The rollator came on the market in the 1970s thanks to Aina Wifalk from Sweden. She suffered from polio and was looking for a new way to help her walk safely. As nothing was available, she designed the prototype of the rollator herself. The design of the Gemino 30 turns the rollator into an elegant looking and very comfortable walking aid. As the rollator must be able to withstand a good deal and must remain stable yet comfortable even under extreme strain, the relationship between its principal materials and its functionality is key for the design. The use of high-quality materials makes it possible to keep it light-weight and still to be able to support loads of up to 150 kg both inside the home and out and about. The main feature of the design is the fold-click technique. A carefully designed and self-explanatory click mechanism allows Gemino 30 to be folded and easily transported, thus making it adaptable to every user’s lifestyle. The sense of individuality and elegance is underlined by such design details as smooth-running wheels that function equally well in town and on a forest path and brakes that react to the slightest touch and so make for fluid braking. The Gemino 30 rollator brings a touch of design elegance to the lives of people who need to use a walking aid.
Statement by the Jury
The Gemino 30 rollator from Handicare turns a medical device into an aesthetical and comfortable walking aid that is more reminiscent of a very mobile, high-class golf trolley than medical or technical equipment. The excellent and carefully thought through design is apparent in all aspects of its use and underlined by the light weight and high quality of the materials used. A product which is at once aesthetic and functional.
