In 15 years RTI has evolved from UF spin-off to international biologics company to a more than $200 million global surgical implant company.
Respecting the Gift of Life
RTI recognizes that tissue donation is a gift of life. Our employees have great respect for the individuals and families who have made the selfless decision to be organ and tissue donors. RTI Donor Services is a not-for-profit tissue recovery organization that works to enhance the lives of others by providing families the option of tissue donation. RTI Donor Services works together with RTI Surgical to promote the research of new and innovative tissue implants that help to transform the lives of recipients throughout the world.
It goes without saying that Gainesville is rich in innovation and is home to many creative minds and business professionals who are leaders in a number of fields, from technology to medicine to biotechnology. With global headquarters in Alachua just off U.S. 441, RTI Surgical is an example of one local company at the forefront of its industry. RTI is a leading global surgical implant company that provides surgeons with safe biologic, metal and synthetic implants. The company, which has four manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. and Europe and a total of seven office locations in the U.S., is committed to advancing science, safety and innovation. RTI implants are used in sports medicine, general surgery, spine, orthopedic, trauma and cardiothoracic procedures in the United States and are distributed in nearly 50 countries.
A Company with Local Roots
RTI Surgical began as Regeneration Technologies in February 1998 when the University of Florida (UF) Tissue Bank transferred its allograft processing operations, related equipment and technologies, distribution arrangements and R&D activities to RTI. In 2008 the company merged with Tutogen Medical to create RTI Biologics. This past July RTI Biologics acquired Marquette, Mich.-based Pioneer Surgical Technology, a leading medical technology company that manufactures and distributes synthetic and metal products, and became RTI Surgical.
Industry Leader
RTI was the first company to offer precision-tooled bone implants and assembled technology for patients. Through the years RTI has continued to be at the cutting-edge of the biotechnology industry. In order to fund its R&D activities the company completed an initial public offering in August 2000 and began trading on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol RTIX. The funding from the IPO allowed RTI to improve its facility in Alachua and develop improved processes to sterilize its implants. RTI is proud that it has sterilized more than 5 million implants and has had zero incidence of implant-associated infection.
Through the years RTI has grown while remaining invested in the local economy. Today, more than 500 employees work at the company’s headquarters, which is home to its allograft processing. Another 600 employees work at its other locations in Jacksonville, Fla., Marquette, Mich., Austin, Texas, Greenville, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., Woburn, Mass., and outside of the U.S. in Germany and The Netherlands.
RTI is committed to making an impact in the communities in which it operates by volunteering and through corporate contributions. “We support numerous local organizations that focus on healthcare issues, science and technology education,” says Wendy Crites Wacker, APR, RTI’s executive director of global corporate and marketing communication. “Since 1999 we have held an annual United Way Workplace Campaign, raising nearly $800,000. In 2012, our campaign brought in the fourth largest contribution for United Way of North Central Florida and was named Most Creative.”
The company also encourages volunteerism by presenting opportunities for employees to participate in events such as March of Dimes’ March for Babies walk and the Five Points of Life Race Weekend. In addition RTI supports and is involved with the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, Cade Museum for Creativity + Invention, Council for Economic Outreach, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and Gainesville Area Innovation Network among others. RTI opens its doors to various groups throughout the year, hosting tours for high school students, biotechnology professionals, surgeons and other community leaders.
What’s Ahead
Last year the company launched 18 new implants or implant enhancements and earned $178.1 million in annual revenues. The company also continued development of several implants and, in January, broke ground on its new $14 million 41,165-square-foot Logistics and Technology Center that will house R&D offices and laboratories in Alachua, Fla. With the recent acquisition, the company will continue to grow and expand into new markets and new areas.
“Our recent acquisition of Pioneer is strongly aligned with RTI’s long term strategic plan,” said Brian K. Hutchison, RTI president and chief executive officer. “Pioneer has built a strong distribution network for their implants, which will be beneficial when we launch our map3™ cellular allogeneic bone graft later this year. This acquisition will bring immediate scale, allowing us to reach our strategic goals and take advantage of growth opportunities more quickly than either company could do independently.”
As RTI continues to grow it remains committed to the Gainesville area community, which has supported the company through the years. “We are looking forward to many new and exciting developments in the coming months and years,” said Crites Wacker. “From the launch of new innovation in stem cells with our map3™ cellular allogeneic bone graft to the opening of our new Logistics and Technology Center in Alachua, RTI Surgical remains as invested in providing life-enhancing implants to patients as we were 15 years ago.”