It was one day in 1941 that Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral and his dog went on a hunting trip through the woods in the Alps. On their hunting vacation, the engineer encountered what is commonly known as burdock. When de Mestral and his dog brushed up against this strange plant, the engineer noticed hundreds of tiny burrs stuck to his clothes and his dog’s fur. Curious as his scientific mind was, Georges de Mestral took the prickly seeds home to his microscope to find out why the burdock seed clung so well to certain materials.
What’s Under The Microscope?
Shaped like a starburst the burdock seed’s secret was a tiny hook at the end of each bristle. When the burr came in contact with a loop of fabric or fur, the seed would stick. In 1955, after trial and error amidst creating hooks small enough to mimic the burrs, Georges de Mestral succeeded and patented his invention VELCRO® known by the generic noun hook-and-loop tape.
Is Loop Tape Different From Velcro?
VELCRO® comes from the combination of the words “velvet” and “crochet” and is a brand name. Using the lower case lettering “Velcro” is as improper as calling a generic tissue Kleenix instead of tissue paper.Correct nounsused for the product sold as hook-and-loop fasteners includetouch tape,cable wraps,loop fasteners, hook tape, and tie wraps. Many tie wrap manufacturers specialize in different choices of loop tapes for various industries. Some weaves are made to last for a short period such as for shipping and handeling, while industrial strength cable fasteners can last for decades.
Who Uses Cable Wraps?
The answer is smart people. Tie and cable wraps are utilized in almost every industry you can think of from helping NASA’s astronauts in space fasten floating instruments and tools in zero gravity to securing an electrical cable into a clean and tight roll that is out of the way and organized.
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Musicians
- Film Directors
- Sports Teams
- Construction Workers
- Computer Programmers
- Environmentalists & More
Keep Your Wires Organized & Out Of Sight
For serious organization projects, it’s best to do your research and find a company that prides themselves on the holding capacity and durability of their hook and loop supplier and weaves. If the company does not advertise the lifespan of their tie fasteners, then chances are it’s because it’s not the highest quality. For an environmentally friendly solution to throwaway sticky tapes, the answer is the zipperless zipper of tie wrap fasteners.
