Medistri, Fribourg’s hidden champion in medtech and pharmaceutical sterilization

Nestled in the quiet industrial zone of Domdidier, in the canton of Fribourg, Medistri has grown into a key player in the highly specialized field of sterilization for medical and pharmaceutical industries.

Founded in 2006 by Shoko Nilforoushan, Medistri has continuously evolved, specializing in sterilizing a wide range of medical products, from vaccine vials to high-end prostheses. Medistri’s expertise lies in ensuring that every product it handles is completely free of germs—a task that involves meticulous processes and constant attention to detail.

In an interview for Le Temps magazine, Yacine Gérard, the company’s deputy director and head of quality assurance, said: “the name Medistri never appears on labels,” highlighting the invisible yet vital role the company plays in global healthcare. Operating in a domain where the slightest error can endanger lives, Medistri must adhere to rigorous safety and hygiene standards.

Efficient and reliable sterilization at scale

Medistri’s operations are driven by both high-volume demand and the need for fast turnaround times. Each week, the company processes between 900 and 1,000 pallets of medical devices, running its facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company uses gas sterilization, a highly effective method that penetrates the packaging to kill all microbial life without the need to unpack the products.

The process begins with pallets being loaded into special sterilization chambers where they undergo a 13-hour cycle. After exposure to a gas mixture that kills microbes, the sterilized products are moved to a designated area for further distribution. The company’s streamlined approach allows it to serve customers ranging from small medical device startups to large multinational pharmaceutical companies.

A family business with global ambitions

What began as a small five-person operation with a single sterilization chamber has grown into a thriving business with 87 employees and six chambers. Over the past 18 years, Medistri has expanded its capabilities to meet increasing demand, investing CHF 23.5 million in three rounds of facility expansion. The company’s growth has been steady, with annual revenue growth of 15-18% since 2018.

Founder and CEO Shoko Nilforoushan, who has a background in medical sterilization, recalls the challenges of the early years: “In the beginning, it was difficult to win customers because people in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries are reluctant to change partners.” Persistence, combined with a focus on optimizing processes for speed and flexibility, helped Medistri carve out a niche in a competitive market.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medistri’s role became even more critical, as the company was tasked with sterilizing millions of vials for the global vaccine rollout. However, Nilforoushan points out that while the pandemic increased demand for certain products, it also led to the temporary loss of other high-value projects, offsetting the financial impact.

Beyond sterilization

Sterilization now accounts for only half of Medistri’s sales. The company has diversified into areas such as quality control and the assembly of medical kits for hospitals and clinics. Medistri continues to innovate and expand, with plans to open a small sterilization facility in Hungary in 2025 to meet the needs of a key customer. While the company has received several acquisition offers, Nilforoushan and her brother, who serves as CFO, have turned them down.

With the next generation of the family already stepping into leadership roles, Medistri is poised to continue its growth while remaining firmly rooted in Fribourg, where it has found success through a combination of precision, innovation, and family values.