Konica Minolta has become the latest health technology vendor to join European industry body COCIR. The European health IT trade group, which has its roots in the medical imaging market, earlier this month announced that Microsoft had joined. Konica Minolta, which traces its corporate roots back to the early 20th century in Japan and Germany, has significantly expanded its medical imaging division over the last 20 years to become leaders in digital image-processing technology for the healthcare field. The company serves the hospital and clinic markets providing high-performance X-ray digital diagnostic imaging systems. In a company statement the firm said it had joined COCIR to "gain better understanding about the European regulations and standards, as well as a better insight into actual market trends".