In recent years, with Dunlee’s relocation to Germany, Varex (Wan Rui Vision) was separated from Varian (Varian), Richardson and Ruineng became newcomers to the market, and the competition in the field of CT tube became increasingly fierce.
In this paper, the development history and main products of six independent manufacturers of CT tubes in the world are reviewed, including Dunlee, Varex, IAE, Richardson, Chronos and China Ruineng.
Dunlee (Dangli)
In 1946, Dunmore Dunk and Zed Atlee founded Dunlee. The name Dunlee is a combination of the names of the two founders, as well as their respective resources and advantages. They successfully developed and manufactured radiation imaging tubes and successfully entered the high-end CT tube market until today.
In 1994, the headquarters of Dunlee moved from Bellwood, Illinois, USA to Aurora, Illinois, where a 162,000-square-foot design and manufacturing center was built.
In 1998, Dunlee took the lead in opening up the CT tube replacement market and produced the industry’s first 1．0 MHU CT replacement tube.
Nowadays, the CT replacement tube produced by Dangli has covered the products of major manufacturers such as GE, Philips, Siemens and Canon.
In 2001, Dunlee was acquired by Philips. Philips Medical is a leader in the field of medical imaging, especially in X-ray tube technology. As early as 1895, Philips manufactured the first commercial X-ray tube. Since then, Philips has made many technical achievements in the field of tube, such as the invention of liquid metal bearing technology in 1990, which makes the X-ray tube used in cardiovascular field and CT equipment almost noiseless and will not fail because of the wear of traditional ball bearings.
After the acquisition of Dunlee, Philips Medical has produced more than 12,000 tubes every year.
▲Dunlee’s main products and business
In June 2017, Dunlee closed the GTC (Generators, Tubes and Components) factory in Aurora, USA, and its business will be transferred to Philips’ existing factory in Hamburg, Germany, which mainly provides X-ray components for the OEM market. Philips said that the transfer was based on the decline of generator, bulb and parts replacement business in recent years.
Fedor von Balluseck, global director of marketing and services of Philips GTC, once said: The factors such as OEM’s lowering prices, introducing second-line brands and competitors’ increasingly competitive products have prompted Dunlee to make this decision.
In July 2017, Dunlee announced that its customer service center would merge with AllParts Medical, which is also a component supplier of Philips. The sales and service of Dunlee’s alternative business in the United States will continue through AllParts, which will maintain Dunlee’s leading position in this field and the cutting edge of its products.
Jim Salmons, senior director of multi-vendor services at Philips, said that AllParts Medical has become the exclusive contact point for all third-party components of Philips in North America, covering all imaging products including ultrasound. Customers can get high-quality parts, tubes, probes and training resources by contacting AllPart.
Balluseck said that before the production of the GTC plant in Aurora was stopped, the production of the Hamburg plant had been increased through detailed planning, and the two locations were produced at the same time, ensuring a smooth transition and not affecting customers.
In 2018, Dunlee cooperated with AllParts Medical to provide professional training for three new dealers of Dunlee in China through a one-week course, including how to install DA200Ultra, DA200 P40 and Reevo240G as stand-up tubes.
▲Dunlee partial CT replacement bulb model
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)
Although Dunlee is committed to providing services for the tube replacement market and continues to invest in this market, at the same time, Dunlee is paying more and more attention to the growing OEM business. Balluseck said: "The future of OEM business lies in paying attention to customers’ needs and deeply understanding various forms of accessories."
▲Dunlee replaces the bulb DA200P40 CT
Recently, according to the official news released by Dunlee, it can be used as the replacement tube DA200P40 CT of GEOPTIMA CT 660. After a series of tests, it is proved to be compatible with GEOPTIMA CT 680 scanner series, including GEOPTIMA CT 680 Expert, Quantum and Professional systems.
Varex (Wan Rui Vision)
In 1930s, Jack McCullough and Bill Eitel founded Eimac Products Company, which soon became famous for its high-quality and high-power X-ray tube components.
In 1941, after receiving a large number of orders from the military, Eimac moved its production base to Utah, USA.
