GE opens digital mammography facility

Jun 4, 2009

GE Healthcare of Chalfont St. Giles, U.K., has opened a digital mammography production facility in New York.

The 230,000-sq-ft space is located at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Technology Park in North Greenbush. It will bring 150 manufacturing jobs to the area; investment in the facility totals more than $165 million, including a capital grant of $10 million from the state of New York, according to GE.

Despite the economic downturn, GE expects the global market for digital mammography technology to grow by 5% over the next few years.

The large scale of the facility matches future demand for digital mammography, according to David Caumartin, general manager of GE's global mammography business.

"In the world, only 25% of women have access to mammography screening," he said. "And even in countries with screening programs, only 25% of women have access to digital. Breast cancer incidence is increasing globally, and there's a need for better digital mammography solutions."

The facility has received the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Gold certification and is GE's first foray into high-tech medical equipment manufacturing in New York, the company said. The certification process for the plant will take six months, according to Caumartin. GE expects to begin full production of systems in January of next year.

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