Biomet confirms layoffs in U.S., Europe (written by Sherry Slater @ FortWayne.com)
Biomet Inc. on Friday confirmed pending staff cuts of up to 200 jobs — 21 from U.S. operations and the rest from Europe.
The orthopedics industry giant is reorganizing its global reconstructive business in a bid to boost growth to above the market average. The effective date is Sept. 1, the company said in a statement dated Wednesday.
The reorganization calls for cutting 21 U.S. jobs and 60 to 80 positions in Europe. Warsaw-based Biomet didn’t specify where the U.S. jobs are being cut or which European operations will be affected.
A company spokesman declined to comment beyond the prepared statement.
In what the company described as “unrelated” to the reorganization, Biomet is reviewing an additional 99 positions in Great Britain for possible job cuts “as a result of softness in the worldwide orthopedics market.”
To increase manufacturing efficiency, the company will consider cutting up to 29 jobs in Bridgend, South Wales, and up to 70 positions in Swindon, England.
“These decisions have been very difficult ones for the management team to make,” the statement said. “Where possible, the company will explore other options for these team members.”
Those employees who cannot transfer to another position will be paid severance and given outplacement assistance.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s print edition of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Saturday.
sslater@jg.net
Biomet Reorganization Causes Job Cuts In Europe, Locally (written by Daniel Riordan @ Times Union Online)
A new structure will lead to the elimination of 21 positions in the United States and up to 80 internationally for Biomet.
The Times-Union learned this week that a plan, months in the making, was rolled out that would streamline operations at the orthopedic company.
Citing “reorganizing its global reconstructive business to enhance its ability to return to above market growth”, Biomet set into motion a plan that the company is looking to have in place by Sept. 1.
The reorganization, however, means that between 60 and 80 employees in Europe will lose their jobs due to redundancies.
Stateside, the number is 21 employees.
In a statement, Biomet said where possible it will seek other options for employees.
For those where that isn’t an option, Biomet said they are offering transition through severance packages and outplacement assistance.
In moves unrelated to the reorganization, the company announced there also will be layoffs at its South Wales and Swindon, England, plants.
The Biomet layoffs aren’t the only layoffs from the Big Three orthopedic companies based in Warsaw.
In February, Zimmer announced it would reorganize causing layoffs.
Zimmer did not release an exact number of employees that would be affected.
DePuy recently saw some changes at the top when earlier this year president David Floyd resigned.
In June, Andrew Ekdahl was named to replace Floyd.
DePuy has been dealing with the recall of the ASR XL Acetabular hip system, which led the company to take out a $280 million charge in the fourth quarter of last year to pay for a recall.
Despite Biomet’s restructuring, the company said they remain confident.
“Biomet remains confident in the future of the orthopedics market and in its ability to compete in this market,” said a statement released to the Times-Union Wednesday afternoon. “The fundamentals have not changed: the aging of the population; the high incidence of musculoskeletal disease around the world; the need to restore pain-free mobility in patients; and our success in being part of the solution. Nonetheless, the company believes these changes are necessary for it to meet the challenges it faces in the market today.”