Back in the late 19th Century, a man named Carl Storz came up with an important invention called Storz fire department connections. They are special quick-connect couplings that make it simple and easy to connect fire hoses to sources of water and each other. In fact, these connections play a vital role in the health and safety of people and property all over the world. Let’s take a closer look at them to get a greater appreciation of their value.
Composition
Storz fire department connections are non-corrosive and usually made from aluminum or brass. Instead of usual casting methods for making couplings, the best products use a forging method. Forging gives you a stronger part and here is why.
Casting
To cast metal parts, one must heat the metal to the molten state. Once the molten metal pours into the molds, the molds close and eventually, the material cools and solidifies. This is a cost-effective way to manufacture parts.
Forging
The forging process starts with heating pieces of metal. The heated metal goes into a process where it gets thousands of pounds of pressure and forges through a die. This creates a specific shape and size. In some cases, the metal isn’t heated beforehand, and this is cold forging.
During the forging process, the grain structure of the metal changes. In fact, it gets stronger. It’s more resistant to impacts and wear. Although the process is more expensive than casting, it produces higher quality Storz fire department connections.
Speed is Important
When firefighters respond to fires, time is their most valuable asset. Because these connections are fast and simple, you save valuable seconds threading off and on connections. This can make the difference between life and death in some cases. To learn more about this important equipment, contact your fire equipment supplier.
