Inspired by the concrete needs of our customers
The entire development process behind EVOS was inspired by the concrete needs of our customers. We started out by looking at existing cylinders and valves to see what lessons could be learned and how those insights could be channelled into a safer, more efficient user experience. To find out exactly what our customers need and want in an integrated cylinder solution, we engaged more closely than ever with them, including through face-to-face interviews. We then teamed up with a leading industrial design agency to explore how these needs and lessons learnt best map to a new integrated design that can outperform existing packages. The EVOS family was the result. And now, patents are pending for several EVOS innovations. Customer and in-house trials quickly confirmed that users clearly preferred the EVOS package, even at the very early prototype stage.
Delivering on our customers’ needs and wants
During our interaction with customers, they expressed very specific ideas about what they are looking for in a cylinder package. Our EVOS family was engineered precisely to match the resulting wishlist.
First and foremost, customers asked for “clear and live indication of how much gas is in the cylinder without having to attach a regulator”. EVOS comes with a live content gauge so users can read the actual pressure in the cylinder without connecting a regulator, thus helping to reduce gas wastage.
Prospective users then requested “increased gas capacity for longer-lasting cylinders (i.e. more gas)”. EVOS is designed to operate at 300 bar, which means it holds on average 33% more gas than comparable 200-bar cylinders.
Next up, customers asked for an “improved guard around the top for greater user safety”. Here again, EVOS scores with a specially designed guard that not only protects the valve against general damage, it also makes it easier to grip, lift and move.
In addition, customer feedback called for “a valve that makes it easy to see if the cylinder is open or closed”. EVOS has been designed to allow users to see from a distance and from virtually any angle whether the valve is open or closed – a critical feature in the move to enhance safety.
In general, customers also said they would appreciate an “improved design, making the valve easier to open and close”. We met this need with a new fast-acting, easy-to-use ON/OFF lever. In a quick 2-step process, users – even when wearing gloves – can quickly and easily depress the safety interlock button and lift the lever to start the gas flow. When they are finished, users simply pull down the lever to fully stop the gas flow quickly and safely.
Last but not least, customers demanded “improved handling and lifting of the cylinder”. We met this need in a number of ways. First, EVOS comes with a churning knob to make it easier to move cylinders around. In addition, the EVOS guard features easy-to-grip arms for simplified handling.
And thanks to the Guard Adaptor Ring, the EVOS guard can be used to lift cylinders safely and easily with a crane if needs be. Plus an EVOS package integrating a 300-bar 33-litre cylinder is lighter and easier to handle than a conventional 200-bar 50-litre cylinder, while still containing the same amount of gas.
Advanced safety features
EVOS goes even further however. We have balanced our customers’ desire for greater ergonomics with innovative safety features. The safety interlock button, for instance, eliminates the risk of a valve being opened accidently during transportation or general manual handling.
Even today, we continue to work closely with our customers as we dynamically expand and evolve our EVOS family by adding and fine-tuning safety and usability features to meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs.
EVOS. Tried and tested.
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Video EVOS. Works under great pressure so you don't have to.
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