THE ADVANTAGES OF USING YKK ZIPPERS AND FASTENING PRODUCTS
YKK fastening products and components represent a successful combination of product rigidity and functionality with the manufacturer’s strong commitment to quality. Being the market leader, YKK Group constantly integrates the latest advances in science and technology into the production process and uses innovative materials with improved technical and operational properties. In addition, the YKK fastening products are distinguished by a wide scope of use. The company’s catalog of fastening products comprehends zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and hook components, fabric tapes, rings, snaps and buttons, and different plastic products (buckles, clips, adjusters, etc.).
Brand History and Quality Management Concept
The YKK Group is a Japanese group of manufacturing companies founded in 1934, the world's largest zipper developer and manufacturer (makes roughly half of all the zippers on earth). The three capital letters YKK stand for Yoshida Kōgyō Kabushiki gaisha - lit. "Yoshida Manufacturing Corporation" or “Yoshida Company Limited”, which was the name of the company given as a tribute to its founder Tadao Yoshida who designed his own customized zipper machines when he wasn’t satisfied with the existing production methods. The young entrepreneur knew that poor-quality accessories could easily ruin even the most expensive thing. Therefore, since the original establishment of the company, “quality control” has been the central focus of all YKK business activities, which permitted the company to attain a global standard of quality based on a philosophy of integrated production and the secret "quality control circle" technology. These company policies ensured that each item was thoroughly designed in full compliance with the highest standards and requirements and there was a severe quality control at every stage of the production cycle. As a result, the company quickly won over most competitors and became the global market leader.
There was an interesting case in the company’s history, when the Japanese earthquake hit the country in 2011, most supply chains were shredded, but YKK kept rolling along. The YKK factory was one of the few that survived the disaster and continued to operate, probably thanks to the principle of commitment to excellence and pursuit of quality craftsmanship which was applied at all production stages, including manufacturing and use of own zipper-manufacturing machines.
YKK Products
Nowadays, all of the YKK fastening products and components are made of the high-tech thermoplastic, metal and synthetic materials. For instance, the company only uses innovative acetal and nylon types to manufacturer plastic hardware including different types of quick-release buckles, frames, adjusters and many other products.
All YKK zippers are corrosion resistant, color fast died, polished and plated for visual appeal, extra durable and resistant to cyclic mechanical effects. These products are time proved and easy-to-use, feature extra soft and silent components. The YKK zippers are used in a variety of sectors: tourist and tactical equipment, sportswear and workwear, bags and backpacks.
Quick release buckles are specifically designed for fixing and adjusting the webbing. The YKK buckles are mainly made of acetal (a material resistant to mechanical shocks, low temperatures and UV radiation) and available in NATO Green, Black and Coyote colors. YKK designs, produces and sells buckles and components for diverse purposes: tactical gear, belts, backpacks, pouches, chest rigs and plate carriers, slings, etc.
YKK adjusters, buckles, frames are specifically designed to adjust the length of nylon straps (webbing) mainly used on belts, backpacks, bags & packs, tactical duty & gear.