..

2011/2012 Synthes was sold to the American pharmaceutical and consumer goods manufacturer Johnson & Johnson for 19.7 billion U.S. dollars and has since been conducted under the name of DePuy Synthes.