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Manmar in talks with GE Medical

Raja Simhan T.E.

CHENNAI, Feb. 19

THE Chennai-based Manmar Technologies Ltd is in talks with GE Medical Systems to be its alliance partner in the Asia-Pacific. GE Medical Systems has already a tie-up with Wipro.

Manmar, which develops IT products for the healthcare sector, is entering the West Asian market and Asian countries such as Japan and China, as part of its diversification plan.

For the Asia Pacific region, the company has a tie-up with Agilent Technologies, now part of Philips Medical Systems, to market the company's suite of healthcare products.

Mr Sundar Natarajan, Managing Director, Manmar Technologies, told Business Line that a tie-up with GE would enable Manmar to reach GE customers in the Asia Pacific region, adding that the GE tie-up would not overlap with Agilent's.

The Asia Pacific market is estimated to be around $4 billion, and tie-ups with both Agilent and GE would help Manmar tap the lucrative market in an effective way, he said.

The company would also initiate talks with other leading medical equipment manufacturers, such as Toshiba and Seimens, for similar tie-ups, he added.

The company has strategic alliances with the US-based Lumisys, to operate as value-added resellers of its computed radiography products in the Asia Pacific region, and with the UK-based VOXAR for 3D imaging solutions for ultrasound, CT and MRI, he said.

Manmar offers solutions for radiology and cardiology segments, including clinical pathways for ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT (computed tomography) and echo. The image management and reporting solutions assist experts in diagnostics.

Mr Natarajan said that Manmar would develop localised contents in Japanese and Chinese languages. Recently, a team of Chinese clinical specialists had discussions with Manmar officials in this regard.

Agilent would also send a similar team to work along with Manmar, he said, adding that there was a big demand for such projects in countries such as Japan and China.

Manmar is also developing a knowledge base portal for sonologists, and the idea will be extended to other specialities in future.

Other projects under development are remote monitoring and diagnostic application for ICCU (intensive coronary care unit) and tele-radiology where doctors can dial up to do remote viewing of reports.

In April 1999, Tamil Nadu Infotech Fund, managed by ILFS Venture Capital, invested $0.5 million in Manmar, and in the second round in August 2000, the Carlyle Group, global private equity investor, invested $2.5 million.

The company reported a turnover of Rs 2.8 crore for the year ended March 31, 2000, and is expected to report a turnover of over Rs 15 crore for the current fiscal, according to company officials.