When Equipois, Inc. CEO Eric Golden realized his company was on pace to out-grow their facility in Hollywood, he knew he needed to move the company to a place that could support his business. The good news, the company is creating more jobs and staying in Los Angeles. The bad news is that it’s moving its location near LAX.

Mayor Antonio Villaragosa recently joined Equipois, Inc. CEO Eric Golden at the opening of the company’s new facility. (photo by John Hayes)

“We chose to stay in Los Angeles because the culture of innovation, the immensely talented labor pool, the manufacturing base and the support network all make the city an ideal place for high-growth companies,” Golden said.

Equipois designs and manufactures exoskeletal technology for a wide-range of manufacturing, heavy industrial, bioresearch, medical, defense and other applications.

Their zeroG system allows workers to handle tools and other objects as if they were weightless with a high range of motion. By doing so, they are able to reduce workplace injuries and increase productivity.

Anticipating more than triple the revenue over last year’s figures, Equipois expects a 60 percent increase in staff in positions from assembly to engineering.

“Equipois’ expansion is a testament to the city’s commitment to supporting the specialized needs of small businesses and retaining and creating the high-tech, innovative jobs that come with them,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in a statement.

Founded in 2006, Equipois began as a company that sought to bring technology employed in the entertainment industry to a mainstream audience. This idea led Golden to forge a partnership with the inventor of the Steadicam, Garrett Brown.

The company spent two years in product development and pilot testing before they were able to officially launch their product in 2008.

“Our mission is to take this very interesting zero-gravity arm technology and help manufacturers at other companies be safer and more productive,” said Golden, describing the company’s two premier products, the zeroG and X-Ar systems. “It allows people to move tools as if they were in space, the payload is weightless, the benefit is you make people more productive. We were very lucky some real world leaders ‘got it’, they understood this could really change the way their companies work.”

Quickly, companies like Ford, Boeing, and Toyota were knocking on the door asking for their product. But as the business began to grow, Equipois’ 5,000 square-foot facility became more and more cramped.

“We just outgrew the old space, we had filled every nook and cranny,” Golden said.

Searching for a new location, the company was courted by several other states offering a variety of business incentives.

“We were really very fortunate to have attention from the city at a high level to the point that I was included in a meeting with some of the top political leaders in the city on how to support business in L.A.,” Golden said.

Villaraigosa said Equipois’ decision to stay in L.A. came from the involvement of his small business team.

“The creation of the city’s first-ever small business team has strengthened our commitment to helping small businesses like Equipois reach their fullest

potential,” Villaraigosa said.

Now, with new facilities, Equipois is setting new goals in full body exoskeleton technology that will support doctors during surgeries, or provide patients who have suffered strokes or other brain injuries the ability to use their arms and other limbs.

“We will out grow out of the new space at some point, but we love it now. It’s really perfect for us.” Golden said.

Equipois’ new location is 5440 McConnell Avenue.