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NuDrive founder interviewed by The Guardian

December 2008
Robert Orford, CEO of Pure Global, talks to Ella Marshall from The Guardian about why he developed NuDrive and his recent win at the BHTA Independent Living Design Awards. Read the interview that was published in The Guardian on 17th December http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/dec/17/nudrive-wheelchair-design

NuDrive wins Independent Living Design Awards 2008

December 2008

NuDrive, the world’s first lever-drive propulsion accessory for manual wheelchairs, won top place at the Independent Living Design Awards 2008 on 4^th December 2008. The awards are the industry’s top accolade for innovative products that increase independence and are organised by the British Healthcare Trades’ Association – the leading trade association representing assistive technologies in healthcare....

Founder of NuDrive and CEO of Pure Global Ltd, Robert Orford, is naturally delighted: “We are thrilled that our first product has been recognised as the UK’s best new innovation for increasing independence this year; it is an incredible privilege and a real honour.”

“As a start up company this award is a huge encouragement to us. To beat the industry’s big boys, even in this tough economic climate, shows we have what it takes to compete with the best – not just as a company, but also as a nation,” continued Robert.

“This award is a celebration of British industry and medical ingenuity. Globally the assistive technologies industry is dominated by the United States and Europe, and for too long the UK has lagged behind in pioneering technology that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. Some of the UK’s best medical and technological minds helped develop the revolutionary NuDrive system, and I hope they will all feel proud,” continued Robert.

“It is also a testimony to the importance of user-led design in this industry. Focus groups were critical in helping develop NuDrive into the award-winning product it is today; this approach should be adopted as standard,” said Robert.

NuDrive attaches in seconds to existing wheels and reduces the force needed to self-propel by up to 40%. Its lightweight and innovative design shifts the shoulder loading and reduces the risk of injury to shoulders, hands, elbows and wrists. It is also more hygienic than spinning the wheel rims by hand, and eliminates the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury.

Speaking about NuDrive, the judges said: “Up to 40% less effort required to propel a manual wheelchair? It didn’t take anything like that amount of effort for us to back this as our winner!”

Pure Global commissioned London Associates, one of the UK’s leading product design agencies, to design the technology following Robert’s original prototype which won him the Young Designer of the Year Award in 2002. The Aspire Centre for Disability Sciences at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital was also involved in the development and provided important medical insights to ensure the finished product had a high level of medical efficacy.

“In an ideal world people would not need wheelchairs, and more still needs to be done to create opportunity and independence. We thank the BTHA for their role in encouraging innovation in this industry as the demand for breakthrough technology remains high,” explains Robert.

“As a company we believe in the power of technology, design and enterprise to improve people’s lives, and plan to remain at the forefront of pioneering innovations that will create independence,” concluded Robert.

Second place in the prestigious Independent Living Design Awards, which took place at the Hotel Russell, London, went to the Jay J3 Back from Sunrise Medical, a removable and transferable ‘made-to-measure’ wheelchair back. Third prize went to a new, state-of-the-art speech aid – the Lightwriter SL40 from Toby Churchill Ltd.

Download NuDrive wins Independent Living Design Awards 2008.doc

Medical Breakthrough will benefit millions of wheelchair users

November 2008

A global breakthrough in manual wheelchair propulsion developed in the UK could provide multiple health benefits and increased independence for millions of wheelchair users. The NuDrive system is the world’s first lever-drive propulsion accessory for manual wheelchairs and is now available in the UK.

Download NuDrive wins Independent Living Design Awards 2008.doc
Download Medical breakthrough will benefit millions of wheelchair users no ima

Breakthrough in manual wheelchair propulsion launched in the UK

October 2008

A number of prominent people in the disability industry were present at the launch of NuDrive – the world’s first lever-drive propulsion accessory for manual wheelchairs. NuDrive reduces the force needed to self-propel by up to 40% and was launched on 7^th October by Peter Gage, Chairman of the NHS National Wheelchair Managers’ Forum, at the Aspire National Training Centre.

Download NuDrive wins Independent Living Design Awards 2008.doc
Download Medical breakthrough will benefit millions of wheelchair users no ima
Download Breakthrough in manual wheelchair propulsion developed and launched i

Breakthrough new product inspired by PHAB

July 2008

The inventor of a breakthrough product that will increase independence for wheelchair users around the world was inspired by his time volunteering at PHAB.

NuDrive is a totally new self-propulsion system for manual wheelchairs that is due to be released in the UK in September 2008. Its attachable levers reduce the need to self propel by 30-40% and remove the need to grip and release hand-rims. Clinical testing is still underway but early indicators show significant benefits to posture, shoulder loading and impact on muscles.

Download NuDrive wins Independent Living Design Awards 2008.doc
Download Medical breakthrough will benefit millions of wheelchair users no ima
Download Breakthrough in manual wheelchair propulsion developed and launched i
Download NuDRIVE article for PHAB 16 July 08.pdf