Ari Kallinen at the ACSA exhibition in Hobart, Tasmania, 2010.
A few months ago, we celebrated the 35th Anniversary of HUR, in August it is time to celebrate 15 years of HUR Australia!
18 years ago, Ari Kallinen, an electrical engineer from Finland, started a company that introduced Finnish health technology products to the Australian market, including HUR equipment. After a few years it was clear that HUR products were the strongest, equipment that were the perfect fit that could change the market offerings, especially in health and wellness for older people. In August 2009 HUR Australia was created.
Operating alone, with the support from HUR head office in Kokkola, Finland, Ari met brilliant operators, researchers and visionaries who understood the “HUR effect” and lead the way to better understanding of active ageing and exercise as medicine. Ari took part in the industry expos and discussed the importance of strength training when it was not yet considered a mainstream offering for older adults.
One of the first clients was Finncare, then called Finlandia Village, Australia’s only aged care provider for the Australian Finnish community, established in 1975. The facility’s manager at the time, Ruth Baxter heard about HUR equipment in 2006, and could see the benefits of exercise for seniors. Whilst “Finngym” was initially set for the residents, the Day Respite Centre joined soon after. You can read more about Finncare and Finngym in our Newsletter from 2020 and 2022, an article in Inside Ageing, as well as our recent ACCPA article.
Ari Kallinen surrounded by NuStep’s Linda Wojciechowicz and Laura Matusiak, Finncare’s Annette Pekkarinen, and residents in 2017.
Some of the research and clinical reports from our clients, friends and collaborators have truly changed the industry. The “Muscling Up Against Disability” Project was a government funded program that provided older Australians an opportunity to take part in a 24-stage strength and balance program. The purpose of the study was to implement and evaluate an evidence-based progressive resistance and balance training program for community-dwelling older adults.
The participants in this program gained significant physical health improvements such as leg strength improved by 33%, Physical performance scores increased by 13%, Sarcopenia-risk summary scores improved by 23% and Frailty status scores decreased by 7%, with participants also reporting significant reductions in anxiety and depression, improvements in cognition and balance confidence and improved overall quality of life scores. You can read the full report here.
Sharon Hetherington, Miki Mielonen, Tuire Karaharju-Huisman and Tim Henwood at LASA 2016 with a Finnish dinner party theme.
The team of this study have remained close friends with HUR with Dr Tim Henwood and Dr Sharon Hetherington also invited as speakers in our first ever webinar in 2020, with Dr Justin Keogh to follow in our webinar series. The location of the MUAD study, Burnie Brae, under the guidance of Mr Kevin Rouse, with their Healthy Connections Exercise Clinic, won the ‘Exercise Physiology Practice of 2015’ and was recognised as the Queensland state winner of the ‘Excellence in Aged Care Services’ award in 2018. With continuous research, this clinic is leading with evidence based practice, maximising the health outcomes. You can read more about Burnie Brae in our 2019 Newsletter.
Another study focused on Residential Care, and truly changed the guidelines of falls prevention exercises. Dr Jennie Hewitt, supervised by Dr Tim Henwood and other industry experts, created the Sunbeam protocol, that proved a 55% falls prevention after progressive strength and balance exercises, among many other benefits.
Since Sunbeam Dr Hewitt has proved to be a true trailblazer in the industry providing evidence in the Royal Commission of Aged Care, and boosting the importance of exercise for older adults. In 2021 The Sunbeam protocol was recommended by Australian Government as the best evidence based practiced guidelines, with funding provided. Consequently the protocol was rolled out in hundreds of facilities.
Dr Hewitt has been another familiar face in our webinars, with also News stories in our 2019 Newsletter.
In 2015 the market had grown so much that it was time to expand the team and welcome Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman. With a physiotherapy, exercise physiology, lecturing and biomechanics background Tuire brought in some clinical, educational and research insights. HUR was a familiar product to her, and made the transition smooth, and we saw client growth in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Ari Kallinen, Mats Manderbacka, the chairman of Board of HUR, and Tuire Karaharju-Huisman and the World Active Ageing conference in Melbourne, 2016.
In the earlier years, the client stories that were shared were via the HUR Global Newsletters. But as the business grew, it was the time to tell our own stories with the first HUR Australia Newsletter published in 2017 sharing client stories from around Australia. Initially we were not sure how often we could publish, but as our clientele grew, our Newsletters became annual. With our publications we hope to share wonderful stories from our clients, but also share research and other publications about health and wellbeing. You can access all our Newsletters here.
