Hill-Rom to cut 160 more jobs, or 3 percent of work force, to bring costs down

Hill-Rom to cut 160 more jobs, 3 percent of total

BATESVILLE, Ind. — Medical equipment supplier Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it is cutting 160 jobs, or about 3 percent of its work force, to bring down costs.

The company said it will take a charge of $4 million to $5 million in its fiscal second quarter ending March 31, to account for severance and other expenses. It expects the cuts to save the company about $16 million a year.

The move comes after similar cost-cutting efforts last year, when Hill-Rom announced that it would eliminate about 300 positions, offer a voluntary retirement program and consolidate some of its facilities.

“The organizational changes we are announcing today will reduce our operating costs, simplify our business structure, improve processes and increase the accountability of our customer-facing employees to focus more closely on our customer needs,” said John J. Greisch, president and CEO, in a statement.,

Hill-Rom said it will continue to increase investments in research and development.