Do prostheses, orthoses and wheelchairs simply have to work properly, or should they also feature an attractive and modern appearance? Medical studies have been accumulating similar results for years: The emotional acceptance of a therapy approach by the patient has a major impact on the healing process. In terms of the product design, this means new solutions, shapes and colours need to be explored, and the ideal symbiosis of function, quality and design.
In order to obtain a harmony of form and function for all our innovations, product planners from Mobility Solutions integrate internal and external designers in the development process right from the beginning. National and international design awards confirm that we are on the right track. This complex and laborious process pays off – on the one hand, for wheelchair users, who benefit from well-designed and constructed products, and on the
other hand for Otto Bock HealthCare, which strengthens its market profile.
Initially a pilot project, the SuperFour® ended up opening new perspectives by overcoming the most demanding conditions. The outdoor vehicle can handle slopes of up to 40 degrees as well as extremely challenging terrain. Manufacturing began in Königsee in 2006. Up to the halogen headlights, each detail
was developed with the highest demands for quality and user-friendliness. As for the design, Otto Bock employed the renowned automobile designer Urs Schönauer right from the beginning. With its singular functionality and its sensational styling, the SuperFour® became the audience favorite at rehabilitation trade shows, automobile fairs and at the International Tourism Fair in Berlin.
The importance of the union of form and function comes particularly to the fore in developments and products for children. Therapeutic walking aids, rehabilitation buggies and active wheelchairs not only require a light, robust and ergonomic build, they also have to be childfriendly. Only this will ensure that the products are accepted and willingly used by the children, which in turn promotes their development and integration.
Otto Bock places great value on being in direct contact with our specialty dealers as well as the exchange of experiences with people who use our products daily. Each age group has their specific needs and desires, and knowing them helps us in developing new ideas and solutions. That is because high quality products that give users a higher quality of life establish themselves successfully in the market. This philosophy has had a long tradition in the company
