Mobility scooter tyres: when traction really matters talk to Strident
It's cold times like this is when traction really does matter
When the weather is icy and snowy traction becomes a much more important factor in the performance of your mobility scooter tyres. It is then that you realise that low traction may not always be worn down tread?
From experience in the mobility market worn tread is, of course, the most obvious reason for low traction in the normal course of things. Often, however, we see there are underlying reasons for premature tyre wear.
What do you think about the root causes of low traction during in-climate weather conditions? Why not drop us an email and tell us what your experience is.
If you are having traction problems with your mobility scooter tyres then why not take a look at our:
Strident's solid tyres range are divided into grey solid tyres and black solid tyres
Strident's pneumatic tyres range are divided into grey pneumatic tyres and black pneumatic tyres
We also stock wheelchair tyres (Grey PU)
Or, finally, if you have a repair to make check out our range of inner tubes.
Thank you for meeting us at Trade Days 2017
Another great show at Trade Days 2017 - we had the privilege of meeting so many of our existing distributors along with welcoming on board new distributors who want to join us on our exciting journey.
Our aim is to establish ways to support our distribution network, this year saw a preview of the new retail packaged chargers which is aimed to attracted attention in any retail location - look our for more information on this very soon.
You can see our current range of chargers by downloading the brochure below.
The all-new distributor package was also discussed with many distributors, it received a fantastic response during the show and is set to be rolled out over the coming months. Through close partnering this dynamic scheme has been created to assist you with marketing and lead generation, creating a learning platform in a market that needs reliable products for everyday quality of life - our representatives are ready to explain this scheme and more posts to follow on this topic.
Thank you once again for everyone who took the time to visit us this year, for those unable to attend we will bring the new ideas to you shortly and will be supporting you further at Naidex 2018 and again at Trade Days later in during next year.
For the time being, take a look at our high-quality and evolving product range.
2016 Trade Days Exhibition Highlights
Thank you to our entire distributor network for making Trade Days 2016 such an amazing event.
We are sure everyone who attended the event would agree that this trade event is a real success when meeting new and existing providers. For Strident, it’s a time when we reach out and show our consistent message - it provides an excellent environment to meet our national distribution network in a less formal atmosphere to discuss new ideas and innovations.
The success is ongoing and we look forward to welcoming you to an even more inspiring and interactive show in 2017.
Ensure you dont miss out on the Trade Days 2017 excitement. Register your interest in the 2017 event.
We will be posting further updates so please follow us below:
The 7 Essential Rules for operating Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs
If you are new to mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs – or a family member or close friend is just about to acquire one – here is our quick 7 essential rules for legally and safely heading out and about.
Rule #1 – You may need to register your scooter
Whilst you don’t need a driving licence to drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, you may well have to register it. Broadly there are two categories:
- class 2 invalid carriages – which cannot be used on the road (unless there is no pavement). These have a maximum speed of 4mph.
class 3 invalid carriages - can be used on the road, and have a maximum speed of 4mph off the road, and 8mph when driven on the road. You must be 14 or over to drive a class 3 invalid carriage.
You don’t need to register a class 2 invalid carriage.
You do need to register class 3 invalid carriages.
Rule #2 – Make sure your class 3 invalid carriage has the following:
- maximum weight (unloaded) of 150kg
- maximum speed of 8mph and a device to limit its speed to 4mph
- maximum width of 0.85 metres
- working and efficient brakes
- front and rear lights and reflectors
- hazard warning lights function
- horn loud enough to be heard clearly
- rear view mirror
- an amber flashing light if it’s used on a dual carriageway
Please make sure you have all of these as the police could stop you if your class 3 scooter or powered wheelchair doesn’t have these features.
Rule #3 – What to do/not do when driving on a road
First, remember that you can only drive on the in a class 3 invalid carriage and that the maximum speed is 8mph. Follow the Highway Code at all times.
You can’t drive on bus lanes, cycle lanes or motorways.
Don’t use dual carriageways with a speed limit of over 50mph. If you go on a dual carriageway use an amber flashing light for visibility.
Rule #4 – Freedom to drive on footpaths and parking
All mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs can legally travel at a maximum of 4mph on footpaths or in pedestrian areas.
Please keep off cycle paths marked ‘cycle only’.
Rule #5 – Considerate Parking
Consider your scooter or powered wheelchair as you would a car. All normal parking restrictions apply.
Your vehicle shouldn’t be left on a footpath or pedestrian area on its own if it gets in the way of other pedestrians, including wheelchair users and people with prams or pushchairs.
Rule #6 - Who can use a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair
- anyone who has trouble walking because of an injury, physical disability, or medical condition
- if you are demonstrating the vehicle to a potential buyer
- if you are conducting training for a disabled user
- if you are taking the scooter or wheelchair to or from maintenance or repair
Rule #7 - No vehicle tax but remember registration and insurance
You’ll be glad to hear that there is no vehicle tax for any mobility scooter or powered wheelchair. Do see rule #1 about needing to register class 3 invalid carriages.
