Home Smart 100 2011 T-Line Safety System (SMART 100)

T-Line Safety System (SMART 100)

May 5, 2011

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

T-Line Safety System

This innovation initially came to life when…

I was working as a Graduate Engineer on the construction of an onshore LNG Gas facility. We had to maintain extremely high safety standards whilst working at height during construction. I was surprised by the lack of innovation in the safety products available at the time. None of the existing products were able to provide the levels of freedom and safety that we required. I couldn’t help but think that there must have been a better solution, which is when I came up with the fundamental concept for the T-Line — a concept that remains today in the current version.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

…provide greater levels of safety for people working at height, whilst also providing superior levels of freedom and reducing the likelihood of misuse that could place the user at risk of injury.

It does this by…

…utilising a unique method of interconnecting two separate safety lines in order to facilitate both horizontal and vertical movement of user. The end result is comparable to a loop of safety line. When the user moves horizontally that loop rotates. When the user moves vertically downward, the loop expands. If the user falls, a locking mechanism activates.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

…it is the only device that can facilitate both horizontal and vertical movement. It also is able to arrest falls within much shorter distances. It can be installed in situations that were not catered for by existing technologies. It includes an in-built rescue mechanism. It is able to operate in complicated environments without the safety line snagging or getting caught.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

…greater levels of safety. Reduced cost in both initial supply and installation. The T-Line can often be installed on structures that would not support traditional safety systems. It also offers greater freedom which encourages use and promotes efficiency whilst working.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

…using multiple systems together, which often creates a complex solution that is likely to be misused by workers. Alternatively, expensive solutions would sometimes need to be specially engineered for each specific application. Some applications could not be catered for by existing technologies. The T-Line has now made it possible to provide protection in many such situations.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

…self-retracting lanyards (SRLs) and Static Lines. SRLs are used for vertical movement only whereas the Static Line is for horizontal use only. Many variants have been developed around these systems but all rely upon the same fundamentals.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

…any industry that requires workers to carry out tasks in locations that could potentially place them at risk of a fall from height. Some of the largest industries that require fall protection systems are construction, maintenance, telecommunications and transport. The T-Line Safety System can be used in temporary installations, such as during construction of buildings, or it can also be used in more permanent installations, such as in large factories or even on billboards. The T-Line has identified a very large market in transport as it is the only system currently available that can work on trailers etc.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

…a variety of large distributors in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Standfast is the main distributor for the system but has the ability to sell directly to end-users as well as through larger distribution channels.

Our marketing strategy is to…

…present the cost and technological advantages of the T-Line within forums attended by some of the largest consumers of height safety devices such as trade shows and magazines. The technology will also be made available to the largest distributors of height safety devices so that it can benefit from their existing customer base.

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