Innovation In The Construction Industry 2015
The History Of
One particularly damp day in 1986, a wiresalesman and budding entrepreneur named Hugh Facey found himself on a wet hillside in Wales discussing the woes of fencing with a frustrated farmer. Aggravated by cumbersome ways of joining fence wires by bending and knotting, he bemoaned the lack of alternatives. Hugh listened intently, convinced he could think up a better way of connecting two pieces of wire together. The seeds had been planted, and the idea for the Gripple fastener was born. Developed over the next two years in a small corner of Estate Wire, Sheffield, the original Gripple fastener was launched in the UK in 1988. Three years later, Gripple Ltd. came into existence, and throughout the 1990s the name Gripple became synonymous with fencing and trellising. Not wanting to rest on our laurels, despite being a trail-blazer in the realms of agriculture and viticulture, we soon realised the potential of the industrial market too. In 1998 we entered the world of construction with a series of load-rated kits spawned from our ropegrip device, Designed exclusively for hanging mechanical and electrical services, and took the market by storm. Right from the very beginning, we’ve received numerous accolades for our originality, verve and enterprise, making us a true multi-award winning company. This is in no small part thanks to our core values and philosophy, which have remained the same throughout – to us, innovation is so much more than a simple buzzword; it’s the foundation of our culture.
The Gripple factory, Sheffield, UK
“Innovation has been the beating heart of Gripple since its beginnings in 1988.�
Changing The World With
Innovation Ideas and Innovation is the creative hub driving product design and improvement here at Gripple. Our in-house 10-strong team, based in our dynamic offices at Hawke Street in Sheffield, works to bring ideas to reality in a world class innovation environment. With an extensive engineering workshop featuring CAD and rapid prototyping capabilities, the team are fully equipped to explore ideas and problems encountered on site. Working closely with our Sales and Marketing teams, we strive to consistently deliver complete solutions to our customers. Innovation has been the beating heart of Gripple since its beginnings in 1988. We aim to deliver 25% of our turnover every year from products less than four years old, and as such there’s a culture engrained in us to constantly search for new ways of doing things and better ways to serve our customers. The key to our success is undoubtedly the collaborative work we do with our customers; you are at the heart of everything we do and we love to solve your problems. We also love to listen and as such, always encourage you to come to us. Maybe you have a problem; maybe you think there’s a better way of doing something. The I&I team can rationalise problems and develop solutions. This is what we love to do
The Gripple Wire Range The fundamental principle of a Gripple device is simple; there are two channels, each with an independent locking mechanism. The ‘lock’ is created by the roller, which is free to move in one direction only and grips the wire as it moves back. This concept allows tension to be applied throughout the life of the wire. Bracing - In contrast to a traditional brace, the GPAK is easy to handle, and can be tensioned and re-tensioned. Joining - Unlike fiddly knots and crimps, the Gripple Plus is not just a wire joiner, but a tensioner too, making installation simple, and up to five times faster. Maintenance and repair - To combat natural ground movement and wire ilongation every Gripple product can be tensioned and re-tensioned year after year. For repairs, simply use two Gripple Plus to splice a section of wire into the break, and apply tension. End post termination - The Gripple T-Clip is a revolutionary new way to secure a fence at an end post. It’s push-fit mechanism is installed in seconds, without the need to knot line wires. Tensioning - Gripple tensioning tools allow each line wire to be tensioned individually, optimising the life of your fence. Perfect for on-going maintenance, they allow you to re-tension year after year.
“Our Gripple Plus range of wire joiners and tensioners adds ease and simplicity to the once-laborious chore of fence installation.�
“The labyrinth of ductwork and fan-coil units that comprise any major construction project require a means of suspension that is not only quick and easy, but one that also renders them safe, sturdy and secure. Gripple is that way.�
The Gripple Hanger Range The labyrinth of ductwork and fan-coil units that comprise any major construction project require a means of suspension that is not only quick and easy, but one that also renders them safe, sturdy and secure. Gripple is that way. Available in various sizes for specific weights, the Gripple Hanger Range exudes versatility and simplicity, and is devised for use on all types of ducting, from oval to spiral to rectangular. Each Gripple hanger includes a length of pre-cut cable with an array of ready-crimped End Fixings, custom designed for assorted substrates including concrete, metal decking and wood. Our ready-to-use kits eliminate all on-site preparation, removing superfluous nuts and bolts, as well as any needless cutting, sawing or filing. A vast improvement on the now-antiquated ‘clamp and rod’ method, our approach of hanging HVAC services is up to six times quicker – the wire is simply wrapped around the underside of the ducting, making for an infinitely more efficient installation. Not only saving on time and labour costs, the flexibility of our system also allows suspension of ductwork from any angle, and yet maintains unyielding support once in place. Notable for being both lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, our hangers can save on the overall material and weight of an entire structure, as well as providing a design feature that not only does the job right, but looks the part too. Less dangerous than threaded rod and at the same time much simpler and easier to use, Gripple hangers are the perfect all-round solution for the entire gamut of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning services.
The Angel Hanger
a
c
Our latest innovation, The Angel Hanger is designed for architectural lighting suspensions, signage, acoustic baffles and all other installations where aesthetics are important. • Simple one-handed operation for easy adjustment. • Contemporary design to complement the overall suspension. • Extensive range for use with most luminaires. • Suitable for loads up to 15 kg with a 5:1 safety factor, to accommodate a range of suspension requirements.
b
• Supplied in convenient, ready-to-use kits in lengths up to 10 metres as standard. • Uses 1.5 mm wire rope to make the suspension as discreet as possible. • As standard, all kits come complete with the aesthetic ‘Top Hat Barrel’ ceiling fixing with M6 thread. Other ceiling fixings, eg. Loops, Studs, Magnetic Pads are available on request.
a - Angel Hanger Hook b - Angel Hanger Knockout c - Angel Hanger Swivel d - Angel Hanger Wire
“Our latest innovation, designed for architectural lighting suspensions where aesthetics are important.�
d
The Gripple Plus Range
a
Our Gripple Plus range of wire joiners and tensioners adds ease and simplicity to the once-laborious chore of fence installation. Impeccably designed for the tasks at hand, our products are engineered to suit your wire material (from mild-steel to hightensile), your wire type (be it barbed or plain wire) and your chosen style of fence, including everything from all types of stock fencing to electric fencing. Our patented push-fit system provides products that utilise ceramic rollers to actively grip the wire and allow more tension to be applied than ever before. The uniquely simple concept is as speedy as it is painless, creating a secure join that keeps your time, labour and hassle all to a minimum. By relinquishing the need for knotting and twisting, our solutions ensure the integral strength of the wire is never compromised. As a forward-thinking and solution-driven company, we strive to make fence installation significantly less demanding on your resources by providing steadfast resolutions to your difficulties. The Contractor tool offers fencing professionals an effortless way to tension wire, whilst, the Torq tool is the made-to-measure accessory that allows you to tension and re-tension time after time. The T-Clip provides a quick and easy way to tie-off stock fencing, especially on horse or deer fences where space is tight and there are multiple line wires. Whatever your type of fencing, there’s a product to suit your every need.
b
a - Gripple T-Clip b - Gripple Wire Kit c - Gripple Plus d - Gripple Torq Tool
c
“By relinquishing the need for knotting and twisting, our solutions ensure the integral strength of the wire is never compromised.�
d
Gripple.com Gripple Ltd - Head Office The Old West Gun Works Savile Street East Sheffield S4 7UQ Tel: +44 (0) 114 275 2255 Fax: +44 (0) 114 275 1155