The VELA Tango is an independence chair with an electric seat lift. It looks like an office chair, so it fits into a home, workplace or classroom without drawing attention. Clients raise and lower themselves at the touch of a button, so they can stay seated at the right height for the task, whether that is a kitchen bench, a workbench or the dinner table. Four models are available: the 700E, the 700E with power wheels, the 310E bariatric chair and the 600ES paediatric chair.

The VELA chair can often be used before a wheelchair is fully accepted or needed full time. A client who is mobile but unsteady, working in a tight kitchen, or living in a home with narrow doorways or cluttered spaces can stay independent while other options are assessed.

Our Solutions Specialists have pulled together eight real, de-identified outcomes from recent ACC and Enable funded trials to show how the VELA chair has made a difference in people’s lives.

The VELA Tango is an independence chair with an electric seat lift. It looks like an office chair, so it fits into a home, workplace or classroom without drawing attention. Clients raise and lower themselves at the touch of a button, so they can stay seated at the right height for the task, whether that is a kitchen bench, a workbench or the dinner table. Four models are available: the 700E, the 700E with power wheels, the 310E bariatric chair and the 600ES paediatric chair.

The VELA chair can often be used before a wheelchair is fully accepted or needed full time. A client who is mobile but unsteady, working in a tight kitchen, or living in a home with narrow doorways or cluttered spaces can stay independent while other options are assessed.

Our Solutions Specialists have pulled together eight real, de-identified outcomes from recent ACC and Enable funded trials to show how the VELA chair has made a difference in people’s lives.

8 client examples

Safer movement around the home for a bariatric client

A young adult man with a high falls risk, fatigue and chronic pain had been getting around his home on an office chair and a gutter frame. The 310E bariatric chair with electric lift now gives him more flexibility and safety as he moves from room to room. Funded through Enable.

Moving between workbenches as a jewellery apprentice

An 18-year-old manual wheelchair user starting a jewellery apprenticeship needed to move independently between standing height and seated height workbenches. The 700E chair with power wheels lets him change working height on his own, and he uses the power wheels to allow him to move between benches, as he cannot use his legs to punt. Funded through Enable.

Staying independent in the kitchen instead of a $30,000 modification

An older woman with unsteady mobility who uses a walker was struggling with meal preparation and dishes. Her kitchen modification quote is still being processed, so in the meantime she has a 700E independence chair with swing out footplates. She now works safely in her kitchen and punts the chair easily across the lino. Funded through Enable.

8 client examples

Safer movement around the home for a bariatric client

A young adult man with a high falls risk, fatigue and chronic pain had been getting around his home on an office chair and a gutter frame. The 310E bariatric chair with electric lift now gives him more flexibility and safety as he moves from room to room. Funded through Enable.

Moving between workbenches as a jewellery apprentice

An 18-year-old manual wheelchair user starting a jewellery apprenticeship needed to move independently between standing height and seated height workbenches. The 700E chair with power wheels lets him change working height on his own, and he uses the power wheels to allow him to move between benches, as he cannot use his legs to punt. Funded through Enable.

Staying independent in the kitchen instead of a $30,000 modification

An older woman with unsteady mobility who uses a walker was struggling with meal preparation and dishes. Her kitchen modification quote is still being processed, so in the meantime she has a 700E independence chair with swing out footplates. She now works safely in her kitchen and punts the chair easily across the lino. Funded through Enable.

VELA independence chair in the kitchen

Household chores with VELA independence chair

VELA independence chair in the kitchen

Household chores with VELA independence chair

Configured for reach and breathing for a client with a fused spine

A middle-aged woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a fused spine gets short of breath and fatigues quickly. Bending and turning were limited, reaching the brake was hard and punting over carpet was too tiring. Her 700E chair with power wheels was set up with an extended T style hand brake, a centre mount footplate and a higher backrest. She now spends long periods at bench height with the thoracic support she needs. Funded through ACC.

Hands free in the kitchen after an above knee amputation

A woman with an above knee amputation and shoulder injuries was managing pain and fatigue on a prosthesis and crutches. The 700E independence chair frees her hands for kitchen tasks. At night she transfers from bed to the chair, then to the toilet, without putting on her prosthesis or crawling. Funded through ACC.

Safe toilet transfers while waiting on housing modifications

A young woman with cerebral palsy and fall related injuries found her powered wheelchair too wide for her narrow doorways, so she was crawling to the bathroom while awaiting housing modifications. A 700E independence chair with a T style hand brake extension bent forward for reach gives her independent mobility and safe toilet transfers. She can also reach items stored up high. Funded through ACC.

Two working heights for a home mechanic

A middle-aged man who works on his hobby in his home garage needed a low seat height for working on wheels and a high seat height for the bench. The 700E independence chair gives him both working heights from one seat. Funded through ACC.

Joining in at mealtimes in residential care

A woman in residential care who uses a wheelchair needed a low seat for pivot transfers and a higher seat for communal meals and activities such as cooking. The 700E independence chair with a flip up footrest gives her both. She pivot transfers from a low seat, then raises herself to the table to join in with meals and activity based tasks. Funded through ACC.

