Our history
Enovis Surgical brings together the expertise of leading companies in the industry—offering a combined legacy of 80 years of excellence.
Enovis Corporation began as Colfax Corporation in 1995 and has since embarked on a journey to build a world-class enterprise—acquiring strong businesses and transforming them into great ones.
That’s how Enovis Surgical came to be. In 2019, Colfax acquired DJO, marking its entry into the orthopedic space. The company expanded into Europe in 2021 with the acquisition of Mathys, and further strengthened its global presence in 2024 by acquiring LimaCorporate.
Read more about our history below.
Read more about our history below.
1945
Lima is founded in Italy
Entrepreneur Carlo Leopoldo Lualdi begins producing surgical instruments in a small village in northeastern Italy.
1946
Foundation of Mathys in Switzerland
Robert Mathys establishes Rob Mathys & Co, specializing in stainless steel processing.
1953
Lima expands into the aerospace industry
In the 1950s, Lualdi follows his passion for aviation by creating a helicopter prototype, marking Lima’s entry as a supplier in the aerospace sector.
1958
Mathys ventures into orthopedics
Following a pivotal encounter with Maurice E. Müller, Mathys begins developing and producing implants and instruments for knee surgery—starting its journey in orthopedics
1967
Mathys starts the production of hip implants
If previously Mathys had only developed screw and plates, this hip implant developed for a Bern-based company marks the start of artificial joint production.
1974
Lima adopts a strict quality system
During the 1970s, Lima specializes in titanium processing. Most notably, it extends the rigorous quality system originally developed for the aerospace sector to the entire company—establishing a new benchmark in manufacturing standards
1974
Honorary doctorate for Robert Mathys
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern awards Robert Mathys an honorary doctorate (Doctor honoris causa) in recognition of his contributions to bone medicine
1978
Foundation of DJO
Mark Nordquist and Ken Reed establish DonJoy in Carlsbad, California. The company is named after their wives, Donna and Joy.
1980
Lima enters the automotive industry
In the 1980s, Lima expands into the automotive sector, becoming a trusted supplier for some of the most prestigious Italian racing car manufacturers.
1983
The birth of RM
Mathys develops its own titanium coating technology, known as RM. Its first application is in the RM Classic Cup, marking a milestone in implant innovation.
1995
Colfax Corporation is founded
Brothers Mitchell and Steven Rales establish Colfax Corporation, setting the stage for future growth through strategic acquisitions.
1996
Mathys begins marketing under its own name
In 1996, Mathys transitions from being an OEM to selling products under its own brand—strengthening its identity in the orthopedic market.
2000
LimaCorporate focuses solely on orthopedics
LimaCorporate shifts its focus entirely to orthopedics, exiting the aerospace and automotive industries to concentrate on medical innovation.
2007
Mathys launches Ceramys
Following the acquisition of Keramed, Mathys introduces its first Mathys-branded ceramic femoral heads under the Ceramys line.
2007
LimaCorporate patents TT Technology
After years of research and development, LimaCorporate patents Trabecular Titanium (TT), a pioneering 3D-printed technology. The first implant using TT was the Delta TT acetabular cup.
2019
Colfax acquires DJO
Marking its entry into orthopedics, Colfax acquires DJO, a global provider of medical technologies.
2021
Colfax acquires Mathys
Colfax expands its presence in the European orthopedic market with the acquisition of Mathys.
2022
Colfax becomes Enovis
Colfax is renamed Enovis and becomes publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ENOV), symbolizing its commitment to medical technology and innovation.
2024
Enovis acquires LimaCorporate
Enovis further strengthens its reconstructive business by acquiring LimaCorporate, expanding its global portfolio and technological leadership.
NOW
Our Future Together
Today, we are all part of the Enovis Reconstructive Business, focused on orthopedic implants and surgical technologies that provide solutions for hip, knee, shoulder, and foot & ankle procedures. This is where Enovis Surgical stands.
Enovis Surgical is structured into two divisions:
Enovis Surgical is structured into two divisions:
- U.S. Surgical, serving the United States market
- International Surgical, covering all markets outside the U.S.