What Etac AB does

Etac AB is a Sweden-headquartered (Kista) developer and provider of ergonomic assistive devices and patient handling equipment, founded in 1973 and operating as a privately held company with 501-1,000 employees. It serves individuals with mobility impairments across the full care continuum (paediatrics to adult) and the healthcare facilities and professional caregivers who support them — hospitals, care homes, and home healthcare providers — through a multi-brand portfolio of 10 brands (Etac, R82, Convaid, Ki, Molift, Immedia, Star, Axiom, HoverTech, Klaxon) covering paediatrics, patient handling, bathroom aids, wheelchairs, power assist, seating and small daily-living aids. Underlying technology is mechanical and ergonomic rather than AI-driven, with proprietary differentiators including 3D-printed custom cushions (Turtle), air-assisted transfer devices reducing caregiver force by 80-90% (HoverMatt/HoverTech) and click-on power-assist conversions of manual wheelchairs (Klaxon).

Etac generates revenue through a hybrid B2B/B2C model: direct sales entities in 13+ countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, UK, Germany, Netherlands, US, Australia, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, France) handle enterprise and clinical customers, while qualified distributor partners reach an additional footprint that gives the company sales in more than 70 countries. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set per market through distributors; products are CE-marked medical devices registered under EU MDR. The company supplements organic development with acquisitions — Molift Group (2010), HoverTech International (2019) and Klaxon Mobility GmbH (June 2024) — and runs an active product launch cadence, including 2025 introductions of Turtle 3D-printed cushions, the new-generation Molift mobile hoists, R82 Addax and Flamingo Curo paediatric devices, and the re:vive wheelchair remanufacturing program targeting up to 50% lifecycle-emission reductions.

From an investment lens, Etac combines a fragmented, sub-vertical-spanning product portfolio with a multi-brand house strategy and broad geographic reach, making it a roll-up platform in European assistive technology. The data set is largely first-party/marketing in nature and does not disclose revenue or operating margins, so financial triangulation rests on headcount, geographic scale and comparable mid-cap European medical-device peers. Sustainability positioning (re:vive remanufacturing, LCA-validated emissions reduction) is emerging as a procurement-relevant differentiator in EU tenders, while the absence of disclosed AI/ML capability represents a strategic gap as adjacent competitors move toward sensor-based seating and predictive patient-handling analytics.

Name

Etac AB

Legal name

Etac AB

Website

https://etac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Etac AB develops and sells ergonomic assistive devices and patient handling equipment for individuals with mobility impairments and the healthcare providers who serve them. The Sweden-based company operates a 10-brand portfolio covering paediatrics through adult mobility, distributed in 70+ countries via direct entities and distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Mobility Devices

NAICS

Home Health Equipment Rental (532283), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Patient Lifts, Transfer & Safe Handling Equipment (Hoists, Slings, Transfer Boards) (HLAHAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Mobility DME (Adaptive Seating, Pediatric Mobility) (HLAHAMAI), Rehabilitation Therapy Equipment (PT/OT Modalities, Exercise & Balance Devices) (HLAHAMAG), Assistive Technology, Adaptive Equipment & Home Exercise Program Training In-Home (HSABADAN)

Keywords

• Assistive mobility devices
• Patient handling equipment
• Wheelchair solutions
• Bathroom safety aids
• Pediatric rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kista

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Etac AB develops, manufactures, and sells ergonomic assistive devices and patient handling equipment for individuals with impaired mobility. Its multi-brand portfolio covers manual and power-assisted wheelchairs, mobile shower commodes, hoists and slings, air-assisted transfer devices, paediatric seating and mobility products, wheelchair cushions, and small daily-living aids, distributed in more than 70 countries through own entities and qualified distributors.

Product overview

Etac AB is a world-leading developer and provider of ergonomic assistive devices and patient handling equipment. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio architecture consisting of core brand Etac plus sub-brands R82 (paediatric devices), Convaid (paediatric wheelchairs), Ki (wheelchairs), Klaxon (acquired power assists), Molift (hoists and slings), Immedia (manual transfer aids), Star (air cell cushions), Axiom (seating solutions), and HoverTech (air-assisted transfer devices). These brands serve product categories spanning Paediatrics, Patient Handling (ceiling/mobile hoists, slings, air-assisted transfer), Bathroom Aids (shower commodes, toilet chairs), Wheelchairs (folding, rigid, tilt), Power Assist (front/rear-mounted add-ons), Seating (cushions, smart seating), Small Aids for Daily Living, and Custom-Made Solutions (including 3D-printed cushions). Products cater to individuals with mobility challenges across all stages of life and are sold in more than 70 countries through own entities and distributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Etac Swift Mobil Tilt-2

Quantifiable outcome

• Emissions savings of up to 50% for remanufactured products compared to new products
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Klaxon Mobility GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Etac completed the acquisition of Klaxon Mobility GmbH in Austria to expand its mobility product portfolio. The acquisition introduces power assist solutions to complement Etac's manual wheelchair offerings, adding cutting-edge power assists that transform manual wheelchairs into powered ones with a simple click mechanism.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ottobock: German-based global leader in orthotics, prosthetics, wheelchairs, and rehab products. Closely comparable to Etac in scope, geography, and customer base, with overlap in paediatric mobility (now part of Ottobock) and manual/powered wheelchair categories.
• Arjo: Swedish-based medical device company specialising in patient handling, hygiene systems, and DME for care facilities. Direct overlap with Etac's Molift hoist and Immedia transfer ranges, serving the same hospital and long-term care customers.
• Permobil: Swedish-owned manufacturer of powered wheelchairs, seating, and assistive technology. Strong overlap with Etac's powered mobility direction post-Klaxon and competes in advanced seating (ROHO cushions vs Etac Star/Axiom cushions).
• Sunrise Medical: Global manufacturer of manual and powered wheelchairs, seating, and mobility aids under brands like Quickie and Zippie. Directly competes with Etac's Ki, Convaid, and Etac wheelchair lines, serving similar clinical and consumer channels across Europe and North America.
• Invacare (now known as Alber / rebranded entities): Long-standing US manufacturer of wheelchairs, patient handling, and homecare DME. Direct competitor in manual wheelchairs, shower commodes, and bed-related products despite recent financial restructuring.

Others

• HoverTech International: Majority-owned subsidiary of Etac developing air-assisted transfer and positioning devices. Comparable independent peers include Hovertech competitors such as AirPal and Sizewise in the air-assisted patient handling category.
• Convaid (R82 / Etac subsidiary): Paediatric wheelchair brand that Etac owns, illustrating a comparable specialty player in adaptive strollers and paediatric wheelchairs (peer companies like Thomashilfen, Ormesa, and Adaptive Star occupy this niche externally).

Broad incumbents

• Hillrom (Baxter International): Hospital and patient handling solutions provider, now part of Baxter. Overlaps with Etac in hospital-grade patient transfer, lifting, and repositioning devices, and is a much larger player serving global acute-care procurement.
• Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare: Large US-based distributor and manufacturer of DME including wheelchairs, bathroom safety, patient room, and respiratory products. Comparable breadth of DME catalogue and competes in lower-to-mid price tiers globally.
• Stryker Medical: Major medical technology company with a significant medical division covering hospital beds, stretchers, and patient handling equipment. Competes with Etac/HoverTech in acute-care transfer and positioning solutions, with greater scale and broader product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Etac AB