Configured for reach and breathing for a client with a fused spine

A middle-aged woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a fused spine gets short of breath and fatigues quickly. Bending and turning were limited, reaching the brake was hard and punting over carpet was too tiring. Her 700E chair with power wheels was set up with an extended T style hand brake, a centre mount footplate and a higher backrest. She now spends long periods at bench height with the thoracic support she needs. Funded through ACC.

Hands free in the kitchen after an above knee amputation

A woman with an above knee amputation and shoulder injuries was managing pain and fatigue on a prosthesis and crutches. The 700E independence chair frees her hands for kitchen tasks. At night she transfers from bed to the chair, then to the toilet, without putting on her prosthesis or crawling. Funded through ACC.

Safe toilet transfers while waiting on housing modifications

A young woman with cerebral palsy and fall related injuries found her powered wheelchair too wide for her narrow doorways, so she was crawling to the bathroom while awaiting housing modifications. A 700E independence chair with a T style hand brake extension bent forward for reach gives her independent mobility and safe toilet transfers. She can also reach items stored up high. Funded through ACC.

Two working heights for a home mechanic

A middle-aged man who works on his hobby in his home garage needed a low seat height for working on wheels and a high seat height for the bench. The 700E independence chair gives him both working heights from one seat. Funded through ACC.

Joining in at mealtimes in residential care

A woman in residential care who uses a wheelchair needed a low seat for pivot transfers and a higher seat for communal meals and activities such as cooking. The 700E independence chair with a flip up footrest gives her both. She pivot transfers from a low seat, then raises herself to the table to join in with meals and activity based tasks. Funded through ACC.

VELA Tango 700E with power wheels

VELA Tango 700E power wheels

VELA Tango 700E with power wheels

VELA Tango 700E power wheels

How to choose the right VELA Tango model

Four models cover most presentations. The table below is a starting point. See the full brochure and comparison chart for complete specifications.

Model	Best suited to	Key differentiator
700E independence chair with electric seat lift	Adults who can self-propel by walking or punting the chair	Electric height adjustment with a central brake, no power assist
700E chair with electric seat lift and power wheels	Adults who fatigue quickly or need help to self-propel	Joystick controlled power wheels, which can be disengaged to roll freely
310E bariatric chair with electric seat lift	Bariatric clients up to 300kg	150mm lift with a reinforced frame, backrest and armrests
600ES paediatric chair with electric seat lift	Children and young people, up to 50kg	200mm or 300mm lift with growth adjustable seating

How to choose the right VELA Tango model

Four models cover most presentations. The table below is a starting point. See the full brochure and comparison chart for complete specifications.

Model	Best suited to	Key differentiator
700E independence chair with electric seat lift	Adults who can self-propel by walking or punting the chair	Electric height adjustment with a central brake, no power assist
700E chair with electric seat lift and power wheels	Adults who fatigue quickly or need help to self-propel	Joystick controlled power wheels, which can be disengaged to roll freely
310E bariatric chair with electric seat lift	Bariatric clients up to 300kg	150mm lift with a reinforced frame, backrest and armrests
600ES paediatric chair with electric seat lift	Children and young people, up to 50kg	200mm or 300mm lift with growth adjustable seating

Frequently asked questions

Can a VELA Tango chair reduce the need for housing modifications? Yes. Several clients have used the range as a bridge while waiting for housing modifications, or as a lower cost alternative.

Is the VELA Tango range suitable for clients with a high falls risk? Yes. The central brake, directionally stable wheels and electric height adjustment support clients managing falls risk from neurological, orthopaedic or spinal conditions, including those who fatigue quickly or have reduced balance.

Can the chair be used by clients who need help to self-propel? Yes. The 700E chair with electric lift and power wheels adds a joystick and power wheels for clients who find walking or punting the chair too tiring. The wheels can be flicked up to disengage, so the chair rolls freely like a standard VELA Tango.

What weight ranges does the VELA Tango range support? The 700E models support users up to 145kg. The 310E bariatric model supports users up to 300kg. The 600ES paediatric model supports users up to 50kg.

Which funders cover the VELA Tango range in New Zealand? The range has been funded through both ACC and the Ministry of Health Enable scheme, depending on the client's circumstances and clinical need.

Can the chair be configured for clients with limited reach or upper limb movement? Yes. Options include an extended T style hand brake, centre mount footplates, swing out or flip up footplates and a higher backrest. These have supported clients managing spinal fusion, contracted upper limbs and limited reach.

What is the difference between a VELA Tango chair and a wheelchair? A standard wheelchair is built for general mobility. The VELA Tango is built for indoor activities of daily living, including work, and supports sit to stand transfers and bench height access. Some clients use it alongside their wheelchair.

Need help applying this to a current client? Talk to a Cubro Solutions Specialist about trialling a VELA Tango chair. Call 0800 101 211 or email [email protected].