Townsend has a pretty cool booth. It was recently painted blue to match the Thuasne colors. The booth was actually designed inhouse by Townsend Engineers. So it should come as no surprise that Townsend's paint department handled the facelift. They did an outstanding job - the booth looks great! In case you forgot Townsend has a Custom Paint Department. If you can dream it up, they can paint it on a knee brace.
Townsend Design is offering a $50 gift card for completing a survey. They are looking for information from mastectomy fitters, or facility owners / managers. If you are involved with post-mastectomy care and would like to participate just download the survey using the link below, fill it out, and fax it to Townsend.
Townsend Fax: 661-837-0613
Townsend requires your contact information (at the end of the survey) for you to receive your $50 gift card. Also the survey must be received by November 23rd.
FINE PRINT/RULES: This is a Townsend Design offer. This is not a Heritage Medical Equipment offer.
This survey is for mastectomy fitters and/or practice managers/owners of offices that provide post-mastectomy care ONLY. If you don't provide post-mastectomy services, you're not eligible to answer the survey since your answers won't provide usable market research! Only one completed survey per office location is eligible to receive the gift card. Any completed surveys received after November 23rd will not qualify for the gift card.
Bethany Gaffney, ATC & Caitlin Ludemann, ATC
This week we are writing live from the New England Orthotic & Prosthetic Society annual meeting in Warwick, RI. Here we find new-comers to the O&P field who present with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Caitlin Ludemann and Bethany Gaffney are athletic trainers who work with Ferraro & Forbes.
They were hired to help represent Townsend Design's line of functional and unloader knee braces.
"We have been representing Townsend in New England for 21 years," explained Sally Forbes, owner of Ferraro & Forbes. "Patients with knee osteoarthritis deserve a conservative solution for their joint pain. Not everyone needs medications, injections, or surgery. Bethany and Caitlin are doing a fantastic job getting our message to the people who need to hear it."
"We talk to doctors regularly to explain the benefits of bracing the arthritic knee." Forbes said. "But it's difficult to be heard with the glut of information the drug companies flood the market with."
Sally added, "We love to work with our O&P partners to generate awareness at local physician practices and clinics. We are not the competition, the drug companies are."
Are you going to AOPA in Vegas (September 19th - 22nd)? Townsend Design and Heritage Medical Equipment will be there. There are three reasons to stop by the Townsend Booth (1029):
1. You can win an iPad2.
2. You can win a free custom knee brace.
3. Pick up your invitation to the Townsend Hospitality Suite. (free booze)
You can also learn about new products and speak with Townsend's upper management. Also, you can be the first kid on the block to see the new products Townsend's parent company Thuasne is bringing to the table.
See you there!
Where were you? I've been at the AAOP in Orlando all week. And all the O&P celebrities are here. Kurt Towson and Sophie Ducottet are pictured above. Sophie is from Thuasne and Kurt from Townsend - two peas in a pod.
"So far the acquisition is running smoothly." Sophie said. "It's exciting to have Townsend as part of the Thuasane family."
Townsend and Thuasne hosted four hospitality events this week in Orlando. Mike Huston tended bar and Rick Riley showed off his legs. The events were packed with loyal Townsend ACL Knee Brace users, and some new friends.
Thuasne (pronounced Two Ann) North America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thuasne, a family owned company in France that was founded in 1847.
Thuasne leads the European market in the fabrication and sales of sewn and woven textiles for the health care sector. Over the past two decades the company has been growing its international presence. Through its purchase of Townsend Design, Thuasne will have nearly 1,400 employees.
Currently, less than one percent of Thuasne’s annual revenues come from sales in the United States. Townsend Design will give Thuasne a substantial base of medical customers who recognize Townsend as a leading manufacturing and distributor of high quality orthopedic devices. Thuasne will benefit from Townsend’s patented technology, sophisticated fabrication capabilities, experienced management team and an established sales force throughout the United States. Thuasne plans to build on Townsend’s existing USA and international relationships, and will identify opportunities for selling Townsend’s orthopedic products through its subsidiaries and distributors around the world.
Named after Maurice Thuasne, the company‘s corporate offices are near Paris, France. Thuasne owns and operates fabrication, customer service and distribution centers in France, Germany, Romania and the Czech Republic. For the past 20 years, Elizabeth Ducottet (pronounced Dee Co Tay) has served as Thuasne’s CEO/President and Board Chairman. She is the fifth generation of her family to own and oversee the company’s operations. Mrs. Ducottet has three adult children who are board members and minority owners.
Under Mrs. Ducottet’s leadership, and on the strength of its position as the market leader in France, Thuasne has systematically and geographically expanded throughout Europe. In 2008, Thuasne furthered its substantial presence in Europe by acquiring Thamert, a large German medical manufacturing and distribution company. Thuasne’s wide range of medical products are sold through 15 owned (European) subsidiaries and approximately 30 exclusive distributors in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Thuasne has an integrated European sales force that calls on pharmacists, orthopaedic specialists and hospitals. The company’s customer service employees handle more than 500,000 requests a year. With two principal distribution hubs in France and Germany, Thuasne is able to offer convenient and expedited shipping to medical professionals and health care facilities throughout Europe.
