German Business Awards 2019

20 EU BUSINESS NEWS / 2019 German Business Awards , engineering to solve a problem, the EWO stands apart as the ideal mobility solution. Designed to give one person a bit of independence, it seems set to pass on that gift to many, many more. Contact Details: Contact: Carsten Wolf Company: EWO Life Quality Web Address: www.ewo-life.de EWO Life Quality Best Personal Mobility Developer 2019 & Most Innovative Mobility Product: E-Rollator Nov19281 Born out of a desire to help his wife, GerhardWolf conceived of the EWO life-quality with the simple ambition of creating amachine where you could walkwith the option of sitting or standing. Once completed, they decided to take their independence-giving aid and share it with the world. In less than two years, the company has become multi-awarding. We decided to profile them to find out more. The EWO wasn’t designed as a standard mobility scooter. It was designed as a revolution. It was in 2008 that Gerhard’s wife, Silke, was diagnosed with MS and could barely travel 500m. With decreasing mobility, she requested an aid to her walk that could grant her independence, and a better quality of life. This became the guiding force behind the company and has helped to make the project into the amazing success it is today. The revolution took the form of the stylish EWO, an E-Rollator. The decision to provide electric power was a simple one. Many people who have restricted mobility don’t leave the house because they’re not sure how easy it will be to get home. The beauty of the EWO is that when these people tire, they can sit down and still travel on. The EWO was designed to give independence to those who had lost it. Designed by Gerhard and his son Carsten, it was the result of a year of development and testing until everything worked out. Powered by a 350W engine, the EWO is capable of travelling for 20km, with a creeping of barely 1km an hour at a top speed of 6-10km an hour. The big, chunky wheels make it just as useful off- road as it is on concrete, meaning it is a device that allows true independence. Where traditional mobility scooters would struggle, the EWO has a special hill assist option, meaning that steep slopes are no challenge. An essential part of the intensive testing process was that Silke Wolf abducted the EWO for test drives through the woods and roads. Far from being limited to 500m, she was fearless in her concerted efforts to travel further each time. The genius of the EWO lies in its ability to be used both as walking aid and as mobility scooter. With a series of small, easily accessible adjustments, it’s very easy to transform the EWO from a walking aid, pushed by a person’s body weight into its own self-powered vehicle. In this form, the rider has the choice of sitting or standing, giving as much flexibility as possible. A truly innovator in every sense of the word, the EWO is unique on the market. Where commercially available electric mobility scooters are limited either to walking aid or driving seated, the EWO combines both into one product. This has encouraged the father- and-son team to register the pan-European patent license. The aim was simple: the construction of a series of the EWO. With 150 planned for the first construction run, it was a labor of love for all concerned. Over four generations were involved in establishing the brand, with a custom multi-media website created just for the purpose including video, pictures and text. It’s difficult to how to react when you’re faced with the loss of mobility. It’s comforting to know that an adaptable solution exists so you can maintain your independence. Embracing solid