FARGO, N.D.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr 15, 2013–Fixes 4 Kids, Inc. today announced that it has relocated its manufacturing operations to North Dakota. Working with Wahpeton-based ComDel Innovation (CDI), the company is focused on bringing economic development, infrastructure and technological innovation to take advantage of the business-friendly atmosphere the state provides.
In conjunction with the relocation, Fixes 4 Kids has received funds from a number of local sources, including Linn Grove Ventures, the Bank of North Dakota’s North Dakota Development Fund and North Dakota Venture Fund, and other angel investing groups. The company has benefited from economic development incentives from the state of North Dakota, all of which will help the company better establish deep roots within the community and propel innovation efforts forward.
“We invested in Fixes 4 Kids as a group of North Dakota investors because we saw significant common values, especially a strong respect for cash efficiency, a strong management team that had a clear understanding of the path forward and the ability to execute, and an opportunity to add value through North Dakota manufacturing and product development at ComDel Innovation as well as employment in North Dakota,” said Dan Hodgson, managing director of Linn Grove Ventures. “Innovation is about solving an unmet market need, and then executing the milestones ahead, building value at each step.” Founded in 2009 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Fixes 4 Kids is developing a family of innovative products to address a range of complex pediatric orthopedic fractures. Its first products, the E-Fix and E-Thotic, create a system that uniquely helps pediatric orthopedic surgeons more effectively reset, pin and postoperatively immobilize fractures in children’s elbows.
“We’re very proud that Fixes 4 Kids selected ComDel as their strategic manufacturing partner, and we’re excited about the potential jobs that will result from a successful launch of their product line,” said Carter Hansen, technical operations manager of ComDel Innovation.
“I have been extremely pleased with the manufacturing partnership we have developed with ComDel Innovation,” Fixes 4 Kids founder and CEO Kurt Vedder said. “ComDel’s dedication to standards of excellence in manufacturing is clear. Their work ethic and commitment to Fixes 4 Kids, and to building our products would be hard to replicate elsewhere. In addition, the state of North Dakota has been a pleasure to work with, and we are thrilled with the support they have provided to help us grow our operations by providing funding for economic development.” The company unveiled the E-Fix Supracondylar Humerus Fracture Reduction and Pinning System (E-Fix) and E-Thotic perioperative orthosis (E-Thotic), the first system designed to treat supracondylar (distal humerus) fractures in children, at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting last month.
“Supracondylar fractures, commonly known as a broken elbow, are the most common fracture in children ages three to 12 years old,” added Vedder. “Approximately 65,000 children in the United States each year are treated for supracondylar fractures. The E-Fix eliminates the current treatment procedure of manually pulling on a child’s arm when managing and reducing complex fractures, which may lead to additional risks to the patient if not performed properly.” Vedder teamed with renowned medical innovators, surgeons and engineers to develop the E-Fix and E-Thotic. The company has also assembled a strong surgeon advisory board with many highly recognized members of the orthopedic community.
About Fixes 4 Kids
Fixes 4 Kids Inc. is developing a family of innovative products to address a range of complex pediatric orthopedic fractures. These solutions seek to improve clinical outcomes while reducing cost, procedure risk, and time. The E-Fix/E-Thotic, designed for treating supracondylar fractures, are the first products in the family to be commercialized.
For more information, visit www.fixes4kids.com.
