Kuschall’s Sales Growth Spurs Plant Relocation

Kuschall of America Inc., a Camarillo manufacturer of lightweight wheelchairs, will move into a new plant next month, increasing the firm’s space by 38%.

“I realize many companies are being hurt by the economy, but our sales are up,” said Henry Bollinger, executive vice president. He attributed the 6-year-old company’s success to two factors--an increase in the disabled population, and a rising demand for lightweight wheelchairs, especially among younger people.

“Unfortunately, accidents and other factors are creating an increasing need for wheelchairs,” Bollinger said. “On the other hand, our chairs, which are made of aluminum and don’t even look like wheelchairs, provide users with a great deal of mobility.

“Even our colors are different. We use red, blue, black and white--never unpainted metal. In our children’s line, we use neon colors.”

Kuschall has been successful in marketing a design especially for wheelchair athletes, Bollinger added. He said Kuschall’s president, Michael Dempsey, who has used a wheelchair since childhood, won a silver medal in table tennis in this year’s Paralympics, held in conjunction with the Barcelona Olympics.

Kuschall of America produces some of its products under license from a Swiss concern, Paratec Ltd., headed by inventor Rainer Kuschall. The Camarillo firm, which is privately held, has 35 employees.

The new lease, handled by the Camarillo and Woodland Hills offices of Daum Commercial Real Estate Services, will give Kuschall of America 20,000 square feet on Via Alondra in Camarillo. The company now occupies 14,000 square feet on Calle Plano.