How can this plastic clip make an electrician’s job simpler?

Electrician David Grey recognized a spot out there and, collectively together with his spouse Julie, they intend to fill it. TechWatch editor Emily McDaid experiences.

David Grey, an electrician from Lisburn, had a continuing gripe: the problem in manually clipping cables in place. Holding a cable, a hammer and a nail was delicate work – and he wanted three palms to do it.

Steel staples are usually not allowed in 240-volt areas attributable to well being and security rules. A completely insulated, plastic staple would do the job, however none existed within the market.

Enter Grey’s Clip – not instantly, however after 25 years of thought and 5 lengthy years of R&D. David and his spouse Julie have dedicated large monetary assets – and years of their lives – for this invention. Each Make investments NI and Queen’s College Belfast have lent essential help to the enterprise.

Grey’s Clip is now a finalist for the 2018 Invent competitors within the Engineering class. I spoke to co-founder Julie Grey.

Julie Grey. Picture: TechWatch

What made you apply for Invent?

We didn’t get past the qualifying spherical final 12 months, and we have been dissatisfied as a result of the product is nice. Final 12 months, we solely had the staple to point out – now, we now have a battery-operated staple gun as nicely.

Actually, we needed validation from individuals who hadn’t seen the product earlier than; that they may see the potential.

Do you might have the stapler prototype now?

We now have a proof-of-concept mannequin for a battery-powered stapler. We re-engineered a stapler that was used for upholstery.

What did your market analysis flip up?

Nothing like that is obtainable for the 240-volt market however in America, with 110 volts, they will use {a partially} insulated metallic staple – it’s not allowed right here. Nonetheless, it was vital to see {that a} staple gun was profitable in that market.

Is there preliminary curiosity within the product?

Electricians from all around the world are asking for it. If we had the product now, we’d be promoting bucketloads of them.

So, you might promote into the lower-voltage market as nicely?

Sure, for the 240-volt and 110-volt markets, but additionally for audio, coaxial and knowledge cables, too.

You sound such as you carry enterprise acumen to the workforce. What’s your background?

Earlier than Davy persuaded me to assist on this undertaking, I used to be a enterprise advisor, working for corporations internationally for about seven years. Earlier than that, I used to be a director at a multinational ticketing firm engaged on the operational aspect of the enterprise.

We’re a very good workforce as a result of Davy brings sensible data, and he designed it as an electrician for electricians.

What are the clips made out of?

The clip physique is made of 1 plastic materials; it must be versatile. The nails are made out of a distinct kind of plastic; they should penetrate laborious building timber. It’s not attainable to overfire them –  they will’t be pushed any additional than the physique of the staples, so it might’t crush the cable. It’s 4 occasions sooner than utilizing a guide hammer and nail, and 5 occasions sooner with the battery-powered answer. There aren't any extra incidents of dropped hammers or repetitive pressure accidents.

How will you distribute to this area of interest market?

Electricians purchase from electrical wholesalers or from speciality software corporations, so we have to distribute via these channels fairly than on-line.

A multinational energy software firm has proven curiosity in being our international distributor, and we now have curiosity from wholesalers within the UK and Australia.

By Emily McDaid, editor, TechWatch

A model of this text initially appeared on TechWatch

Grey’s Clip is a finalist within the annual Invent competitors run by Join at Catalyst Inc, aiming to showcase one of the best and brightest innovators that Northern Eire has to supply. Invent 2018 will happen on Thursday 11 October in Belfast, the place 12 finalists will battle it out for a £33,000 prize fund.

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