In Norway, about 50 people die annually from a fall on stairs. In addition, around 30,000 individuals require medical assistance after a hip fracture or other injuries.
These were the harsh facts that the students of the NTNU School of Entrepreneurship (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) faced in the years 2012 and 2013. Halvor Wold and his classmates spent a week focusing on the topic of stair falls and were affected by the extent of the issue.
So far, the solution to the risk of a fall on the stairs has mostly been limited to a stair lift, home renovation, or moving to a facility.
“These solutions have one thing in common. They are very costly. They require time and they contribute to making the population more passive,” says Wold.
Your alternative is a kind of stair climbing device that supports people with mobility restrictions in climbing stairs and thus secures them from a fall on the stairs.
In mid-2015, the company introduced the tool for preventing a stair fall in Norway. Over the past two years, the company expanded to Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.
The idea of the stair climbing device is not only to prevent a fall on the stairs, but also to enable each individual to manage their daily life independently.
The system costs between 1,800 and 5,200 euros depending on the type of stairs – installation not included.
“With an aging population, movement and independence are the keys to giving people the opportunity to live in their own homes,” says Wold.
Before Christmas, the product received unexpected attention. The company posted a video on its Facebook page of a six-year-old boy with cerebral palsy.
“He had never before gone up the stairs alone, and this was the first time he had the opportunity to be completely independent. It conveys a sense of achievement that is difficult for us to understand,” says Wold.
The video went viral and has now been seen by millions of people on Facebook, without the company spending a single cent on marketing.
Last year, the company won the investor group “Sprettert” from Stavanger. The group consists of Christian Rokseth, Erik Ålgård, Halvor Øgreid, Magnus Jepson, and Jo Håvard Borsheim, all of whom have been successful entrepreneurs themselves.
Christian Rokseth sold the smartphone Pixavi to the German company Bartec in 2014, and the newspaper Dagens Næringsliv estimated Rokseth’s share of 51 percent to be 100 million kroner.
Magnus Jepson is in turn a co-founder of WooCommerce, which was bought by WordPress.
According to the newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, the sales amount was significantly over 200 million kroner, and Jepson owned half of the shares.
“In 2017, we raised around 3 million crowns through the issuance of shares. Existing shareholders also participated in this financing round,” says Wold.
The six employees of the company are now working on the development of new product areas.
– What does the company look like in five years?
– In five years, we will have a broader product portfolio, with other tools that meet important needs related to home life. The TOPRO Step brand will be synonymous with the product class it represents in the most important European markets.
– What dark clouds do you see on the horizon?
– Nothing in particular. Currently, we have many affected individuals who love the product and are willing to share their story in video stories. Satisfied customers are the most important requirement to generate growth within and outside of Norway.
– Video was an important tool for us in Norway, and we are now also starting in Germany. In mid-February, employees traveled to Austria to visit the first TOPRO Step installations there.
– We are now hiring people to focus on market development in Germany, and after years of hard work, we were accepted by NAV Assistive Technology Centers in Norway.
To date, we have delivered over 200 TOPRO Step Systems in Norway through our distribution partner Hepro.
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 TÜV-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?
We have compiled all frequently asked questions on the FAQ page
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Find out from your care insurance provider about the possibility of TOPRO Step stair climbing aids for adapting your individual living environment – we will be happy to support you!
The topic of stair safety and the TOPRO Step stair climbing aid. Tommy Jørdal holds on to the handle of the TOPRO Step and pushes himself forward with the help of the handle. Tommy Jørdal feels completely safe and can now finally climb the stairs at home again – without any help from others.
Our muscles are vital. Because we can only move through our muscles. Muscles are also part of many important processes such as swallowing and breathing. If muscle mass decreases significantly with age, this is referred to as muscle atrophy in old age (also known as sarcopenia).
The stair climbing aid has now been installed at the Lamarktunet rehabilitation and retirement center for a one-year trial period. Torstein Lien is 91 years old and now somewhat unsteady on his feet. But now he has the opportunity to practise climbing stairs independently. (This is a translation based on an article by Trond K. Johansen, originally published in Bladet Vesterålen on July 11, 2018)
Curved stairlifts can be quite expensive. This article describes prices, options and cheaper alternatives to curved stairlifts.
Do you need additional support when climbing stairs? Get to know the unique TOPRO Step stair grab bar that offers you safety and support. The TOPRO Step stairgrip consists of a modern and discreet grab rail coupled with a unique, first-class stainless steel handrail system.
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