Kehr Surgical

What Kehr Surgical does

Kehr Surgical Private Limited is an India-based manufacturer of surgical blades, disposable scalpels, mini scalpels, surgical blade handles, stitch cutters, gouge blades, fine blades, skin graft blades, and special purpose/custom blades. Founded in 1970 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh by IIT Kharagpur alumnus Shri Kishan Deo Kehr, the company pioneered surgical blade manufacturing in India and was the first to receive ISI certification for surgical blades in the country. It manufactures under ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified operations, with Class 100000 clean room packaging, Class 100 laminar flow inspection, gamma radiation sterilization compliant with EN ISO 11137-1/2:2015, and EAN-13 barcode traceability, with all medical devices CE marked under the EU Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC.

The company sells through a multi-channel B2B and B2C model: enterprise field sales to hospitals and medical institutions, an enquiry-based sales funnel on its website targeting importers, distributors, and manufacturers, an e-commerce storefront at shop.kehrsurgical.com, and OEM/private label manufacturing under other medical product brands (the first such partnership was with Becton Dickinson, USA in 1975). It operates two brands — 'Surgeon' for the domestic Indian market and 'Kiato' for export markets — and distributes in 85+ countries across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa, with more than 50% of total production exported and a self-reported share of over 10% of global surgical blade demand.

Revenue mechanics are based on one-time sales of physical medical instruments priced on enquiry; there is no subscription, licensing, or recurring software component. The OEM/private label stream generates revenue by allowing other medical device companies to market ISO 13485/9001-compliant blades and scalpels under their own brand names without bearing development and production overhead. Customers include large Indian institutional buyers (AIIMS, Breach Candy Hospital, Tata Memorial Hospital, Apollo Group) and a long tail of surgeons, dentists, and industrial users globally, alongside OEM brand-owner customers. The company has 11-50 employees and is family-managed, with Director Rajiv Kehr representing the second generation.

Name

Kehr Surgical

Legal name

Kehr Surgical Private Limited

Website

https://kehrsurgical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kehr Surgical Private Limited is an India-based manufacturer of surgical blades, disposable scalpels, stitch cutters, and gouge blades, selling under its 'Surgeon' and 'Kiato' brands and via OEM/private label to hospitals, surgeons, dentists, and distributors in 85+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surgical Instruments

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Use Surgical Devices & Procedure Packs (Disposable instruments, drapes, kits) (HLAHADAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Open & Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments (Handheld, Laparoscopic, MIS) (HLAHADAA)

Keywords

• Surgical blade manufacturing
• Disposable scalpels
• Medical cutting instruments
• Sterile surgical instruments
• OEM private label blades

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanpur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Surgical Blades and Scalpels Sales: Manufacture and sale of surgical blades, disposable scalpels, mini scalpels, surgical blade handles, stitch cutters, gouge blades, and specialized blades under Surgeon and Kiato brands. Also offers OEM/private label manufacturing for other medical product companies.
2. OEM/Private Label Manufacturing: Private label products manufactured to ISO 13485 / ISO 9001 standards for medical product manufacturers and marketers under their own brand names, providing them sales potential without development and production overhead costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kehr Surgical manufactures surgical blades (sizes 10-36), disposable scalpels with safety guards, mini scalpels, fine blades, skin graft blades, surgical blade handles, stitch cutters, and gouge blades. Products are sold under the Surgeon brand in India and the Kiato brand internationally, with additional OEM/private label manufacturing for other medical product companies. All products are sterilized by gamma radiation, packed in Class 100000 clean rooms, and conform to ISO 13485, ISO 9001, and CE standards.

Product overview

Kehr Surgical Private Limited is a manufacturer of surgical blades and related medical instruments, offering a comprehensive product portfolio under two main sub-brands: Surgeon (domestic India market) and Kiato (export market). The product range centers on surgical blades as the core offering, available in multiple sizes (10 through 36) and materials (carbon steel and stainless steel). Complementary products include disposable scalpels (with integrated plastic handles and safety guards), mini scalpels for kit applications, fine blades for specialized procedures (ophthalmics, cardiology, reconstruction, hair restoration), skin graft blades (Swiss steel), surgical blade handles (BP handles sizes 3 and 4), stitch cutters (standard, long, and small variants), gouge blades in various sizes, and special purpose/custom blades. The company also offers OEM/private label manufacturing services for other medical product companies. All products are manufactured under ISO 13485 / ISO 9001 quality standards, CE marked under Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC, and sterilized by gamma radiation. Products are packed in class 100,000 clean rooms and barcoded using EAN 13 standards for traceability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Surgeon: Primary brand for surgical blades and medical instruments sold in the domestic Indian market.
• Kiato

