Factor 55 Product Ideas are derived from Collaborative Efforts

Did you know that many of the Factor 55 product ideas are derived from collaborative efforts between our engineers and other industry experts? To get products into our customer’s hands faster, we have discovered that continuous feedback from the end user during the development phase can actually accelerate the product development cycle. It also mitigates developing a product that does not fulfill it’s useful purpose.

Take a look at our two Bridle winch shackle mounts derived from collaborations from the tow truck industry, fire departments, offroad trainers, racers, and military organizations. Although most of us may never need to recover a vehicle with multiple winches or multiple pull angles, the ProLink Bridle and FlatLink Multimount products allow the user to distribute the multi-directional loads across the plane of the shackle pin mounts (Similar to tow plates for ships). The center pin mount also allows for conventional single direction pulling.

 

 

So for those of you that have been part of our principled product development approach, we thank you and look forward to future collaborations.

Designed, Engineered, and Made In The USA

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Is your Factor 55 Product Stronger with a Rope Guard?

For those of you that are curious as to whether the addition of a Rope Guard product will add any overall strength to a FlatLink E winch shackle mount, well we tested this and there is an approximate gain in strength of 2-3000 pounds. At 42,000 pounds, the breaking strength of the FlatLink E is already overkill for winches up to 16K capacities, but for the curious, the breaking strength will approach 45,000 pounds when equipped with a riveted on Rope Guard. Compare this to a common steel hook average breaking strength in the 18-22K range and you can see that the FlatLink E is already extremely strong.

So why does the addition of the Rope Guard add strength?

The Rope Guard adds resistance to the legs of the FlatLink from splaying under extreme loading. The resistance is attributable to the added shear strength of the 4 machine posts and 4 drive rivets. Of course the real benefit of the Rope Guard is to protect the ends of synthetic winch ropes from damaging UV light and abrasion, but it’s comforting to know that the overall breaking strength also benefits from this addition. Check out the video of the destructive testing of a Rope Guard equipped FlatLink E.

Designed, Tested, and Made In The USA.
Hope everyone had a safe and adventurous Labor Day Weekend!

 

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