Ratchet tiedowns are one of the most common load restraint devices used during the transportation of any loads. Shang Wang, Managing Director of Austlift, a designer and manufacturer of load restraint systems, explains how his business has taken the ergonomics of load restraints to the next level.
The newly released Austlift SwiftCore ratchet tie-down is an innovative product which now includes a number of significant improvements:
1. Increasing the ratchet gear teeth from 11 to 15 teeth dramatically improves pretension.
“Traditionally, a ratchet tiedown features nine or 11 teeth, where the angle between the teeth is 33 degrees (360*/11). With 15 teeth, the angle is reduced to 24 degrees making it easier for the driver to achieve the next click to increase the pre-tensioning,” said Shang.
“Pretension is an important part for load restraint; it must maintain a minimum of 500 kilogram by Australian Standards. Due to the truck shaking and webbing elongation, the webbing frequently becomes loose during transportation; so it is important to apply more pretension before starting the trip. Austlift’s 15 teeth ratchet can achieve up to 1000 kilogram pretension with its robust metal framework.”
2. Austlift redesigned the ratchet handle to enable quicker, easier release of the webbing.
“Feedback from truck drivers included how difficult they found releasing the webbing on traditional ratchet tiedowns when the job is finished. The webbing became jammed within the handle. This is because the half-moon spindle is in a fixed position making it hard to rewind. We redesigned the handle’s mechanism so the spindle can be moved into a freewheel position when you want to release it. We call it ‘SwiftCore’, and our system has been patented.”
The SwiftCore comes with a recognisable black core and features a wider ratcheting plate, making the unit stronger during pre-tensioning. The thicker retention plate adds to the overall safety of the system by preventing slippage. It also features a strong steel handle covered with a comfortable moulded grip.
The SwiftCore is easy to use and once the load is ready to be released, these unique features ensure the unloading and removing of the straps is quicker, smoother, and easier.
3. The SwiftCore ratchet strap also comes with herringbone protective sleeves. This new design has 40 per cent more abrasive resistance than standard protective sleeves. This product also comes with high-quality webbing, which features reflective stitching to aid users during nighttime loading. The Flip ‘n’ Stick tailpiece can be used to secure the tail neatly in place and keep it tidy when not in use. Each unit comes with an identification tag which includes all the main information required by the standard, such as the latching capacity, batch number, and the standard that applies.
4. “Another small change to the design relates to the excess webbing. When you secure the load and finish the tiedown, there is always excess webbing. With previous tiedowns, the truck driver would tuck this webbing into the back of the load, but when they are driving, that webbing comes loose, and you see it flying around on the freeway. We added small velcro belts to webbing which you use to secure the remainder of the webbing which makes the load much tidier and stops the webbing from coming loose and flying around,” Shang said.
“Austlift’s approach to innovation has always been driven by the people who use our products every day. Our continuous commitment to listening, collaborating, and engineering solutions with industry partners ensures that every new design is safer, easier to use, and truly makes a difference in the field. SwiftCore is the latest example of how customer feedback and real-world challenges shape the future of load restraint systems at Austlift.”