"We're number two worldwide in RF shielding and growing our percentage," says Michael Krachon, IMEDCO America director and general manager. "It's the international presence that's allowed us to build our U.S. market."

Despite the economy, some players are moving up and experiencing strong growth in their RF shielding business. Magnetic Resonance Technologies, Inc., out of Willoughby, Ohio, has doubled their sales in 2009. "We are logged to be on the same growth path for 2010," says Michael Profeta, president of the company.

National MRI Shielding, Inc., out of Dallas, Texas, has also been seeing a good share of business this year, says owner Cliff Hess. "Business has actually been up this year, but I don't think that's an indication of the industry in general," says Hess. "What I hear from other companies is that business is down and bigger companies have been laying people off."

Laurie Jacobs is president of Medishield, Inc., based in New Albany, Ind. She says her business has felt the pinch of health care reform. "We have been pretty slow. I think a lot of hospitals are waiting on health care reform before they put in new systems, but in the past two months we've been picking up; quoting a lot more, bidding a lot more and getting more projects."

The Shift toward Service

MR Shielding companies are seeing far more surveying, repair, modifications and upgrades than ever before, and with capital budgets on hold and hospitals waiting to see what happens in Washington, it's going to be a strong trend in the coming year.

"There hasn't been as many new installs this year as there were in past years, which is an indication of the drop off in MRI sales," says Hess.

Hospitals and freestanding imaging centers are trying to hold the line and keep their equipment for the long haul, and upgrading instead of going for new fixed units.

"From what I gather the industry as a whole is really slow," says Mike Lahita, president of Shielding Resources Group, Inc. "With this economy, people are trying to work with what they have."

As hospitals hold onto older units, more RF Shielding companies are being contacted because artifacts are showing up on scans. A lot more focus is on troubleshooting and service. "There is a lot more out there than simply selling a shield," says Giacone.




There has also been a marked increase in used-system installations, says Bill Mansfield, owner of Professional Installations out of Cleveland, Ohio. "We're playing shuffle-the-magnets-around instead of doing new installs like we used to. New systems have simply dried up and used systems have tripled."

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