STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 4, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Gambro AB (Stockholmsborsen: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced to focus and strengthen development of monitors within the Renal Products business. Development responsibility and resources for hemodialysis monitors will be focused to existing development units in Medolla, Italy. This involves a shift from Lund, Sweden. Similarily monitor development responsibility and resources for renal intensive care will be transferred to Lund, Sweden from Medolla, Italy. The development units in Lund/Malmo, Sweden will have a continued responsibility for machines (cyclers) in the peritoneal dialysis area as well as for water treatment systems.
These actions will enable Gambro Renal Products to more efficiently develop and launch new products, focusing capabilities and resources, leveraging on joint technology platforms etc and thus will further strengthen its competitiveness and leading position on the world market.
The announced actions are part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the overall competitiveness of Gambro Renal Products. During recent years this has included major investments and efforts in product development and expansion of production capacity building on larger, more cost-effective units. Thus Gambro Renal Products has made ambitious investments in new, large scale production units for dialyzers and dry concentrates (BiCart) as well as in a completely new logistics system in Europe including a number of large logistics centers.
"This is another important step in our continued efforts to further develop our globally strong position in products and systems in the renal care area," says Alain Granger, President of Gambro Renal Products.
The announced changes in the hemodialysis monitor area will take place during 2003-2005. It will involve an estimated redundancy of about 25-30 white-collar employees in Lund during 2003. No changes are contemplated concerning blue-collar employees. Discussions with the trade unions in Lund have been initiated. The transfer of the responsibility and resources within the renal intensive care area to Lund, Sweden will be completed by year-end next year.
For further information please contact: Alain Granger, President, Gambro Renal Products, tel. +33-4 37 28 10 00; Bengt Modeer, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-613 65 33, +46-70-513 65 33; Pia Irell, Investor Relations Director, Corporate Finance, tel. +46-8-613 65 91, +46-70-513 65 91
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