WheelAir launches new wheelchair seating products to assist with heat and moisture control
Scottish start-up WheelAir has launched a fresh new line of wheelchair seating products in time for summer which are aimed specifically at tackling heat, humidity and moisture control.
The new WAgo and WAcare lines follow the success of the firm’s WheelAir system, a temperature control system for wheelchairs which disperses air evenly across the back to lower the user’s core temperature, keeping the skin dry and clean.
WAgo is the firm’s “off-the-shelf” line, featuring all of WheelAir’s products that are immediately available to buy and which can be fitted straight to the wheelchair as soon as they arrive, without the need for technical expertise or assistance.
WAcare is a modular product line which provides fully customisable solutions, in partnership with WheelAir’s authorised partners, for complex seating needs. A clinician or technician select the desired component and configuration of the WheelAir System, depending on the users’ requirements.
When it comes to wheelchair seating, everyone has different needs and wants, says WheelAir’s product designer and Managing Director Corien Staels, and the new lines offer a more tailored service.
“We are thrilled to finally launch the new product lines,” said Corien. “Not only do they add more versatility to our product range but they also show we’re at the forefront of the conversation around heat and moisture management for wheelchair users.
“The new products, such as the WheelAir Cushion Cover, mean that our technology is now available for every wheelchair and type of seating system.
“On top of this, the company has really advanced our clinical evidence in the last year with literature reviews, temperature hand humidity testing and the heat and moisture risk matrix.”
The most notable arrival in the WAgo line, the firm states, is the WheelAir Cushion Cover: a specially designed seat cushion cover which can be fitted to any wheelchair cushion to provide effective temperature and humidity control for wheelchair users.
Corien commented: “We’ve had a lot of requests for a cushion cover, and it’s something that we have been working on for a while, and we are delighted to make it available. We are very happy with the finished product and can’t wait to see them in use!”
Other additions to the WAgo line include the customisable Lumbar Support cushions and Tension Adjustable Straps, while the classic Slingback returns stronger than ever after some technical updates.
Alongside the new product launch, WheelAir has conducted new research and developed an extensive clinical assessment toolkit to help clinicians evaluate their clients’ heat and moisture-related symptoms.
Corien added: “Heat and moisture are well-known risk factors for those working with complex seating needs and so we wanted to reflect this in our product range.
“WheelAir has spent the past five years researching heat and moisture to better understand how to recognise symptoms.
“We have now created clinical tools to improve the efficiency of evaluating heat and moisture risks for wheelchair users. All of this, ultimately, solidifies the evidence-base used to justify the purchases or reimbursement of WheelAir products.”
WheelAir was founded in 2016 in Glasgow, by Corien Staels, a product designer with a business degree, originally hailing from Belgium. Since its introduction to the market in 2017, WheelAir systems have been sold internationally, providing life-changing results for people all over the world.
Over its relatively short time in the market, the firm has enjoyed continued success, bolstering its team with clinical expertise, expanding its product range with new models, as well as establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary in Holland in February 2020.
