3.0 DEVRO - BIOMEDICAL PRODUCTS

Devro is a contract manufacturer of collagen-based materials for use in medical, pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic applications. Devro collaborates closely with its customers, and in the strictest confidence, to develop products designed to meet the customer's stringent requirements.

Our collagen is typically sourced from Hereford cattle, with hide weights usually ranging from about 25 - 45kg - this corresponds roughly to an age range of about 2 - 4 years. All cattle are slaughtered in export-approved abattoirs and are subject to pre- and post-mortem examination by qualified veterinarians. Facilities exist, if a customer so desires, to trace each animal back to the property of origin through tail tag identification.

Devro can supply comprehensive documentation if required, including the Certificate of Registration from the source abattoir, a National Vendor Declaration, Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service export certification, and Commonwealth Government veterinary declaration covering the disease-free status of the animals. In addition, Devro provides its own Certificate of Analysis for each batch of material, and batch processing records are also made available to the customer if required.

Devro's scientists and engineers have been working with collagen for many years, and use this wealth of experience and knowledge to help tailor products that meet the customer's individual needs. From deciding on the best starting material, through the various processing steps and the characteristics of the finished product, Devro staff work with you. Packaging, too, will be treated with the same level of dedication, because we know there's no point in making a quality product, only to have it destroyed or damaged in transit. Products are generally deep frozen first, then packed into suitable containers with dry ice on the morning of dispatch.

Devro uses a freight forwarding agent in Sydney who has many years experience in dealing with our company, and understands the need to get our products to the customer in perfect condition and in the shortest possible time. However, customers sometimes prefer to arrange shipment through their own agents - Devro is happy to accommodate these arrangements too.

3.1 Specifications

A typical raw material specification that may apply to medical-grade bovine collagen is given below.