In exactly one month’s time, the Ottobock Technical Repair Service Center will open its doors, providing state-of-the-art technology and digitised processes to support the athletes of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. As a long-standing partner of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Ottobock will be providing its technical service ten days before the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

With a 164-strong team from 41 nations that speaks 32 languages, Ottobock ensures that athletes can take part in the competitions, even if something breaks or needs to be replaced on their devices.

Pit stop at Ottobock

The Technical Repair Service Center operates much like a pit stop: Athletes hand in their broken wheelchairs, prostheses and other devices that need to be repaired. Depending on how much time is left before the competition, the team has to act quickly. Thanks to digitalised work processes, from registration and documentation to 3D printing, the Technical Repair Service Center is more efficient than ever.

More efficient and convenient treatment

One example of the optimised processes is the fabrication of a new socket for transtibial amputees. Instead of making a time-consuming plaster cast, the residual limb is now scanned within 15 minutes. This is not only more convenient for the person receiving treatment, but also faster. The subsequent processing of the scan on the computer only takes 15 to 20 minutes, compared to one and a half hours of manual modelling. A check socket is 3D printed within 24 hours – without requiring support from a technician.

Three 3D printers are available in the Technical Repair Service Center for this purpose: one for check sockets, one for insoles and one for spare parts. Carbon fibre-reinforced printing coils are used to guarantee additional stability.

Julian Napp, Technical Director at the Technical Repair Service Center in Paris and Master Orthopaedic Technician at Ottobock, is looking forward to the launch: “The new digital capabilities will help us to support athletes more quickly. Time is a major factor at the Paralympic Games, both for the athletes and for us technicians. However, the key to success remains the expertise of the team. Athletes can rely on our team’s creativity, solution-oriented approach and experience, combined with the latest technology.”

__________________________________

Would you like to take a look behind the scenes?

Take an exclusive look at the Ottobock Technical Repair Service Center during a virtual tour. Peter Franzel, Head of Global Events, Exhibitions & Sports, and his team will guide you through the Technical Repair Service Center. You can experience first-hand how our technicians work and ask questions.

Dates for the virtual tour:

• In German: Wednesday, 21 August 2024 at 3 p.m. (CET)
  The virtual tour will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the topic of “Sports prostheses treatment in Germany”. The discussion partner will be Heinrich Popow, former para-athlete and gold medallist.

• In French: Thursday, 22 August 2024 at 3 p.m. (CET)

• In English: Thursday, 22 August 2024 at 6 p.m. (CET)

Please register at presse@ottobock.de. We will be happy to send you the login information.