We Design Silversplints

What We Design Silversplints does

We Design Silversplints (legal entity WE Design BV) is a Dutch medical device manufacturer specializing in custom-made silver and titanium orthoses for the upper extremity. Founded in 1999 and headquartered at Brouwerijweg 112 in Arnhem, with a registered office in Westervoort, the company produces finger, thumb, hand, wrist, and elbow splints by combining traditional silversmithing craftsmanship with modern 3D modeling and printing, using approximately 100% recycled silver. The portfolio covers approximately 46 distinct models, of which roughly 80% are protected by patents, models, and copyright, and the company holds ISO 13485:2016 certification for medical device quality management.

The company operates an indirect B2B2C distribution model. Sales do not occur direct-to-consumer; certified We Design Partners — orthopedic technologists, orthopaedic instrument makers, and hand therapists — measure, fit, and order devices on behalf of end patients through a dedicated Partner Portal hosted on Microsoft PowerApps. Partners are recruited, trained, and certified through the in-house Expertise Center, which also runs KABIZ-accredited workshops for orthopedic technologists. For complex cases, patients can be referred to a fitting room at the Arnhem headquarters for direct assessment. In the Netherlands, Silversplints are classified as orthoses and reimbursed under the basic health insurance package (basisverzekering) when accompanied by a valid specialist referral from a rheumatologist, rehabilitation specialist, orthopaedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or hand surgeon, eliminating most patient out-of-pocket cost; outside the Netherlands, distribution depends on local partner coverage and reimbursement frameworks.

The customer base is patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility Syndrome, hypermobility, trauma, tendon ruptures, and nerve injuries; the direct buyers are the partner clinicians and orthopedic instrument makers that place orders. Revenue mechanics are one-time sales of custom devices, augmented by free repairs and refurbishments under 1-year (dynamic) and 2-year (static) warranties, with a maximum stated delivery time of three weeks. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

We Design Silversplints

Legal name

WE Design BV

Website

https://silversplints.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

We Design Silversplints is a Dutch medical device manufacturer (WE Design BV) that designs and produces custom-made silver and titanium orthoses for finger, hand, wrist, and elbow conditions, distributing exclusively through a certified partner network of orthopedic technologists and hand therapists, with products reimbursed under Dutch basic health insurance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthopedic Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAHAEAI

Orthotics & Bracing (Spinal/Lower/Upper Extremity Orthoses)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Diagnostics/Implants & Prosthetics (Orthopedic/Neuro/Spine/Dental)

SECONDARYHLAHAMAC

Orthotics & Bracing (AFO/KAFO, Spinal, Soft Goods Supports)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Diagnostics/Rehabilitation & Mobility Aids (DME)

Keywords

• Custom silver orthoses
• Orthopedic finger splints
• Medical device manufacturing
• Hand therapy products
• Orthotic joint support

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom-made Silver Orthoses Sales: We Design manufactures and sells custom-made silver orthoses (Silversplints) for fingers, hands, wrists, and elbows. These are medical devices classified as ortheses, covered by the basic health insurance package in the Netherlands with a valid specialist referral. Customers typically do not pay out of pocket for the orthoses. Orders are placed by certified We Design Partner medical specialists on behalf of end patients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

We Design Silversplints designs and manufactures custom-made silver and titanium orthopedic orthoses (splints) for the upper extremity, covering fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, and elbows. Production combines traditional Dutch silversmithing with modern 3D modeling and printing, using approximately 100 percent recycled silver, with about 80 percent of the portfolio consisting of patented, copyright-protected designs. The company sells exclusively through a network of certified medical-specialist partners (orthopedic technologists, orthopaedic instrument makers, and hand therapists) who measure, fit, and order the orthoses for end patients, and provides training workshops and technical certification for those partners.

