Following the first competition in 2012/2013, the Award is again on the lookout for appropriate technologies to improve basic supply in crucial areas. Here is one of the winners from the Award in 2012. The Leveraged Freedom Chair won a prize in the healthcare category.

1. © Siemens Stiftung 2015.
empowering people. Award:
Winner 2012 – LFC
www.empowering-people-network.org

2. © Siemens Stiftung 2015.
Leveraged freedom chair

3. © Siemens Stiftung 2015.
Leveraged freedom chair
The Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) is a wheelchair developed for the
conditions in developing countries. It is a lever-propelled wheelchair that provides
unparalleled mobility on rough terrain. Instead of using gears and derailleurs,
which are likely to break in the conditions prevailing in developing countries, the
user changes gears and achieves a 3:1 change in mechanical advantage by
simply moving his hands up and down a set of levers that are connected to the
drivetrain.
All moving parts on the LFC are made from bicycle components. The LFC is
currently produced with a contract manufacturer in India. The cost of producing
an LFC and ensuring it is appropriately prescribed is approximately 200 USD.
This is much less than the costs of conventional “off-road” wheelchairs
constructed in developed countries. The business model includes
complementing the current base in India by establishing regional distributors in
key locations such as Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

4. © Siemens Stiftung 2015.
Leveraged freedom chair
Contact:
Tish Scolnik
GRIT – USA
www.goGRIT.org
tish@goGRIT.org

5. © Siemens Stiftung 2015.
empowering people. Award 2015
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