Double-X Pliers Designed to Deliver Greater Access in Tight Spaces

In an interview with New Equipment Digest, Apex Tool brand manager Jim Stewart explains how new Double-X pliers deliver "innovation that lives up to the GearWrench brand promise of delivering speed, strength and access."

NED: What motivated Apex Tool to develop this product?

JS: The Double-X pliers were part of a line expansion for the GearWrench brand. GearWrench is perhaps best known for developing the patented 5° ratcheting wrench, but we wanted to offer customers more options, and pliers were among the new categories we introduced.

The Double-X pliers, in particular, offered an innovation that lives up to the GearWrench brand promise of delivering speed, strength and access.

NED: How is this product different from similar tools on the market today?

JS: Standard long-reach pliers have one joint, so the handles open at the same degree as the jaws. When the handles are spread to open the jaws, they become too wide to fit in narrow spaces and just won’t work.

If you look closely at Double-X pliers, however, you’ll see the pivot points are offset, allowing the jaws to open further in relation to the handles. This gives much greater access in narrow spaces than any other long-reach pliers.

NED: What problems needed to be addressed during the development process?

JS: Precision is a key benefit of the Double-X pliers. Making sure the joints remain tight over time was a challenge we had to resolve before bringing the product to market.

NED: How long did it take from conception to ultimate production?

JS: This is proprietary information.

NED: What effect did cost factors have in changing the final design of the product?

JS: None for this particular product.

NED: Who is your target audience and what benefits will they achieve from using this product?

JS: Professional automotive technicians and industrial users who need greater access in tight situations. The GearWrench Double-X pliers give longer reach and also keep hands away from hot machinery. They are also excellent for removing cotter pins.

NED: Do you have any other interesting information that you would like to add?

JS: The GearWrench pliers line includes straight and 45-deg Double-X pliers as well as hose grip pliers, internal/external snap ring pliers, and Hemostat straight and 45-deg pliers.