5 Surprising and Innovative Uses of VELCRO® Brand Products
Originally designed as a fastener for clothing, Velcro has become a versatile solution spanning countless industries. Today, nearly every UK household has at least one product featuring Velcro tape, from children’s shoes to cable organisers and much more.
Read on to discover five of the most surprising and innovative applications of VELCRO® Brand products.
1. Tourniquets
The Combat Application Tourniquet® is a revolutionary life-saving device. This tourniquet is designed with a plastic rod that tightens the Velcro strap before it is secured. This makes it faster and easier to apply than traditional bandage tourniquets, particularly in emergencies on the battlefield. The high durability of heavy-duty Velcro ensures the tourniquet stays in place for the entire duration it is required, preventing blood loss and saving lives.
2. Spacecraft Organisation
In zero-gravity environments like spacecrafts, objects float rather than stay in place like they would on Earth. To address this, NASA astronauts began investing in Velcro tape, which can be used to secure all manner of tools and devices to the walls of vessels. This simple yet effective solution ensures items are easily accessible and organised when required.
3. Wearable Technology
Wearable technology, such as fitness trackers and medical devices, are designed for constant monitoring of vitals or tracking health and fitness goals. This technology relies on durable yet comfortable fasteners, ensuring sensors stay in contact with the skin without any discomfort, such as pinching or tightness. Velcro straps have become the perfect solution for wearable technology, as they are highly adjustable and stay firmly in place without being restrictive.
4. Adaptive Clothing
Mainstream fashion rarely takes mobility issues into account when designing clothing, making them unsuitable for many people with limited mobility or disabilities. As a solution to this problem, adaptive clothing has risen in popularity. Velcro fasteners play a crucial role in this innovation. Many pieces of adaptive clothing are designed with Velcro fasteners, making dressing and undressing simpler and more accessible.
5. Sticky Walls
This final innovation is not exactly a revelation that has been designed to overcome a challenge but rather a fun activity that brings a smile to many children’s (and adults’) faces. Sticky walls, also known as bar fly walls, are often integrated into bouncy castles or inflatable structures for added fun.
The design is quite simple. Inflatable structures feature walls covered in heavy-duty Velcro, while participants are suited up in complementary Velcro suits. By jumping onto a bouncy floor and launching themselves at the wall, participants stick to it, creating amusing memories for participants and onlookers! The strength of the heavy-duty Velcro ensures participants will remain in place until an onsite team member helps them down.
MPD Hook & Loop
At MPD Hook & Loop, we recognise the incredible versatility of hook and loop products. Whether you need a tailored solution for a specific application or simply want to keep Velcro tape on hand for unexpected needs, we’ve got you covered. With our extensive range of genuine VELCRO® Brand products, including VELCRO® Brand straps, heavy-duty Velcro, and versatile Velcro tape, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for.
For help finding the right solution for your needs, get in touch with our helpful team today!
