PRESS RELEASE
The Żywiec-based medical equipment and technology manufacturer takes another step in its development and enters the Brazilian market. This is the 122nd country on Famed Żywiec’s export map. The company has had a successful first half of 2024, with revenues 30 per cent higher than in the same period last year.
The years of the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed the weakness of the Brazilian healthcare system, resulting in increased spending on medical technology and services. Demand in this area has markedly increased over the past few years, and nearly two thousand local manufacturers are only partially meeting it.
– In Brazil’s medical market, however, quality really plays a big role, meaning that around 60% of medical equipment is imported, mainly from the United States and Germany. The third main foreign supplier is China. In this competition, the advantage Polish companies have over local manufacturers is technological superiority. ” We are competitive compared to Western European products because we can offer rich functionality at more favourable prices – points out Karolina Orlandi, Business Development Manager, PAIH Trade Office in São Paulo.
– After the first very successful medical fair, where our surgical tables were presented, we are very optimistic about our development in the Brazilian market. To get noticed in such a competitive environment, you need to stand out by using advanced technologies and innovative product solutions. This is precisely how we operate at Famed, so we approach competition without fear and with enthusiasm. Our portfolio of operating tables is optimally tailored to the needs and requirements of the local market – says Paulina Sulecka-Adamek, International Sales Director at Famed Żywiec.
Famed Żywiec tables are ranked among the global leaders in technological advancement. Among other things, the company is one of the pioneers in using carbon fibre for its manufacture, which enhances the capabilities of the equipment in, for example, imaging and minimally invasive surgery.
In the first half of the year, Famed Żywiec increased its sales revenue by 30 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. The company’s total revenues amounted to PLN 47.6 million. The good financial performance of the Żywiec-based medical equipment manufacturer is confirmed by the title of Business Gazelle.
– We plan to maintain such sales growth dynamics until the end of the year, and investments also strengthen our brand. In Q1 and Q2 of this year, they totalled more than 5 million and will exceed 7 million throughout the year. These include investment in the expansion of the machinery pool, but with a view to growth, we are also implementing product innovations – points out Paweł Tomala, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Famed Żywiec.
The company is planning another innovation in the operating table segment in the second half of the year, which is related to introducing a new proprietary control system.
– As a result, Famed Żywiec operating tables will be unrivalled in terms of patient positioning precision, and this aspect remains crucial from a doctor’s perspective. Hospitals expect equipment that is of good quality to ensure many years of use. This trend gives us grounds for optimism. We have been consistently developing our products in this direction for years, skilfully combining extensive functionality with durability and a competitively priced offer – sums up Michał Grossy, R&D and Marketing Director at Famed Żywiec.
Brazil is the largest economy in South America. The seventh most populous country in the world has a market of over 200 million people, which translates into its consumer potential. In 2023, Brazil ranked ninth in the world in terms of GDP.
After years of crisis and economic and political turmoil, the country has regained relative stability and is opening up to international investment and commodities. Brazil trades heavily with China, the European Union and the United States, among others, while remaining a protectionist country that safeguards domestic production.
– There is a lot of untapped potential in trade between our countries. In 2023, exports to Poland included USD 1.750 billion worth of goods, while in the same period, USD 850 million worth of Polish products arrived in Brazil. The most frequently imported products were pharmaceuticals, including animal medicines, automotive parts, inputs for the processing industry, electrical machinery and equipment, electrical generators and power generation machinery – comments Karolina Orlandi.
Some Polish companies already have manufacturing plants in Brazil. These include Selena (construction chemicals), Boryszew (rubber parts for vehicle air-conditioning systems) or CanPack (aluminium cans).
– Still, Brazilians most often associate Poland with Pope John Paul II or Robert Lewandowski. In states with concentrations of Polish communities, awareness is somewhat greater. I believe Polish brands will soon create good associations in Brazil,” says the PAIH representative. “The Brazilian market takes time and a proper entry strategy, but the efforts of companies that commit to the process will be rewarded by the huge business opportunities that abound here. It is certainly worth including a presence in Brazil in your development strategy, investing in growth in the market and visiting trade fairs as Famed Żywiec has recently done – concludes Karolina Orlandi.