AKW, a leading provider of bathroom accessibility solutions, has begun production of Grab-a-Rail, an easy and quick to install solution that will help to make kitchens safer to move around and more accessible.
The strong counter-level grab rail, developed by Steve Michael, Director of Senior Homes Solutions, has been designed to give users increased independence and reduce their risk of falls when navigating the kitchen space. It will be available for purchase for use in AKW kitchens or for any other retrofit counter installations from the second half of 2023.
Grab-a-Rail is initially available in white from AKW and is available in 1,000mm and 600mm lengths. It has eight fixing points, ensuring that when it is installed under the countertop it is strong enough to support up to 15.5 stone (100 kg) of downward pressure, as validated by University of Birmingham tests (1). Designed to be installed on cupboard and drawer units, Grab-a-Rail can be retrofitted to most kitchen countertops, however tests with granite surfaces are still ongoing.
Steve Michael, Director of Senior Homes Solutions, said: “As a home adaptation specialist my aim is to promote safe day-to-day living. The Grab-a-Rail design idea came to me following a training course I was attending at a Parkinson’s centre. I realised the gap in provision for helping those with mobility, ageing and health issues, to navigate around their kitchens more safely. I then undertook months of product development and testing to create the Grab-a-Rail design. The end result is a safety rail that can be fitted within an hour and works in most kitchens.”
Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, commented: “Our company strapline is ‘Life Made Better’, so when Steve approached us with his design and test results from the University of Birmingham, we were very interested. The kitchen is a notoriously difficult space to move around for those with mobility or visual impairments and this simple, easy to install solution will make life better for many. Its price point has also been set to ensure it is viable for those applying for local council small works assistance grants.”
To find out more download Grab-a-Rail information from https://www.akw-ltd.co.uk/grab-a-rail/
(1) The University of Birmingham carried out tests under its AMCASH (Advanced Materials Characterisation And Simulation Hub) project.
