Japanese Robotics company sees new opportunity in greying Hong Kong
A uniquely designed wheelchair is one of the products Japanese firm Tmsuk plans to launch as it opens a local office and eyes China's seniors
In a city with one of Asia's oldest populations, a Japanese robotics company that has designed a unique wheelchair hopes to carve out a niche helping people with mobility problems get in and out of bed.
Tmsuk, which established its Hong Kong office this month, says it plans to invest HK$80 million locally on research and development of its products as it works to enter the local and mainland markets. It plans to debut the chair in Hong Kong next autumn.
The Hong Kong government warned last year that, at the current rate of ageing in the city of seven million, one in three Hongkongers would be older than 65 by 2041. On the mainland, the percentage of people aged 65 or above will increase to some 23 per cent by 2050, from 6.9 per cent in 2000, according to United Nations data.
Yoichi Takamoto, representative director of Tmsuk, demonstrated how a patient could slide easily from a bed onto the Rodem by leaning a bit forward. The chair has no back, which makes it easier to enter from a prone position without standing up. And its seat can be raised to put users at eye level with people who are standing. The Rodem can travel at 6km/h.
Currently the price is set at HK$100,000, but Takamoto expects that could drop to around HK$40,000 with mass production.
