U.S. Wheelchair Ramps Market

U.S. Wheelchair Ramps Market Insights:

Wheelchair ramps are installed in commercial and residential spaces to allow accessibility to persons with disabilities. It is an inclined plane installation, and is often an addition to regular flight of stairs. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, all new construction of public accommodations are required to build wheelchair ramps. Although most residential applications do not need to comply with the ADA code and guidelines, they prove to be a good reference point for the ideal handicap ramp slope and length. Most of the businesses, churches, schools and other public organizations are required to comply with the ADA ramp specifications and requirements for handicapped wheelchair ramp access. The different types of wheelchair ramps include threshold ramps, suitcase ramps, trifold lamps and modular lamps among others. These types of wheelchair ramps serve the same purpose, but have different characteristics which come handy according to the place of installation. 

ADA Ramp Guidelines require a 1:12 wheelchair ramp sole ratio, or ADA ramp slope of 4.8 degrees. It also requires a minimum of 5' x 5' flat area at the top and bottom of the handicap ramp. The handrails on the ramp are required to be between 34" and 38" in height on both sides. Most states in U.S. have their own versions of ADA guidelines and ramp requirements which may be more restrictive than the Federal Law. Companies are exploring opportunities in developing 3D printed wheelchair ramps. Prototypes of 3D printed wheelchair ramps have been developed, and are being worked upon to improve their capabilities and design. While 3D printed wheelchair ramps take a very long time to print, the technology is expected to catch up and find its way into the production process of wheelchair ramps.

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U.S. Wheelchair Ramps Market Drivers:

High population of disabled individuals in the U.S.:

Wheelchair ramps play an important role in providing accessibility to individuals with disabilities. They provide an incline plane installation in addition to the stairs, which allow wheelchairs’ users, strollers, carts and other wheeled objects to be pushed on the ramp. More than 22% of the adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. Of these, approximately 13% of the population has serious difficulty climbing or walking stairs. Disability is more common in non-Hispanic blacks and women. One in four women has a disability, while three in ten non-Hispanic blacks have a disability. Disabilities in the country cost more than USD 400 billion in healthcare expenditure. There has been a steady increase in the number of people living with disabilities in the U.S.

The percentage of geriatric population in the U.S. has also increased significantly over the past years, which is further expected to augment the demand for wheelchair ramps in the country. The percentage of population over the age of 65 suffering from any disability was 64.8% in the U.S. in 2016. The state with the highest percentage of disability was West Virginia. Some other states with a high concentration of disability are Maine, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Oregon among others. Some American cities which rank the highest in terms of easy of living for people with disabilities include Seattle, Portland, Reno, Albuquerque and Denver among others. The number of people using traditional as well as power wheelchairs stood at 3.3 million in 2015, and is increasing every year. More than 98% of the public transport buses in the U.S. are equipped with wheelchair accessible ramps. These factors coupled with growing rate of disabilities in the country are driving the demand for wheelchair ramps during the forecast period.

Growing awareness about improving wheelchair accessibility:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the Federal law which provides Wheelchair ramp specifications and ADA guidelines which must be met by all businesses. The penalties for non-compliance can go up to USD 5000 per violation with no warning. The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures access to the built environment for people with disabilities. The Act prescribes certain design requirements for construction and alteration of facilities subject to the law, and applies to commercial facilities, places of public accommodation, state and local Government facilities. The Access Board is responsible for updating and developing design guidelines which are known as the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). These guidelines are used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to set enforceable standards for the public to follow. The act states that all new public accommodations, buildings and commercial facilities that are constructed must have wheelchair ramps to provide equal accessibility and convenience to those facing disabilities. Growing awareness about making public places such as beaches, shopping malls, museums and hospitals wheelchair friendly is driving the demand for wheelchair ramps in the U.S. Many cars and other vehicles in the U.S. also come equipped with wheelchair ramps of various sizes to accommodate needs of the consumer.

U.S. Wheelchair Ramps Market: Porters Five Forces Analysis

Threat of new entrants:

The threat of new entrants in the U.S. Wheelchair Ramps market is expected to be moderate to high during the forecast period. Wheelchair Ramps find applications across various end use industries such as commercial buildings, hospitals, hotels, libraries and public transport among others.  Growing awareness about making spaces accessible to the disabled population in the U.S. is expected to attract companies to enter the market space during the coming years. Further, innovative companies are expected to hold the upper hand in introduction of new products in the market. 

Threat of substitutes:

The threat of substitutes refers to the danger that an alternate product may pose to the existing ones. The substitutes to wheelchair ramps include porch lifts, which can be used as an alternative to ramps. Porch lifts are designed to allow disabled individuals to have access to a raised porch or a deck in between floors. There are different factors to be considered while choosing between porch lifts and wheelchair ramps, as both provide the same advantage but in different scenarios. The threat of substitutes in the U.S. wheelchair ramp market is therefore expected to be moderate to high. 

Bargaining power of suppliers:

The bargaining power of suppliers refers to the power that the raw material suppliers hold, mainly in terms of varying the price. The raw materials required for manufacturing of wheelchair ramps are stainless steel, iron, aluminium, fiber, plastic and wood among others. The materials may vary depending upon where the wheelchair ramp is to be installed. The bargaining power of suppliers in the U.S. wheelchair ramps market is estimated to be low due to easy availability of raw material. 

Bargaining power of buyers:

The bargaining power of buyers refers to the pressure that the consumers can put on the producers. The bargaining power of buyers in the Wheelchair Ramps market is estimated to be moderate during the forecast period. There are multiple companies operating in the U.S. wheelchair ramps market, and have a widespread presence in the country. Consumers and business owners have a number of wheelchair ramp vendors to choose from. The bargaining power of buyers in the U.S. wheelchair ramps market is estimated to be moderate during the forecast period.

Intensity of competitive rivalry:

 The extent to which the existing market players exert pressure on each other signifies the intensity of competition. The intensity of competitive rivalry in the U.S. wheelchair ramps market is estimated to be moderate to high during the forecast period.  This can be attributed to numerous vendors in the market and growing demand for wheelchair ramps in multiple end use industries.

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