Mobility equipment designer, Ottobock Healthcare, has announced a £500,000 investment in the UK healthcare market and the creation of new jobs in the North of England.
The German company, which is the official technical service provider for the 2012 Paralympic Games, will be moving its entire mobility and bespoke seating manufacturing business to the UK, where it will supply specialist wheelchair seats to NHS, European and Australasian health trusts.
Using computerised numerical control (CNC) technology, the business produces custom-built seats that enhance stability and freedom of movement and reduce pressure sores. Solutions range from moulded seat inserts and carved foam seating systems to matrix systems and modular solutions.
Ottobock has proved to its parent company in Germany that the UK business is successfully expanding and that our British engineers are leading the way for the global market
The investment in the Leeds-based production centre over the next 12 months will initially create seven new jobs, with more expected as the business expands.
Ottobock UK will also take on responsibility for the research and development of the bespoke seating systems for the Ottobock Healthcare global group, with potential for further growth in this area.
“This is an exciting year for Ottobock in the UK, said Phillip Yates, managing director of Ottobock UK.
”In addition to our Paralympic sponsorship, we are pleased to announce that Germany is investing in our UK business, expertise and experience. Ottobock has proved to its parent company in Germany that the UK business is successfully expanding and that our British engineers are leading the way for the global market. We are committed to investing in people and we look forward to investing in the local economy, the NHS and UK-based research and development.”