THE COMPANY

Access AS is a leading provider in the Norwegian market of daily living aids for elderly and handicapped. It has three subsidiaries that specialize in different areas of living assistance. Access Trappeheiser AS is the largest provider of stair lifts and wheel-chair lifts in Norway. In addition to the main office in Hamar, Trappeheiser has 4 branch offices and 4 partner firms that allow it to provide rapid installation and service over the entire country. Access Dørautomatikk AS has a wide range of products including automatic sliding and hinged doors, revolving doors, security card and controlled access, and remote environmental controls in private homes for assisted living. Their high-tech range even includes voice activated remote controllers for lights, blinds, TV, doors, windows, and nearly every other appliance in the home. Dørautomatikk has experienced double-digit growth in the last 5 years straight, and is poised to become the largest company in Norway in its branch. The youngest company in the Access Group is Access Mobility AS. Formed after the sale of the elevator firm in 2001, Mobility's product range includes electric scooters, walkers, and patient lifts. Mobility has counted on innovation and development of new and high-tech products including a heated cabin enclosure for electric scooters with a modern and sleek design.

 

THE IDEA
While searching for the world's best walker for distribution in Norway, it was easy to see that this was one area of the mobility segment that had stagnated for many years. Not satisfied with the models available on the market, Mobility did the research, and took the decision to develop its own walker line. All of the leading models were evaluated and examined, and Mobility set a goal to produce the worlds best walker model. For this daunting task, help was enlisted from Labyrint Development AS, one of the leading design and innovation firms in Scandinavia, to develop the walker. Labyrint was challenged to think 'out of the box' and use today's technology to improve upon the old standard that had been mostly unchanged for nearly 25 years since the invention of the walker. Ergonomics, adjustability, comfort, maneuverability and safety were the key points that Labyrint and Access Mobility decided to take to the next level.

 

DEVELOPMENT
After evolving through many different initial design concepts, the Active walker began to take its form in a lightweight aircraft-aluminium frame with a sleek oval profile, and sturdy fibre-reinforced plastic moulded parts to create an organic design with extremely light weight. Labyrint created an entirely new braking system completely enclosed inside the telescoping handles that eliminates all external cables, and is extremely easy to adjust. The braking system is so revolutionary that it requires no maintenance and was granted world-wide patents for its design. In all, the Active has 5 different patents, including the design, easy seat height adjustability, and braking system.

 

PROTOTYPING
Two years of prototyping and design were required to develop the product shown here. But development has not stopped there. The Active walker is constantly being improved after we receive feedback from actual users and our distributors. This walker has demonstrated outstanding reliability in field tests, including one active senior who rolled over 3,400 km with the Active in just 7 months. Accessories are also being developed to suit users needs. Labyrint has recently completed the design on a unique and patented ski that snaps over the front wheel without tools. The walker can be used outdoors in snowy winter climates with the ski attached, and since the wheel protrudes through a slot in the ski, the walker can just as easily be used inside the home or shops.

 

FINISHED PRODUCT
Mobility and Labyrint worked together to make a rollator that would work well both indoors and out, all year round. This is truly the all-purpose 'Jeep' of walkers. Customer and market reactions are proving that the design of the Active walker is a winner and that the competition has a long way to go to catch up.