Crimping tools are used in many industrial sectors for mounting and connecting electrical wiring. Crimping is a process in which two components are joined together by permeant ‘plastic’ deformation to create a strong connection between electrical conductors and connecting elements such as electrical contacts or plugs. The result is a process-safe electrical and mechanical connection that meets all the connection requirements of the latest technologies and products, like photovoltaic or automotive market segment (self-driving cars, different level or High voltage battery electric cars and their connection between terminal and wire)
However, there is a core problem with current state-of-the-art market products in that the crimping process is highly sensitive to human error. Further to this poor visibility and special constrictions further reduce crimp reliability.
Our new innovation: SPOT or “Smart Process Optimised Tool” is an Industry 4.0 crimping tool which contains a state-of-the-art sensor technology, a patented force distribution system as well as an advanced intelligent central unit. These features enable the tool to perform an optimal force measurement and record the accuracy and quality of the crimp thus significantly improving process reliability. Further to these advancements, an additional feature of miniaturisation is realised enabling crimping of extremely small wire diameters. This is particularly prevalent in the automotive industry that are looking for wire sizes smaller than 0.08 mm².
SPOT detects, records and alerts the user to any crimping errors meaning that false pressings are avoided. Our industrial customers will benefit from this through significantly higher process reliability (resulting in fewer failures to machine/vehicle/aircraft systems) as well as reduced repairs costs of the corresponding crimp connections. Today, crimp failure rate is around 20-25% occurring generally immediately, or more dangerously occurring after a period of weeks/months resulting in unpredictability of equipment, risk of danger and increased downtime of potentially safety critical components. In response, SPOT will reduce failure rate to 0%.
Our vision is to bring our new range of hand tools to market and leverage its advanced USP features to maintain and advance WEZAG’s world leading market position in the field of hand tool crimping. First, with support from the EIC Accelerator Phase 2, we must complete our technological developments, build a commercial-scale fully capable production unit and patent our protectable aspects. We are confident in market success having already received significant interest from potential adopters.
During our Phase 1 Feasibility Study, we have detailed the work required to finalise development of SPOT, prove to the market the added value of SPOT USPs and demonstrate to the market the reproducible accuracy of SPOT.
