Latest News
Partial Temporary Shutdown: We've been invited to exhibit at a Police conference from Monday 30th January-Thursday 2nd February as several of our products are the only ones of their kind to have Police approval. Our normal telephone and e-mail advice and response will be limited during this period as a result. Limited shipments will be possible nevertheless for orders placed through the web site. Please e-mail if delivery time is essential and we can let you know if there is likely to be any delay. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Web server upgrade Complete: We have moved our web site to a new server. This is now complete.
Happy New Year: We would like to wish all our previous and future customers a very Healthy and Happy New Year. Thanks very much for your business - we really appreciate it.
Excellent Business Growth for Yet Another Year: Word seems to be spreading about our products as our year-end accounts (to end October 2011) are showing our sales approximately 30% up relative to the previous year! Thanks to all customers for your business. It is much appreciated.
No Signature Required Now Available Upon Request: UK deliveries can now be left without the driver having to get a signature. We recommend the popular Post Office Convenient Collect service where it is difficult to have someone available to sign for a delivery and if delivery to a work address or neighbour is impossible. If these are all not practical, we are now able to offer unsigned-for delivery as an option. Beware that this is at your own risk, so if you request that the driver leaves a parcel in your porch and it's not there when you get home, there is no comeback. Hence, please only request this when you really are confident this is the only realistic option and you are willing to take responsibility. If you want to take this option, please give details in the Additional Information field below your delivery address during the shopping cart checkout. Note that this is only available within the UK.
Anti-Pinch Pin Update: We have at last been able to source some of the perfect 23.0mm steel bar in the right material grade. A new batch has just been completed with this bar so we have all normal Pin lengths back in stock again. These are the best Pins we have ever made, as several improvements have been made to the way the machining is done. This has improved accuracy, finish and appearance. More information on the Anti-Pinch Pin.
Do you want to use a 16mm or 19mm Chain with a small ground anchor? If you already have a ground anchor that has insufficient clearance to accept a heavy duty chain, the new Mini-Pin variant of the popular Anti-Pinch Pin idea, is now available. The Mini-Pin should fit through the ground anchor and will accept Protector 16mm or 19mm chains, allowing you to get the benefit of guaranteed un-boltcroppable chains without having to dig up or replace your existing anchor. Naturally, if your anchor is feeble, you may be better advised to replace it if you need the full benefit of the heavy-duty chains, but if you have a reasonable anchor that is just limited in its capacity, such as the Squire GA1, this may be an easy solution. More information on using the Anti-Pinch Pin Mini-Pin.
World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims - 20th November 2011: Supported by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation and many others around the world, this World Day is an initiative to remember and support people affected by traffic accidents and to raise awareness about measures to reduce the horrific toll in the future. In support of this, ITO World have offered a data mapping service that shows recorded accidents in the UK between 2000 and 2010.
Click here to open the map in a new window. Enter a place name into the search box and then use the mouse and buttons to pan and zoom. Use the 'full screen' button in the top-right corner of the map to make the map larger or smaller. Use the 'key' button in the top-left corner to open or close the key.
Information is provided showing those killed, seriously injured and slightly injured as well as mode of transport. For fatalities additional information is available giving the person's age (or age band since 2009), gender and the year in which the crash took place. Zoom in to see more details. ITO World (and Pragmasis) provide no guarantee of the accuracy of the data. This should not be used to identify the individuals concerned. More information on the ITO World web site.
What Mountain Bike "Beat the Thieves": Torc Ground Anchor: WINNER! 5/5 "Made of 20mm hardened steel with a 12mm thick base this is a substantial bit of kit. With no amount of give in the tough structure and the chemical fix to the ground, we were more likely to break the floor than the anchor. Needs groundwork to install but it's worth it." What Mountain Bike September 2011, p69
What Mountain Bike "Beat the Thieves": Protector 13mm and Squire SS50CS: WINNER! 5/5 "Massively strong against any tools, but its weight means it's for home use only. After five minutes almost every tool we threw at it was well worn but the 2m chain withstood them all. The chain also beat our 5 minute power tool attack." What Mountain Bike September 2011, p69
Motorbike Thefts hit £105 million per year! According to Carole Nash in their annual Motorcycle Theft Survey, London boroughs occupy nine of the top ten worst-hit areas nationally. Outside London, hotspots have been found in Huddersfield, Edinburgh and elsewhere. The Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group says on average there are 77 motorcycles stolen every day and motorcycle theft is rising.
Torc Ground Anchor Higher Capacity Injection Resin kit Now Available! The Torc ground anchor is now available with a 150ml as well as a 100ml Injection Resin fitting kit. This expands the range of awkward substrates already covered by the 100ml Injection Resin kit (mentioned below) and the other kits already available.
Torc Ground Anchor Injection Resin kits Now Available! The Torc ground anchor is now available with a choice of two special fitting kits that use chemical resin in a cartridge rather than in capsules. This Injection Resin kits give the advantages of the strong bond that resin offers in situations where there are limited air spaces/voids in the substrate, such as on brick and some types of block walls. These new fitting kits have already been Sold Secure approved to the ultimate Caravan Gold standard (as well as Gold in all other categories). We continue to recommend the similarly-approved Concrete Floor kit, with resin capsules, for most concrete installations, but these (higher cost) Injection Resin kits allow resin technology to be used in situations where it was not previously possible.
