The cost effectiveness of PHASA Plastic Hot Air Staking is being exploited by UK manufacturer Fisco Tools Ltd in the manufacture of a new range of heavy duty tape measures.

Following extensive user research, Fisco's 'Big T' range of 5m and 8m tape measures are targeted at the professional and domestic markets and have been well received in the USA . The product won the consumer product design award at the recent ‘Plastics Industry Awards’.

Many of the innovative features include a two shot plastic and rubber moulding to provide better grip and superior impact resistance when dropped from a height, and a unique tape-end hook which is also a two shot plastic and rubber moulding. The conventional riveted metal tape-end hook is vulnerable to damage and distortion and the new design eliminates measuring errors caused through misuse.

The assembly of the plastic tape-end hook comprises two mouldings, one of which is transparent allowing the user to view the tape scale marking. Phasa recommended that tubular stakes from this part pass through slots in the tape blade which are subsequently attached to the moulded tape-end hook on the reverse side by hot air staking. Critical clearances are maintained after processing to allow the hook to move freely within very tight tolerances on the tape blade for accurate exterior and internal measuring.

According to Fisco's Product Design and Engineering Manager, Barry Lee " This assembly is crucial to the success and reliability of the new product, we are in a very competitive market from foreign imports, improved product features are absolutely essential ……. our success in the USA is very important to us".

"Having used Phasa technology previously, I had no hesitation in using it for this application" he adds.

The Phasa 10/30 bench mounted machines used in this application accept products up to 300 mm wide and 100 mm deep and production can exceed 15 fixings per cycle.