Electricians ‘get the edge’ with Bracket Mate invention
Posted by: electime 23rd February 2022
In January 2021, Nathaen Lucas and Paul Thurlow, both electricians, were working together on a project in Bristol City Centre. They were given the task of installing a run of trapeze brackets through a room, but they faced difficulties because the room was a triangular shape. With no square walls to measure off, Nathaen decided to mark out the brackets with a laser line on the ceiling, showing the centre run of the brackets, and used a set square to mark out a 90° line off the laser line. They were then able to extend that line and mark the drill points with a tape measure.
It was at that point that Nathaen had the light bulb moment, envisioning what is now called the Bracket Mate. He explained the idea to Paul, and together they discussed ways that they could overcome practicality issues they may come up against. Once these were worked through, Paul was able to make a prototype.
Having always used the conventional method using a tape measure, Nathaen had initially been a little sceptical about whether the Bracket Mate would indeed make the job of installing trapeze brackets any easier or quicker, but within a week himself and Paul were using it on site. Not only did it make it easier and quicker by removing the need for mathematical formulars and the constant taking of measurements, but it also improved the standard of their work. By using the Bracket Mate, each mark is taken from a fixed centre laser line, so it is near impossible to make any mistakes. When using the conventional method, the installer would measure from the last bracket they fitted, so if that bracket is out by 5mm, the next one will be too. And, if that happens several times in a run, by the time you get to the last bracket you could be out by some distance. Using a Bracket Mate does away with accumulative errors and reduces first fix time by up to 50 per cent.
Shortly after the first Bracket Mate was manufactured, one of the pipe fitters on site approached Nathaen and Paul to ask if he could borrow the tool. He had been watching them and wanted to try it. Before long, Bracket Mate was being used daily by the pipe fitters and electricians on the job, so Nathaen and Paul decided they should patent the tool and bring it to market.
In October 2021, a patent for Bracket Mate was filed and Nathaen and Paul approached local manufacturers to get a number of units made. They received their first order of units on 22nd December 2021 and started to sell them on their website – www.bracketmate.co.uk
Having just completed their first full month of trading in January 2022, sales and feedback have been excellent, and a few large companies and wholesalers have been in touch already.
The future is looking really good for Bracket Mate, and Nathaen and Paul hope that one day they can both get off the tools and run the project full time.
