Welch Allyn told authorities in Oregon that it plans to shutter a plant in Beaverton in December, laying off the 84 employees who work there.
Utica, N.Y.-based Welch Allyn said in 2012 that it would shed about 10% of its global workforce, or 275 jobs, over 3 years due to the medical device tax enacted as part of Obamacare.
In a letter to Beaverton mayor Denny Doyle and Laura Roberts of the Oregon Dept. of Community College & Workforce Development, Welch Allyn said it plans to cease manufacturing at the plant around Dec. 19.
"In connection with this termination of manufacturing activities, Welch Allyn will be eliminating the positions of 84 employees," vice president of manufacturing operations west Peter Murray wrote. "While the company is eliminating a number of positions related to manufacturing operations, it will maintain a technology development center with some R&D, marketing, quality & regulatory positions."
The layoffs in Beaverton are slated to begin in May and run through March 2015, with the bulk to occur in December when the plant closes down, Murray wrote.
When the layoffs were 1st announced back in September 2012, Welch Allyn said the medical device tax, a 2.3% levy on U.S. sales of medical devices, was the primary driver behind the layoffs.
"[T]hese actions will proactively prepare the company to address the new onerous U.S. medical device tax scheduled to begin in 2013 as mandated in the Affordable Care Act, as well as other significant changes driven by healthcare reform and market dynamics," the company said at the time.
