SOPHYSA sets up a site in TEMIS

Subsidiary of the Japanese group TOKIBO, SOPHYSA operates in over 30 countries through a network of exclusive distributors. 80% of its turnover comes from Export, mainly to Europe, Japan and the USA. Today, SOPHYSA employs 60 persons in France and elsewhere, in its facilities in Orsay, Besançon, Nivelles (Belgium) and Costa Mesa (USA).

SOPHYSA is specialised in the design and manufacture of neurology implants. It has been behind a major advance in the treatment of hydrocephalus, with the development in 1985 of the first adjustable valve, which is used to set the operating pressure through the skin without a repeat surgical procedure. In 2004, the company introduced the first valve compatible with Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) systems. SOPHYSA also manufactures implantable chambers for chemotherapy and pain relief, and electrodes for pacemaker probes.

SOPHYSA came to Valparc Valentin in 1991 and is now growing strongly. It doubled its production of valves between 2003 and 2005. The premises occupied till now were rented premises and were no longer able to support the development of its business. That is why the company was looking for another site.

With TEMIS, SOPHYSA can take advantage of the showcase effect of the technology park, but more importantly, the company can benefit from the close proximity with the research laboratories and transfer centres with which it works. It uses micro-injection equipment made in the pilot workshop set up in ENSMM and is involved in the work relating to the microtechniques competitiveness centre.

The new unit of SOPHYSA has an area of 2500 m2, including 400-m2 of clean room facilities. It has been operational since Friday 15 June 2007 when it was inaugurated.