Reliance Medical

What Reliance Medical does

Reliance Medical Limited is a UK-based B2B manufacturer and trade-only distributor of medical devices, first aid supplies, surgical dressings, PPE, and medical equipment. Founded in 2005–2006 by a team of industry specialists in design, innovation, quality control, product standardisation, and international medical-device regulatory regimes, the company is headquartered in Talke, Stoke-on-Trent, with over 44,000 sq ft of UK storage facilities, a wholly owned manufacturing facility in Shanghai that produces all Reliance Medical first aid dressings and consumables, and a wholly owned Irish subsidiary established post-Brexit to preserve access to European markets. The product portfolio spans more than 5,000 SKUs organised across branded lines including AuraPoint (modular first aid station), Aura3 (sustainable first aid), Reliwash (eyewash), Cooltherm (burns dressings), Easiplaster (self-adherent bandage), Dependaplast, Relisan (hand sanitiser), Code Red (tourniquets and transit chairs), MediKids, Mediana (AEDs), and Proteqt (PPE), plus distributed third-party ranges such as TacMed trauma products and Prestan CPR training manikins.

The business operates a trade-only B2B go-to-market model, supplying strategic distribution partners, retailers (supermarkets, pharmacies, travel accessory retailers, outdoor pursuit stores, convenience and promotional resellers), public-sector bodies (notably the NHS via NHS Supply Chain), and first-aid training providers across 38 countries. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of own-brand products, private-label manufacturing customised to retailer specifications, and the BS8599-1:2019 and DIN-compliant first aid kit portfolio; pricing is trade-account based via a 24/7 online trade portal (portal.reliancemedical.co.uk) under 30-day month-end settlement terms, with no consumer pricing.

Strategically, Reliance Medical has scaled via the acquisitions of UK heritage first-aid brands Frank Sammeroff, Lewis's Medical Supplies, and CMS Medical (the 2018 CMS deal added Steve Mulvey as Commercial Director for the Retail Division), while a Brexit-driven Irish subsidiary plus engagement of a German notified body protects EU regulatory compliance. The company is privately held under founder/management ownership with no identified venture capital or private equity investment, claims 98.4% on-time-in-full delivery, and continues to launch sustainability- and trauma-focused product extensions through 2023.

Name

Reliance Medical

Legal name

Reliance Medical Limited

Website

https://reliancemedical.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Reliance Medical Limited is a UK-based B2B manufacturer and trade-only distributor of medical devices, first aid kits, and PPE, serving NHS Supply Chain, retailers, and trade distributors across 38 countries with 5,000+ SKUs produced at wholly owned facilities in Stoke-on-Trent and Shanghai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

First Aid and Medical Device Manufacturing

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Supplies & Consumables Wholesale (Non-Device) (CRAOAHAE)

Keywords

• First aid supplies
• Medical device manufacturing
• Workplace first aid kits
• Surgical dressings and PPE
• Trauma and emergency equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

West Burton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Trade Distribution of Medical Supplies: Trade-only B2B distribution model supplying surgical dressings, healthcare products, medical equipment and first aid supplies to strategic partners and distributors
2. Private Label Manufacturing: Custom-branded manufacturing services for retailers, pharmacies, and other resellers - products can be fully customised to meet retailer requirements
3. First Aid Kit Manufacturing: BS8599-1:2019 compliant workplace first aid kits and specialized kits including DIN-compliant, glow-in-the-dark, and modular systems

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reliance Medical manufactures and trade-distributes first aid supplies, surgical dressings, healthcare products, PPE and medical equipment under its own portfolio brands (AuraPoint, Aura3, Reliwash, Relisan, Cooltherm, Easiplaster, Dependaplast, Proteqt, Code Red, MediKids, Mediana). Products are produced at the group's wholly owned Shanghai manufacturing facility, finished and packaged in the UK, and sold B2B through approved trade distributors, retailers, NHS Supply Chain and a 24/7 trade portal to buyers in 38 countries, with custom private-label variants available.

