The Auspex Plumbing Crimper is a professional tool designed by CobaltNiche to install polyethylene only hot water piping systems.

Growing need

The rising cost of copper has seen a phenomenal growth in the use of polyethylene hot-water piping for domestic and commercial buildings. The flexible plastic pipes are connected using a large range of brass and copper connectors. In new homes, plumbers typically use the tool to create several hundred joints (crimps) within a standard household system. Crimping speed and reliability are vitally important to plumbers installing these piping systems as one failure can lead to a very expensive repair bill.

Outcome

The new Crimper is a major refinement over Auspex’s original crimping tool and features a number of innovative features. To avoid the skeletal aesthetic of most scissor-action tools, much of the engineering-design effort was focused on integrating the adjustment and ratcheting mechanisms within the tool’s body.

As a precision instrument, the Auspex Crimper holds tolerances of 25 microns to reliably crimp the piping system together. Although the mechanical action produces over 2 tonnes of force, the action is positive and ergonomic for all-day use. The Crimper features a unique ratcheted-arm to access awkward areas, an integrated gauge to check crimp accuracy and rugged construction to survive the roughest treatment a tradesmen can dish out.