Having specialized in the production of narrow elastic textiles from its inception, Thuasne’s first major strategic expansion came after World War II when the company developed a wide range of medical compression bandages and medical belts for back support. Working with orthopaedic and sports specialists, Thuasne later created medical orthoses (ankle braces, knee braces, wrist braces), then expanded into specialized venous compression hosiery and custom garments for burn victims. Thuasne also manufactures prosthetic breast forms and a range of durable medical equipment for home care.
The headquarters for Thuasne North America will be relocated from the state of Washington to Bakersfield, California. Mrs. Ducottet will serve as the chairman of a newly formed board of directors. Other board members will include Thierry Arduin, Thuasne’s CFO, who will succeed Jeff Townsend as President of Townsend Design; Dieter Jagoda, a general vice president for Thuasne who played an integral role in the acquisition and has knowledge of Thuasne’s global business and the USA market; Mrs. Ducottet’s daughter, Anne-Sophie Ducottet, who has previously worked with Thuasne North America and will serve as a liaison between the European headquarters and Thuasne North America; and Townsend’s CEO, Rick Riley, who will continue to oversee Townsend’s operations and have a leadership role in the integration of the two company’s products and services.
General Information About Thuasne’s Majority Owner, Elizabeth Ducottet
Mrs. Elizabeth Ducottet (pronounced Dee Co Tay) is the majority owner, CEO/President and Board Chairman for Thuasne, a family-owned company founded in 1847. She assumed leadership of Thuasne in 1991 after her father, Jean Queneau, experienced serious health issues. She is the fifth generation of the family to own and manage the company.
Until 1990, Thuasne (pronounced Two Ann) was only active within the borders of France. Over the past 20 years, Mrs. Ducottet has transformed the company into a market leader throughout Europe. The company has grown strategically and geographically, with annual revenues increasing from 27 million Euros in 1990 to over 135 million Euros in 2010 ($180 million US).
Mrs. Ducottet is an Officer of the Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor, so named by the French Government for her dynamic and visionary leadership that resulted in the significant growth and expansion of the Thuasne Group. In addition to heading the Thuasne Group, Mrs. Ducottet is a member of the General Council of the Bank of France; an elected member of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP), and a founding member of the CCIP’s Franco-Japanese Exchange Board; and a board member for ASMEP (association of mid-sized legacy firms). Since 2002, she has served as Chairman of R2IT, a national industrial innovation network for textiles and clothing manufacturers and professionals.
Mrs. Ducottet has three adult children who represent the sixth generation of family ownership and serve on Thuasne’s board of directors. Two daughters have management roles with the company: Delphine Hanton (Masters Degree, University of Kentucky) works in corporate financial services, and Anne-Sophie Ducottet (Masters Degree, University of California Berkeley) is in charge of customer support services and will serve on the new board of directors for Townsend Design. Mrs. Ducottet’s son, Matthieu Ducottet, is an engineer who does technical and R&D projects for the company.
Townsend Design, an orthopedic manufacturing company best known for its knee bracing technology, has been purchased by the wholly-owned North American subsidiary of Thuasne (pronounced Two Ann), a French company that has been owned and operated for more than five generations by the same family.
Founded in 1847 and based near Paris, Thuasne leads the European market in the fabrication and distribution of elastic bandages, non-rigid braces and compression garments for the health care sector. Thuasne’s existing products and textile manufacturing capabilities in Europe will be complemented by Townsend’s USA fabrication facility and diverse range of rigid orthopedic knee braces for patients who experience injuries or mobility challenges.
Thuasne plans to sell Townsend’s orthopedic bracing products through its 15 company-owned European subsidiaries and more than 30 exclusive distributors in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Townsend Design will become the business platform for Thuasne North America in the United States and Canada.
Jeff Townsend, a graduate of UCLA and Northwestern, was working as a certified orthotist in his home town of Bakersfield, California, when he founded Townsend Design in 1984. From humble beginnings, Townsend has continuously developed a diverse line of custom, off-the-shelf and specialty braces as well as a range of rehabilitative devices. The company has over 130 employees in Bakersfield and approximately 60 sales representatives throughout the United States.
Within the United States and Canada, Townsend’s business model has primarily focused on providinghigh quality products and services to orthotic and prosthetic facilities, orthopedic surgeons, and other orthopedic related professionals. Outside the USA, Townsend Design’s bracing solutions are sold by independent distributors in over 25 countries.
“Becoming part of a strategically integrated and geographically diversified global enterprise will ensure patients in the United States and around the world continue to benefit from Townsend’s exclusive bracing technology,” said Rick Riley, Townsend’s Chief Executive Officer, who will continue to oversee the company’s operations. “
Despite an uncertain economy and market complexities, 2010 was our best year. We were able to sell at the right time to another family owned business that will allow us to transition our employees and sales force to a new business platform without putting anyone’s job or income at risk. It was the ideal scenario for taking Townsend to a new level without significant changes to our existing operations or the potential loss of people who have contributed to Townsend’s success.”
