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Bedfont, a medical device manufacturer, has been shortlisted for 3 awards by the Federation of Small Businesses

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, there are 5.5 small businesses across the UK and the awards they organise help to promote and recognise innovation, enterprise and accomplishment in 12 areas across the UK.1 Bedfont is proud to have been shortlisted in 3 categories for the South East: Business Exporter of the Year, Family Business of the Year and Employer of the Year.

Other categories include Business and Product Innovation, Community Award, Digital Business of the Year, Ethical-Green Business of the Year, Micro Business of the year, Scale-Up Business of the Year, Start-Up Business of the Year, Triumph over Adversity Award and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Bedfont, based in Kent, is a small family company of 40 employees who specialises in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices, which it exports to over 76 countries worldwide thanks to an unprecedented network of distributors.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says, “I am particularly proud of our nominations for Family Business and Employer of the year, as I feel these reflect what we are trying to achieve as part of our core culture. We have a low turnover of staff who enjoy their jobs and grow as the company does, and a network of dedicated distributors worldwide who all make us what we refer to as ‘The Bedfont Family’. This we feel directly contributes to our success overseas and has seen our Export business grow year on year, in the words of Richard Branson – ‘look after the employees; they will take care of the clients.”

The South East FSB Awards will be held on 6th March and all successful regional category winners will have the chance to be crowned the national winner in each at the Westminster Park Plaza in London on 3 May 2018.

REFERENCES

1. FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2018 [Internet]. Fsb.org.uk. 2018 [cited 12 February 2018]. Available from: https://www.fsb.org.uk/events/fsb-celebrating-small-business-awards-2018

Bedfont Scientific Ltd. has made a 510(k) submission for US FDA clearance of their ToxCO® monitor used by emergency services to mass screen for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Bedfont, based in the UK, specialists in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical products, has made an FDA 510(k) submission for clearance to sell one of its breath analysers, the ToxCO®.

Established in 1976, the second-generation family company already has one device on the market in America, their Micro+™ Smokerlyzer® CO monitor to help people quit smoking. Using a similar technology, the ToxCO® is designed for emergency services to mass screen for cases of CO poisoning, providing a quicker method than the traditional blood test. A breath sample can be taken from a patient via mouthpiece, or in instances where the patient is unconscious, by face mask. By being able to mass screen patients on-site, it can rule out unnecessary hospital admissions and save valuable time, furthermore, the ToxCO® has ambient monitoring which begins from switch-on, alerting emergency services to high levels of atmospheric CO at the scene of the incident, helping to safeguard them and be prepared.

Known as the silent killer, CO is a colourless, odourless, highly poisonous gas that is produced when fuels are burned incompletely. Everybody is exposed to CO in everyday life; from boilers, open fires, cars, generators and even burning your toast. CO poisoning is the most common type of fatal poisoning in many countries1. According to the CDC, “during 1999–2010, a total of 5,149 deaths from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning occurred in the United States, an average of 430 deaths per year”.2 Prolonged exposure can lead to severe health consequences, and if exposed for too long, death. An exposure to 12,800ppm of carbon monoxide can kill you within 1-3 minutes3.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, explains, “We are working hard to help raise awareness of breath analysis in the USA and how the ToxCO® has the potential to save so many lives. We are fully committed to working closely everyone involved to have swift and successful FDA clearance for this product.”

Daniel Sibis, Vice President at coVita LLC, Bedfont’s USA distributor, comments, “The ToxCO® will revolutionise how emergency services approach carbon monoxide poisoning. Compared to blood samples, breath analysis with the ToxCO® is quick, easy and completely non-invasive. This means no more needles and with values shown instantly onscreen, the ToxCO® will save more lives.”

PLEASE NOTE: The ToxCO® is not available for sale in the U.S.A at this time.

-ends-

REFERENCES

1.      Humber, A. (2009) ‘A Feasibility study into the prehospital carbon monoxide poisoning of patients’, London Ambulance Service NHS.

2.      QuickStats: Average Annual Number of Deaths and Death Rates from Unintentional, Non–Fire-Related Carbon Monoxide Poisoning,*† by Sex and Age Group — United States, 1999–2010 [Internet]. Cdc.gov. 2018

[cited 11 January 2018]

. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6303a6.htm

3.      CO Health Risks – Detect Carbon Monoxide [Internet]. Detect Carbon Monoxide. 2017 [cited 17 January 2018]. Available from: http://www.detectcarbonmonoxide.com/co-health-risks/

Bedfont Scientific Ltd., based in Maidstone, needs the public to vote for them to become a European Public Winner and represent the UK in the European Business Awards

The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM, is a cross-industry and cross-border business competition. First held in 2007, the European Business Awards aims to recognise and reward companies that help tackle the major issues faced by Europe and the world; unemployment, climate and environmental challenges, conflict and widespread poverty. Bedfont, a second-generation family business that specialises in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices, has submitted a video entry to represent the UK and now needs the help of the public to be voted the European Public Winner.