Sold Secure Annual Test: The formal audit of many of our products happened on Friday 8th July and all relevant products passed with flying colours!
Lock 'n' Roller Improvements and New Batch Available: We are pleased to report that the popular Lock 'n' Roller security product for roller shutter doors is now available and incorporating several design improvements. More information here.
Price Promotion - Vaude Bicycle Lock Bag at a Bargain Price! Another new addition to our range is the high quality Vaude Cruiser bicycle lock/frame bag. Particularly relevant to our new Protector 8mm and 11mm lighter-weight chains, this lock bag combines good quality construction with versatile design aspects and a bargain price. People that are out and about on bicycles have a chance to use decent security chains, at last!
New 'Mini' Anti-Pinch Pins Now Available: We have responded to customer requests for a small version of the Anti-Pinch Pin and now have Mini-Anti-Pinch Pins available in 100mm, 140mm and 190mm lengths. More information here.
New Product Launch! Protector 8mm Chain and Squire SS50P5 Lock Join the Range: We are pleased to announce a new addition to our Protector range of security chains in the form of the Protector 8mm boron steel chain. This lighter weight chain offers a good compromise between security and versatility for portable and mobile situations, particularly for mobile bicycle security where bigger chains are too heavy and D-locks too restrictive. Squire have also listened to our pleas for a Sold Secure Bicycle Gold lock and have had the SS50P5 open shackle steel body padlock assured to this standard. The SS50P5 is significantly lighter than the closed shackle SS50CS, and also significantly cheaper. We recommend the pairing of our Protector 11mm and the new Protector 8mm with the SS50P5 where weight and/or cost are significant issues.
Police Secured-by-Design Accreditation: We are pleased to have been awarded Secured-by-Design accreditation for a wide range of our products. We are the first manufacturer of general purpose security anchors and security chains to have gained accreditation under this highly-regarded police-approved scheme, aimed primarily at designing-out crime in new building developments and related projects. The Torc Series II ground anchor, the Shed Shackle, and the Protector 11/13/16/19mm chains are all now Police Preferred Specification.
'Green' News: We've just completed a major conservation project (planting over 4,000 trees!) in our 'spare' time. This has begun the process of establishing a new native broadleaved woodland in an ex-farmer's field. We've dug 5 new wildlife ponds and sown much of the area with wildflowers. After serious worries about the very dry weather we had in the Spring, and many tonnes of watering that we did in an effort to keep the new trees alive, our latest survey has shown only a very small percentage loss. The trees have hopefully toughened-up and should show strong growth in future seasons.
Post Office ConvenientCollect Service: We are pleased to be able to offer a shipping option within the UK whereby Parcelforce deliver to a Post Office near you, and you collect your parcel from there at your convenience. There is no additional cost associated with this above the normal next-working-day Parcelforce service, so it is also free on orders above £150. This can help you to avoid hanging around all day waiting for a delivery, and is helpful when there is no alternative address/person available to receive a delivery. There is more information on our shipping page.
Shed Shackle Improved Design: We've just completed a new batch of Shed Shackles and Maxi Shackles with a heavy steel rivet replacing the previous tack weld. This is really tough, looks better, and is also helping us to increase production volumes. These are available to order now.
Cycling Plus Magazine "Toughest Security Test Ever": We are the manufacturer of Protector chains and the Torc ground anchor and are pleased these were awarded Best Buys and Editor's Choice in the latest independent review. "After five minutes almost every tool we threw at the Protector was well worn but the chain withstood them all. Massively strong. 10 out of 10. Best Buy" [Protector 13mm]; "The toughest anchor on test and at a price that's cheaper than most of the competitions'. Unbeatable security. 10 out of 10. Editor's Choice" [Torc Series II ground anchor]; "At less than £100 this stands head and shoulders above its competitors; at under £50 it's simply astonishingly good value. Hands down the best chain you can buy for less than £50. 10 out of 10. Best Buy" [Protector 11mm, 1.2m] Cycling Plus, October 2010.
Anti-Pinch Pin Now Available with Protective End Cap: The Anti-Pinch Pin has been offered with heatshrink sleeving for some time and this offers some protection to delicate surfaces etc, but it doesn't give any covering for the very tip of the Pin, which could still cause damage if not handled with sufficient care. We have recently been able to source some close-fitting vinyl caps that push onto the tip of the Pin and help to give protection when the Pin is slid through an opening. One of these caps is now included in each order for heatshrink when purchased with a Pin. Beware, however, that this cap will not fit through the links on the Protector 19mm chain so it is more suited to the 16mm chain where it fits fine.
Protector 19mm Chain Selected by the MoD: We are proud that the UK Ministry of Defence has purchased a large number of our Protector 19mm chains with our modified Squire SS65CS locks for some very demanding security situations. They reported that they were "Extremely impressed with the superb quality of the chain". We are not at liberty to disclose more details...
What Mountain Bike Magazine Awards our Protector Chains 5/5 in Mammoth Lock Test: The Protector 13mm with the Squire SS50CS lock was the top-rated lock/chain on test, and the only one to resist hand and power tool attacks for the entire duration of the test. "This chain is awesome: the jaws of our croppers bent and blunted while the links showed almost no marking at all" "The toughest chain on test, and at a very reasonable price." The Protector 11mm chain with M50D lock was described as "Made of the same tough stuff, this is the best chain you can buy for under £50." (WhatMTB November 2009, p92)
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