Spinlock excited to receive King's Award for Innovation
by Amanda Thibaut 23 Apr 2023 09:20 BST
Spinlock ALTO © Spinlock
Based in the Isle of Wight, Spinlock Ltd is an established brand with over 40 years experience in designing and manufacturing a wide range of acclaimed rope control and safety devices for the leisure and commercial marine market.
The company is delighted to announce they are first recipients of the prestigious Kings Award for Innovation. This fantastic recognition is assigned to their resourceful product the ALTO, a waist-worn lifesaving device, primarily targeted at those in the fishing and watersports sectors.
As previous proud recipients of a Queens Award for Innovation, plus an Export Award, Spinlock are abundantly aware of the influence and respect that accompanies this accolade. With Her Late Majesty The Queen leaving an enduring legacy of support for exceptional innovation and entrepreneurship, it is an honour that His Majesty The King has given his name to these prestigious awards to continue the recognition of enterprising achievements nationwide.
An award-winning product, the ALTO is an excellent example of innovation combining convenience as well as safety. In place of a bulkier, body-worn buoyancy aid, this waist-worn compact product benefits from a smaller-packed volume, becomes buoyant when inflated and fully complies with identical ISO standards associated with foam counterparts. Upon activation of the ALTO, the protective cover releases and inflates a bright yellow horseshoe ring, with the inflatable remaining attached to the waistband, allowing it to either fit under the arms or against the chest in order to support swimming to safety. When making an informed choice for wellbeing at sea, where life jackets can often be perceived as outerwear for the inexperienced, the ALTO delivers a brand new stylish yet secure option.
With the upcoming summer season on the horizon and holiday time approaching, getting out on the water is becoming more of a priority and staying safe is equally important. Ideal for the watersports community, for example those who enjoy paddleboarding, fishing and kayaking, this is a fast developing market for Spinlock. Already proving extremely successful across Europe, the ALTO will no doubt be a highly popular device in the UK and USA, with the launch of a US specific ALTO model, where angling features as one of the most favoured national pastimes.
All Spinlock products are designed by a dedicated in-house team that includes engineers and technical textile specialists. Working tirelessly to identify the latest tech and materials, these are used in a range of award-winning and innovative products. All products are assembled and quality checked by hand in Cowes, Isle of Wight, then tested to the limit in-house, ensuring that performance can be relied upon in even the toughest marine environments.