111,000 businesses were considered for the European Business Awards this year and each company was heavily analysed until the number was whittled down to only 2898 companies, creating Europe’s first ‘One’s To Watch’ list. On this list, there were only 196 companies from the UK and Bedfont was proud to be named among them.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says, “We strive to be a well-rounded company; we look after our employees, we are very conscious of our carbon footprint and take measures to offset it, we fundraise for charities, and work with small local companies to help boost the local economy. We are only a small company of 40, with the niche concept of breath analysis, but we are proud to make a difference and save lives. This wouldn’t be possible without each and every member of the Bedfont family. When we innovate our products to improve health, we do this with our family and your family in mind. To represent the UK in the European Business Awards would be incredible but we please need your help to make this happen. Please watch our video entry and help us make a difference, please vote for us.”

To watch the video and vote for Bedfont, please click here: https://www.businessawardseurope.com/vote/detail-new/28/23920. To vote, you need to enter your email (bottom right) and then click the confirmation link you will receive by email.

Medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., received its ISO13485:2016 CMDCAS certificate

Established in 1976, Bedfont® Scientific Limited is a second generation family company that has specialised in the design and manufacture of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments for medical, scientific and industrial markets globally, for over 40 years. Bedfont is thrilled to announce that it has just received the ISO13485:2016 CMDCAS certificate which is a re-certificate on the new standard, 2016.

The multi export award winning British company is revered as a pioneer in the breath analysis market with their products now available in over 76 countries. Without the ISO13485 CMDCAS certificate, it is impossible to enter the Canadian market and so this recertification enables Bedfont to continue exporting to Canada, with hopes to grow sales in this area by over 20% in the next 5 years.

Louise Bateman, QA & RA manager, explains, “the ISO13485:2016 is the best internationally accepted accreditation to show compliance to regulators for the medical device industry. It is an extremely important recognition to our company’s commitment to produce the highest quality standard of medical device to sell to our customers.”

Jason Smith, Managing Director, adds, “For only a small company of 41 employees, to have exports account for roughly 80% of our annual turnover is a great achievement. We have a great RA team, led by Louise, who makes sure that, while we continue to innovate our products, they always remain at the highest standard for the medical device industry. Being such a niche manufacturer, and new MDDs, this no easy feat, but with dedication and support from all in the Bedfont family, I am proud that we have achieved the ISO13485:2016 CMDCAS certificate, making us eligible for the export awards we have won.”

Compiled by the European Business Awards, Bedfont Scientific Limited has been named as one of Europe’s best in the ‘Ones to Watch’ list.

The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM, is a cross-industry and cross-border business competition. This year, the European Business Awards has compiled the ‘Ones to Watch’ list, to highlight companies who have shown exceptional achievement in one of the 12 categories but also reflect the programme’s core values of innovation, success and ethics. Bedfont, a second-generation family business that specialises in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices, is proud to announce that it has been named on this list as one of Europe’s best.

First held in 2007, the European Business Awards aims to recognise and reward companies that help tackle the major issues faced by Europe and the world; unemployment, climate and environmental challenges, conflict and widespread poverty.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says, “We are only a small company with such a niche concept as breath analysis, so we are humbled to have been including on the ‘Ones to Watch’ list. As a company, we endeavour to innovate and improve healthcare and are also determined to give back to the local community and are very conscious of our carbon footprint. This would not be possible without our employees, the Bedfont family. It is thanks to their hard work and dedication that we are eligible to be included on such a prestigious list.”

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards, commented “The talent, dedication and innovation at the heart of these companies jobs and opportunity, and is what drives their country’s prosperity. The ‘Ones to Watch’ lists will set a benchmark of success for the European business community.”

Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM, added, “To be listed as a ‘Ones to Watch’ is a real accolade. At RSM, we work with companies across Europe and beyond, advising them on all areas of their business and we are passionate about encouraging success and prosperity. We wish these dynamic companies every success in the future.”

Bedfont, who applied for the International Expansion award, will now have a chance to compete in the European Business Awards to become a National Winner in their country in May 2018.

Bedfont Scientific Ltd, based in Harrietsham, UK, returns to Arab Health 2018 to exhibit its wide range of breath analysis medical devices for medical applications

Established in 1976, Bedfont a second-generation family company that has specialised in the design and manufacture of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments for medical, scientific and industrial markets globally, for over 40 years. For the 8th year is a row, Bedfont returning to Arab Health, Dubai, to showcase their breath analysis medical devices, in their ambition to continue innovating and improving health worldwide.

