Casket, hospital bed company plans to cut 140 jobs

BATESVILLE, Ind. — Hillenbrand Industries, a casket and hospital bed maker, plans to cut 140 jobs and could outsource part of its operation, possibly leading to more job losses.\nHillenbrand said Wednesday it will cut 7 percent of workers from its struggling medical-equipment rental business — part of the company's Hill-Rom division, which makes hospital beds and other medical equipment. Hillenbrand's other business unit is Batesville Casket Co.\nHillenbrand spokesman Andy Rieth said the Hill-Rom cuts would involve positions across the country, including some in Indiana.\nThe company, in a separate announcement, also said that it has authorized its board to begin talks with the union that represents Hillenbrand's manufacturing workers in Batesville.\nIn those talks, the board and union will discuss moving some of the manufacturing operations in Batesville to lower-cost locations outside the United States. The company said any job cuts caused by outsourcing would be handled through normal attrition where possible.\nThe Batesville-based company has been trying to restructure itself to jump-start growth and profit. Hillenbrand's stock price has lagged in recent years, and the company is under pressure from one large shareholder to spin off its Batesville Casket business.\n"We realize these initiatives will result in job losses for some of our employees," said Peter Soderberg, president and CEO of Hillenbrand Industries. "We are committed to handling these matters in a professional and sensitive way, consistent with our traditional values of dignity and respect for all employees"