The Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) wheelchair project commenced in 2018 with optimisation of the design brought by the client through SAB funding to the value of R250 000. Due to high demand, the centre later applied for funding from Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) amounting to R650 000, for the development of manufacturing jigs and production, leading to commercialisation. The centre received wheelchair production machines funded by MedAdd, a Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) project. The machines are envisioned to assist in the mass production of Wheelchairs.

Since the inception of the project, the team managed to build twenty (20) wheelchairs and is currently adding ten (10) more to make it thirty (30). According to the Project leader, Mzwake Moqhaisa, the machines make the manufacturing process straightforward, allowing engineers to think creatively and solve problems. “The machines make the repetitive process of manufacturing individual parts more effective, quick, and accurate. They allow the design to have the necessary curves and notches that allow for strength and proper weld connections. Our target market is the active wheelchair users within our communities - those with the upper physical strength to propel themselves. We work in sequence, which means we work on a certain pipe diameter until we finish the parts for the specific number of wheelchairs. This is because the bender has a lengthy process when it comes to changing the tool for different pipe diameters,” he said.

Asked whether the wheelchairs are a unique design or just a standard type of wheelchairs, Katlego Makgeledisa, Project Assistant, mentioned that it is a standard wheelchair with two different attachments that make it special and novel to what the market currently offers. “The current wheelchair on the market has either a permanent free wheel or hand bike feature and the wheelchair cannot be used indoors, therefore a person would need two wheelchairs - one for indoors and another for outdoors. Ours is a 3-in-1 wheelchair that allows users to experience a standard indoor wheelchair and a free wheel/hand bike attachment for outdoor use all-in-one. The attachments also enable long-distance travellers to move swiftly through rough terrains. Our wheelchair can also bend and be disassembled easily to allow the users to travel using public transport.”

In their elaboration about the project’s future, both Katlego and Mzwake indicated that the wheelchair project would stay with the PDTS for a while. They will be manufacturing all the tubing and sheet metals. “These machines will increase productivity and accelerate the time for manufacturing prototypes and final products”.

The centre has since collaborated with MUCCP Community Health Centre to test the wheelchairs and has also donated three wheelchairs in the past few years. “We intend to work closely with the public hospitals and clinics to help us identify active users within our communities who will be the beneficiaries of this project. We plan to also sell them to individuals and institutions that work with communities with disabilities. Our bigger plan is to collaborate with the government to buy these wheelchairs from us and provide for its people.”

“We have also developed sensory integration equipment for therapy in collaboration with the University of the Free State (UFS) and South African Institute for Sensory Integration. This includes projects such as non-assistive patient transfer developed for Nurture Hillandale Hospital Woodlands. We also worked with a special school to build a sensory integration room.”

Caption

One of the machines that are utilised to build the 3-in-1 wheelchairs is the BODOR Laser cutter T230A.