‘Lockit’ for your favourite drink Device puts a stop to unwanted gulping
• OSCAR KOEN: PHONE 078 357 8803 A prototype of the ‘Lockit’ – in this case minus the lock (in order to show the design) – which was cut from a solid block of ABS
SAPPMA completes 2nd round of quality tests Plastic pipes show improved quality, but still room for improvement THE quality of plastic pipes manufactured in PVC pipes at random from eight different South Africa leaves room for improvement, manufacturers – all of them carrying despite the fact that many of the pipes carry the SABS mark (SANS 1601, SANS the SABS mark of approval. 966-1, SANS 966-2 & SANS 967) and According to Jan Venter, CEO of the clearly identified by trade- or company Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers names. Of those pipes tested, at least Association (SAPPMA), the results of the 56% of those produced by non-SAPPMA second round of random sampling undermembers failed, whilst none of those taken by SAPPMA since the first sampling produced by SAPPMA members failed”. exercise of a specific range of products took After the results of the first round of place last year, have just been released. tests were released, SAPPMA repeated “SAPPMA works the survey at the very closely with the end of 2011 – Long-term product SABS in a joint effort again obtaining quality is fundamental and to weed out inferior pipes at random, quality plastic pipe should quality plastic piping although a much systems,” Venter be good for a minimum bigger sample size said. “It is our vision to was used. period of 50 years create absolute qual“We have found according to industry ity, trust and integrity that a considerstandards. throughout the value able number of the chain of the Southern pipes tested still fell African Plastics Pipe Industry”. short of the industry standards. HowBecause the plastics piping business is ever, we are pleased to report that there a strategic industry, hardware needs to be seems to be a significant improvement reliable for extended periods of time. Longsince the previous survey”, Venter said. term product quality is therefore fundamenWhilst SAPPMA does not claim that tal and quality plastic pipe should be good all pipe produced by its members will for a minimum period of 50 years according be 100% faultless all of the time, Venter to industry standards. pointed out that the results of the first “However, the plastic pipe industry finds round of tests do seem to indicate a itself in an increasingly difficult position due trend with regards to the setting of and to economic pressure. In a situation such as adhering to industry standards. ours where supply continually exceeds de“In the interest of the consumer and mand, manufacturers are looking for ways the long term integrity of the infrastructo cut costs, which often impacts negatively ture, SAPPMA will continue with these on product quality”, Venter explained. market surveys. We are confident that To ensure industry compliance and high independent tests such as these will standards throughout, SAPPMA launched increase the public’s awareness of quala random sampling exercise of a selection ity issues, which will ultimately raise the of pipes obtained at random from various level of responsibility of manufacturers,” stocking merchants at the beginning of Venter added. 2011. The dimensions and stiffness of these pipes were tested at a certified independent laboratory in terms of the relevant SABS standards. “The results were rather shocking”, www.sappma.co.za Venter said. “We selected 18 samples of 18
APRIL / MAY 2012
INDUSTRY NEWS
TIRED of having colleagues drink the water from his special chilled supply in the workshop fridge, Cape Town tool maker Oscar Koen got to work. His goal was to design a device that would prevent theft from the Oscar Koen, develcontainer. The result: oper of the ‘Lockit’ bottle device the ‘Lockit’ moulding that effectively prevents removal of the lid from the container, and hence theft of the contents. His brainwave resolved the problem in a flash, and also resulted in Oscar getting some puzzled glances from colleagues at his workplace in Paardeneiland. He has since been spurred on by the potential to commercialize the product. Oscar believes his design could be used at schools and workplaces around the country. In fact, it could be used wherever individuals in large groups seek to prevent others from accessing, unsolicited, their choice of beverage, when left unattended that is. In Oscar’s case, drinking water during the hot summer days, and even hotter temperatures in most toolrooms, is a necessity. To many, removal of water – the ‘elixir of life’ – from a container in a fridge can hardly be constituted as theft, but many may share his reluctance to accept such activity. The design may quite possibly have a role to play besides: preventing others from drinking from one’s personal container could even be a reliable health strategy – by stopping the spread of oral viruses, said Oscar, who has been involved in toolmaking for over 30 years. Now Oscar believes the gimmick could, besides its safety features, be used by beverage manufacturers for branding and could be an attractive ‘value-adding’ feature for softdrink and mineral water suppliers.