RMS

What RMS does

RMS (Rehabilitation Manufacturing Services Limited) is a UK-based, privately held medical device manufacturer founded in 1975 in Gillingham, Kent, and now headquartered in a purpose-built factory in Sittingbourne. The company designs, manufactures and distributes specialist mobility and postural equipment including seating systems (Virtus, Caddy, Gillingham Seating Units), powered bases (Virtus High-Low), gait trainers and walkers (Grillo, Kaye Posture Control Walker, Dynamico, Birillo), rehabilitation buggies (Marley, Bug, Trolli/Trollino), standing frames, adaptive trikes and the Ormesa Frame Runner, together with accessories, component parts and a customisable Product Builder tool. Products are Class 1 Medical Devices manufactured under an ISO 13485:2016-certified quality management system, with the company among the first UK mobility firms to adopt CE marking. RMS holds worldwide (ex-USA) distribution rights to the Kaye Posture Control Walker and is the UK distributor for Ormesa's paediatric and rehabilitation range.

RMS generates revenue primarily through hardware sales to NHS Wheelchair Service Departments, schools and Child Development Centres, trade account holders and private individuals, supplemented by bespoke modifications (typically 2-12 week lead times) and a historical repair and refurbishment service. Pricing is per-unit, ranging from approximately £425 for entry-level walkers to over £950 for larger gait trainers, with VAT exemption available for registered disabled individuals and charities. Go-to-market combines a nationwide team of product specialists conducting free on-site assessments, NHS and trade direct sales, an e-commerce website launched in 2022, the Bike2Work scheme, and referral relationships with charities such as Caudwell Children, Family Fund and Whizz Kidz. Ownership rests with three long-tenured director-shareholders (Wayne Cotter, Alan Wombell, Derek Bryant) following a 2005 employee buyout from founder Roger Thompson; the business has no institutional venture or private equity backing.

Name

RMS

Legal name

Rehabilitation Manufacturing Services Limited

Website

https://rms-rehab.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RMS is a UK medical device manufacturer, founded in 1975, that designs, makes and distributes specialist mobility and postural equipment (seating, walkers, buggies, standers, trikes) under ISO 13485, selling primarily to NHS Wheelchair Services, schools, trade accounts and private individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sittingbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mobility Equipment Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling rehabilitation and mobility equipment including seating systems, wheelchairs, buggies, walkers, standers, trikes, and accessories to NHS, trade customers, and private individuals
2. Custom/Bespoke Manufacturing: Revenue from bespoke modifications and made-to-measure products tailored to individual user needs, with longer lead times of 2-12 weeks
3. Repair and Servicing: Historical backbone of the company, providing repair and refurbishment services for wheelchairs and mobility equipment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RMS is a British manufacturer of rehabilitation and mobility equipment, producing and supplying specialist seating systems, wheelchairs, buggies, walkers/gait trainers, standers, adaptive trikes and the Frame Runner to NHS Wheelchair Service Departments, schools, charities, trade customers and private individuals. The portfolio is complemented by an interactive online Product Builder, bespoke modifications, repair/servicing and exclusive UK/international distribution rights for products such as the Kaye Walker and the Ormesa range.

Product overview

RMS (Rehabilitation Manufacturing Services) is a British manufacturer with nearly 50 years of experience supplying mobility equipment to the NHS, trade customers, and private individuals. The product portfolio centers on postural and mobility solutions organized around several core categories: specialist seating systems (including Virtus, Caddy, Juditta Activity Chair, Buddy, and seating bases like the Virtus High Low Powered Base), gait trainers and walkers (Grillo Gait Trainer, Kaye Posture Control Walker, Dynamico, Birillo), rehabilitation buggies (Marley, Bug, Trolli/Trollino, My-Lyte Discovery), standing frames (Standy, Mini Standy, Standy Electro Wing), adaptive cycling (Tri-Lo tricycles, Frame Runner), and classroom seating (Grillo Class Chair, Grillo adaptive seating, Piper Comfort). The company also offers an extensive range of accessories (headrests, harnesses, belts, footplates, trays) and component parts, plus an Interactive Product Builder for online configuration of products like the Kaye Walker. Products are available through NHS wheelchair services, schools, trade accounts, and direct-to-consumer channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtus Seating System
• Virtus High Low Powered Base
• Caddy Seating System
• Kaye Posture Control Walker
• Grillo Gait Trainer
• Grillo Class Chair
• Birillo
• Dynamico Gait Trainer
• Marley Rehab Buggy
• Juditta Activity Chair
• Frame Runner
• Trikes (Tri-Lo)
• Standers (Standy, Mini Standy, Standy Electro Wing)
• Ormesa Bug Buggy
• Trolli and Trollino Buggies
• Buddy Classroom Chair
• Piper Comfort Wheelchair
• Product Builder (Configurator)
• Bespoke Modifications and Made-to-Measure Products
• Repair and Servicing

