Carabiners with a load are usually used both in the sailing industry and in climbing. These "real" carbines are made of an aluminum rod or forged steel, formed around a spring-loaded gate. Traditionally executed in both D and oval shapes, today carbines can be found in various sizes and basic shapes. Their functionality is associated with the shutter mechanism, which opens when the springs are pressed and closed when released, allowing the carabiners to be held and attached to various objects.
This article is not about various carbines, but about much smaller “replicas” or “promotional” carbines, used mainly as key chains. Advertising carbines are about 1/3 the size of "real" carbines and do not have the load, and not for climbing. They function in a similar way with their cousins carrying cargo. Using spring-loaded gates, they are easily cut to most straps and loops, creating a very convenient way to carry keys, as well as other small items. This “cut-off” function, along with the ability to customize them with a name, logo or message, is why the carabiner keychains have the sky soared to the top of the chart of promotional products with great success.
Cradle carbines began with the introduction of a large amount of D-replica, approx. 3.0 "x 1.5". It was originally introduced black with a silver gate. More colors will appear later. These carbines were usually sold in open-air shops as accessories and began to receive notes from rock climbers. They proudly demonstrated these replicas-carbines, cropped to the belt loops and backs, identifying themselves as climbers, as well as for devotion to their sport.
The first use of the carabiner key chain as a marketing tool began in the early 90s, when the company showed them in its catalog of promotional products in a black colored nylon strap and a special label with the inscription. The next step will significantly increase the popularity of carabiner key chains around the world. In 1995, RMG Accessory Gear launched a small advertising campaign in Connecticut, which developed carabiner key chains for the college market. They presented carabiner key chains at a college store with custom college emblems printed on a white polyester label that was stitched on a piece of nylon webbing attached to the carabiner. Carabiners were available not only in black, but also in various clip / strap combinations. The product was a big hit on university campuses. At the same time, both small and large companies paid attention to them, and soon will use personalized printed carabiner key chains as very effective marketing tools. They were effective because people actually used them, rather than throwing them away, as was the case at that time for many meaningless promotional products.
At that moment, a single imprint appeared on the label; the clips were empty solid colors. The following innovation would send carabiner key chains to the mainstream advertising market. Around 1995, some companies experimented with using lasers to apply labels directly to the surface of a carbine. Since the surface color was just a “coating,” the laser could effectively remove this coating, exposing the bright silver color of aluminum below. The process of coating carbabins with color is known as “anodizing”. In addition to applying color, anodizing the aluminum surface also protects it from abrasion and wear. This process, known as laser engraving, now allows you to directly customize the carbine clips with names, logos and messages. Laser engraving offers several advantages over custom printed labels; more horizontal space for text, less expensive than more labor-intensive printed and lower case labels on a nylon strap, and these marks are not erased and not scratched. Although, due to the height of its print area (0.50 inches), the label provided more options for reproducing logos as compared to the narrow engraving area on the large carbine D (0.25 inches). Other tuning methods were also implemented, such as “printing on a substrate,” including ink inks applied to a metal surface. The advantage of printing pads is that prints can now appear in color. The downside of this method is that the prints do not linger well and are prone to scratching and wear from constant processing, as well as to the fact that the keys rub it. Today, the Pad printing machine is used to customize the carbines, but laser engraving is certainly the more popular and desirable marking method.
By the end of the 1990s, custom laser engraved and imprinted carbines with belts and labels were everywhere visible: from student backpacks to business portfolio pens. During this time, carbines in shape began to appear on the market. These carbines with the same spring gate as the standard large carbine key chain D were made in China in very simple familiar forms (for example, dog bones, football, fish, circles, hearts, etc.). These custom forms appear for different businesses, groups, and organizations associated with new forms, as new marketing tools. For example, dogs and animals are related groups for dogs, marine and fishing organizations to form fish, etc. Today, you can find carbines in abundance in many different shapes from circles, squares and diamonds, to daisies, butterflies and sea turtles.
Carabiners have recently evolved past the keychain, which is its main use. Foreign companies now produce rifles with built-in functions that are found to be useful daily. From LED lights, whistles and watches to pens, water bottle holders, utility knives, compasses and radios. The most popular of these new "multifunctional" carabiner key chains today are carabiner flashlights with bright LED light. The latest version of the carbine flashlight includes a very loud whistle to provide additional functionality. Examples of these and other styles and configurations of the karabiner can be found at www.keychainsinc.com
Even when the carabiner key chains continue to evolve and evolve into new forms and functions, it still remains the basic basic standard carabiner key D with a carabiner name, logo or message that is located on top of the ad rifle. Starting from his modest beginnings in the early 90s, the karabiner key chain in all its permutations turned out to be a big advertising position.
Wholesale carabiner key chains in all popular styles and configurations can be purchased in small and large quantities at http://www.keychainsinc.com. There you will find carbines from the classic standard large and custom-made mini and multi-function, including LED flashlights, whistles, bottle openings and much more!
