A timely invention

Sri Lankan invents a plausible model of mobile toilet:

By Indeewara Thilakarathne

Perhaps the inventor himself would not have though in his wildest dreams that an innovative idea sprang from seeing a model mobile toilet imported from Australia would lead to the birth of an indigenous mobile toilet.

The mobile toilet conceptualized by Emil. F. Kronemberg and developed with his industrious college Rizwan Sheriff is not the prototype of the Australian model but an improvement of it.

The mobile toilet with 8.6 feet height and 4 feet width is a perfect model equipped with an over head tank and tiny wash basing, paper holder, a mirror and a shower. The mobile toilet can be easily fitted on to a small space.

Kronemberg model is an idea solution for construction sites, pilgrim sites and mega conventions and music extravaganzas where need for more toilets arise to cater to a mass audience or where it is not possible to construct a toilet. For instance, in a busy construction site, though the need is there for toilets, it is not possible to construct toilets.

The toilet offers two options with regard to the removal of waste matter. The waste matter can either be stored or connected to a pit. External source of water (tapes) can be connected to the unite and also electricity from the main supply.

At the moment comes in different colours and the colours can be changed for corporate orders on demand. According to the inventor F. Kronemberg who is the Chairman and the Managing Director of ECD Global (pvt) Ltd, a name synonymous with transport industry, the mobile toilet is manufactured in Sri Lanka by a Sri Lankan company for the first time.

The body of the unit is made of aluminum while the inside is of fibre glass. The water tank with a capacity of 25 litres is on top of the unit, ensuing steady water supply to the unite. A full tank is enough to cater to the need of six persons. The tank has the inbuilt option of connecting to the tap via a valve and it automatically fills whenever the water levels goes down.

The mobile unit which comes in diverse colours is sold for an affordable price with a five year guarantee. Manufacturers will assure to attend to damages during the guarantee period.

The idea mobile toilet was conceived by our chairman (Kronemberg) some where in 2001.

In 2001, I made a trip to Australia to have a first hand knowledge of the manufacturing process and how the mobile toilet functions and their applications to various uses.

We tried to introduce it to local market somewhere in 2002. But the response was not so good. But the Chairman Emil Kronemberg had this idea in back of his mind. The chairman somehow tried to introduce it to Sri Lanka.

With the new government came to power, various constructions activities, condominiums coming up, the requirement for mobile toilets was a necessity. But it was not available freely in the local market.

There was no one who was having the mobile toilet to be offered to the local scene. This time, we were determined to go ahead and see that it goes to the construction industry.

So we have turned out a mobile toilet confirming to the international standard and with a warranty of five years. We have also provided a basic toilet. The waste matter can send to a pit.

There is a good response from big organizations involved in humanitarian activities in disaster areas where refugees are housed. There is also potential market in road side constructions for the product, said Malcolm Jayasundara, Joint Managing Director of ECD Global (Pvt) Limited which manufactures and markets the product.