SAN DIEGO, Sep 26, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- dj Orthopedics, Inc., (NYSE:DJO), a global medical device company specializing in rehabilitation and regeneration products for the non-operative orthopedic and spine markets, today announced that the Product Development & Management Association (PDMA) will honor dj Orthopedics with its highest award, the Outstanding Corporate Innovator (OCI) Award for 2005. Since 1988, the PDMA's OCI Award has recognized organizations that have demonstrated sustained excellence in the development and profitable commercialization of new products and services.
dj Orthopedics will receive the award at the PDMA's 29th Annual International Conference on October 22-26 in San Diego, CA.
To learn more about the Conference visit www.pdma.org/2005. The OCI Award presentation ceremony at the International Conference is sponsored by Fast Company Magazine. In addition to dj Orthopedics, Nextel Communications, which recently merged with Sprint (NYSE:S) located in Reston, Va., will also receive the OCI award in 2005 bringing the total number of award
winners to thirty-three since the award was first introduced. Past recipients include Apple Computer, BMW Group, Eastman Kodak, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Herman Miller, Hewlett-Packard, Hunter Douglas, Nabisco, Pepsi-Cola, and Rockwell Collins.
"The award is presented with two objectives," said Stan Jankowski, Chair of PDMA's OCI Award Selection Committee and President of N.O.V.A Consulting Co. LLC. "The first is to recognize and showcase those organizations that have demonstrated an enterprise-wide commitment to innovation and have proven themselves to be highly successful in the continuous development of profitable new products. The second is to provide a significant learning vehicle for the new product development community by having the recipients share their award-winning practices at PDMA's Annual International Conference."
According to Jankowski, both dj Orthopedics and Nextel were selected on the basis of their successes in developing and commercializing differentiated new products and services in highly competitive markets. "dj Orthopedics has a rich history of innovation, beginning in the late 1970's in the garage of our founder's home. Our current new-product development process builds on this long-standing tradition of innovating breakthrough technologies and products, many of which have become industry standards," said Les Cross, president and CEO of dj Orthopedics. "It is through this commitment to continuous innovation, along with our industry leading quality and customer service, that the Company continues to enjoy our market leading position."
About PDMA
The Product Development & Management Association is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to advancing the art, science and business of product development. Through the annual International Conference, Chapter events and published research and educational materials, PDMA is dedicated to enhancing the professional development of its 2,500 members
around the world. To learn more about PDMA, visit www.pdma.org.
About dj Orthopedics, Inc.
dj Orthopedics is a global medical device company specializing in rehabilitation and regeneration products for the non-operative orthopedic and spine markets. Marketed under the DonJoy and ProCare brands, the Company's broad range of over 600 rehabilitation products, including rigid knee braces, soft goods, pain management, are used in the prevention of injury, in the treatment of chronic conditions and for recovery after surgery or injury. The Company's regeneration products consist of bone growth stimulation devices that are used to treat nonunion fractures and as an adjunct therapy after spinal fusion surgery. Together, these products provide solutions throughout the patient's continuum of care. The Company sells its products in the United States and in more than 40 other countries through networks of agents, distributors and its direct sales force. Customers include orthopedic, podiatric and spine surgeons, orthotic and prosthetic centers, third-party distributors, hospitals, surgery centers, physical therapists, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.djoglobal.com.
SOURCE: dj Orthopedics, Inc.
dj Orthopedics, Inc.
Mark Francois, 760-734-4766