In the late World War II, Eimac Company began to expand new types of X-ray tube components, including cathode-ray tube components and microwave X-ray tube components suitable for radar applications.
In 1965, Eimac merged with Varian Medical Systems.
In 2012, Varian established the predecessor of Varex-Image Components Division (ICB) to provide customers with a variety of products including X-ray tube components, digital flat panel detectors and industrial security solutions.
In May, 2016, Varian announced that its imaging component business will be separated independently, because the imaging business and tumor business have different development paths.
In January 2017, the split was completed, and Varex Imaging Company was officially born and listed on NASDAQ in the United States.
Wan Rui vision’s business is mainly divided into medical products and industrial products, among which:
Medical business accounts for 80% of the total revenue, including eight categories of products:
OEM X-ray tube, replacement X-ray tube, flat panel detector, medical software, medical high voltage (HV) connector, collimator, BUCKY SYSTEMS of flat panel detector, and Automatic Exposure Control,AEC) sensor.
Industrial products include six categories of products:
Combination of industrial X-ray pipe fittings, industrial flat panel detectors, linear accelerators, industrial CT scanning services, high-voltage (HV) connectors and safety detectors.
▲Varex’s main products and business
▲ According to the data of official website, Varex produces 25,000 X-ray tubes and 23,000 X-ray detectors every year, and the length of cable joints produced every year can reach 1,000 kilometers.
In May 2017, Varex announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, which was the first time that Varex released its financial report since its establishment. Its revenue increased by 3%, from $150 million in the previous year to $155 million.
In the third quarter of 2017, Varex accepted and shipped a series of orders, including hundreds of sets of general radiation system components, including X-ray tubes, digital detectors and high-voltage connectors. Varex also continued its decades-long cooperation with Toshiba Medical (now Canon) and renewed a three-year CT tube pricing agreement. The sales of CT tubes are expected to be between 345 million and 385 million dollars.
▼ Details of ▼Varex M&A (since its formal establishment in January 2017)
▲ VAREX’s revenue comparison from FY 2016 to FY 2018.
(Unit: millions of US dollars)
On November 12th, Wan Rui TV released the latest unaudited financial report for FY 2019:
In fiscal year 2019, the revenue increased from 773 million dollars in fiscal year 2018 to 781 million dollars, of which the revenue in medical field decreased by 1% to 597 million dollars, and the revenue in industrial field increased by 7% to 184 million dollars.
Sunny Sanyal, CEO of Varex, said: "The growth in FY 2019 mainly comes from oncology and CT products in the medical field, as well as industrial products used for airport baggage screening and nondestructive testing. The shipment of CT tubes in China has more than doubled compared with last year, partially offsetting the decline in sales of digital ray detectors related to tariffs. "
▲Varex’s new product MCS-8064/B-680H.
At the end of 2018, Varex launched a new product MCS-8064/B-680H in the China market. This tube assembly is specially designed and produced to replace the GE 8 megatube assembly, which can replace the following models:
IAE
IAE, located in Milan, an important industrial town in Italy, was founded in 1950, mainly producing high-power electronic valves.
In 1965, IAE began to produce X-ray tube by using advanced technology of high vacuum and special metal.
In 1973, the stakeholders of IAE changed greatly, and the new management took a keen interest in the application of medical X-ray tube, and then quickly gave up the valve production business.
For decades, IAE has devoted itself to the research and development and production of medical X-ray and CT tubes, and has now become the largest professional manufacturer of single medical tubes in Europe.
In 2002, IAE built a new production base in Cormano, and its production capacity was further expanded.
▲IAE’s main product line
▲IAE CT replaces bulb products.
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)
At present, IAE’s product range covers almost all medical X-ray equipment:
Mobile X-ray machine, C-arm, digital X-ray machine, DR, breast machine X-ray machine, CT, etc. can replace Varian, Dunlee, GE, Siemens, Philips, Shimadzu, Hitachi, Toshiba and other brands of X-ray machines and CT equipment tubes, and occupy an absolute market advantage in Europe.
