A Medical Device Daily

Medical device manufacturer DJO Chattanooga, long known as the Chattanooga Group, plans to shut its Hixson, Tennessee, plant and cut more than 300 jobs.

Mark Francois, a spokesman for the company's owner, DJO (San Diego), told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the plant closure will take place over the next nine to 12 months.

He said the closing is part of the ongoing integration of DJO operations after the Hixson facility was acquired in a 2007 merger. "It's a tough decision to make," he said.

Manufacturing at the plant will close down gradually over the period, with customer service and distribution the last to go, Francois said.

The manufacturing operation will be moved to DJO's operations in Mexico, he said.