GE Healthcare Launches Fifth-Generation LOGIQ Fortis Ultrasound Series Under Full Localization Strategy in Wuxi

On December 17, 2021, the first order of the new fifth-generation whole-body ultrasound LOGIQ Fortis series (hereinafter referred to as the “Fortis series”) from GE Healthcare’s Wuxi production base was officially released for sale. It is reported that this is the first China-made medical device in GE Healthcare’s high-end whole-body ultrasound product line, marking an innovative achievement of the Wuxi production base’s “comprehensive localization” strategy.

Shipment Ceremony for the First Global Order of the New LOGIQ Fortis Series, the Fifth-Generation Whole-Body Ultrasound System Source: GE Healthcare

According to reports, the new Fortis series is based on fifth-generation ultrasound imaging technology, undergoing a transformation from hardware beamforming to software beamforming. It has overcome three major technical bottlenecks, achieving full-field focusing, high frame rates, and high-information-content imaging.

In terms of functionality, the new Fortis series offers a rich feature set with distinct Chinese characteristics.This product is equipped with 21 specialized probes tailored for different application-specific examinations, meeting the needs of whole-body ultrasound imaging across various medical specialties. In light of the characteristics of clinical ultrasound applications in China, the new Fortis series emphasizes enhanced versatility for whole-body applications. Additionally, it introduces a newly developed Attenuation Imaging function (UGAP) for assessing the hepatic attenuation coefficient, while significantly improving cardiac imaging performance.

From an operational perspective, the new Fortis series products have become more convenient and intelligent to use.Equipped with automated intelligent tools, the new products enable real-time automatic optimization, intelligent lesion segmentation, automatic measurements, and automated vascular navigation, improving scanning efficiency by 40%. Taking vascular examination as an example, while traditional methods require a 10-step button operation, the new Fortis series achieves vascular navigation in a single step.

Furthermore, the product is equipped with GE Healthcare’s “Tech-Imaging On-the-Go” 5G ultrasound system, enabling remote expert guidance and assistance to promote the sharing of high-quality medical resources.

The most critical validation of product efficacy comes from clinical feedback.Zhou Fengsheng, Deputy Director of the Department of Ultrasound Medicine at Wuxi People’s Hospital, once stated: “One commendable aspect is that GE Healthcare’s product design effectively integrates clinical medicine with engineering. The development engineers have attentively listened to feedback from frontline clinicians and implemented real-time improvements throughout the development process where needed. For instance, the incorporation of artificial intelligence and other features has streamlined our clinical workflows by simplifying operations and routine measurements.”

As an innovative achievement of GE Healthcare’s “full localization” strategy at its Wuxi production base, the new Fortis series completed its entire lifecycle—including R&D, market launch, and production—entirely at the Wuxi facility.Seizing the opportunity of the launch of the new Fortis series, VCBeat was invited to visit GE Healthcare’s Wuxi production base.

On Changjiang Road in winter, the warm sun shines as usual, and the green foliage rustles gently.

Stepping into the Wuxi production base, one finds a blend of orderly efficiency and cheerful festivity: staff members are decorating for the upcoming Christmas season with artificial snow, green trees, and colorful streamers. Passing through the lobby, a sentence written in neat, block-style characters adorns the steady gray walls:Caring for the Critical Moments in Every Chinese Person’s Life。

Feng Jian, General Manager of GE Healthcare’s Wuxi Production Base, stated, “Established in 1996, our Wuxi facility has grown from a few dozen employees to over 1,200 over the past 25 years. Since its inception, we have remained committed to local innovation and local R&D.” It is reported that the world’s first portable color Doppler ultrasound system was developed here in 2002, an achievement that became a classic example of “reverse innovation” at the time.

Wuxi Production Base has developed into one of GE Healthcare's largest R&D centers worldwide.From 1996 to 2021, the Wuxi production base obtained 170 international and domestic patents, successfully developed more than 70 new products, and launched over six new products annually.Meanwhile, the Wuxi production base is also GE HealthCare’s largest global intelligent manufacturing hub for ultrasound and patient care solutions.Ultrasound systems manufactured in Wuxi account for 40% of GE Healthcare’s global sales, while probes account for 70%.

