As part of its launch of the M300 mid-wheel-drive power chair at the International Seating Symposium (ISS), Permobil has announced a national tour that will travel to 32 cities in three months.

Permobil’s Power Trip started this week in Florida. This comes on the heels of Permobil’s Open House prior to the start of ISS, when the manufacturer opened its doors to the industry and showed off its new North American headquarters in Lebanon, Tenn.

The facility spans 120,000 square feet, with 80,000 square feet being devoted to manufacturing. Permobil says its new home “is twice as large as our previous headquarters building, allowing us to transition from a per-piece assembly operation to a flow-line production.”

As a result, the company added, “Within the first two months, we increased production of our custom-built power wheelchairs by eightfold, helping us improve overall efficiencies and ultimately better serve our clients.”

As for the national tour: “The road show is an excellent opportunity for people – from Miami to Seattle and points in between – to get a first-hand look at our latest innovations,” says Permobil Marketing Manager Barry Steelman.

Power Trip venues include dealerships, rehabilitation facilities and industry shows, such as The VGM Group’s Heartland Conference in June, and the Los Angeles and Edison, N.J., Abilities Expo events in April and May, respectively.

Permobil has launched a Web site – permobilpowertrip.com – to share the adventures they have along the way. Power Trip crew members – including pediatric/standing specialist Amy Morgan, U.S. Product Manager David Algood, and industry legend Hymie Pogir – will be filing “field reports” from the road.