DORC Acquires Peregrine Surgical, Buys Remaining Stake in Germany’s WEFIS

Netherlands-based DORC announced Oct. 14 that it had acquired Peregrine Surgical, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of reusable and disposable ophthalmic surgical products.

DORC also announced that it had purchased the remaining shares for full ownership of German cataract surgical supplier WEFIS, in which DORC had bought a stake earlier in 2022.

DORC, short for Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, was founded in 1983. It exports its instruments and equipment to more than 80 countries and has its own sales and marketing organizations in Austria, Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, and the US.

Peregrine’s product line includes forceps, illuminated laser endoprobes, flexible membrane scrapers, and illuminated picks. Peregrine has been a key supplier to DORC for more than 15 years, the companies said.

DORC said the deal for Peregrine would increase its US workforce to over 100 employees and add a second manufacturing site in the US, supporting its stated goal of reaching No. 2 in the US retina market.

DORC also said the acquisition of Peregrine would drive development of laser and illumination technologies optimized for the EVA NEXUS dual-function cataract and vitrectomy system, and further strengthen DORC’s 27-gauge instrumentation portfolio.

DORC had already partnered with WEFIS on phaco handpiece technology that DORC said was critical to boosting its cataract surgical offerings. DORC said it was committed to continuing to serve the existing WEFIS customer base in Germany and across Europe.