Live Luggage - get on the case!

7:01am Thursday 3rd July 2008

"MY mother's got a lot to answer for" - that's how former Taunton student Clive Hemsley this week summed up the launch of his £3million invention, the motorised suitcase.

Mr Hemsley, who went to Taunton Art College, now Somerset College from 1965-8, started work on the pioneering case as a tribute to his mother, Emily Hemsley, who had a heart attack at Gatwick Airport as she struggled with heavy luggage.

This week, after five years and £3million of investment, Mr Hemsley's company, Live Luggage, finally launched the PA (power assisted) Series onto the market.

He said: "I've got a £1.25million mortgage, stolen my children's trust fund and cashed in my pension.

"It's cost me £3million so far and I feel nervous, but I figured that provided my wife doesn't find out it will be worth it.

"I did have a heart attack last month and I think it was related to the stress of all this. Luggage killed my mother and it's nearly killed me.

"My mother's got a lot to answer for!"

The innovative product, has captured the attention of the nation's media this week and the company's website is getting about 27,000 page views a day.

Mr Hemsley, who has been busy giving TV, radio and newspaper interviews this week, added: "It's a brilliant, revolutionary product - people have got to try it!"

Live Luggage - The Facts

• Live Luggage's slogan is "because the world is not flat"

• The suitcase motor only powers up when assistance is needed and will cut out if you let it go

• Pulling the case with a 30kg payload feels like pulling 3kg in weight

• The 12V battery is recharged like a mobile phone battery

• A fully charged case travelled 1.5 miles carrying 32kg on test

• An empty PA Series case weights 10.6kg, 3kg more than a conventional suitcase, according to the manufacturers.

• The PA Series is designed, built and assembled in England.

• The product is billed as the world's first power assisted suitcase

• The suitcase costs about £700 and is available to buy on-line - click on the link below this story. Inventor Clive Hemsley is hoping to tie up a deal that will see the product sold in shops.

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