While Townsend Design has been solicited for acquisition by several large orthopedic manufacturers and numerous capital investors, the owners weren’t looking to sell. But several factors made this the right time and the right opportunity.
“Thuasne has virtually no business in the United States -- less than one percent of their revenues come from the US market. They can tap into our strong customer and distribution base, and utilize our products to expand their orthopedic business in Europe and around the world,” Riley said. “Thuasne will benefit from our products, our relationships, and our people.”
Townsend is a respected brand known for high quality, custom fabrication capabilities, and its exclusive knee bracing solutions. Thuasne’s reasons for purchasing Townsend include consistent profitability; the company’s existing customers and annual revenues; an experienced management team that understands the USA market; rigid bracing products and fabrication capabilities that will complement Thuasne’s current manufacturing and product range; a well established USA sales force; and a network of international distributors -- some of which operate in countries not currently serviced by Thuasne.
In describing the transition of ownership, Mike Huston, Townsend’s Senior Vice President, praised Jeff Townsend and Carol Adamson (formerly Carol Townsend) for creating work opportunities for hundreds of employees over the past 26 years. “Jeff and Carol could have increased their income, as several of our competitor’s have, by eliminating USA jobs and moving to manufacturing facilities in Mexico or China. In many ways, this decision represents their continued commitment to protecting the future job security of Townsend’s employees and our sales force.”
Riley also credited the company’s success to Jeff’s loyalty to the O&P community and decisions he has made through the years to stick with the same game plan and business philosophy.
“We’ve always found a way to grow and be profitable without having to enhance our revenues at the expense of our customers,” said Riley. “Jeff believed it was a conflict of interest for orthopedic manufacturers to offer insurance billing and patient care services -- and still expect O&P customers to willingly buy their products. He always said he would rather go out of business than compete against the customers who have historically supported Townsend Design.”
Selling Townsend to another orthopedic manufacturer with a strong presence in the United States could have resulted in the relocation or consolidation of the company; the termination of employees and sales representatives; or modifications to the company’s business model that would compromise customer relationships and/or alter the values and philosophies that have been the foundation for Townsend’s success.
“We want to be competitive and grow, but we were not willing to sacrifice how we have historically treated our employees, reps and customers,” said Riley. “We believe Thuasne will allow us to stay true to our mission and values.”
For the past two decades Thuasne has been lead by Elizabeth Ducottet (pronounced Dee Co Tay). She serves as CEO/President and Board Chairman, and is the fifth generation of her family to own and oversee the company’s operations. She has three adult children who are minority owners and board members for Thuasne’s parent company.
“Thuasne owns fabrication, customer service and distribution centers in France, Germany, Romania and the Czech Republic,” said Huston, who oversees Townsend’s international sales and foreign distributors. “We visited Thuasne’s corporate offices and toured their main industrial sites in France. While we were impressed by their organization and facilities, what convinced us this was a good fit for Townsend was spending time with Mrs. Ducottet and her children.”
“While the cultures of our countries may be different, the business culture and operating values within both companies are very similar,” added Riley. “It’s a family-owned company, in business over 160 years, and it was evident to us that the owners genuinely care about their employees and their customers. That made Townsend’s executive team comfortable about the decision to transition ownership to another family-owned business.”
Until 1990, Thuasne’s business was conducted solely within the borders of France. Under Ducottet’s leadership, Thuasne has grown organically and through acquisitions from sales of 27 million Euros in 1990 to over 135 million Euros in 2010 ($180 million US). Thuasne has nearly 1,300 employees in Europe who are involved in the fabrication, sales and distribution of products including:
“It is exciting to describe to our employees, sales representatives and customers how this acquisition will create opportunities for Townsend to develop new products and expand the range of services we offer.
Unlike several acquisitions that have occurred in our industry, we won’t experience the consequences typically associated with changes to personnel and daily operations” said Riley. “While it is natural for employees and sales representatives to feel a bit apprehensive, and for customers to speculate about how the company could change, Thuasne knows we have a successful business model and a very dedicated team. Townsend will have the opportunity to help Thuasne achieve its ambition to be globally recognized as a leading provider of orthopedic braces.”
Customers who have questions or who would like to discuss the acquisition are invited to call 800.432.3466 or Email one of the company’s executives, listed below:
The Rebel Lock is available in three versions:
1. Standard sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large
2. Customize your off-the-shelf Rebel Lock from three measurements
3. Order a custom Rebel Lock from a: cast mold, scan, digital picture system, tracing system, or cast alternative system (CAS)
If you can't get this brace to fit, you're not getting anything on that leg.
Rebel Lock Functional Knee Brace: Order Form, Information, Pricing, Coding
The Rebel Lock from Townsend Design is the first true off the shelf functional knee brace with drop locks. The Rebel Lock comes with some standard equipment:
All of the above plus, additional coding opportunities: L-1845, L-2405, L-2492, L-2785
Rebel Lock Knee Brace: Information, Order Form, Pricing, Coding
The new Rebel Lock knee brace from Townsend Design has a few different options available:
This L 1845 functional knee brace is the first of its kind with true drop lock hinges.
