End-to-end solutions for orthopaedic workshops

When planning the new service centres, working conditions played an important role. The aim was to ensure that everything – from the rooms themselves to the fittings and equipment – complied with the very latest specifications in order to maximise occupational wellbeing. Involving the staff in the planning process was a special service offered by Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA. As a longstanding technology partner, Ottobock has been supplying the Care Center with products and services for many decades. "Ottobock's Planning & Equipping department offers advice and support to orthopaedic businesses that are looking to modernise their workshops or build new service centres," reports Dirk Maiwald. As project manager for Ottobock, he was heavily involved in the Bochum building project. "Nowadays, before work begins on a major project like this, one of our key jobs is to create a 3D version of the classic 2D building plans, because the 3D format really brings it to life for the client. For example, we create a video that takes you on an imaginary flight through the building so that the client can visualise the rooms better and explore all the little details. If they then want to make any changes to installations or facilities, we can discuss them immediately."

The 3D format had another most pragmatic advantage for Uwe Brockmann. "The 3D visualisation not only made it easier for our employees to provide input on their future workplaces," he explains. "It also helped me to get our supervisory board and shareholders excited about the project. I'm sure the fact that everyone was so motivated played an important role in the success of the project."

Over the past 45 years, Ottobock has helped to establish more than 2600 service centres. Nonetheless, the new Care Center premises were a particularly special project for Dirk Maiwald and the Ottobock team. The expert planner explains how he met up with the architects at a very early stage to discuss layouts and floor plans. This proved to be particularly beneficial when it came to drawing up detailed plans for aspects such as the electrical wiring. "In general, clients take some of their machines and equipment with them when they move to a new property. Integrating old and new machines is not a problem. But in this case, Care Center Deutschland retained less than five percent of their existing technology. Instead, they decided to upgrade to state-of-the-art machines that would allow them to work efficiently for the next 20 or 25 years, which is the standard cycle for modernisation measures," Dirk Maiwald explains.

As well as improving the efficiency of work processes (compared to the old service centre), the move also provided an opportunity to make significant improvements to working conditions. All workplaces – such as at the new socket routers – can now be adjusted to the optimum height. Powerful extraction systems have been installed next to any equipment that emits fumes or generates dust or shavings and the air inside hazardous substance and safety cabinets, for example, is purified continuously by carbon filters.

Clean air was a top priority in the new service centres. Able to cope with around 9000 m³ air volume, the main HVAC system ensures all rooms are well ventilated at all times. Fresh air is cooled during the summer and warmed during the winter to create a pleasant ambient temperature inside the building. But according to CEO Uwe Brockmann, it was this HVAC system that triggered a heart-stopping moment during the interior construction work. "Most of the equipment was brought into the building through an opening in the facade on the first floor. This opening had been planned very carefully so that the HVAC system would fit through in one piece. What I didn't know beforehand was that our architects and the Ottobock team had got it down to the very last millimetre. You couldn't even squeeze a sheet of paper between the wall and the machine."

Care Center Deutschland has chosen its partner Ottobock to service and maintenance the new machines and equipment. A maintenance agreement has been drawn up for this purpose, and a service team will be making regular inspections to check for wear and tear and to replace filters and other parts. "Right from the start, I knew I needed to find a partner who could handle everything – from planning to implementation to service and maintenance," Uwe Brockmann says. "Throughout the entire project, we had fixed contacts at Ottobock. This direct line of communication meant we were able to discuss details and resolve challenges extremely quickly and easily," he adds with a satisfied smile.

But what do the employees say about their new workplace? "On their first day at work, their reactions ranged from a simple smile to an enthusiastic "Wow!" They were already highly motivated, but it's great to see their excitement and optimism. We're all set to get going as a team, and hope that we can continue to grow healthily as a company over the coming years. We certainly now have the space we need!"