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Meijer Selects Microfil
Pharmacy Automation 
Press release Dec 18, 2006
Microfil announced today that it had received an order to automate
several Meijer pharmacies with its 219 Robotic Dispensing Solution. Microfil
has been working closely with Meijer at a test location and the order
confirms that Microfil has met the ridged reliability and performance
measures established by the Meijer pharmacy management team.
The Microfil Dispensing Solution has enabled Meijer to automate a
majority of their daily pharmacy output resulting in improved productivity
for the pharmacy staff thereby enhancing the communication and interaction
with customers. The Microfil solution installs under the pharmacy counter
integrating it into the existing workflow. Microfil estimates that pharmacy
technicians are walking approximately 2 miles a day less as a direct result
the system’s productivity. The top 219 oral solids are automatically filled
by the 219 but it also produces labels for all non-automated scripts
including unit-of-use medications. In addition, the compact footprint
facilitates an installation completed in under an hour and without the need
for extensive remodeling.
In commenting on the order, Rusty Baker, Chairman of Microfil said,
‘we are pleased that Meijer has selected Microfil as its pharmacy automation
partner and look forward to assisting Meijer with achieving their performance
goals in high and mid-volume pharmacies.”
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VGM to Provide Financing
to Microfil Customer Base
Press release Aug 1, 2006
Microfil announced today that it had reached an agreement to provide
financing to its customers through VGM Financial, an affiliate of TCF
Financial Corp. TCF Financial is a NYSE Company trading under the symbol TCB
with assets exceeding $12 billion.
Under the agreement, Microfil’s customers will be able to either
structure a lease or purchase through VGM under flexible terms. VGM has
experience and expertise in the financing and leasing of medically related
equipment and is positioned to respond to customers within days of
application submission.
The VGM relationship will provide Microfil customers with the ability
to customize a financing option that is optimally suited to their respective
capital requirements. With leasing now accounting for over 80% of all
business purchases, it is rapidly becoming the preferred method of procuring
equipment. The VGM arrangement has been designed and targeted to meet the
demands of the pharmacies that desire to maintain a competitive edge with
respect to the deployment of automation technology at an affordable capital
cost.
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Bill Gerold Named COO
of Microfil
Press release Aug 17, 2004
Rusty Baker, Chairman of Microfil, announced today
that Bill Gerold, Executive Vice President-R&D, will assume the
additional responsibilities of Chief Operating Officer. "Bill has done
an outstanding job in leading us through product development and as we move
forward into production his role as COO will strengthen our ability for a
timely response to customer demand for the Microfil solution", Mr. Baker
said.
Mr. Gerold is the inventor of Microfil and has led the development team
through the successful deployment of its 'beta' launch. The Microfil product
has resulted in numerous filed patents under Mr. Gerold's direction. His past
experience has included 25 years at Weldun International in the design and
manufacture of automation equipment. He also founded a private company that
developed design solutions for robotic customers specializing in custom automation
equipment.
Microfil began operations in 2002 to develop an automated dispensing
system capable of automating the top 219 prescription drugs at a rate of 120
scripts per hour. Features include automated vial feeding, labeling, and
customer sorting. Designed to install under the pharmacy counter, it is the
most space efficient automation in the marketplace with dimensions of
24"x96"x38" and an operating cost of $7.50 per hour. The
Company has also developed a smaller solution for the Canadian market incorporating
107 drug profiles and measuring 24"x60"x38".
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Microfil Targets
Canada
Press release Aug 2, 2004
Henry Beattie, President & CEO of Microfil, announced today that Peter
Brennan, former National Sales Director of McKesson/APS Canada, will assume
the position of Director of Sales Canada for Microfil. We are pleased to have
Peter join the Microfil team as our Canadian representative. Peter's
experience and reputation in Canada
will be a tremendous asset to our marketing efforts as we begin product roll
out to Canadian pharmacies.
Mr. Brennan joined Baker/APS Canada in 1997 as Regional Manager, Ontario. In 2002 Mr.
Brennan was promoted to the position of National Sales Director with
McKesson/APS. While at McKesson/APS, Mr. Brennan won both the ICARE and
President’s awards. Prior to joining APS Mr. Brennan was a 5-time winner of
the Professional Service award and 3-time winner of the Top Ten award during
his 7 years with Frank W. Horner Inc, a Montreal based pharmaceutical
company.
