These medical scanners are assembled and shipped… from Yvelines

See my news
Follow 78actu

Announced a year ago, it is operational. There first production line of medical scanners in France is launched within GE Healthcare, whose headquarters is in Buc (Yvelines). Pair of giant scissors to cut the ribbon… The inauguration took place Tuesday 1^is October 2024.

Known for its mammography, its production site for interventional imaging systems or its X-ray tubes and high-voltage generators, all eyes are fixed on their scanner: Revolution Maxima. The device is aptly named because it is a small revolution in the medical field since it was decided to repatriate this line of scanners, until then manufactured and assembled on the GE HealthCare site in Beijing, China. However, the vast majority of parts remain designed in China and India.

Save on delivery time

“We bring in key elements, components, but the assembly and configurations are done in Buc. We have the ability to react more quickly. We recovered 250 machines. There are several possible configurations for a scanner, which makes its price vary from 200,000 to 350,000 euros. »

The Buc teams carry out all of the functional tests and X-rays, system configurations, labeling, accessorization and direct delivery to European customers.

350 employees are counted for the production plant on the Buc site. “This represents 45 hours of workincluding 40 for tests,” specifies Hervé Blanc, emphasizing the Made in France involvement.

“We are going from 3 to 4 months to a delivery time of 4 weeks. »

Reduce carbon footprint

Despite higher labor costs in Europe, the investment of one million euros for this line is recovered in logistics. “This allows a carbon reduction of 84 % because we use road transport to the detriment of air and sea freight,” explains Elie Chaillot, President & CEO GE Healthcare international.

11 million scanners carried out per year in France

“The global imaging market is estimated at 19 billion dollars, 30% of which is for scanners alone,” continues Elie Chaillot, hoping to obtain “Origine France Garantie certification” in order to stand out from its competitors in a dense market.

“The scanner has become a reference examination in the diagnosis of many pathologies, in particular the monitoring of oncology treatments. It is quick and non-invasive. 11 million scanners are carried out each year in France,” recalls Jean-Philippe Bousquel.

The first scanner dedicated to emergencies

The first scanner assembled in Yvelines will benefit the Montargoise agglomeration hospital center (CHAM), in Loiret (dep. 45). “Installed on September 9, it will be dedicated specifically to emergencies and will be operational on November 18,” says Jean-Luc Davigo, director of the Montargoise metropolitan area hospital center.

“We have 65,000 visits to the emergency room each year. With this significant flow, we will be able to improve our waiting time and guarantee better patient care with this new scanner. But also reduce the environmental impact because it is only manufactured 1 hour 30 minutes from the hospital center. »

Other deliveries are planned to hospitals and radiology practices in France, Italy and Poland.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.