January 20, 2003
OCONOMOWOC, Wisc. - Bruno Independent Living Aids, a lift and mobility manufacturer that's made just one other acquisition in its 18-year history, has bought a controlling interest in a Swedish vehicle adaptation company, Autoadapt, whose products it's been selling in North America for the past three years.
Autoadapt makes Turning Automotive Seating (TAS), a vehicle lift system that lowers a seated passenger from a van or truck and mitigates the height of the step down. Alternatively, the seat can slide over a carriage onto the framework of a transport wheelchair.
Autoadapt generated about $10 million in sales last year. Its growth, since Bruno started distributing, has been dramatic, according to Bruno CEO, Mike Bruno Sr.: “That's all I can say.”
TAS has been a significant driver in a 20-25% growth rate that Bruno says the company has enjoyed across all of its product lines - vehicle lifts, stair lifts, power chairs and scooters - in recent years. Last year, Bruno's sales reached $50 million.
For more on this story, see the Feb. 15 issue of HME News.
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