Bedfont’s Medi-Gas Check range of medical pipeline testing equipment safeguards patients and staff against harmful gases. By testing the gas in the pipeline, its quantity and quality can be verified to ensure no harmful gas leaking, but also that the right gas is administered to patients. Their breath analysers include carbon monoxide (CO) monitors such as the Smokerlyzer®, used for smoking cessation, and the ToxCO®, used by emergency services to diagnose CO poisoning. The NObreath® FeNO monitor provides of airway inflammation for improving asthma management, and the Gastrolyzer® range aids in the detection of gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances. Quick and non-invasive, breath analysis is the new blood test.

Andy Smith, Manager, says, “2018 marks the 8th year in a row that Bedfont® has attended the Arab Health exhibition and each year has been central to our growth in the Middle Eastern markets. One example would be our new Middle East Territory Manager, Ahmed . We met Ahmed at Arab Health and have worked alongside him as our distributor. The longevity of our relationship has been promising for our presence in the Middle East and so last year we employed Ahmed to help us grow further.”

To see Bedfont and their full range of products, please visit their stand H7E15.

The NObreath® FeNO monitor, recommended by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) [1], is the essential tool for GP’s and asthma patients to help improve asthma management.

According to Asthma UK, currently 5.4 million people suffer from asthma, however, “every day the lives of three families are devastated by the death of a loved one to an asthma attack, and tragically of these deaths are preventable”. In 2016 in England and Wales alone, a shocking 1,237 people died from an asthma attack[2]. In November 2017, NICE published the final guidelines on Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management, to improve asthma care, which included the NObreath® FeNO monitor from and second-generation family company, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., as a recommended device.

Bedfont has specialised in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices for over 40 years and in 2017 their NObreath® FeNO monitor is celebrating 10 years of improving asthma management. Bedfont have been campaigning vigorously to raise awareness of FeNO measuring and its benefits, especially after last year when asthma figures sparked increased concern; statistics released from Asthma UK which found that over 120,000 asthma sufferers in the UK are at risk from wrongly prescribed medication and NICE’s findings that 30% of people with asthma suspected to have been misdiagnosed[3,4]. Asthma UK also found that “around 90,000 people in England, 6,000 in Wales, 7,000 in Scotland and 3,500 in Northern Ireland could have uncontrolled asthma that is not being monitored by health-care professionals.”[3]

The NICE asthma guidance has been revised in order to resolve the above concerns, and in particular now includes a patient pathway involving the monitoring of FeNO levels at an early stage to help improve basic asthma care, prevent further misdiagnosis of asthma and the wrong prescription of medication. The new guidelines state that FeNO measurements should be considered ‘as an option to support asthma management in people who are symptomatic despite using inhaled corticosteroids’[5].

Bedfont has responded to the consultation of the NICE asthma guidance and has been working with GP’s on FeNO testing to raise awareness of the benefits now that the NICE asthma guidance recommends FeNO testing in asthma management. Bedfont hopes to help improve basic asthma care and save future lives with the NObreath®, which is also to ATS and ERS guidelines[6]. The NObreath® works by measuring FeNO through breath analysis, making the process quick, simple and non-invasive for both the GP and the patient. Interpreting FeNO levels aids in identifying patients who do/do not require on-going treatment[7] whilst also differentiating between allergic (eosinophilic) and non-allergic asthma[8], and if used daily, FeNO measurements can help to predict exacerbations and attacks.[9]

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, explains, “Using FeNO measurements to evaluate airway inflammation in asthma represents a significant advance in respiratory medicine that had been expensive to deliver in everyday practice, until now with the NObreath®. We are honoured to have worked alongside NICE to help improve basic asthma care. The NICE guidelines are often practised and followed around the world and now the guidance on asthma has been published, we expect countries to follow suit and measure FeNO concentration when assessing potential asthma suffers, helping to save countless lives. We will continue innovating and improving health and hope to have a homecare FeNO device in the future, which will enable asthma patients to monitor their FeNO levels anytime, anywhere, to continue improving asthma management one breath at a time.”

Local medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., named as a runner-up for Exporter of the Year in its first-ever national business awards

Organised by SmallBusiness.co.uk and GrowthBusiness.co.uk, the British Small Business Awards was established in 2016 to commend small businesses in Britain for their quality products, services and significant contribution to Britain’s success.

Bedfont, who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2016, a medical device manufacturer based in Harrietsham, Kent. The family company, of only 42 members, specialise in gas and breath analysis monitors for medical, scientific and industrial markets around the world. Their Medi-Gas Check range of medical pipeline testing equipment safeguards patients and staff against harmful gases, whilst their breath analysis monitors include carbon monoxide (CO) monitors such as the Smokerlyzer, for smoking cessation, and the ToxCO, to screen for CO poisoning. The NObreath FeNO monitor helps to improve asthma management, whilst the Gastrolyzer range aids in the detection of gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances.

