How to work out the date of manufacture from Sterling’s Lot number

Date of manufacture for your climbing gear is worth recording, especially for 'soft' goods like ropes, harnesses, slings and prusiks, as materials can degrade over time. Since the introduction of the PPE laws in Europe manufacturers have been including instructions which give guidance on obsolescence timelines. Its typically around 10 years from date of manufacturer for nylon and polyester type products but does vary so check. Sterling's current Lot# system (introduced in 2015) makes it easy to ascertain the date of manufacture of an item. Lot#'s consist of 4 digits, the first 2 are the yea...
More

Inspection and Maintenance of Locking Gates

Download this step-by-step ‘walk-through’ to aid with the inspection and maintenance of DMM auto-lock carabiner gate mechanisms. Following on from a visual and tactile assessment, there are three gate action (function) tests described, to ensure that the gate closes fully and reliably. A non-silicone based lubricant such as Duck Oil is recommended (do NOT use graphite powder) to reduce friction at the hinge rivet, within the mechanism and contact areas. As always, if you have any doubts about the functionality or integrity of a carabiner, take it out of service and seek advice. A downloadab...
More

DMM iD – Answers to some questions

We have recently been implementing DMM iD for customers for the first time. In this article Ian shares answers to some of the questions that have come up about this exciting new technology. DMM iD is the start of a revolution in personal protective equipment (PPE) inspection and inventory management. In a world first, they have integrated RFID technology into connectors (patent pending) and other difficult to mark PPE products, including ropes, harnesses and slings. The range of DMM iD products, together with the collection of retrofit iD tags, provide a comprehensive smart PPE solution...
More

DMM iD Gains OutDoor Industry Award

At the recent OutDoor 2017 trade show in Friedrichshafen, DMM iD was judged to deserve an Industry Award in the ‘Concepts and Services’ category. During a two-day panel discussion, the OutDoor appointed judges agreed on 38 award-winning new products – across all the categories – out of 330 entries, which they felt “have the potential to set new benchmarks for design and innovation in the outdoor industry”. (more…)
More