KR

What KR does

KR is a Danish manufacturer of hospital beds and care/nursing beds, founded in 1970 and operating as a division (Afdeling KR) under parent company able nordic a/s. The company develops and produces its entire range under one roof at its headquarters in Hadsten, Denmark, with stated annual production exceeding 5,000 beds primarily for the Danish and Norwegian healthcare sectors, plus select German distribution via Decumed Bari. Its portfolio is organized around the OPUS platform — OPUS 7 (standard hospital bed), OPUS 5 Hospital, OPUS 1280 Akutleje (acute care), KR Heavy Bed 400 (bariatric up to 400 kg), and pediatric beds (KR Juniorseng, KR Kravleseng) on the hospital side, with OPUS 5 Care, OPUS 1EW/1DW series, and OPUS 1-K85 variants serving the care/nursing home segment. The OPUS 7 is differentiated by integrated LINAK IPX6 Washable DURA electronics enabling frequent machine washing, optional WeAssist motorized wheels (LINAK/TENTE), and pre-programmed care positions, while the Careturner automated turning/kip system (offered for both OPUS 7 and OPUS 1) provides programmable pressure-relief repositioning.

The business model is direct B2B sales-led, with regional sales managers covering Jylland/Fyn and Sjælland/the islands, supported by sales coordinators, and dealers used for international markets. Revenue is generated from unit sales of beds, accessories (mattresses, bedside tables, rails, IV stands), and Careturner add-ons, with pricing largely quote-based except for a publicly listed Careturner 2.0 campaign price of DKK 33,000 ex. VAT per unit (down from DKK 37,778). KR's core technology is sourced rather than self-developed in critical areas — actuators and control electronics come from LINAK, and motorized wheel components from LINAK/TENTE — while the company retains in-house steel frame manufacture with E-coating and powder coating for corrosion resistance, and full assembly. The company holds a strong Danish public-sector position, with OPUS 7 included in regional procurement agreements in 3 of 5 Danish regions, but its international footprint outside Norway and a German dealer is limited. Named customer evidence centers on OUH (Odense University Hospital) for Careturner deployment, with municipal care, psychiatric, disability, and home care segments addressed through the same sales channels.

Name

KR

Legal name

able nordic a/s

Website

https://krbed.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KR is a Danish manufacturer of hospital and care beds, producing over 5,000 units annually at its Hadsten facility for hospitals, municipal care providers, psychiatric and disability institutions in Denmark, Norway, and Germany, with LINAK-powered electronics and the Careturner automated turning system as key differentiators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospital and Care Beds (Healthcare Furniture)

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSABAKAF

Hospital Bed, Lift & Transfer Equipment (Beds, Hoyer Lifts, Slings)

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Medical Equipment & Home Mobility Support Services

SECONDARYHLAHAMAE

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

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Diagnostics/Rehabilitation & Mobility Aids (DME)

Keywords

• Hospital bed manufacturing
• Care bed manufacturing
• Healthcare furniture
• Patient handling equipment
• Welfare technology beds

Headquarters

HQ city

Hadsten

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hospital and Care Bed Sales: KR generates revenue primarily from the sale of hospital beds, care/nursing beds, bed side tables, mattresses, and accessories. Products are sold directly to hospitals, psychiatric facilities, municipal care providers, disability institutions, and home care buyers in Denmark and Norway. Pricing appears to follow a unit/per-product model with volume discounts referenced in campaign pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KR designs, develops, and manufactures electric-adjustable hospital beds and care/nursing beds, complemented by pressure-relieving mattresses, bedside tables, accessories, and the Careturner automated turning system. All products are produced at the company's consolidated manufacturing facility in Hadsten, Denmark, with over 5,000 beds produced annually for hospitals, psychiatric facilities, municipal care providers, disability institutions, and home care buyers primarily in Denmark and Norway.

Product overview

KR is a Danish manufacturer of hospital beds and care beds with over 50 years of experience. The product portfolio includes two main categories: Hospital beds (OPUS 7, OPUS 5 HOSPITAL, OPUS 1280 AKUTLEJE, KR HEAVY BED 400, KR JUNIORSENG 1465, KR KRAVLESENG 1464) and Care/Nursing beds (OPUS 5 CARE, OPUS 1EW, OPUS 1DW, OPUS 1-K85EW, OPUS 1-K85DW, OPUS S-DW bed insert). Products are complemented by a comprehensive accessory line including mattresses (Hyper Foam, Alpha-K, Alpha, Gaia), bed rails, bedside tables, grab bars, IV stands, and the Careturner automated turning system add-on. All products are manufactured in Hadsten, Denmark, with annual production of over 5,000 beds primarily for Danish and Norwegian healthcare sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OPUS: Series of hospital and care beds including OPUS 1, OPUS 5, OPUS 7 models with various configurations for healthcare settings
• KR HEAVY BED
• KR JUNIORSENG
• KR KRAVLESENG
• OPUS 1280 AKUTLEJE
• Careturner

