West Midlands manufacturing specialist CJ Tool & Mouldings has completed the design development and patent filing for a novel safety locking system engineered to eliminate fatal entrapment risks in the waste management industry.
The project addresses a severe safety hazard associated with commercial waste containers, where individuals seeking shelter inside enclosed units face catastrophic crushing risks if doors latch and collection machinery is operated. CJ were approached by an existing customer to develop a solution and took complete responsibility for the design and engineering development, creating a mechanism that provides standard external locking, automatic closure, and an unconditional internal escape release.
Utilising in-house 3D printing in PLA and CNC machined nylon and steel components, CJ produced multiple functional prototypes to validate mechanical performance. During physical testing, when an early design iteration clashed with an operational fitting process, CJ’s engineering team completely re-engineered the assembly to ensure seamless retrofitting across existing field units without sacrificing safety performance.
The final assembly consists of six precision plastic components, integrated with a CNC machined steel component. Following successful rig testing and the production of final test samples, CJ has formally filed a patent application for the developed product.
“This project demonstrates the strength of complete design-for-manufacture development,” said Simon, Engineering Manager at CJ Tool & Mouldings. “We took a critical safety problem in the waste management sector, led the design iterations, solved complex fitting challenges, and developed a product that is now fully patent-applied. Crucially, because retrofitting existing equipment is vital, we designed the entire assembly so it can be manufactured, assembled, and dispatched cost-effectively at volume.”
CJ Tool & Mouldings will manage the complete manufacturing lifecycle under one roof at its Stourbridge facility, including in-house tool manufacture, plastic injection moulding, multi-component assembly, quality control, packaging, and direct dispatch.
For more information about CJ Tool & Mouldings and their design development, tooling, moulding, and assembly capabilities, visit www.wearecj.co.uk or call 01384 378866.
About CJ Tool & Mouldings
Based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, CJ Tool & Mouldings is a UK-based injection moulding and tooling specialist, offering end-to-end manufacturing services under one roof. Established in 2007, the company provides injection mould tooling, plastic injection moulding, assembly and post-mould services to customers across a wide range of industries.
With a focus on quality, collaboration and long-term partnerships, CJ Tool & Mouldings works closely with product designers, engineers and purchasing teams to deliver reliable, high-quality plastic components for low to medium volume production.
Media Contact
Ali Workman
Freelance Marketing Manager
CJ Tool & Mouldings Ltd
Email: ali@wearecj.co.uk