To register a class 3 invalid carriage, complete form V55/4 for new vehicles, or V55/5 for used vehicles. Download either of these forms from the DVLA’s online ordering service. Follow the instructions and return the form by post (currently the only option).
Insurance: Whilst you don’t actually need insurance for a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, it is strongly recommended in case of any accident.
Maintenance
In addition to all this great guidance, do please keep you Mobility Scooter well maintained. If you are looking for new batteries, chargers or tyres for your mobility scooter, take a look at our catalogues page. Click the image below to take you there.
12v 34ah mobility battery – the UK’s most popular?
As we near the end of the year, we will now start to see all the lists of “top things in 2016”. So, we are going to strike first and declare the 12v 34ah mobility battery THE most popular battery for the mobility vehicle market.
Whilst we won’t pretend to have done a statistically representative poll of the whole market, we have seen the 12v 34ah battery consistently be our best seller through our large network of mobility distributors. So why is this?
First of all due to Scooter Manufacturers
The first simple reason for this high demand is that the 12v 34ah is one of the most popular industry standard batteries that mobility scooter manufacturers put on their vehicles. They specify such a deep cycle rechargeable battery to match the typical pattern of use that a mobility scooter gets.
Secondly - The balance of power output and length of operation
If you think of the contrast between a car battery and a mobility scooter battery, the car battery is used predominantly for a short burst of high energy to start the car. This kind of battery is never propelling the car!
A mobility scooter, however, has a different requirement and the battery is typically going to be for a more constant use e.g. driving the scooter from a house to local shops or for a visit to friends and family. The battery is, of course, propelling the vehicle, which takes a certain amount of energy to achieve.
For the average user weight and travelling distance required, the 12volt battery rated at 34 amp hours (AH) would suffice in the majority of applications
Performance vs Budget
Finally, we believe the popularity of this 12v 34ah battery is due to the match between performance and cost. There are always more powerful batteries but costs start to rise. Cheaper batteries either don’t hold the charge or don’t deliver enough operating time to make them a good choice. So the 12v 34ah does seem to be in a good price/performance place for the average scooter.
Why use Strident’s 12v 34ah mobility battery
Take a look on our batteries page to see an outline of the key features of our batteries that make them work so well with mobility scooters, our range of high performing medical batteries extends to other medical devices like patient hoists. There are a few things in our design that optimise battery performance and life.
Specific details of our best seller can be clicking the image below:
From Ivanhoe to Strident
Last month, the team here at Strident enjoyed a highly successful exhibition at ‘Trade Days’ in Birmingham’s NEC.
In fact, the show was our first public event since rebranding from Ivanhoe to Strident earlier in the year; and presented a great opportunity to introduce customers to a new, professional trading experience.
When Ivanhoe was established in Doncaster back in 2002, we chose the name because of the area’s historic reputation for distinctive leadership in battle. It was a name that embodied power and strategy at every move.
With such a prestigious name on which to build, Ivanhoe successfully grew and expanded, but it was six years later (in 2008) when we introduced the Strident brand to the market. Our premier line of products deserved a title worthy of their innovation and quality, so Strident was chosen to represent the product’s powerful nature and reliability in the very toughest of environments.
True to its name, the Strident brand gained tremendous respect in marketplace, allowing the company to relocate to new, larger offices in Doncaster. Its unprecedented success resulted in the name’s international recognition, and subsequently, it made sense to rebrand Ivanhoe. In doing this, we could build on the success of our Strident products even further. So in July of this year, that’s exactly what we did.
This exciting move forward is the result of 15 years of continual improvement, and today, we continue our commitment to providing excellent products with unrivalled customer service.
In reintroducing ourselves to the market as Strident at Trade Days, we consider our public rebranding complete, and will continue supplying innovative, ground-breaking products to the medical sector.2016 has been a year to remember for us at Strident so far, and we want to make it a year for you to remember too. The team here are true experts in the field, and are always happy to help with any enquiries you might have.
2016 has been a year to remember for us at Strident so far, and we want to make it a year for you to remember too. The team here are true experts in the field, and are always happy to help with any enquiries you might have.
You can contact us by phone on +44 (0)1362 300102, email us at sales@strident.uk.com, or reach us via our contact page, and we can arrange an inspiring presentation at a location and time that’s convenient to you.
For more information on our products, including batteries, charging accessories, and tyres, you can download one of our brochures, here.
Another Successful Year At Trade Days
2016 is the third year in which Strident has exhibited at the UK’s premiere medical trade exhibition, ‘Trade Days’ at Birmingham’s NEC. The team were eager to display the power behind the brand and offer an inspirational service to those visiting our stand.
Building on previous success, Strident was proud to hold a high profile at this year’s event giving a quality brand presence throughout the show enabling us to welcome a substantial number of quality leads who were inspired by the professionalism promoted across the event.
