MOBILITY UNITS BRING OPPORTUNITY

Indianapolis and Demotte, Indiana … In 1994 an American missionary to Zaire (Congo) told another about the need for three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs, a need that was especially critical because of high numbers of disabilities from disease and injuries from land mines. Prototypes were developed, and in 1995 the first units were shipped to Zaire. Manufacturing shops were set up in Missouri, U.S.A., and the African nation of Mozambique.

More manufacturing shops sprang up across the U. S., and by 2016, the total number of PET units passed 55,000. PET stands for Personal Energy Transportation.

In early 2016 the Malawi Project was approached by an official of the PET facility in Demotte, Indiana about participation in the distribution of units in Malawi. The Indiana facility opened in 2012 under the direction of local attorney, Bob Gabrielse, and had recently manufactured its 1,000^th unit. As the director for the Indiana facility Bob also serves on the PET International Design & Standardization Committee, and is thankful for this modern facility for PET production.

During the introductory visit Jim Messenger and Dick Stephens, members of the Malawi Project Board of Directors, were introduced to the manufacturing process honed and perfected by Gabrielse and a staff of volunteers from the Domotte area.

“Bob is obviously a perfectionist in his workmanship,” noted Messenger as he and Stephens left the plant. “The pride and zest for quality is evident in each unit that comes out of the Indiana plant. The fact they paint each unit with three coats of paint, then touch up every tiny spot attests to their concern for quality,” Messenger added.

“I agree,” Stephens observed. “I was also impressed with the design of the manufacturing process. I have been in a lot of manufacturing plants over the years, and this is one of the best-designed facilities I have seen. Each procedure is quality controlled in a way that avoids most mistakes. If something does go wrong it is easily and quickly caught and corrected.”

Discussions about the two operations led to an offer of 100 PET units to the MP for distribution in Malawi. The offer was quickly accepted, and a few days later the first units were picked up by Project team members to be loaded on the next outgoing shipment to Malawi. These 100 units will join over 3,500 wheelchairs and hundreds of pairs of crutches and walkers that have already been sent to Malawi. The Malawi Project has a nationwide network for distribution of wheelchairs, crutches and walkers.