Our History

1985

Stephen Jones joins Obex as Product Specialist in Anaesthesia/Critical Care. AMS becomes one of our supply partners and annual sales hit $1m for the first time. Obex sponsors the inaugural CRISP (Cardiology, Radiology, Interventional, Special Procedure Nurses) Nurses Meeting is held.

1989

Bill and Gayle Cook who founded Cook Medical visit New Zealand to meet New Zealand customers.

1990

Greenlane purchases first tissue valve from Obex. Obex was part of the investigation team lead by Sir Brian Barratt Boyes for the Medtronic Intact Heart Valve clinical trial. First Medtronic heart valve sold.

1991

Obex sponsors the inaugural Tongariro Cardiac Surgery meeting.

1992

Obex sponsors the inaugural Vascular Society meeting in Wairakei with Key Guest Speaker Dr Colin Strachan, Brighton, UK.

1993

Obex celebrates first 10 years.

1996

Obex moves to new premises at 303 Manukau Road, Epsom. Salzmann Medico joins the Obex family with the introduction of Venosan Medical Compression Stockings.

1997

Obex supports first Endoluminal procedure at Auckland Hospital with Cook technology.

1998

Obex celebrates achieving annual revenue sales of $10m for the first time.

2000

Obex becomes a foundation member of the Independent Medical Distributors (IMD) Group.

2001

Obex partners with Given Imaging from Israel to introduce Pillcam to the NZ market and the first capsule endoscopy case takes place.

2003

Obex celebrates 20 years.

2004

Obex is awarded 3rd Place in the JRA Best Places To Work in New Zealand Survey and employs 25 staff.

2007

Pieter Wijnhoud is appointed as first CEO for Obex Medical.

2008

Obex celebrates 25 years. A separate Obex Logistics Centre is opened at Boston Road, Mt Eden.

2011

Obex Conference and Education Centre is opened. Obex is awarded the JRA Best Workplaces Five-Year League Award for consistently ranking as one of New Zealand’s Best Workplaces.

2011