FDP parliamentary group RLP visits Baldus Medizintechnik GmbH

URBAN. On Thursday, June 28, 2018, the 3rd day of the FDP summer tour, further company visits in the Koblenz area were on the agenda. Not every company receives the honor of a visit from the entire liberal parliamentary group, which is why the family company Baldus Medizintechnik with managing director Fabian Baldus was more than proud to be able to present the company with its employees, the company philosophy and products with the latest innovations to the FDP parliamentary group.

In the early afternoon, the governing politicians of the FDP arrived in sunshine at the company premises in the “Auf dem Schafstall” industrial park in Urbar, which is a little outside. Owner and managing director Fabian Baldus with the company's leading employees welcomed the FDP delegation led by Justice Minister Herbert Mertin and parliamentary group leader Cornelia Willius-Senzer. The round was enlarged by further regional representatives of the FDP. Susanne Rausch-Preißler, chairwoman of the FDP district association Mayen-Koblenz with her representative Luca Lichtenthäler from Vallendar, who was also a representative of the Julis in Rhineland-Palatinate and from local politics the city and association council members Karin and Gerhard Gareis and Herbert Speyerer as FDP council members from Bendorf completed the round of introductions.

After a first little refreshment, Fabian Baldus presented the company Baldus Medizintechnik. A total of 23 people were seated in the meeting room. The history of the company is quite exciting. In 2007, Fabian Baldus joined the company with 3 employees at the time. Today the company presents itself with 25 employees and a turnover that has increased sevenfold and continues to grow steadily.

In 2008, in addition to the main business field "medical gas supply systems", which is currently spread to over 60 hospitals and 450 outpatient surgical centers in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland, another business field was opened, the sale of nitrous oxide sedation systems for dentists. The products of the former US market leader were sold until 2016. From the very beginning, Fabian Baldus tried to convince the Americans of his suggestions for improvement and optimization of the products, but unfortunately he always received the same answer: "Why? It works in the USA after all!”. Fabian Baldus' answer was clear and consistent: "Why do we in Germany care if it works in the USA?". For this reason, Fabian Baldus and his wife Lisa Baldus decided to produce their own nitrous oxide sedation systems. This began a hurdleful phase of research and development in the company. The ISO certification according to ISO 13485 was expanded, technical documentation was created and various studies were carried out in practices, clinics and test laboratories. Consequently, all medical products from Baldus Medizintechnik are clinically tested. For example, microbiological tests with corresponding sterilization processes and a software validation of the software architecture were carried out. The entire project was financed Nitrous oxide sedation from the company's cash flow. "I invested almost everything we earned in this project because I simply believe in success!", says company boss Fabian Baldus. “The realization of such projects shows me again that joining the family business was exactly the right decision. Of course, there are also downsides, so we struggle every day with ever stricter regulations in the area of medical device law. Our literature research alone shows an unbelievable number of over 274 studies.” But not only from this side, also from the side of the VG administration Vallendar and the mayor of Urbar, some stones are put in the way. “Private households throughout the municipality of Vallendar have a fast internet connection. As a global company, we only have 3 Mbit/s, which we still cannot understand.” When this problem was mentioned, those present were amazed. "The FDP parliamentary group in particular in the state parliament, but also in the Bundestag, is committed to digitizing Germany so that companies are not further slowed down," said parliamentary group leader Willius-Senzer. Mr. Gareis from the Vallendar city council was not aware of this grievance to this extent and would like to address it in the VG. Furthermore, Fabian Baldus mentioned that the expansion of the location in Urbar does not seem to be of interest to the responsible mayors for Urbar. In 2014, interest in an adjoining piece of land for company expansion was already expressed, since an expansion of the company is unavoidable in the next few years. Unfortunately, there has been no success to this day, as the property has since been sold to someone else. This narrow-minded behavior of those responsible in the VG-Vallendar could only be commented on by ministers and MPs with a shake of the head. "So our decision was made, we leave VG-Vallendar with a heavy heart and set up our new location in Bendorf," continues Fabian Baldus. Here, the commitment of the FDP council member Mr. Speyerer must be mentioned. At exactly the right moment, he informed Mr. Baldus about the new commercial area in Bendorf. The new location "In der Langfuhr" offers a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a fast connection to the federal road and motorway network. Fabian Baldus was immediately convinced by this Bendorf business development concept.

The politicians informed themselves in particular about the systems of the Nitrous oxide sedation. Of course, everyone can identify with being unwell or even afraid of going to the dentist. The interest was correspondingly high and Mr. Baldus was able to answer many questions about nitrous oxide sedation: “Many people know Nitrous oxide from your childhood back then, today our devices are the generation after next". The Baldus company has had a US patent since last week. "With the Baldus Touch we are the first company in the world to offer nitrous oxide sedation that is controlled via touchscreen. In addition, we are the only company outside of the US that manufactures a complete dual nasal mask and mixer assembly system.” The Baldus company has been selling the devices internationally for a year and, thanks to the Rhineland-Palatinate business development agency, was able to take part in international dental trade fairs in Dubai, Copenhagen and London. "Our devices were sold in 25 countries worldwide within a year, especially in Australia things are going really well," says Fabian Baldus proudly.

A focal point was the current refugee policy and the immigration work done by Baldus Medizintechnik. In conversation with the FDP representatives, Mr. Baldus introduces one of his employees, who has been a full member of the company for a year and a half. The special thing is that he is one of three employees who came from Syria as refugees. The representatives of liberal politics applauded when they heard about this social commitment. Baldus Medizintechnik shows that with a little patience and one or the other language barrier, skilled workers from other cultures can be successfully integrated into a German company.

The FDP received further company insights during a tour of the Baldus premises. The opportunity arose to talk to employees who proudly spoke about their own projects and work areas. A lively exchange also took place with Marco Weber, parliamentary manager, and Fabian Baldus. Marco Weber, himself an entrepreneur from the Eifel, asked many questions and at the same time gave good tips.

At the end of the visit, Justice Minister Mertin and parliamentary group leader Willius-Senzer thanked them on behalf of all MPs for the warm welcome and the presentation of the company's activities. At the beginning, nobody expected that behind Baldus Medizintechnik there was a traditional and at the same time innovative company that operates worldwide from the small town near Koblenz.