Nybro in the Media

Aged and disabled products rewarding
Louise Brannelly

DENVER Vidler loves his job more than most people do. His design and engineering company, Maroochydore-based Nybro Holdings, produces specialised aged-care and disabled products such as motorised wheelchairs and artificial joints.

"There's nothing more rewarding than seeing someone who's having a real hard time just living – then they hop on something you've designed and created and there's a smile from ear-to-ear because you've changed their lives," Mr Vidler said.

Mr Vidler was recently rewarded for his efforts, with Nybro winning one of the top honours at the Queensland Family Business of the Year awards. Nybro was recognised as one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial first-generation family businesses in the state. A fitter and turner by trade, Mr Vidler started Nybro seven years ago when he heard about an opportunity to develop a computer-controlled rope-making machine for a Brisbane haberdashery business.

The firm could find no one in Australia to build the customised machine at the right price. "I said if it doesn't work, you don't pay. It took us three to four months to design and build and the machine's been running ever since," Mr Vidler said. After that, Nybro did general engineering work to keep the doors open and then broadened its scope to include the design and manufacture of electric scooters, wheelchairs, hoists and other mobility aids and products.

"I went down that track because of a natural desire to help people," Mr Vidler said. "The thrill or buzz that people get out of our products is something that motivates us tremendously." Nybro also generates revenue from developing specialised tools and equipment for industrial use and has recently decided to target the amusement and leisure industry. "There are opportunities to develop amusement rides based around our electric vehicles and our design and engineering capability," Mr Vidler said.

Currently under development is the Mars Recovery Vehicle attraction. "The whole theme of the experience is that you'll be training to do search and rescue in space," Mr Vidler said.

- Courier Mail, August 9, 2004. (http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,10382505%255E3122,00.html)

Coast entrepreneurs recognized
by Gordon Clark (gclark@scnews.com.au)

Denver Vidler's philosophy of treating staff at his Nybro Holdings business like members of the family has been recognised by the Queensland branch of Family Business Australia. The company has just been named the most innovative and entrepreneurial family business in the State in the "first generation" category.

The Kunda Park-based enterprise specialises in producing aged care and disability products such as motorised wheelchairs and artificial joints, as well as specialised tools and equipment for industrial purposes.

Mr. Vidler said he was "completely astounded that such a small family business could win such an award".

"It was a very humbling experience," he said.

"Sometimes I get discouraged because it seems like we've got so far to go, but recognition like this shows we're on the right track."

Mr. Vidler said that creating a family atmosphere in the business was a strong part of both the mission statement and vision statement that Nybro operated by.

Executive officer of Family Business Australia (Qld.), Sandra Sparti. said it was Nybro's growth, coupled with the company's long term plan for family involvement in the business, that most impressed the judges.

"Nybro is still a young company, but it already has a strong internal culture," she said.

"It has family-friendly policies and development programs such a staff child-minding, fitness and nutritional programs, as well as excellent systems for project management."

Nybro will now represent Queensland at the national awards to be held later this month.

- Sunshine Coast Daily, August, 2004.

Coast father and son design a winning walker

It might look like a 21st Century instrument of torture, but this Sunshine Coast made device will soon allow a 13-year-old boy to walk. Nicknamed the Vidler Walker after its makers, Brad and Denver Vidler, it gives paraplegics the gift of mobility. The father and son team were challenged to improve on an American-manufactured walker following a chance meeting with a doctor from Royal South Sydney Hospital. Their first prototype was a success, and the hospital has ordered two more at $2000 each. The one pictured here will be used by a young spina bifida patient. Until now the hospital has had to source its walkers from the US, a time consuming and expensive process because moulds of the patient's bodies have to be shipped there for fitting. The Vidlers, who together run Nybro Holdings Pty Ltd at Kunda Park, can provide the walkers quicker and say their design is superior. Crafted in aircraft-grade aluminium, the walker uses the wearer's body to propel their legs, allowing them to walk with the aid of crutches. Denver Vidler said if new customers could be found, the design could be simplified and made more cheaply. The company is considering seeking government assistance to market the product.

- Sunshine Coast Daily

When six-year-old Morgan Vidler asked his dad, Denver, for a four-wheeler for Christmas, he lit a spark resulting in a world first. Denver's Nybro Holdings at Kunda Park on the Sunshine Coast is a national leader in providing electric scooters for the elderly, and body equipment to help the handicapped. But a four-wheeler for Christmas, with only weeks to go, was a big ask.

"I'd been thinking about an improvement on scooters to try and top what we get from the Taiwanese. So Morgan's request set me off," says inventor/designer Denver.

Denver's world first - a four wheel electric bike - is so safe and simple, Morgan doubles his two-year-old brother Thomas on it.

"The prototype was set at 30 km/h, but when clients like fun parks took an interest, they said it was a bit quick, so we brought it back to 14 km/h.

"Running on two batteries that last for 20 km, it's great for shopping and the outlay isn't much more than a dollar a day."

With the cost set at $5000, the bike tops anything the petrol-powered companies can pump out.

- Aussie POST, April 21, 2001.

Electric scooters can be great for increasing the mobility when it's not so easy to get around, and Nybro Electric Vehicles has just released a model that will let you help a friend get around as well - the Venture Gold Series 2 Seater Electric 4WD.

This vehicle can be road-registered and has a back seat that can be rotated a full 360 degrees for ease of getting in and out of a chair, or for fishing, or for sitting back while your golf buddy takes a shot. The seat can be removed and a tray fitted (to make it a ute) and there are a number of other general carrying attachments available (even for surfboards). The two-seater will fit into larger vehicles so you can take your mobility on the road with you and can be recharged from a cigarette lighter.

- ON THE ROAD, September 2002.

Designed to give the aged and disabled the freedom to explore the beach or areas that have been previously inaccessible is the Nybro Venture Gold Series two seater Electric 4WD. Built with inline seating, the back seat is capable of rotating 360 degrees for ease of transfer from a wheelchair and is totally removable. The Nybro two seater will fit into a larger carrying vehicle such as a ute, van or 4WD. It can be recharged from a cigarette lighter and used a day transport from base.

- The Wanderer, October 2002.

Many businesses and organisations use small all-terrain vehicles. Most of these are polluting, petrol-powered machines, but the electric all-terrain vehicles from Nybro Holdings offer a low-emission alternative.

The Nybro ATV two-seater is four-wheel drive and is designed to provide mobility for the elderly or disabled, but would have a great many other uses in places like plant nurseries and small farms.

The two-seater specifications include two 24 volt, 1kW and two 24 volt, 0.75kW drive motors, two 12 volt, 90 amp-hour batteries, a recharge time of 8 hours, a maximum 30 km (20 km typical) range on flat ground with two 80 kg passengers, electronic brakes, a maximum carrying capacity of 170 kg and a maximum pre-set top speed of 10 km/h.

The Venture ATV-xm has a 24 volt, 1.2kW motor, two 12 volt, 42 amp-hour sealed batteries (with a maximum of six batteries), a recharge time of six hours, a 30km standard range, with a maximum range of 90km, electronic/regenerative braking, a carrying capacity of up to 125kg and a pre-set top speed of 14km/h.

- ReNew, Issue 82, January- March, 2003.