What Life & Mobility B.V. does

Life & Mobility B.V. is a Dutch manufacturer of mobility aids founded in 1952 and headquartered in Doetinchem, Netherlands. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power assists, and modular seating systems under its own brand and through an exclusive distribution partnership with Karma Medical Products (Taiwan). Its proprietary technology platforms — including the Newton and Matrixx seating systems, the patented INDEGO scooter suspension, the Blocker automatic brake, and the modular Kameleon paediatric power chair — are developed in-house and manufactured at facilities in Doetinchem, Dordrecht (Quattron orthoses), and Kerkrade (specialty custom solutions).

The business operates a pure dealer-channel go-to-market: products are sold exclusively through an authorized network spanning at least 12 European countries, supported by dedicated sales offices in Germany and France, a protected dealer portal (price lists, CE certificates, parts catalogue), the Get Inspired training programme, and an Experience Centre for end-user test drives. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales — bespoke custom builds, full product lines, and aftermarket spare parts — with pricing negotiated per quote rather than disclosed publicly. End customers are fragmented across individual users with mobility impairments, hospitals, care institutions, and prescribing healthcare professionals, with the children’s assortment having been divested to Révimex to focus on adult and specialty segments.

The group structure includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Karma Europe (acquired 2017) and Quattron, holds CE marking, ISO 7176-19 and ISO 9001 certifications via TÜV Rheinland, and has received Red Dot, iF, and Dutch Design Awards for its product design. Leadership comprises René Ploum as Group CEO and Michel Hulst as Director of Sales Netherlands, with an SAP-partnered Smart Wheelchair prototype indicating early exploration of connected-device adjacencies.

Name

Life & Mobility B.V.

Legal name

Life & Mobility B.V.

Website

https://life-mobility.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Life & Mobility B.V. is a Dutch manufacturer founded in 1952 that designs and produces manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and seating systems, selling exclusively through an authorized European dealer network to individual users, hospitals, and care institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobility Aids Manufacturing

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobility Aids (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walkers, Canes) (HLAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Mobility DME (Adaptive Seating, Pediatric Mobility) (HLAHAMAI), Mobility Device Sales, Rental & Service (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walkers) (HSABAKAC)

Keywords

• Mobility aids manufacturing
• Wheelchair products
• Mobility scooters
• Seating systems
• Rehabilitation equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Doetinchem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Sales: Life & Mobility manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of mobility products including manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power assists, and seating systems. Products are sold through an authorized dealer network across Europe.
2. Custom/Made-to-Order Solutions: Custom solutions developed in Specialty Centers in Kerkrade and Doetinchem for complex mobility needs. Includes modifications for power wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs with personalized specifications.
3. Spare Parts and Aftermarket Services: Spare parts and components available through dealer network. Online parts catalogue provides part selection for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
4. Experience Centre Services: Experience centre in Doetinchem where customers can test drive mobility scooters before purchase, providing advisory services and fitting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Life & Mobility B.V. is a Dutch manufacturer of mobility aids producing manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power assists, and modular seating systems from its facilities in Doetinchem, Dordrecht, and Kerkrade. Products are sold exclusively through an authorized dealer network across Europe, with custom-made configurations developed through two Specialty Centers for users with complex mobility needs.

Product overview

Life & Mobility B.V. is a Dutch manufacturer of mobility products comprising multiple product lines: Manual Wheelchairs (Roxx, Neox, Axi2Go, Canto Nxt, Match, Rollit, Blocker brake system, Ergo Lite via Karma), Power Assists (Aura), Power Wheelchairs (EVO Lectus, Evo Lectus Low Rider, Kameleon, MID Lectus, EVO Altus, Blazer, Ergo Traveller, Ergo Stand, plus Morgan series), Mobility Scooters (Solo, Solo Elegance, Solo Blue Diamond, Presto, Presto S, Vivo with INDEGO suspension system), and Seating Systems (Matrixx, Kelvin, Newton). The portfolio includes custom-made solutions through Specialty Centers and distributes Karma products in Benelux, Germany and France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Newton: Innovative seating concept for manual and electric wheelchairs with individually adjustable support offering relaxed sitting posture.
• Matrixx
• Kelvin
• INDEGO

