Why more vets are choosing Nopa surgical instruments
If you run a vet practice, you'll know the frustration all too well. You buy surgical instruments that look the part, only to find the scissors going blunt within months, the forceps no longer lining up, and the needle holders giving up when you need them most. So, you're back where you started, replacing and re-ordering while your equipment budget quietly disappears.
For too long, New Zealand vets have had to choose between quality and affordability. At Capes Medical, we believe you shouldn't have to. That's why we're proud to supply Nopa veterinary surgical instruments, a range that delivers genuine German engineering at prices that offer the best value.
A proud history
Nopa is a family-owned manufacturer that's been making surgical instruments in Tuttlingen, Germany since 1982. Tuttlingen is known as the world centre of medical technology, and more than 40 years on, Nopa supplies vets and surgeons in over 120 countries. Their range covers more than 16,000 instruments, with around 6,000 items always in stock for reliable delivery to New Zealand within 3-4 weeks.
Proven quality
Nopa is ISO 13485 certified and was one of the first companies in Tuttlingen to gain full certification under the new European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). That's the same tough standard applied to human surgical instruments. Their products have also been put through their paces by independently accredited labs. So, when we say quality, it's quality that's been proven, not just promised.
Why vets choose Nopa
Here’s some of the key reasons more vets are choosing Nopa’s surgical instruments:
Built to last. Precision-made German instruments designed to hold their edge, keep their alignment, and handle sterilisation cycle after sterilisation cycle. You'll replace instruments less often and get far more from every dollar.
Precision you can feel. Sharp, well balanced and comfortable in the hand, Nopa instruments give you real control and confidence at the table, whether it's a routine spey or delicate eye work.
The best value on the market. Quality doesn't have to come with an eye-watering price. Nopa's range is priced to be genuinely affordable, and we believe it's the best value going for New Zealand vets right now.
Everything in one place. Instruments, complete surgical sets and Nopa's patented sterilisation container system, all from one trusted supplier.
What’s in the new Nopa vet catalogue
Nopa has just released its brand new vet catalogue, and it's their biggest and best yet. Inside you'll find the full range of instruments made specifically for veterinary work, including:
21 ready-to-go surgical sets that take the guesswork out of kitting up your theatre: Canine, feline and bitch spey and neuter sets; General and small animal surgery sets; Dog dental extraction and canine periodontal sets; Basic and advanced eye kits; Veterinary orthopaedic set; Ear canal surgery and dog ear suture sets; Otoscopy, rhinoscopy, arthroscopy and laparoscopy sets; Artificial insemination and postmortem sets.
A full range of individual instruments, from hemostats, forceps, scissors, scalpels, needle holders and retractors through to specialised dental, orthopaedic, gynaecology, ENT, eye and endoscopy instruments.
Sterilisation containers and accessories, featuring Nopa's patented container system with robot-glued seals and independently tested sterile barrier performance, keeping your instruments protected from theatre to storage.
Whether you're setting up a new surgical suite, replacing tired instruments, or just curious to see what better value looks like, the new catalogue is the perfect place to start.
Get a copy for your vet clinic today
Get in touch with us today to get your hands on a copy of the brand new Nopa vet catalogue and discover surgical instruments that work as hard as you do.
People
Say hello to Carmen, our newest Territory Manager.
At Capes Medical Supplies, our people are at the heart of everything we do. So, when someone joins the whānau who genuinely lights up a room, we want you to meet them.
Say hello to Carmen, our newest Territory Manager. A Registered Nurse with oodles of A&E and trauma experience, Carmen thrives under pressure and is driven to make a difference wherever she goes. Yet above all, she just loves connecting with people.
From Matamata to the world (and back again)
Born and bred in Matamata, Carmen always knew she wanted to be a nurse. At 19 she made the move to the Bay of Plenty to train as an enrolled nurse through Tauranga Hospital, graduating in 1987 and starting out on the medical ward.
Like plenty of young Kiwis, the travel bug soon bit. Carmen headed off to the UK for three and a half years, working as an anaesthetic nurse in a busy dental surgery in Acton, London, and squeezing in as much travel as she could between shifts. It was the classic work-hard, explore-hard OE.
Finding her home in ED
When Carmen returned to Aotearoa in 1994, enrolled nursing was being phased out, so she rolled up her sleeves and completed her bridging programme to become a Registered Nurse, going on to finish her degree in Nursing. She headed back to the medical ward at Tauranga Hospital before finding her true calling in the Emergency Department.
Ask Carmen why ED, and her answer says everything about who she is. She loved the challenge of connecting with people when they need you the most, reassuring them and looking after them on their worst days. She thrived on trauma and resus, the problem solving, the pace, thinking on her feet and never knowing what was coming through the door. Most of all, she loved working as a team.
With teenage boys at home and a growing appreciation for work-life balance, Carmen later made the move to urgent care nursing at a busy Accident and Emergency clinic, where she spent an impressive 14 years supporting her community. More recently, she spent two years contract nursing across Australia, ready for something different and a fresh challenge.
Bringing it all to Capes
That fresh challenge is here. Joining Capes Medical Supplies as our newest Territory Manager, Carmen gets to do what she does best: getting out on the road, meeting new people across the medical field, and building genuine relationships.
Having spent decades on the clinical front line, Carmen understands the pressures clinics face better than most. Whether it's helping a practice get the right medical consumables, sourcing surgical instruments, or finding wound care solutions that genuinely work for patients, her nursing background means she speaks the same language as the teams she supports. She's been in their shoes, and she knows that having a reliable supply partner makes all the difference.
Beyond the role
Outside of work, Carmen is happiest spending time with the people who matter most. You'll find her catching up with friends and whanau, on the sideline cheering on her boys at football, or out for shopping trips and coffees.
We're absolutely stoked to welcome Carmen to the Capes whanau. Her experience, positivity and genuine care for people make her a trusted partner for the clinics and healthcare teams she supports, and we know our customers are going to love working with her.
Want to connect with Carmen and find out how she can support your clinic with medical consumables, surgical instruments and wound care? Get in touch.
Handheld ultraound
Bridging the Skills Gap: Clarius Intelligence Features are Democratizing Ultrasound for Every Veterinarian Caring for Companion Animals
Learn why Clarius handheld ultrasound scanners have become the go-to solution for veterinarians seeking affordable, high-performance wireless imaging.
Company update
Capes Medical Supplies closing for annual stocktake
We'll be closing for a few days at the end of June for our annual stocktake.
Conference
We're heading to GPCME 2026. And we've got a lot to show you
The General Practice Conference & Medical Exhibition (GPCME) is one of the highlights of our year. Swing past Stand 167 for exclusive mid-year deals, new product launches, and the chance to win morning tea for your whole team.
Wound care
Are You Trading Infection Control for Impaired Healing?
Chlorhexidine gluconate has earned its place as a standard antiseptic in clinical settings. It reduces bacterial surface counts quickly and significantly after application — a genuine short-term win. But a growing body of evidence, including research by Cheong et al. (2022), reveals a troubling trade-off hiding beneath that initial benefit.