“We needed Innovation. We got Innovation.”

- John Leavitt, President

See Through: Competitive advantage can be eroded over time as other manufacturers catch up to your once-dominant position. Standing still can mean falling behind unless innovation keeps your product in the lead. When Pensafe approached Ove they knew that they could stave off competitors by offering new and improved features and attributes that customers would value. Ove’s challenge was to help bring an innovation culture to Pensafe and break the old routine.

Break Through: After studying snaphook use in detail, and trying to connect them while wearing the frustratingly heavy gloves Hydro workers must wear while using them, it became obvious that ergonomic redesign was a good place to start. The revised geometry that made Ove’s concept easier to use in harsh environments got great reviews in testing. Safety was enhanced considerably through the inclusion of new mechanical details, and aesthetic redesign drew attention to these improvements and made the product visually distinctive. Pensafe’s customers immediately took note.

Follow Through: Originally intended as a premium addition to the existing product line, the Easy Grip concept looked destined to replace the current line-up completely. But an innovation culture, once started, is difficult to stop and the Easy Grip was soon eclipsed by even more adventurous designs. Pensafe’s in-house Engineering Group worked closely with Ove’s designers to develop more advanced concepts that eventually exceeded current regulatory standards for strength and ease of use. A revitalized and reinvigorated company leads again in a market where off-shore competition once threatened.