PALO ALTO, Calif., May 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems is breaking ground this week in Beijing, China on a new manufacturing facility for producing medical linear accelerators for treating cancer with radiotherapy. The company has established a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) which will own and operate the facility where it will manufacture medical linear accelerators that are uniquely designed for the Chinese market and for global export. This new facility adds capacity complimentary to Varian’s principal manufacturing site in Palo Alto, and positions the company to meet increasing global demand for its medical linear accelerators.
Tim Guertin, president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems, is leading the groundbreaking ceremony in Beijing this Sunday, May 28. Construction on the estimated $12 million facility will be complete in March 2007, and the company expects to begin its first product shipments from the facility in July 2007. The company has also appointed Mr. Wang Xiao Yun, former CEO of BMEI, a Chinese manufacturer of linear accelerators, Managing Director of Varian Medical Systems Beijing Co., Ltd.
“This important project expands Varian’s global manufacturing and service capability in the radiation therapy market with the greatest growth potential in the world,” said Guertin. “We are especially pleased to have Mr. Wang, China’s most experienced radiation therapy executive, to lead this important new enterprise.”
The new state-of-the-art 134,000 square foot plant will employ approximately 100 people and be located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), a well-established industrial zone on the southern edge of Beijing. The expansion builds on Varian’s existing sales and service operation in China where it has an installed base of more than 250 linear accelerators in leading academic centers, hospitals and local cancer clinics throughout the country. Varian has operated in China for more than 25 years.
“This is an important new project that will lead to better cancer care in China with leading technology from Varian Medical Systems,” said Mr. Wang. “Varian has earned a reputation for producing the highest quality, most reliable, and most cost effective cancer treatment machines in the world. This new enterprise brings this life-saving technology closer to Chinese clinicians and their patients.”
ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical technology for treating cancer with radiotherapy and neurological conditions with radiosurgery. The company is also a premier supplier of X- ray tubes and flat-panel digital subsystems for imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 3,600 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 56 sales and support offices around the world. The company is now adding a manufacturing facility in Beijing, China. Additional information is available on the company’s web site at http://www.varian.com/.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms “will,” “can,” and “possible” constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Sias, 650-424-5782 spencer.sias@varian.com Meryl Ginsberg, 650-424-6444 meryl.ginsberg@varian.com
Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Spencer Sias, +1-650-424-5782, or spencer.sias@varian.com, orMeryl Ginsberg, +1-650-424-6444, or meryl.ginsberg@varian.com, both ofVarian Medical Systems, Inc.
Web site: http://www.varian.com//