Microfil will introduce a smaller unit that will be targeted to
Canadian pharmacies. The product will be 60"x24"x38" and fit
under the pharmacy counter thereby integrating into the existing workflow..
It will dispense 107 oral solids at the rate of 120 scripts per hour. The
system will also incorporate work flow software including labeling and
tracking of non automated prescriptions. A smaller unit was designed for Canada
given its tighter formulary and is expected to automate approximately 60% of
a pharmacy's output. Pricing is expected to be $135,000 US.
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Rusty Baker Joins
Microfil
Press release Jan 8, 2004
Henry Beattie, President & CEO of Microfil,
announced today that Rusty Baker, former CEO of Baker/APS, will become
Chairman of the Board of Microfil. In addition, Mr. Baker will provide equity
to meet the commitment of orders the Company has received resulting from the
recent introduction of its automated pharmacy dispensing system. Mr. Beattie
commented, "I am pleased Rusty and I will be working again with our
former customers in the US
and Canada,
providing them with this revolutionary system that automates over 65% of a
pharmacy's prescription volume." The Company recently changed its name
from Vanguard Medical Systems to Microfil.
Along with his reputation of providing over 18
years of outstanding customer service at Baker/APS, Mr. Baker's commitment to
Microfil adds credibility to the Company's product line. "I am excited
to be back in the industry, particularly at a time when critical decisions
are being made regarding automation. I am highly confident the Microfil
system and team have the most cost effective solution in the marketplace. I
have been concerned that automated solutions introduced to date are too
complex for consumer pharmacy applications and will inevitably have
significant service issues. The Microfil solution provides the pharmacy a
simplistic and reliable solution. I look forward to reestablishing my
relationships throughout the pharmacy marketplace", Mr. Baker said.
Mr. Baker was CEO of Baker/APS prior to its sale
to McKesson in 1998. Baker/APS pioneered pharmacy automation with the
introduction of Baker Cells in 1972. Under Mr. Baker's leadership, Baker/APS
developed a wide range of automation products including workflow software,
telephony, and robotic dispensing systems. Mr. Baker installed the first
automated mail order system in 1990 with the AARP and subsequently co-founded
SI/Baker, a leader in pharmacy mail order and refill center dispensing
technology.
Microfil began operations in 2002 to develop an
automated dispensing system capable of automating the top 219 prescription
drugs at a rate of 120 scripts per hour. Features include automated vial
feeding, labeling, and customer sorting. Designed to install under the
pharmacy counter, it is the most space efficient automation in the
marketplace with dimensions of 24"x96"x38" and an operating
cost of $6.00 per hour.
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Vanguard Medical
Systems Secures Funding
Press release Aug 15, 2003
Vanguard Medical Systems announced that
effective 15-August-2003 that it had sold a majority equity position to Henry
Beattie, former President of Baker/APS and CEO of Super D Drugs. Mr. Beattie
will become President of Vanguard and has committed funding sufficient to
complete R&D efforts and product introduction into the marketplace.
The Company was formed in 2002 to develop a
robotic dispensing system capable of automating the top 238 prescriptions at
a rate of 120 scripts per hour. Features include automated vial feeding,
labeling and customer sorting all in a footprint designed to be installed
under the pharmacy counter thereby integrating into the existing fulfillment
workflow. With dimensions of 24"x96"x38" it is the most space
efficient automation in the marketplace.
The patented pending process was designed by
Bill Gerold, a former engineering consultant to pharmacy automation
companies. Other principals include Rick Blake, President of Edgewater
Automation, and Jim Grandholm, former NBA professional and sports
agent.
Mike Bergeron has also joined the Company. Mr.
Bergeron was previously Vice President of Research and Development for
McKesson/APS.
The Company estimates that the cost to operate
its dispensing system is approximately $6.00 per hour based on a pharmacy
that is opened 12 hours per day and that the system will process
approximately 60% of the total pharmacy's prescription output.
A $10 million contract with Edgewater Automation
has been granted to produce the Company's initial inventory investment.
Edgewater Automation specializes in designing robotic testing equipment for
the electronics and automotive industry and has affiliated companies in Europe.
The need for pharmacy automation is compelling. US
pharmacies filled 3 billion prescriptions in 2001, an increase of 50% since
1990. By 2005 it is expected that over 4 billion scripts will be dispensed all
in an environment of fewer pharmacists. It is estimated that there are
currently 6,000 openings nationwide for pharmacy positions.
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