Wheelchair firm to return to spa town

A COMPANY which supplies parts for the wheelchairs used by the Pope and Christopher Reeve is coming back to Droitwich.

Dynamic Europe Ltd is the European distribution and servicing arm of Dynamic Controls Ltd, a manufacturer of control systems for powered wheelchairs and scooters, based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Eighteen years ago, the company – which has supplied the controls for the wheelchairs used by Superman actor, Christopher Reeve, as well as Pope John Paul II – brought its UK base to Droitwich.

Now, after moving its premises to Stourport-on-Severn, then Kidderminster six years ago, Dynamic Europe is relocating to a 15,845sq ft unit on Stonebridge Cross Business Park, on the outskirts of Droitwich.

Thirty employees will work at the new premises, with more than three-quarters of those having moved with the company, from its former premises in Kidderminster’s Stourport Road.

Dynamic Europe will market, sell and service products imported from New Zealand at its new premises, which they are due to take over in October, as well as distributing control systems to other manufacturers throughout Europe.

“We’ve come full circle, really,” said financial controller James Morris. “We chose to relocate to Stonebridge Cross because of the excellent infrastructure and communications, coupled with access to a larger pool of skilled labour,” said Mr Morris.

“Communication with our European customers is paramount for us and being close to the M5 means it’s easier for them to get to us and for our guys to get to them.

“It’s also easier for us to transport stock to Europe.”

He said the 77-acre park also gave the company, which this year turned over £8.8m, plenty of scope for further expansion.

“As world leaders in control systems for electronic wheelchairs and scooters, we have a track record of rapid expansion. We anticipate that Stonebridge Cross will be able to accommodate our requirements well into the future.”

Dynamic Europe joins other big name companies at the business park, with neighbours including BUPA and Robert Wiseman Dairies, which opened a £35m state-of-the-art milk processing plant there in April 2001.