Great idea, just add water
Cairns man’s product could prove to be an absolute bottler
A Cairns-based businessman has patented a product he believes will revolutionise the filtered water industry. After a spell at Babinda Springs, Roger Barnett is now focused on selling the ecofill Cooler — a coconut-based carbon filter that uses the natural purification properties of the tropical foodstuff and a nanosilver component to remove bacteria. “It just seems to make so much sense not just financially but ecologically too.”
A CAIRNS-based businessman has patented a product he believes will revolutionise the filtered water industry.
Roger Barnett has resigned from his position as Babinda Springs general manager, where he had started breathing new life into the run-down bottled water plant, and is now focused on selling the ecofill Cooler.
A coconut-based carbon filter uses the natural purification properties of the tropical foodstuff and a nanosilver component removes bacteria.
Mr Barnett said he had worked on the idea for several years and the new-generation filter would reduce costs for businesses which use large bottled water systems.
“Because the ecofill cooler has a built-in sophisticated, state-of-the-art filtration system, there is no need to buy those big 15-litre bottles of spring water and so the savings to businesses and households can be quite substantial,” he said.
“Even a small business using two bottles of spring water a week can be spending up to ($30 a week) $1,500 a year.
“This sum could be reduced to about $10 a week with an ecofill and so, when you add in the other benefits like no lifting heavy awkward bottles, no bottles cluttering up your home or office, it just seems to make so much sense not just financially but ecologically too.”
The ecofill Coolers design has also been granted a patent in the US.
Mr Barnett will begin distributing the filter system in Cairns, Port Douglas and Innisfail.
He hopes to build a team of distributors who will run their own businesses across the region, with plans to expand interstate and across the country. “These are great businesses for the go-getter who wants to build an empire but, they are also a wonderful opportunity for the retired, retiring or lifestyle aspirant that just wants to maintain the recurring rent roll, work a few days a month, and go to the beach, play golf or go fishing,” he said.
“Since moving from Melbourne, I’ve really settled into Cairns and would like to build the empire from here.”
Exporting and licensing to the USA will also be an “incredible opportunity” for the right person, according to Mr Barnett.
“We estimate that in the US you can potentially be licensed or perhaps franchised to an income up to an average of $2 million per state,” he said.
“Because of our patent, you can’t have our product made in the USA and you can’t import it into the USA.
“Only ecofill can do that and because it’s estimated America has over 18 million water coolers ... its an absolute no-brainer.”
IT JUST SEEMS TO MAKE SO MUCH SENSE NOT JUST FINANCIALLY BUT ECOLOGICALLY TOO ... IT’S A NO-BRAINER ROGER BARNETT ON HIS PATENTED PRODUCT ECOFILL