Product overview

Reliance Medical is a world-leading manufacturer and trade-only distributor of medical products, operating as a diversified healthcare portfolio company with over 5000 SKUs across multiple product categories. The core product portfolio spans first aid systems (AuraPoint modular system, Aura3 sustainable line), workplace compliance kits (DIN and BS8599-1:2019 compliant kits including glow-in-the-dark variants and wall stations), trauma equipment (Code Red tourniquets, transit chairs, bleed control kits), eye care (Reliwash eyewash stations, eye pod stations), wound care (Cooltherm burns dressings, Easiplaster bandages), and training equipment (Prestan manikins with clothing and kneeling pad accessories). Additional offerings include hand hygiene products (Relisan sanitizers), hypothermia blankets, FREC3 responder kits, and biohazard clean-up solutions. The company distributes AEDs through Mediana and exclusive UK trauma products through TACMED Solutions. Products serve workplaces, healthcare providers, retailers, emergency services, and first responders across 38 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Proteqt: PPE and safety products brand including face coverings and protective equipment
• Aura3
• AuraPoint
• Reliwash
• Easiplaster
• Dependaplast
• Cooltherm
• Relisan
• Code Red
• MediKids
• Mediana

Products and services

• AuraPoint Modular First Aid System Modular, sustainable first aid solution designed to provide flexible workplace first aid coverage with environmentally conscious materials, sold to trade partners for workplace deployment.
• Aura3 Sustainable First Aid Range Sustainable first aid product range focused on environmental responsibility while providing comprehensive workplace first aid solutions, sold to trade distributors and retailers.
• Reliwash Eyewash Station Eyewash station providing sterile saline solution for eye irrigation in workplace or home settings, sold for workplace safety compliance.
• Relisan Hand Sanitiser 70% alcohol hand sanitiser with moisturiser, professionally formulated in the UK, killing 99.9% of germs; sold to trade distributors and retailers.
• Cooltherm Professional Burns Dressings Professional emergency dressings for burns designed to reduce recovery time and ease pain, sold to workplaces, emergency responders and trade partners.
• Easiplaster Latex-Free Self-Adherent Bandage Latex-free self-adhesive bandage that sticks to itself but not to skin, hair, or wounds. Easy-tear, stretchy, washproof, and absorbs blood, sold for first aid applications.
• Glow-in-the-Dark BS8599-1:2019 Compliant First Aid Kits BS8599-1:2019 compliant first aid kits with glow-in-the-dark feature for power failure emergencies; colour-coded safety clips, airtight and water-resistant, supplied with wall mounting brackets.
• BS8599-1:2019 Compliant First Aid Wall Station Deluxe wall-mounted storage station for workplace first aid supplies, manufactured from wipe-clean ABS plastic with dustproof lid, displaying British Standard compliant contents.
• Compact Eye Pod Station (908) Compact wall-mountable eye wash station with eight 20ml sterile saline pods and two eye pad dressings, featuring extra-large shatterproof acrylic mirror and high-visibility green finish.
• [Code]Red Emergency Tourniquet (SOF Tourniquet) Emergency tourniquet for prehospital and battlefield use, exclusive UK distribution through TacMed Solutions; designed for rapid one-handed and two-handed applications.
• Code Red Two Wheel Transit Chair Two-wheel transit chair for patient transport in seated position; robust stainless steel frame, wipe-clean PVC cover, foldable design with maximum load 195kg and chair weight 7kg.
• Prestan CPR Training Manikins Realistic CPR training manikins supplied with diverse skin tones as standard for representative learning environments, distributed to training providers and educators in the UK market.
• Prestan CPR Training Clothing and Kneeling Pads CPR training clothing and kneeling pad accessories for realistic CPR simulation, including adult/child shirts, infant shirts and kneeling pads.
• Mediana AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Automated External Defibrillators for cardiac arrest emergencies, distributed to workplaces and public access settings through the dedicated Mediana brand site.
• FREC 3 Kit (Traumafix) First Responder Kit First aid kit designed for first responders, paramedics, firefighters and FREC3-level operators, supplied in a tactical rucksack with colour-coded internal pouches.
• Aura3 Biohazard Clean-up Kits Biohazard clean-up kits under the Aura3 sustainable product line for safe handling and disposal of biohazardous materials by workplace and responder teams.
• Aura3 Burns First Aid Kit Specialised first aid kit for burn injuries, part of the Aura3 sustainable product range, supplied to trade distributors and workplaces.
• Bleed Control First Aid Kits Comprehensive kits for critical bleeding management including tourniquet, TacMed Bandage, Axiostat Haemostat and protective gloves, supplied to workplaces, responders and public access settings.
• Igloo Hypothermia Blanket Life-saving blanket providing heat to the core; latex-free, unfolds quickly and starts maintaining body temperature in seconds for emergency response use.
• DIN-Compliant First Aid Kits DIN-compliant first aid kits meeting European safety standards, curated with bandages, antiseptics, gloves and scissors for home, office and adventure settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.4% OTIF (On Time In Full) delivery performance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NHS Supply ChaincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorking in partnership with NHS Supply Chain to supply medical products to the UK public healthcare sector. This is a flagship partnership demonstrating the company's capability to serve large public sector organizations.
• British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA)coreOthersReliance Medical Limited is a member of BHTA and commits to their code of practice, approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Demonstrates commitment to industry standards and ethical trading practices.
• TacMed SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive UK distributor for TacMed SOF Tourniquets and battlefield-tested, life-saving products. SOF Tourniquet sets benchmark for prehospital tourniquets with rapid one-handed and two-handed applications.
• CMS MedicalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired all trading assets of CMS Medical (formerly Featherstone, UK) to strengthen retail position. Steve Mulvey, former Managing Director, joined as Commercial Director for Retail Division.
• Frank SammeroffminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreviously acquired UK first aid brand Frank Sammeroff as part of expansion strategy.
• Lewis's Medical SuppliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreviously acquired UK first aid brand Lewis's Medical Supplies as part of expansion strategy.
• Lyreco UK and IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partnership where Reliance Medical conducted CPR and defibrillator training sessions for Lyreco UK and Ireland teams, promoting workplace first aid awareness and lifesaving skills.
• PrestancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Prestan CPR training manikins, diversity packs, clothing ranges, and kneeling pads in the UK market.
• German Notified BodycoreTechnology or IntegrationEngaged German notified body to ensure EU regulatory compliance post-Brexit, enabling products to remain compliant with EU law after 31st December 2020.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aero Healthcare: Australia-headquartered manufacturer and wholesale distributor of first aid, medical, and wound care products serving retailers, workplaces and emergency services. Closest mid-market peer to Reliance Medical in terms of size, geographic breadth via distribution, and product breadth across first aid kits, dressings and trauma care.
• Paul Hartmann AG: German-headquartered global manufacturer and distributor of wound care, first aid and hygiene products. Most direct comparable to Reliance Medical given overlapping portfolios in workplace first aid kits, surgical dressings, and eye care, and similar B2B distribution-led model across European and international markets.
• Mölnlycke Health Care: Swedish-headquartered specialist in wound care and surgical solutions (Mepilex, Mepitel, Avance NPWT) with manufacturing and direct sales across Europe and globally. Comparable to Reliance Medical through shared focus on advanced wound dressings, surgical and trauma products, but focused more on clinical wound care than workplace first aid kits.

