With sales of the battery-powered Raizer II already exceeding 3,500 units per year, each device comes with a high-performance Mascot 2241 LiFe plug-in charger that provides approximately 80 full lifts on a single charge.
After starting operations in 2009 as a UK-focused company, the award-winning DHG now sells directly in six global markets and in another 35-40 through distributors. Following significant sponsorships and private equity acquisitions, the company now generates annual revenues of around €120 million. DHG's UK headquarters and 9,290 m² manufacturing facility are located in Caerphilly, Wales, where the Raizer II is manufactured.
The patented Raizer II is a mobile lifting chair that is positioned around a person who has fallen, typically someone with limited mobility. The Raizer II safely and comfortably raises the vulnerable person to a near-upright position in under 3 minutes at the touch of a button. The caregiver does not have to exert any physical effort, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, such as those that can occur when using traditional inflatable lifting cushions. The key to the Raizer II's growing popularity is its Mascot battery charger.
“The Mascot charger is fundamental to the Raizer II’s value proposition,” says Rhys Donovan, DHG’s strategy director. “The chair is a portable device, often needed in rapid response situations where a person with reduced mobility has fallen and cannot get up on their own without assistance. There is no room for error. Users need a charged device that is ready to go.”.
He continues: "It's important to note that, while many competing products only allow for four or five lifts on a full load, the Raizer II allows for approximately 80 lifts per load. That's a huge product differentiator."
The Mascot 2241 LiFe plug-in charger features a LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) battery for applications requiring safety and durability. With a universal input voltage (90-164 VAC), the 2241 LiFe is medical safety certified by UL and EN 60601. It supports up to eight battery cells with a charging current of up to 1.3 A. The Raizer II takes six hours to fully charge from a depleted battery.
It is important to note that, for the Raizer II, with its light weight and compact dimensions, the Mascot battery charger measures only 103.5 x 46.8 x 38.7 mm and weighs just 140 g.
“The safety-focused design of integrating the Mascot device into the Raizer II is ingenious, as the magnetic charger is attached in the location of the emergency stop button,” explains Rhys Donovan. “Users have to disconnect the emergency stop button to use the charger, which disables the Raizer II. In other words, there is no situation in which unsafe use of the charger could occur.”.
The Mascot 2241 LiFe battery charger also features a USB Type-A connector. In the unlikely event that the Raizer II is out of power, ambulance and first responder personnel can simply use its integrated charger. Only 10 to 15 minutes of charging is needed for one lift.
It's worth noting that the highly reliable Mascot battery charger offers an impressive mean time between failures (MTBF) of 250,000 hours at full load. DHG reports that it has never experienced a charger failure in the field since the Raizer II was launched in 2019. The same charger was also used on the original Raizer, which began development in 2012, with no known battery charger failures.
This level of performance and reliability helps the Raizer II demonstrate significant clinical and economic benefits that far outweigh the cost of the investment. By saving resources and time, the Raizer II frees up nursing time for care, while other advantages include caregiver safety and the dignity of the fallen patient: the device provides a much more dignified lift from a fallen position than a mobile hoist.
Thanks to these and other advantages, DHG is experiencing sales growth of around 10% year-on-year. User groups include ambulance crews, community first aid teams, nursing homes, hospitals, intensive care units, leisure centers, cruise ships, hotels, shopping malls, and airports. All these facilities rely on fast and easy charging of the device.
“The Mascot charger is an essential component of the Raizer II, a battery-powered device that relies on its portability,” concludes Rhys Donovan. “The ultra-reliable, plug-and-forget charger ensures we can effectively maintain this essential feature.”.
About Mascot
Mascot was founded in 1938 and began as one of the pioneers in radio manufacturing in Norway.
Mascot is one of Scandinavia's leading manufacturers of high-quality power supplies and smart chargers for lead-acid, NiMH, and Li-Ion/LiFePO4 batteries. Mascot also offers a wide range of products, including DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters, and custom-designed power supplies. Most models are UL and medical-grade (EN 60601) certified.
Mascot products are available worldwide through its sales offices, distributors, and developers.
For more information, please visit our website: www.mascot.no.
