TSK Laboratory Europe BV, a Japanese company specialising in the production of medical needles, has opened a facility on Tilburg’s Loven industrial estate. TSK Laboratory supplies products for interventional radiology (non-operative procedures) and plastic surgery, primarily needles for breast and prostate biopsy, bone marrow biopsy and ultra-thin needles for Botox and filler injections.

TKS Laboratory Europe BV is concentrating on distribution within the European market and further expansion of the European sales network. The company was attracted by the joint efforts of the City of Tilburg, the Noord-Brabant Development Agency (BOM), the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and NDL/HIDC (Holland International Distribution Council). According to Erik de Ridder, Alderman for Economic Affairs, the coming of TSK Laboratory Europe BV demonstrates the growing importance of the healthcare and public welfare sector for the economy of Tilburg: “Since 2004, the healthcare and public welfare sector has been Tilburg’s largest employer, with 650 new jobs in 2009, despite the economic crisis. The social services sector continues to grow.”

Rhenus Logistics

TSK Laboratory Europe BV chose to settle in the Netherlands primarily because of the country’s excellent logistics and the fact that almost 90% of Dutch people speak a second language. TSK Laboratory Europe BV’s Managing Director is Mr Doris de Beer, a native of Tilburg, who spent over ten years in America where he was mainly involved in the international expansion of medical companies. “The Netherlands is actively involved in attracting international companies, and it has a lot to offer them,” he says. “Many foreign companies automatically think of Amsterdam and Rotterdam when they think of the Netherlands, but our logistics partner Rhenus Logistics offers an excellent alternative here in Brabant.”

Expat Center

Tilburg is home to several Japanese companies, including FujiFilm, Hermex, Sony, MOL Logistics, NSK and Iris Ohyama, and, since 1990, a Japanese school. On 25 February 2010, the Expat Center Brabant, with branches in Tilburg and Eindhoven, was opened in order to simplify immigration and integration from abroad.

Japan

TSK’s medical needles are produced in Japan by TSK Laboratory Japan. This company has several factories and schools, and has become the largest employer in Tochigi, a province to the north of Tokyo. The company opened its first facility abroad in Canada in 1989.