Last Wednesday, the TOPRO Step stair climber was installed in the Aure care home. An aid for climbing stairs. (This is a translation based on an article by Ivar Torset, originally published in Nordvestnytt on March 16, 2017).
Who hasn't thought about inventing something or setting up their own company? Most people leave it at that. However, if you have the motivation and perseverance, these dreams can become reality.
The three students Halvor Wold, Ingrid Lonar and Eirik Medbø studied engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
"It was a complete coincidence, because we didn't know each other beforehand. We came across a report about how many people die from falling down the stairs. All three of us had grandparents who had difficulty on stairs. To cut a long story short, the conversation about the fact that there are 30,000 injuries from falling down stairs every year led us to think about developing a product to tackle this problem," says Halvor Wold, who is originally from Troms in northern Norway.
They agreed to continue working on it and eagerly began developing prototypes to make climbing stairs easier. By 2014, the project had come so far that the trio was looking for external investors.
"We raised enough money to start production, and after a while Hepro included us in their portfolio," says Wold, explaining that the trial and error principle was applied in the process.
"After about five or six prototypes, we felt we had a product that had achieved the goal."
The product they developed is called TOPRO Step and is now available throughout Norway. All produced by those who wanted to be engineers.
The TOPRO Step stair climber is easy to use and only requires the installation of a rail system along the staircase.
"We have seen that the TOPRO Step stair climber helps more people to live at home for longer and that the stair climber is effective in preventing falls down stairs. The system is easy to use. You push a handle in front of you step by step on the way up or down, and the handle engages with the brake mechanism. The person has full control over the entire staircase and if you lose your balance, you always have something to hold on to," explains Halvor Wold about the product they developed themselves.
The Aure nursing home is the first facility in Møre og Romsdal to install this system. After the
The TOPRO Step stair climber was inaugurated last Wednesday after the first stair climber had been installed on site.
"The TOPRO Step stair climber enables activity and helps maintain the individual's functional level at the same time," explains entrepreneur Halvor Wold on the phone from Trondheim.
Anyone in Norway who is eligible for such assistance can apply through their local NAV Assistive Technology Center or contact an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.
"The stair climber is available throughout Norway. It costs about 25,000 kroner, but those who need it get it paid for," says Wold, who also says that four people now live on it.
"We develop and produce, while Hepro takes care of distribution. We have recently launched our product in the Netherlands and Sweden, and we have great confidence in the TOPRO Step stair climber. We have been very well received at the Aure retirement home, the first in Møre og Romsdal," says Wold, who also admits that things have not always been easy since the idea was developed in a student apartment in 2012.
"It's easy to lose motivation when things don't go your way, but together we have persevered and feel like we are now reaping the rewards of our work. We are very proud of our product and what we have achieved."
TOPRO Step information video
To carry out an on-site inspection and receive a quote, make an appointment with us. Once you have accepted the quote, we will carry out the installation, which usually only takes a few hours. .
TOPRO Step is TĂśV-tested and certified and meets all functional and safety requirements.
TOPRO Step is designed so that it can be easily adapted to your staircase. It can be installed on straight stairs, curved stairs and stairs with a landing.
Ask your health insurance company about the possibility of cost coverage or possible subsidies. Please note that these options are country-specific and individual.
TOPRO Step means TOPRO quality. When you buy a TOPRO Step, you receive a guarantee of up to 5 years.
We measure success by satisfied customers, which is our top priority. We already have over 4,000 satisfied users throughout Europe.
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Do you have any questions?
Would you like a free and personal consultation? Get in touch with our TOPRO Step experts and book a free, no-obligation appointment directly at your home.
TOPRO Step Expert
+47 902 931 00
Monday - Friday
08:00 - 16:00 o'clock.
TOPRO Step Expert
+47 902 931 00
Monday - Friday
08:00 - 16:00 o'clock.
Do you have any questions or would you like to test the TOPRO Step stair climber?
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TOPRO Step
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Easier everyday life with a stair climbing aid. Tommy Jørstad found the stairs a major obstacle to his daily life. His balance was poor and his knees were in danger of giving out. But with the bedroom and bathroom on the 2nd floor, the stairs have to be negotiated several times a day. "I was simply afraid to use the stairs," Tommy Jørstad tells us in his living room. (This is a translation based on an article by Anne-Lise Aakervik, originally published in Ergoterapeuten 2nd edition 2017).
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