As the company grew stronger, new staff members joined the team. In 2017 Dorothy Dominikowska joined as a Customer Service and Logistics Manager, taking care of all logistics involved in the process of ordering, delivering and installing HUR equipment for our customers, as well as post-delivery maintenance and service. In 2018 Gerry Pearce joined as an account manager for NSW and ACT, bringing to the team a strong sales background. With the IT and tech expertise of Mateusz Dominikowski, Lassi Ruutu and Valtteri Ruutu , Ari has created a team that can offer services in all aspects of the HUR technical and clinical aspects.
Team HUR Australia (left to right); Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman (Research lead, Account manager Vic, Tas, SA, NT), Dorothy Dominikowska (Operations Manager), Mateusz Dominikowski (Software architect), Gerry Pearce (Account Manager NSW, ACT, QLD, WA), Ari Kallinen, Valtteri Ruutu (tech support), Lassi Ruutu (It and tech support and development)
Education has become an important part of HUR Australia. As the research evidence on the benefits of exercise and strength training on bone and muscle health, as well as chronic diseases has increased, the importance of sharing knowledge has increased. Covid year 2020 brought in online education to all, and indeed our first webinar ran in the first months of the pandemic in May 2020. With more than 450 registration from 5 continents, and more than 20 countries we were able to share knowledge with our first guest speakers Dr Tim Henwood, Ngaire Hobbins, Dr Sharon Hetherington and Bob Barnard. The first webinar was the start for educational series from many fantastic academic and clinical experts. All our webinar materials can be accessed here, and our YouTube videos here. We also published a blog with stories based on current research, reports and events. You can find them all here.
HUR Australia has always been part of a global team. With more than 10.000 installations over five continents, HUR has a large global team. One of our close partners has been HUR Solutions, based in Singapore. Ageing Asia Innovation forum has a large Australian attendance, and indeed in 2024, many of the winners in the Innovation competitions were Australian businesses, and many of those our clients. It is always wonderful to meet with other global teams and hear all international stories.
Ageing Asia 2018 with HUR Finland, HUR Solutions (Singapore) and HUR Australia
At the end of July 2024 HUR Australia’s Managing Director Ari Kallinen stepped down for a sabbatical after 18 years in the industry, and the leadership was moved to Finland. Whilst the client management, service and processes will not change and is still in the hands of our local team, HUR Finland’s Chairman of the Board Mats Manderbacka and Sales Director Timo Toivonen will liaise with the team, with Dorothy Dominikowska stepping up as the Operational Manager in Australia.
At the end of June Mats and Timo joined us at the Retirement Living Summit. Whilst Mats has done many trips Downunder, this was the first trip to Timo, who was impressed with the strong Active Ageing market in Australia. After his trip Timo stated:
“Thank you to all the customer and partners in Australia for the successful past 15 years!
As we all know, the need for purpose-built strength training solutions is increasing year after year when the aging population is seeking ways to reduce lifestyle diseases, prevent falls, and maintain their health. The need in the Australian market is the core of HUR's vision to make people live their lives to the fullest and maintain lifelong strength.”
Team HUR Australia at the Retirement Living Summit 2024, Timo Toivonen, Tuire Karaharju-Huisman, Mats Manderbacka, Gerry Pearce
Over the 15 years HUR Australia has reached a wonderful position as a provider of choice for safe and efficient strength and balance equipment allowing everyone to train safely yet progressively. Over the years we have worked with several universities, government and private organisations. We have worked in all fields of the industry; community care, residential care, retirement living and 50+ living.
Vestibular Physiotherapy expert Alexander Ring with Ari Kallinen at Australian Physiotherapy expo, 2023.
We have worked with hospitals, rehabilitations centers and sports centers. We have met fabulous people, have designed facilities and seen them grow. We have shared client stories and celebrated their success. We are grateful for every person we have met over the years, from residents and participants to managers and leaders, we truly have been surrounded by the best people and organisations, thank you!
We celebrate the equipment that the chairman of the board, Mats Manderbacka, invented 35 years ago, and we celebrate the business Ari Kallinen has created over the last 15 years.
We want to welcome everyone to join us in celebrating HUR Australia 15 years and HUR 35 years next time when we meet!
Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman
Physiotherapist, Accredited Exercise Physiologist (ESSAM), PhD (Biomechanics)
Research Lead, Area Account Manager (Vic, Tas, SA, NT)
