West Alloy are based in South London, UK, and are a market leader in the design and manufacture of zinc diecast and thermoplastic products including locks, hinges, window stays and associated fittings for the world’s best-known industrial and leisure vehicles.

This Interior Rotary Latch Assembly is just one of the many products designed and manufactured by West Alloy

Market leader in the design and manufacture of zinc diecast and thermoplastic products including locks, hinges, window stays and associated fittings for the world's best-known industrial and leisure vehicles.

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Home Case Studies Over Centre Catch

Jonesco and the case of the Over Centre Catch!

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Squeeze lever cassettes are versatile as they fit in any position along a handrail incorporated into the fabrication of the cab door. At CNH France they use a West Alloy cassette with a specific cable length to suit their application.

» 7710 Squeeze lever cassettes

Over centre catch Jonesco are Europe's leading manufacturer of fire fighting equipment storage boxes, and their fire extinguisher boxes are seen fitted to commercial vehicles travelling the world's highways, autoroutes and motorways.

Jonesco had for a long time used a plated steel closer, or overcentre catch, on their boxes, but found that they rusted easily due to the amount of salt used to grit roads in winter. This was damaging the appearance of their product.

West Alloy Ltd were approached to help solve their problem, and it was proposed that we design an overcentre catch that did not include any steel components. At the same time we suggested that the steel hinge pins used for the lids could be replaced with glass-filled nylon pins, and could go into the same tool as the overcentre catch.

A basic design was presented and after some minor changes, rapid prototypes were made. These went for test at Jonesco and they, in time, presented the samples to their sales team. Approval was given, tooling laid down, and the result has been that West Alloy have a new product in the 8700 Over-Centre Catch and Jonesco got an improved product, with cost saving!