Young inventors encouraged to utilise Ekurhuleni fablabs
The Ekurhuleni Metro recently established the fabrication laboratory for young inventors to design and build anything imaginable that can be used and improved into products for entrepreneurial purposes.
Gift Lubele is one of the creative minds and fledgling entrepreneurs who attended the three-day designing and innovation workshop held from September 5 to 7.
Lubele is the overall winner of the 2015 Teenpreneur competition for his smart plastic holder, designed at the lab to lessen the discomfort and pain of holding heavy shopping bags.
“I used to come to the facility to play around with the flexible computer-controlled tools and learn more about the various materials used. Little did I know that I would one day create something that is marketable and I can make a living out of,” Lubele said.
Lubele, who has received an order to create 500 smart plastic holders as corporate gifts, will be exhibiting his prototype at the upcoming Innovation Summit to be held from September 21 to 24 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre.
The summit is a platform where young upcoming designers will exhibit their products to entrepreneurs, stakeholders, business owners and consumers as well as enjoy an opportunity to interact with established creators and potential investors.
Audrey Verhaeghe, chairperson of the Innovation Summit, encouraged residents at the workshops to utilise the Ekurhuleni fabrication labs and make room to fail and learn until they design marketable prototypes.
Residents can visit one of its three fabrication labs in Tembisa, Thokoza or Tsakane. Operating hours are from Monday to Friday from 8.15am until 3.30pm.
