Shell Deploys New ATEX-rated PowerQuick Ascender on North Sea Rigs to Increase
Safety and Work Access
DAYTON, Nev., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerQuick, Inc. announced today
that their PowerQuick ascender was awarded ATEX certification, making it the
first powered climbing device to be approved for use in hazardous
environments. The testing was conducted by TRL Compliance, Ltd., West
Lancashire, UK with financial support and technical assistance from Shell U.K.
Limited who is deploying the devices on offshore platforms in the North Sea;
however they expect the technology to quickly spread throughout the oil
industry.
The PowerQuick Ascender, which was originally developed for US Special
Forces under a Defense Advanced Research Program (DARPA) contract made
international news in 2006 as the first battery-powered climbing device in the
industry, for which technology developer Quoin International, Inc of Carson
City, NV was awarded a DARPA Developer of the Year Award.
While the mere mention of a powered climbing device conjures images of
Spiderman-like superhero tools, the PowerQuick Powered Ascender is serious
business. The ascender operates like a personal elevator. It allows
personnel to work at heights or below ground as in rescue or below platform
operations with greater safety and less fatigue. This reduces chances of
injury or death form accidental falls. To use the PowerQuick ascender simply
attach the unit directly to the climbing rope, attach it to the climbing
harness, then pull the trigger, and up you go. Unlike standard winches, the
PowerQuick system literally climbs the length of the rope instead of
collecting the rope around a capstan. The PQ-500 is rated for 500 pounds so
it can lift personnel and/or equipment at a speed of 0.7 ft/second (.22m/sec).
It also has a remote control and works with standard climbing equipment. The
main focus however is on increasing safety for the workers by eliminating
climbing fatigue, as well as reducing operational costs.
The PowerQuick Ascender is currently used in tower, building maintenances,
wind farms and other applications, the ATEX certification now allows the
technology to be used in industries where there is a potential explosion
hazard, such as oil installations, grain elevators and some confined entry
applications. "Companies in these markets have been anxious to use the
ascender, but we still had a lot of work to complete before it would pass
certification for use in hazardous areas," said Cathy Jacobson, CEO of
PowerQuick Inc., which manages the product through a Bonanza-Miura (P) Ltd.,
manufacturing joint venture. "Richard Brooks, who started PowerQuick, UK to
distribute the ascender in that part of the world, worked directly with Shell
to get the testing completed. As a small company struggling with expansion,
it would have been a long time before we could fund the development and test
effort without Richard and Shell. They had a need, believed in the product,
and stepped up to the plate with the funds," she continued.
"We've made a lot of changes and improvements since we first introduced
the technology," said Jacobson. We redesigned the PowerQuick for rescue
service and telecommunication/construction industries and other industries
where people had to struggle with manual climbs for high-angle rope access.
Now a person can safely go hundreds of feet by pulling a trigger. We used
feedback from customers such as National Grid to make continued improvements.
PowerQuick is now being sold around the world for military tactical,
commercial, rescue and work-at-heights applications," said Jacobson. "Our
major customers so far have been international military organizations, the
tower industry, arborists, building maintenance companies and the
entertainment industry. In fact, the Ascender has been featured on The CBS
show "NUMB3RS", Discovery Science's "Beyond Tomorrow," and most recently the
MTV' reality show "Parental Control," and Discovery's "Smash-Bang" both of
which will air internationally later this year.
Shell will use the ascender initially for maintenance of off-shore
platforms, but the applications should soon expand as they become more
experienced with the ascender's utility. It is the operators who come up with
most of the new ways to use the product, said Jacobson.
"The PowerQuick is a safe versatile machine, and this certification will
open an entirely new set of markets for us and provide a much needed tool for
an industry where safety takes on a whole new set of challenges. The new
hazardous environment version will be is called the PQ500-AX. It's not often
a large company like Shell is willing to bet on a small company like ours.
While this will kick us off in the new industries Shell will always be our
favorite customer," said Jacobson.
For videos of the PowerQuick ascender visit their web site at
www.powerquickinc.com . For photos contact Cathy Jacobson 775-882-8100 Ext
1103
Cathy Jacobson
CEO
PowerQuick Inc.
775 882-8100 ext 1103
mcj@powerquickinc.com
This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit
http://www.webwire.com.
SOURCE PowerQuick, Inc.
Cathy Jacobson, CEO, of PowerQuick Inc., +1-775-882-8100 ext 1103,
mcj@powerquickinc.com
