Mathias Müller and Gerhard Schmidtchen founded PROTEC. The high ambition of the founders: to create a processing machine for X-ray images that is uncompromisingly designed for quality, technical innovation and high performance. In addition, the machine should be interesting for the fields of medicine, device construction and NDT.

There is almost no PROTEC customer who does not know the name OPTIMAX. With the market launch of this intuitively operable, fast, reliable and space-saving automatic film processor PROTEC achieved international success. Only 2 years after the OPTIMAX, the equally successful COMPACT 2 followed, which together with the OPTIMAX and OPTIMAX2010 still represents the processing machine portfolio today.

In 1996 Erhard Fichtner took over the company as a visionary managing director. Together with him, PROTEC is especially intensifying the development of international business and OEM business. He also started to build the base for the subsequent development of digital complete X-ray solutions. The success proves his concept to be right – today PROTEC with a large portfolio and innovative products is better positioned for the future than ever.

With the foundation of the subsidiary PROTEC medical information systems (MIS), the field of digital X-ray started to gain importance at PROTEC. One reason for the foundation of a digital X-ray section was the now continuous global development away from analogue X-ray developing machines towards fully digital X-ray image reading systems. The first digital product was a CR scanner combined with a device for digitizing existing X-ray images.

The PROSCAN 30, which was presented at the ECR 2003 in Vienna as a new semi-automatic CR system in the PROTEC product portfolio, saved customers time and consumables. The PROSCAN 30 is called a bridge from conventional to digital X-ray, as it is in some way different from the fully automatic CR systems and offers the customer the best possibility to switch from a conventional, analogue system to a digital system.

On 31.08.2006 the company’s own image acquisition software CONAXX was released. Due to the cooperation with a university and university, PROTEC also became known among the students and PROTEC MIS won new employees for the software engineering team, who found their future job here after their graduation. Today, software development is an important part of the PROTEC department landscape.

In 2009, the takeover of the PROVOTEC GmbH in Espelkamp set the course for the future of PROTEC. From now on, the sale and further development of the PROVOTEC products in the PROTEC portfolio followed. After PROTEC had moved to a new location in 2009, PROVOTEC was relocated and finally integrated into the Oberstenfeld facility in July 2010.

As the first own digital X-ray system of the PROTEC portfolio, the PEDS 600 was the spearhead of a successful series. Both X-ray source and image receiver are integrated in the swivel bracket of the system. This has a positive effect on the already low space requirement. Also included in the product are a digital exposure automaton and the organ automaton.

The market launch of the PROTEC TOUCH concept combines a new, intuitive operating concept with a modern design. As a high-end solution in combination with CONAXX as operating software, new standards in user-friendliness could be set. Also in the new PRS 500 system, the touch concept will have an important role in the control of the X-ray system.

The first version of PROSLIDE is introduced to the market. Consistently the completion of the product portfolio is advanced by this. At that time PROSLIDE was only available digitally – this led to the relaunch of the system in 2017. From now on two different systems are available: Proslide 32B and 32SR. The motorized B-version with integrated battery allows the user to benefit from unlimited mobility. The SR version is the entry-level model and has great application flexibility. Both new PROSLIDES are now available for use as DR, CR or analogue systems.

With the expansion of our software interfaces to include ultrasound, CT and MRT, our software solutions developed in-house become even more attractive for you. You now have the possibility to view and diagnose images and video sequences from the mentioned areas via PROPAXX.

As the biggest milestone in PROTEC’s recent history, the launch of the PRS 500 B marks an important step for the future. For the first time PROTEC offers a motorized X-ray system with auto-tracking functions. Thus the system serves you as an inexpensive alternative to cost-intensive ceiling systems. In addition, the system’s tracking function provides a particularly high degree of comfort for the user and patient. Another high highlight is the available auto stitching which allows you to shoot long leg exposures in three bucky positions directly in series. The result: a big time advantage for the user and a significantly shorter strain on the patient.

PROTEC’s China business has tradition: Since 1992 PROTEC is active in the Chinese market. Just recently another milestone was reached: the company moved to a new building and new rooms with modern design and infrastructure. The 7-headed team of PROTEC Shanghai are now perfectly equipped for taking care about the Chinese marked with their new facility. But there is even more to it than that: Since May 2018, a local production site in Shanghai has been established, serving with its own customer solutions for the Chinese market.

The PRS 500 still has its origins in the PROVOTEC halls. It is the backbone of our product portfolio – flexible configurable exactly to your individual requirements. Completely redesigned, equipped with many new features and with an intuitive operating concept, we have continued to develop the PRS 500 consequently. The market launch will take place in May 2019 in a new modern design – we look forward to your feedback on the system!