MINNETONKA, Minn., October 27, 2026 WalkThera, Inc. held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to mark the first production units of WalkPort, the Supported Walk Station, coming off the line at Data Metalcraft Inc. in Arlington, Minnesota. The event brought together the WalkThera team, investors, and the manufacturing partners and suppliers who helped bring WalkPort to production.
WalkPort is a stationary Supported Walk Station for indoor use at home, in the clinic and in senior living. It lifts the user from seated to supported standing, then guides the legs through a walking motion powered by the user’s arms or legs.
“This is the culmination of Alan Tholkes’s vision. Alan has spent his career helping people with mobility challenges, first with EasyStand and now with WalkPort. His idea was simple and powerful: get people walking again. Not shuffling, not an elliptical, but real walking, with the support they need to do it safely. Every unit you see here today carries that idea forward,” said Joe Meyer, Director of Business Development at WalkThera.
Meyer thanked investor Dale Willenbring. “Dale’s leadership, persistence, and belief in this product have carried WalkPort through more than a few hard moments, and we would not be standing here without him.”
He also thanked the company’s investor group. “You backed a new product in a category that didn’t exist yet, and today you get to see that belief turn into real units ready to help real people.”
Meyer recognized the team at Data Metalcraft Inc., along with every vendor and supplier who contributed to WalkPort. “Building a medical device takes precision, care, and pride in your work. You have brought all three. When a patient takes steps in a WalkPort for the first time, your craftsmanship is part of that moment.”
He gave special recognition to Gavin Potts, President of WalkThera, and Mike Schreiner, Senior Mechanical Engineer. “Gavin and Mike are the ones who got this across the finish line. They solved the problems nobody saw coming, kept every piece moving, and made sure that what came off this line today is a product we are proud to put in front of patients.”
“What we are really producing today is not steel and motors. We are producing the chance for a veteran, a stroke survivor, someone living with MS or Parkinson’s, someone recovering from a spinal cord or brain injury, and so many others to stand up and walk again. That is something we can all be proud of.”
Joe Meyer
Director of Business Development, WalkThera
To learn more about WalkPort or to schedule a demo, visit walkport.com or call 952.855.1001.
About WalkThera
WalkThera, formerly Medthera, is the Minnesota company behind WalkPort, a Supported Walk Station built to give people with limited mobility a safe way to practice walking every day. WalkPort combines powered sit to stand assistance, stabilizing supports and a guided walking motion with the WalkPort App, which shows steps, cadence, and standing and walking time live. It is designed for use at home, in clinics and in rehab facilities. Learn more at walkport.com.
Media Contact
Gavin Potts, President
WalkThera, Inc.
Phone: 952.855.1001
Email: gavin@walkthera.com
Website: walkport.com
