DR retrofit X-ray kits will become “big business” as cost-conscious buyers in India and developing countries, in Asia and Africa are looking for inexpensive ways to upgrade film/analogue X-ray equipment to digital.
Prices for retrofit X-ray kits have fallen an estimated five to 10 per cent a year under intense competition from the half dozen or so major manufacturers flat panel detectors (FPD). Demand for the retrofit products will also go up as CR’s are getting outdated and analogue X-ray equipments have to be dumped whenever a new DR system is installed. Thus the retrofit fits fine into a market segment wherein buyers retain the analogue equipment and upgrade the same to a DR at less than half the price that needs to be invested in a new DR system
Introduced about six months ago, retrofit X-ray kits ‘Vittal 8’ has been getting a very good market response according to Vijhay J Shetty, CEO, Westcoast Corporation. “We use wireless digital flat panel detectors that fit into the same slots used by film cassettes in X-ray rooms or mobile systems to turn them into digital devices along with our work station and software at fraction of the cost of a new DR,” says Shetty. Rather than spending huge amounts for a new digital radiography room, a hospital or diagnostic centre could buy two retrofit systems for the same price to convert two analogue rooms. However, the current market is quite small, DR retrofit systems make up no more than one-sixth of the total X-ray market by the volume sold. But this number is expected to grow by 15-20 per cent a year.
Retrofitting of good quality existing analogue and mobile X ray machines is going to be the main focus area of the company because it’s a cost-effective way to maintain a digital standard but still use equipment that already exists, informs Shetty.
Contact Details:
Vijhay J Shetty
CEO, Westcoast Corporation
Mob: 9322676992
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.westcoastcorpn.com
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