Normal urinals are made from ceramic and is dependent on water usage. With water saving in mind, a client approached the Product Development Technology Station (PDTS) to develop an idea of a waterless urinal.
The aim was to use these urinals in areas where there is a high shortage of water. The Weestand Urinal was made from plastic, which is also cheaper to manufacture and quicker to install than existing urinals.
For this purpose a urinal, which can be used by males or females, was designed from Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) material. It is waterless and water is only used when the urinal is cleaned.
Existing client designs of the product were redesigned for rotational moulding purposes to produce the units.
A 3D printed valve was also developed, with the assistance of the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing at the Central University of Technology, Free State, in Bloemfontein. From that a vacuum casting mould was developed to produce the valves. The valve, that also does not use water, fits onto the urinal in order to prevent odour when urine passes through.
A total of 175 units of the Weestand Urinal was produced and assisted the client with a water saving product.