At Stryker, we believe results speak louder than words. Since the Company's founding in 1941, that philosophy has made us a leader in the worldwide orthopaedic market and placed us at the forefront of medicine's most promising solutions. Today, we are one of the preeminent medical products and services companies in the world.

Our company is one that sets high standards. We focus on the fundamentals and we're relentless in attending to the details. We are passionate about raising the bar - and regularly surpass our own ambitious goals.

• Our Industry
• Company History
• Investor Information

We continually strive to achieve superior clinical results. We push the frontiers of medical research while maintaining uncompromising clinical integrity.

We succeed when our customers succeed. We put their interests first in everything we do. We not only give them responsive, timely service, we also help to make them more efficient.

Most importantly, we measure our success by our ability to partner with respected medical professionals - to help millions of people, around the world, lead more active and more satisfying lives.

At Stryker, we don't just make promises, we deliver results.

Our Industry

Approximately 80% of Stryker Corporation’s annual sales come from the $16.3 billion worldwide Orthopaedic implant and equipment market. The Company believes that it is one of the market leaders in this dynamic and rapidly growing industry. Stryker has the top selling products in a large number of the sub-categories within the business.

The Company also participates in the $6.9 billion worldwide Endoscopic market segment, the $4.6 billion Physical Therapy Services market segment in the United States and the $800 million Medical Bed & Stretcher market segment in North America. Stryker has experienced growth in these three segments well above the total market during the past several years.

Prospects for continued growth in the industries where Stryker Corporation currently does business are good. Expansion is being driven by favorable demographic trends as the baby-boom generation comes into the prime age for orthopaedic and other medical procedures. More active lifestyles, improvements in technology and the continued development of markets throughout the world also provide favorable indications of future opportunities for the Company.

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Company History

When Dr. Homer Stryker, an orthopaedic surgeon from Kalamazoo, Michigan, found that certain medical products were not meeting his patients’ needs, he invented new ones. As interest in these products grew, Dr. Stryker started a company in 1941 to produce them. The company’s goal was to help patients lead healthier, more active lives through products and services that make surgery and recovery simpler, faster, and more effective.

Today, Stryker Corporation is a worldwide leader in the medical industry. Company growth has come from offering an unparalleled variety of high quality, innovative products and services and from the dedication of each of the Company’s employees.

We think Dr. Stryker would be pleased.

Timeline

• November 4, 1894: Dr. Homer Stryker, Company founder, is born in Athens, Michigan.
• May 1925: Dr. Stryker receives medical degree from the University of Michigan.
• 1936 - 1939: Dr. Stryker invents turning frame and walking heel while completing a degree in orthopaedic surgery from the University of Michigan.
• 1940: Dr. Stryker begins practice in Kalamazoo, Michigan and establishes offices in Borgess Hospital. The basement area is provided for research & development.
• 1941: Dr. Stryker begins selling his inventions.early 1940's: World War II creates heavy demand for the Company’s products.February 20, 1946: Orthopedic Frame Company is incorporated.
• November 16, 1947: Oscillating saw is patented; it cuts casts without injuring underlying skin. This is the forerunner to a broad line of surgical instruments.
• 1949: Company headquarters established at 420 Alcott Street in Kalamazoo, MI.
• 1955: Dr. Stryker’s son, Lee Stryker, becomes General Manager of the Company.
• 1959: Circ-O-lectric Bed is introduced; Stryker Corporation has 60 employees.
• January 2, 1964: Company name is changed to Stryker Corporation.
• November 11, 1969: Lee Stryker becomes Company President.
• July 25, 1976: Lee Stryker dies in plane crash in Wyoming.
• February 1, 1977: John Brown is named President and CEO of Stryker Corporation.
• 1978: Annual Sales reach $22.7 million.
• May 2, 1979: Initial public offering of Stryker stock.
• August 1, 1979: Stryker acquires Osteonics Corporation and enters the replacement hip, knee, and other orthopaedic implants market.
• May 1980: Dr. Stryker dies at age 85. John Brown becomes Company Chairman.
• 1981: Two separate sales forces, Medical and Surgical, are created to improve focus and customer service. Annual sales reach $43 million.
• 1983: European Headquarter is created
• June 1985: Stryker begins collaboration on osteogenic protein (OP-1) research.
• September 4, 1985: Stryker establishes Physical Therapy Incorporated.
• 1985: Stryker’s annual sales reach $100 million.
• May 16, 1986: Company acquires Syn-Optics and expands into the fields of arthroscopy and endoscopy.
• October 1, 1992: Stryker acquires Dimso, SA and enters spinal fixation business.
• August 6, 1993: Company becomes part owner of Matsumoto Medical Instruments, Inc. in Japan.
• 1993: Annual Sales of $550 million.
• September 6, 1996: Osteo AG is acquired and Stryker enters the trauma market.
• July 24, 1997: Company is listed on New York Stock Exchange after 18 years on the NASDAQ.
• 1997: Sales reach $980 million and Company marks 21 consecutive years of 20% earnings growth.
• October 19, 1998: Industry Week magazine names the Osteonics division one of the top 10 manufacturing plants in the U.S.
• December 4, 1998: Stryker acquires Howmedica, a major player in the worldwide orthopaedic market, from Pfizer, Inc. and nearly doubles in size.
• 1999: Annual sales reach $2.1 billion.
• 2000: Stryker is included in the S&P 500 and the Forbes Platinum 400 for the first time.
• October 16, 2000: Stryker Instruments earns Industry Week magazine's top 10 manufacturing plant award.
• October 17, 2001: Commercial launch of OP-1.
• 2001: Annual sales reach $2.6 billion.
• June 4, 2002: Surgical Dynamics Inc. is acquired to provide entry into the interbody spinal cage market.
• 2002: Sales reach $3.0 billion and Stryker is listed in the Fortune 500 for the first time.
• June 2003: Steve MacMillan joins Stryker as President and COO.
• 2003: Company sales top $3.6 billion.

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