SPAIN OPERATING ROOM TEXTILES

Historic development - O.R.Textiles Hospitals used to prepare their O.R. textile packs. Outsourcing laundry service Low quality cotton products and poor laundry service for O.R. exigency. Introduction of disposable O.R. textiles New scenario for reusable O.R. textiles SPANISH MARKET

O.R. TEXTILE MARKET TODAY Disposables: 65% Cotton/Poly-cotton textiles: 30% Technical reusable textiles: 5% LAUNDRY GROUPS: –FLISA: 28 laundries –INDUSAL: 20 laundries SPANISH MARKET

19 REGIONS WITH OWN REGIONAL GOVERMENT AND ADMINSTRATION -Population of Spain: Nr. of hospitals: 750 -Surgical operations: Childbirths:

Strengths of DISPOSABLES Large sales organization Less warehousing space Lightweight O.R. packs Longer pack shelf life Perception of single use safety Convenient for nurses: Combipack Sealed joints critical and non critical areas (drapes) Easy to cover and uncover the patient Drapes incorporate incision films (Neuro, oftalmo, etc) Use of staples SPANISH MARKET

Weackness of DISPOSABLES Lowering prices when their costs are increasing Use and dispose off is no longer the future Tendency to recyclable products Still expensive Single use quality Less comfortable Less resistant Less friendly with environment SPANISH MARKET

Challenge for REUSABLE TECHNICAL TEXTILES Balance increasing costs with longer life of the products. Invest on increasing performance. - Textiles: auxiliary high absorbent materials, comfort, new fibers/new technologies. - Design of the drape systems and packs. - Keep ahead of disposables. SPANISH MARKET

FUTURE OF REUSABLES IN SPAIN Technical reusable concept is new. Possible increase of reusable gowns. Lack of processors/sterilization services. Opportunity for reusables. SPANISH MARKET

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