Hello Steve,
I hope the 'forget the Gulper' statement was simply a moment of adrenaline, and not a call to throw away the hard work and experiences that have gone into popularizing the Gulper. Improvements to technologies are welcome but we should also be cognizant of the amount of effort and resources required to move from prototypes to the market. If it is possible to market the Rammer as simply an improvement to the Gulper without discarding the latter, the better. Branding is everything.

The Gulper indeed has challenges and if the Rammer deals with some of them, it might be safer to keep the Gulper name instead of adopting a new one. As many projects/programs come with 2-3 year cycles with 30% of the time spent on planning, it is always practical to go for tried and tested solutions (including brands). Inventions should come with improved efficiencies, but we do not have to start all over again in regard to marketing.

Best,
ft

Forget the Gulper - go straight for the Rammer. When testing it last week we found it could lift 500 Pa sludge ie thick stuff, over a 3.5m head. This should enable the shit to be dropped straight into a barrel situated on the back of a pick-up and will be enable the operator to take shit from greater depths within the pit.

I've found with local fabricators that they are always reluctant to make a new device without somebody being there to give support, or tale the blame whichever way you want to look at it. If you can get a local engineer - students are good at this and don't mind getting dirty, to understand to the principles of the Rammer, they can help the under confident fabricator make the first one.

The team in Uganda are still testing it and sorting out things like the design of a donkey tail. Attached are original really rough drawings and some pictures. I'm sure the Uganda team will produce something a lot nice fairly soon.

For those interested, attached some details of the rammer as shared in last weeks conference here in Kampala. I hope Steven can share more details, as this is a very nice evolution of the Gulper concept.

Many thanks for your help !

It seems there are no gulpers being used in Western Africa currently. So I found one in Madagascar.

It is important for our local manufacturers to have a model, they can not work only on drawings (we have some) as they are illiterate and do not know how to use plans and maps, etc.

Steven I would of course be interested in drawings of the Rammer !

Regards,

JM

Ideas at Work, in Phnom Penh, may be able to help with drawings for replication.
ideas-at-work.org/pdf/Gulper_pit_emptying_device.pdf

Dear Jean-Marie,

Sorry not from Africa: You may re-use already made efforts/experiences (to get hold of a Gulper or the specifications, so it can be copied) and you may contact UNICEF in Sri Lanka direct, back in 2005, they created together with local manufactures a small "honey sucker" hooked on a small lorry or on small trailer with tractor, special for densely populated areas.


Good luck
Detlef SCHWAGER

Jean-Marie,

We have EWB engineers in Uganda who can help with better drawings if that would help, but I can understand the need to get hold of a Gulper so it can be copied. I've also seen the problem of defects and quality in design gradually deteriorating with each copy, so a drawing the standard design is a good idea.

The original Gulper was made in UK and I know that the maker would be happy to make one for you and get it shipped to West Africa. I can esquire about the costs if you are interested. I have carried then out to countries in the past.

We now have new device, called the Rammer, which is better because it goes deeper and handles thicker sludge . I have some drawings if anybody is interested.

Dear Jean-Marie,

Well in Kibera, a low income area in Nairobi, Kenya, there is a group that is currently using a Gulper to empty VIPs and Pit latrines. Here you can find discussion of the Gulper in the forum

forum.susana.org/forum/categories/53-fae...ng-gulper-and-others

and

forum.susana.org/forum/categories/53-fae...mit=12&start=12#1504

I hope the information that I have provided will assist you in knowing the pros and cons of the Gulper.
I would advise you to contact Steve Sugden from Water for the People, who would be able to assist you with more information.

Best regards,

Doreen

The local authority of Rosso, Mauritania and Gret (Groupe de Recherche et d'Echanges Technologiques, www.gret.org) are implementing a faecal sludge management program in Rosso.

We are looking for a gulper that could be used as a prototype for replication. (We already have plans but local manufacturers prefer to have a model rather than drawings...)

Anyone knows if gulpers are being used in West or Northern Africa?

Thank you for you help,

Jean-Marie