Sulo Talbot – Recycle Bin

Background

SULO Talbot is a partnership between two award winning plastic injection moulding companies, SULO MGB Australia, located in Sydney Australia, and Talbot Plastics, located in Christchurch New Zealand. The partnership between the two companies commenced in April of 2008 with the commissioning of a new manufacturing facility for a variety of waste and recycling containers including Mobile Garbage Bins, commonly known as wheelie bins. They have since won numerous landmark orders from cities around New Zealand.

Issue

Sulo Talbot set out to produce a recycle bin for the recovery of valuable resources in urban areas around New Zealand.

In context usability and observational research was undertaken by Procreate to fully understand issues with the current bins. Through this research, many issues were identified and categorised into both mechanical and ergonomic areas. These two categories were then used to generate the specifications and requirements for the new recycle bin.

Solution

A larger handle on the base of the bin was included to help the collectors dispose of the contents into the truck, and transport the empty bins.

Handles were also integrated into the side of the bins at the optimum ergonomic position to allow ease of use for residents while transporting the bins.

The result is a product that is addressing the needs of all users within the product system. The design also takes advantage of the manufacturing technology that Sulo Talbot is renowned for. With this new design, Sulo Talbot has won orders from city councils all over New Zealand.