Schwind & Zeimer join forces

Schwind and Zeimer announced today that they will cooperate to supply an integrated all-laser LASIK solution.

The partnership will focus on joint marketing of Schwind's Amaris excimer laser and Zeimer's Femto LDV femtosecond surgical laser, offering precision, optimized workflow and shortened procedure times.

The partners will present the package solution through their existing distribution networks. According to Schwind President and CEO, Rolf Schwind, the two companies already share distributors in some markets. "It will be very easy to work together, " he said.

Schwind says the companies have come together to answer demand for a package solution. "The refractive community is small and we have known Zeimer for many years. We talk all the time at congresses like the annual ESCRS meeting; we have knowledge about excimer lasers, Zeimer has knowledge about femtosecond lasers. If you put those two products together in a package together you can present a stronger offering. "

Schwind sees the similarities in the two businesses as a strong foundation for the alliance. "Agreement between a multinational and a medium sized family business will be difficult. The philosophy of multinational companies and family companies are different. We are not interested in our stock market price, but sometimes bigger companies are more interested in this than in their customers. "

The Schwind-Ziemer marketing alliance is non-exclusive and both companies will continue to market and sell their products independently.