Wheelchair
Market Opportunities, Strategies, and Forecasts, 2004 to 2009

Report # SH29821356 | 172 Pages | 44 Tables and Figures | 2004
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Wheelchair Market Assessment

Check Out These Key Topics
Wheelchair Market Shares and Forecasts
Mainstreaming Of People With Disabilities
Wheelchair Market Driving Forces
Healthcare Equipment Industry
Hospital and Home Care Sevices Billing Issues
Wheelchair Product Types
Pediatric
Manual Folding
Standard
Positioning
Bariatric
Power
Sportschairs
Market Drivers For Healthcare Cost Containments
Wheelchair Distributor Channels
Wheelchair Technological Trends
Medical Equipment Government Regulations
Science and Medical Technology
Marketing Globally

Wheelchair
Market Opportunities, Strategies, and Forecasts, 2004 to 2009

Hospital and homecare wheelchair technology is evolving to give people with disabilities more mobility. Markets are poised to create the ability for people to get more exercise and impact the healthcare delivery industry by encouraging mobility of people who were previously bed ridden.

Wheelchairs impact care delivery, permitting moving from the bed and facilitating exercise. Patients and family gain more control over the care delivery. Care can be delivered in familiar settings.

The wheelchair market participants seek to position with chairs that are in growing market segments. Leading vendors offer a wide range of products, services, training, and support. Homecare agencies depend on reimbursement to sell custom units. The designs of wheelchairs are making them intuitive to use. This represents major market opportunity.

Portable wheelchair choices relate to portable wheelchair concentrators, liquid wheelchair, or compressed gas cylinders. Portable wheelchair concentrators need a battery or to be plugged in. They are poised to become the system of choice as fuel cell power becomes more available.

Wheelchairs are able to change the limits in movement from a few steps to a few hundred yards. People with disabilities can have long trips or visits with family are made possible by new technology for wheelchairs. Wheelchairs that are transported in cars are becoming more common.

Invacare has dominated the wheelchair markets by pursuing two very clear market strategies. Invacare supports its distributors and does not compete with them. Invacare has a complete bundled offering for its distributors including wheelchairs, respiratory, and continuing care products.

Wheelchair markets are expected to grow as the baby boomers age. The aging of the population is expected to change markets. The ability to get reimbursement has been a significant market factor. As baby boomers age and need wheelchairs, they will be willing to pay directly for mobility and comfort as they do for homes and cars now.

Companies Profiled
Invacare Corporation
Sunrise Medical
Graham-Field Health Products
Everest & Jennings
Convaid
Drive Medical
Eagle Sports Chairs
Gendron Inc.
Glide Rehabilitation Products
 Gunnell Inc.
Hoveround Corporation
Magic Mobility Wheelchair
Medline
Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs
Pride Mobility Inc.
Product Design Group
RGK


Report Methodology

This is the Two-Hundred Twenty-Fourth report in a series of market research reports that provide forecasts in communications, telecommunications, the internet, computer, software, telephone equipment, and Medical Equpiment. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report. They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are based on primary research and proprietary data bases. Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participation in the segment. Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share. Over 200 in-depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and opinion leaders in the market segment.

About the Company

WinterGreen Research, founded in 1985, provides strategic market assessments in telecommunications, communications equipment, health care, and advanced computer technology. Industry reports focus on opportunities that will expand existing markets or develop major new markets. The reports assess new product and service positioning strategies, new and evolving technologies, and technological impact on products, services, and markets. Market shares are provided. Leading market participants are profiled, and their marketing strategies, acquisitions, and strategic alliances are discussed. The principals of WinterGreen Research have been involved in analysis and forecasting of international business opportunities in telecommunications and advanced computer technology markets for over 30 years.

About the Principal Authors

Ellen T. Curtiss, Technical Director, co-founder of WinterGreen Research, conducts strategic and market assessments in technology-based industries. Previously she was a member of the staff of Arthur D. Little, Inc., for 23 years, most recently as Vice President of Arthur D. Little Decision Resources, specializing in strategic planning and market development services. She is a graduate of Boston University and the Program for Management Development at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. She is the author of recent studies on worldwide telecommunications markets and the Top Ten Telecommunications market analysis and forecasts.

Susan Eustis, President, co-founder of WinterGreen Research, has done research in communications and computer markets and applications. She holds several patents in microcomputing and parallel processing. She is the author of recent studies of the Regional Bell Operating Companies' marketing strategies, Internet equipment, a study of Internet Equipment, Worldwide Telecommunications Equipment, Top Ten Telecommunications, Digital Loop Carrier, Web Hosting, and Application Integration markets. Ms. Eustis is a graduate of Barnard College.

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