ENGLISH 18 FOREWORD Our district has much to offer: From Aldingen to Wurmlingen, a unique natural landscape extends across 734 km² – from the southwestern foothills of the Swabian Alb through parts of the Baar, which already show indications of the Black Forest, to the picturesque valley of the young Danube. The 35 municipalities in the Tuttlingen district are characterized by a diverse range of educational, cultural, and recreational offerings and provide the approximately 142,000 residents with a high quality of life. Another of our region’s greatest strengths is its strong local economy with its exceptionally high concentration of industry. Productivity, an innovative spirit, and the tireless commitment of our entrepreneurs and employees have transformed the Tuttlingen district into an attractive and thriving economic area with great dy-namism and innovative strength. Time and again, the world-renowned companies based here occupy leading positions in international competition and maintain their standing as pioneers in the devel-opment of new, forward-looking products. Medical technology is regarded as the undisputed heart of our industry. The ironworking trades laid the foundation for the development of this strong sector more than 300 years ago. Around 150 years ago, the first cutlery workshops and surgical instrument makers established their businesses, paving the way for today’s “World Center of Medical Technology”. Thanks to great ingenuity and diligence, many former one-person businesses have developed into global companies and market leaders in modern medical technology. Today, with well over 400 companies, the medical technology cluster in the Tuttlingen district is one of the largest clusters in this sector in all of Germany – and thus the proud flagship of our local economy. The medical technology sector is also the largest employer in our district. Major names, as well as many small and medium-sized businesses, provide secure jobs for more than 10,000 people in our region, and therefore reliable prospects for their lives. But this sector is not only of outstanding im-portance to our economic strength: Above all, it ensures that patients in our own country and around the world can receive optimal medical care. Medical technology saves lives! Therefore, I am very delighted that the company ACIG in Tuttlingen presents such an attractive exhibi-tion every year, offering a comprehensive overview of the surgical industry in the Tuttlingen district. The new edition of the Surgical Guide brings these capabilities together in a clear format, helping partners and customers, particularly from outside the region, to navigate their way around this un-paralleled diversity. Stefan Bär, District Administrator
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