Awards '09: Where there's muck there's brass
Sarah and her device, named the ‘WheeliEasy’
When Sarah Williams’ granny Ivy sprained her wrist putting out her rubbish for collection, the accident inspired one of our BSc (Hons) Design Technology degree students to create a device to make wheelie bins more manoeuvrable.
Now her invention is set to become a reality.
Sarah designed a prototype ‘moving pod’ which uses castors and a clever lifting mechanism to make wheelie bins easier to move around and reduces their lifting weight by 60%.
It can be adapted to the standard 140 litre bins, or 240 litre ones, issued by local authorities. The ‘WheeliEasy’ gadget is aimed principally at older people or those with mobility problems.
Since leaving the University in Summer 2008 Sarah has entered into negotiations with manufacturing company Beamlight Automotive Seating Ltd of New Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, to produce the device.
Sarah said: “Beamlight approached me soon after the initial publicity about the device in June (2008). We’re now working together on making the device more user friendly and cost effective.
“I had no idea that something which started off as a degree project would take off like this.”
Sarah hopes that the wheelie bin device will be on the market this year (2009).
Stuart Gerrard, Sales Manager at Beamlight Automotive Seating Ltd, added: “We are now at a point where we are almost ready to market the WheeliEasy. It is a unique product.
