Rural Devon location inspires worldwide success
Devon is already home to world class, innovative businesses and a campaign by Devon County Council is aiming to make it easier for companies and entrepreneurs to move to the county and be part of its on-going success story.
Devon Delivers (www.investdevon.co.uk) is highlighting the wide range of businesses that have played a part in Devon’s economy growing faster than the national average over the past decade.
That growth is set to continue, with investment in vital infrastructure making Devon even better connected. Companies looking for the next stage of growth or entrepreneurs looking to grow a new business are being encouraged to find out that Devon Delivers...
Rural location inspires family business
Family-run businesses still remain an essential part of the local economy in Devon and SRA Developments Ltd can truly count itself among them.
Starting in 1978, when the Young family moved to a farmhouse near Ashburton, the company was initially founded by Dr Mike Young operating as a one-man-band consultancy, giving advice on a range of industrial applications of ultrasound.
SRA Developments has since gone on to become a market leader in ultrasonic medical products. Its ground-breaking innovations have helped improve surgical techniques, benefiting patients around the world, and enabling the company to compete with multi-national corporations.
It was an appearance on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World in 1988 which sparked a series of events that transformed the company.
Dr Young featured on the TV programme with his innovative device for cutting ceramic tiles, using an ultrasonically vibrating tungsten carbide tip to score through kitchen and bathroom wall tiles. An orthopaedic surgeon who saw the tile-cutter being demonstrated on the show, called the company to see if the same technology could be harnessed for removing bone cement from revision hip replacements.
After a few weeks of testing, Dr Young had developed a novel concept for a surgical tool capable of removing the cement. He filed patent applications which formed the basis of ground breaking technology known worldwide as OSCAR.
Dr Mike Young, Managing Director of SRA Developments, recalls: “With OSCAR, we were being asked to solve the biggest challenge encountered by surgeons during hip replacement operations - removing the special surgical cement (PMMA) which integrates into the bone to hold metal implant ball and socket joints in place. Traditionally high-speed pneumatic drills or chisels were used to remove this bone cement, but that would often result in fractures of the femur.
“However, OSCAR achieved a breakthrough by being able to melt the surgical cement whilst leaving the cortical bone unharmed; a high-pitched warning tone clearly indicating to the surgeon the extent of cement margins.
“The early product development stages represent a commercially vulnerable period for a Small and Medium Enterprise, urging the identification of venture capital funding or a well matched trade partner. We found a trade partner willing to make an investment under reasonable terms; this partnership laid the foundations for a successful business which has been able to deal with the complex regulatory requirements of the medical device industry and set in place robust intellectual property protection through international patent and trade mark filings.”
Not only is OSCAR now used globally and is the market leader in the UK and the USA, but most crucially it has also saved thousands of broken bones and reduced patient length of stays.
SRA Developments has built on its experience with OSCAR to develop the LOTUS ultrasonic scalpel.
The company worked closely with surgeons across the South West to develop the tool which coagulates and cuts soft tissue in keyhole (laparoscopic) and open surgery, keeping blood loss to a minimum. Its innovative delivery of ultrasonic energy is considered faster, safer and easier to use than other devices – enabling many patients to go home the same day as their surgery.
SRA Technical Director, Dr Steve Young, highlights that: “There are many technical challenges that we face when developing hi-tech surgical equipment. It can all start with a ‘eureka moment’, but then the research, design and development stages all take time and great cost.
“Working closely with surgeons we can quickly gauge which ideas are worth pursuing. By understanding the requirements of surgeons and patients, we can design high-performance, ergonomic, cost-saving devices for the NHS and international markets.”
LOTUS is sold in over 30 countries, netting SRA Developments around £4 million in annual sales, and in 2010 it won the highest award that can be awarded to a UK company - the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innnovation.
The company firmly believes its tranquil location is a contributory factor in its achievements and successful development of its innovative products.
Dr Mike Young says: “Over the years we have gathered an excellent team from all around Devon – the talent is here in Devon. You don’t have to be based near London to be a hi-tech trailblazer. We have found in South Devon an ideal environment for us to be a hub for bright ideas which have led to new and exciting products.
“It is important to inspire everyone at all levels of the business – our 60 employees understand the value that our products bring to patients around the world and the need for excellence in everything that we do. This excellence extends from product design to ensuring that our buildings are in keeping with our countryside location. The fact that we are also surrounded by inspiring countryside complements this working environment.”
The company is very much part of the community, recently opening its doors to local residents for an open day, and it also embraces its local environment.
“It was interesting to realise how little was known of the existence of our business; the only clue to its physical presence being the occasional commercial vehicle turning into our drive,” adds Dr Mike Young.
“It made the reaction to what our visitors saw in our laboratories and workshops, even more dramatic. Several people commented that we must be very proud of the important work we do far and wide, in improving the quality of life for many patients and in some cases, saving lives.
“At a local level several children now reaching school leaving age have either spent time or asked to gain work experience in our engineering and laboratory departments. Our team takes great pride in sharing its knowledge with what could be the next generation of engineers and scientists.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that our influence on this beautiful site is wholly positive, from our sympathetic development of the buildings to our support and interface with the local community. We and other highly focussed businesses which have chosen a rural location, represent a significant resource in academic, production and management skills. If we shared only a small part of this to help our “neighbours” we would be repaying a little of the debt we owe for our guardianship of Bremridge.”
For more information visit www.investdevon.co.uk
