LINKOPING, Sweden, Dec. 3, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG) (Amsterdam:PHI) and Sectra (Other OTC:SSBBF) (Stockholm:SECTb), the Swedish-based IT and medical technology provider, today announced they have extended their global partnership for another five years, to maximize their complementary strengths in PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems).
Philips is the world's leading customer choice for PACS and under the terms of the agreement Sectra will continue to provide the core image management technology in Philips' PACS.
Philips and Sectra have an established and proven partnership that began in 1997. Together the companies have shown repeatedly that they have succeeded in being first to market with cutting-edge PACS solutions, at the same time providing customers with some of the highest uptimes recorded in PACS.
"Purchasing a radiology PACS represents a major financial investment so it is essential that customers are confident that the system they choose is scalable and future-proof," commented Stan Smits, head of Philips' Medical IT. He continued, "Our continuing partnership with Sectra reinforces Philips' total commitment to provide leading PACS solutions that offer customers an open platform for expansion and a long-term relationship for the future."
"Working together, Philips and Sectra offer rock-solid system stability and speed-to-market, making today's partnership agreement a winning PACS combination," added Torbjorn Kronander, president of Sectra Imtec AB, Sectra's medical division. "Philips Medical Systems is a highly successful and competent global partner with a professional sales and support organization. Through our co-operation, Philips' PACS offerings are helping to improve and increase effectiveness of healthcare for customers throughout the world."
Philips and Sectra have garnered numerous top rankings for PACS in customer surveys and expert evaluations. Earlier this year research firm Frost & Sullivan awarded Sectra its European Product Quality Award in PACS.
Philips and Sectra extend successful PACS technology partnership
About PACS
The benefit of PACS to streamline workflow within a radiology department and beyond is well documented. PACS enables the electronic management of images and reports, which dramatically impacts the radiology operation by improving patient care through more rapid turnaround of images and reports to referring physicians and clinicians.
About Sectra
Sectra Imtec AB is one of today's major PACS providers with more than 300 PACS installations worldwide. The Swedish-based company operates through partners in most of the world, but delivers directly to end-customers in some markets. Sectra's core business is to deliver top-of-the-line high-availability, robust enterprise PACS for 24/7 operation. In Sweden and Norway, which are currently the countries with the largest penetration of PACS in the world, Sectra holds a dominant market leadership with more than 50 per cent of all film-free installations. The company has its largest number of installed systems in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark but has also systems installed in Italy, Germany and the U.S. Philips PACS, using Sectra technology, has a large installed base in the U.S., Germany, U.K., Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Turkey, Portugal, Switzerland and the Far East. For more information, visit www.sectra.se
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 32.3 billion in 2001. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 184,000 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.
Philips Europe: USA:
Diana van Dongen Heidi Wilson
Tel: +31 40 27 64718 Tel: +1 978 659 7302
Diana.van.Dongen@philips.com Heidi.Wilson@philips.com
Sectra Torbjorn Kronander Jan-Olof Bruer
President Sectra Imtec AB Group Manager Sectra AB
Tel: +46 13 23 52 27 Tel: +46 13 23 52 09
to-kro@sectra.se job@sectra.se
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