Meanwhile, the development of the Wuxi production base also demonstrates GE Healthcare’s consistent alignment with the pulse of China’s healthcare industry development.

As the Chinese market continues to develop and expand, GE Healthcare’s “comprehensive localization” strategy is meeting China’s unique needs. Zhang Yihao, President and CEO of GE Healthcare China, stated in an interview that the growth of GE Healthcare’s Wuxi base epitomizes the company’s comprehensive localization process.

During this visit, Xiao Yindi, Vice President of GE Hangwei and General Manager of the Ultrasound Business, provided a more detailed explanation: “Regarding the ‘comprehensive localization’ strategy, it should be discussed along two lines. First, we will continue to cultivate and enhance our R&D capabilities by integrating global R&D strengths to elevate our overall R&D capacity. Second, in terms of product lines, we are not merely accelerating the localization of existing products; instead, we are manufacturing all high-end and cutting-edge products in China.”

Ms. Xiao Yindi continued, “In the process of comprehensive localization, we will also drive the development of the entire industrial cluster and supply chain. For instance, ultrasound serves as an excellent technological platform, with immense potential for extending into areas such as artificial intelligence based on its imaging capabilities. We will work with industry partners to establish a cluster for industrial venture capital investment and new technology development, which is also part of our future strategy for comprehensive localization.”

As a new starting point for the “fully localized” strategy, the new Fortis series products bear distinct Chinese characteristics.

First, this product is the first series of high-end whole-body ultrasound new products led by the GE Hangwei team in collaboration with multiple R&D forces from GE globally.The entire process from R&D to regulatory approval and market launch took a total of 14 months, setting a record for the deployment of GE Healthcare’s ultrasound equipment.

This “China speed” was achieved, on one hand, by the R&D team’s establishment of an end-to-end workflow linking clinical practice to product development. According to reports, the team visited more than 40 hospitals across China, directly incorporating clinical feedback into product improvements, thereby shortening the R&D and production cycles. On the other hand, against the broader industry backdrop of localization, the Wuxi-based R&D team maintained close communication with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) regarding product registration. As a result, processes such as product design and documentation preparation were largely completed correctly on the first attempt, ensuring full compliance with national regulatory requirements.

Product Images of the Fortis Series Whole-Body Ultrasound System Source: GE Healthcare

Secondly, this product aligns with the market demand for ultrasound medical equipment in China.The product’s development is deeply rooted in clinical practice, with multiple features designed to address the actual clinical needs of Chinese users. These include the attenuation imaging function (UGAP) for assessing the hepatic attenuation coefficient, as previously mentioned, and enhanced cardiac imaging performance.

The former effectively facilitates early detection, quantitative diagnosis, grading, and monitoring of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adults and children in clinical practice. The latter achieves professional-grade cardiac imaging performance in both quantitative assessment of cardiac structure and function, thereby enabling physicians to make rapid diagnostic decisions.

With the official launch of the new Fortis series ultrasound products, GE Healthcare has taken another firm step on its path to “full localization in China.” Meng Fanjie, General Manager of GE Healthcare’s Ultrasound R&D Department in China, stated, “Moving forward, we will closely monitor customer feedback and promptly provide corresponding solutions at the fastest possible speed based on that feedback.”

At around 2:00 p.m., GE Healthcare’s Wuxi manufacturing base held a celebration ceremony themed “Renewed Imagery, Endless Vitality” to mark the shipment of the first global order for its new Fortis series products. Additionally, VCBeat learned that the event also celebrated the production of the 200,000th ultrasound main unit at GE Healthcare’s Wuxi facility. It is reported that the number of ultrasound probes manufactured in Wuxi had already surpassed one million earlier this year.

As a key strategic base for GE Healthcare, the Wuxi production facility will build an industrial cluster ecosystem for intelligent medical device manufacturing, rooted in China’s Yangtze River Delta and radiating globally. In the future, GE Healthcare will continue to increase its investment in local innovation in Wuxi, adding hundreds of millions of yuan in R&D spending and introducing more than 10 new high-end medical devices for localized production, thereby establishing a China headquarters for ultrasound and life care solutions that integrates R&D and manufacturing.