Trade Talk

from THIIS August 2023

by THIIS

Bariatric Fixed Lifter from Silvalea

Q&A with Tim Mills, Head of Business at Motion Healthcare

MOTION HEALTHCARE RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE NEW AIRSCAPE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS

PRODUCT?

“The new Airscape is our most recent addition to our family of Lithilite and Alumina car boot scooters. We have been regularly asked by our partners to provide a solution for retailers who want to start their new scooter range with a more modern and profitable lithium scooter rather than fighting on price with an older AGM and steel scooter.

“Because of the enhanced features of the Lithilite making it slightly too expensive to do this we have introduced the Airscape as a solution. At the price of a mid-range AGM and steel car boot scooter but still with an air-safe lithium battery and our five-year warranty the Airscape allows end-users to benefit from all of the advantages of lithium but at the cost of an older sealed-lead acid style scooter.”

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT OTHER NEW PRODUCTS MOTION HEALTHCARE IS LAUNCHING THIS SUMMER?

“We have been pretty busy this year with product and service launches with three new car boot scooters, another aluminium and lithium pavement scooter, as well as our first 8mph scooter and wheelchair!

“To find out more it’s best to reach out to your business development manager or visit our website, but I’ll

Mobility equipment manufacturer Motion Healthcare has enjoyed rapid growth since it first entered the market in 2016, fuelled by its strategic focus on bringing new products to market and working with an exclusive selection of partners. 2023 has been no different, with some exciting product launches… give you a quick summary.

“In terms of car boot scooters, we introduced the Airscape (as mentioned) and also have launched a new and improved Lithilite and Alumina. Both models now have top-level charge sockets, front lights, softer suspension, super soft tyres and a new easy-lift T-bar handle to make disassembly as easy as possible.

“We have also increased the weight limits to 21 stone (Alumina) and 23.5 stone (Lithilite) without affecting the heaviest part. The Lithilite now also has the larger Alumina seat, making the Pro model the ideal solution for larger customers with its high weight limit and 30-mile range.

“Our second aluminium and lithium pavement scooter is the new Aura. Following the success of the Airium the Aura offers the ideal solution for a customer who needs a larger day-to-day scooter but still regularly needs it to go in the car boot or to take the battery inside for charging due to no external power.

“With its full suspension, captain seat and pneumatic tyres it’s got all of the comfort and performance of a much larger scooter but then splits down to a heaviest piece of just 15.5kg. Its easy-to-remove 2.6kg lithium battery makes internal charging and external storage the easiest of any scooter on the market too.

“The Xcite is our first ever 8mph scooter and it offers all that you would expect from us in terms of style, quality and innovation. It offers all the modern style and optimum performance you can expect from a mobility scooter. With 18” pneumatic wheels and a luxury captain seat we think the ride of this compact 8mph is unparalleled.

“The 25-stone weight limit and 25-mile range make it a great allround solution. Where the real innovation comes in is with the Xcite Li. The first 8mph scooter on the market with lithium batteries! This boosts the range up to 45 miles and improves the performance of the ride even more.

“The Xcite Li uses the safest type of lithium batteries available to ensure peace of mind too! We are so confident we have even included the lithium batteries in our marketleading warranty for all five years, so pound-for-pound, over the life of the scooter, it’s actually cheaper to the user than the AGM version!

“Our final new addition is our first wheelchair, the Magnelite. Made with a magnesium alloy frame and with a carry weight of just 6.2kg the Magnelite is one of the lightest wheelchairs available. With flip-up arm rests and removable rear wheels on both models it packs features other lightweight wheelchairs do not.

“So, if a user doesn’t want to sacrifice some of the standard functionality of a wheelchair but still needs the lightest around the Magnelite is the wheelchair for them!”

MOTION HEALTHCARE ALREADY GAVE VISITORS A GLIMPSE OF ITS NEW PRODUCTS AT SHOWS SUCH AS NAIDEX THIS YEAR. WHAT PRODUCTS STOOD OUT IN TERMS OF FEEDBACK?

“We had a record-breaking Naidex this year again which is great. Showing our hard work in delivering the products and services that our partners have asked for and how we are prepared to listen, act and deliver for them where others sometimes don’t has generated an overwhelming level of support and positivity for us.

“All of our new products did really well at the show but in terms of the star of the show I would have to say the improvements we have made to the Alumina led to some great compliments along the lines of ‘hands down the best aluminium and lithium scooter available now’, which is obviously great to hear!”

LAST YEAR, MOTION HEALTHCARE LAUNCHED THE EVOLITE CAR BOOT SCOOTER AND THE AIRIUM PAVEMENT SCOOTER. DO YOU SEE THE TREND TOWARDS MORE LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTS COMING IN AT LOWER PRICE POINTS CONTINUING?

“I think there have been multiple trends to be honest. Whilst lightweight has absolutely been the primary driver from users and therefore our partners we have found it’s not always about being the cheapest.

“The Airium has proved if it’s the right high-quality product the majority of the market has the money to make sure they are investing in the correct solution. After all there isn’t much point spending less on something that you either can’t lift or only has a limited warranty leading to earlier re-investment.

“That said our Evolite absolutely targets those that still want and need an aluminium and lithium car boot scooter but are on a limited budget. A lot of companies have followed suit and entered these markets recently, so we have ensured the

Evolite is the most cost-effective solution for a car boot scooter under 10kg and the Airium and Alumina offer the highest quality solution because of their higher price point.”

MOTION HEALTHCARE LAUNCHED A FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY THIS YEAR. CAN YOU DESCRIBE A BIT MORE ABOUT IT?

“Our five-year warranty has been amazingly well received. The concept came from a selection of our partners feeding back to us the value of offering an extended warranty as standard to approved partners as our product failure rate is so low.

“The market-leading warranty includes five years on all electrical and mechanical parts, three years on lithium batteries and five years on the Xcite Li batteries and a £30 labour call-out contribution for any engineering work required to replace failed parts.

“In order to activate the warranty each year the user is also required to have their scooter serviced meaning the opportunity for our partners to regularly touch base with the customer and charge for annual services is more or less guaranteed.

“The warranty even follows the product so if a customer decides to change products after three years our partners can easily re-sell the same used scooter knowing it still has two years warranty left with us.”

HOW CAN RETAILERS INTERESTED IN YOUR PRODUCTS

FIND OUT MORE AND ARRANGE A PRODUCT DEMONSTRATION?

“If you would like to learn more about us and our range either visit our website or call us on 0844 257 8150, and we can arrange a visit from your local business development manager.”

WHAT IS COMING NEXT FOR MOTION HEALTHCARE?

“There is plenty still to come for 2024, so watch this space!” www.motionhealthcare.co.uk

Carry weight just 6.2kg!

Lightweight Magnesium Frame