RGK Wheelchairs races ahead with expansion to meet sports wheelchair market growth
RGK Wheelchairs is ramping up its operations to capitalise on the “significant potential for growth” in the sports and active wheelchair market by doubling the size of its production premises in the West Midlands.
Part of the Sunrise Medical group, RGK Wheelchairs designs and manufactures sports wheelchairs used by some of the world’s top athletes, including GB tennis player Jordanne Whiley, basketball player Terry Bywater, and rugby player Jamie Stead.
The company also produces made-to-measure wheelchairs for daily use and supplies a selection of power add-on attachments.
Now the company has taken on two new units at its manufacturing site in Burntwood, Staffordshire after agreeing a five-year lease with national commercial property and investment company LCP. The expansion adds a total of 7,950 sq ft additional space to its operations.
According to RGK, the additional space will enable it to expand to meet the growing global demand for its products.
Michael Sheen, General Manager of RGK Wheelchairs, commented: “We desperately needed more space and before Covid-19 happened, we were about a month away from signing for a huge unit elsewhere on the estate, which would have meant moving our entire operation to a new building.
“But things came to a halt with lockdown and we had to rethink, so when the unit next to us, which we’ve wanted for about five years, became available, it was a no-brainer, from both a financial and an operational point of view.”
RGK Wheelchairs also owns another 8000 sq ft premises on the estate and employs 80 staff. The manufacturer says it aims to add up to 10 new roles in the first half of 2021 following the expansion of its premises.
“The business has grown a lot over the past five years and we now operate in about 60 countries worldwide and support about 30 elite athletes,” continued Michael.
“There is significant potential for growth over the next five years at least, particularly in the sports market, in which we are dominant.
“Our existing leasehold unit was becoming cramped, so being able to move into the premises next door gives us the perfect opportunity to continue manufacturing safely. It also means our office staff can have more space. It promises to be an exciting new period for the company.”
Nick Bryson, asset manager at LCP, said: “It was fortuitous that the unit RGK Wheelchairs has wanted for some time became available, which means we were able to support its ambitions for growth locally. We’re undertaking some works in the units, so it will be able to move in by mid-October.”
