Contact Enterprise devoted an article to NOVAIR solutions in its March–April 2020 issue.

Based in Roissy-en-France, the NOVAIR group, which has around 100 employees in France and Italy, has been manufacturing medical devices in the field of medical gases since 1977.
Among the systems it offers, the company designs and produces medical oxygen generators for on-site oxygen production for healthcare facilities. These generators are complemented by all the equipment necessary for the delivery and monitoring of medical gases, from the source to the patients.
Although widely exported, medical oxygen generators are still little used in Europe, and their adoption remains marginal in France. However, in a hospital environment marked by tensions and shortages, these devices could be a real asset for healthcare facilities, even if certain obstacles remain.
“Our solutions are slow to gain acceptance compared to oxygen delivered in cylinders,” says Valérie Bokobza, the group’s Marketing Director.
“The regulatory framework has been in place for nearly ten years. There is still a certain reluctance on the part of some pharmacists, who are apprehensive about a change in the supply method, even though on-site production offers better traceability and continuously analyzed gas. This requires a significant amount of educational work. Furthermore, calls for tenders do not always allow us to position ourselves, and we have to compete with multinationals that have financial resources and a strong influence on the market.”
However, on-site oxygen production offers many advantages that are still under-exploited: no more handling heavy cylinders, reduced risks associated with storing combustible gases, no more logistical constraints, reduced risk of supply disruptions, and a more secure supply chain.
The environmental impact is also positive, with a significant reduction in truck traffic and associated pollutant emissions, while also lowering operating costs.
“These systems are of real interest, particularly in African and Asian countries where facilities can be located far from gas production plants and encounter supply difficulties. These issues also exist in France. For example, we installed a system at the Bayeux hospital, located in the city center, which had experienced oxygen supply difficulties after heavy snowfall made truck access particularly difficult.”
To date, Novair has already installed around 30 medical oxygen generators in France. The company operates in more than 90 countries thanks to an extensive network of distributors and local agents. Several hundred Novair generators are now in operation around the world, in both the medical and industrial fields, with innovative solutions for a variety of sectors such as agri-food, metallurgy, petrochemicals, glassmaking, and electronics.