Lightweight Wheelchairs Enable Traveling in Style

Q.Since Troy Technologies focuses on the travel wheelchair market, how does this differ from the hospital/patient grade wheelchairs?

A. Travel wheelchairs must be light enough to be carried while being compact enough to fit on buses and trains, as well as in taxis. The rigors of travel are extreme. Inconsiderate baggage handlers, cobble stone roads, and damp or dirty conditions will easily destroy a conventional wheelchair. Comfort is also a factor; the design of most transport wheelchairs is to get a person from point A to B. These wheelchairs are inappropriate for all-day sitting. Anybody who purchases a standard transport wheelchair and tries to make it work for travel will likely be disappointed and possibly stranded.

Q.Where is manufacturing of the travel wheelchairs done?

A. We offer a range of wheelchairs to fit any budget. With manufacturing of the low- and mid-range products done overseas, manufacturing of our top of the line products is here in the United States.

Q. As one looks at images of wheelchairs, we obviously see metal tubing, wheels, nuts, bolts, braces, footrests, handles, fabric, and much more. Can you break down a typical travel wheelchair regarding the various components that go into the production of one?

A. Indeed metal tubing is the primary component. A clever combination of steel and aluminum tubes provides strength while minimizing weight. Injection-molded plastic components, metal stampings, precision bearings, and a wide variety of fasteners comprise the remainder of the frame. The fabric varies by chair, but a synthetic fiber is best for strength and biocompatibility.

Q. Where is your design work for products done? What CAD/CAM and design software is used in the production of the wheelchairs?

A. All design is performed in-house using AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor.

Q.Which components used in the wheelchairs are manufactured in Troy Technologies' facilities?

A. We manufacture all tubular components and brackets in-house. Bearings and fasteners are commodities that are produced to our specifications by outside vendors.

Q.Can you talk about the machine tools/fabrication equipment used to produce the in-house components?

A. We employ a wide array of cutting, forming, and punching equipment for the tubular components. Specialized presses for stamping and forming the brackets are used, and we perform all necessary welding. Our fully automated sewing department makes the fabric seats, and it all comes together in the final assembly department.

Q.With the new line of products recently launched, what additions, changes, enhancement, or features are now offered to customers that were previously unavailable on older/other models?

A. People have different needs. Some require the highest quality possible while others value lightweight above all else. For others, it is all about style. With the addition of our new products, our clients now have a wider range of choices. Design of our product line is to satisfy individual needs.

Q.Are there other travel wheelchair companies that Troy Technologies competes with for market share? If so, how do their offerings compare to Troy's offerings?

A. Most people do not know the difference between a transport wheelchair and a travel wheelchair. It is the stated goal of Troy Technologies to educate the public on the differences, and, by doing so, create our own niche.

While Troy Technology executives cannot discuss the exact component composition – regarding metals, plastics, resins, etc. that go into the wheelchairs they produce – nor the suppliers they use, they continue to expand their product line to address continued requirements for customization, requiring flexible manufacturing techniques.

Troy Technologies Torrance, CA travelwheelchair.net