Cost-effective friction hinge launched by Southco

Southco, a Worcester-based company which manufactures access solutions – has launched its new T6 Friction Hinge. It’s describing it as a cost-effective access hardware solution that helps designers remove play from their panels without breaking their budget.

Friction and torque hinges have been used to add resistance to panels for decades, and come with several benefits. Their resistance makes the panel easier to position, makes lighter materials feel heavier, and keeps users safe by preventing panels from quickly swinging open or slamming shut.

However, these benefits have historically come at a significantly higher price compared to free-swinging hinges. While embedded torque engines and polished stainless-steel hardware are certainly the industry standard, they may become cost prohibitive as budgets tighten and engineers look to optimise every part of their design.

Southco believes it has solved this price problem with its T6 Friction Hinge, foregoing expensive torque engines for precision stamping construction that tightly wraps the hinge knuckles around the pin, providing enough friction to remove play from the hinge without grinding or preventing movement.

This process greatly reduces manufacturing costs, giving designers on all budgets access to the quality feel of a friction hinge. The hinges also keep the benefits of stainless-steel construction, making the T6 Friction Hinge suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

“The T6 Friction Hinge offers a more cost-efficient solution, and the stainless-steel material offers corrosion resistance and aesthetic benefits,” says Southco product manager Stewart Beck.

“Its stamped construction helps keep the price down for all designers, while the added friction solves the play issues without the need for a high-end positioning control hinge.”

Details of the company’s hardware for marine use can be found on the company’s website.