Crud and Sensible Products have been manufacturing bicycle accessories, including mudguards, since 1991, using various forms of injection moulding and fixings. Their customers’ stated criteria were that these products had to be fit for purpose, robust, lightweight, fast and easy to fit. Over the years, they have used various fixing methods in their quest to meet those high standards, but it’s fair to say that the latest Mk3 version revolutionises everything.
Back in 2013, FAST Magazine carried an article about a product called Duotec, available from Binder Fastener systems. Pete Tomkins, MD of Sensible Products, the manufacturer of Crud Catcher bicycle mudguards, a visitor to the FAST exhibitions and avid reader of the magazine, saw this article and decided Duotec was so good he had to design a new bike guard utilising this strong and easy to use fastener.
“I have been visiting FAST for several years now,” says Tomkins. “I am fascinated by the diverse and original fixings on display, and have many samples from different manufacturers in my design studio for reference and inspiration. When I first spied Duotec, I knew it would be a fixing solution for an as-yet unformulated future project, and worked on and off for three years before I came up with the design for our Mk3 Roadracer mudguards.
“David Antrobus, MD at Binder Fastener Systems (UK), has been patiently and willingly assisting us through all the stages of development. He has been to the studio several times to offer advice and technical information, and has been a great help bringing the Mk3s to market.”
According to Tomkins, his customers love the simplicity of the product, the lack of parts and the ease of attachment-removal. “Our previous Mk2s had fifty-three separate parts to assemble. The Duotec system has reduced this to nine parts. Packaging costs are halved. Customer satisfaction has doubled. FAST, and Duotec, has been a win-win for my business.”
Duotec is continuing to prove itself to be a highly versatile fastener system, Antrobus adds. It is now used in various transport applications, including interior panels, architectural mouldings and roof lining fixation, as it allows for fast and strong fixation without special tools, while also providing a degree of tolerance when lining up parts.
“It is also perfect for construction both internally in movable partitions and doors, as well as externally in window systems and architectural cladding, as it does not corrode and, being a reusable system, items can be removed or replaced easily and very quickly,” he says.
Binder Fasteners continues to supply numerous technical fixings that utilise Duotec, which can be deployed in almost all industries. It’s a rapid click-to-close system that does not require any special tools to apply and is available in three formats, ranging from around 0.5mm to 6mm, with varying engaging and holding forces.
