RENO, Nev. — Q’Straint is launching its new QRT-360 wheelchair retractor tie-down system for the mobility market at the National Mobility Equipment Dealer’s Association Conference.

The event is being held Feb. 5-7 in Reno.

Q’Straint officials said that the QRT-360 is the first retractor to meet the Rehabilitation Engineering Assistive Technology Society of North America’s higher-strength requirements of WC18 standards for effective wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint systems — well in advance of when they take effect, in December 2015. At that time, compliance with WC18 standards will require wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint systems to be stronger and capable of withstanding loads up to 60% higher.

The QRT-360 is a four-point, heavy duty, fully automatic retractable tie-down system that is built to perform successfully in a 30-mph frontal crash with a crash test wheelchair featuring an integrated lap belt, such as with the popular WC19 chairs, Q'Straint officials said. The QRT-360 is part of the QRT-3 Series and is compatible with most vehicles and chairs for such transportation applications as pupil transportation, personal mobility, paratransit, mass transit and taxi.

“In light of the VA’s [Veterans Affairs'] decision to specify the use of only WC19 wheelchairs, wheelchair OEMs are focusing on these types of chairs for use with their products," said Bob Joseph, Q’Straint's vice president of business development. "As WC19 wheelchairs become increasingly more popular, the need for compatible wheelchair tie-downs becomes more critical."

Joseph said that the QRT-360 retractor as well as Q'Straint's QLK150 product are WC18 and WC19 compliant, "specifically designed and built for today’s wheelchairs and tomorrow’s standards, well ahead of the deadline.”

For more information on the QRT-360, go here.