Broad incumbents

• Smith & Nephew: UK-listed global medical technology company with a substantial Advanced Wound Management franchise. Overlaps with Reliance Medical's wound care, dressings and surgical consumables categories, and serves similar healthcare and occupational health buyers, albeit with a significantly broader and more R&D-intensive portfolio.
• Ansell: Australian-listed global leader in PPE, examination gloves and protective solutions for healthcare, industrial and life sciences end markets. Comparable to Reliance Medical through its portfolio overlap in PPE (Reliance's Proteqt brand), surgical consumables and workplace safety products, though Ansell operates at a far larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• B. Braun: Germany-headquartered medical device and pharmaceutical company manufacturing wound care, surgical instruments and consumables supplied to hospitals, healthcare providers and occupational health channels. Comparable to Reliance Medical through its surgical/medical consumables manufacturing heritage and European regulatory strength, though operating at much larger scale.
• Cardinal Health: US-listed Fortune 500 medical products distributor and manufacturer with global operations, including significant medical/surgical supply and at-home solutions businesses. Comparable to Reliance Medical through its distribution-led model to hospitals, pharmacies and occupational health buyers, although operating at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• 3M Health Care: Global diversified conglomerate with a major Health Care division producing first aid, wound care, surgical supplies and PPE for workplace, clinical and consumer markets. Comparable to Reliance Medical as a broad incumbent in workplace first aid kits, dressings and PPE but with significantly larger R&D, brand and distribution resources.
• Henry Schein: US-listed large-scale distributor of healthcare and dental supplies to office-based practitioners, ambulatory care and workplace customers. Comparable to Reliance Medical through its combined distribution, private-label and product breadth across medical consumables and equipment, though focused on North American healthcare provider customers.
• Medline Industries: US-based, family-owned medical device and supplies manufacturer and distributor with a large global footprint and broad portfolio spanning wound care, gloves, exam supplies and surgical products. Comparable to Reliance Medical through its combination of private-label manufacturing, surgical/medical supply distribution and direct sales into healthcare providers and workplace customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/reliance_medical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reliance-medical-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Reliance Medical