Our Goal
Develop a modular, air-transportable rescue unit that can be deployed rapidly in disaster zones.
Why Lightweight Engineering?
For decades, Bucher Group has been a trusted partner in designing and manufacturing premium lightweight solutions for the aviation and rail industries. Our cabin components, from galleys and partitions to rescue stretchers, stand for outstanding quality, long-lasting durability, and ultra-lightweight design. Because when every gram counts, efficiency and flexibility take flight.
Beyond our work in commercial aviation, we’re also a trusted partner in HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services). With our certified modular interiors, such as the AC67 for the H135 and AC70 for the H145, we offer fully customizable mission equipment for critical care transport, ranging from neonatal incubators to full intensive care units. These solutions are engineered to meet the highest demands, where lives are at stake and every gram, every second, and every detail count.
That expertise inspired us to ask: how can we take the core strengths of our design philosophy — lightweight, modular, and mission-adaptable, to apply them to new challenges like disaster relief?
The Result: Safety Qube
Together with the OST student team, we developed the Safety Qube — a portable, collapsible emergency unit that combines the lightness of a tent with the safety of a container.
Key Specs:
- Folded size: Less than 15 cm thickness
- Weight: Under 100 kg — airliftable by light rescue helicopters like the Airbus H135/H145
- Setup time: Deploys in minutes, no special equipment required
- Modularity: Scalable and reconfigurable for various field applications
- Durability & Repairability: Designed for long-term use and easy maintenance
Whether used as a mobile treatment center, command post, isolation unit, or temporary workspace, the Safety Qube brings practical engineering to the front lines — with an emphasis on speed, safety, and sustainability.
Why It Matters
Disaster relief often forces responders to choose between two extremes: tents, which are lightweight but fragile, or containers, which are robust but unwieldy. The Safety Qube bridges this gap. Drawing on the same design principles that guide our aircraft interiors and emergency helicopter systems, this solution is both transportable and tough — ready for floods, earthquakes, pandemics, and more.
For us, this project is more than just a concept. It reflects a broader ambition: to expand the impact of our technology beyond aircraft cabins and into the humanitarian sector — where the need is urgent and growing.
A Win-Win Partnership
The student team, Alvin Ebert, Christian Ehrig, Danylo Imakaiev, Denis Licina, Gzim Murati, and Ramona Trüb, brought fresh ideas, creativity, and engineering know-how to the table. When the project pivoted midstream from indoor applications to outdoor disaster response, they adapted with professionalism and purpose. Their commitment helped turn a concept into a concrete solution.
This collaboration provided us with valuable insights — not only into new potential markets, but also into how our proven strengths in lightweight, modular systems can be leveraged to serve society in innovative and meaningful ways.
What’s Next?
The Safety Qube has clear potential in humanitarian missions, emergency response, and even portable field operations in remote areas. With further development, it could become part of a new generation of deployable infrastructure — helping first responders do their work more safely and effectively.
We’re proud of this project and of the shared innovation that made it possible. And we’re always looking for ways to extend the impact of lightweight thinking — whether in the air, on the rails, or in the heart of a crisis zone.
