SmartLife Technology looks to US for sales

"Manchester-based medical research company SmartLife Technology is focusing on the US market for its HealthVest product as part of plans to increase sales to more than £10m by 2012.
“There has been interest from across the UK, but I’m currently spending most of my time speaking to organisations in North America. There are some large sportswear manufacturers based there and the cost savings that can be generated within the health sector are even more pronounced than in Western Europe,” said Mark Pedley, chief executive at SmartLife Technology.
The HealthVest has built-in sensors which transmit real time electrocardiogram data via Bluetooth to a remote computer or mobile phone.
It can measure an individual’s temperature, respiration and heart rate and has been designed to enhance the performance of professional athletes, make emergency workers safer, and improve the quality of life for people with cardiovascular problems, as it will avoid the need for regular hospital examinations.
SmartLife, which acquired the intellectual property rights for HealthVest from Manchester University, has been trialling the concept since 2003 and has received £2m in development funding.
Following the completion of commercial demonstrations at the beginning of this year, the product is now ready to go on sale.
The company expects the product to be so successful that it plans to increase the number of employees from 15 to 40 by 2012, as well as exceeding a turnover of £10m.
SmartLife is being advised by Manchester-based accountancy firm Baker Tilly."

Joanne Birtwistle Crain's Manchester Business

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