Titan Spine
6140 W Executive Drive A, Mequon
www.titanspine.com
Year founded: 2006
Product or service offered: The design, manufacturing and marketing of titanium inter-body cage devices that, for the first time, participate in the fusion process. They offer a full line of titanium inter-body devices, featuring surface technology for use in the cervical and lumbar spine.
Leadership team: Peter Ullrich, MD, owner and CEO; Kevin Gemas, president
Target clientele: Surgeons, doctors and spinal fusion candidates
What has fueled your company’s growth?
“Our surface technology has fueled our growth. If you look at our industry, you have giants providing products that have been used for years, but do not do more than put a bandage on the underlying physical issues. We are bringing innovative new solutions that address the same ailments, but with much better clinical outcomes. As we continue to spread the news about what our Endoskeleton, and now nanoLOCK, technology can do for patients, we are overwhelmed with demand and enthusiasm for our fusion implants.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth?
“Currently, our biggest obstacle is controlling the dialogue and neutralizing competitors’ marketing approach in our industry. The industry is making a push to the use of roughened titanium surface technology in an attempt to commoditize the industry. Competitors continue to cite our studies and argue simple surface adjustments produce similar results. Titan Spine’s nanoLOCKpatented technology is on the cutting edge and is necessary to achieve the results the studies have produced. Our challenge is to continue to help doctors and patients understand the vast difference and great benefits of the technology we have developed, as compared to our competitors’ lesser surface technology.”
Do you plan to make any changes to your company?
“We are preparing to launch two new products, which is spurring some changes. We recently added Jim Sevey as our senior nanotechnology specialist. He is part of the leadership team dedicated to further developing and rolling out our new nanoLOCK products in the last quarter of this year. It’s the only FDA-cleared nanotechnology for spinal implant applications, so we are extremely proud of this product line and the work our team has done.”
Who are the business people you admire?
“Locally, there are a plethora and the two things that tie them all together are open-mindedness, and the strength and vision to do the right thing, even when it doesn’t make the most short-term business sense. Nationally, it’s hard to ignore the commonly talked about giant successes like Jeff Bezos at Amazon. He is a trailblazer and visionary in a highly competitive industry. The ability to not only have such a fine-tuned understanding of consumers, but to also destroy the boundaries of what is possible, is something that is extremely powerful, useful and profitable.”
What is the outlook for your industry?
“As we look at the medical implant industry, demand is primarily driven by aging demographics and advancement in technologies. It looks to us like the months and years to come are extremely promising, as the baby boomer generation drives demand in our industry, much like almost all other industries. They are a huge population with spending power and the desire to continue to live active lifestyles. And on the technology side of demand, our technology can produce better outcomes for patients. Not only is this attractive to patients who are unhappy with their current implant, but also to insurance companies that have not historically covered spinal fusion procedures due to the cost and poor results.“
What is your company’s most important growth strategy?
“Currently, we are working on securing more capital to assist us with meeting the worldwide demand for our products.“
