Inventive couple hailed for cable clipping device
A HUSBAND and wife team who invented a new way of clipping electrical cables have won a top award for innovation.
Gray’s Clip, led by Julie and David Gray in Bangor, won the accolade at last night’s INVENT Awards from Connect at Catalyst Inc, which took place at Belfast’s Waterfront. In front of an audience of almost 700 people, Gray’s Clip walked away with a prize package of £13,000, from the overall prize total £33,000.
The Bangor couple also won a business trip to the United States next year.
Their product, which the judges said had “revolutionised” the process of clipping electrical cables, works with a battery-powered stapler to secure cables to wooden joists and structures.
It means no hammering is needed, the user simply loads the strip of 20 clips into a stapler and presses the button. The couple created the product in 2016 after electrician David couldn’t find an insulated staple to secure the cables and had to hammer each clip individually.
Although searching for years, he was disappointed not to find anything suitable and teamed up with Julie to develop their product. INVENT sponsor Gavin Kennedy from Bank of Ireland UK said: “Julie and David demonstrated outstanding commitment, passion and belief towards realising their ambition in bringing their idea, Gray’s Clip, to market. Witnessing such determination and vision from them and all of the participants highlight what an inspiration our local entrepreneurs are for Northern Ireland in business and the wider community.”
Also at the event, John Rainey of Denroy Group received the prestigious 2018 Innovation Founder award.