Medline makes lighter chairs

MUNDELEIN - As obesity rates continue to rise, there is an increased need for transport chairs capable of carrying heavier patients for extended periods of time in health care settings. In response to that need Medline Industries Inc., a privately held manufacturer and distributor of health care supplies, introduced the Excel Freedom Plus Transport Chair. It's lightweight, strong and, says Medline, more comfortable than typical self-propelling wheelchairs. The chair is made entirely of aluminum and weighs only 33 pounds, which is 25 percent lighter than many self-propelling wheelchairs Medline sell, the company said.