BraunAbility, a maker of wheelchair vehicles and wheelchair lifts, announced Feb. 13 plans to invest $7.5 million in its Indiana operations, which in the long run will add new jobs and help the company's growth strategy.
The Winamac-based company along with Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. said BraunAbility also planned to relocate its headquarters and research and development operations to Carmel. Manufacturing and staff to support those operations will remain in Winamac, which also will be expanded in the future, company officials said.
BraunAbility expects to create 68 new jobs in Indiana when its new Carmel headquarters opens and also anticipates creating new positions in Winamac over the next few years, the company said. New positions in Carmel will include roles in accounting, engineering, finance, human resources and marketing.
The company expects to hire engineering and finance positions in Winamac. BraunAbility employs about 820 production workers and 219 support and professional staff in Winamac.
BraunAbility said some of its Winamac employees will be moved to the new Carmel headquarters. A majority of those positions are held by workers outside Pulaski County, living in the Indianapolis area and out of state, who are currently commuting to Winamac, the company said.
“At BraunAbility, our goal is improving independence and freedom for our customers – we change lives,” said Staci Kroon, president and CEO of BraunAbility. “Winamac, Indiana is the birthplace of our company and will remain the heart and soul of the company as its primary manufacturing center.”
Kroon said to support the company's expansion, its new Carmel global headquarters will be designed for collaboration and innovation, key elements in its long-term recruitment and retention strategies.
BraunAbility has operated in Indiana since 1963 and is the largest employer in Pulaski County, the IEDC said.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered BraunAbility up to $1.3 million in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.
The city of Carmel is offering additional incentives, the IEDC said.
BraunAbility was acquired in 2015 by Patricia Industries, a part of Sweden-based Investor AB.
BraunAbility plans to lease 18,000 square feet of space at the Lakeside Green Business Center at 645 W. Carmel Drive, in Carmel and build a new, 20,000-square-foot research and development and technology center.
BraunAbility expects its new Carmel headquarters to be open by June with the new research and development center to follow in 2020. Operations at the new campus will focus on innovation and new product development, supporting and ensuring long-term growth of its manufacturing operations in Winamac, as well as providing support for the company’s dealer distribution channel and development business in Europe, the company said.
