It started as a student project but an innovative tool, which revolves around one of SA’s favourite pastimes, has become a blazing success, which could soon hit the international market.

The Braai Tool (TBT), is multifunctional and incorporates five key braai utensils into one sleek product.

The idea was born in 2014 during the Industrial Design BTech course at CPUT when students had to design, prototype, manufacture, market and sell a product they created for a net profit of at least R5 000.

The product proved to be a winner and, with the help of CPUT’s Technology Transfer Office, its magnetic hinge and groove system were patented.

“We’ve also done some research into the Australian market because barbecuing is huge in Australia. So, with the help of CPUT’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO), we have also filed for a patent in Australia” says TBT’s Sebastian Bosman.

Bosman said The TTO would also subsidise his participation in the LaunchLab - which is designed to take entrepreneurs through the process of building a viable company.

He says the TTO has given him the ingredients to turn a university project into a commercial product.

“The TTO gave us the financing to produce our initial units. They have paid for the patent, both locally and internationally and they’ve given us great legal advice. They also sent us to Design Indaba, funding our first step into the commercial space.”
TBT has just placed an order for another 1 000 units of the product.

• TBT operates from the communal work hub at 75 Harrington Street, Cape Town.

For more details click here

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT students are thinking big.

A wide range of bright ideas and products was showcased at this year’s CPUT Idea-Create Student Innovation Competition.

A beer keg that has been recycled into a barbeque, a snack dryer, a solar wonder cooker and a device to find lost items, are just some of the inventions thought out by students.

Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Prof Gary Atkinson-Hope says the competition is in its third year and is gaining popularity, with more than 70 students taking up this year’s challenge.

This year’s top innovators hailed from the Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Departments.

A group of Industrial Engineering students created The Braai Tool, a sleek-looking and versatile device that can be used as a bottle opener, tongs, fork and spatula.

“We are ecstatic and positive about the future of the braai tool,” says Sebastian Bosman, who represented the group at the prize giving.

The invention was part of the BTech Industrial Design R5k project, an official World Design Capital project that tasked students with producing and selling a product with the ultimate aim of earning R5000 or more.

Mechanical Engineering student, Musa Morgan, created a unique pair of briefs called Manhood Underwear. The briefs are designed for use by males after they are circumcised and assist in the healing process by protecting the area that was operated on.

“I feel honoured to have won this prize,” says Musa who plans to take his idea further and turn it into a business.

Musa, along with a group of four friends also scored another prize at the competition for the design of their website, Ad4All, an online classifieds for students.

Guest speaker at the event, entrepreneur Vuyisa Qubaka, encourage students to keep on innovating.

“The most successful entrepreneurs succeed because they are passionate,” he says.

“They moved from trying to do something to mastering it. Work on something because you are passionate about it.”

Deputy Director of Enterprise Development from the Western Cape Government, Deon Damons, whose office has funded many of CPUT’s innovative students, says the ideas unveiled at the competition have the potential to grow into big businesses.

Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Braaiing is practically a national past time in South Africa so anything which makes the job easier is set to be a sure fire success.

The Braai Tool (TBT) is a multifunctional braai utensil that incorporates five key braai utensils into one highly sleek product.

This handcrafted tool started out at as a fourth year Industrial Design project by Alejandra Olivera, Salmon Nortje, Stehan Botha and Sebastian Bosman.

“TBT was our entry into the now well established 5K Project which see groups of BTech students design, prototype, manufacture, market and sell a product of their creation with the goal of achieving a minimum net profit of R5 000,00. Hence the name, The 5K Project,” says Bosman.

What the group never imagined was that their product would prove such a success and that its magnetic hinge and groove system would be patented.

The special system is the magic of TBT, allowing users to break the device into two elements, which can be used as a knife, fork, spatula and bottle opener. When combined, the magnetic hinge and groove system mimics the action of a tensioned spring.

The product is manufactured locally from sustainably sourced materials and is weather and fire resistant.

VERSATILE: The special system is the magic of TBT, allowing users to break the device into two elements, which can be used as a knife, fork, spatula and bottle opener

Sebastian says the product is the perfect gift for the discerning braai master.

“TBT encapsulates the essence of why South Africans love to braai,” he says.

For more information or to purchase the product see: www.thebraaitool.co.za

The product will be on show at the CPUT Innovation Showcase, which takes place on Thursday, 6 August 2015 in the Major Sports Hall at the Bellville Campus from 11am – 8pm. Entry is free.

For more information on the Innovation Showcase, contact   Chris Lombard, +27 21 9595871, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Nompahelo Ndindwa, +27 21 959 6044, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.