Buying rehabilitation robots from China: what to check before you order

Choosing rehabilitation equipment involves the device, the people who will operate it and the support available after delivery. A manufacturer visit can help your team gather the information needed to compare proposals and identify open questions before an order.

In October 2026, we arranged a two-day Shenzhen visit for the general manager of a South American elder care and rehabilitation center and a second visitor. The meetings included a rehabilitation robot maker and a large robotics company. The published case records on-site quotations and an unresolved training question: the client could not send its staff to China. It also records that no purchase had been signed. Those are the case's recorded findings; the checklist below is preparation advice for a new visit.

Identify the exact device and intended use

Ask for the model name, configuration and market version before comparing features or prices. Match the equipment demonstrated to the written proposal and product documents. Have your organisation's qualified clinical team review whether the stated intended use and operating requirements fit the setting you are considering.

• What is the manufacturer's stated intended use for this model?
• What fitting, adjustment and operator assistance does a session require?
• What preparation, cleaning and resetting are needed between sessions?
• Which parts of the demonstration depend on staff, accessories or a particular setup?

As a separate manufacturer example, MileBot's BEAR A product page lists model variants and specifications. Its document library provides product brochures. Use such documents to prepare questions, then verify that they apply to the exact model offered. These links do not identify the equipment demonstrated in our case or establish treatment outcomes.

Request a comparable written quotation

Ask each maker to quote the same intended scope and to state the currency, validity period and exclusions. A useful quotation separates the device from the services and costs around it:

• the device model and configuration
• included accessories, consumables and optional items
• training scope, participants, location, language and cost
• warranty coverage, spare parts and service charges
• shipping terms and responsibility for import arrangements
• installation, commissioning and any ongoing software fees

Obtain a current, itemised quotation for your own requirements before comparing suppliers.

Make the training plan specific

Ask each supplier who will be trained, who provides instruction and where it takes place. Confirm the language, practical instruction, assessment of operator readiness and follow-up support. Separate training for a distributor from training for the staff who would use the equipment in your organisation.

If your staff cannot travel to China, ask the maker to propose an alternative and put its scope, responsibilities and cost in writing. Do not assume remote training or an overseas trainer is included. The training question in the published rehabilitation-center case remained unresolved; it is a reason to address this early in a new project.

Check documents for your destination and use

Give the maker your destination country and proposed use. Request the model-specific documents it can provide, including the stated intended use, applicable approvals or registrations, and operating instructions. Ask a qualified local regulatory specialist to confirm the requirements for importing and using that model in your setting. A brochure or a reference in another country does not establish the position for your project.

Name the support responsibilities

Ask who responds when the device cannot be used and who carries out repairs in your country. Request the support hours, expected response process, parts supply arrangements and software-update policy. Check who pays for labour, freight and any travel, and how the warranty handles those costs.

Bring unresolved points together in a comparison record: the supplier's answer, the document supporting it, the person responsible and what still needs confirmation.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Chinese rehabilitation robots cost?

Request an itemised quotation for the exact model, configuration and destination. Compare training, warranty, parts, shipping and support on the same basis.

Can staff be trained without travelling to China?

Ask the maker for a specific plan covering the trainer, location, language, practical instruction, follow-up and cost. Do not assume an alternative is available for your project. Training remained unresolved in the published case because the client's staff could not travel to China.

Does a product's overseas reference confirm it can be used in our country?

Request the documents for the exact model and intended use, then have a qualified local specialist confirm your destination's requirements. Treat another institution's use as a question to investigate, rather than approval for your own project.

Prepare your visit brief

Bring your organisation's intended use, staffing and training constraints, destination country and main procurement questions. See our rehabilitation and elder care visit overview, read the published rehabilitation-center case, or send a visit brief.