As recently reported by Le Parisien, the historic LDR Medical production site in Troyes, France, will permanently shut down following a decision made by its new U.S. owner, Highridge Medical. The announcement, delivered to employees on September 22, came as a major shock to the workforce, which had not anticipated such a drastic shift in the company’s direction.
A Success Story That Changed Course
LDR Medical was founded in the year 2000 in the Aube region by three investors, supported by the local innovation ecosystem. Over the years, the company became a reference in the design and manufacturing of spinal prostheses, culminating in its 2016 acquisition by American medical giant Zimmer Biomet for one billion dollars.
Later, the business divisions related to spinal devices were acquired by the investment fund H.I.G. Capital, which created Highridge Medical as an independent manufacturer specializing in spinal solutions. In November 2024, the new management made its strategic direction clear: cease European operations and relocate all activity to the United States.
From Optimism to the Announcement of Closure
Initially, everything seemed to point toward good news for the workforce. After shutting down a facility in Valencia, Spain, in June, Highridge Medical had announced that part of its European activity would be relocated to Troyes, generating optimism among employees.
However, just one month later, workers were informed that the French site would close. According to information from Le Parisien, the company had already begun preparing the social layoff plan in advance, even before officially notifying employee representatives.
Economic Reasons at the Core of the Decision
Highridge Medical’s executive leadership justified the closure on economic grounds, citing the high costs of maintaining compliance with the European MDR medical device certification standards. The company also pointed to reduced reimbursements from the social security system and negative financial results as factors making the operation unsustainable.
Union representatives, however, disputed these claims, noting that the company was beginning to show improvement and that some difficulties were directly linked to increased sales and ongoing certification processes.
A Heavy Blow for the Region
The closure will result in 96 job losses, including both permanent and temporary contracts, at a facility that once employed up to 200 people. The only possible relocation opportunities are a few positions available at the company’s headquarters in Colorado, USA.
Negotiations for the redundancy plan are currently underway and are expected to be finalized before December. If the planned timeline is maintained, production will cease in March 2026, with full closure scheduled for September of the same year.
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