Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Hamminkeln/Essen, 1 July 2026 – ergoflix Group GmbH, part of the Sunrise Medical Group, has been awarded the Red Dot Design Award 2026 in the Healthcare category. The award recognises the ergoflix® vario, from the German market leader in foldable electric wheelchairs. This marks ergoflix’s success in one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions. A jury of design experts assessed the submitted products according to criteria such as degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics and aesthetic quality. The Red Dot Award ceremony will take place today, 7 July, at the Aalto Theatre in Essen.
In the competition, the ergoflix® vario impressed the jury above all with its clearly structured design, which enables ergonomic and comfortable mobility in everyday life. Visible connecting elements make the functions intuitive to understand and facilitate adjustment. Clean lines, dynamic elements, seamlessly integrated lighting and a battery with an integrated carrying handle underline the modern design. Technically, the ergoflix® vario features 10-inch front wheels, a suspension-equipped rear axle, a quiet sine-wave drive and a range of up to 25 kilometres.
Medical and therapeutic benefits confirmed by experts
“With the dynamic, emotive design of the ergoflix® vario, we aim not only to provide tailored ergonomics and the resulting increased comfort, but above all to break down the stigma surrounding medical aids,” explains Thomas Eckermann-Brahe, lead product designer. “In this way, we help people with mobility impairments to break out of social isolation and actively participate in social life,” adds Max Reimann, lead product engineer. Furthermore, the ergoflix® vario’s individual adjustability offers enhanced seating comfort. The ability to adjust the seat height, the backrest and armrests, as well as the footrest, ensures that an ergonomically correct sitting position can be adopted, which provides long-term relief for the body and minimises the risk of follow-up treatment – a link that has been confirmed by experts.
Development process
The idea and design of the ergoflix® vario originated with the company’s in-house product team – from the initial sketch to the finished model. The development of this premium wheelchair drew on many years of experience in the field of foldable electric wheelchairs, as well as specific feedback from real-world use. The result is a well-thought-out product that combines comfort and design. “Our aim is to give people greater mobility and a greater zest for life through modern and attractive assistive devices. With the ergoflix® vario, we have achieved precisely this aim, and we are particularly proud that the ergoflix® vario has been honoured with the prestigious Red Dot Design Award,” says Thomas Dieste, Managing Director of ergoflix. “This confirms our role as a market leader in quality and design.”
About ergoflix and Sunrise Medical
ergoflix Group GmbH is a healthcare company specialising in foldable electric wheelchairs, based in Hamminkeln on the Lower Rhine. Founded in 2017 by brothers David and Dennis Stadler, the company launched the first foldable electric wheelchair on the German market with a medical aid number entitling users to subsidies from health insurance providers. Today, the company is established as the market leader – with the ergoflix® LX as the best-selling folding wheelchair in Germany. In addition to high-quality electric wheelchairs for indoor and outdoor use, the product range also includes accessory solutions tailored to customers’ individual needs. With around 100 employees and a distribution network of more than 700 medical supply shops throughout Germany, ergoflix enables people with physical disabilities to lead active and independent lives.
Since the end of 2025, the company has been part of the Sunrise Medical Group, a world leader in the development, design, manufacturing, and distribution of innovative, high-quality assistive mobility devices and services, operating in 23 countries, with products distributed in more than 130 countries.