Prosthetics company Ottobock shuts down Minnesota plant, expands Utah facilityProsthetics company Ottobock shuts down Minnesota plant, expands Utah facility

Germany-based prosthetics manufacturer Ottobock is shutting down its Minnesota operations and shifting hundreds of jobs to Utah, reports the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. About 200 jobs are on the line at the Plymouth, MN, facility. The firm disclosed that about 80 jobs would be created in Salt Lake City, where it is expanding operations, but it is unclear how many of those jobs will be filled by employees relocating from Minnesota, writes the Business Journal.

Earlier this week, Ottobock announced the expansion of its Salt Lake City campus, facilitated by a $390,000 tax credit provided by the state. The company has agreed to pay a minimum of 125% of Salt Lake County's average wage to 55 of the new hires, according to AreaDevelopment.

Utah has a burgeoning medical device manufacturing sector that has been nurtured by state and local officials through financial support and synergistic efforts. More than 100 medtech manufacturers operate in the state, including C.R. Bard, Becton Dickinson, and Fresenius.

This news came as a bit of a surprise in Minnesota, according to the Business Journal. In the fall of 2012, Ottobock was considering expanding in the Twin Cities area and was speaking with architects and developers, writes reporter Sam Black.

Ottobock offers a diverse portfolio of prosthetic devices including custom orthotic and orthopedic products.