Products and services

• Roxx A modular manual wheelchair with a multi-adjustable frame designed for customisation to individual user requirements.
• Neox A multi-adjustable light-driving manual wheelchair with integrated Newton seating, combining functionality and innovation for users with limited mobility.
• Axi2Go A well-thought-through nestable transport wheelchair designed for use in public spaces.
• Canto Nxt A multifunctional, safe and comfortable tilt wheelchair with optimum adjustment options for users needing tilt-in-space positioning.
• Match A manual wheelchair with an easily adjustable undercarriage that forms a safe and well-thought-out combination with selected seat orthoses.
• Rollit A sustainable transport wheelchair built for constantly changing use within a hospital or care institution.
• Ergo Lite An ultra-lightweight manual wheelchair distributed by Karma, available in two versions.
• Aura An electric push-assist device for companions that facilitates safe manual wheelchair trips together.
• EVO Lectus A high-end power wheelchair offering maximum freedom of movement with extensive connection options for environmental control. Winner of the iF Award (2023).
• Kameleon A paediatric power wheelchair with modular structure and adaptive features that grow with the child, including 45-degree tilt-in-space as standard.
• MID Lectus A high-end and powerful power wheelchair with mid-wheel drive, making it extremely compact and manoeuvrable.
• EVO Altus A high-end standing power wheelchair with award-winning design that can be easily adapted for individual customisation. Winner of the Red Dot Design Award (2023).
• Blazer A highly manoeuvrable rear-wheel-drive power wheelchair that is very compact and easy to handle both indoors and outdoors.
• Ergo Traveller An economic power wheelchair that is lightweight with a compact design and guarantees outstanding manoeuvrability.
• Ergo Stand A highly manoeuvrable front-wheel standing power wheelchair equipped with a patented seating system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products tested and certified by TUV Rheinland Nederland BV
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Karma EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Karma Europe joined the Life & Mobility Group in 2017, fitting perfectly with the ambition of accelerated growth towards being a leading European player. The addition of Karma Europe's wheelchair programme contributes to the further completion of Life & Mobility Group's mobility portfolio. Karma-Europe location in Kerkrade became a specialty-centre for special requirements.
• Karma Medical Products Co. Ltd (Taiwan)coreTechnology or IntegrationLife & Mobility has exclusive distribution rights for high-quality Karma products in BeNeLux, Germany and France. Works closely with Karma headquarters in Taiwan on product development, production and distribution. Karma was the first company to introduce aluminum-frame wheelchairs and holds over 100 patents.
• QuattroncoreTechnology or IntegrationQuattron is part of Life & Mobility Group, manufacturing products for the revalidation sector including ortheses and seating systems. Located in Dordrecht, Netherlands.
• TUV Rheinland Nederland BVcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent institute that tests, assesses and certifies products for Life & Mobility. Partnership between TUV Rheinland and TNO Quality. Products must comply with European Medical Devices Directive.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ottobock: German global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility solutions, including wheelchairs. Comparable to Life & Mobility because it operates in the same European medical-device ecosystem and serves overlapping institutional and consumer buyers, but on a vastly larger scale.
• Sunrise Medical: Global manufacturer of manual and power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and seating systems headquartered in Europe. Closest large-scale direct competitor to Life & Mobility across the manual/power wheelchair portfolio, with Quickie, Sopur, and Zippie brands.
• Invacare Corporation: Long-established US-based manufacturer of wheelchairs, scooters, and home medical equipment. Comparable to Life & Mobility as a direct competitor in the manual and power wheelchair category, although currently undergoing significant operational restructuring.
• Pride Mobility / Quantum Rehab: US-based mobility products company manufacturing power wheelchairs, scooters, and lift chairs under Pride and Quantum Rehab brands. Comparable in product categories to Life & Mobility, particularly around complex rehab power chairs.
• Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare: Broad-line US/UK manufacturer and distributor of mobility products, including wheelchairs, scooters, and patient handling. Overlaps with Life & Mobility's product categories from a wider portfolio perspective.
• Handicare (now part of Savaria): European accessibility and mobility products manufacturer including stairlifts, vehicle adaptations, and wheelchairs. Comparable as a multi-product European mobility player with overlapping institutional and consumer channels.

Direct peers

• Permobil: Swedish manufacturer of high-end power wheelchairs and seating systems with strong pediatric and complex-rehab focus. Highly comparable to Life & Mobility's power wheelchair business and the Newton/Matrixx seating approach.
• Meyra (Meyra GmbH): German mid-sized manufacturer of manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and rehabilitation aids. Closely comparable to Life & Mobility in scale, European focus, and emphasis on custom-configured mobility solutions.
• Karma Medical Products: Taiwanese wheelchair manufacturer and parent of the acquired Karma Europe subsidiary. Comparable as both a technology partner and a peer in manual/power wheelchairs, with 100+ patents and aluminum-frame expertise.
• Etac: Scandinavian manufacturer of wheelchairs, seating, patient transfer, and pediatric mobility aids. Comparable to Life & Mobility in European positioning, product breadth, and focus on ergonomic and pediatric solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Life & Mobility B.V.