The world’s largest manufacturer of zippers, the Japanese company YKK, announced the successful testing of a prototype of an automatic zipper with remote control. The development is intended primarily for industrial use, but in the future it may also appear in the consumer segment, for example in clothing.
Image source: YKK
The new product is especially useful for working at heights and in other hard-to-reach places, writes TechSpot. The technology works using a motorized device and gears, and is controlled using a remote control. In a demo video, YKK showed how the prototype connects two pieces of fabric at a height of 5 meters in 40 seconds – without a ladder or lift. In another test, an automatic zipper closes a wide (4 meters) awning in 50 seconds, which is difficult for a person to handle.
Image source: YKK
«We are currently focusing primarily on industrial applications, YKK explains. Our zippers reduce risks for workers who previously had to climb to heights or apply great effort to fasten them. For now, all tests are being conducted in industrial conditions, as the prototype is quite bulky and requires a massive controller for power supply. But if the technology is successful, it could migrate to everyday items. The main obstacle today is miniaturization and adaptation for mass production.
The company does not report when the technology will enter the consumer market, for example for clothing. To do this, engineers will have to reduce the size of the mechanism and increase its safety. However, YKK does not rule out that in the future such zippers could help people with limited mobility.
It should be noted that although YKK is not so well known to the general public, its products are used by many people – just pay attention to the logo on the zippers of jeans, jackets, backpacks and even car covers. The company also produces innovative fasteners, including magnetic locks and zippers. For example, YKK recently introduced a magnetic fastener for trousers, and last year a zipper that is fixed with magnets but is easy to unfasten.
The company publishes its experiments on its YouTube channel, demonstrating how the familiar world of zippers and fasteners can change.