Bauerfeind Technician running a GenuTrain Knee Brace through a sewing machine to stitch on the knee brace's patella pad

We at Bauerfeind are constantly researching, developing, and testing. Over the last (almost) century, we’ve discovered some interesting things about our products' durability and effectiveness - some of which even shocked us! So, without further ado, here are our top 7 fun facts. 

 

1. 1.3 kilometres of yarn (for one brace) 

Bauerfeind Knitting facilities. Multi-level shelves stretching as far as the eye can see, holding yards of yarn

A single GenuTrain Knee Brace contains more than 3000 metres of yarn. Our yarns are wound twice before being machine-knit into 100,000 meshes. 

It might seem like overkill, but twice-wound yarn is sturdier and feels much softer, making it more comfortable and durable for the all-day wear required of medical knee braces. All those meshes, meanwhile, ensure each product provides the optimal level of support for your knee, with compression in all the right places. 

 

2. SecuTec’s endurance 

A Bauerfeind test technician in Germany dressed a hydraulic mannequin leg up in one of our SecuTec Genu Knee Braces, leaving the leg ‘running’ day and night. 

The downside is we still don’t know how long the brace will last before needing parts replaced. The upside is that the SecuTec's aluminium stays and sturdy hinges can easily withstand 3 months (and counting) of continuous movement. 

But the SecuTec isn’t the only brace receiving this kind of treatment. All hinged braces get put through a similar trial-by-mannequin. And if they yield positive results, they go through another testing round on human participants. 

 

3. The GenuTrain knee brace can hold up to 200 kg

It’s not really necessary for a knee brace to hold up a whole motorcycle with weights and a pallet. But it is an interesting by-product of the brace’s durability. After all, medical-grade knit has to endure a lot of movement, pulling on, and taking off to properly support a knee until it recovers from injury. 


4. Lines in the knit

Many of our compression knee braces have a strap or 3 for adjustability and external support. Especially for first-time brace wearers, it can be hard to tell exactly how to wrap, fasten, and adjust them to achieve the best level of support. The GenuTrain OA Knee Brace can be especially challenging, as it has a very high level of adjustability to accommodate the different loadings and offloadings of a moderately osteoarthritic knee. 

So, to help the process along, we’ve knitted guidelines (literally, guide lines) into the compression fabric to help you properly position the straps. Of course, if you’re still stuck, our technicians are happy to help you out online, over the phone, or instore. 

 

5. Secret size chart 

To accommodate hundreds of different body types, weights, and lengths, our products come in a wide range of sizes. 

But considering that our products go on tight and must be worn all day, we can’t just stick a size tag in there to ensure it’s put in the appropriate box. No, we opted to devise our own size-tagging system consisting of dots knitted into the fabric. 

Learn more about our extensive sizing process: Technology - 3D Body Measurement 

 

6. VenoTrain vs. Exercise Ball

Compression has to be tight to work, tough to handle long, long hours of wear while keeping its shape, and stretchy for easier donning and doffing. All these factors combined into a sock that can withstand containing a fully-inflated exercise ball. 

 

7. COMPLETE quality control 

We pride ourselves on making top-notch supports, so we’re a bit obsessed with getting things just right. That’s why we oversee every. Single. Step of a brace’s first stage of life before it leaves our facilities in Zeulenroda, Germany. 

  • We have in-house R&D teams to consult with medical experts, determine patient needs, and design our products. 
  • We make all brace materials - knit, pads, straps, you name it.
  • Every bit of compression fabric is machine-wound and knit in our own facilities. 
  • We put all braces together by hand. Bauerfeind technicians are experts at welding and stitching every brace of every size - so much so that they could probably do it in their sleep.
  • And, of course, we have our test technicians to see just how far a brace can go and pinpoint any areas for improvement. The average product testing and update cycle at Bauerfeind is 9 years. We create thousands of prototypes and conduct thousands of tests to ensure we don’t just meet standards but continue to set them. 
Bauerfeind employee assembling a LumboTrain back brace by hand.

To sum up

We strive to provide the best quality for patients, elite athletes, long-haul travellers, and more. Hence, every Bauerfeind brace, support, and compression sock must be an engineering feat. But we don’t mind. After operating for nearly a century, we think we’ve gotten quite good at it. And besides, asking questions like “Can a VenoTrain hold an exercise ball without tearing?” makes work fun. 


If you require assistance selecting the right product for your needs or wearing the brace, call us on 098015660 or contact us via live chat.

Do you have private health? Most private health extras will cover Bauerfeind Products. Check to see if yours is included. Bauerfeind Private Health Insurance Inquiry.  

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