Products and services

• Surgical Blades Surgical blades available in sizes 10, 10A, 11, 11R, 12, 15, 15D, 18, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 25 & 36, made of carbon steel or stainless steel (sterile or non-sterile), singly packed in peel-open pouches with VCI protective inner liner, sterilized by gamma radiation complying to EN ISO 11137-1:2015 and EN ISO 11137-2:2015. For surgeons, dentists, and industrial users.
• Disposable Scalpels Disposable scalpels consisting of a surgical blade attached to a plastic handle with a clear plastic guard for safety, protection, and safe disposal. Sterilized by gamma radiation, sold individually packed in boxes of 10 or bulk packs. For hospitals, surgeons, and medical institutions.
• Mini Scalpels Mini scalpels consisting of a small plastic handle fitted with stainless steel surgical blade (sizes 10, 11, or 15) with clear plastic guard, ideal for use in various medical kits. Sold in bulk packs of 100 scalpels per pouch. For medical kit manufacturers and healthcare providers.
• Fine Blades Fine range of surgical blades developed for complex and challenging surgical procedures in disciplines such as reconstruction, ophthalmics, cardiology, and hair restoration. For specialized surgeons.
• Skin Graft Blades Skin graft blades made from Swiss steel ensuring sharp and long-lasting cutting edge for skin grafting procedures. For reconstructive and plastic surgeons.
• Surgical Blade Handles BP (Bard Parker) surgical blade handles made of stainless steel, available in sizes 3 and 4, conforming to EN 27740:1992, ensuring proper fitment with surgical blades conforming to ISO 7740. For surgeons and medical institutions.
• Stitch Cutters Disposable stitch cutters made of highest-grade Swiss carbon steel with rounded point to prevent skin punctures. Available in Standard, Long, and Small variants, CE marked, sterilized by gamma radiation to minimum 2.5 M Rad dosage. For hospitals and post-surgical care providers.
• Gouge Blades Gouge blades available in multiple sizes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18) for specialized surgical procedures. For orthopedic and specialty surgeons.
• Special Purpose Blades Custom-designed and manufactured special purpose blades developed to customer specifications with minimum turnaround time, leveraging engineering and technical expertise. For OEMs and medical device companies requiring custom blade solutions.
• OEM/Private Label Manufacturing Private label and OEM manufacturing services for medical product manufacturers and marketers, producing quality blades and scalpels under their own brand names. Manufactured to ISO 13485 / ISO 9001 standards. For medical product manufacturers and marketers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Surgical blades do not produce ragged skin edges
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Becton Dickinson, USAcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 1975Becton Dickinson, a Fortune 500 company, became the first export customer in 1975 after thorough quality checks. They agreed to source surgical blades from Kehr Surgical under their own private label. This partnership validated Kehr Surgical's quality standards and marked the company's entry into the global market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices (HMD): Leading Indian manufacturer of disposable syringes and medical devices — a regional peer sharing the same domestic manufacturing base, hospital distribution, and regulatory certifications (ISO/BIS) as Kehr.

Direct peers

• Aspen Surgical: US-based manufacturer of disposable surgical blades, scalpels, and operating room disposables — directly comparable product offering sold through hospital and OEM channels in North America.
• Ribbel International: Indian manufacturer and exporter of surgical blades and scalpels — one of Kehr's named domestic competitors, directly comparable in product range and export-led go-to-market.
• Feather Safety Razor Co. Japanese manufacturer of surgical blades, scalpels, and microtome blades with strong reputation for sharpness — a direct global competitor to Kehr in high-precision surgical blade markets including ophthalmics and dermatology.
• Swann-Morton: UK-based global leader in surgical blades and scalpels — the most direct competitor to Kehr in carbon/stainless steel surgical blades, scalpels, and handles across hospital and OEM channels.
• Huaiyin Medical Instruments: Chinese manufacturer of surgical blades and scalpels exporting globally — a cost-competitive direct peer that pressures Kehr on price in OEM and emerging market channels.
• Southmedic: Canadian manufacturer of surgical blades, scalpels, and specialty medical instruments — a comparable mid-sized specialty blade maker serving hospital and OEM customers across North America and Europe.
• Kai Industries (Kai Medical): Japanese maker of surgical blades, scalpels, and disposable medical instruments sold globally — directly comparable product portfolio to Kehr's surgical blade and disposable scalpel range.
• Mani, Inc. Japanese surgical instrument manufacturer specializing in microsurgical blades, sutures, and dental instruments — a direct competitor in fine and specialty surgical blades serving ophthalmology and microsurgery.

Broad incumbents

• Becton Dickinson (BD): Global medical device giant and Kehr's first export customer / OEM partner since 1975; competes broadly across surgical instruments and disposable medical products, including its own surgical blade and scalpel portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SurgeonBlade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kehr-surgical

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kehr Surgical