BraunAbility Lab Breaks Ground In Carmel

From the City of Carmel:

September 9, 2020

BraunAbility, the global leader in mobility transportation solutions, has broken ground on its advanced engineering center, in Carmel, Indiana.

The BraunAbility Global Innovation Lab will be built next to BraunAbility’s global headquarters at 645 West Carmel Drive, which opened in October 2019.

“The BraunAbility Global Innovation Lab will accelerate our pursuit of life-changing innovation for those living with mobility challenges and those who care for them,” stated Staci Kroon, BraunAbility CEO. “We appreciate the support of the City of Carmel, a community that is actively working to advance disability inclusion throughout the city.”

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, City Council President Laura Campbell and Jim Stanton, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, joined officials and company representatives for the groundbreaking ceremony.

“This is an exciting day for the City of Carmel as we celebrate the beginning of construction on BraunAbility’s new innovation lab, where highly skilled workers will be producing technologies that will enhance mobility for millions of people around the world,” said Mayor Brainard. “We look forward to sharing in the success of BraunAbility and partnering with them on their global mission for transportation solutions.”

BraunAbility was founded by Ralph Braun, a self-described tinkerer who built his own motorized scooter and wheelchair lift in his childhood garage in the 1950s. The new technology center will feature a replica of that same garage as the center of the lab, a nod to the company’s heritage of Hoosier innovation.

The 20,000-square-foot innovation lab, funded in partnership with real estate development firm Atapco, will be a state-of-the-art technology center where engineers and product developers focus on development of new mobility solutions. The lab is projected to open in early April 2021.

“BraunAbility is a true Indiana entrepreneur success story, with Ralph Braun building his first motorized wheelchair in 1962 to now being a global company, manufacturing state-of-the-art, innovative vehicles,” said Stanton. “We couldn’t be prouder to have them call Indiana home, contributing to our statewide economy and supporting Hoosiers with high-quality careers.”

BraunAbility’s manufacturing base is located in Winamac, Indiana, 90 miles north of Carmel. The company’s expansion to the Carmel area is an effort to both expand its talent base and ensure easy access to its Winamac production facilities.

BraunAbility employs more than 1,200 employees, and its mobility products include wheelchair-accessible vehicles, wheelchair lifts and seating, storage and securement products.

The BraunAbility Global Innovation Lab is part of a larger company expansion that was first announced in February 2019.

This press release was produced by the City of Carmel. The views expressed are the author's own.