19 October 2012
The UK’s position as one of the world’s leading centres for innovation in assistive and rehabilitative technology has been confirmed at the industry’s most important exhibition.
REHACARE is the biggest exhibition in the world to specifically cover healthcare technologies and services for people with disabilities, complex care requirements, chronic conditions and the elderly.
REHACARE, which took place at Messe Dusseldorf, Germany, attracted more than 50,000 visitors across four days, ranging from distributors to end-users, with 45 companies from the UK exhibiting.
17 of the companies exhibited on the UK Pavilion, with the support of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and Medilink UK, the organisation dedicated to the growth of the Healthcare Technologies and Life Sciences sector.
The huge popularity of the UK Pavilion, driven by a combination of the successful London Paralympic Games and the reputation of British healthcare technology, led to business leads in excess of £1million over the course of the exhibition as well as invaluable feedback from thousands of end-users.
The British Consul General for Dusseldorf, Malcolm Scott, who is also Director-General for UKTI in Germany, paid tribute to the creativity of the British companies when he visited on the second day.
HMCG Malcolm Scott said: "It was fantastic to witness first-hand the exceptional level of innovation that remains at the heart of British industry.
“The companies which exhibited are hugely inventive and show great creativity, but still retain a real commitment and belief in what their products are trying to achieve - and ultimately that is about helping people lead fulfilled lives with the support of assistive technologies.”
One of the most popular UK stands was Dynamic Controls, which successfully launched its ground-breaking LiNX power wheelchair control system at the exhibition.
The LiNX control system uses new load compensation techniques to give superior chair control on difficult surfaces such as easier turning on thick carpets, as well as greater hold and stability on sloping surfaces.
Charlotte Walshe, CEO of Dynamic Controls, said: “REHACARE exceeded all of our expectations. The reaction to our new technologies was overwhelming and the interest shown in our systems from both existing and potential customers has been very positive.
“The exhibition has enabled us to engage with people from right across the globe – including the end-users themselves. Our aim is to enable users to play a full and active part in society, so we’re delighted that our ground-breaking technology has been so well-received.”
