Sunrise Medical: 40 Years of Innovation in Complex Rehabilitation Mobility Solutions
For many wheelchair users, Sunrise Medical is “old in some ways, yet new in others.”
The reason it is considered an established player is that Rayson Medical was founded in 1983, boasting a 40-year history of development. As a seasoned global manufacturer of high-end mobility aids, the company operates in 19 countries worldwide and owns 18 proprietary brands. Its portfolio comprises hundreds of products, including manual and electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power-assist devices, pediatric rehabilitation and therapeutic equipment, seating and positioning systems, and activities of daily living (ADL) aids, benefiting individuals with mobility impairments both in China and abroad.
It is considered new because Risen Medical has been forging ahead with innovation and keeping pace with the times in technological advancements and product equipment within the field of complex rehabilitation technology. At the “2023 Future Healthcare Technology Conference” hosted by VCBeat, Risen Medical’s flagship product, the Vigo head-control device, attracted widespread admiration and attention from attendees as soon as it was unveiled. This intelligent electric wheelchair, which adjusts its direction and speed based on the user’s head rotation and tilt angle, not only provides greater mobility convenience for individuals with limb immobility or quadriplegia but also serves as a benchmark for the next generation of intelligent mobility aids.
On the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Risen Medical,Ms. Shan Lin, Senior Manager of Business Development and Marketing, Asia-Pacific Region, Sunrise MedicalLeveraging the “2023 Future Healthcare Technology Conference,” a presentation titled “Sunrise Medical’s Strategic Layout in Complex Rehabilitation” was delivered, sharing the historical evolution and innovation strategies of Sunrise Medical and introducing the company’s latest product, the Vigo Wheelchair Head Control System.
Seemingly simple, wheelchairs actually represent an industry that is “one centimeter wide but ten thousand meters deep.” This sector demands not only superior engineering and product capabilities from manufacturers, but also craftsmanship and humanistic care. Due to the varying characteristics of different diseases, patients’ transfer methods and their requirements for wheelchairs differ significantly. For example:
Patients who have been bedridden for a long period require wheelchairs with adjustable backrests that can be raised and lowered; patients with cervical spinal cord injuries require high-back wheelchairs.
Patients with thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries require standard or sports wheelchairs that feature detachable armrests, are lightweight, and have a standard or low backrest.
After hip replacement surgery, a wheelchair with a firm seat cushion and a higher seat is required; for patients requiring knee extension immobilization, a wheelchair with footrests that can be raised and lowered is needed.
Wheelchairs for patients with convulsions or bilateral lower-limb amputations should be equipped with anti-tipping bars;
Patients with independent mobility needs and those requiring long-distance travel require electric wheelchairs or standard wheelchairs equipped with a front-mounted drive unit...
An ill-fitting wheelchair is not only uncomfortable and unsafe but may also cause excessive localized pressure, lead to poor posture, induce scoliosis, and result in secondary injuries such as joint contractures. Therefore, selecting a wheelchair that meets the user’s specific needs can not only provide a comfortable seating experience but also help the user maintain independence in daily life and mobility to the greatest extent possible.
Founded in 1983, Sunrise Medical (Ruisen Medical) was initially established through the collaboration of three founding brands in the assistive technology sector—Quickie, Sopur, and BEC Mobility—and is committed to leading the global development of high-end mobility assistive products.
As a global enterprise innovating, manufacturing, and distributing high-end mobile assistive devices and solutions, Sunrise Medical (Ruisen Medical) owns 18 proprietary brands, including Quickie, RGK, JAY, Leckey, Breezy, and Gemino. Its main products include manual and powered wheelchairs, scooters, power-assist devices, pediatric rehabilitation and therapeutic equipment, seating and positioning systems, and activities of daily living (ADL) aids, offering a comprehensive range to meetPersons with disabilities, athletes with disabilities, children with special needs, the elderly, and individuals recovering from injuries or illnessesDaily life needs.
Sunrise Medical (Ruisen Medical) employs over 2,800 dedicated professionals across 35 locations in 19 countries, offering a broad and innovative portfolio of industry-leading products, particularly in the field of advanced complex rehabilitation technologies. The company’s global clinical education team further supports industry development in more than 130 countries.
