SIMI VALLEY : Medical Company to Relocate Here

A San Fernando Valley medical-supplies manufacturer has agreed to move its corporate offices, its plant and more than 400 jobs to Simi Valley, a top executive of the firm said Wednesday.

Guardian Products, now based in North Hollywood and Arleta, will begin building its Simi Valley headquarters in February and relocate its workers next October, said Robert B. Senn, president.

The company had been weighing offers to move out of state, but opted for Simi Valley so it could retain many of its present employees, Senn said.

He said another incentive was the city’s offer last spring of $175,000 in redevelopment funds to help Guardian pay its planning, building-permit and sewer- and water-connection fees.

“That allowed us to convince our board of directors that we didn’t need to go out of state,” Senn said.

Simi Valley officials said such monetary incentives are necessary to attract new employers because of increasing competition for such businesses from other cities.

Guardian will move to the Peppertree South Business Park on the east side of Tapo Canyon Road, south of the Arroyo Simi. The company makes products for the elderly and disabled, including crutches, walking aids, wheelchairs and patient-lifting equipment.