01.1
Our Year 2008
Information Initiative Launched. Fresenius Medical Care was instrumental in the foundation of the German Kidney Alliance initiative with the aim of increasing awareness of the role played by dialysis in treating and improving the quality of life of kidney patients.
At the 28th Dialysis Conference in Orlando, Florida, Fresenius Medical Care presents its new home dialysis machine: the Liberty Cycler. With this wearable, easy-to-operate device, dialysis patients can perform automated peritoneal dialysis treatment at home.
Due to strong global demand, Fresenius Medical Care expands its dialysis product manufacturing capacities at its St. Wendel plant in Germany. Thanks to two new fiber spinning facilities that produce hollow fibers, the most important component of dialyzers, production capacity at the St. Wendel site grows by about 30 %.
Fresenius Medical Care increases its activities in Germany and expands its dialysis machine production capacity at its Schweinfurt factory. As a result, the plant will be able to increase the annual production of hemodialysis machines by 7 % to 10 % by 2015.
Within the space of 24 hours, we deliver nearly 100 dialysis machines to the earthquake region in Sichuan, China. A crisis intervention team makes this possible so that patients in the crisis area can be cared for.
The Ethisphere Institute includes Fresenius Medical Care on its list of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies”. The evaluation committee honored our Company for its “impressive and meaningful ethical business practices”, recognizing it as one of the outstanding representatives in our industry.
Fresenius Medical Care erects a new distribution center in Biebesheim, Germany. The new building, which has space for more than 55,000 pallets, caters to the Company’s future growth.
Fresenius Medical Care provides care to Aborigines in Australia who are in need of dialysis. Instead of having to make long journeys to dialysis clinics in larger cities, the aborigines are treated in their tribal areas in the desert.
In 2008, our employees again help provide emergency care to patients during the devastating storms “Ike” and “Gustav” in the U.S. Thanks to a comprehensive crisis program, patients in endangered areas can continue to receive life-saving dialysis treatment.
In the course of 2008, Fresenius Medical Care again receives numerous awards for its investor relations work – these are published on our website http://www.fmc-ag.de in the „Investor Relations” section.
Fresenius Medical Care opens a training center for care personnel in Brazil to pass on technological know-how and expertise. Only thanks to their sound knowledge of all aspects of dialysis treatment can the employees provide comprehensive care to patients.
Many of Fresenius Medical Care’s products for peritoneal dialysis are now certified with the Nordic Ecolabel. This makes us the first company to receive this award for medical products. The label is proof of the good environmental compatibility of our products.
