Modern hospital beds are true technological wonders, except for their castors that still have to be manually locked and unlocked. Finnish company Manner Castors has now come up with Manner e-Smart, the first castor ever with an electronic, remotely-operated lock fitted inside the smooth-rolling castor itself. This makes handling of medical and other equipment on castors a lot easier.

“Our new castor eliminates the need for nurses to repeatedly bend over and reach for the brake,” says Jukka Manner, the company’s marketing director. “A light touch of the finger is all that’s needed to lock and unlock the wheels. Since millions of patients are being moved in their beds daily, much can be gained from easy-to-maneuver beds.”

Manner points out that this is a major issue, since according to a European Commission study, back pain and repetitive strain injuries are the biggest health and safety problems facing European workers today.

“Many of these problems could be avoided simply by using more user-friendly castors, which also enhances productivity and provides a better work environment,” says Manner.
    
Easy to assemble and cost-effective

Manner e-Smart castors are connected to the remote control by thin cables, so there is no need for complicated mechanical components as with traditional central locking castor systems.

“It makes the construction lighter and also gives manufacturers more options when designing beds or other medical equipment,” says Manner. “All this reduces manufacturing costs, compensating for the necessary re-design.”

Four Nordic medical equipment manufacturers are currently testing the Manner e Smart castor, which will be on the market early next year.

“No other manufacturer can offer similar products, which demonstrates that it’s a very complicated product to develop,” says Manner. “In addition to medical equipment, it can also be used for other applications requiring castors with remote locking.”
    
Easy to reach and use

Lock pedals are usually situated near the floor and can be complicated to reach and difficult to engage.

“This isn’t a problem with our product, since the operating buttons can be located where they are most convenient to use, such as near the nurse’s hand,” says Manner.

He also stresses that the castors have to roll smoothly in all directions to minimize the force needed to push a hospital bed or other heavy equipment.

“We only use special ball bearings that ensure reliable, easy rolling and turning of the castor. The housing and wheel center are made of glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide that makes the castor light and very durable.”

The locking mechanism is also encased inside the castor body and has no wearing components.

“This means that dirt or wear on the wheel tread does not affect its locking capabilities,” says Manner. “Another bonus is that the lock doesn’t have to be adjusted during the lifetime of the castor.”

Manual Manner Smart already on the market

Manner Smart, a manually-operated castor with a locking system similar to e-Smart’s, has been on the market since spring 2009.

“One of the main differences from traditional castors is that the locking cap and lock release pedal on Manner Smart are in fixed positions on top of the castor body, so they don’t swivel with the wheel,” says Manner. “This means they are always visible and within reach, and only a light touch is needed to engage or release the lock.”

Manner Castors in a nutshell:

Manner Castors (Manner) is the leading castor manufacturer in the Nordic countries. The company’s knowledge of plastics, metal pressing and precision engineering combined with progressive product development has brought the company international recognition as a manufacturer of high-quality castors for demanding situations.

The family-owned company was founded in Finland in 1890. The production site is located in Hanko, a port city on the south coast of Finland.
The company offers a wide range of castors for medical, institutional and industrial applications. The company’s well-known products from the past decade include Wheel 2000, Samba and Tango G2.



For further information, please contact:

Jukka Manner                                                  
Marketing Director Manner

P.O.Box 3                                                         
FI-10901 Hanko                                                     
Finland

Telephone: + 358 (0)19 222 0023                                
Telefax:   + 358 (0)19 248 2000                                    
Mobile:       + 358 (0)50 596 5951

E-mail: jukka.manner@manner.fi                            
www.manner.fi

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