Celebrating 100 Years of Tuttnauer
This year, Tuttnauer is celebrating its 100 year anniversary in the industry. Even for those who aren’t familiar with their work, that’s a huge milestone to commemorate. Tuttnauer started as a family owned business, and over the course of a century, they created a household name in the world of sterilization. Their contribution to the world of infection control is not one to be understated. Producing an award winning formula, carefully being honed and crafted as the industry constantly evolved. Continuously proving time and time again why they’re one of the best.
That being said, we’d like to join in the celebrations, and teach you a history lesson. We’d like to show you how Tuttnauer got to be where they are now, and show you some of the products that got them their reputation.
How Did Tuttnauer Come to Be?
Tuttnauer’s had a rich history, with 100 years of growth and experience in the industry. So we’d like to talk about their timeline, from the past to the present. The inception of the Tuttnauer name, and all they’ve accomplished to make it one of the best brands in the business.
Founding and Early Years:
Tuttnauer got its start in the Netherlands, all the way back in 1925. The “company” was founded by Aaron Tuttnauer, which started as a family-owned workshop that initially produced steam pressure vessels. Some sources also indicate they began making autoclaves for the British army around this time.
After the workshop had been around for 27 years, Aaron and his son, Joshua Tuttnauer, officially founded the Tuttnauer company in 1952.
By 1962, just 10 years later, the family workshop transitioned to mass production and moved to a larger facility to accommodate increased output. And they were just getting started.
Expansion and Global Presence:
Now that they had an established name on home turf, it was time to play the away game, and start becoming the Tuttnauer we know now. And it started with us, and by that I mean the US, in capitals.
In 1987, Tuttnauer established a presence in the United States, beginning to export their products to the American market. And with their successful expansion in the US market, by 1989, they expanded their reach further by establishing a presence in Europe.
Their success became international, and they started creating new and exciting technologies that were becoming more widely available across the world. And after 80 years in the industry, in 2005, Tuttnauer expanded into India, followed by an established presence in China by 2008. They even ended up opening a production facility in China to increase manufacturing capabilities in 2013.
The Present
Tuttnauer’s constant evolution and growth turned them into a titan of the medical tech industry. And by the late 2010s, they had created some of their most iconic machines, which we’ll get to in a minute.
In 2018, Tuttnauer expanded beyond autoclaves into the washer-disinfector market. That was the year that they made a partial acquisition of AT-OS, a manufacturer of washer disinfectors. We’ve talked before about the sterilization process as a whole, and Tuttnauer understood that washer-disinfectors were a massive part of that cycle. So they used these new resources to modernize what we know as their iconic TIVA line of washer-disinfectors.
They had a few more business acquisitions in the 2020s, and in this time, they also created high-speed, high-efficiency autoclaves to match the growing demand for units that could keep pace with the busiest of jobs. Things like the T-Edge and T-Top autoclaves, known for their customizable, user-friendly and adaptable builds that can take on the toughest challenges.
And as recent as last year, Tuttnauer even developed their own propriety connection network for data logging, monitoring and efficiency for their modern offerings with the T-Connect software. A game changing, cloud based service that provides real-time data intelligence for sterilization centers.
So now you know how Tuttnauer went from making a name for themselves in the Netherlands, to becoming a global tech powerhouse that continuously strives to create only the best in everything.
Core Principles and Reputation:
Throughout its history, Tuttnauer has maintained a strong set of core principals that they implement with each new innovation. These elements are what make Tuttnauer, well, Tuttnauer.
- Innovation and Research & Development: They consistently work with leading universities and research institutions to integrate new technologies, focusing on enhancing safety, efficiency, and user-friendliness in their sterilization equipment.
- Quality Manufacturing: Their products are known for durable construction, often using high-quality stainless steel and reliable, non-proprietary replacement parts. They adhere to strict international standards, including FDA, ASME, ISO, and CE.
- Versatility and Broad Application: Tuttnauer autoclaves and other infection control products are widely used across various sectors, including hospitals, dental and orthodontic offices, veterinary clinics, pharmaceutical and biotech labs, and tattoo and piercing studios.
- Customer Focus: They aim to provide comprehensive solutions, including equipment planning, design, installation, and consultation services.
What Are Some of Tuttnauer’s Iconic Offerings?
Now that you’ve seen their history and core values, let’s talk about some of the products that we know as an iconic part of their history today.
Manual Autoclaves: (ex. The Tuttnauer 1730M)
For reference, the M stands for manual. Tuttnauer’s manual autoclaves, like the 1730M, were simple, yet reliable tabletop autoclaves. They were robust solutions that sought to provide the quality and safety on an affordable scale, without sacrificing the standards of sterilization.
The manual aspect comes in because the processes autoclaves use on a daily bases weren’t yet automated. So you had to use the gauges to monitor the unit, initiate the sterilization phase and times using various knobs and dials… And even manually exhaust the steam yourself and initiate the drying phase.
That being said, the reliability and durability of these old style manual units were, and still are, nothing to sneeze at. So don’t underestimate even the most unassuming of Tuttnauer’s original lineup.
You can also view the Tuttnauer 1730M here on our site for more information.
Automatic Autoclaves: (ex. The Tuttnauer EZ9)
The EZ series autoclaves are fully automatic tabletop sterilizers designed for enhanced user convenience. They streamline the sterilization
workflow with automated cycles and user-friendly interfaces, making them a popular choice for busy healthcare settings. These models marked a step towards more modern, hands-off sterilization processes, ensuring reliable results with minimal manual intervention.
