As the Netherlands-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast helps connect Dutch companies around the region, it often unearths innovative firms with Georgia operations that show how the Netherlands punches above its weight in global trade, technology and logistics.
Recently, the chamber caught up with MediCapital Group’s U.S. director, Ramon van Maaren, to discuss how the company uses its offices and facilities in Peachtree City; Leiden, Netherlands and Zurich to provide logistics support for American medical device companies as they work to crack the highly regulated markets of Europe.
Global Atlanta has reprinted the interview below with the permission of the company and the chamber:
What is your business industry category or specialty?
The MediCapital Group consists of several companies that all have a focus on the medical device and pharmaceutical clinical trial markets. We specialize in providing value-added medical device logistics worldwide as well as equipment rental and leasing services.
How do you describe your job to people outside the industry?
We support small and medium-sized, medical-related, U.S.-based companies that want to start doing business in Europe, or vice versa.
Basically we become their local warehouse and our employees are trained by our customers to provide all services exactly as their own employees would. We take care of ordering, shipping, retrieving, repairing and servicing the equipment, so our customers save time, don’t have to make large capital investments and don’t have to hire local employees.
Who are your main competitors and what differentiates you from the competition? What makes you unique?
The MediCapital Group’s rental and logistics divisions are market leaders with the most complete portfolio of equipment and services. We set ourselves apart from our competitors by mainly focusing on what our customers want and need, so we can provide tailor-made solutions. Our employees pride themselves in delivering an exceptional level of service that is based on personal relationships and trust. The main goal is to relieve (ontzorgen) our customers of any worries concerning the operations on the new continent.
How was the business started?
The company was founded in The Netherlands in 1996 and it’s still independently owned by our founders. It all started with a central laboratory that needed a logistics and maintenance solution for the equipment they provided to clinical-trial sites around the world. That solution was created and grew into the company we are today.
How many employees does the business have?
We have around 35 employees based at offices in Leiden (The Netherlands), Zurich (Switzerland) and Atlanta (USA).
How did you end up in Atlanta?
Atlanta has the world’s busiest airport, which makes it a great hub to travel to anywhere within the U.S. It’s also a hub for UPS, which makes it very conveniently located for our logistics activities.
What is your number one business goal over the next year?
Our goal is profitable growth of our group, while making sure our customers’ expectations are exceeded and our employees enjoy their job.
What is the best advice you have received regarding doing business with the Dutch?
Best advise I received it to steer clear of religion or politics!
Any other personal information you would like to share, e.g. hobbies, special interests, family etc…
Shortly after we moved here, we adopted a Dutch Shepherd from the humane society. His name was “Dutch”, so we figured he would be the perfect office dog for a Dutch company.
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To learn more about the company, visit www.medicapitallogistics.com or email Mr. van Maaren at rvanmaaren@medicapitalrent.com.
Learn more about the chamber of join at www.naccse.org.
