At Permobil, an international leader in mobility solutions, the focus is clear: empowering people with disabilities to live independently and enjoy life to its fullest. With its North American headquarters in Lebanon, Tennessee, Permobil has been a significant player in the region’s economy and an invaluable partner to those with mobility challenges.
Since relocating from Boston, Maryland, to Lebanon nearly 25 years ago, the company has expanded its workforce and capacity while launching cutting-edge products that improve mobility and quality of life for so many.
The Mission at the Core of Permobil’s Success
According to Chuck Witkowski, President of Permobil Americas, the company is dedicated to providing products and solutions for individuals with mobility impairments to maximize independence.
“We manufacture the world’s best high-end power and manual wheelchairs that are really custom tailored, like a prosthetic to fit your body,” said Witkowski.
The company’s product range is designed with meticulous attention to detail, functionality and durability, so that its end users can truly live life to the fullest.
“You can imagine that if you’re a wheelchair rider, it’s really important that your wheelchair hold up and not leave you stranded somewhere,” explained Witkowski. “And so, we put a lot of emphasis on quality, but beyond the products, I would say what really sets us apart is our culture, and here at Permobil, I feel like we have an incredibly passionate team that is responsible for design and manufacturing and bringing to market our great products.”
This passionate team has been instrumental in driving Permobil’s success and growth over the past two decades, ultimately paving the way for a significant expansion.
Innovative Product Expansion in Middle Tennessee
Permobil’s Lebanon facility, one of two global sites manufacturing power wheelchairs, has grown significantly in recent years. In 2022, alongside Gov. Bill Lee and TNECD, the company’s officials announced a $15.5 million expansion aimed at increasing product accessibility.
“That expansion started with kind of a back of the envelope dream and a vision to really expand access to our products,” explained Witkowski. “We feel like we have the most advanced, best-quality manual wheelchairs in the world under our Tilite brand, but those are only available to a portion of the population based on reimbursement rates, and so we wanted to expand the universe of end users that could have access.”
Permobil’s two new manual wheelchairs, the Tilite X and Tilite Z, will set new industry standards for weight capacity and customization.
“The manufacturing process that we’re using will allow us to deliver industry best lead times, so from a customized order to shipment of the chair in five days or less, which doesn’t exist anywhere in the industry,” said Witkowski. “If you’re an end user that means you might actually be able to get your chair before you’re discharged from the hospital.”
Perry Hall joined the Permobil team as an operations manager about one year ago. He oversees the new expansion on the manual side and views the company’s recent growth as a strategic response to market needs.
“When you think about expansion, more means more,” said Hall. “We’ve got more space to do more things, build more product, be more efficient, get closer to our customer base and shorten those lead times, which puts product in the hand of the end user at an industry standard.”
“We’ve got more space to do more things, build more product, be more efficient, get closer to our customer base and shorten those lead times.”
Permobil recently celebrated a major milestone on October 17, 2024: the first chair came off the line in the new facility.
“That was a monumental moment for us,” said Hall. “We’re early in the journey, but we’re going to celebrate as we go. We’re going to enjoy this ride.”
Despite only being at Permobil for one year, Hall has been a part of the manufacturing business for more than 30, and for him, what sets this company apart from the rest is the compassion you feel when you walk through the doors.
“One of the lessons I’ve learned from Permobil is that the culture can cure a lot of things,” said Hall. “Permobil has the culture for success. They build a caring component. They have goals, ambitions, they have strategic planning that says we’re going to be best in class, and they measure themselves.”
Finding Purpose Through Mobility
Since announcing its expansion in 2022, Permobil has introduced new production capabilities and fostered a workplace where employees like Gabe Helmuth find both purpose and professional growth.
Originally from a press factory, Helmuth joined Permobil as a lead in the power side of production, and he quickly rose to a supervisory role.
“When they announced that they were expanding into the manual side at this location, it was a big career opportunity for me,” explained Helmuth. “And with everything that’s coming in with Permobil and the expansion, it’s not just me that has the opportunity to grow. It’s affording a lot of different positions that weren’t here before with growth opportunity in every single role.”
Permobil’s mission resonates deeply with Helmuth and gives him a great sense of pride in his work.
“Some people might just see it as a chair, but as we build it, we see it as somebody’s legs,” said Helmuth. “Everybody, whether you have a disability or not, has the right to life, and part of life is mobility.”
“Some people might just see it as a chair, but as we build it, we see it as somebody’s legs.”
Continuing Impact and Future Growth
Looking forward, Permobil’s plans include further product extensions, a research and development expansion and increased workforce demands.
“One initiative that I’ll highlight that we’re really focused on right now is based on who we are and what we do,” said Witkowski. “We should be a destination employer for individuals who are in wheelchairs. We’re aggressively working to partner with other local and regional entities to get the word out that if you’re a rider and are looking for a great, passionate work home, Permobil is here.”
As the company continues to evolve, its mission-driven approach and focus on innovation position it as a true asset to Middle Tennessee and beyond.
“I view innovation as the lifeblood of a company like ours,” said Witkowski. “We have to continually innovate if we’re going to fulfill our mission, and that starts with everything people, and we do feel like this area is a great feeder of that talent for us.”
For Witkowski, one of the great things about working in this industry is the ability to come to work every day and really make a difference in people’s lives.
“I got a handwritten note from a lady, and she said, ‘Hey, I just wanted to let you know that my husband is in your standing power wheelchair,’ which is a wheelchair that will allow the individual to stand all the way up, ‘and it’s just made a tremendous difference in his life. As a result of your product, we are getting married in two weeks, and he’s going to be able to stand for our wedding.’”
A true testament to the life-changing impact of Permobil’s technology.
To learn more about Permobil, click here.
