Growing up in India, KRM Niranjan Kumar wasn't your normal 13-year-old boy. He was surrounded by family members involved in ultrasound scanning and he decided that it was a business that he wanted to get involved in himself. After working for some of the big companies throughout India, he decided it was time to branch out on his own.

In 1998, he started a small company in Calicut, Kerala, operating as a medical equipment dealer in India. Two years later, it expanded into India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service, selling refurbished ultrasound scanners and color dopplers in Southern India.

"In 2002, we stopped dealing in the other products and started selling refurbished ultrasound units all over India," said DOTmed certified exporter Joshy Joseph. "In 2004 the company started exporting."

Today, India Ultrasound offers complete diagnostic ultrasound solutions for general radiology, obstetrics, gynecology, cardiology, vascular, peripheral vascular, breast, neurology, urology, surgical and veterinary applications. The sales, service, spares and training are focused toward both domestic and international customers.

By focusing on quality service and on-time delivery, India Ultrasound made sure to concentrate on its customers and they soon became the number one refurbished ultrasound reseller in India.

"We look to support our existing customers, gather more customers by providing quality products and timely support, and offering suitable solutions to customers," Joseph said. "Our satisfied customers across the globe show that we have been successful."

For the past three years, India Ultrasound has been a DOTmed 100 user and has grown year after year.

In 2008, the company started an ultrasound spare parts operation, and that has really helped to spike the business. Before that year, the company had done around $1 million in sales, but that figure grew to $1.8 million for 2008-09 and $2.3 million last year.

"Other than the financial growth, our company has grown with respect to technical expertise, spare stock, inventory stock, team strength and more," said Joseph. "We house our own inventory, refurbish our own systems and employ experienced engineers."

According to Bharatbook.com, which issued the report "India Ultrasound Systems Market: Strategic Market Analysis and Insight" last December, the ultrasound market in India is expected to grow 15% in the next five years. The report says the market is expected to be driven by a rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure in rural India and the increasing use of portable ultrasound systems in new applications such as critical care and vascular surgery.

India Ultrasound is expected to be a big part of that growth. Looking ahead, the company does not plan to rest on its laurels.

"Our aim is to be an ultrasound hub for the world, to start procuring ultrasound across the globe," Joseph said. "We plan to start different India Ultrasound offices across the globe for easy access."

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