Posted on April 9, 2024
Brookfield, Conn. – State Representative Martin Foncello (R-107) recently visited with a Brookfield business, ROMTech Industries, to see their expanded operations. ROMTech, which stands for Range of Motion Technologies, is an in-home rehabilitation technology company founded in 2014. They moved to Brookfield in 2021 and have made significant additions to their workforce this year.
Foncello joined First Selectman Steve Dunn, Economic Development Director Greg Dembowski, representatives from the Connecticut Department of Labor, Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, and others for a roundtable discussion about what the company brings to the community and how the town, state and others can help the company thrive.
“This company is making a difference in people’s lives with their products and that’s an attractive feature in a job today. This younger generation of workers is looking to work for businesses that are unique or helping the greater good,” said Rep. Foncello.
ROMTech employs 600 people across the country. The company created over 250 new jobs last year, 62 of which were manufacturing jobs in Connecticut. ROMTech recently expanded from one assembly line to four assembly lines. To date this year, the company has created 100 new jobs.
They started production with a modification tool for a stationary bike, which helps knee surgery patients increase their range of motion with smaller movements to keep the swelling down, and evolved to manufacture a 50-pound portable device. This helps patients recover at home, rather than having to visit a rehabilitation center. The device uses smart technology programmed by physicians. After two to three weeks of gradually increasing the radius, the device adds resistance to begin strength training.
“With this innovative technology, kids coming out of high school or college not only can start out with a good job, but begin to build their lives around a quality career here. This isn’t the old stereotypical manufacturing job; ROMTech is using 21st century technology,” said Foncello. “If someone has an entrepreneurial mindset and ambition, they don’t necessarily need an advanced degree to succeed here.”
The product is manufactured in the USA and ‘rented’ to consumers for three to six weeks, based on a prescription from their doctor. It’s delivered right to the patient’s home and in most cases, it’s billed to insurance or Medicare.
ROMTech products have treated over 67,000 patients to date. The company has adapted their product to pivot from orthopedics to also focus aid for cardiac patients working on their recovery. Company officials say just a fraction of patient attend rehab, primarily because there aren’t enough cardiac rehab centers. The technology for these patients also includes live monitoring of blood pressure and other stats.
ROMTech is piloting their technology for oncology patients and in New York City in long term care facilities.
