Shannon Tufvander

Otto Bock develops a variety of products for the rehabilitation market, including bath safety, seating and positioning, and mobility products for pediatrics.

RM: What is the company's key niche in the pediatric market?

Shannon Tufvander: The key niche we have as a company is in the quality, materials, and the design we use in developing products for children with disabilities, and the caregiver conveniences that are built into the products.

Our products are aesthetically pleasing and geared towards the comfort and clinical advancement needed for children. Our company is known for putting the best materials into our pediatric products. The majority of our pediatric products are made in Germany, and we have a high level of quality control that goes through our German manufacturing and production facilities.

RM: What are some of Otto Bock's most popular pediatric products?

Tufvander: Our Kimba family of pediatric products is our most popular. We have five different mobility bases within that family line of products as well as two different seating system options. It allows families to live the lifestyle they want and participate in the environments they choose. It consists of a pediatric wheelchair, a high-low base (which is our Kimba Spider), and our Kimba home underframe (which is our home underframe). Our Kimba Cross pediatric jogging stroller is popular as is our Kimba Twin Tandem—one of the only products on the market that allows mobility for twin children. The Nurmi Neo Gait Trainer and the Lisa Transport Pediatric Wheelchair are also popular.

RM: Are there any new products you plan to release in the upcoming year? If so, can you tell us about them?

Tufvander: A new pediatric power chair called the Skippi will be rolled out nationally in spring, 2008. The base of the Skippi is extremely small and built specifically for pediatric clients. It has power tilt and recline functions, the display symbols allow for quick learning of the control functions, it has an aesthetically pleasing, child-friendly design that makes it appear almost as if it's a toy—very childlike. It's one of the only power chairs to have passed WC-19 crash testing. It also breaks down for easy transport.

RM: Are there any new technologies in the pediatric market you are excited about?

Tufvander: The power mobility segment is an area we're really excited about, and the need for children to have pediatric power option like the Skippi is there. We've made it through the barriers of getting FDA approval, getting it crash-tested, and we're currently getting it coded. The technology we're bringing to help children explore and be more active in their environments, and to assist those children with cognitive learning is exciting for us.

RM: How have coding and industry changes affected the company's presence in the pediatric market?

Tufvander: Continually striving to improve our products and being a better company is what helps us remain competitive. We've seen growth for ourselves in the pediatric area and I think a lot of it goes back to our quality and support measures. Also because we've developed products that fit the clinical needs of the therapists.

—Rogena Schuyler Silverman