South African start-up RiCharge has made a business out of developing solutions to help people keep their smartphones charged. It provides charging solutions for phones and tablets in the hospitality, health and education sectors and has just launched a new product to give businesses the opportunity to provide recharging services to their clients.
The company, founded in 2011, also has a solar-powered umbrella in the works that will allow people to recharge on the beach or at a music festival.
Alex Fourie and Janine Regtien founded the company with the idea of providing charging stations at expositions and other large events.
“There are companies internationally that offer such services, but the hardware is very expensive and not feasible for South African businesses,” says Regtien.
RiCharge’s first product was a secure locker system that could be used to charge a cellphone. Secure Locker had eight compartments that could be locked, keeping a user’s phone safe while it charged.
The company exported the product to 13 countries, including the US, Australia, the UK and some African countries and sold about 500 units.
Development of Secure Locker was in development for three years and is manufactured in China.
But Regtien and Fourie realised that people are often reluctant to lock away their expensive smartphones. “People prefer to have their devices by their side when they are being charged so they can keep using them.”
That’s where the idea for a new product called the Super Station came from, says Regtien. It’s a 12-tray charging station that allows users to charge their devices at a table. Each removable tray houses a battery and all the cables needed to charge any phone or tablet. Regtien says all devices manufactured after 2007 are supported by the Super Station. The solution is also much cheaper, at R7 000 vs anything up to R50 000 for the locker system, which will be discontinued.
In preparation for summer, RiCharge, which also sells portable power chargers, will soon unveil a solar umbrella with built-in battery to provide mobile charging on the beach or anywhere that the Super Station can’t be deployed.
A solar panel is build into the umbrella’s canvas and two USB ports allow users to connect any mobile device.
Regtien says the solar umbrella will be launched in late November. RiCharge is creating the product with Tradewinds Parasols, a patio furniture manufacturer in the Western Cape. — © NewsCentral Media
