Guldmann Limited

No more compromises between contemporary architecture and accessibility:How aesthetic demands and functional necessities come together can be witnessed in the Niederrad district in Frankfurt.The construction measures for accessibility discreetly integrated into the entrance area, deliberately allowing the building and its exterior to take the forefront visually. Using local materials, the Stepless Platform lift SLP C was custom-made for the stone staircase, making it nearly invisible when retracted. It provides visitors and employees with limited mobility an easy access across the height difference into the building.

The car dealer Kronsbjerg in Odense, Denmark, is a family owned company. Kronsbjerg was established in 1922 and is now run by the fourth generation with three branches on the Danish island Funen. Over the years, they have sold and serviced several, different car brands. In December 2015, Autohuset Kronsbjerg started selling and servicing yet another car brand in their department in Odense. Taking on this new car brand meant that existing facilities became too small. Therefore, Kronsbjerg decided to invest in a new, beautiful building of approx. 1500 m2 , which could accommodate both management facilities and exhibition areas for the existing and new cars. The new premises are built in split levels between the two exhibition areas that have a level difference of approx. 50 cm. Therefore, it was necessary to create accessibility for people with walking difficulties and wheelchair users – as well as to meet the Danish regulatory requirements for accessibility in new buildings.To negotiate the height differences Kronsbjerg chose the LP7 platform lift from Stepless by Guldmann both because of its elegant and light design but also because of the plug and play construction that has a very low entry level of only 50 mm. This allows for a short ramp and no need for placing the platform in a pit.  

Fysiotherapie van Huijkelom not only uses a ceiling hoist to help their patients but also the Trainer module from Guldmann. The Trainer module is a built-in add-on product for the GH3+ ceiling hoist. It has been designed for the training and rehabilitation of patients with limited mobility. When the Trainer module is activated the ceiling hoist will have dynamic weight relief with up to 100 kg. The module is used with a Gait Trainer sling (harness) that supports the upper part of the body and has leg cuffs for enhanced safety. This enables the therapists to utilize the hoist for a wide range of exercises, including strength training, balance exercises and functional training.Using the Trainer module offers several advantages. Firstly, it enables therapists to train and rehabilitate patients with limited mobility (e.g., with MS, CVA or spinal cord injury) in a safe and controlled manner. This reduces the risk of injuries and complications and allows the patient to work effectively on improving his or her condition and mobility.In addition, the Trainer module can be customized for each patient, so that the exercises and training program can be precisely tailored to the individual needs and capabilities of the patient. You can work with static and dynamic support. As a result, the treatment can be even more effective, and progress can be made faster. The video show two patients at Fysiotherapie van Huijkelom who are recovering and training with the Trainer module. Jennifer and Riekje both benefit greatly from the hoist and Trainer module because they are continuously supported and cannot fall. As a result, they are challenged to do more than they thought they could.Fysiotherapie van Huijkelom is always looking for new and innovative ways to help their patients which is why they have chosen Guldmann's Trainer module. By using this advanced solution, they can provide the best possible care and support to patients with limited mobility and accelerate their recovery process.

Fitting a ceiling hoist in an operating theatre makes it easier for staff to do their job and improves patient safety. However, the presence of other ceiling-mounted equipment is one reason why so few operating theatres in Denmark have ceiling-mounted hoists.The Regional Hospital in Horsens is now installing ceiling-mounted hoists in all the operating theatres in its new surgical department.

The Grimm's fairy tale, "The Star Money" gives inspiration:Inspiration to face the adversities of life and still be there for others. The Sterntaler, a children's hospice in Dudenhofen near Speyer deliberately chose this name, because it wants to be an inspiration as well.Most adults associate institutions such as hospices with a certain amount of anxiety. After all, a hospice reminds us of the finite nature of life. The care activities in a children's hospice however focus more on life and less on its impermanence, this begins, not with end-of-life care, but much earlier. For example, like the other children's hospices in Germany, the Sterntaler in-patient children's hospice in Dudenhofen (near Speyer) provides the entire family of a terminally ill child with the opportunity to recharge their batteries for up to four weeks a year. 

The New Carlsberg Foundation is housed in the old brewery yard on Brolæggerstræde, where both J. C. Jacobsen and his son Carl were born, and which was home to the original Carlsberg brewery.In autumn 2016, Stepless was approached by ELGAARD Architecture, which had been contracted to renovate and modernise the New Carlsberg Foundation’s headquarters, located on Brolæggerstræde in Copenhagen.The architecture firm asked Stepless to design an elegant and discreet solution consisting of a lifting platform that would fit with the historic building and the surrounding courtyard. In addition to providing accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility, the purpose of the solution was primarily to facilitate the process of moving sculptures from street level and into the building.

The building is located on the North side of Chiswell Street adjacent to the Honourable Artillery Grounds in the City of London and offers 31,351 square feet of creative and contemporary grade A office space.The new reception was totally transformed by dropping it down to street level approximately 1m, however to access the 1st floor would only be via staircase.Our distributor Access Lifts contacted Stepless by Guldmann in order to create a solution that would be discreet and designed to blend in seamlessly with the existing setting to maintain an attractive architectural appearance.

