Middle East Contributes Double Digits to profit of Hartmann FZE

The Middle East region has contributed double digits to Paul Hartmann Group's AED 7.75 billion (Euro 1.5 billion) group turnovers in 2009.

The group's success is due in part to the AH1N1 flu pandemic scare worldwide, according to an official of the pharmaceutical company based at the Dubai Airport Freezone.

"2009 is the best year for us, we have not been adversely affected by the financial crisis and we even enjoyed double digit growth last year due to increased hygienic measures implemented by healthcare centres as preventive measures against AH1N1 swine flu pandemic," said Alexander Burger, Managing Director of Paul Hartmann Middle East.

The HARTMANN GROUP is a multinational company operating in the field of medical and hygiene products. The core of the product portfolio offered under the HARTMANN brand is formed by professional system solutions in the areas of wound management, incontinence hygiene, and risk prevention in the operating theater. Complementary products and supplementary services round out the range for medicine and hygiene.

The focus is on products and services for professional users in hospitals, doctors' practices, nursing homes, and home-care services. HARTMANN offers innovative all-in-one solutions made up of user-friendly products and fit-to-purpose services - helping in this way to make everyday work to enhance patients' well-being that bit more efficient and cost-effective.

Established in the Dubai Airport Freezone in 2004, the 100-year old German company is able to access destinations in the Gulf and Africa in 15 minutes. Hartmann's office in the Freezone deals with subsidiaries in Libya, Kuwait, Oman, to Singapore and India and other countries in the Sub-Continent. Mr. Burger said the company has 9,000 employees worldwide.

Distinguishing his company from competitors from Asia, Mr. Burger said, "Our emphasis is on the quality of products and after sales support. We aim to be the partner of health care institutions and not just a supplier unlike other Asian countries who compete in price."

Explaining his decision to open a branch at the Dubai Airport Freezone, he said "Apart from the convenience of access to the airport, we like the quality of service of the Freezone administration. I have noticed the high quality of service which had been standardized."

Mr. Burger said he sees a tremendous potential in the Middle East market. As a company, we aim at an annual growth of 20 per cent and to be No. 2 in terms of market share."

He added that HARTMANN participated in Arab Health where the company promoted a new concept in operating room using the latest technology.

"The health care and pharmaceutical sector is a fast growing segment among tenants at the Dubai Airport Freezone and the Freezone continues to exert an effort in this direction to increase the number of companies by participating in exhibitions such as Arab Health," said Mr. Nasser Madani, Assistant Director General, Dubai Airport Freezone. "Currently, the Freezone has 75 multinational and major healthcare and pharmaceutical companies operating."

Other Group activities include product ranges for the end consumer, such as feminine hygiene products, cosmetic cotton wool products, a wide range of first-aid products, the Kneipp product range and retail business, as well as home-based services for elderly people.

In 2008, the share of total sales of the HARTMANN GROUP by business segment was as follows: Wound Management 29.8% or 410.5 million EUR, Incontinence Management 37.3% or 513.7 million EUR, Operating Theater Management 15.5% or 214.0 million EUR, Other Group Activities 17.4% or 238.8 million EUR.

Based in Heidenheim, Germany with a worldwide workforce of 9,582 (as at December 31, 2008) and sales of AED 7 billion (1.38 billion EUR) in 2008, the Group's main market is Europe. It generates 91.7 % of its net sales in Europe; Germany alone accounts for 33.9 %.