Brace Manufacturer Royce Medical Moves to Camarillo

In a move that will bring 150 jobs to Ventura County, Royce Medical Co., a major producer of braces and other orthopedic devices, is relocating to Camarillo from western Los Angeles County.

The firm has already started moving its corporate offices and main manufacturing facilities into a 55,000-square-foot building in an industrial complex on Pancho Road, reports William Overby, Royce’s special projects manager.

He said renovation of the building should be finished in December and the move should be completed by Jan. 4.

All current employees are expected to stay with the company. Some have already moved to Camarillo, Overby noted.

Royce is vacating a 38,000-square-foot building in Westlake Village. “We needed more room,” Overby said. “Frankly, the main reason we chose the Camarillo site is because the rent there is economical.”

He said Royce’s new home, a 5-year-old building, has never been occupied.

Ron Feder, an agent with Beitler Commercial Realty Services in Sherman Oaks, said Royce has signed a five-year lease valued at more than $1 million.

Founded in 1968, Royce has become a worldwide leader in developing industrial back braces, knee braces, wrist braces and other lightweight orthopedic products, Overby said. Most of the devices are sold to hospitals and doctors, but some are marketed through retail outlets.

In addition to the 150 workers who will be moving to Camarillo, Royce also has 70 employees at a plant in Jamaica. The privately held company does not disclose its sales figures. Overby said no dramatic expansion is planned once the move is completed, but that new items are regularly being added to the firm’s product line.