The combination of old and new architecture provides unusual views and insights.This was certainly the case with the extension of the Batelease Farm owned by the Moody couple in the English county of Devon.The original Batelease Farm was built back in the 15th century and the building has been changed and extended over the centuries. Because the Batelease Farm is a Grade II listed building everything had to be approved by the responsible heritage officials.The modern extension to the old farmhouse creates a contrast between old and new and combines the two - quite literally. Because the goal wasn’t merely to create a new build - it also had to be accessible and enable barrier-free access between the old and new building.This will allow the client, a wheelchair user, to navigate between the buildings independently and to move between the centuries, so-to-speak.A glass structure connects the main house and the new build and covers two floors, including a lift. Barrier-free access has been created between the buildings on both the ground floor and the first floor. There is also an entrance and exit here, which enables the client to enter or leave the building independently at any time.A Guldmann GH1 ceiling hoist system is used in the client’s bedroom with the rail system integrated subtly into an exposed timber beam, so that the practical aid is almost invisible.

The city of Osnabrück has made the entrance to the Weigh House on the market square accessible. The heavy wooden doors now open automatically, and with the help of a platform lift, wheelchair users are now also able to access the room used for wedding ceremonies in the historic building with ease.Remodelling the historic building cost 90,000 euro and took three months to complete. The building (constructed in 1532), which is used by the registry office, is now completely accessible – just in time for wedding season. Over 600 wedding ceremonies are held in the Weigh House each year.“A project close to the heart”A platform lift has been installed, which is not only easy to operate, but also looks elegant. The platform lift can be completely lowered into the floor. A touch of a button is all that’s required to access the foyer via the stairs. The Lord Mayor Wolfgang Griesert describes it as “elegant and discreet”.

Due to a traffic accident in 2017, Michael suffered multiple fractions and a brain injury. He and his wife have been fighting their way back towards normality ever since. The Guldmann ceiling hoist enables him to do a lot of different daily living activities, rehabilitation exercises, speech therapy, and creative artwork in a safe manner.

A version of SLP model D has been developed especially for hospitals, including for use in X-ray departments. This version, called an X-ray platform lift, is built into the floor and can lift the patient up to the correct height for the X-ray machine when, for example, knees or ankles need to be X-rayed. The X-Ray platform lift has support rails that make it safe for the patient to stand on the platform. It has a low built-in height, making it easy to install even with different floor levels. The Hospital of South West Jutland in Denmark has installed the X-ray platform lift in its Department of Radiology, where the head radiographer describes what this has meant for the department in its day-to-day work: “The X-ray platform lift makes for a much better work environment. Previously, we had to use portable stairs. The stairs take up a lot of space and patients have difficulty climbing the high steps. It’s also heavy and carries a risk of work-related injuries. With the X-ray platform lift, you can use a remote control to lift the patient up to the correct height to maintain good contact with the patient. In addition to the above the X-ray platform lift is also time-saving, as it’s always ready for use. This is significant given the fact that around 20 patients go through each X-ray room daily

The initial design consultation took place in February 2015 and owing to the complex nature of the building, the pitch of the roof, the angled internal ceilings and seamless patient transfer requirements from room to room, it was clear that a fully co-ordinated design approach was required.Throughout the design and subsequent construction phase, the Guldmann team adopted the 4 C’s method (Coordination, Cooperation, Collaboration and Communication), to realise the optimum specification, installation and various commercial benefits with all of the stakeholders (including the site team RG Carter), to deliver the hoist systems as agreed by EACH.In total, a mixture of 22 GH3 and 3 GH3+ ceiling hoists were installed in 27 rooms, with Combi-lock systems incorporated to enable effortless transfers between rooms.The award-winning GH3 ceiling hoist is a unique lifting module with a simple yet elegant design that is user-friendly and powerful enough to handle lifting and moving procedures in all professional care settings. The GH3 module also charges itself through the rails in the bedrooms, ensuring that the hoist is always ready to use.The GH3+ lifting module offers a number of more specialised advancements over the standard GH3, allowing Guldmann, when required, to tailor a hoisting system to a facilities specific needs.Tailoring includes adding modules such as an Integrated Weigh Scale or Care Lift Management (CLM) which can be used for monitoring and improving procedures for safe patient handling and for optimising resource planning.

State-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment is changing the way physiotherapists at Nightingale House rehabilitate their patients. Thanks to donations it has been possible to purchase a ceiling hoist system with dynamic weight support. It is now installed in the hospice’s brand-new gym and rehabilitation centre.Anna was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer five years ago and after eleven sessions of chemotherapy, improvement in her condition and being treated at home by a team of district nurses, the mother of one realised her health was beginning to deteriorate again.She began to experience a loss of feeling in her legs and after suffering several falls, she ended up with two spells in the hospital during the lockdown and was unable to walk.Following assessments by clinicians from the Maelor Hospital and Nightingale House Anna was admitted as an in-patient to the hospice in the summer.Nightingale House’s Physiotherapist was convinced that the new hoist in the gym could get her patient mobile again.

The Guldmann GH3+ ceiling hoist system and Trainer Module have made a significant difference in Christian's life. The solution allows him to participate in activities he would not be able to do otherwise.All these activities not only improve Christian's mobility but also enrich his daily life with engaging and enjoyable experiences.The ceiling hoist and Trainer Module is also a wise investment for his future. As Christian grows, his physical needs will change, and he will become heavier. Handling him during standing and gait training could become increasingly challenging without this invaluable tool.In addition to assisting with mobility, the ceiling hoist plays a crucial role in calming Christian's involuntary movements. Exercise is beneficial for his physical well-being and has a soothing effect. After physical activity, he often experiences a sense of calm that comforts him and his family.