The trivida® wheel was designed by Christian Czapek, a former student of the design icon Luigi Colani. Christian was inspired by his brother, a wheelchair user – his aim: to make life easier for people using wheelchairs. He tried a number of different configurations eventually settling on the three-segment wheel which provided the most stability and accessibility.
In 2019 the owners of the family-run company (P+L Innovations GmbH in Bad Krozingen near Freiburg, Germany), recognised the social potential of this unique invention. They worked to further develop the wheel – making a number of enhancements to make it lighter, the clasp mechanisms more ergonomic and increase its ease of use. The wheel performs incredibly well in a range of clinical trials, safety tests and evaluations – the carbon fibre wheel withstanding 1.1 tonnes.
The technology is patented and is completely unique – there simply is nothing else like it. It has also passed International Standards and is an approved medical device in Europe and now Australia.
For anyone involved in commercialisation of a great idea this is a long and expensive road! It is now in full production mode with demand for the new carbon wheels continuing to increase.
trivida® is considered a category 1 medical aid and uses innovative triatec technology subject granted European patent EP 3222263. Standard setters have also indicated that the trivida® wheel could be the next international standard for the safe and efficient transfers between the wheelchair and other surfaces.
Brand recognition is growing rapidly in Europe and especially Germany. The wheel’s potential has been recognised by three of the largest Germany buying dealerships with approximately 500 dealers.