Spectrum Aquatics turned to Vlier to provide a custom solution for their starting blocks

Vlier Products, a unit of Hutchinson Aerospace & Industry, has dipped its toes into the aquatics field, engineering a custom solution for a leading provider of commercial-grade pool equipment. Spectrum Aquatics was encountering an issue with a lock pin in their starting blocks, raised platforms mounted to pool decks at the end of competitive swimming lanes. Vlier’s reimagined, the custom product is capable of withstanding the harsh chemicals found in pool water, the force exerted by swimmers pushing off to begin their dive, and the rigorous standards of USA Swimming.

“The customer was originally working with a three-piece design for a lock pin, but experienced frequent issues with corrosion and snapping,” explained Thomas Foley, Vlier general manager. “Our team was able to review the part, consider the requirements needed, and reimagine the part as a two-piece custom pull ring plunger constructed of 316 stainless steel, improving the overall strength and reliability of the starting blocks.”

Through testing, the new design was able to cut down on both structural breaking and corrosion issues. Pleased with the success of the engineered part’s performance, Spectrum Aquatics awarded Vlier a contract to become the sole-source provider. Despite the vast improvements in construction and testing results, the Vlier offering was at a price point similar to the original, inferior part.

“This was a smooth business transaction without hiccups,” said Shane Claggett, Spectrum Aquatics engineering manager. “Vlier’s part was massively better. We’ve heard of no failures or rejected parts. With normal wear and tear, we can report a failure rate of less than one percent.”

The result is not a new one for Vlier, an industry leader for more than 75 years. Over the last seven decades, the company has manufactured spring-loaded devices, quick-release devices, Vlier Lock Pins, leveling devices, and mechanical components with parts found in aircraft, the space station, credit card readers, surgical instruments, and more.

“This isn’t a unique case, we are frequently approached by customers experiencing issues with an off-the-shelf product in their design,” said Russ Mitchell, Vlier national sales manager. “Our product catalog is constantly growing because we specialize in creating custom solutions for our clients’ specific scenarios.”

All of Vlier’s parts are available exclusively through a trusted global distribution network. To learn more about their custom products and solutions, visit vlier.com.

About Vlier Products

Vlier Products, a unit of Hutchinson Aerospace & Industry, has been an industry leader for more than 75 years manufacturing spring-loaded devices, quick-release devices, Vlier Lock Pins, leveling devices, and mechanical components. Vlier offers more than 3,300 standard parts in a variety of sizes and materials for aerospace, medical, telecommunications, transportation, and more. Every item in their extensive catalog has been engineered to provide the best quality and maximum value in productivity and dependable performance. Working smarter and harder for you, Vlier has the right part for the job. Based out of Massachusetts, Vlier calls upon a global distribution network, making their products readily available worldwide. For more information, visit vlier.com.