Sunrise Medical, a subsidiary of Ruisen MedicalRichBrand Line
Sunrise Medical operates 16 manufacturing bases and three high-end customization centers worldwide, primarily located in the United States, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, and China. The company offers more than 2,500 products, which are exported to 130 countries. Since 2014, it has launched over 120 new products.
The new product showcased at this conference by Sunrise Medical, the Vigo Wheelchair Head Control, is an intelligent head-controlled device that adjusts direction and speed based on the user’s head rotation and tilt. It is designed for patients with limited or lost hand function, such as those with quadriplegia, tetraplegia, spinal cord injuries, progressive diseases (such as multiple sclerosis and ALS), or muscular atrophy, offering them the opportunity to independently control computers or wheelchairs once again.
Vigo Wheelchair Head Control
To address the challenge that “no two patients or clinical practices are exactly alike,” Sunrise Medical has also established the Ruison Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Academy—a support platform designed to help clinical professionals stay abreast of the latest developments in the field of Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT).
Ruisen Academy of Rehabilitation Assistive Technology is composed of a group of experts from around the world with many years of clinical experience in the field of rehabilitation. These experts provide appropriate mobility aids and seating positioning strategies for users with limited mobility.
It is precisely this “product + service” collaborative innovation model that has enabled Sunrise Medical to capture user needs and establish brand differentiation.
Driven by substantial real-world market demand and user feedback, Ruisen Medical accelerates its product iteration, launching an average of 20+ new rehabilitation assistive devices annually. This relentless innovation fuels the growth of Ruisen Medical’s global business.
Carol Liu, Senior Vice President of Global Business at Sunrise Medical (Ruisen Medical), stated, "Prolific innovation sets us apart from the competition, with an unwavering focus on our users. We boast a broad product portfolio that encompasses nearly all mobility solutions, catering to every stage of life—from children and adults to the elderly. The majority of our products are customized, complex rehabilitation medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). For our users, these products are not high-end luxuries but essential medical necessities they rely on heavily in their daily lives. Many of our colleagues, particularly product engineers, are wheelchair users themselves. Furthermore, we maintain extensive collaborations with end-users and clinical institutions."
“In addition to our leading innovation and quality, we also possess unparalleled global scale, which, coupled with our proactive mergers and acquisitions and strategic partnerships, has strongly supported our development.”Carol Liusaid.
Sunrise Medical is also currently focusing on the development of more smart products, such as remotely manageable smart wheelchairs. These devices enable interaction with users through remote management via smartphones and tablets, thereby improving after-sales service efficiency. They also feature alarm systems, historical data logging, and other critical diagnostic reporting capabilities.
Product innovation is a key cornerstone of corporate development. Building on this foundation, Sunrise Medical has also made extensive capital investments, expanding its market through mergers and acquisitions as well as strategic partnerships. Since 2013, the company has completed more than ten acquisitions, each of which has enriched its product portfolio and sales channels.Carol Liustated, “We place great importance on collaborating with startups and actively introducing cutting-edge technologies, with the aim of enabling more people to live independent, high-quality lives.”
Sunrise Medical expresses full confidence in the Chinese market.
First, China faces a severe aging population crisis, and rehabilitation assistive devices suitable for the elderly can significantly improve their quality of life. Second, there is a large domestic population of patients with rare diseases, particularly children with cerebral palsy, who require appropriate products to assist with sitting, standing, walking, and daily living activities. Furthermore, leveraging its expertise in rehabilitation assistive devices, Sunrise Medical not only provides superior products to patients but also drives the development of the entire industry. Finally, as public awareness of fitness becomes deeply ingrained, China’s disability sports sector is experiencing rapid growth, offering broad market prospects.
As population aging intensifies and the substitution rate of electric wheelchairs for manual ones rises, electric wheelchairs are expected to maintain robust growth. High-quality companies in the industry will have significant room for expansion in both incremental and existing markets.
“We believe that the development and financial support for Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) in China will yield greater preventive benefits... On the other hand, China’s advanced digital technologies can further enable the integration of smart CRT devices with a broader healthcare ecosystem, thereby delivering breakthrough innovations and development opportunities for the global industry,” said Carol Liu. “We sincerely hope that Sunrise Medical can work closely with relevant Chinese government authorities to leverage our international resources, connections, and expertise to accelerate the development of Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) in China.”
Reference: “Sunrise Medical Strives to Bolster China's Rehabilitation, Medical Sector”