In a significant development for the global surgical robotics industry, CMR Surgical, a leading name in the sector, has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Cambridgeshire, UK. This comes on the heels of the announcement that more than 140 Versius systems have been installed worldwide, and over 15,000 surgical cases have been successfully completed.
The new state-of-the-art facility will serve as the central hub for all of CMR’s assembly and testing of Versius robotic systems. It will also play a pivotal role in the company’s international operations, catering to over 20 markets worldwide. This development is particularly timely, given the rising demand for Versius across various regions including Asia, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe.
In line with the growing emphasis on sustainability in the electronics industry, the facility incorporates solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems for energy efficiency and environmental conservation. The site will house various departments including production, quality assurance, manufacturing engineering, supply chain management, operations, and logistics.
The inauguration of this facility represents a significant boost to the UK’s status as a hub for innovation in electronics and computers. This is further strengthened by CMR’s partnerships with 20 NHS hospitals such as Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Addenbrooke’s hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals; and Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust who are using Versius.
Barrington D’Arcy, Chief Operations Officer at CMR Surgical, expressed his pride in the new facility. He highlighted its proximity to their R&D teams in Cambridge and its significance to Versius’ UK origins. He also underscored the complexity of manufacturing a surgical robot and expressed optimism that the facility would further drive innovation in the UK.
This development follows recent news of CMR raising an additional $165 million (£133 million) to bolster product innovation and commercial growth. The Versius system is a game-changer in robotic surgery. Its compact, modular design allows it to fit into any operating room setup and integrate effortlessly into existing workflows, thus enhancing the feasibility of robotic minimal access surgery (MAS).
Versius mimics the human arm, offering surgeons optimal port placement, dexterity, and precision with small fully-wristed instruments. Its 3D HD vision, user-friendly instrument control, and a choice of ergonomic working positions can alleviate stress and fatigue for surgeons, while facilitating clear communication with the surgical team.
Beyond its physical capabilities, Versius also leverages programming languages and coding to capture meaningful data. This supports a surgeon’s continuous learning through the Versius Connect app, Versius Trainer, and CMR clinical registry. This wealth of insights can lead to significant improvements in surgical care.
CMR Surgical is a global medical devices company with a mission to transform surgery with Versius®, a next-generation surgical robot. Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, CMR is dedicated to making robotic minimal access surgery universally accessible and affordable. Since its founding in 2014, CMR Surgical has been backed by an international shareholder base and remains a private limited company.