JCS HI-Torque’s history can be traced back almost 250 years to the first London directory in 1768 and ever since those very early days it has had a reputation for quality, with the company even supplying metal railings to Buckingham Palace.
Fast forwarding to more recent and relevant times, JCS has been involved in the hose clamp industry since 1946. Its hose clamps are actively employed around the world on countless numbers of different applications and even in the harshest of environments.
In 2015, JCS produced over 25 million hose clamps, of which the reported failures or manufacturing faults can be counted on one hand, states the company. “JCS is able to achieve this almost unprecedented low figure, as its commitment to quality and the product is second to none,” says sales and marketing manager Tom Allen.
TRIPLE FOCUS
JCS focuses solely on three main product groups: Hi-Grip, Hi-Torque and P-Clips. This commitment can be seen at its specialist manufacturing facility in Sudbury, Suffolk. Here, virtually all production processes are under the one roof, including the production machinery, tool room, plating shop and quality inspection department. JCS even builds the machines on which the hose clamps are made.
“Some may be mistaken in thinking that, by sticking to the same product range, JCS is an old-fashioned stagnant company,” adds Allen. “This couldn’t be further from the truth. By focusing on those three product groups, JCS can continually invest, develop and improve the products and provide solutions for otherwise untouched applications.” One product that combines all these aspects is the Hi-Torque range of heavy-duty clamps.
First appearances can be deceptive and people often confuse hi-torque for a standard hose clip, he points out. “In fact, hi-torque is an engineered heavy-duty hose clamp suitable for use on virtually all applications,” he explains. “Even in comparison to the more elaborately designed nut and bolt type clamps, Hi-Torque offers lower stocking costs, neater installations and, most importantly, improved sealing performance on all types of hoses. This is supported by Hi-Torque carrying Lloyds Register type approval and is the only clamp with specific approval for the critical application of sealing wet diesel exhaust systems.”
A development of the HI-Torque range is the Tamtorque installation clamp. Fitted with a hardened stainless steel screw with a seven-sided socket head, along with the patented tail buckle, Tamtorque was predominantly designed for use in the sign installation market, and is approved and used by many councils and highways agencies. Other uses include the installation of street and valuable security equipment, such as CCTV cameras.
TORQUING BIG
“Tamtorque offers unrivalled levels of security strength and ease of use, in comparison to all band type installation products,” states Allen. “As the list of applications for Tamtorque has grown, it is being used for larger, heavier and more expensive equipment.”
The big question, though, was exactly how much can Tamtorque hold? To find the answer to this conundrum, early testing started in the JCS factory with a rather crude set-up, using a roll of steel and forklift truck. However, it was quickly realised that, for the clamps to be tested to their full capabilities, a more controlled environment was required. After various phone calls and visits, Independent Lifting Services (www.independentlifting.com) in Great Yarmouth was chosen to carry out those tests. The equipment employed was a highly imposing 150 ton press, normally reserved for the testing and destruction of lifting equipment. For such a huge press, the delicate nature of the beast impressed everyone gathered to witness the moment, as it could gently increase the applied load in 10kg increments.
The first clamp was fitted and, once it reached 1 ton, those watching retreated behind the safety screen. The force was gradually ratcheted up and eventually, with a rather underwhelming ‘donk’, the clamp broke. The final reading was a very impressive 1.76 tons. Further tests showed consistent results for both the breaking force and failure of breakage. All failures were through the band snapping, the vast majority at the first perforation of the band. It is important to note that the smaller the clamp, the slightly lower the breaking force, but all Hi-Torque clamps passed the 1.5 ton mark successfully.
“Another point worth mentioning is that, on all clamps tested, the housing screw and band engaged with the screw were all in perfect condition, and all clamps could be unscrewed just as easily as before the massive forces were applied,” he says.
Considering that, at the perforations on the band, there is only 8mm width of metal – and high consistency in the results achieved – JCS deserves real credit for the exacting quality inspection system it operates, where clamps are tested at various stages of manufacture, along with the raw material when it arrives in the factory.
So why is there a tractor hanging upside down in our picture, above, which shows Tom Allen, left of shot, with his much prized Ferguson tractor? Quite simply: for a visual representation of the pure unrivalled strength of Hi-Torque clamps. Even though this particular tractor only weighed 1.17 tons, it was the new sales and marketing manager’s pride and joy since he was a lad, and understandably he wanted plenty of safety margin!
NB: no tractors were harmed during the making of this article.
Image: copyright Robert Foyers
