Ottobock and UNYQ Partner to Create Stylish Fairings for Prosthetics

Ottobock, a maker of prosthetics, and UNYQ, which focuses on customized prosthetic design, formed a strategic partnership to provide what the companies are calling “stylish cosmetic fairings” to lower-limb amputees.

Ottobock has been involved in designing prosthetic limbs for more than 90 years, introducing the first microprocessor-controlled lower limb prosthetic system in the world. UNYQ, founded by industry veterans Eythor Bender and Manuel Boza in 2014, gives amputees—according to the company— a “creative way” to personalize their prosthesis and “reclaim control over their appearance in the face of life-altering amputations.”

Leveraging advancements in 3-D printing, San Francisco, Calif.-based UNYQ has developed a proprietary method for quickly producing prosthetic fairings customized to the individual. UNYQ fairings serve as fashion accessory and also provide some protection for the prosthesis, while restoring an amputee’s sense of symmetry with the sound leg.

“Ottobock is thrilled to join forces with UNYQ,” says Falk Berster, business unit director, Ottobock. “Our company has a long tradition of developing cutting-edge technologies to improve the quality of life for amputees. Through our partnership with UNYQ, we are excited to offer products that enable our customers to combine their own identity with the technology we provide. We are convinced that self-confidently expressing and showing one’s own style and personality can support amputees to better reintegrate into daily life.”

The alliance of the two companies will become visible in the collection “UNYQ designed for Ottobock,” which will include Special Fairing Editions free in design and an Ottobock Exclusive Fairing Line, meshing the appearance of other Ottobock prosthetic devices. The designs created for Ottobock will be introduced in the third quarter of this year. 
All fairings will be sold by UNYQ directly to prosthetists and amputees via the online shop www.unyq.com. UNYQ also will continue to sell the fairings through its own network of UNYQ Hubs—a network of prosthetic facilities across the globe.

“From the start our vision has been to make individualization and style accessible to as many amputees as possible,” says Eythor Bender, CEO, UNYQ. “Teaming up with Ottobock and joining forces across their locations in 54 countries is a dream come true.”

The company is based in Germany. It’s U.S. headquarters are in Austin, Texas.