We care.
We lead.
Caring for those that care for us motivates our team every day.
We get alongside all users of our products, from nurses and patients through to maintenance technicians, to listen, learn and discover ways to make their work safer and easier.
Howard Wright was a motor mechanic who loved to make things and solve problems.
In the late 1950s, Howard started an engineering business from his home in New Plymouth, New Zealand, where we are located today.
Howard mostly made things out of wrought iron, like balustrades for stairs, until he was questioned by a local nurse, “could he make a modern hospital bed like one she had seen overseas?”
Howard learnt more about the requirements and decided he could. In fact, it wasn’t long before Howard realized that he could do even better by using the latest hydraulic technology.
Howard’s fame spread around New Zealand and in the early 60s, he took the plunge and opened his first dedicated hospital bed factory.
By the 1970s Howard was making and selling most of the hospital beds in New Zealand, but it was the innovative M4 bed in 1976 that was the breakthrough internationally.
Howard came up with the idea of separating the hydraulic pump from the ram used to adjust bed height. This innovation allowed for the ergonomic positioning of the pump, placing Howard at the forefront of medical bed design.
Timeline
We have retained Howard’s vision for innovative yet practical design. This extends across a whole range of medical beds and stretchers using the latest electronic componentry. Every new product is developed the same way, by firstly talking to the clinicians in hospitals, observing them at work and then converting their ideas and our observations into practical cost-effective designs.
We term these Simple, Smart and Human:
Simple
Practical, durable and visual
Smart
Innovative and elegant
Human
Intuitive and empathetic
Our design approach has resulted in a range of medical beds and stretchers which are elegant, safe, efficient and satisfying to use.
Openness and curiosity are the foundations of our creative environment. The close working relationship we have with our customers benefits everyone.
All ideas are captured, refined and tested quickly to ensure our customers are provided with the best possible solutions.
Our commitment to excellent design is never ending when we know we can always discover better ways to make care safer and easier.
Built-to-last
Sustainability is pursued in every aspect of our business from product design through to after-sales service.
Our timeless designs, use of durable materials and world class quality result in “built-to-last” products.
Our packaging is minimalist to reduce waste. Recycled cardboard boxes and simple wooden frames are used in shipping our products around the world.
We are committed to design, manufacturing and service excellence.
We are independently certified to the ISO13485:2016 Quality Management System for Medical Devices and our products are tested to the latest international standards by ISO17025 certified laboratories.
Our R&D Team utilizes customer feedback, on-site observation and both real and simulated experiences to ensure user safety and ease of use with every design.
