Sunrise Medical Introduces New Folding Wheelchair

FRESNO, California—Sunrise Medical, a mobility product manufacturer and designer, introduced the “Quickie QS5 X,” its new lightweight folding wheelchair. The chair’s features seek to provide transportation and stability benefits for users.

The company said its “FreeFold” design and “fold-n-lock” feature offer energy savings and allow the chair to fold with a click. At 16 pounds for the fixed-front frame and 16.5 pounds for the swing-away frame, the aluminum box frame aims to provide easy lifting, handling and transportation. 

“Transportation is crucial for wheelchair riders,” says Bernd Krebs, chief technology officer at Sunrise Medical. “Being able to easily load and unload their wheelchairs means maintaining or regaining their independence, and we strive to protect their strained shoulders. This is why we are constantly pushing the limits of technology to reduce any product weight wherever possible, while increasing the rider’s energy efficiency. This allows the QS5 X to fold, unfold and roll smoothly with the least energy required from the riders. We have applied the latest material science with the highly innovative FreeFold cross brace design to QS5 X, which makes it a game changer for anyone who values independence, performance and ease of use.”

The wheelchair includes multiple manufacturing processes and technologies by Sunrise Medical—such as heat-treated 7000 series aluminum, ovalized tubes and forged parts—in an effort to create strength, rigidity and extra responsiveness. Additionally, the chair intends to offer feedback options like touch points for gripping during transport; patented caster links aiming to ensure straight tracks; and LED lights integrated into the design.

The company offers a 3D visualizer on its website, which allows riders to digitally configure their QS5 X. The visualizer tool aims to help team members gain understanding of specific features and options, as well as ensure riders see what the chair will look ahead of time. More information on the new wheelchair can be found here.