Recently, Keeler, a well-known ophthalmic medical equipment brand under the British company Haomai Group, announced that its first manufacturing base in China has been officially completed and put into operation in Shanghai. This measure marks Keeler's comprehensive launch of localization strategy, which will further enhance its competitiveness in the Chinese market and inject new vitality into the Chinese ophthalmic medical industry.

It is reported that Keeler, as an important member of the medical division of Haomai Group, has been committed to providing high-quality examination and treatment equipment for ophthalmologists worldwide. The establishment of the Chinese manufacturing base is a crucial step for Keeler to expand into the Asian market.

01. The first Chinese manufacturing base has been officially completed
According to data, Keeler, a British company founded in 1917, is a globally renowned provider of modern medical examination solutions, with its main business covering over 100 countries.

In 1953, Keeler produced the world's first binocular indirect ophthalmoscope, and today the Vantage plus series of indirect ophthalmoscopes has become a benchmark in the industry; In 1996, Keeler became a member of the medical division of the Haomai Group, dedicated to the development of innovative ophthalmic solutions and product expansion, providing personalized solutions tailored to the clinical needs of ophthalmologists worldwide.

As Keeler's first production base in China, the Keeler "China Factory" has gone through multiple key stages from project planning to final implementation, including technology transfer, factory construction, product registration, and production licensing.

The factory is equipped with an extremely strict quality management system to ensure that every piece of equipment produced meets the requirements of the national medical device quality management system. From raw material procurement to finished product delivery, every link undergoes strict inspection to fully guarantee the professionalism and high quality of the products.

Mr. Leon Forrest, Chief Operating Officer of Keeler in the UK, said, "The completion of Keeler's China factory and the landing of localized projects demonstrate Keeler's determination to deeply cultivate the Chinese market and develop in the long term. In the future, Keeler will continue to innovate and integrate in all aspects of localized production, service, education, and operation to better serve customers in the Chinese region

02. Localized production will provide more treatment options for Chinese ophthalmology
Since the production of the first binocular indirect ophthalmoscope, Keeler has accumulated years of experience in the field of ophthalmic diagnosis. The indirect ophthalmoscope produced locally this time will not only maintain its original high quality, but also leverage its localization advantages to respond more quickly to market demand; As an essential equipment for ophthalmic examinations, Keeler's products use advanced optical technology to provide doctors with clear and accurate eye images, assisting in more precise diagnosis of eye diseases.

In addition to these two flagship products, Keeler's product line is also very rich, covering handheld and desktop slit lamps, non-contact tonometers (handheld and desktop), KAT flattening tonometers, surgical magnifying glasses, direct ophthalmoscopes, surgical freezers, etc., providing comprehensive and diverse examination and treatment plans for clinical ophthalmology.

 binocular indirect ophthalmoscope
It is understood that binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO) examination is currently recommended as the "gold standard" for ROP screening in guidelines, with the characteristics of economy and convenience. By using a scleral compressor, the diagnostic accuracy of peripheral lesions can be improved. It has good safety, wide observation field, strong three-dimensional sense, and can reduce the risk of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Keeler indirect ophthalmoscope currently has five series of different models represented by Vantage Plus.

Vantage Plus wired models: available in SmartPack and WallPack power options; WallPack wall mounted power supply is suitable for fixing in places such as consultation rooms, ward examination rooms, etc. that require the use of ophthalmoscopes. SmartPack can clip the power supply onto a belt or wristband for easy portability.

Vantage Plus wireless model: The unique and patented IOS intelligent optical technology eliminates the need for doctors to adjust the position of optical imaging components based on spot size. All internal imaging components can automatically converge to a precise position each time according to the size of the light spot, ensuring better stereo vision for both eyes.

 slit lamp microscope
Keeler's slit lamp microscope products include two categories: portable/handheld and desktop. Portable products such as PSL One and PSL Classic offer 10x or 16x magnification, suitable for examining eye structures such as eyelids, sclera, conjunctiva, iris, etc., making them ideal for elderly or frail individuals.

Desktop products such as KSL-H5-DR and KSL-H use advanced optical systems that provide excellent clarity and precision, making them suitable for harsh ophthalmic environments in daily life.

Taking KSL-H5-DR as an example, it uses Keeler optical components to provide better optical performance in its class. This device uses selected LED lighting with a color temperature of 3800K and can typically be used continuously for 10000 hours or more, ensuring a stable and uninterrupted light source during the inspection process.

It is understood that each slit lamp has a built-in auxiliary installation position that can be connected to a laser system, making it a multifunctional tool. According to specific needs, KSL-H5-DR offers different levels of magnification, including 3 levels (10x, 16x, 25x) or 5 levels (6x, 10x, 16x, 25x, 40x). The digital version of KSL-H5-DR can use Keeler Konnect ™ Software captures high-quality images and videos to improve the efficiency of ophthalmic examinations.

03. Chinese ophthalmic equipment market attracts giants to increase their layout
The structure of the eye is delicate and complex, and high-end ophthalmic medical equipment is the key to achieving precise diagnosis and treatment in ophthalmology. High end ophthalmic medical equipment can not only detect and assist doctors in managing potential ophthalmic diseases as early as possible, but also help reduce the burden of ophthalmic diseases and the risk of blindness. At the same time, it can improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce surgical risks, enhance surgical safety and success rates, and significantly improve treatment outcomes.

In recent years, with the rapid development of the Chinese economy and the gradual improvement of residents' health awareness, the Chinese ophthalmic medical market has shown a rapid growth trend. According to Sullivan's analysis, the market size of ophthalmic medical devices (including contact lenses and care fluids) in China has grown from 17.8 billion yuan in 2017 to 30.5 billion yuan in 2021, and is expected to increase to 55.6 billion yuan and 93.3 billion yuan in 2025 and 2030, respectively.

Under the huge market potential, many international ophthalmic giants such as Zeiss and TAG Heuer have accelerated their localization layout in China.

Zeiss launched the Suzhou R&D and manufacturing base project as early as October 2022 and officially put it into use in April 2024. The base covers an area of over 13000 square meters, with business scope covering the research and manufacturing of industrial quality, research microscopes, surgical microscopes, and ophthalmic equipment. In addition, the Phase III renovation and expansion project of Zeiss Optics Industry 4.0 Health Vision Industry Ecosystem was also announced in October 2024, with plans to build a modern factory in Huangpu District, Guangzhou to further enhance local production capacity.

In October 2024, TAG Heuer Surgical Optics, a subsidiary of TAG Heuer Group, established its first artificial intraocular lens production base in Suzhou High tech Zone. This base focuses on the development of artificial intraocular lenses and their implantation systems, further expanding the global layout of TAG Heuer Surgical Optics.

In fact, under the continuous promotion of national policies, significant progress has been made in the development of China's ophthalmic medical equipment industry. Domestic high-end ophthalmic medical equipment continues to emerge, and the process of domestic substitution is accelerating. Domestic substitution has been achieved in the field of ophthalmic high-end ophthalmic medical equipment, and some areas have achieved advantageous substitution.

Source: http://qixieke.com/Font/index/detailPage.html?id=3393-19