Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd (SMT) has become the first domestic cardiovascular device manufacturer in India to achieve the ISO 50001:2018 certification for its Energy Management System. This international recognition covers the company’s major manufacturing hubs in Surat and Hyderabad, highlighting a significant shift toward sustainable industrial practices in the medical technology sector. By adopting this structured framework, the company aims to optimize its energy performance while strengthening India’s position in the global MedTech landscape.
A Milestone for India’s Cardiovascular Manufacturing
Founded in 2001 by Dhirajlal Kotadia, Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT) has grown into a global leader in the vascular and structural heart intervention space. The company, headquartered in Surat, Gujarat, specializes in life-saving devices such as drug-eluting stents (DES), cardiac balloons, and transcatheter heart valves. It has a presence in over 75 countries and was famously the first globally to receive the CE certification for a biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stent.
The recent attainment of the ISO 50001:2018 certification marks a new chapter for the Indian medical device industry. While many Indian firms follow quality management standards like ISO 13485 for medical devices, SMT is the first in the domestic cardiovascular segment to prioritize a dedicated international framework for Energy Management Systems (EnMS). This move aligns with the broader global trend of integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals into core manufacturing operations.
Understanding ISO 50001:2018 Certification
The ISO 50001:2018 is a global standard that provides a systematic framework for organizations to manage and improve their energy performance. It follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, which ensures continuous enhancement of energy efficiency. Unlike some standards that focus on external environmental impacts, ISO 50001 targets the internal technical and management aspects of energy use.
For a medical device manufacturer, energy management is critical because production environments must be strictly controlled. Manufacturing stents and catheters requires advanced machinery, sophisticated sterilization processes, and highly regulated cleanrooms that consume significant electricity. By implementing an Energy Management System, SMT can identify energy-intensive “hotspots” in its production lines, set measurable targets for reduction, and use data-driven insights to lower operational costs without compromising product quality.
SMT’s Manufacturing Footprint: Surat and Hyderabad
The certification applies to SMT’s primary manufacturing sites in Surat and Hyderabad. While the Surat facility has long been the backbone of the company’s production, the newer facility in Hyderabad represents a major leap in capacity. Located within the Medical Devices Park in Sultanpur, near Hyderabad, this unit was inaugurated in 2022 and is recognized as one of the largest stent manufacturing facilities in Asia.
The Hyderabad facility is designed to produce over 1 million stents and 2 million balloon catheters annually at full capacity. It also houses a dedicated research and development center focused on advanced therapies like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). By securing the ISO 50001 certification for these specific sites, SMT ensures that its largest-scale operations are optimized for energy efficiency from the ground up.
Strategic Significance: Sustainability and Self-Reliance
India’s medical device sector has historically been heavily dependent on imports, with almost 80% of high-end equipment coming from international markets. To counter this, the Government of India launched the Make in India initiative and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for medical devices. Cardiovascular devices, including stents and catheters, are prioritized under these schemes to boost domestic production and reduce healthcare costs.
SMT’s focus on energy efficiency is a strategic move that complements these national goals. As global healthcare providers and investors increasingly look for “green” manufacturing partners, having an ISO 50001 certification provides a competitive advantage. It demonstrates that Indian manufacturers are not only capable of producing world-class medical technology but are also doing so in a way that minimizes environmental impact and optimizes resource usage.
The Road Ahead: India as a Global MedTech Hub
The Indian cardiovascular device market is projected to reach over USD 2.4 billion by 2030, driven by an increasing burden of lifestyle diseases and expanded healthcare coverage through schemes like Ayushman Bharat. As companies like SMT scale their operations to meet this demand, sustainable manufacturing will become a necessity rather than a choice.
The adoption of the ISO 50001 framework by a major domestic player sets a precedent for other Indian MedTech companies. It signals that the Indian medical device industry is maturing, moving beyond simple assembly to sophisticated, efficient, and environmentally responsible manufacturing. This evolution is vital for India to transition from being an import-heavy market to a self-reliant global manufacturing hub for life-saving technologies.
Key Takeaways
- Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd (SMT) became the first domestic cardiovascular manufacturing unit in India to secure the ISO 50001:2018 certification.
- The certification defines international requirements for establishing and enhancing an Energy Management System (EnMS).
- The standard applies to SMT’s major manufacturing facilities located in Surat, Gujarat, and Hyderabad, Telangana.
- SMT was founded in 2001 and is a global leader in vascular and structural heart interventions, with a presence in more than 75 countries.
- The ISO 50001 framework uses a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology to continuously improve energy performance and reduce costs.
- This achievement aligns with national goals like Make in India and the PLI scheme to boost domestic production in the medical device sector.
