Christian and Georges Malki have developed a new and safer coupling solution for trailers, with the assistance and expertise of the School of Engineering.
New safety solution for trailers developed with support from JTH
How can we make trailers safer on the road?
With that question in mind, Georges and Christian Malki turned to the School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University.
Peter Leisner, Full Professor of Materials and Manufacturing, served as a sounding board for the project. This led to the development of the GMC 3,000—a new type of safety coupling that reduces the risk of the trailer detaching.
The coupling on Georges and Christian’s product is fitted from the side rather than from above and is designed so that it cannot come loose from the tow ball.
Failures in the coupling that attaches to the trailer and connects to the vehicle’s tow hitch can have serious consequences.
“The idea for the product—which isn’t tied to any research project—came about after we noticed that many accidents are caused by the coupling coming loose from the tow ball while driving, causing the driver to lose control of the trailer. This can result in both personal injury and significant property damage,” says Georges Malki.
New design without wear parts
The new coupling solution differs from traditional designs in several ways. The product contains no small wear parts, springs, or components that are at risk of deteriorating over time. Nor does it require lubrication with grease or oil; instead, it is designed to operate with minimal maintenance over a long period.
“A key feature of our product is that the coupling is mounted from the side rather than from the top, and is designed so that it cannot pop out of the tow ball,” says Georges.
Increased Stability in the Event of an Accident
The design also includes a rotating shaft with 360-degree movement. This allows the towing vehicle to maintain its stability even if the trailer were to overturn, reducing the risk of secondary accidents.
After about two years of development, the product is now complete. It has passed all mechanical tests in accordance with international regulations, and the patent process is underway. The next step is production and market launch.
Support from the School of Engineering
Early on, Georges and Christian Malki contacted Peter Leisner for an independent assessment of their idea. Peter provided critical questions and feedback.
“Peter’s assessment and insights have been important to us. It made us believe in our product even more.”
Peter reviewed the connection solution but found no flaws in it. He believes this is a good example of how JTH can contribute support and expertise to innovation even outside its research projects.
- Full Professor Materials and Manufacturing
- School of Engineering
- peter.leisner@ju.se
- +46 36-10 1685
