Maize Grinder
Project Type
Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design
Role
Project Manager, Mechanical engineer, Industrial Designer
Date
March - May 2020
I initiated a market analysis to understand the demand for maize grinders for women in the food processing industry in Ghana, and also develop the first prototype to adapt QueenTech’s cassava grater to become a hammer mill for maize.
I also had the role of project manager, leading communications with our partners in Ghana, conducting team meetings, organizing and communicating past and current content, and keeping us on track to meeting our goals.
Project Brief
Women are responsible for 70% of the food crop production in Ghana, yet many are unable to control their own funds due to systematic inequalities (FAO). Many women would grate cassava by hand and press them between rocks, which is a labor intensive and time consuming.
Debbie founded QueenTech to provide these women owner-operators with a safe, fast, and easy alternative that would improve the process and empower Ghanaian women in the food processing industry.
Gari grater head
Cassava Grater
Cassava Press
Banku grater head
Our original products include a cassava grater and press. In recent years we developed a cassava grater head for banku, a Ghanaian staple.
The other crucial ingredient in making banku is maize. We recognized the market and demand for a maize grinder, so I explored ways to adapt our existing grater to grind corn.
