How it all started
In 1987 the first Wassenburg endoscope washer disinfector, named FDS-I (Fiberscope Disinfection System 1), was manufactured. The first delivery was on 5th December to the Tjongerschans Hospital in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. This hospital is still using the new generation of Wassenburg endoscope washer disinfectors! 



Manual v automatic
In 1987 it was commonplace in most Dutch hospitals to wash and disinfect flexible endoscopes manually. Automation and monitoring of the process has been an important step forward, resulting in a considerable improvement in the quality of the process. Furthermore, a safer situation has been created for both the patient and the operator of the machine.

Our vision on endoscope decontamination
Due to the construction of flexible endoscopes the decontamination process between the different patient treatment procedures is a very delicate routine. In the nineties the basic principle of the Wassenburg machines was far beyond its time, for example because the systems were equipped with an individual channel monitoring system. Today, this individual channel monitoring system and the separation of the different endoscope channels to assure a good flow and pressure in the channels is still the basic of the Wassenburg systems. We strongly believe that knowledge of the endoscope construction is the starting point for making the best machines.

Important miles stones in our organisation
At first Wassenburg supplied the endoscope washer disinfectors primarily to Dutch hospitals. With the appointment of Gerrit Wassenburg's two sons Mr Ronald Wassenburg and Mr Arno Wassenburg to the management board, exporting the endoscope washer disinfector became a fact. In 1995 the 100th endoscope washer disinfectors was manufactured and the collaboration with Netzsch was the first step towards supplying machines in Germany! In 1999 DawMed International Ltd became our first supplier for the United Kingdom.

Collaboration with a number of international distributors and from 2001 the collaboration with the American company Advanced Sterilization Products, a Johnson & Johnson company, resulted in a rapid and extensive growth of the company. This resulted in having the WASSENBURG® WD440 endoscope washer disinfector branded as AdaptaScope™. In 2002 the new facilities in Dodewaard, the Netherlands, were opened and this paved the way for further professionalization of the company.

The demand for an appropriate drying solution for flexible endoscopes was becoming stronger and in 2005 the next generation of drying and conditioning cabinets (the DRY series) was launched. The introduction of the first asynchronous pass through endoscope washer disinfector, the WD440 PT, answered the call from a market becoming increasingly aware of the need for optimum hygiene.

A need to maintain the economic stronghold led to the search for additional production facilities. In 2007 new facilities were built in Hanoi, Vietnam, and a new company was established: Wassenburg Vietnam Ltd. With this modern factory in Vietnam Wassenburg is ready for the future!

In 2009 Wassenburg celebrated its 25th anniversary. This was also the year that Wassenburg Ltd. was founded in the UK, following the takeover of our distributor DawMed International Ltd. Wassenburg in the UK has recently moved from Rotherham to brand new ultra modern premises in Sheffield!