Most buyers start with a product photo and a price and only later discover that the hard part is not the
chair — it is the supply relationship behind it. This is what we suggest you check, in the order that saves
the most time.
1. Are you talking to a factory, a trading company, or a sourcing partner?
All three are legitimate, but they behave differently on price, flexibility and responsibility. A single
factory will quote only what it makes. A trading company will quote what it can buy. A sourcing
partner works across several factories and is measured on how well the product fits your market rather than
on how much of one model it can move.
Ask directly: “Which factory will produce this order, and may I see its business licence?” The answer tells
you which of the three you are dealing with.
2. Which certifications are actually held — and by whom
For powered wheelchairs the relevant documents are usually:
- CE under EU MDR 2017/745 — required to place a chair on the EU market;
- FDA (US Class II device) — 510(k) clearance, establishment registration and UDI for the US;
- ISO 13485 — the medical device quality management system, held by the factory;
- EN 12184 — the European standard for powered wheelchairs;
- UN 38.3 — the lithium battery transport test.
The detail that matters is the difference between “the factory holds ISO 13485” and “this model has a
510(k)”. A quality system certificate is a factory-level fact; a clearance or a CE mark is a product-level
fact tied to a specific configuration. Ask for the document that names the model, not just the company.
Our compliance page lists what each market requires.
3. What the technical file contains
Your notified body, your customs broker or your insurer may all ask for the same folder. It normally holds
test reports, the risk analysis, labelling and the user manual in the destination language. Ask to see a
sample technical file before you order — not after. If it cannot be produced for a sample, it will not appear
for a container.
4. Minimum order quantity and trial orders
A fixed, high MOQ is the most common reason a first order never happens. It is reasonable to ask whether
different models can be combined in one order, and whether a single unit can be bought as a sample. We do not
impose a fixed minimum order quantity on regular orders and treat trial orders as a normal first step — that
is a position worth testing with every supplier you shortlist.
5. Can you inspect before the container is sealed?
Pre-shipment inspection is where most quality disputes are settled cheaply. Confirm three things in writing:
who inspects, against which checklist, and what happens if units fail. You or your own third-party inspector
should be welcome in China before shipment.
6. Private label: how far does it go?
“OEM available” can mean anything from a sticker to a fully custom frame. Establish the scope early: logo on
the chair and the carton, your packaging, your manual, your language on the labels. If drawings or tooling are
involved, agree confidentiality terms before anything is shared.
7. After-sales and spare parts
A wheelchair is a device with batteries, motors and controllers. Ask who supplies spare parts in year two,
how batteries are shipped, and whether the person who answered your first email will still answer after the
invoice is paid. Spare parts, replacement batteries and technical questions should be handled by the same team
that took the order.
A short list to send
If you want to compress this into one email to a prospective supplier, ask for: the producing factory name
and licence, the product-level certification documents for the exact model, a sample technical file, the
minimum order quantity and whether models can be mixed, your right to inspect before shipment, the private
label scope, and the spare-parts route. Any supplier that answers all seven is worth a sample order.
Where to go next
- The current range — folding, lightweight, travel, rehab, heavy-duty and manual models.
- Compliance and market access — classification, requirements and lead times by region.
- Frequently asked questions — order terms, samples, payment and after-sales.