In the realm of intimate healthcare, one name stands out for its unwavering commitment to improving the lives of individuals with personal medical conditions: Coloplast. Founded in 1957 in Denmark by Aage Louis-Hansen, Coloplast has grown into a multinational company that develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices and services catering to ostomy, urology, continence, and wound care.
Coloplast’s journey began with a simple yet profound vision: to make life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs. This vision was sparked by Elise Sørensen, a nurse. Her sister Thora has just had an ostomy operation and was afraid to go out in public, fearing that her stoma might leak. Listening to her sister’s problems, Elise conceives the idea of the world’s first adhesive ostomy bag.
Based on Elise’s idea, Aage Louis-Hansen, a civil engineer and plastics manufacturer, and his wife Johanne Louis-Hansen, a trained nurse, created the ostomy bag. An ostomy bag that helps Thora – and thousands of people like her – to live the life they want to lead. From this compassionate inception, Coloplast has expanded its mission to address a range of conditions that require sensitive care and attention.
Today, Coloplast operates globally with a workforce of approximately 14,500 employees. Its innovative product line includes ostomy bags, continence products, urology supplies, and wound dressings, all designed with the user’s comfort and dignity in mind. The company’s approach to intimate healthcare—working closely with users to create solutions tailored to their unique needs—is what they proudly call “intimate healthcare.”
The company’s dedication to innovation is evident in its history of acquisitions and expansion. Notably, in November 2021, Coloplast acquired Atos Medical, specializing in laryngectomy, for 2.5 billion dollars, marking a significant expansion into voice and respiratory care. This acquisition underscores Coloplast’s strategy to diversify its offerings and reinforce its market position.
Coloplast’s financial performance reflects its operational success, with revenues reaching DKK 24.5 billion in 2022/2023. The company’s innovative spirit has been recognized by Forbes, which listed Coloplast as the 22nd most innovative company in the world in 2016.
As Coloplast continues to grow, its core mission remains the same: to make life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs. With a strong foundation in empathy and innovation, Coloplast is well-positioned to lead the intimate healthcare industry into the future, ensuring that every individual they serve can lead a life with fewer limitations and greater fulfilment.
