UK: Parker Hannifin’s award-winning range of Sporlan braze-free copper fittings are now available in the UK as the first stop in a planned European-wide launch.
Greenmill, the Essex-based air conditioning and ventilation distributor, is the first company outside the US to be appointed to help bring the ZoomLock product to market.
While other braze-free connection systems are available, the ZoomLock is said to be unique in that the joint is made by applying an equal pressure around the circumference of the fitting and is the only press-to-connect technology that is approved for hvacr operating pressures up to 700psi.
ZoomLock is said to enable one technician to quickly carry out a connection alone, with no torch, no hot-work permits, no safety equipment and no special experience. The resulting joints are said to be clean and leak-proof. In addition, the fittings are more repeatable than brazed joints.
Using a specially-designed crimping tool, the deburred tube ends are simply inserted into the fitting (which has o-rings inside), and the assembly pressed into place. If the press fitting is not crimped properly, it can easily be re-crimped. In addition, it requires no adhesives, just the crimping tool and the fitting.
The fittings can accommodate copper tubes from 1/4in to 1-1/8in, with a new tool for pipes up to 1-3/8in being introduced shortly.
First launched at the AHR Expo in 2015, Parker Hannifin brought ZoomLock back to the show in January this year and picked up the 2016 AHR Expo Innovation Award in the Tools and Instruments Category.
Press-to-connect fittings were developed over 20 years ago and have been widely adopted in the plumbing industry due to the significant time savings, repeatability, and simplicity of installation.
Cooling Post, 19th May 2016 http://www.coolingpost.com/products/braze-free-zoomlock-enters-uk-market/
