Depuy Synthes is moving part of Oberdorf's production abroad

Medical technology company DePuy Synthes (DPS) wants to reorganize its resources in Switzerland and reduce complexity. In this way, the company wants to remain competitive in the long term, she said in a statement on Thursday. What sounds technical means that up to 100 jobs will be moved abroad.

According to Johnson & Johnson, the parent company of Depuy Synthes, after careful consideration, it was decided to move production and some business areas from the Oberdorf site in the Basel region to other DPS sites. These are Palm Beach Gardens (USA), Blackpool (United Kingdom) and Amersfoort (Netherlands). However, the location in Baselland will remain.

Nearly a hundred employees could lose their jobs

Two areas will be moved outside. So-called electrical tools and biomaterials were produced. Electrosurgical instruments are surgical instruments and biomaterials are implants that have been biologically modified to improve bioresistance. Production in both regions was previously located at the Oberdorf site.

According to Johnson & Johnson, up to 65 employees are likely to be affected by the centralization of production overseas. According to Johnson & Johnson, an additional 35 employees may lose their jobs as a result of outsourcing additional services.

The mainstay of the Basel area still stands

The Synthes GmbH site in Oberdorf will remain intact. Areas such as engineering, robotics and marketing should remain in the Basel area. “About 100 people should stay in Oberdorf,” says Michel Racine, a member of Johnson & Johnson's Swiss leadership team. For Johnson & Johnson, Switzerland remains one of the most important locations, and mainstay Oberdorf will also remain there in the long term.

A consultation process is now being initiated in which employee representatives can make suggestions on how to minimize job cuts. Racine says there will be a social plan, but it is still in the development stage. Therefore, he cannot provide any information regarding the content yet. If the company decides to move forward, the transition will likely be completed by the end of 2026.