A partnership, involving three universities, to improve wheelchair design and production is set to empower African entrepreneurs with disability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The participating institutions are the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, as well as those of Aston and Loughborough in the United Kingdom. They have launched the Innovation for African Universities project. It is designed to rally support for disabled entrepreneurs from the Aston University\u2019s product design experts and CUT engineers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The universities are working with two South African wheelchair manufacturers: Real Steel Wheelchairs, started by wheelchair rugby player Jared McIntyre, and Able Manufacturers, which has created a three-in-one chair with adaptable wheels for off-roading in the many rural areas with limited paved roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aim is to improve these existing products and hone business operations and skills provision to train disabled persons, with the main objective of offering them employment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CUT campus in Bloemfontein is the hub for the wheelchair design initiative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Timothy Whitehead, senior lecturer in product design, mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, and Rebecca Leatherland, based within the Aston University\u2019s college of Engineering and Physical Sciences, have visited the two manufacturers to understand the issues they face and barriers to business development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A core part of the project will be to use the Aston University\u2019s expertise in design for manufacturing and industrial design to help Able Manufacturers improve its current chair. The innovation entails designing a removable third wheel that will help users overcome rough terrain \u2013 making it different to a standard wheelchair, which cannot usually cope with mud, holes and overgrown vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe chairs are a lifeline for so many people living in rural communities \u2013 if we can iron out the issues, they will be even better,\u201d said Schalk van der Merwe, company owner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said a removable wheel would make it possible for people with disability to travel to areas that were previously inaccessible, increasing opportunities for, and access to, potential employment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second project is to support the development of a new, more affordable, rugby wheelchair to encourage more athletes with disability and children to participate in the sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Deon de Beer, chairman of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Mer\u00adSETA) in Innovation and Commercialisation of Additive Manufacturing at the CUT, said it was costly to import these chairs to Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is resulting in an automatic barrier to a sport which can support physical and mental health, as well as rehabilitation,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A partnership, involving three universities, to improve wheelchair design and production is set to empower African entrepreneurs with 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