Part of your movement since 1988

MBL was established by the Lauritsen family in Denmark. The first 18 months, MBL was a ‘garage company’. The attic of the Lauritsen family’s private home, as well as the children’s playhouse, were turned into small warehouses.

Wheels were assembled around the table-tennis table where local kids came to work after school. After that first period, the space became too small and external facilities were rented.

Mogens and Ingelise quickly realized that quality components were needed to meet the needs of wheelchair producers and end-users.

After meeting a young Polish engineer named Marek, Mogens and Ingelise decided to start a subsidiary company in Poland to expand MBL’s assembly capacity and meet the market’s demand for quality and price.

With Marek’s help, the first premise in Piotrkow was rented — 50 m2 without heat, electricity, or water. After a few months coping with those conditions, MBL Poland moved into better facilities – an old supermarket in Sulejow. 

Due to a lack of infrastructure in Poland in the early 1990s, Mogens and Marek had to drive 60km to a post office when they wanted to make a phone call or send a fax. 

MBL purchased two CNC machines to produce its own wheel hubs at MBL Denmark. This was the start of MBL’s in-house production of wheelchair components.

1994 was also the year when the first complete rear wheel was made in-house at MBL Poland.

Having previously sourced components from China, MBL was one of the first Danish companies to set up production facilities there. This was a necessary and strategic step to keep costs low and remain competitive. 

A production hall of 1000 m2 was rented and two machines purchased: a saw and a machine to coil tubes for push rims. These were soon followed by CNC machines for making wheel hubs and machines for rim production. 

Building a business in China was a fascinating experience that yet again highlighted the can-do mentality of MBL’s founders. The first employee hired in China could not speak English, but he could write English and draw perfectly. Luckily, engineers can communicate through drawings.

At the MBL facility in China, the first complete rear wheel was made in-house. This was a big day and a true milestone.

Today, we produce around 450,000 rear wheels per year in MBL Poland and MBL China.

Initiation of MBL’s private label complete products production.

We began MBL’s private label production of complete products.

MBL Poland moves from the facility in Sulejow to its present location in Piotrkow Trybunalski.

 Initially, MBL moved into one building of 1,600 m2, which was part of a larger area, including several buildings belonging to a sewing factory. 

 Today, MBL owns most of that area, including the beautiful main building of 20,000 m2.

MBL launches a full range of portable wheelchair ramps and polyurethane tires.

MBL launches a full range of actuators, tilt-and-lift systems for the powered wheelchair market.

MBL’s manufacturing completes the transition from Denmark to Poland and China.

Launch of direct distribution of private label configured wheelchairs to clients of one of MBL’s OEM customers.

MBL launches complete rollator production.

Launch of the SkyLite ultralight wheels with a weight of less than 900 grams for the complete wheel with tire and push rim, enabling ease of transportation.

MBL wins “Best Polish Investor in China” following its successful international expansion. Plus, Mezzanine Capital Partners invests €15m in MBL helping to achieve continued growth.

The year of 2017 was no quiet year for MBL.

First, all of MBL’s production facilities were recertified with ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Also in 2017, MBL launched its long-term care bed product line and opened its first warehouse in Pennsylvania, USA.

Finally, the OEM power assist unit’s production was planned and later launched in 2020.

Invalda INVL – a large investment fund from Lithuania – replaces Mezzanine Capital partners with a 48% stake and enters into a partnership with the Lauritsen family.