Innovative new tools are being released to the market that improve the occupational health and safety environment and reduce the risk of injuries like repetitive strains or fatigue-induced injuries for trades personnel.
Major US based tool manufacturer GearWrench represented in Australia by Melbourne’s Precision Specialty Tooling has released its new X-Beam range of combination wrenches.
The key feature of the X-Beam wrench is a patented handle design that increases the hand contact area by up to 500 percent over traditional wrench designs to provide greater comfort and control for the user.
One end of the X-Beam is forged at a 90 degree angle from the other end while the taper is thicker than conventional designs.
Regardless of whether the user is working with the box end or the open end of the tool the user will grasp the wider side instead of the thin handle edge provided with traditional flat spanners or wrenches.
The box-end of the wrench also incorporates the innovative GearWrench ratcheting mechanism that requires only five degrees of movement to move a nut or bolt fastener making it ideal for use in confined spaces.
The new GearWrench X-Beam is regarded as the most significant advance in wrench or spanner types since they were first introduced in about 1835.
The X-Beam has been extensively tested by the Arthritis Foundation of the USA.
The Foundation notes that there are more than 100 types of arthritis, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and lupus which can limit movements that are necessary for everyday activities and impact on tradespeople in particular.
The Arthritis Foundation has an Ease of Use programme that encourages manufacturers to design more user friendly products and has commended GearWrench on this new tool innovation.
In a recent development the GearWrench X-Beam has just been awarded the 2006 Best of What’s New Award by Popular Science magazine after their evaluation of thousands of new product releases.
The Popular Science Award citation describes the X-Beam as a perfect example as it addresses demand for hand tools that reduce user fatigue without sacrificing power or control.
Precision Specialty Tooling’s Ted Flynn said that the new GearWrench X-Beam is available in all popular metric and imperial sizes, either as individual units or as 9 or 12 piece sets in metric and imperial.
There is significant demand in the automotive, manufacturing, workshop and installation trades and with an aging workforce the X-Beam really meets the need for tools with better design and user friendly features.
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The innovative new GearWrench X-Beam range of spanners and wrenches offers increased hand contact and shifting strength and overcomes workplace induced strain or fatigue.
Available in both metric and imperial sizes the X-Beam has a host of applications in all mechanical trades.
