Innovation does not necessarily mean radical disruption – it is often the continuous, customer-oriented evolution that makes a product sustainably successful. A good example of this is the occupational safety solutions from quick coupler provider OilQuick: although the award-winning concept of visual display plus drop guard is considered the safest quick coupler system on the market, the development department in Steindorf near Augsburg in Bavaria is constantly working on improvements. The latest upgrade in the OilQuick portfolio is the second generation of the tried-and-tested drop guard. “Like all our products, the ‘GEN II’ is the result of customer-oriented engineering,” says Head of Development Christian Rampp, explaining OilQuick’s innovation philosophy. “We are in close contact with machine operators, fleet managers and specialist dealers – this condensed feedback from the field has also been incorporated into the further development of the drop guard.”
GEN II drop guard: What’s new
- Easy engagement and disengagement: The new spring mechanism keeps the safety catch open for engagement even at unfavorable angles and pushes it open immediately for disengagement as soon as the attachment is put down.
- Protection against damage: The internal position and a pin lock with locking screw prevent damage – even during pushing maneuvers with the quick coupler flanks.
- Even more robust material: GEN II safety catches are made of drop-forged steel – a manufacturing process for components with particularly high safety and service life requirements.
- Uncomplicated spare parts management: The geometry of the left and right drop guard is identical, i.e. there is only one version of the spare part.
For several years now – and long before the EN 474 standard was tightened up – the OilQuick quick coupler system has supplemented the optical locking control with a drop guard. The patented design solution extends the quick coupler claw, which closes around the shaft on the attachment’s adaptation. This reliably prevents attachments from falling down, even if the quick coupler lock is inadvertently not closed properly despite the visual display, warning signal and cross-check. The OilQuick drop guard is a recognized accident prevention system, i.e. the purchase is subsidized by the BG≈Bau with up to 50% of the costs incurred – also as a retrofit for existing systems.
The combination of visual display and fall protection is the EuroTest double winner for the best occupational safety (2019 + 2022). “We are delighted that our concept has been recognized by industry experts, but we are not interested in awards or test badges,” explains Managing Director Franz Josef Schauer. “We always think beyond legal requirements and scrutinize current safety standards. That’s why a product is never finished for us, but rather a continuous learning process together with our customers.” Other successful examples of this iterative innovation approach include the e-VA visual indicator – the electronic version of the award-winning MRL visual indicator – and the zero-degree technology for tiltrotators.
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