IN MEMORY

On 8 February 2024, LiKAMED founder and former CEO Rudolf Lipp would have turned 82. Sadly, the medical technology pioneer passed away on
9 December 2023. To mark the 40th anniversary of our LiKAMED chairs, LiKAMED CEO Alexander Gromut conducted an interview with Rudolf Lipp last year.

We would like to share this interview with you today and commemorate a man whose incredible vision and passion form the foundation of our company. Rudolf Lipp established the LiKAMED brand with tireless dedication and shaped it to the very end. He talks about challenges, successes and the moving story behind a company that is inextricably linked to him.

We wish you inspiring moments – Your LiKAMED Team

Alexander Gromut: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO SET UP YOUR OWN COMPANY?

Rudolf Lipp: At the beginning of my career, I was a salesman for RAMY chairs, the French manufacturer of treatment chairs. After the company filed for insolvency, I was repeatedly asked by dialysis centres whether I would like to continue selling chairs. And although the collaboration with a contract manufacturer did not prove all that successful, I decided to set up my own company for dialysis chairs due to the continuing demand as well as out of necessity. The start was bumpy. To keep my head above water, I also had to sell various medical devices such as balances and sphygmomanometers.

HOW WAS THE FIRST CHAIR CREATED?

The M1 and M2 chairs as well as the G chairs with gas pressure springs were initially produced by contract manufacturers based on my and customers’ specifications. Production later shifted to a rented garage in Eppingen-Mühlbach, where I also had my office. The chairs were welded, drilled, finished and assembled by hand by a colleague and myself.

TO WHOM DID YOU SELL YOUR FIRST CHAIR?

The Esslingen dialysis centre was the first customer for our chairs, followed by the PHV / KFH dialysis centres in Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall prompted a major order for 300 to 500 chairs from the Curatorium for Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation. This order marked a major milestone in LiKAMED’s success.

M1-, M2- and G chair with gas pressure spring

In the Portfolio since 2013: LiKAWAVE Vario

WHY DID YOU ADD THE LIKAWAVE EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY DEVICE TO THE PRODUCT PORTFOLIO?

I decided to diversify the product portfolio to reduce the risk of being dependent on a single product and also to explore new avenues. A good friend of mine with many years of experience in extracorporeal shock wave therapy inspired me to add the LiKAWAVE to our portfolio.

WHEN DID YOU REALISE THAT YOUR COMPANY WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL?

The breakthrough came with the NOVO chair. This featured numerous unique selling points and advantages and also made LiKAMED a leading international manufacturer of chairs. This success convinced me that we were on the right track.

WHAT QUALITIES HAVE HELPED YOU TO MASTER THE CHALLENGES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

For one, the unconditional will to succeed and, on the other, the indispensable support of my wife Barbara. Personally, I have learnt not to be discouraged by setbacks. Giving up or selling LiKAMED was never an option for me because this would have meant a personal defeat.