A SALISBURY student studying at Bangor University has claimed a prestigious third place in the Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition.

The objective was to design a product made primarily of plastics for the healthcare sector which could be used in demanding applications. It should also utilise the longevity of plastics.

Charlie Gould-Hocking, 21, lives in Salisbury city centre, and is a first-year student at Bangor University.

He said: “I am really quite shocked but very excited to get this far in the competition!  It’s been a great experience because I’ve been introduced to a whole new sector that I didn’t know anything about before.

“It’s also given me a chance to look more closely at how plastic products are manufactured for the market.”

His prize-winning design is called Crutch and is a shower stand for amputees enabling them to stand while showering instead of sitting down.

Chairman of the judges Richard Brown said: “The judges felt this product meets a current need as there are few solutions for amputees in the shower, and this was underlined by Charlie’s patent and intellectual property searches. 

“It was clear he’d taken a disciplined approach to his research and design, and we felt his design was enhanced by added touches such as a tray for shower products and an optional seat attachment.”

The award ceremony took place on July 1 in London.

The winning designs included EasyMode – a re-usable bedpan designed by Zara King from Teeside University and in second place, Kenneth Thornton from Edinburgh Napier University with a Catheter Bag Carry – a reusable portable catheter bag.

Finalists received a cash prize, a placement with a DIP sponsor or an industrial course and a year’s membership of IOM3.

Design Innovation in Plastics was established in 1985 and is the longest running student plastics design award in Europe providing opportunities for design undergraduates to make a name for themselves.

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