With the support of the Welsh Government, Welsh companies will be exhibiting at FIME, the Florida International Medical Expo, the largest medical trade fair in the Americas, next week.

Jellagen, based in Cardiff, will be exhibiting at FIME for the very first time, showcasing their next generation collagen products sourced from jellyfish for application in 2D and 3D cell culture and medical devices. The company recently developed a world first manufacturing facility for the extraction of high purity collagen from jellyfish, making them the first commercial manufacturer of jellyfish collagen for research, medical, biotech and pharmaceutical markets.

Professor Andrew Mearns Spragg, Jellagen CEO and Founder, said “Jellagen is at FIME to build upon our existing pipeline of customers for implementation of our non-mammalian source of collagen for various medical devices and therapeutic products. We’ve been attracting a great deal of interest in the medical applications of wound care and tissue engineering from hospitals, clinics and medical device product manufacturers.”

Jellagen conducts the sustainable harvesting of jellyfish off the west coast of Wales in some of Europe’s cleanest Blue Flag beaches. Jellyfish first evolved on earth about six hundred million years ago, and their collagen is in essence the root of all collagens, making it ideally suited to support the growth of a wide range of human cells. This enables it to be an effective biomaterial for applications such as cell culture, wound care and regenerative medicine.

Ultrasound Technologies, based in Caldicot, is introducing their CO2 insufflator for CT colonography to the Latin American market for the first time at FIME, along with their range of foetal and vascular dopplers and foetal monitors. Managing Director Nick See said “FIME for Ultrasound Technologies is a good opportunity for us to connect with our existing Latin American distributors and to enter discussions with potential new markets. With the Welsh Government supporting us it provides the perfect shopfront for promoting the company and its products to a wider audience.”

Cardiff-based R&D Surgical manufacture and distribute medical devices and equipment. Director David Thomas said “R&D Surgical are pleased to be attending FIME as we look to expand our business into the American market. We are excited to be introducing our Xenosys surgical products to the USA market. Our aim for the meeting is to identify some potential professional distribution partners. The support of the Welsh Government will assist us in being able to attend this important meeting.”

FIME takes place at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, from August 8th to 10th, and welcomes over twenty two thousand medical and trade professionals from North, Central and South America, as well as international professionals, to do business with more than one thousand five hundred national and international companies showcasing new and refurbished medical and hospital equipment, technology, products and supplies.