A GLOBAL leader in medical technology has opened a new high-tech innovation hub and office in West Swindon.

Zimmer Biomet has opened its new UK HQ in Windmill Hill Business Park, where its team of 400 people will develop and sell cutting-edge technology, robotics, and revolutionary products which can improve treatments and care for orthopedic patients.

England has 700,000 patients waiting for hip or knee operations, so the company is focused on finding ways to work with the NHS and wider healthcare industry to reduce the time patients spend in hospital while improving the care they receive before, during and after their procedures. 

Zimmer Biomet’s EMEA president, Wilfred van Zuilen, welcomed South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland to cut the ribbon and tour the facilities.

This included a demonstration of a robotic surgeon’s assistant which helps doctors fine-tune the operations they perform.

Virtual reality technology helps trainee surgeons experience operations without practising on a real body by wearing a mixed-reality headset and receiving tactile feedback through a simulator while experienced surgeons watch and provide guidance.

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The tour ended with a look inside the research laboratory which researches how to maximise infection prevention during orthopaedic surgery.

The team's latest breakthrough came by applying Bactiguard, a thin coating which reduces the chances of infection, to surgical implants.

Mr van Zuilen said: “Our Swindon site is an important global hub for global research-and-development and innovation, and our customers continue to benefit from the town’s rich history in engineering and manufacturing.

Sir Robert said: "I’m very pleased Zimmer Biomet is committed to Swindon with cutting edge research and development in the heart of the town.

"It’s testament to Swindon’s continuing importance in leading innovation."

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Research director Imran Khan worked in the global R&D facility in Dorcan while the UK sales team worked in South Marston.

The Windmill Hill office brings everyone under one roof.

He said: “We are going through a transformation. Historically, medical devices were just about the implant, but we are now involved in the entire continuum of care and can start drawing out patterns in how patients recover and use that data to improve their treatments and outcomes.

“It’s fantastic to be able to bring colleagues together who may not have been in regular contact before, and it’s led to great opportunities for training surgeons and connecting R&D with the commercial team.

“We are proud of the association with Swindon, which has a long history of engineering excellence.

"Some of the earliest orthodontics were manufactured here and we have had a presence here for more than 40 years.”