Headquartered in Luxembourg, Rotarex is a world-leading producer of very high-quality gas control products and systems. The company has over 1,200 employees, of which 780 are located in Luxembourg, and a presence in over 65 countries. Its medical range notably includes medical VIPR valves with built-in pressure regulators for oxygen cylinders. These are widely used to administer oxygen, air and other therapies to COVID-19 patients. “Supplemental oxygen remains the first and most important medical treatment against COVID-19,” states the company.
Rotarex increased considerably its production of medical products during the first wave of coronavirus infections, and although it was able to overcome the challenges of this unexpected rise in demand, it saw that some of its processes could be improved and made even more efficient. It therefore decided to invest heavily in its medical division in Luxembourg in order to increase the production capacity and manufacture the products that play a vital role during the pandemic.
New production capacities
The new production lines, which were officially inaugurated on 22 February 2021, will make it possible for the company to produce certain critical components in-house that were previously supplied by subcontractors and were difficult to obtain at the outset of the crisis. The enhanced production capacity will bring additional flexibility, and Rotarex hopes to double its production and create 10 to 25 new jobs by 2025. The new production lines are highly automated and offer better traceability, which means that the company also expects to increase the quality and performance of its products. The total investment project is estimated at €4.5 million.
With Rotarex, Luxembourg is home to an industrial leader whose high-quality medical devices have proven to be essential for treating patients with respiratory difficulties.
“Rotarex makes a concrete contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot at the inauguration ceremony. “With Rotarex, Luxembourg is home to an industrial leader whose high-quality medical devices have proven to be essential for treating patients with respiratory difficulties. With this investment project, the company is fully in line with the European strategy to reindustrialise and strengthen critical supply chains, with the aim of improving resilience in the face of crises.”
Research and development initiatives
Innovation is essential for Rotarex, and the company has over 350 individual patents in the field of gas equipment (valves and regulators). In parallel with the production capacity expansion, the company has launched three R&D projects aimed at developing new generations of valves and regulators for the administration of medical gases. A new design will be used to enable production automation and easier maintenance, while also ensuring greater safety and better user friendliness for medical staff. The three projects represent an investment of nearly €1.5 million.
We would like to thank the Luxembourg government and the Ministry of the Economy for their support with carrying out investment and R&D projects.
“We would like to thank the Luxembourg government and the Ministry of the Economy for their support with carrying out investment and R&D projects in the COVID era,” said Jean-Claude Schmitz, CEO of Rotarex. “The acceptance of our application for support by the government is an important step allowing us to meet demand with innovative products.”
Photo: © Vincent Flamion