from private investors to fund the project and to help us continue to build relationships in many countries for the development, supply and assembly of parts. “I made many regular visits over the years to our Operations Director Patrick Tam in Hong Kong, to visit our suppliers and partners in the Far East who luckily shared the same passion and enthusiasm as we did.” Finally, it felt like Brian and his team were starting to make some progress… FROM THE GROUND UP Perhaps 90 per cent of the mainstream mobility products currently out in the market, says Brian, use a standardised, off-theshelf type of motor and gearbox, along with a certified motor controller, battery, charger, and brake systems. “They are built in their tens of thousands, so are generally available as a package quite cheaply along with the certification. You just bolt them on to a newly designed chassis and ‘hey presto’,” he says. This makes things far simplier, designing a new wheelchair or scooter product. “There are also so many other offthe-shelf parts available, but none of that would suit our purpose,” Brian continues. “Because we were designing every element from the ground up, apart from the nuts and bolts, including the chassis. And, being a Class 1 medical product, Richard Rudd, our compliance officer, insisted that while it is possible to do a certain amount of ‘self-certification,’ we should aim for the very highest industry standards, using TUV Germany and other world-class testing laboratories.” A STEADFAST BELIEF In ensuring that the Ypush passed the strict supply guidelines of potential customers, such as the NHS, Brian explained that he and his team went through a timeconsuming process where every single part of the Ypush – every material and mechanism – was rigorously examined, tested and certified in an accredited laboratory.
Brian recalls: “With all the parts on the Ypush bespoke, even down to the special tyres, Richard took us into a whole new world of micro detail you just didn’t know existed!” The biggest worry about the project, though, was the unknown, unforeseen, spiralling costs. “You can believe that there is a solution, but until you find one you have to keep testing, improving and hoping, as there are no guarantees,” he explains. “You can sell an idea to people but eventually time can start running out. You need to get results before the money runs out. “I always say to my children, Oliver and Darcie, that development
“Development is like a mixture of belief and a search for the truth” BRIAN HARRISON
is like a mixture of belief and a search for the truth.” Fortunately, the investors continued to be incredibly supportive and patient, staying committed to what Brian and his team were looking to achieve. Brian continues: “By 2018, we
Sue Mollet, who agreed to put the Ypush through its paces
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