 
All it takes is one spark, and a huge grain elevator, chemical plant,
petroleum refinery or empty tanker can explode or burn, causing death
and destruction. That's why workers in those situations use non-sparking
copper alloy safety tools instead of steel tools that can generate
sparks.
The vast majority of the world's safety tools are supplied by two
U.S. based manufacturers, Ampco Metal, Inc. and NGK Berylco. How have
these two manufacturers become so strong in this niche market? Speaking
for Ampco, technical services manager, Rob Pearson said, "we enjoy
strong distribution worldwide based on relationships going back as
much as 50 years, and we provide a very complete line of bronze tools.
For instance, we offer metric wrenches made to exacting standards."
To further enhance sales overseas, Ampco has created a catalog that
describes its many tools in four languages. Most Ampco safety tools
are made of C95500 aluminum bronze.
NGK Berlyco provides a broad line of safety tolls made exclusively
of beryllium copper, high-strength alloys of copper with a percent
or two of beryllium added. NGK's parent company in Japan makes the
metric tools it supplies.
NGK Berlyco offers an unusual service: free sharpening, if the customer
pays the freight both ways. All of this manufacturer's tools meet
the ISO 9002 standard of the European Community and come with a lifetime
warranty, assuming proper usage. According to Cassandra E. DeCesare,
manager of Safety Tool Sales, "In four years, I recollect that only
a few tools were replaced under the warranty."
OSHA Stresses Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires
the use of copper alloy safety tools in situations where explosions
are feared. That's why copper alloy tools are in wide usage, even
though they cost three times as much as their counterparts. The nonsparking
requirement accounts for 90% of usage. Copper alloy tools are also
corrosion resistant and nonmagnetic. The former feature is why the
Ocean Spray Company uses bronze rakes (instead of steel rakes, which
rust) to handle cranberries.
Nonmagnetic tools are used to repair very sensitive electrical and
electronic instruments and are also required on minesweepers, which
must contain as little iron as possible to avoid setting off underwater
mines that detect magnetic anomalies. The U.S. Navy is a major purchaser
of safety tools.
Because of their wear resistance, putty knives and hand scrapers are
the most widely used beryllium copper tools. They are mainly used
to separate segments of big oil and gas pipelines under repair, according
to Kim Norman, manager of Ampco's Dallas Division, which manufactures
the bronze tools.
Ampco also markets kits of bronze safety tools to those who own large
boats with motors in enclosed space. In view of the hazards of using
spark-generating tools in vapor filled engine spaces, Ampco expects
this to be a growing market, according to Pearson. |
