Category: News US

Cascade Orthopedic Supply, LP and OrtoPed ULC to distribute Lindhe Xtend products in North America

Naperville, IL – February 22, 2021

Lindhe Xtend Inc. is pleased to announce they have partnered with Cascade Orthopedic Supply, LP, a North American distributor of orthotics and prosthetics. This agreement will facilitate the sale of Lindhe Xtend Inc. products into the United States and Canada.

“The strength of commercial channels , the nation-wide reach of Cascade, and OrtoPed’s access to the Canadian market, will allow Lindhe Xtend Inc. to immediately make our products available to O&P facilities across North America,” says Russell Cannon, Director of Sales, North America at Lindhe Xtend Inc.

The first products accessible through distribution will be the Xtend Connect line, a complete range of quick-change adapters. These adapters function similarly to other adapters on the market, but allow patients to safely and securely detach and attach specific parts of their prosthesis.

“Cascade and Ortoped are pleased to bring this unique Swedish innovation to the US market. The product range of the Xtend Connect can truly revolutionize daily activities of the user. Getting dressed, temporarily disconnecting segments for sitting comfort, or simply changing feet for different activities will be easier and quicker for many patients. Lindhe Xtend, founded by triple amputee Christoffer Lindhe, brings a true user perspective and fills a unique need for the market we serve,” says Nina Bondre, CPO, FAAOP, Clinical Educator at Cascade.

Products are available online to order immediately:
Xtend Connect Product page – Cascade USA

ABOUT LINDHE XTEND
Lindhe Xtend is a Swedish-based group of companies, founded in 2013 by triple-amputee, Christoffer Lindhe.
The mission is to develop and commercialize innovative prosthetics based on true user needs. Under the motto ”Xtend your life” new products are constantly developed to further enhance the quality of life for amputees. Lindhe Xtend Inc is the US-subsidiary supporting the North American market.

ABOUT CASCADE ORTHOPEDIC SUPPLY, LP
Founded in 1973, Cascade Orthopedic Supply, LP is distinguished as the leading distributor of orthotics and prosthetics in North America. Cascade has four distribution facilities located in California, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, allowing overnight delivery anywhere in the contiguous United States at published ground rates. Cascade’s reputation is built on a continued commitment to superior service and support, investments in technology, and operational efficiency. Cascade distributes a broad range of products from more than 250 suppliers. As a leading provider in the industry, Cascade is committed to helping customers build a successful practice and deliver better patient care. Learn more at: www.cascade-usa.com

PRESS CONTACT
Susanna Rosander
Chief Marketing Officer, Lindhe Xtend Group
E-mail: susanna@lindhe.se

Taking lead on Quality and Regulatory


We are really happy to be welcoming Frida Svensson to our team. She will be taking on the role as Project leader within Quality and Regulatory as per February. Our very ambitious new employee is in parallel finishing her studies at University of Halmstad, and will become a bachelor in Innovation engineering at the end of spring semester 2021. With Frida’s competence and energy we will become even stronger at serving our customers and users with high performance and quality assured products.

A warm welcome to Frida!

Customer shipments are rolling

Thank you for the orders. Tremendously excited to close 2020 with our first shipments to US O&P Clinics.

Looking forward to bringing our prosthetic innovations to more of this brand new Lindhe Xtend market in 2021.

Lindhe Xtend acquires Hydracoupler

True patient innovation is the core of Lindhe Xtend, and we now have the pleasure to announce the acquisition of all the intellectual property and full rights to the highly innovative system of Hydracoupler.

“This innovation fits very nicely with our idea to “Change & Connect Anything” on all prosthetic legs and will expand the reach of our current product portfolio of Xtend Connect”, says Christoffer Lindhe, Founder and Principal owner of Lindhe Xtend. “We truly believe in every prosthetic users’ right to adapt the prosthesis to their everyday life. Simple tasks like changing trousers or shoes are tricky for me and other amputees, so we want to make those tasks as easy and quick as they were before the amputation.”

The Hydracoupler makes it possible to detach a prosthetic leg even if the amputee uses a traditional foam-cover. The device will open the market for quick-change adapters even further and expand the addressable market for quick-change adapters. No other device on the market fits together with a foam-covered leg.

Hydracoupler is developed by the engineer Martin Adelholt, an amputee himself, and true user-based innovator.

