fastening & assembly solutions and technology - Approved Business
fastening & assembly solutions and technology - Approved Business
fastening & assembly solutions and technology - Approved Business
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FAST OCTOBER 2011<br />
HOW TO: SPECIFY SPECIAL FASTENERS<br />
Giving performance cars<br />
an aerodynamic edge<br />
Traditionally the high performance sector of the motor industry used a simple system of a sliding<br />
linch pin, mounted on the panel surface, to fasten removable body parts on competition cars.<br />
A perfectly acceptable solution which performed satisfactorily but looks a little dated on modern<br />
high performance race <strong>and</strong> rally cars<br />
The AeroCatch shear pin latch was<br />
conceived, designed <strong>and</strong> manufactured<br />
by Specialty Fasteners &<br />
Components in Totnes, South Devon <strong>and</strong><br />
was released to the market in January<br />
2005 as a modern aerodynamic design<br />
for <strong>fastening</strong> bonnet, boot <strong>and</strong> tailgate<br />
panels specifically for the motorsport<br />
industry.<br />
AeroCatch was designed to achieve<br />
the same effect but with all the locking<br />
mechanism below the surface of the<br />
panel. A secondary lock design feature<br />
ensures a positive closure <strong>and</strong> from a<br />
safety aspect the AeroCatch h<strong>and</strong>le is<br />
highly visible when in the open position<br />
thereby reducing the risk of the bonnet<br />
not being securely fastened, an experience<br />
many had previously experienced<br />
with the traditional arrangement.<br />
30<br />
During the course of launch year 2005<br />
AeroCatch was quickly adopted by leading<br />
race <strong>and</strong> rally teams in the UK, <strong>and</strong><br />
come the end of the year was fitted to<br />
many championship winners the most<br />
notable of which being the Dunlop MSA<br />
BTCC champions Team Halfords Honda<br />
Integra-R. As the 2006 motorsport season<br />
fast approached dealers were appointed<br />
in countries with active motorsport participation<br />
<strong>and</strong> work started on building<br />
on the success of 2005. Racing car<br />
designers were taking note of the new<br />
product <strong>and</strong> requests for 3D computer<br />
aided design files increased. With dealers<br />
now appointed in the USA, Germany,<br />
Brazil <strong>and</strong> Australia, countries all with a<br />
solid motorsport history, sales began to<br />
increase steadily as new car design <strong>and</strong><br />
builds were undertaken.<br />
Built in Cheshire, the BAC MONO was designed to bring formula race car levels of h<strong>and</strong>ling,<br />
performance <strong>and</strong> thrill to the public road. At 520 bhp/ton, its power to weight ratio surpasses that<br />
of the Bugatti Veyron <strong>and</strong> it can accelerate to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds <strong>and</strong> has a top speed of<br />
170 mph. The car’s aerodynamics were optimised in partnership with Stuttgart University <strong>and</strong> it is<br />
constructed in carbon fibre with a tubular steel driver safety cell. The bonnet panel is fitted with an<br />
Aerocatch fastener.<br />
Now into its 7th year of production the<br />
original AeroCatch has been joined by<br />
AeroCatch2 <strong>and</strong> from January 2011<br />
AeroCatch3 a shear <strong>and</strong> tension latch<br />
designed to meet the dem<strong>and</strong>s of the<br />
sports prototype style of race car.<br />
AeroCatch is fast becoming the panel<br />
fastener choice for leading motor industry<br />
manufacturers motorsport programmes<br />
around the world. The list is<br />
still growing but now includes Aston<br />
Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ginetta <strong>and</strong><br />
Lamborghini, to name but a few.<br />
The pedestrian friendly nature of the<br />
AeroCatch design, no parts protruding<br />
through the panels, has been an important<br />
feature for the road tuning market <strong>and</strong>, as<br />
with the race <strong>and</strong> rally markets, the road<br />
tuning sector has taken to the AeroCatch<br />
range. Widely used in the tuning industry<br />
in the UK, Japan <strong>and</strong> USA, AeroCatch is<br />
now available in a choice of finish, traditional<br />
black, carbon look <strong>and</strong> white with<br />
the key locking style proving highly popular<br />
in this market sector.<br />
AeroCatch is a success story for a new<br />
product designed, developed <strong>and</strong> manufactured<br />
in the South West of Engl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
All tooling <strong>and</strong> component suppliers are<br />
local for the complete AeroCatch range<br />
ensuring production <strong>and</strong> ongoing developments<br />
meet the highest quality requirements<br />
for the dem<strong>and</strong>ing industry in<br />
which AeroCatch is used. Now available<br />
from officially appointed dealers in over<br />
30 countries, including Denmark,<br />
Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa,<br />
USA <strong>and</strong> more AeroCatch is fast becoming<br />
a recognised Global br<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> has<br />
earned a reputation as being the panel<br />
fastener of choice; it can be seen in action<br />
most weekends at motorsport events<br />
around the world.<br />
SPECIALTY FASTENERS &<br />
COMPONENTS<br />
01803 868677
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