The Botswana Way

By |2025-02-24T15:49:52+00:00January 13th, 2020|

Khutse Game Reserve adjoins the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in the north of Botswana. With rolling grasslands, riverbeds, dunes and pans where wildlife congregate in abundant sunshine, it is the ideal spot for a solar powered holiday.

David Way visited Khutse accompanied by three Consol Solar Jars. By night, the only light sources were from the solar lights, the campfire and stars. An 85W solar panel kept the portable fridge running, the beer ice cold and the meat frozen. It was an ideal African safari.

“We charged the Consol Solar Jars by day and used them to light the campsite by night. During game drives, we unscrewed the lids and left them on the car dashboard to charge as we drove. The Consol Solar Jars added to the ambience with subtle yet effective lighting making a wonderful experience even more enjoyable.” – David Way

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Namibian School Pupils

By |2025-02-24T15:49:52+00:00January 13th, 2020|

The Young Achievers Empowerment Project, a Namibian youth organisation, has launched a project entitled Promoting Renewable Energy in Informal Settlements which aims to encourage the use of solar lights by youth that live off-grid in Namibia.

With a small commencement grant, they chose the Consol Solar Jar as their preferred choice of solar light. “Many young people do not have electricity at home and it is not safe to use candles at night because of shack fires. We hope to help less privileged children who cannot study at night because of lack of electricity,” said Johannes Mulunga.

The pilot phase reached approximately 80 school pupils between Grades one and seven from informal settlements in Khomas, Oshana, Oshikoto, Erongo and Kavango. Phase two of the project invites the general public to purchase a Consol Solar Jar for N$160 (Namibian currency), which will be gifted to a school pupil.

“We call on the public to help those in need to prosper in their schoolwork. Buying this solar light for a child will allow them to be as competitive as a child from an advantaged family,” said Johannes. “Our project is going so well and the response has been overwhelming. An article about our story even appeared in the local Namibian newspaper,” emailed Michael Mulunga.

Interested parties who wish to purchase a Consol Solar Jar for this worthy cause can contact Johannes Mulunga at 081 385 3749 or Israel Ndilipunje at 081 436 0497.

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Retail Store Lighting

By |2025-02-24T15:49:52+00:00January 13th, 2020|

Dynamic retail in-store lighting solutions attract customers and showcase merchandise. Choosing the right lighting solution is the perfect way to reflect brand identity especially when choosing a product distributed by the brand itself.

Consol Xprs in Stellenbosch did just that. Eduard Visser, the project co-ordinator, along with his decorating team chose to suspend 24 Consol Solar Jars from wooden roof rafters at one end of the store.

The Consol Solar Jars are an important interior design tool creating a unique in-store ambience from arrival to checkout. They give customers a reason to look up, discover, buy and return to purchase more.

Another innovative way to use the Consol Solar Jar.

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Spooky Solar Scenes

By |2025-02-24T15:50:25+00:00January 13th, 2020|

Creepiness prevailed while creating spooky scenes inside Consol Solar Jars for Halloween. Skeletal bones, wicked witches with broomsticks, spider webs and rats nibbling on pumpkins equaled quirky plus SCARY in capital letters!

As darkness fell, the LEDs lit the miniature scenes transforming a solar light into a theatre-in-a-jar. Everyone at the Parkview Residents Association was wowed by these visual treats in the midst of their party at George Hay Park. Our AstroWheel successfully morphed into a WitchesWheel. Tim Burton would’ve been proud of this trick-or-treat!

Suntoy sponsored prizes for the best costumes. Consol Solar Jars were gifted to the goriest face, the wickedest witch, Edward Scissorhands, the scariest-hairy-chest-ever-encountered-in-a-sequened-shirt and a less gruesome, yet very clever, house from the movie Up.

What theme will our solar wheel take on next? Keep your eyes peeled…

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Solar at Sea

By |2025-02-24T15:50:25+00:00January 13th, 2020|

Charlie Holland, a British sailor, and his 87-year-old vessel with a 1962-Kelvin engine, the Schwalbe, have sailed every ocean over the last decade. Accompanying them on a recent voyage was a Consol Solar Jar. Charlie emailed to tell how this solar light assisted him during a voyage at sea.

