Trinity EBC — Electronic Braking Castors for Healthcare
Centralised control. Automatic braking. Intuitive steering.
Trinity Electronic Braking Castors (EBC) are advanced medical castors that combine centralised control, automatic braking and intuitive steering to improve safety and control in healthcare environments.
Why Choose Trinity Electronic Braking Castors?
Designed for hospital beds, treatment chairs and mobile medical equipment, Trinity Electronic Braking Castors (EBC) combine a high dynamic load rating with a 3-in-1 brake function and fixed pedal position for consistent, reliable operation.
In busy healthcare environments, manual brake engagement is often overlooked—especially during frequent patient transfers. This can lead to unintended equipment movement at critical moments.
Trinity EBC addresses this by automatically applying the brakes after a set period of inactivity (typically 60 seconds), helping ensure equipment remains stable without relying on manual input.
Also known as smart castors, e-lock castors or e-castors, the system enables braking and steering to be controlled from any castor pedal, handset or nurse control panel—improving steering and manoeuvrability for staff.
Features
- Innovative patented design.
- Automatic braking — with programmable timing.
- Centralised control — Engage or release brakes from any castor, handset, or control panel.
- Intuitive steering — for seamless, smooth manoeuvrability from either head or foot-end of the bed.
- 3-in-1 brake modes — Switch between free swivel, directional lock, or total brake mode.
- Fixed-position soft-touch pedal — always accessible from any angle.
- Brake status indicator lights — for at-a-glance visibility.
- Low-profile design — for broader equipment compatibility.
- Available in 100, 125 and 150 mm diameters.
- Designed and manufactured in Australia.
- 3-year warranty.
Benefits
- Improved patient safety — through automatic braking and equipment stabilisation.
- Reduced manual handling — for healthcare staff.
- Greater control — during transport and positioning.
- Versatile — ideal for hospital beds, stretchers, trolleys, treatment chairs, and mobile medical equipment.
- Design flexibility — slim cable system replaces bulky, traditional, rigid transfer bar mechanisms.
- Reliable performance — in demanding environments.
Innovative patented design
Trinity castors and Trinity EBC are designed in Australia and made under the following patents:
- USA patent 8205297 (12/663354).
- European patent 2164715.
- Australian patent 2008258348.
- International patent pending 20150266342.
Award-winning innovation
Recognised as a Good Design Award® winner, Trinity EBC reflect innovation in healthcare safety and equipment design.
With automatic braking, intuitive steering and multi-point control, it represents the next evolution in hospital castor technology.
Applications for Medical Equipment
Trinity Electronic Braking Castors are used across a wide range of healthcare equipment. Visit our Trinity EBC Applications page to see real-world customer examples and videos demonstrating how EBC performs across different medical applications.
How Electronic Braking Castors Work
Fixed brake pedal position
The brake pedal remains in a constant position, ensuring it is always accessible—no matter how the castor is oriented.
Three-in-one brake pedal function
Each castor supports directional lock, free swivel and total brake modes, providing full control during movement and positioning.
Automatic braking and intuitive steering
Steer the hospital bed like you flip your iPhone™
“It would be nice if the bed automatically knew where it was going and for the brakes to turn on and off at the flick of a switch.”
Similar to how a smartphone detects orientation, Trinity EBC responds to movement patterns to automatically adjust steering behaviour, and intelligently decides when and how to engage or disengage the castor's directional lock.
No power, no problem
In the unlikely event of a power cut, the castors can still be manually steered and locked through the pedals, just like a normal Trinity castor. This allows you to still use the bed normally.
How automatic braking and intuitive steering works
- Purposeful movement in either direction engages the directional lock to the forward wheels, allowing the rear wheels to do the steering.
- No movement for one second disengages the directional lock and allows free movement to all four castors.
- No movement for 60 seconds engages the brakes on all four castors. This can be disengaged from the handset or by using any of the four pedals.
“After owning a car with electric windows, why would I buy a car with wind-up ones?”
Supporting Fall Prevention in Healthcare
Patient falls are a major risk in healthcare environments, often linked to unstable or unsecured equipment.
Trinity EBC supports fall prevention by:
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Automatically braking when equipment is not in use.
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Reducing reliance on manual braking procedures.
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Improving overall equipment stability.
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Supporting safer patient transfers.
This makes Trinity EBC an effective solution for hospitals and aged care facilities focused on improving safety outcomes and reducing risk.
Engineered for Healthcare Environments
Trinity EBC castors are built to withstand the rigorous demands of healthcare use, and are designed for continuous, high-frequency use and long-term durability. They come with a 3-year warranty.
Standard medical castors vs Trinity EBC
Feature |
Standard Medical Castors |
Trinity EBC Castors |
|---|---|---|
| Braking | Manually by foot (must be applied by staff) | Automatically, electronically or manually |
| Risk of equipment movement | Higher (if brakes are not applied) | Reduced (automatic braking when stationary) |
| Ease of use | Requires manually engaging brakes | Multiple control options (pedal, handset, panel), and easily steer from head or foot-end of bed |
| Brake accessibility | Pedal position varies depending on which way the castor is facing at the time | Fixed pedal position (always accessible) |
| Manoeuvrability | Basic | Effortless controlled movement with intuitive steering |
| Hygiene suitability | Standard | IPX5 rated for washdown environments |
| Noise levels | Standard | Low-noise operation |
Designed for OEM Integration
Trinity EBC is engineered for flexibility in medical equipment design. For detailed system integration, see the Trinity EBC Control page.
Cable-based system replaces mechanical linkages.
Greater freedom in bed, chair and equipment configuration.
Simplifies integration into healthcare equipment (existing units or during the design phase).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Trinity EBC (electronic braking castors)?
Trinity EBC (Electronic Braking Castors) are smart, electronically controlled castors that automatically manage the braking and steering of mobile equipment. Unlike traditional castors with manual foot brakes, they allow all wheels to be locked or released simultaneously from a pedal, handset or central control panel. Commonly used on hospital beds, treatment chairs and medical equipment, Trinity EBC improve safety by preventing unintended movement, while making equipment easier and more controlled to manoeuvre.
How do Trinity EBC castors improve safety?
They eliminate the need for manual braking, ensuring equipment is automatically stabilised when not in motion, reducing the risk of movement-related incidents. This is especially important in busy medical environments where brakes could be easily forgotten.
Can Trinity EBC castors be used on existing equipment?
Yes, they can be retrofitted to existing beds or medical equipment. Connecting castors with electrical cables, rather than mechanical linkages, provides full design freedom for healthcare equipment manufacturers. This enables greater flexibility in bed and chair configurations, allowing seamless integration of braking systems without mechanical constraints.
Are electronic braking castors suitable for hospitals and aged care facilities?
Yes, they are specifically designed for healthcare environments where safety, control and reliability are critical.
Looking for more information?
Contact us
Request a quote or speak with our team to find the right solution for your application.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1300 934 471 (within Australia) or +613 9300 8555 (international).
