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INNOVATIVE HANDLES MADE OF DUPONT ZYTEL GIVE PRUNERS A COMPETITIVE EDGE
18 March 2002 - DuPont Engineering Polymers
| Gilmour Group's engineers designed Trim-EZ pruning tools with comfort and performance in mind using rugged, lightweight handles injection molded from DuPont Zytel nylon resin. "The toughness, strength and moldability of glass-reinforced Zytel gave us the basis for an innovative folding design with major benefits for the user," said Bill May, a product engineer at Gilmour. The handle design, consisting of two parts joined with metal pins and levers, allows the lopping shears to fold up for storage or handling and unfold for work. Folding saves storage space and enhances safety by shielding cutting surfaces. When folded, the lopping shears have a 25% smaller footprint than in the open position. Space savings are even greater compared with longer-handled conventional loppers. |
Gilmour Group's engineers designed Trim-EZ pruning tools with comfort and performance in mind using rugged, lightweight handles injection molded from DuPont Zytel nylon resin. "The toughness, strength and moldability of glass-reinforced Zytel gave us the basis for an innovative folding design with major benefits for the user," said Bill May, a product engineer at Gilmour. The handle design, consisting of two parts joined with metal pins and levers, allows the lopping shears to fold up for storage or handling and unfold for work. Folding saves storage space and enhances safety by shielding cutting surfaces. When folded, the lopping shears have a 25% smaller footprint than in the open position. Space savings are even greater compared with longer-handled conventional loppers. Another innovative feature of the handle is their integrally molded gears. The gears increase the shears' cutting force, according to Gilmour, reducing user effort and allowing removal of larger branches than standard shears. The lopper handle is also used for hedge shears. Because they have longer cutting blades than loppers, they do not fold. Smaller handles molded from Zytel nylon are used for hand pruners. Users of all of the Trim-EZ tools benefit from the light weight of the handles molded from Zytel. Because they weigh much less than wooden or metal handles, they sharply reduce fatigue. The shear handles have no paint to chip or peel away. Their attractive teal color is molded in. Gilmour molds the parts from uncolored Zytel 70G33L mixed with color concentrate.
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About: DuPont Engineering Polymers
The DuPont Engineering Polymers business manufactures and sells DuPont Crastin PBT and DuPont Rynite PET thermoplastic polyester resins, DuPont Delrin acetal resins, DuPont Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomers, DuPont ETPV engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates, DuPont Minlon mineral reinforced nylon resins, DuPont Thermx PCT polycyclohexylene dimethyl terephthalate, DuPont Tynex filaments, DuPont Vespel parts and shapes, DuPont Zenite LCP liquid crystal polymers and DuPont Zytel nylon resins. These products serve global markets in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, industrial, sporting goods and many other diversified industries. Founded in 1802 science company DuPont operates in more than 70 countries. It offers a wide range of products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel. DuPont Electronic & Communication Technologies is a leading supplier of electronic materials, fluoropolymers, fluorochemicals and imaging technologies. |
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