“I am so glad that Lindhe Xtend and I could conclude this. I have been working on this innovation for several years and I also wear it myself, so seeing this product get out on the market and be accessible to other amputees, will mean a lot to me. Lindhe Xtend is one of few prosthetic companies that makes user-driven products, and I am convinced that they will benefit from that in the long term by supporting many amputees around the globe to live a simpler life with prosthetics. “says Martin Adelholt.

The acquisition was completed on December 4, 2020 and the product is expected to reach the market late 2021.

Read more about the Hydracoupler at https://www.hydracoupler.com/

Meet Valerie Hirschfield – Our new Ambassador

Who are you?
I’m a “French-South African” lady, married with children. I was born in Toulon (France) in 1964 and still an infant when my father decides he would like to emigrate and the whole family went off to South Africa.   I grew up in a suburb of Johannesburg and studied, worked and had 2 of my 3 children there.   The youngest was born in France as we moved back to Toulon in 1993.

What is your story?
In 2004 I suffered 3rd degree burns to my leg, which led to many surgeries and during one of these I caught an infection.  Finally, I didn’t really have a choice but to amputate as septicaemia set in and that was a life-threatening condition.  I’ve been an amputee for 15 years now.  After the amputation I just wanted to get straight back to my family as my kids were young and needed to have their mom back in their lives.   So, I decided that I would finish off the summer holidays with them and when their school year was about to start, I would then go to rehab and learn how to walk using a prosthetic leg.  By then I was so used to walking on crutches and without a prosthetic leg that the situation lasted 10 years.   I finally got a prosthetic when in 2015 I came across a stand-up paddling race which takes place in Holland.  The event is the “11 city SUP Tour”, a 220km race, going through 11 beautiful historical villages and over a five-day period. This was a real boost for me and since then I windsurf, snowboard, surf, play stand up tennis and of course walk in everyday life.  Nowadays with prosthetics instead of crutches.

What does ”Xtend your life” mean to you?
I’m a person who likes to challenge myself and being out of my comfort zone triggers me. Of course, an amputation is a life changing situation in many ways,but I’m lucky enough to have a good prosthetic leg and foot. The motto “Xtend your Life”, doesn’t mean I will have extra years ahead of me, but will enable me to live life to its fullest in a comfortable and easier way.   I like that motto and I could easily make it mine.   I try to live my life in a healthy way, even if I tend to push my body to its limits.  I just want to carry on with what I do for as long as I possibly can as that is very important both mentally and physically.  Some say we should never look back, but I don’t agree.   Looking ahead and moving on is great but one must look back to see just how much they have done and where they have come from.

Follow Valerie at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/valerie.hirschfield and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/val_hirschfield/

Proudly presenting QP – The Prong Adapter

As customers have been asking for an Xtend Connect component that fits with a prong interface, we are now welcoming QP to the Xtend Connect family.
It works exactly as smooth as the other Xtend Connect components, and like them it comes as default with a black locking wheel.

Read more about Xtend Connect – the multifunctional adapter here

Customer Service North America – at your service

We are proud to present our team-member Sandy Martinez. In her role as Customer Service North America, Sandy will be taking good care of you as a customer, assuring prompt and swift answers. Sandy is based in our US-headquarter in Naperville, outside of Chicago.

Welcome to the team Sandy!

You can reach Customer service here

First man on the ground – North America

We are proud to present our newest team-member Russell Cannon. Russell has considerable experience in the O&P Industry, just recently as Territory Manager North East at Cascade Orthopedic Supply and brings a wealth of knowledge and a valuable network of contacts to our company.
Russell is taking the role as Director of Sales, North America and will play a vital role in taking our Lindhe Xtend products to the market. Russell will, together with the Customer Service team in Naperville (IL), be the core foundation of the newly established US-subsidiary, Lindhe Xtend Inc.

A warm welcome to Russell, we are excited to have you on the team!

You can reach Russell here

Presenting Lindhe Xtend Inc

We have the pleasure to announce our new addition to the Lindhe Xtend family. Our subsidiary Lindhe Xtend Inc has now been established and our initial base for our US-expansion will be in Naperville, outside of the metropolitan area of Chicago, IL. Recruitment for a sales and customer service team is ongoing and our operations will be fully up and running by the end of the year.

We are really excited to start our journey in the USA!

Should you have any questions, please direct them to President/CEO of Lindhe Xtend: Jessika Broström, info@lindheusa.com