Quantifiable outcome

• 120kg weight capacity on Virtus High-Low Powered Base
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kaye WalkercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 September 2024RMS secured global rights (excluding USA) to supply the Kaye Walker, a renowned posture control walker. RMS was selected as appointed sales agent due to its 45+ year reputation for manufacturing and distributing high-quality mobility products in the UK. The partnership includes exclusive in-house manufactured accessories.
• Ormesa ItalycoreTechnology or IntegrationItalian manufacturer supplying products including Grillo walker, Birillo, Bug, Trolli, Trollino, Dondolino, and Biko. RMS distributes these products in the UK and has added Grillo adaptive seating and class chair to their catalogue. Products feature internationally patented systems.
• Bike2Work SchememinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRMS is an approved supplier on the Cycle to Work scheme, allowing eligible employees to spread the cost of adaptive cycling equipment through salary sacrifice arrangements with their employer.
• Caudwell ChildrenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity partner providing specialist mobility and sensory equipment for disabled and neurodivergent children. RMS refers customers to this funding resource.
• Family FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity partner providing grants and practical support for families raising disabled and seriously ill children. RMS refers eligible customers to this funding resource.
• Whizz KidzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity partner supporting children and young people up to 18 with manual or powered wheelchairs where equipment is not available through NHS. RMS refers eligible customers to this funding resource.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ottobock: Global orthotics, prosthetics and mobility (wheelchair) company with a pediatric mobility offering. Comparable to RMS in postural support and mobility solutions but at substantially larger scale and broader clinical reach.
• Permobil: Global manufacturer of powered and manual wheelchairs and seating solutions, including pediatric lines. Comparable to RMS's powered bases (e.g., Virtus High-Low) and seating systems, though focused more on powered mobility.
• Invacare: Global manufacturer of wheelchairs, seating and home healthcare equipment with broad NHS presence. Overlaps with RMS in wheelchair and seating categories but operates across a much wider product portfolio and geographic footprint.
• Sunrise Medical: Global mobility manufacturer (Quickie, Zippie, Leckey, JAY) with extensive wheelchair, seating and pediatric product portfolios that overlap with RMS across NHS procurement, schools and private buyers, but at materially greater scale and breadth.

Direct peers

• Leckey: Specialist in pediatric postural seating, standing, walking and mobility products; offers Virtus/Caddy-equivalent modular seating systems for NHS and education customers in the UK and globally. Highly comparable product categories and customer base to RMS.
• R82 (Etac): Danish pediatric mobility and special needs equipment manufacturer offering seating, standing, walking and toileting aids; competes head-to-head with RMS in NHS wheelchair services and schools with comparable product lines.
• Convaid (Etac): Manufacturer of adaptive pediatric buggies, tilt-in-space wheelchairs and rehabilitation buggies. Directly comparable to RMS's Marley, Bug, and Trolli product families, with overlapping NHS and special-education customers.
• Ormesa: Italian manufacturer of rehabilitation and mobility equipment including the Grillo gait trainer, Birillo, Bug, Trolli and Frame Runner. RMS is Ormesa's UK distributor, so the two compete indirectly in other markets and share overlapping product IP/patents.
• Kaye Products: US-based manufacturer of the Kaye Posture Control Walker and related gait/mobility products. RMS holds global (ex-USA) distribution rights for the Kaye Walker, making them direct commercial partners and partial competitors.

Emerging players

• Special Tomato: US-based manufacturer of pediatric adaptive seating and mobility equipment. Offers overlapping product lines (soft-touch seating, pediatric positioning) but with a smaller catalog and narrower geographic footprint than RMS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RMSRehab

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 RMS