ELYRIA, Ohio--Invacare Corp. announced last week it has acquired Altimate Medical, which manufactures standing frames and mobility aids for the rehab market.

Morton, Minn.-based Altimate joins Invacare as part of Helixx Group, an umbrella organization for various entities serving high-end rehab: Freedom Designs offers wheelchairs and seating and positioning products; Kuschall North America manufacturers ultra-light wheelchairs; Motion Concepts focuses on seating and positioning; and PinDot offers custom seating.

"The piece that was missing was the part that allowed the end-user to stand," said Chris Yessayan, Invacare's vice president and general manager of Helixx Group. "The stander is a nice complement to what we have with chairs and seating today."

Altimate will continue to operate independently under its existing management team. But Invacare does plan some integration in sales, Yessayan said, with certain independent and direct reps representing multiple Helixx brands. The ultimate goal for Helixx' sales-force structure is to provide "one face for the customer," he added. "From the customer's perspective, it makes it a lot easier."