Story
It was the night of February 27, 2017 and memories are now fading alittle.
As usual after a climb, beer was consumed and the thrill of climbing a route “not well protected’’ was lived again when a new idea and challenge was born: designing a new type of friend with a very wide range, all in a single tool.
Back then we did not know that there had been so many ideas before, some of them genial, and many innovative mechanical strategies opening new paths.
The key idea behind all friends, the cam expansion, was the vision of Ray Jardine in the second half of the seventies, and had been dissected and analyzed in any possible form with innovations sprouting almost everywhere in the world.
these years have passed quickly. a lot of energy …. drawings on drawings in 2D and 3D cad … many … many …
disappointments follow one another with new starts, new ideas, new inventions … and new energies … other prototypes … how many prototypes, at least 12 versions and as many tests … but we don’t give up because we feel we are on the right path …
Then the prototypes started to work and we filed two new patents.
it has been a long journey, but finally, in early 2022, ANGEL AC is in production!
- especially regarding ergonomicity, ease of placement,
- quick-drawing and placement speed in cracks,
- holding strength in slippery or flaring cracks,
- performance in a dirty environment, field use (fall from the harness, grit, dirty water, etc.),
- increased friction after catching a fall,
- and the overall reliability of the tool.
The technical expertise gained with ANGEL AC gave us the drive and determination to keep designing new devices.
In 2023, BIG-ANGEL was born — the bigger brother of ANGEL, covering a range from 46 to 145 mm. At the same time, we began developing a groundbreaking new rope belay device, which we named SULU… as Captain Kirk said in Star Trek: “Mr. Sulu, take us out!”
SULU GO was engineered with an exclusive sliding mechanism and a system of linkages that make it a solid, safe, and highly versatile belay device. It has earned TRS certification, making it the first device in the world certified for Top Rope Solo climbing.
Thanks to the know-how gained through these projects, we now feel ready to take on a new challenge: bringing the technology and innovation behind our devices into the tactical, military, and professional work fields.
And the adventure continues…
This is us
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