Comparing the Felgains GZS vs GZ10SL; which bed mover is best for your hospital?
When looking at implementing powered bed movers in your hospital to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury, you’re likely to come across multiple brands of bed movers on the market. The purpose of this article is to compare two powered bed movers from Felgains; the GZS Bed Mover and the GZ10SL Slimline Bed Mover.
Both bed movers share a lot of similarities, however, there are a number of key differences that may mean one is more suitable for your hospital than the other. This article will dive into the positives and drawbacks of each bed mover, and reveal where they differ from each other, to enable you to make the best decision for your hospital.
What is the Felgains GZS Bed Mover?
The Felgains GZS Bed Mover is powerful enough to transport up to 600kg around the hospital, keeping portering and nursing staff safe from musculoskeletal injuries.
The GZS fits around your beds and stretchers, rather than underneath them, so no under-bed clearance is required. This enables the GZS to work with a wide range of hospital beds and stretchers.
Key Features of the GZS
- 600kg safe working load (SWL)
- Ergonomically adjustable handle position for comfortable use by all operators
- Automatic braking for safe operation on slopes or inclines
- 3-speed control, plus reverse and emergency stop
- Toolless attachment to the frames of beds and stretchers
Key Benefits of the GZS
- Very wide compatibility. Because the GZS requires no under-bed clearance and doesn’t rely on attachment to castor wheels, the GZS is compatible with the vast majority of hospital beds and stretchers, reducing the need for buying multiple pieces of equipment to suit the different beds in your trust. It also means the Portering team have a single go-to bed mover, rather than having to decide which bed mover to use for each bed or trolley.
- Compact design. The two arms of the GZS go underneath the main mattress platform, meaning no additional width is added to a standard hospital bed.
- Easy and intuitive to manoeuvre. The GZS is powered by wheels at the end of the two tines, making steering and manoeuvering a bed or stretcher much easier when compared to bed movers that are powered at the end of the bed, or via a joystick. This reduces the risk of the Portering team not using the product because it is difficult to use.
- Fast attachment to beds and stretchers. The GZS attaches to the main frame of a bed or stretcher using a toolless ratchet system, which allows porters to attach it to beds and stretchers more quickly compared to bed movers that attach to caster wheels or under the main structure.
Drawbacks of the GZS
- Bulkier than the GZ10SL. The GZS adds more overall length to the bed when compared to the GZ10SL, which could mean it won’t fit into all of your hospital lifts.
What about the Felgains GZ10SL Slimline Bed Mover?
The Felgains GZ10SL Bed Mover transports up to 500kg around the hospital, keeping portering and nursing staff safe from musculoskeletal injuries.
The single tine slides under the bed or stretcher – requiring only 90mm of clearance – creating effectively a 5th wheel powered drive. This, combined with the compact design, enables easy manoeuvrability through tight corridors and in and out of lifts.
Key Features of the GZ10SL
- 500kg safe working load (SWL)
- Slimline and compact construction
- Incorporated 5th wheel for easy steering
- Ergonomically adjustable handle position for comfortable use by all operators
- Automatic braking for safe operation on slopes or inclines
- 3-speed control, plus reverse and emergency stop
- Toolless attachment to the frames of beds and stretchers
Key Benefits of the GZ10SL
- Very compact design. The GZ10SL adds no additional width to the bed or stretcher, and adds less than 200mm (8 inches) to the length, meaning it is much more compact than traditional bed mover options and can fit into the majority of hospital lifts and corridors.
- Easy and intuitive to manoeuvre. The GZ10SL is powered by a wheel at the end of the tine which slides underneath the bed, effectively creating a 5th wheel, making steering and manoeuvering a bed or stretcher much easier when compared to bed movers that are powered at the end of the bed, or via a joystick. This reduces the risk of the Portering team not using the product through it being too difficult to use.
- Fast attachment to beds and stretchers. The GZ10SL attaches to the main frame of a bed or stretcher using a toolless ratchet system, which allows porters to attach it to beds and stretchers more quickly compared to bed movers that attach to caster wheels or via jaw mechanisms.
Drawbacks of the GZ10SL
- Not compatible with all beds and stretchers. The GZ10SL requires 90mm of clearance underneath the bed or stretcher, which means it isn’t compatible with anything lower than this, or with beds or stretchers that have column lifts protruding below the main structure.
Which bed mover should you choose for your hospital?
Which bed mover you choose for your hospital will depend on your requirements, your hospital environment, and the beds your hospital uses.
The GZS is more likely to be compatible with the majority of your beds and stretchers, however, if your hospital has very narrow corridors or small lifts it may not be suitable. On the other hand, if your hospital uses beds and stretchers that have the 90mm of clearance required to use the GZ10SL, this may be the better option for you.
Most hospitals would look to arrange a demonstration or trial of a bed mover before going ahead with a purchase, and this is something we are happy to arrange for you. Feel free to contact us on 01473 741144, or via the contact form below, to get the conversation started.
Related articles
How to implement the Felgains Bed & Stretcher Movers in your hospital
The Best Powered Bed Movers For Hospitals In 2023
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Terry Smith
