Manufacturer NewsWire

Invacare Debuts Value Model Subsidiary, Reports 3Q Earnings

Elyria, Ohio

Invacare debuted its value model subsidiary, Professional Medical Imports (PMI), at Medtrade in October. PMI products are marketed and sold under the ProBasics brand.

“In order for Invacare Corporation to participate in the value segment of the market, we launched PMI, a wholly owned subsidiary,” said Lou Slangen, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Invacare, who added that PMI caters to “providers looking for basic products where pricing is the primary driver.”

PMI, based in Marlboro, N.J., has distribution centers in Calhoun, Ga., and Edison, N.J. A third location in Southern California is scheduled to open early this month. Scott Hassel is president.

Invacare’s net earnings for the third quarter of 2003, ended Sept. 30, were $20 million, while net sales were $327.4 million.

In other company news, Home Diagnostics, Inc., a manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring systems, has entered into a distribution partnership with Invacare subsidiary Invacare Supply Group. ISG will co-brand, market and distribute HDI’s Prestige IQ Smart System under the Invacare Quality Alternatives line of products.

Graham-Field and Gulf South Sign Distribution Agreement

Atlanta

After emerging from bankruptcy in May, medical equipment manufacturer Graham-Field has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Gulf South Medical Supply, Jacksonville, Fla., for Gulf South to be the exclusive supplier for Graham-Field’s home care products. “We’re partnering with them for our current 6,000 home care accounts,” said Mike Norby, Graham-Field vice president, sales and marketing. “They have 13 warehouses nationwide. We have three. They’re able to supply 95 percent of the population with next-day service.”

Norby said this brings the concept of just-in-time inventory to customers. The concept of keeping low, or even zero, inventories, has been a mantra of supply-chain experts in recent years. It allows providers to “operate more efficiently,” he said. “[Providers] do not have to buy a container to get a good price.”

Three Orthotics Companies Combine Forces

Tampa, Fla.

Advanced Medical Services, Orthotic Rehabilitation Products and the Medassist Group have merged their sales and manufacturing operations. Orthotic Rehabilitation Products and the Medassist Group, both located in Tampa, manufacture orthotic devices used to treat functional limitations of the upper and lower extremeties. Advanced Medical Services, located in Houston, is a distributor of rehab and durable medical equipment.

As a result of the merger, Orthotic Rehab has assumed all manufacturing of Medassist’s orthotic products, while Advanced Medical has assumed all sales and administrative responsibilities.

Cardinal Health Adds MDI Manufacturing

Dublin, Ohio

Cardinal Health has added a metered dose inhaler manufacturing line housed in 5,000 square feet at the company’s Research Triangle Park, N.C., facility. Operational this month, the small-scale commercial line means the company now offers both an MDI filling capability along with full inhalation product development and testing services.

For breaking news, go to www.homecaremonday.com, the electronic news service of the home medical equipment industry.