Our Story
We had a vision, we had lots of ideas and finally the skill and the know-how to implement these ideas. Today, we are one of the world’s most important OEM manufacturers of components for minimally invasive medicine. With numerous patents and innovations, we are among the pioneers in the industry.
patents filed
highly specialized employees
square meters of production area
kilometres of wire processing per year
1994 – Company Foundation
Between Kettcars and the home workbench Bernhard Uihlein founded the Swabian prime example of a successful garage company. This is where the first stainless steel guide wires from EPflex were created.
WHAT DOES “EPflex” STAND FOR?
Our ambition has always been to respond as flexibly (=individually) as possible to the wishes of our customers,
as well as to develop flexible (=movable) solutions. This is how our name came into being:
Entwicklung (engl. Development) and Production of flexibel Elements
EPflex
[e] [pe] [flɛks]
1996/1997
In 1996 we develop our first Nitinol guide wire
and already one year later the first Nitinol stone trap for gastro-endoscopy.
1998
Purchase of our first company building Im Schwöllbogen.
2002
New building I Schwöllbogen – today’s plant I
2007
Own CE certification
2009/2010
After our first TAVI guide wire leaves the factory in 2009, our first own basket handle follows already in 2010.
2012
New construction of plant II with clean room technology up to class 8
2012 – A NEW ERA
After patent application in 2005, our MRline guidewire received official approval in 2012. As the world’s first MRI-capable guidewire, it enables procedures under MRI control. With no ionizing radiation, no harmful contrast agents and significantly increased soft tissue contrast, MRI is the future for imaging during surgical procedures.
2019
Completion and moving into plant III
25 Jahre
From a one-man business to a global innovation leader.
In 2019, we celebrate our 25th company anniversary.
2021
GENERATION CHANGE AT EPFLEX
Handover of the management from Bernhard Uihlein to his two sons Georg and Johannes
2023
MDR Certification:
Product Group Stone Retrieval Devices
30 Jahre
Medical technology from the region for people all over the world.
In 2024, we celebrate our 30th company anniversary.
