Acime Manchester 3 Chair vs TransitFlow Portering Chair – An Honest Comparison

In this article, we compare the TransitFlow Portering Chair with the Acime Manchester 3 Portering Chair, taking a deep dive into their differences, similarities, and pros & cons. Hopefully, this will help you get a good understanding of the chairs and help you make your decision.

Comparison Table

What is the Acime Manchester 3 Portering Chair?

The Manchester 3 is a portering chair from Acime. Popular in A&E departments and maternity wards, the Manchester 3 has innovative features such as a sliding footrest, central braking, and folding armrests.

Pros of the Acime Manchester 3

• Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre – The lightweight design makes the Acime chair easy for porters to manoeuvre and push. 
• Folding armrests – This feature allows side access and easy transfers for patients, porters, and nursing staff, and the folding design is easier and quicker to use compared to drop-down rests 
• Folding footrest – The folding footrest is easy and quick for patients and porters to use and folds out of the way for easy transfers.
• Protective bumpers – These handy bumpers help protect the frame and paintwork from bumps and scratches.

Cons of the Acime Manchester 3

• Poor parts availability – Acime isf a France-based manufacturer, and spare parts are reported to be difficult to obtain, which can slow down repair times and reduce your available fleet.
• Not stackable – No nesting feature means the Acime chairs will take up more storage space when not in use.

Is there a bariatric version of the Acime Chair?

Yes, the bariatric version is called the Acime Manchester Heavyweight and has a safe working load of 329kg. 

What options are available for the Acime Chair?

• IV Pole
• Coin Deposit Slot (£1 coin) i.e. Shopping Trolley Locking System
• Key Locking Slot
• Chain and Wall Mounted Attachment for Coin Deposit Slot
• ABS Plastic Compartment for Patient’s Items
• Document Holder for Rear of Chair
• Adjustable Orthopedic Leg Rest with Support
• Support for Orthopedic Leg Rest (each)
• Oxygen Bottle Holder Under the Seat
• Urine Pouch Hook
• Anti-theft Device for IV Pole
• 2 Hooks for Anti-theft Devices
• 2 Hooks and Chain for Lateral Leg Rest
• Non-standard Cover

What is the TransitFlow Portering Chair?

Designed for hospital use, the TransitFlow Portering Chair blends modern design with robust functionality and enables patients to be transported safely and comfortably in situations where a patient stretcher is unnecessary.

Pros of the TransitFlow Chair

• Modern & attractive design – The attractive design of the TransitFlow will bring a touch of modernity to your hospital
• Folding armrests – This feature allows side access and easy transfers for patients, porters, and nursing staff, and the folding design is easier and quicker to use compared to drop-down rests 
• Sliding footrest – The auto-locking sliding footrest is an easier alternative to folding footrests and is designed to be stood on without the chair tipping, allowing easy transfers.
• Large rear wheels – 300mm rear wheels allow the chair to be more easily pushed compared to chairs with small wheels and castors.
• Integrated document and belongings holders
• Nesting feature – Encourages tidy storage and maximises storage space.
• Integrated bumpers – To protect the chair from dents or scratches in the event of a collision.

Cons of the TransitFlow Chair

• IV Pole isn’t fixed – This could lead to the IV pole going missing or being displaced easily. There is an option of purchasing the TransitFlow with a fixed IV pole to remedy this issue.

Is there a bariatric version of the TransitFlow Portering Chair?

Yes, the TransitFlow Bariatric has a safe working load of 250kg.

What options are available for the TransitFlow Portering Chair?

• IV pole (removable or fixed)
• Anti-static system
• Anti-theft system
• Accessory basket
• Cylinder holder
• Leg rest
• Coin lock (for coin or specific token)
• Wall fixation
• Bag hooks

Which portering chair should you choose?

Which chair you decide to go for will depend on your specific needs and requirements, but hopefully, this article has served to explain some of the key differences between each portering chair and educate you as to what to look for.  Ultimately the best judge for this is you though, and there’s no better way to form a judgement than to try the equipment in your hospital.

Felgains are exclusive suppliers of the TransitFlow Portering Chair, and we offer the option for you to trial it in your hospital – please get in touch with us to arrange. 

Related articles

A complete comparison of the most popular hospital Portering Chairs of 2024

How much does the TransitFlow Portering Chair cost?

4 Tips To Avoid Porter Injury When Moving Hospital Beds And Stretchers

Get in touch

Got a question or want to send us a message? Let’s talk.