Sunrise Medical Launches RGK in North America

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Aug 11, 2022

Sunrise Medical has officially launched its RGK Wheelchairs line in North America.

In an Aug. 8 announcement, Sunrise Medical described RGK’s line as “the most advanced and premium made-to-measure manual chair range that the world has ever seen.” Sunrise acquired RGK, based in the United Kingdom, in 2015.

The announcement emphasized that RGK chairs are made to measure per each rider’s specifications. “At a time when it is not financially in vogue to be talking about made-to-measure manual wheelchairs, we are launching the most made-to-measure line of manual wheelchairs ever created,” the news release said. “RGK is doing this because we believe in the clinical evidence, which says a highly customized ultralight manual chair that is built to fit the individual rider results in optimal function and quality of life.”

Typically, RGK said it takes more than 30 measurements along the way to custom handcrafting each wheelchair. “We take more measurements than any other manufacturer, and we do it with precision, down to the millimeter,” the announcement said.

The announcement also noted the launch of the RGK Genius Program, made up of experts in seating: “An RGK Genius is a subject matter expert on RGK and manual wheelchair design and mobility. Every RGK wheelchair evaluation/consultation will have an RGK Genius available to be there in person or via videoconference to assist with measurements and any questions on the RGK product.”

Jim Black, Director of Strategic Accounts and Business Development, said, “Having a subject matter expert on RGK present at the evaluation/consultation allows challenges to be resolved immediately. Our goal is to give the rider the best possible fit using a collaborated process with the team. It is a huge advantage to doing made-to-measure right and efficiently. It also takes some of the burden of ‘getting the chair right’ off the clinician and ATP.”

Both Black and Josh Anderson, VP of Business Development, ride RGK wheelchairs themselves.

“I don’t compromise with my manual mobility,” Anderson said. “Why would I expect others to? Good is not good enough. We are committed to making a better product than we are obligated to for the well-being of our customers.”

Larry Jackson, President of Sunrise Medical North America, said, “Our goal is to build the best product for the rider while removing the fear of ordering a made-to-measure manual chair. If the chair is wrong, we will make it right, period.”

RGK’s lineup includes rigid, folding rigid, and sports wheelchairs.