Local inventor seeks partnerships to commercialise no-frills water heating system

While spotting expensive suits or beautifully designed political party regalia, statespeople often take to the podium, armed with theories for a better life for all – often tinged with utopian promises. Should prominent politicians, therefore, be the sole players in determining bread and butter issues? Private sector, non-governmental organisations or individuals, if meaningfully engaged in the mainstream economy, could provide an array of possibilities.

In pursuit of such goals, Capetonian Roger Matthews, a master plumber, retreated to his study for two years to devise a system that could help the poor, travellers or even the elite.

He has recently invented a gas heating system that generates unlimited hot water – requiring neither municipal pressure nor energy in the form of electricity.

“I have a Master Plumber’s qualification, Class 1 Ministry of Environmental and gas practitioner licences, so I am fully qualified to take on any multistorey job that requires hot water systems,” Matthews reveals.

Having studied and worked in Canada for 16 years has helped him acquire a wealth of experience on how gas- and hot water systems work.

Back home in Cape Town, Matthews worked for various companies including Murray & Roberts, Peninsula Plumbing & Engineering Works, and Marsden Plumbers.

As a technically minded person, he was disillusioned by the lack of utilities in certain communities. Paramount among his concerns are poverty, lack of basic human rights and crime levels that rank highly in South Africa.

To arrest the trend, Matthews spent three months in the Khayelitsha and Philippi townships of Cape Town, experimenting with his invention. Residents there hailed it as a timely innovation.

His groundbreaking project, if unearthed, could challenge Eskom, as his invention provides an alternative system for heating water. With electricity prices ever soaring in South Africa, the poor – for whom this is invention is beneficial, featured prominently in his mind, given that generators as an alternative are costly and beyond reach of the underprivileged. The simple system has potential to ease energy hardships experienced by poorer folks in our townships and rural areas.

Matthews used a five-kilogramme gas cylinder, 12-volt battery, a tank and plumbing copper pipes in building a stand-alone system that is ideal for domestic use or by travellers. This user-friendly technology can equally heat seawater in 35 seconds – proof that any form of water could be warmed up by his innovation.

With relevant authorities pledging support but not forthcoming, he is seeking partners to help fund the development of the system on a commercial basis, and roll it out throughout the country and beyond. He harbour ambitions of devising a similar system for industrial use.

In his State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma lamented the lack of jobs, therefore it is incumbent upon intrepid entrepreneurs such as Roger Matthews to create employment opportunities.

He is urgently seeking a solid partnership with established companies such as Eskom, in order to embark on large-scale manufacturing of the stand-alone system, which could employ more people in the process.

Besides this advantage, Matthews’s system has potential to help rural communities who overwhelmingly use wood as a fuel source. Wood fuel is associated with socio-economic and environmental issues such as deforestation and indoor air pollution.

“This is my idea. It is strictly designed by me,” he brags.

Matthews, a hot water specialist, has overseen various hot water system installation projects completed at major establishments such as the Arabella Sheraton Hotel, Taj Hotel, Waterkloof Wines and Cape Technikon Hotel School in Cape Town. This illustrates his pedigree in installing hot water systems, with potential to diversify into other systems.

The well-travelled designer has worked in Canada, Dubai and Mexico, which helped him save R50 000 that he invested into this project, but that money has now been gobbled up.

“l did not get any financial support from anywhere, but used personal savings,” he reiterates. Unfortunately, this has since left him in a poorer financial state – a situation that incapacitates his dream of rolling out the invention on a massive scale.

Asked whether he had taken steps to protect his invention, Matthews was circumspect: “Patents are expensive; l do not have the money. If l am featured on television, maybe various stakeholders will acknowledge my efforts and come on board,” he reckons.

He remains steadfast about the simple techniques he used as a surety that no one would steal his idea. He is optimistic that, despite heavy odds, his water heating system will attract investors to give it international acclaim and establish a global footprint.

Hot water heating systems using municipal pressure and energy from Eskom take longer time to heat up. In comparison, Mathews’s invention works faster. At a flick of a switch and within 35 seconds, hot water gushes out. The unique feature about this system is that the hot water runs out endlessly, hence the designer’s reference to it as an “unlimited hot water system”. This is in sharp contrast to traditional systems that intermittently run out of hot water.

Merging or getting help from well-established companies or government departments would boost production, with potential to increase manufacturing capacity – leading to creation of job opportunities.

Matthews has taken the initiative to invite various sectors of the economy such as the departments of Education and Trade & Industry, to assist in opening up a training facility and help with manufacturing respectively.

Though the current cost of the system is R13 000, he is of the view that once stakeholders embrace the invention, the law of demand and supply will kick in, which could lower its cost drastically to about R4 000. In addition, he has plans to lobby for electricity rebate from Eskom once his systems are fully operational.

Matthews, a South African national exiled in Canada for many years, has cast his net beyond our borders, looking at Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia as possible markets. A notable percentage of the population in those countries lives in rural areas, and his system could help heat their water easily – a luxury of which people in remote parts of Africa can only dream.

Marketing

“Marketing is one of my weak points. I plan to engage professionals in this regard,” Matthews acknowledges.

Since most vulnerable communities are in areas where it is difficult to disseminate information, engaging marketing fundi’s could help popularise his design to all segments of the economy.

Despite onerous challenges, Matthews is resolute about commercialising his invention globally.

For demonstrations, telephone him on 072 605 9191.

Bernard Chiguvare

• |2012-01-21 19:52:53 dennis  - contact details please
  tried all sorts of combinations re phone number but failed
  
  please advise email address and / or full international code starting with +???
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• |2012-01-22 14:00:46 Jez  - Contact number
  Hi Dennis,
  try contacting him on this number
  0027 72 605 9191
  Cheers Jez
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