Bedfont named as a finalist for the Exporter of the Year accolade and although they did not receive the awards this year, the Judges highly commended Bedfont for being a British family manufacturer and for how their trade missions were working alongside smaller companies overseas and focusing on difficult markets such as Asia.

Jason Smith, Managing Director, comments, “For a small company with such a niche concept such as breath analysis to be considered for a national award is prestigious in itself. We wouldn’t be here today without our dedicated employees – the Bedfont family. Each member plays such a vital role in the success of our company and for that we are grateful. The British Small Business Awards are the first national award that Bedfont has been named as a finalist for and although we did not win this time around, we are humbled to have made it this far and will continue innovating and improving health worldwide in the hope of another chance next year.”

Bedfont Scientific Ltd., based in Harrietsham, is up for 3 different awards categories in the Made In the South East (MISE) Awards.

The Made in the South East (MISE) Awards, organised by Insider Media, are in their 5th year and are specifically designed so that manufacturing companies based in the South East can be recognised and rewarded for their business efforts. Categories include; Digital Engineering/Technology Award, Supply Chain Award, Manufacturing Innovation Award, Export Award, Food and Drink Award, Manufacturing Apprenticeship/Training Scheme Award, Manufacturer of the Year (turnover under £25m), and Manufacturer of the Year (turnover over £25m).

Established in 1976, Bedfont is a second generation family company that has specialised in the design and manufacture of exhaled breath and gas monitoring instruments for medical, scientific and industrial markets globally, for over 40 years. Bedfont is revered as a pioneer in the breath analysis market with their products now available in over 76 countries across the world thanks to their unprecedented network of appointed distributors. Their aim is to continue innovating and improving health worldwide.

Bedfont proud to announce that they have been shortlisted for the Manufacturing Innovation, Export, and Manufacturer of the Year (turnover under £25m) accolades.

Jason Smith, General Manager at Bedfont Scientific, comments, “Being a small business of only 42 members, Bedfont wouldn’t be where it is today without its dedicated employees; we’re a family. We keep our teams happy and motivated and in return, the extra lengths that our staff members go to make anything possible. For that, we are grateful. The MISE Awards are the first regional awards Bedfont has ever been a finalist for, but to be a finalist in 3 categories is even more exciting and an honour. Winning these awards would show the Bedfont family just how their hard work and dedication pays off, but even getting this far, as a finalist, is an achievement in itself. ”

The piCO™ Smokerlyzer® is being used in a study by the Maastricht University on the effectiveness of financial incentives and smoking cessation

Manufactured by second-generation family company, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., the piCO™ Smokerlyzer® is a breath analysis medical device used to help people quit smoking. It will be used in a clinical study at the Maastricht University to investigate whether or not a reward makes smoking cessation more effective.

The project, CATCH (Continuous Abstinence Through Corporate Healthcare), run by Prof. Dr. C. P. van Schayck and Dr. G. E. Nagelhout, will take several Dutch companies partaking in Smoking Cessation programmes, however only half of the subjects will receive gift certificates for their efforts.[1]

The Smokerlyzer® range is a series of carbon monoxide (CO) monitors that measures the harmful amount of CO that is inhaled from smoking, which can show how much a patient has been smoking, giving smoking cessation advisors an idea on the level of dependency that the smoker has.

Sinefuma, a Smokerlyzer® distributor for Bedfont, is the biggest smoking cessation company in the Netherlands. Marcel Clarijs, director at SineFuma, explains, “It is beautiful that we can work together with the university and participate in research to find how we can get more succesfull quitters. We ran the smoking cessation programme within this study and were able to provide them with useful Smokerlyzer® monitors so they can validate the success rates. This CATCH project consisted of about 60 group trainings with 50 different companies to help employees to quit smoking. Roughly 600 people participated in total and now over the next 3 years the university will do the research.”

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, adds, “The Smokerlyzer® has been used globally for over 30 years now to help people quit smoking – it is quick, easy and non-invasive making it a valuable tool to monitor a quit attempt, as well as being a motivational visual aid to encourage the user to quit smoking. We are very proud that SineFuma has managed to involve the piCO™ Smokerlyzer® in this study and hopefully, through the research done by Maastricht University, we can help to find new methods and incentives to help people quit smoking successfully.”

REFERENCES

1.     Floor van den Brand [Internet]. Generalpracticemaastricht.nl. 2017 [cited 14 July 2017]. Available from: http://www.generalpracticemaastricht.nl/research/floor-van-den-brand/