Tuttnauer’s EZ series of autoclaves ushered in the age of the automatic autoclaves. They streamline the sterilization process by automating the features that you’d have to do yourself on previous models. Setting up a cycle was an absolute breeze thanks to the user-friendly, intuitive layout on the EZ series. Take the EZ9 for example. Simple buttons with visually catching icons, easy setup, and all navigated and monitored through an LCD screen on the front.
And the process became even more efficient with the introduction of customizable cycle presets. With just a few minutes of setting the parameters you want, the EZ series allowed for cycles to be performed at the press of a button.
The automatic autoclaves brought the “hands-off” approach to the workplace. With no need for monitoring or manual exhausting, employees now had more time to work on more important tasks while the unit takes care of everything.
You can also view the Tuttnauer EZ9 here on our site for more information.
Tuttnauer’s TIVA Washer-Disinfectors
TIVA washer-disinfectors are advanced machines designed for the automated washing, disinfection, and drying of medical instruments before sterilization. Manual washing had become well known as having adverse effects on your instruments. Shoddy and inconsistent cleaning quality that needed something unaffected by the human condition.
Enter the TIVA line of washer-disinfectors. They offer a flexible and comprehensive solution for instrument reprocessing, reducing manual handling and ensuring consistent cleaning quality.
They’re available in various capacities and configurations, and are essential for maintaining high infection control standards in clinics and central sterile supply departments. With the automation of their modern products, Tuttnauer also made sure that their TIVA washer-disinfectors were just as easy to operate and maintain as their autoclaves were.
You can also view the Tuttnauer TIVA washer-disinfectors here on our site for more information.
Modern Autoclaves (The Tuttnauer T-Edge)
Tuttnauer knocked it out of the park with their autoclaves up until now. But as the technology industry evolves, they knew they had to adapt. Enter their more recent autoclaves, like the T-Edge.
These are Tuttnauer’s more recent and technologically advanced tabletop autoclaves. They feature intuitive touchscreens, Wi-Fi connectivity, and integration with the T-Connect software for remote monitoring and data management. With Tuttnauer’s winning formula and upgrades to meet the work force’s modern demands, autoclaves like the T-Edge are practically second-to-none.
Designed for maximum efficiency and speed, they meet stringent international standards and are ideal for modern clinics seeking high-performance, smart sterilization solutions.
You can also view the Tuttnauer T-Edge autoclaves here on our site for more information.
What Else Has Tuttnauer Made?
You know us by now, I’m sure. We can talk autoclaves all day, every day, and we do… All day, every day. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t shout out Tuttnauer’s accomplishments outside of sterilization or instrument processing. Because you can sterilize or wash any tool at your disposal. But you also need to know when your autoclave is functioning to standard. With that, Tuttnauer introduced the world to the BioNova Incubator, for biological readers to conduct spore testing on your autoclave.
Biological Incubators
What is Spore Testing?
To put it simply, spore testing, also known as biological monitoring, is a critical method for verifying the effectiveness of an autoclave’s
sterilization process. It involves placing vials containing highly resistant bacterial spores (biological indicators) inside the autoclave with a typical load. After the sterilization cycle, these indicators are incubated in a device like the BioNova incubator. If no spore growth occurs, it confirms that the autoclave reached the necessary conditions to kill even the most resilient microorganisms, providing a high level of assurance that the instruments are sterile. If spores survive and grow, it indicates a sterilization failure, requiring investigation and corrective action.
Tuttnauer BioNova Biological Incubator
The importance of the biological readers go hand-in-hand with that of the indicators. They offer a higher degree of confidence in how well your last cycle went. In a medical practice, the efficiency of your sterilizer is one of the most important things. This fact is made more important due to the fact that we’re still in a post-pandemic world and cannot leave anything to chance.
The BioNova incubator is a specialized device used for incubating and reading biological indicators (BIs) to verify the effectiveness of sterilization processes. It offers rapid readout times (as fast as 20 minutes) and can often run multiple programs simultaneously with several incubation slots. Equipped with a thermal printer and USB connectivity, it provides quick, reliable, and traceable results for quality assurance in medical and dental settings.
You can also view the Tuttnauer BioNova Biological Reader here on our site for more information.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
Tuttnauer also created a line of ultrasonic cleaners, believe it or not, with their Clean and Simple ultrasonic cleaners. The Tuttnauer Clean & Simple ultrasonic cleaners are designed for the effective pre-cleaning of instruments before sterilization or disinfection. They utilize ultrasonic waves to create cavitation, dislodging debris and contaminants from instrument surfaces, including hard-to-reach areas.
The Tuttnauer Clean & Simple ultrasonic cleaner stands out for its quiet yet powerful 60 kHz cavitation, effectively dislodging debris from instruments without excessive noise or potential damage. Its user-friendly design includes adjustable cleaning cycles up to 60 minutes, ensuring thorough pre-cleaning. This system is built with high-quality components, offering reliable performance for maintaining instrument integrity and optimizing sterilization outcomes in any professional setting.
Final Thoughts
That look into Tuttnauer’s history was quite fascinating, wouldn’t you say? From a humble home workshop to a household name and global leader in medical technology, it almost seems surreal to even imagine. Tuttnauer’s 100-year journey is a testament to their masterful dedication to innovation and quality in infection control. Through their pioneering manual and automatic autoclaves, their strategic advantages and adaptability into the development of sterilization monitoring and smart solutions like T-Connect software for the modern age… Tuttnauer has consistently adapted to evolving industry needs. Their century of expertise and commitment to excellence continue to ensure the highest standards of safety and efficiency in healthcare worldwide.
If you have any questions about Tuttnauer’s offerings, autoclaves, infection control, or anything else, give us a call at 704-966-1650 Option 3 for our Free Tech Support Line. You can also find our other programs available for anyone, anytime, absolutely FREE using the links below.
As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”
We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.
You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.