Liko

As the country plummeted into the Great Depression, Bill began an unconventional marketing plan. He persuaded hospitals to furnish their private rooms with his wooden furniture for six months free of charge. If they weren’t satisfied, they could simply return the furniture. After the trial periods, none of the furniture was returned and some hospitals placed orders for more.

Focus on the Customer

From its inception, Hill-Rom has listened to its customers and created a long line of industry "firsts." With each innovation, the goal was to help increase efficiency, safety and comfort of the products that would be used by caregivers and patients. Some early innovations include:

1933 – first adjustable-crank, double pedestal overbed table
1948 – first adjustable height “Hi-Lo” bed
1949 – first short siderails were introduced as a patient aid
1952 – first electric motor bed
1956 – first all-electric bed
1964 – first retractable bed

A New Generation of Design

In the 1960s, Hill-Rom developed the electric bedside cabinet. The cabinet integrated a nurse call system as well as switches for lights, radio and TV. The idea of centralised services led to the concept of customised headwalls.

During the 1970s, Hill-Rom continued its tradition of innovative firsts, introducing tuckaway siderails, central brake and steer systems, and a siderail-integrated communication and control system. Hill-Rom also extended its design excellence to the critical care environment leading to the innovation of the power column and critical care beds. 

This passion for caring for caregivers and their patients is just as strong today as it was in years past, and continues to be the driving force for the company's future.

In October 2008 Hill-Rom acquired the Swedish patient lift supplier Liko. The cultural and historical similarities in combination with the complementing product portfolios made the integration of the two companies a natural fit.

The history of Liko

Liko's history started in the 1970s when Gunnar Liljedahl worked as an engineer and designer of special assistive devices at the Norrbotten County Council. There, he developed innovative aids to help individual patients. Gunnar was happy with his job, but wanted more people to be able to profit from his innovations. This is how Liko was born.

The company was located in the village of Alvik outside Luleå, where Gunnar had inherited a patch of land from his father. Here, he built a small red garage, where all of the development, production and sales were managed in the beginning. The first product that Liko produced was the furniture riser Liljan, which is still going strong.

But it didn't take long before the company started focusing more and more on lifting and transferring patients. As early as1980, Liko introduced its first overhead lift, the Liko MasterLift. Success was not long in coming. Soon the next innovation came, the world's first all-textile sling.

As the company continued to grow and develop new products, the garage was extended successively. Today Liko develops, produces and markets patient lifts, slings, transfer aids and accessories for a global market.

A few important Liko innovations include:

• 1980: Liko OriginalSling – the first all-textile sling
• 1984: Safety latches on slingbars – the first manufacturer ever
• 1986: Golvo, the world’s first mobile lift capable of lifting from the floor
• 1994: Likorall 240 battery-powered overhead lift
• 1999: LikoLight – folding and easy to transport light-weight lift
• 2001: FreeSpan – freestanding lift system
• 2001: Sabina II sit-to-stand lift
• 2002: Ultra – System for lifting up to 400 kg (880 lbs.)
• 2002: Solo Disposable Sling
• 2004: Viking - a complete family of mobile lifts
• 2005: Likorall 250 = 250 kg (550 lbs) with a single overhead lift
• 2005: The repositioning sheet Liko RepoSheet™ Original
• 2008: Liko Diagnostic System™ – intelligent electronics box