After having studied material sciences at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Claude Rieker studied the rapid solidification of stainless steels at the University of Neuchâtel and obtained his PhD in 1990 from this university. He started to work in orthopaedics immediately after his PhD, designing hip implants and working closely with key European surgeons like M.E. Müller, H. Wagner, E. Morscher, and L. Spotorno. 

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An expert in medical bioengineering. Graduated in Zielona Góra, received Ph. D. in Wrocław. During 25 years of working as academic teacher he gained knowledge in the field of experiments and implementation, as well as teaching and research. With the beginning of economic transition in Poland (1989) he founded LfC company in Zielona Góra, specialised in supporting of surgical treatment of a spine in the field of “spondyloimplantology”. Then he changed LfC’s profile from design and production into innovative activity focused on its own R&D, IP and commercialization.

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Ralf Klabunde holds an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from University of Rostock, Germany and an EMBA in General Management from University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Throughout his 20 years of medical device expertise in major medical device companies such as Zimmer and Johnson&Johnson, he has been working in the areas of research, new product development and emerging technologies with a special focus on orthopedic and spinal implants.

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Keith Fava is the Engineering Group Manager of the Advanced Development Group at K2M. In this role, Keith leads a group of engineers and designers at the front end of innovation for K2M. Prior to joining K2M in February 2016, Keith spent 12 years in the Aerospace Industry, working in CAD Design, Mechanical Engineering, and Supply Chain Management with increasing roles of responsibility. In these roles, Keith was involved in the design of satellites, rockets, and associated ground support equipment, providing him with a unique perspective to his new role at K2M.

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C.E.O.at coLigne AG. Mr. Lange designs and manufactures spinal implant systems and ostaPek carbon composite. With Dr. A Steffee in 1990, Coligne first provided carbon composite interbody fusion cages to Switzerland and France. Since 1994 and as independent entrepreneurs, coLigne brings to market carbon composite products used to treat spinal degenerative disease, deformity, trauma and tumors in Europe and USA.