Located in Boise, Idaho, factor 55 is an engineering design firm specializing in mechanical design and analysis. Their staff has extensive experience in the Aerospace, Defense, and semiconductor industry but they have always been passionate about off roading through out their careers. All of their products are designed in house using the latest 3D CAD software and optimized using Cosmos FEA ( Finite Element Analysis). Before they release any products to the public, they also perform a destructive test on each design with the assistance of a test facility equipped with test measurement and data recording equipment. They take great pride in knowing all of their products are derived from sound engineering disciplines.
Factor 55 is best know for their advancements in the industry for CLOSED SYSTEM WINCHING™ . This is a winching technique using rigging comprised entirely of closed link hardware. The non-closable opening of common winch hooks prevent hooks from qualifying as secure closed links. Poorly constructed sheet metal safety latches of hooks do not qualify as a secure means to contain loads and are prone to failure, especially during momentary slack conditions where winch loads often shift and apply high forces to these weak non-structural latches. Hooks often come loose during vehicle recovery operations due to hook safety latch failures.
The elimination of the winch hook and the subsequent substitution to a Factor 55 ProLink, FlatLink, or UltraHook shackle mount and commonly found screw pin shackles/D-Rings does qualify as CLOSED SYSTEM winch tackle. Once a shackle screw pin is installed, the common screw pin shackle becomes a continuous closed link that securely contains the winch load until the pin is unscrewed and removed.
The ProLink, FlatLink, and UltraHook patented winch shackle mount products by Factor 55 address this winch safety issue by providing a secure screw pin shackle mounting interface to all steel winch cables and synthetic winch ropes. The Factor 55 unique double shear pin design provides a simple trouble free method of attaching existing cable and rope eyes to the ProLink, FlatLink, and UltraHook products. Installation requires only minutes. Once installed, the ProLink/Flatlink/UltraHook products provide a precision mounting hole for screw pin shackles and also provide a large rubber protected flat surface to cushion against all fairlead mounting surfaces.
Whether the winch line is in tension or a dangerous momentary slack condition, CLOSED SYSTEM WINCHING™ keeps all winch tackle secure and is by far the safest method of operating your vehicle recovery winch.
More information about Factor 55 can be found on their website or their Facebook page. Their tech articles and videos are second to none!