Product overview

We Design Silversplints is a specialist manufacturer of custom-made silver and titanium orthopedic devices (orthoses) for the upper extremity. The product portfolio consists of approximately 46 distinct models organized into five categories: Finger Splints (including swan neck, spiral ring, DIP stabilization, deviation correction, and PIP extension designs), Thumb Splints, Hand Splints, Wrist Splints (including static stabilization and dynamic designs), and Elbow Splints (titanium). The products are handcrafted in the Netherlands using silver (with approximately 75/1000th parts copper content) and titanium materials. The Silversplints are prescribed for conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Hypermobility Syndrome, and joint instability. The company emphasizes that all splints are handcrafted, with models protected by copyright and design rights. Dynamic models carry a 1-year warranty while static models carry a 2-year warranty, with a maximum delivery time of 3 weeks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Swan Neck Splint (5013 / 5044 / 5052 / 5054)

Quantifiable outcome

• Silversplints are reimbursed under the Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) with a valid specialist referral.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Heckert & Van LieropcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 June 2026Orthotic consultant Marieke Kinkelaar from Heckert & Van Lierop (located at De Witbogt 10, Eindhoven, NL) fits and fine-tunes custom-made Silversplints for patients with chronic hand conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism, and hypermobility. Heckert & Van Lierop is a certified We Design Partner.
• OTNN (Hand- en Polstherapiecentrum Sneek)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 July 2025OTNN (Hand- en Polstherapiecentrum Sneek) is the partner that fitted Simone Stroet's Silversplints, referred through her rheumatology nurse specialist. OTNN acts as a We Design Partner fitting custom orthoses for patients with chronic hand conditions.
• Schmidt MedicacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 June 2025Orthopedic technologist Michel Wentink at Schmidt Medica has been working with Silversplints since 2009. He fits custom silver orthoses for clients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and EDS. Schmidt Medica acts as a We Design Partner, measuring and fitting Silversplints for end patients.
• Medical Specialists / Orthopedic Technologists (Global Partner Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWe Design collaborates with a large number of hand therapy specialists and orthopedic technologists as certified We Design Partners. These partners are trained by We Design's Expertise Center and fit Silversplints for patients. Partners include individual orthopedic instrument makers, hand therapy centers, and clinics across the Netherlands and internationally.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sporlastic: German manufacturer of orthotic devices and supports, including hand and wrist braces, with a strong DACH-region specialist distribution network. Closely comparable to We Design as a European upper-extremity orthotics specialist selling through orthopedic technicians and rehab specialists.
• Push Braces (NEA International): Belgian-Dutch manufacturer of premium functional orthoses for wrist, thumb, and finger joints, distributed through orthotists and medical specialists across Europe. Closely comparable specialty European orthotics brand with overlapping upper-extremity range, prescriber channel, and reimbursement positioning.
• Hely & Weber: US-based specialist manufacturer of orthopedic braces and supports including wrist and hand orthoses sold through medical professionals. Comparable product overlap (upper-extremity orthotics) and prescriber-driven B2B2C model.

Emerging players

• Tynor Orthotics: India-based manufacturer of orthopedic supports and braces with a broad upper-extremity range (wrist, finger, elbow splints) sold globally at lower price points. Comparable product overlap on upper-extremity orthoses, but positioned at mass-market price tier versus Silversplints' premium craftsmanship model.

Broad incumbents

• Ottobock: Global leader in orthotics and prosthetics with a broad orthopedic portfolio including upper-extremity braces and supports. Comparable as a diversified DME incumbent serving the same patient populations (RA, OA, post-trauma) with overlapping product categories, though Ottobock operates at vastly larger scale across many segments.
• DeRoyal Industries: US manufacturer of orthopedic soft goods, braces, and surgical supplies distributed through hospitals and DME channels. Comparable as a DME orthotics manufacturer with overlapping upper-extremity products and clinical customer base.
• Bauerfeind: German medical device manufacturer specializing in orthotic supports and braces, including hand/wrist/elbow ranges sold across Europe. Directly comparable product overlap with Silversplints (upper-extremity orthoses) and operates in the same European reimbursement and specialist-prescriber ecosystem.
• Breg: US-based orthopedic bracing company offering a wide range of upper and lower extremity braces distributed through orthopedic specialists. Comparable as a DME orthotics specialist serving similar musculoskeletal indications and prescriber channels, though with a broader sport-medicine focus.
• Medi (medi GmbH): German medical device company with a comprehensive orthopedic brace portfolio (Medi Orthopedics), including wrist, hand, and finger orthoses reimbursed via European health systems. Directly comparable in upper-extremity orthotics, prescriber channel, and European reimbursement dynamics.
• DonJoy (Enovis): Established orthopedic brace brand (now under Enovis) offering wrist, hand, and elbow orthoses via medical specialist channels. Comparable upper-extremity orthotics portfolio, similar B2B2C distribution through clinicians, and similar RA/OA/sports-medicine patient targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wedesignsilversplints

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about We Design Silversplints