Worldwide, our name stands for high-quality and technologically outstanding products and services in Orthobionic® and Bionicmobility®. Our activities are people-oriented: Our high-tech products in the product segments prostheses and orthoses as well as wheelchairs and neuroimplants serve to provide people with the highest degree of mobility and independence.
Aside from these core sector of Orthobionic®, Bionicmobility® comprises a further competence field of Ottobock. It offers, for one, an entire program of manual and power wheelchairs and products for children’s rehabilitation. In addition, with the development of neuroimplants in Bionicmobility®, Ottobock achieved a breakthrough in medical technology.
We are convinced that neurostimulation will lead to breathtaking possibilities in medical care. For example, clinical studies have already proven that the ActiGait®, which triggers the stimulation of the peroneal nerve, allows stroke patients with weak dorsiflexion to regain a secure walking ability to a large degree. On the 26th of September 2006, ActiGait® was approved for the European market. Electric stimulation has become an extraordinarily fascinating research field. One application would allow incomplete paraplegic patients to stand up and take several steps on their own.
Prepared for the future
Ottobock sees great future potential in the development of prostheses with biofeedback mechanisms and in the continual improvement of materials for more safety and comfort. For a successful future, we will continue to look for innovative solutions, such as electronically controlled prosthesis or orthosis systems and products made of high-end materials such as carbon.
That is why our company spends some 30 million euros annually for research and development. In worldwide networked development competency centers, Ottobock consolidates special expertise, e.g. carbon fiber technology or electronic control and measurement technology for Service Fabrication. While the complexity of high-tech solutions grows, so does the cost pressure in the healthcare sector. In light of this, Service Fabrication is an essential building block in our collaboration with clients. We deliver individually prefabricated products for which we received the required user specification from our clients .
Family business in third generation
Continuity is a mainstay of our growth course. Since 1990, the family business has been run by Prof. Hans Georg Näder, the third generation of entrepreneurs. The grandson of the founder took over management of Ottobock at the age of 28. The personal performance of Prof. Hans Georg Näder as entrepreneur has been honored with high distinctions. In 2003, he was distinguished as Germany’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in the prestigious “Industry” category. For his social commitment, Minister Christian Wulff presented Prof. Näder with the State Award of Lower Saxony in November 2005. For Prof. Näder, who describes his leading role in the company as that of a team manager, these distinctions also reflect the competency and motivation of his employees. Ottobock has been ranked among the top 100 companies among Germany’s medium-sized businesses for many years.
