UK companies exhibiting products to assist mobility and independence reached customers from across the world at Rehacare 2009 in Düsseldorf.

The four-day show is the world's leading exhibition for assistive technology and rehabilitiation products.

Companies in the UK pavilion were visited by distributors and health professionals from Europe, the Middle East, Australia, China, the USA and elsewhere.

Charlotte Fraser, International Manager at Medilink Y&H, regional sector specialist for UKTI, noted: "As the population in the UK and Europe increasingly ages, attention is focusing on the need to provide innovative support through products and services that enable people to live more independently and reduce the time they spend in hospital or in care. This is an area that the UK specialises in, and it was great to see how much international interest there were in UK products at the show."

Some of the UK companies showcasing their products were:

• Specialised Orthotic Services Ltd, which manufactures bespoke seating solutions for people with complex postural requirements.

• Therapy World, which showcased its range of hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy products for use after orthopaedic surgery or injury.

• Care and Independence, whose range of slings and harnesses included the high-comfort Glove Slings, made with computer-aided laser technology.

• Nomad, whose wheelchairs are made to order and submitted to rigorous quality assurance checks.

Gordon McQuilton MBE, Managing Director of Specialised Orthotic Services Ltd, said: "Rehacare was a great platform for showcasing UK innovation, and as such we had exceptional interest from a number of countries including Europe, Australia, Iceland, the US and China. Specialised Orthotic Services is already established as a market leader across the UK and we are now looking to expand globally."

The UK Pavilion at Rehacare 2009