It’s been more than 30 years since General Pneumatics was founded in Melbourne with a focus on developing products for road transport vehicles. The company’s evolution took a major step in 2011 when GP Truck Products was created as a division of General Pneumatics to support the truck and trailer industry.
Now, 13 years on from the formation of GP Truck Products, its latest innovation in the CLIPCLOCK is set to be another milestone for the brand, and its own unique breakthrough in the truck and trailer coupling market.
The Melbourne-based supplier and manufacturer has made a name for itself providing air brake fittings and truck and trailer components that range from Suzi coils to trailer couplings, air brake filtration systems and associated products.
“We’ve always been an innovative company,” General Pneumatics managing director Joe Borg says.
“We design products and are very selective as to what we take on to make sure that they are fit for purpose.”
The CLIPCLOCK is GP Truck Products’ newest release, with the innovative trailer coupling being specifically designed to ensure positive and secure connections of trailer airline couplings while simultaneously preventing incomplete coupling connections.
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The CLIPCLOCK features a unique two-stage locking mechanism in the form of an optional stainless steel locking clip and locking groove, as well as a unique bright yellow cable which acts as a visual lock indicator. Connected to the locking clip, the visual lock indicator makes it easy for operators to quickly notice potential connection issues or if it isn’t engaged, ensuring incomplete connections of the truck and trailer air line couplings can’t occur.
When it comes to the added layer of locking protection, an additional visual confirmation shows if the yellow cord and locking clip are dangling, meaning the coupling may not be securely connected, therefore mobilising operators to act and remain safe with their loads. On top of this, if the locking clip can’t be inserted into the locking groove of the coupling, it means the male and female couplings haven’t been connected properly.
If the female coupling isn’t fully connected to the male coupling, the coupling collar will partially cover the CLIPLOCK locking clip groove, preventing access to the locking clip.
It may seem like a simple tool, but Borg says it handles the important job of safety and adds an extra layer of protection to fleets.
“We’ve machined a special groove into the coupling to accommodate the innovative locking clip that stops the locking collar from coming back and releasing,” he says.
“This ultimately puts the minds of end users at ease. We’re bringing this product to the market to prevent incomplete coupling connections.”
It also ensures a positive and secure connection of truck and trailer airline couplings, with the engineering breakthrough adding value and safety to traditional couplings that may have been in use for more than 50 years.
Much like the rest of GP Truck Products’ range, the CLIPCLOCK uses the best quality products available for the Australian truck and trailer manufacturer market, as well as for the aftermarket distributors of truck and trailer parts. Australian made parts are manufactured by Precision Components Manufacturer Redline Engineering and are made to the highest standards using only the best materials, while CLIPCLOCK pending locking clips can be purchased separately and retro-fitted to couplings with certain CLIPLOCK grooves.
Borg says the CLIPCLOCK is set to land in the market this year, with several organisations already enquiring and testing the device to ensure it can be made as a standard feature across their fleets.
For more information phone GP Truck Products on 03 9580 1811 or go to www.gptruckproducts.com.au.
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