1 West North Bath University

1 West North Bath University

NWU designs quadro bath system

POTCHEFSTROOM – The Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently donated one of two quadro bath systems to Aandblomtuiste in Strydenburg.

The quadro bath was designed by mechanical engineering students on the campus as a practical project in the field of Systems Engineering. The bath was specifically developed to assist nursing staff in getting patients in and out of a bath and therefore minimizing back injuries among staff.

According to Prof Johan Roberts, senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, he chose this project because it fitted well with the level of knowledge of students in the third and fourth years of study in mechanical engineering.

The initial design was developed by Ricus Coetzee and JJ Groenewald and was adapted and improved by Gert van Eeden, Jacques Silvis and Corrie du Plessis in the following years. In 2006 Francois de Waal rounded off the first prototype of the quadro bath by making it safer for patients, improving the drainage of water from the system and subjecting the bath to consumer tests at Witrand.

Aandblomtuiste’s need for such a bath system came under the attention of the NWU after Adri van der Merwe (Pharmacy student) and Hennie Maré, both residents of Strydenburg, approached the University with regard to the quadro bath.

The specifications of this system will enable caretakers at Aandblomtuiste to lift up to 30 patients with a body weight of up to 120 kilograms in and out of the bath every day and so bring about work alleviation for caretakers.

The School of Mechanical Engineering graciously decided to donate the prototype of the bath to Aandblomtuiste as part of its service to the broader community. Even though the quadro bath is still in the experimental developing phase, this “raw” product can already be used by Aandblomtuiste with great success.