Sunrise Medical to Shutter Simi Valley Plant

Sunrise Medical plans to close its personal-care products factory in Simi Valley by June and shift the manufacturing of all Guardian product lines to Tijuana, Mexico, where the company has been operating in a temporary facility since February.

The decision was triggered by the Tijuana plant’s smooth start-up and higher-than-expected labor productivity, as well as the rapid construction of the 100,000-square-foot permanent factory, which will be ready for occupancy in December.

John Frymark, president of the personal-care products division, said that about 300 people work at the Simi Valley factory, of which 230 are Sunrise employees. The remainder work for a temporary employment agency.

Frymark said that about 50 of the Sunrise employees will be moved to other facilities and about 165 workers will be laid off.

Sunrise makes home medical products such as walkers, canes and crutches.