Three inventors have been revealed as this year’s North West Inventors of the year from innovation organisation Ideas North West.
The inventors received their Awards at the Ideas North West Inventors’ Expo at Turf Moor Enterprise Haven on Saturday 20th March. The awards were presented by Steve Hoyle, commercial director of Expo sponsor No Limits.
The awards celebrate the successful development of each invention and acknowledge each invention’s potential for worldwide sales success. The awards have been introduced to hopefully inspire a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs.
- Chris Williams from Chorley : www.empire-cycles.com – New Down Hill Mountain Bike
Chris Williams has designed a specialist mountain bike called the AP-1WR. Chris, set out to design his own dream mountain bike. He designed an innovative single-cast lightweight frame to achieve his dream. Through his business, Empire Cycles, he has sponsored Lewis Buchanan who rode the bike to championship success. And the bike was listed in the prestigious ‘Dirt 100′ which is a magazine acknowledgment of the industry’s top 100 products of the year.
- Bill Austin from Blackburn : www.billaustin.co.uk – The Austin Stair Aid
Bill Austin of Shadsworth, Blackburn devised the Austin StairAid to help his sick wife climb stairs. Wife Betty suffered a stroke and found it difficult to get around their home. The special ‘dolly bar’ is attached to an adapted banister helping the user to manoeuvre up and down stairs safely. It can also be used along level areas for moving around the home.
- Martin Watson from Rossendale : New Light Emitting Diode
Martin from Weir near Bacup has invented an energy-saving street light. His light emitting diode (LED) lighting unit is all set to compete with the high-energy products used by highways authorities across Britain. Blackburn with Darwen Council has installed 20 of his LED units in traffic bollards in Yew Tree Drive, off Preston New Road, Blackburn, in a sixth-month trial. If successful, it could lead to a 500bollard replacement saving anything up to £15,000 a year in energy bills.
Chris, Bill and Martin’s awards was just one of the highlights of another successful North West inventor’s Expo sponsored by No Limits. Now in its fifth year, more than 100 visitors including local inventors showcasing their ideas, support businesses including rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing services; free patent search advisors; and, representatives from the Patent Office.
For Ideas North West Basil Philipsz said,
“Congratulations to all our Inventors of the Year. All three epitomise the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit for which our region is so famous. Many of our most successful inventors attended the Expo, and their successes along with the support of No Limits and a whole host of informed and experienced advisors offering free consultations helped to inspire a unique networking event at our fifth annual expo."
Local innovators, businesses seeking to grow through innovation, or anyone with an idea they would like to exploit is to find out more about Ideas North West. For more information businesses and individuals can visit the website paul.white.
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