New stamped friction hinge offers a cost-effective access hardware solution

Southco has released the new T6 Friction Hinge, a cost-effective access hardware solution that enables designers to remove play from their panels without breaking their budget.

Friction and torque hinges have been employed to add resistance to panels for decades and come with several benefits. The resistance makes the panel more straightforward to position, makes lighter materials feel heavier, and keeps users safe by preventing panels from quickly swinging open or slamming shut. However, these benefits have historically come at a particularly higher price compared to free-swinging hinges. While embedded torque engines and polished stainless-steel hardware are the industry standard, they may become cost-prohibitive as budgets tighten and engineers look to optimise every part of their design.

The company has solved this price problem with its T6 Friction Hinge, foregoing expensive torque engines for precision stamping construction that tightly wraps the hinge knuckles around the pin, delivering enough friction to remove play from the hinge without grinding or preventing movement. This process significantly lowers manufacturing costs, giving designers on all budgets access to the quality feel of a friction hinge. They also keep the benefits of stainless-steel construction, making the T6 Friction Hinge ideal for indoor and outdoor applications.

"The T6 Friction Hinge offers a more cost-efficient solution, and the stainless-steel material offers corrosion resistance and aesthetic benefits," said Southco product manager Stewart Beck. "Its stamped construction helps keep the price down for all designers, while the added friction solves the play issues without the need for a high-end positioning control hinge."