Australia and New Zealand’s favourite tool brand, Sidchrome Proto, is entering the new millennium with the first real innovation in engineering hand tool manufacturing technology for many years.

The new Anti-Slip Design Wrench greatly enhances tool user safety, while allowing maximum possible torque to be applied in the tightening and loosening of fasteners.

This breakthrough in wrench (spanner for Aussies & Kiwis) design, was developed and patented by Stanley’s (Stanley Works Pty Ltd) American based R&D engineers.

It offers what every professional mechanic or industrial tool user would be delighted to experience - the end of cut, scraped, bruised and in some cases, busted knuckles.

Traditional wrenches drive on the fastener corners or points, more often than not rounding the fasteners. This increases the inherent risk of slippage, the most common cause for painful injuries to knuckles, fingers, hands and wrists of tool users.

This applies to professionals in the industrial / automotive / marine market segments along with the "weekend" mechanic at home.

The Sidchrome Proto Anti-Slip design utilises unique locking grooves in the open end section of the wrench that grip the fastener, significantly reducing the ability to slip.

A further benefit of this exclusive design is that the spanner drives on the fastener body or flat sections, rather than on the corners. This allows a higher torque loading to be applied, eliminating traditional type spanner slippage while significantly reducing fastener damage or rounding.

Higher torque can be applied with less effort using this new design feature, making it easier to loosen fasteners without damage. The incredibly strong grip enhancement also assists in removing damaged fasteners such as those that are rounded, rusted or frozen.

On a select range of Sidchrome Proto combination wrenches, there is now the patented Anti-Slip Design feature on the open end with the TORQUEPLUS (off shoulder drive) feature on the ring end.

These features operate as a cammed drive surface that ultimately delivers higher torque without undue effort for the user while significantly reducing fastener damage, a truly unique feature in one highly functional hand tool.

The effectiveness of the new Sidchrome Proto Anti-Slip Design has to be tried to be believed. Extensive tool design research and innovation has uncovered this ingenious feature, available exclusively in a select range of Sidchrome Proto combination wrench products available throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific Island region.

Ken Mahon, marketing manager of the Mechanics Tools & Storage Products Division of Stanley Australia, believes that the new Sidchrome Proto Anti-Slip Design range also provides added value in assisting to reduce the level of minor workplace injuries, whilst offering unsurpassed hand tool features from a performance perspective.

"The new Sidchrome Proto Anti-Slip Design products are going to be very well received by anyone who has experienced injuries because of traditional spanner slippage" said Mr Mahon.

"No other tool brand offers this level of safety enhancement, while delivering the exceptional levels of torque as the Anti-Slip Design feature does."