Products and services

• OPUS 7 Hospital Bed Standard hospital bed (V3) with LINAK IPX6 Washable DURA electronics, designed for frequent machine washing. Features 4-section ergonomic lying surface, programmable positioning, integrated bed rails, pre-programmed chair/flat/wash/dry positions with memory function, and optional WeAssist motorized wheel assist. Used in 3 of 5 Danish regional agreements.
• OPUS 5 HOSPITAL Innovative hospital bed designed to improve the work environment, optimize workflows, and enhance patient comfort with adjustable positioning features for hospital departments.
• OPUS 1280 AKUTLEJE Solid and reliable acute care bed designed for easy handling and efficient operation in acute care and emergency settings.
• KR HEAVY BED 400 Bariatric hospital bed designed for users up to 400 kg, providing robust support and safety for heavier patients.
• KR JUNIORSENG 1465 Safe hospital bed designed for larger children (up to 140 cm height), providing appropriate sizing and safety features for pediatric patients.
• KR KRAVLESENG 1464 Safe hospital bed designed for smaller children (0-3 years), providing a secure environment for infants and toddlers.
• OPUS 5 CARE Innovative care bed designed to improve the work environment, ease care work, and enhance comfort for residents in care facilities.
• OPUS 1EW-serien Well-documented and optimized care bed available in three widths, with a partially and fully washable design for care facilities.
• OPUS 1DW-serien Partially and fully washable care bed available in three widths, designed for care facility hygiene requirements.
• OPUS 1-K85EW Well-documented and optimized care bed for smaller users, partially and fully washable design.
• OPUS 1-K85DW Partially and fully washable care bed designed for smaller users, with appropriate sizing and features.
• OPUS S-DW SENGEINDSATS Adjustable bed insert for existing bed frames, providing positioning functionality without requiring a complete bed replacement.
• Careturner Kipsystem (Automated Turning System) Automated turning/kip system overlay for hospital and care beds providing continuous pressure relief and assisting with patient repositioning. Reduces physical strain on nursing staff (reduces manual repositioning from 2 to 1 caregiver). Includes programmable turning cycles, automatic operation, and lithium-ion battery backup. Available for OPUS 7 and as Careturner 2.0 for OPUS 1 beds.
• KR SENGEBORD 1092/1096/1097 (Bedside Tables) Bedside tables designed to complement hospital and care beds, providing storage and accessibility for patients.
• Hyper Foam 2 clinic GREENLINE Mattress Pressure-relieving foam mattress suitable for pressure ulcers up to stage 4, designed for hospital use.
• Hyper Foam PLUS clinic GREENLINE Mattress Pressure-relieving foam mattress suitable for pressure ulcers up to stage 3, designed for hospital use.
• Alpha-K Skummadras Mattress Pressure-relieving and flexible foam mattress for users with pressure ulcer risk up to stage 2. Features profiled viscoelastic top foam and high-elastic hybrid foam base.
• Gaia Skummadras Mattress Flexible dual-layer foam mattress for OPUS 1280 AKUTLEJE, optimal for transfers, X-ray, and scanning. Features 3 cm viscoelastic foam top and 5 cm HR50 foam base.
• Alpha Skummadras Mattress Flexible foam mattress for OPUS 1280 AKUTLEJE, optimal for recovery units. Features 4 cm viscoelastic foam top and 7 cm HR38 foam base.

Quantifiable outcome

• Careturner reduces manual patient repositioning from 2 caregivers to 1
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LINAKcoreTechnology or IntegrationLINAK is the primary technology partner for KR's hospital beds, supplying IPX6 Washable DURA™ waterproof electronics for OPUS 7 (enabling frequent machine washing), as well as actuator systems and control electronics across the product range. LINAK is a Danish actuator and electronics manufacturer specializing in healthcare applications.
• Varodd VelferdsteknologiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian dealer and reseller of KR beds and welfare technology. Located at Varodd.no, handles distribution to Norwegian healthcare institutions and municipalities.
• Decumed BariminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman dealer and reseller of KR beds and welfare technology. Handles distribution to German healthcare institutions and hospitals.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stryker: Global medical device major whose medical division includes hospital beds, stretchers, and support surfaces. Competes in the same hospital-procurement arena as KR but offers a vastly broader capital-equipment portfolio.
• Hillrom (Baxter): Now part of Baxter, Hillrom is the global leader in hospital beds (Centrella, Progressa) and smart bed platforms with deep US/EU installed base. Competes with KR for large hospital tenders with broader portfolio and clinical integration depth.

Others

• LINAK: Core technology partner and supplier of actuators, IPX6 washable electronics (DURA), and control systems to KR. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but a critical enabler of KR's differentiated product features.

Direct peers

• Joerns Healthcare: US-focused manufacturer of hospital beds, patient lifts, and pressure-redistribution surfaces. Comparable product mix and customer base (acute care, post-acute, long-term care).
• Linet Group: One of Europe's largest hospital and care bed manufacturers, headquartered in Czechia with broad European public-hospital penetration. Directly competes with KR on electrically adjustable, washable hospital beds sold via regional procurement frameworks.
• Stiegelmeyer: German family-owned manufacturer of hospital and care beds with strong DACH and Nordic footprint. Highly comparable product portfolio (electric adjustment, hygiene, low/nursing beds) and uses LINAK actuators like KR.
• Arjo: Swedish-headquartered provider of medical beds, patient lifts, and pressure-injury prevention solutions serving European hospitals and care homes. Closely comparable in care-bed positioning, pressure ulcer prevention focus, and Nordic public-procurement sales motion.
• Wissner-Bosserhoff: German hospital bed specialist with focus on ergonomic, low and acute-care beds for European hospitals and aged care. Overlaps with KR on electrically adjustable hospital beds sold through regional procurement in DACH and neighboring markets.

Regional players

• Merivaara: Finnish manufacturer of hospital beds, operating tables, and lights with strong Nordic public-sector presence. Direct Nordic competitor to KR in Finnish and adjacent Nordic hospital tenders.

Emerging players

• Savion Industries: Israeli manufacturer specializing in advanced electric hospital and ICU beds, including pressure-relief technologies. Competes at the technology-feature tier (turning, pressure relief) similar to KR's Careturner-equipped OPUS 7.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFTadrayM8MkEYRudwipxfw
• Facebookfacebook.com/krbed.dk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 KR