Through a deep commitment to continual development and constant innovation, Strident has been able to combine knowledge, experience and expertise to bring cutting edge solutions in power to a critical market.
Overall, we felt the event was a true success, as it enabled us to display our genuine values and connect with our essential distributor network. Over the two days, we were also able to build on our relationships with key influencers in the medical world, as well as connect with leading groups of independent retailers.
Our recent rebrand from Ivanhoe to Strident enabled us to strengthen our innovative culture and reinforce the trusted and proven long-established brand. As a result, our visitors recognised us as not simply a product supplier, but a supplier of expert trade solutions and quality service.
We would like to thank everyone who attended our stand this year, as it was a true pleasure to meet so many valued clients. For any who were unable to attend Trade Days 2016, we’re sorry that you missed out on the incredible atmosphere, but we look forward to welcoming you to our stand in 2017.
You don’t need to wait to 2017 to join us on our exciting journey, the Strident team is always ready to talk. Please feel free to contact us on 44 (0)1362 300 102, email us at sales@strident.uk.com, or reach us via our contact page, and we can arrange a presentation at a time and place that’s convenient to you.
Alternatively, for more information on our products (including batteries, charging accessories and tyres) you can download one of our brochures, here.
Strident at Trade Days 2016
Later this month on the 25th and 26th of September, the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham proudly plays host to ‘Trade Days 2016.’
This dedicated trade-only event is free to attend, and is the ultimate UK exhibition for anyone involved in the manufacture, supply and retail of homecare, independent living and assistive technology products.
If you’re interested in attending, there are still tickets available. You can secure your place at the show through the link here.
As with previous years, our team will be available for you to reach out to and discuss your exact requirements, answer any questions you may have, and further enhance every connection we have within the medical market.
Trade Days 2016 is a fantastic opportunity to present to you the innovations we’ve been working on in recent months. Innovation together with constant research and development enables us to bring to you a range that’s designed and manufactured with the discerning buyer in mind.
Through constantly challenging the status quo, Strident energises the marketplace and inspires those around us by providing a cutting edge experience
We’ll be available to chat on both days of the show, so please do come and visit us at stand TH135.
2016 is a year to remember for Strident and we want to make it a year for you to remember too – if you are unable to join us in the excitement at Trade Days this year, please contact us on +44 (0)1362 300102, email us at sales@strident.uk.com or reach us via our contact page, and we will arrange an inspiring presentation for you at a location and time that is convenient to you.
For more information on our products, including batteries, charging accessories, and tyres, you can download one of our brochures, here.
What are Lead Crystal Batteries?
Those of you who’ve shopped online for batteries before, are probably familiar with AGM, Gel and small-cell batteries. But you may not have come across Lead Crystal Batteries as possible power solutions.
But what are lead crystal batteries, and what makes them worth considering for your application?
There are a number of great benefits to these power sources, which make them an excellent choice in a number of situations. As a result, they’re commonly used today in telecommunications, wind and solar power, healthcare, manufacturing and electric vehicles.
Firstly, they can be charged faster than most conventional batteries and be safely discharged to 0 volts without being put under stress. They can also be discharged more often and will comfortably operate between extreme temperatures of -40 to 65C (making them great for regular use in harsh environments.) And incredibly, they require no extra ventilation or cooling to operate under these conditions.
They’re also much safer than many other battery types in both their day-to-day use and in the long term. As they use less acid and no cadmium or antimony, this reduces the risk of harmful leakage, and they’re up to 99% recyclable depending on the make and model.
This reduced risk even results in lead crystal batteries being classified as non-hazardous for transport, reducing potential issues that might arise when travelling internationally.
The batteries’ overall resilience means they boast a float service life of up to 18 years and can be stored for up to two years without needing to be refreshed or recharged.
If you’re unsure if lead crystal battery power is right for your product or application, don’t hesitate to ask the team here at Ivanhoe. With over 15 years of direct experience with battery power, our knowledgeable staff are happy to help you make an informed decision.
You can get in touch with us directly on 0845 555 5511, or message us via the contact page. For more information on our products, including charging accessories, you can download one of our brochures here.
Announcing the launch of our new Strident Batteries website
After several years of service, we thought it was finally time to redesign the old website and replace it with a slicker, more advanced responsive WordPress website. We are also using our new trading form - so welcome to the Strident Batteries website.
So what’s new?
We’ve refreshed the content and tied it all in with our social media activity, as well as introducing a fresher and more dynamic “News” section which will keep you informed on what we’re up to and any useful insight we think is worth sharing.
The design of the site is focused on user experience across a range of devices including desktop machines, laptops, iPads and tablets and also mobile users.
We value your opinion
We know how busy you are but if you have a minute, have a browse and see what you think. We’d welcome any feedback and thoughts.
Please also let us know if you cannot find something or would like to make any suggestions for new information or topics.
Many thanks for your ongoing support and we look forward to hearing from you