Tagged with 'fasteners'

The service technicians at HookandLoop.com install grommets into straps. Grommets are small rings -- usually brass -- that are punched through any number of materials: paper, canvas, leather, etc. The purpose of these metal rings is to protect the surrounding material from damage when cords or strings are run through the hole of the grommet. Think of the rings your shoe laces are fed through, only stronger. If the rings weren't there, the material would eventually wear out and tear.

Hook and loop has been around for decades, but that doesn't mean its various applications and designs aren't always expanding. Today, there are even hook and loop fasteners that will conduct electricity. This is managed by spray coating the hook and loop with liquid silver. Silver is used because it has the highest electrical conductivity and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.

The hook-and-loop fastening system offers a wide variety of uses for a broad range of industries, including the military, medical and transportation industries. Available in many styles and strengths, there is a hook-and-loop fastener for nearly every task imaginable.

Hook and loop fasteners consist of two distinct pieces. The rough, scratchy side is the hook because it is covered with several tiny hooks per square inch. Likewise, the soft, fuzzy side is the loop because it is covered with many small loops. The hooks engage the loops when the two sides are pressed together. This creates a bond that is exceptionally strong and allows for repeated use that lasts for thousands of cycles.

Much like Kleenex® is synonymous with facial tissue, VELCRO® is synonymous with hook and loop fasteners. When it comes to hook and loop fasteners, alternatives to the VELCRO® Brand do exist. Not all brands are the same and it pays to understand the advantages and differences offered by other manufacturers. At HookandLoop.com, we are proud to offer our own DuraGrip® Brand of hook and loop in addition to being a distributor of VELCRO® Brand products. In this post, we highlight the unique benefits of DuraGrip® Brand hook and loop so you can determine if this brand is right for you.

Hook and loop fasteners are versatile enough to be used for pretty much anything and everything: camera bags, diapers, display panels at corporate trade shows and conventions -- the list is endless. Because of its ease of use, NASA has even used the fasteners on state-of-the-art astronaut suits. In fact, most individuals are likely unaware of how truly pervasive hook and loop is. Continue reading to discover some interesting fastener uses!