Designing, manufacturing, and supporting medical IT solutions that put patient safety and value first

When NHS Trusts need reliable, clinically compliant and long-lasting medical IT equipment, they often face a choice: buy from a global brand with high prices, or settle for a lower-cost option that may lack critical safety certifications.

Freeway Med-Tech is disrupting that model. As a wholly UK-owned, family-run manufacturer based in Thatcham, Berkshire, Freeway designs, builds, and supports one of the largest ranges of medical-grade workstations, powered carts, and AIO PCs — all certified to the IEC 60601 medical safety standard.

“We believe NHS Trusts shouldn’t have to compromise between safety, performance, or value,” says Neil Jones, Director of Product Design. “That’s why we manufacture everything ourselves, here in the UK, and sell directly to the NHS. No middle agents, no inflated mark-ups, and no cutting corners on compliance.”

From Concept to Clinic: UK Manufacturing at Scale

Freeway Med-Tech’s 75,000 sq ft facility houses full in-house capabilities:

• CNC robotics
• Sheet steel fabrication
• Advanced laser welding
• Robotic degreasing and powder coating
• Dual multifunction assembly lines

Few competitors can match this level of vertical integration in the UK. It gives Freeway direct control over the end-to-end product lifecycle — from prototyping through to final delivery.

This allows the team to respond quickly to NHS needs, rapidly develop prototypes, and fine-tune production runs. It also ensures consistency in quality, paint finish, fit and function across thousands of units.

Real-World NHS Impact: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

In early 2024, Freeway Med-Tech supplied 359 custom iLiFe AC Workstations on Wheels to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Each unit was fully tailored to the Trust’s requirements — cost-engineered to match competitive tenders while still offering full IEC 60601 certification.

These workstations replaced over 500 laptop carts that had struggled with short battery life, poor WiFi reception, and difficult adjustability. Freeway’s carts solved each of these problems:

• 18+ hours runtime with advanced LiFePO4 batteries
• High-gain internal WiFi aerials for improved data throughput
• Smooth height adjustability and manoeuvrability

Feedback from clinicians was extremely positive, with improved uptime, faster system access, and easier use across shifts.

"We didn’t just meet spec — we helped redefine it," says Jay Carter, Head of Technical Services. "We built in dual-safety battery charging systems, rapid charge capabilities, and ensured every unit delivered clinical performance, not just technical spec."

The Gold Standard: IEC 60601 Compliance

Unlike many suppliers who only test the bare minimum to comply, Freeway Med-Tech goes further.

All powered equipment — including mobile carts, AIO PCs, power inverters, and battery monitors — is certified to IEC 60601. Even when a device isn’t legally required to meet the standard (such as domestic 230V carts marketed for "clinical use"), Freeway ensures it does.

"In areas like A&E, ITU and Theatres, patient safety depends on low leakage currents, strong EMC shielding, and thermal safety," says Jay Carter. "Unfortunately, we’ve seen UK vendors selling non-compliant carts with high RF emissions and earth leakage. That’s a real risk."

As NHS IT procurement teams face growing cost pressures, Freeway believes it is essential that buyers understand the importance of IEC 60601 — and that manufacturers take responsibility, not just Trusts.

Sustainability by Design: Smarter Lifecycles

Freeway doesn’t just innovate in clinical safety. Sustainability is baked into the way its products are designed and shipped.

• The MT700 monitor packaging was redesigned to increase pallet yield from 10 to 44 units — reducing containers needed per shipment from 4.5 to just 1.
• UK stockholding of 880+ MT700s and 3,000 batteries reduces air freight emissions.
• All AIOs use socketed CPUs — meaning they can be upgraded, not replaced, reducing e-waste.
• Battery carts are designed for 7+ years lifespan and industry-leading capacity, reducing the frequency of replacement.

Future-Ready: Innovations for 2025 and Beyond

Freeway’s R&D pipeline includes:

• MT500 14th Gen AIOs with up to 21-hour battery runtime — the only 14th Gen IEC 60601-certified AIO in the UK.
• iLiFe AC Compact — a smaller footprint cart retaining full safety, battery performance, and support.
• Remote monitoring software — allowing Trusts to monitor battery state-of-health (SoH), usage logs, and warranty data.
• iLiFe ZERO and iWOW ZERO — Freeway’s biggest shift yet: feature-rich powered carts starting from just £1950, designed with ‘zero fat’ but full safety.

"The ZERO range reflects 18 months of rethinking," explains Neil. "It’s about giving Trusts the tools they need, at a price point that makes them accessible, without cutting corners on compliance or battery life."

A Team That Says Yes

Freeway’s factory and support team is 50-strong, with many staff having 10+ years' tenure. The company has promoted apprentices into key roles and maintained a culture of responsiveness and engineering-led design.

"We often say yes when others say no,” says Neil. "If a Trust needs something adapted, we don’t wait for a board meeting — we walk over to the assembly floor and make it happen."

Support That Goes Further

Freeway provides:

• 5-year onsite warranties (including batteries and inverters)
• Pre-configuration of peripherals (e.g. scanners, keyboards, USB readers)
• Onsite install and delivery to exact ward locations
• Remote support software for quick diagnostics and repair

All products can be delivered under vesting certificates, stored free for 12 months, and supported with swap-out stock where needed.

Ready to Support the NHS

Freeway Med-Tech is here to support the NHS with safer, smarter, and more sustainable medical IT. Whether you need a custom workstation fleet, a battery-powered AIO, or a downtime computing solution that works when the network doesn't — Freeway has you covered.

“We’re not just a supplier,” says Jay. “We’re a partner in patient safety, and we’re proud to be doing this in Britain."

To book a demo or learn more, visit:
www.freewaymedtech.com