“As a company and competitor, we respect patents and we respect the ability of people to have first use on products. But at some point, that runs its course,” said Jonathan Coors, CEO of CoorsTek.Although there’s still active litigation “going in multiple ways” between the two companies, Coors said CeramTec’s bids to maintain its trademark are being rejected across multiple jurisdictions.
CoorsTek, whose hip implants are also pink, says the color is the natural byproduct of the chromium oxide used to harden the ceramic parts. Coors declined to quantify the increases that CoorsTek, a privately owned company, is experiencing in business. However, he said the expansion of the Grand Junction factory will support the growth and that CoorsTek is poised to be “a sizable alternative supplier in the marketplace.”
More than 2 million hip replacements are done globally each year, Coors said. A large share of those occur in the U.S. and use ceramic parts. And a big share of the parts come from CeramTec.
Yippy for Coorstek.