“As the largest employer in Pulaski County, it’s our responsibility to do what we can to protect our employees, their families and the entire community,” said Tom Eastman, president of North American Manufacturing. “Our manufacturing and assembly operations will be suspended temporarily to allow time to both flatten the curve locally and conserve community resources. On April 20, we’ll get back to the business of changing lives for people with mobility challenges, but this important decision will potentially help us save lives during this challenging time.”

Company officials reinforced that no employee has tested positive to date; the temporary suspension is a response to the request from Pulaski County health officials to help flatten the curve.

BraunAbility is the largest employer in Pulaski County with nearly 1,000 employees at its global manufacturing headquarters in Winamac. Last week the global leader in wheelchair accessible vehicle and wheelchair lift manufacturing was granted essential business status from the state of Indiana because people with physical disabilities rely on those products to carry on their daily lives.

Since early March, the company has restricted all travel, and a large number of office employees are working from home. While operating, the production line usage has been staggered to maximize social distancing, and extreme cleaning measures have been implemented.