Elesa UK has formed a new partnership with The Washing Machine Project (TWMP) to address a critical need in low-income and displaced communities worldwide.
The new collaboration aims to provide sustainable, off-grid manual washing machines, potentially transforming the lives of thousands who lack access to modern laundry facilities.
TWMP, founded in 2019 by aerospace engineer Nav Sawhney, emerged from a simple yet powerful observation. Sawhney’s neighbour in South India spent up to 20 hours a week handwashing clothes, a common part of daily life in many developing regions. This experience inspired the creation of a prototype washing machine, which has since evolved into a full-fledged humanitarian initiative.
Since its inception, TWMP has made significant strides in addressing this often-overlooked aspect of daily life. The project has distributed its innovative washing machine, Divya, to more than 13 countries, impacting over 30,000 people. By collaborating closely with local communities and humanitarian organisations, TWMP ensures its solutions are tailored to the specific needs of different regions.
At the heart of TWMP’s efforts is the Divya washing machine, a manually operated, off-grid solution representing a significant leap forward in laundry technology for underserved communities. This innovative device reduces water consumption by half and cuts laundry time by 75% compared to traditional handwashing methods.
The Divya’s design, inspired by the mechanics of a salad spinner, has evolved into the world’s first flat-pack manual washing machine. It can be assembled using essential tools like a spanner, screwdriver, and hex key, making it accessible even in areas with limited resources. Constructed primarily from stainless steel, the Divya is sustainable and recyclable, ensuring longevity in challenging environments.
Engineering Deep Dive: Principles and Components
The Divya washing machine embodies several fundamental engineering principles:
- Mechanical Advantage: The machine rotates the drum using a hand-cranked mechanism, leveraging mechanical advantage to reduce the user’s required physical effort.
- Centrifugal Force: Similar to a salad spinner, the Divya uses centrifugal force to remove water from clothes during the spin cycle, improving efficiency and reducing drying time.
- Modular Design: The Divya’s flat-pack nature allows for easy transportation and assembly, crucial for deployment in remote or disaster-affected areas.
- Material Selection: Using stainless steel as the primary material ensures durability, corrosion resistance, and recyclability.
- Water Conservation: The machine’s design optimises water usage, a critical feature for water-scarce regions.
Key Components:
- Cylindrical Revolving Handle: Elesa supplied this ergonomic handle, which is the main interface for operating the machine. It’s designed for comfort during extended use and durability under frequent operation.
- Bridge Handle: Also provided by Elesa, this component enhances the machine’s portability, allowing users to easily e Divya as needed.
- Stainless Steel Drum: The main washing compartment is designed for durability and easy cleaning.
- Manual Crank Mechanism: Translates the user’s rotational input into the motion required for washing and spinning cycles.
Elesa UK’s pivotal role in this project has been providing vital components that address the central challenges of durability, user comfort, and mobility. The Cylindrical Revolving Handle and Bridge Handle have significantly improved Divya’s functionality and user experience.
The cylinder rotating handle is the crank handle used to operate the machine. As the primary point of interaction for users, this component needed to withstand regular use while remaining comfortable to grip. The Bridge Handle, meanwhile, improves the machine’s portability, an essential feature given that many communities share a single Divya unit.
These components have markedly improved Divya’s overall performance. The Cylindrical Revolving Handle allows users to complete a wash cycle in about 30 minutes, with only six minutes of active effort. This represents a significant time saving compared to the 2.5 hours typically required to handwash a similar load. The handle’s ergonomic design ensures comfort even during extended use, a crucial factor for users washing larger loads.
This collaboration demonstrates the potential of sustainable innovation through strategic partnerships. By providing an efficient, dignified solution to laundry challenges in underserved communities, this project opens up new opportunities for women and girls who can now allocate their time to education or employment instead of spending hours on manual laundry.
As the project continues to grow, we hope it can extend its impact to more communities globally. The new focus on improved components enhances the reliability and durability of the Divya washing machine, ensuring a long lifespan with minimal need for repairs. This longevity is crucial for the project’s scalability and long-term success. As this initiative continues to evolve, it stands to improve the lives of thousands in underserved communities significantly, one wash cycle at a time.
TLDR:
- Elesa UK partners with The Washing Machine Project to create off-grid manual washing machines
- The Divya washing machine reduces water use by 50% and laundry time by 75%
- Elesa provides key components: Cylindrical Revolving Handle and Bridge Handle
- The project has impacted over 30,000 people in 13 countries
- The collaboration showcases the potential of sustainable engineering for humanitarian needs
