Peter Lammer sprinkles seasoning on a fresh-caught fish. He roasts meats and vegetables on a sizzling grill. He’s the chef at the Johanneskeller restaurant in Salzburg, Austria. Once, doctors told him his career was over. But a helpful invention—and a good friend—brought him back to the kitchen. 

As a kid, Mr. Lammer watched his grandma preparing food. As a grownup, he became a chef. Then he got into a motorcycle accident. Doctors told him he could no longer work on his feet. 

That’s bad news, given the long hours and bustling routine of a kitchen.  

Mr. Lammer tried to stand to work. It hurt too much. 

But he wasn’t ready to give up his life’s work. 

Good thing Mr. Lammer had Bernard Tichy for a friend. Mr. Tichy runs a zipline adventure business. He’s also a carpenter and an amateur metal worker. The pair cooked up a kitchen work solution. 

The final result was a C-shaped swivel chair. It hangs from rails on the ceiling. Mr. Lammer sits on a bicycle-style seat. It takes the weight off his bad leg. Unlike crutches or a wheelchair, this device keeps his hands free to work. He can glide through the kitchen. He spins from workstation to workstation. He moves more gracefully than most chefs do on their feet! 

What a brilliant design. If the two friends wanted, they could make money by selling it. But they have another goal. They want to make sure the people who need it can afford it. 

For that, they formed a company called Standing Ovation. Their device can help people with disabilities get back to the work they love.