China will likely reach its goal of becoming a major player in the global medical manufacturing market if the recent China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) is any indication. Exhibitors at CMEF, which was co-located with the International Component Manufacturing & Design Show at the Schenzen Convention & Exhibition Center, featured companies from all over the world with products and services for the entire medical supply chain, from concept and design to manufacturing and distribution.

Many Chinese exhibitors said they are aggressively targeting Arab, Asian, European, Eastern European, and North and South American as well as local markets. Several exhibitors noted a big spike in the number of international attendees compared to the past. The largest event of its kind in Asia, the 61st CMEF show featured 2,100 exhibitors and attracted over 50,000 visitors. Following is a brief sampling of exhibitors.

Carestream Health said it works with the Chinese government to develop digital technology that will help bring health care to the over 900,000 million people living in rural China. According to the company, which manufactures inter-oral film and digital-imaging equipment, built-up coastal regions mostly use film-based imaging equipment. But the lack of roads in remote areas makes it difficult to provide good service.

The company developed its digital remote-hosted information systems in Europe and manufactures and sells them in China as well as to customers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. CEO Kevin Hobert says the Chinese Ministry of Health played a big part in many companies decision to manufacture in China. The organization recently passed a multi-billion dollar stimulus package to build roads in the central mainland. This measure is intended to help boost the provision of healthcare in rural areas.

“Ten years ago cultural differences made it hard it manufacture in China,” says Hobert. “Workers in China had different ideas on the importance of meeting deadlines and they had difficulty making decisions without direction. But over time, a mindset shift took place and now there are no differences in accountability, commitment, and feelings of empowerment,” he says.

Yuyue, a Chinese manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment, reports it has been consistently growing for the last three to five years. Listed on an international stock exchange, the company represents a perhaps not too unusual combination of old and new. Its logo is that of a fish head, symbol of a “fish jumping through the dragon gate.” According to Secretary of the Board J. Chen, the first Chinese character of this phrase signifies “the achievement of a better state.” He says the company is going to change its logo soon to better target international markets.

The firm has been attending CMEF for 12 years. Most of this year’s booth visitors came from the U.S. ‘"China will soon be the world's second-largest market after the U.S. for medical devices. China is aggressively pushing the global market. Our six-month product-development times are so fast that medical devices have become almost like B2B consumer goods,” says Chen.