“Our Consol Solar Jar hung off a hook in the galley. In the daytime the solar light charged on the wheelhouse roof, inside a life-ring we used for curing fish. During particularly lively weather, we heard it crash to the deck. Another time, it dropped in the bilge and bounced off the steel frame that supports the engine. The Consol Solar Jar is extremely robust and after each drop, it still worked perfectly. It was especially useful at night in the wheelhouse, as the beam from the LEDs didn’t interfere with our night vision. This solar light quickly became our go-to light source for accessing all areas of the boat. Even in daytime, the forepeak needs light when looking for spare line and with its hanging handle it leaves two hands free to do the searching. The Consol Solar Jar should be available in every marine supply shop, worldwide. Every boat should have at least one!”

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Making a Difference

By |2025-02-24T15:50:25+00:00January 13th, 2020|

Here’s a dose of good news – positive, uplifting and inspirational. This story offers hope.

The Making a Difference (MAD) awards ceremony celebrated a year of commitment to crime prevention in our province, Gauteng. The audience of domestic workers, dressed in beautiful traditional outfits, filled the Rosebank Union Church with a vibrant energy. Each one of them is committed to being a shining light in their communities. They refuse to wallow in the disillusionment of our crime statistics, choosing rather to fight wrongdoing in South Africa, one small gesture at a time.

The police thanked them for being valuable contributors. “No success is a small success. Every success is a big one. There are so many good news stories worthy of a wow,” said Penny Steyn, MAD Domestic Watch and SAPS Customer Service Trainer.

Suntoy and Consol donated Consol Solar Jars that were gifted to lucky-draw recipients. Harald was invited to give a talk and demonstrate how the Consol Solar Jar works. Our Suntoy team is proud to be associated with MAD and the good work they do. Thank you for welcoming us into your MAD family. We look forward to shining light on dark places with you.

Watch Harald talk at the MAD event:

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eNCA Interview

By |2025-02-24T15:50:25+00:00January 13th, 2020|

eNCA visited Suntoy with the intention of showcasing an alternative light source to use during power outages. Load-shedding is leaving us all in the dark and the Consol Solar Jar offers a viable off-grid alternative.

Watch Dale Carolin, Consol Glass Marketing Director, being interviewed.

 

 

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JoburgToday Interview

By |2025-02-24T15:50:25+00:00January 13th, 2020|

JoburgToday.TV visited Suntoy to discover how the Consol Solar Jar is made by us Joburgers. We’re very proud of our supervisors, Florina and Maxwell, and their first interviews on camera. Both began working at Suntoy as assemblers, progressed to supervisors and are now leading Suntoy brand ambassadors.

Watch the JoburgToday factory interview with Florina and Max:

Watch the JoburgToday studio interview with Dale Carolin, Consol Glass Marketing Director:

“The Consol Solar Jar is lighting up entire communities. From the social development aspect, it’s empowering people with jobs.” – Zizipho Ndevu, JoburgToday presenter.

“By visiting the factory and looking at the process of how the Consol Solar Jar is made, I have a lot of respect for the people behind the production.” – Boitomelo Kwena, JoburgToday producer and journalist.

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Singalong with us!

By |2025-02-24T15:50:26+00:00January 13th, 2020|

Lurkers. Those songs that lurk in your mind, furtively awaiting the appropriate moment to bombard you with their lyrics. Over and over again. Even though your head says no, your lips start moving and your voice projects a melody resembling a Simon and Garfunkle composition. There’s no stopping you now. It’s infectious. It’s catchy. So, when you’re left in the dark with the sound of silence, you cannot help but singalong with us. Who needs a karaoke eve when load shedding’s on the playlist?
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to visit you again…”
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Advocating for ‘Green’ Recycled Wire

By |2025-02-24T15:50:26+00:00January 13th, 2020|

The wire used in the assemblage of the Solar Jar ™ is 90% recycled. Suntoy procures it from Cape Gate where post consumer scrap metal is collected, sorted and refined. All raw materials are of South African origin and the smelting, rolling and wire manufacturing process is done locally.

By recycling wire, a lesser quantity of new material is required during the wire-making process and the amount of discarded metal dumped into landfills is reduced. By consciously choosing ‘green wire’ and upcycling it into the bracing and handle of the Solar Jar ™, our product is made that much more environmentally friendly.

Read about our team of Suntoy wire artisans here.

“Thanks for the interesting tour of your operation. It is good to see where our wire products are used and the end product.” – Derek Erxleben, Head Metallurgy, Cape Gate

 

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