Richardson Healthcare
Richardson Healthcare is a subsidiary of Richardson Electronics.
Richardson Electronics is a global manufacturing and distribution company, founded in 1947, which provides training on image tubes, replacement parts and CT services worldwide. The total sales in fiscal year 2019 was $167 million.
The business of Richardson Electronics mainly includes three areas: Power and Microwave Technologies Group, Canvys, and Healthcare.
▲Richardson Electronics’ business line
Among them,
PMT services mainly include:
Power grid and microwave tube;
New gallium nitride and silicon carbide technology;
Global niche markets for power and microwave products;
Cooperate with leading technology suppliers;
Global engineering and design support.
Canvys business mainly includes:
Provide customized display solutions for financial, health care, industrial and medical original equipment manufacturers, such as touch screen, protective board, customized shell, professional cabinet facing, and special application software packages;
Integrated computer display solution;
Engineering design and support.
Medical services mainly include:
Diagnostic image replacement parts;
CT service training and technical support;
All kinds of replacement fittings for CT and MRI.
▲ Sales proportion of three major business areas in FY 2019
▲ Regional revenue ratio in FY 2019
▲ Major customers of medical business
In August 2014, Richardson Healthcare announced its entry into the field of X-ray tube manufacturing. At the same time, the company also appointed Pat Fitzgerald, former president of Dunlee, as executive vice president and general manager.
In June 2015, Richardson Electronics acquired IMES (International Medical Equipment and Service). IMES provides reliable and cost-saving solutions for major CT and MRI manufacturers around the world. The acquisition enables Richardson Healthcare to provide cost-effective diagnostic imaging replacement parts and technical support.
Richardson Healthcare also launched P3 Advantage plan, which is related to parts supply agreement, giving hospitals and ISO customers priority when replacing CT bulbs.
In May 2018, Richardson Healthcare first launched the first new CT replacement tube-Alta 750 in the United States. This is an alternative product of Canon Medical (formerly Toshiba) CXB-750D/4A, and it is also regarded as MCS -078 bulb of Varex Imaging Company.
In September 2019, Richardson Healthcare announced that the ALTA750 tube had obtained CE certification.
Richardson Healthcare’s existing CT replacement tube products (as of November 2019):
CXB-750D: Toshiba Aquilion CT
Straton Z: Siemens Sensation CT
MRC 800: Philips Brilliance CT
MRC 600: Philips Brilliance CT
Chronos Imaging
In February 2018, Chronos Imaging acquired Philips’ Dangli bulb factory in Aurora, Illinois, USA. The specific purchase price was not disclosed.
According to the agreement, Chrono Imaging will produce a third-party CT replacement tube for Philips, which will still be sold under the established brand.
The acquisition will not affect Philips’ global customer base, and provide a platform for Chronos Imaging to develop new CT replacement tubes.
Headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, USA, Chronos Imaging is a non-listed company, which is mainly engaged in the development, manufacture and sales of diagnostic imaging medical equipment and solutions.
Chronos Group focuses on investments in renewable energy and health care. Headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, Chronos Group has invested in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Ruineng
Zhuhai Ruineng Vacuum Electronics Co., Ltd. is the first high-tech enterprise in China to realize localization of CT tube.
In 2005, Ruineng was established, with its headquarters in Zhuhai, Guangdong.
In 2013, China was the first country to complete the registration of 3．5M cermet tube and 4．0M glass CT tube.
In 2014, the products were exported to South America and Southern Europe for the first time.
In May 2015, the first round of strategic investors was introduced.
In 2016, Ruineng CT tube was released for the first time.
At the end of 2016, the new product "5．2M large-capacity CT tube" was released in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan.
▲ Ruineng’s main products and business areas
▲ Ruineng CT replaces the bulb.
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)
The existence of independent manufacturers of CT tubes is a competitive force, which helps to reduce equipment maintenance costs, improve service quality and accelerate industry innovation. Without this ecosystem, the market will not develop so fast, the price of equipment will rise accordingly, and customers will be greatly limited in obtaining the services they need.
reference data
Companies official website
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