Invacare shifts Rea wheelchair production from Sweden to France

Invacare (NYSE:IVC) said today it is transferring the production of its Rea manual wheelchairs from its Dïo, Sweden facilities to its wheelchair manufacturing facilities in Fondettes, France, beginning next January.

Elyria, Ohio-based Invacare said the move will allow the company to “better optimize its wheelchair manufacturing facility” in Fondettes, and allow the Dïo facility to focus on the production of beds for the Nordic market and its distribution center for lifestyle products.

“As we continue to make progress in phase 2 of our strategic transformation, we will continue to leverage our existing global infrastructure and further increase efficiencies. By transferring wheelchair production from Dïo to Fondettes, we are able to create a European wheelchair center of excellence that is centrally located to our European customers. We will continue to stay close to our Nordic customers and maintain the on-time and reliable delivery that they have come to expect from us,” prez & CEO Matthew Monaghan said in a press release.

The transfer is expected to generate an incremental $1.6 million in annualized pre-tax savings in its European business segment, the company said, but will incur restructuring charges of approximately $1.4 million, including the severance of approximately 70 employees.

Earlier this week, Invacare said it received notice from the FDA that it can resume wheelchair production operations at its Elyria, Ohio-based manufacturing facility.

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