Invacare moving manual wheelchair line to Mexico

ELYRIA — Invacare is moving production of its Solara manual wheelchairs to Invamex, an Invacare manufacturing facility in Reynosa, Mexico, according to Invacare spokeswoman Kelly Mize.

Mize said the move comes as part of the company’s manufacturing strategy. Employees of Invacare’s Elyria operations are being notified of the move throughout today. She said no employees will lose their jobs as a result of the move.

“We already manufacture many of Invacare’s Class I manual wheelchairs at Invamex, so it makes sense to move the Solara wheelchair there,” Mize said. “Associates currently working on those chairs will be moved to other assignments throughout the plants (in Elyria).”

Mize said the move will help Invacare focus on quality systems and regulatory compliance improvements at their Taylor Street operation. In December, Invacare received a proposed consent decree from the Food and Drug Administration stemming from Quality Systems Regulations violations found during an FDA inspection of the Taylor Street facility and headquarters in August.