Innovation is the key to the future of healthcare products, according to specialist seating company, Repose, which has enjoyed 21% annual growth after bringing a number of innovative products to market last year.
The company puts its success down to its constant innovation and cutting-edge design, which has seen its market position in the healthcare sector go from strength to strength. Repose’s latest product launch is the innovative Stargazer chair, which converts to a bed, making it highly functional and adaptable to different situations in a healthcare setting. With its smooth action and deeper foam cushions than any other ready bed available on the market it is proving to be a success with hospices, hospitals and care homes, which are using it for overnight stays for relatives.
In addition to cutting-edge products, the company has carried out some progressive academic research into its healthcare products in association with Coventry University Health Design & Technology Institute (HDTI) over the past 12 months. The chairs were assessed from both the perspective of an occupant and professional carer, and the resulting feedback has impacted on the design and innovation for new chairs.
Investing in new production facilities and machinery is a critical factor in our future success. It provides us with an excellent opportunity to expand our new lines of furniture such as our Stargazer chair/bed which is selling well into care homes and hospices and our reception/ward chairs
This family company, based in the West Midlands, is at the forefront of developing healthcare furniture that is functional from a care perspective, with designs suited to any environment. Repose was the first company to introduce the use of Gelacell into the production of their cushions, a sophisticated material designed to eliminate peak pressure points, with the ability to contour in response to the transfer of weight and return to its original position.
Repose continues to evolve its products, and as part of this evolution it has recently commissioned further high level tests surrounding the durability and strength of its chairs and accessories utilising the British Standards for furniture.
Alongside the launch of its various new products, Repose has just celebrated its most successful month ever. It is projecting additional growth in the region of 4% per annum after moving into new premises later this month.
The new site, which is three times larger than its current one, will allow for increased production capacity as well as a new showroom and training facilities where healthcare professionals and distributors will be able to really get to grips with the pioneering designs before purchase. The company is also in the process of purchasing new equipment which will enable new lines to be introduced and overall capacity to be increased.
The growth and move has also meant expansion of the team with the appointments of two new sales people, and vacancies opening in the areas of production and design once the company is settled into its new home. The company has recently employed Kevin Critchlow to run its distributor operation in the North of the country, and Rachel Panter to look after its internal sales operation.
David Elcocks, production director, said:”Investing in new production facilities and machinery is a critical factor in our future success. It provides us with an excellent opportunity to expand our new lines of furniture such as our Stargazer chair/bed which is selling well into care homes and hospices and our reception/ward chairs. We can continue to innovate at a rate that the market demands and build on our pressure care expertise”