03 November 2011
“Never mix, never worry,” goes one old adage embraced by serious drinkers. With the merger of Q’Straint and Sure-Lok, such advice is a reliable rule of thumb for those tempted to mix and match products from the companies.
Why the cautionary note concerning two companies who have pioneered safety innovations that are now industry standards?
Actually, it’s simple.
Both Q’Straint and Sure-Lok have been the market leaders because of our extensive crash testing with verified independent labs. Every fitting, component, belt, piece or other assembly has been tested so that we know the product we are selling exceeds our company standards. The problem with mixing the systems is this: They haven’t been tested together.
We can equip you with a Titan automatic retractor with combination lap and shoulder belt for L-Track knowing it’s been tested. Likewise, our QRT MAX with the Slide N’ Click fitting has undergone many tests in different configurations. We know we can offer those complete product lines to our customers with total confidence.
So why not just test each product and be done with it? As American humorist H. L. Mencken once said, “For every problem there is a solution that is simple, neat . . . and wrong.”
If it only took a few tests to guarantee safety when mixing Q’Straint and Sure-Lok products, it’s a task that would be checked “completed”. However, it gets complicated when you multiply several retractable or manual tie-downs by several fittings, and many lap and shoulder belt combinations, height adjusters, track solutions and other custom options.
What’s important to keep in mind is that, until recently, Q’Straint and Sure-Lok were separate companies. It’s not a question of whether our L-Track fittings are compatible (they are) or of product strength (they all meet standardized testing regulations), but of crash testing and documentation. For now, keeping Q’Straint and Sure-Lok products separate is the recommended way to go as we get to know each other and find ways to improve your customer experience.
If this sounds like a focus on safety that borders on obsession, we’ll gladly plead guilty. Our approach to product development has been central to our success: Innovate, test, and bring our customers the absolute safest and best. Always.
So be safe, and don’t mix and drive. And stay tuned for the next wave of great wheelchair passenger safety solutions from Q’Straint and Sure-Lok.
