Who we are
Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology company focused on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue.
Our purpose
Physical health is never just about our body. It’s our mind, feelings and ambitions. When something holds it back, it’s our whole life on hold.
We’re here to change that, to use technology to take the limits off living, and help other medical professionals do the same.
So that farmworkers, rugby players, grandmas and their grandkids stare down fear, see that anything’s possible, then go on stronger. Inspired by a simple promise. Two words that bring together all we do.
Life Unlimited.
Our culture
We believe that it’s our culture - of care, collaboration and courage - that really sets us apart.
Our history
We have a history dating back over 160 years.
1800s
1856
Thomas James Smith opened a chemist shop in Hull, UK and develops a new method for refining cod liver oil.
1896
Horatio Smith entered a partnership with his uncle forming TJ Smith & Nephew.
1900 - 1910
1906
Anticipating the decline of his cod liver oil business, H N Smith buys a bandage cutting and rolling machine, turning the focus of the business to the sale of wound dressings and bandages.
H N Smith travels to North America and secures contracts to supply Canadian hospitals with bandages.
1907
Smith & Nephew becomes a limited company.
1910s - 1930s
1914
Days after the declaration of World War 1 in 1914, Horatio Nelson Smith (the nephew of the company founder T. J Smith) met with an envoy of the French President in London. The company was awarded a contract to supply £350,000 of surgical and field dressings, to be delivered in five months.
During WW1, staff grew from 50 to 1,200.
1921
The first independent overseas branch of Smith & Nephew opens in Canada.
1928
We produced our experimental bandage ElastoplastTM
1937
We were listed on the London Stock Exchange.
We developed a special low-temperature plaster, used by the Everest climbers on the 1953 expedition. It enabled them to send back camera films, sealed and airtight!
1940s - 1950s
Post war expansion
1950s
New companies are formed in Australia (1950) and New Zealand (1953).
1951
Smith & Nephew acquires Herts Pharmaceuticals, introducing pharmaceutical and skincare products to the Group, as well as laboratory and technical resources, enabling the company to forge ahead with its programmes of product research and development.
1960s - 1980s
1986
We made two key acquisitions:
- Richards Medical in Memphis, USA, specialists in orthopaedic products.
- DYONICS, an arthroscopy specialist based in Andover, USA.
1990s - 2000s
1995
We acquired Acufex Microsurgical Inc., making us a market leader in arthroscopic surgical devices.
We were listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
2001
We became a constituent member of the UK FTSE 100 Index.
We introduced OXINIUM◊, a new material that improves performance and increases the service life of total joint replacement systems.
2010s - present
2011
PICO◊ the first pocket-sized, single-use system, revolutionizes the negative pressure wound therapy market.
2013
JOURNEY II◊ BCS sets a new standard in knee implant performance, designed to empower patients.
2014
Acquired Arthrocare Corp. to expand our sports medicine portfolio.
2015
Acquired Blue Belt Technologies, securing a leading position in orthopaedic robotics-assisted surgery.
2019
Expanding in technologies of the future, we acquired: Osiris Therapeutics, Ceterix Orthopaedics, Leaf Patient Monitoring System and Brainlab Orthopaedic Joint Reconstruction Business.
2020
Launched Real Intelligence and CORI◊ Surgical System, our next-generation handheld robotics platform.
2021
Acquired the orthopaedic extremity business from Integra, strengthening our position in a high-growth segment.
Today
We have over 18,000 employees worldwide and we operate in over 100 countries.
What we do
We serve our customers through three global business units.
Our policies
Corporate governance
We are committed to the highest standards of corporate governance.
Find out more about our Board of Directors and Leadership team.