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Our design and production staff have over 50 years experience in designing and building airborne sports equipment and a hard-earned reputation for unmatched quality and durability.
We source the absolute highest quality raw goods either jointly developed with global manufacturers to our specifications or thoroughly tested in real world use and proven to be the best available. New materials and construction techniques are scientifically tested in our exclusive headquarters laboratory to determine their strength and functionality before entering production. Attention to detail in raw goods acquisition and production means a Switch kite is unmatched in quality and our direct-to-the-customer sales approach allows us to provide ultimate quality at an affordable price.
Our production is exclusive to Switch and we continuously test and refine our construction to deliver performance and structural integrity in harsh conditions and extreme use. All seams, patches and plies are 100% glued and carefully stitched with purposely selected thread types and stitching methods to insure the construction is adding to the material strength rather than compromising it.
We test our construction details to failure in the laboratory to prove their true strength rather than making an assumption of adequacy. Finally, real world testing of the finished product completes the process and any weaknesses that are exposed are immediately corrected. At Switch toughness means there are no corners cut or weak links allowed.
Our production is exclusive to Switch and we continuously test and refine our construction to deliver performance and structural integrity in harsh conditions and extreme use. All seams, patches and plies are 100% glued and carefully stitched with purposely selected thread types and stitching methods to insure the construction is adding to the material strength rather than compromising it.
We test our construction details to failure in the laboratory to prove their true strength rather than making an assumption of adequacy. Finally, real world testing of the finished product completes the process and any weaknesses that are exposed are immediately corrected. At Switch toughness means there are no corners cut or weak links allowed.
Next to the actual kite design, the canopy fabric plays a very important role in your kite’s performance. Fabrics, with different stretch characteristics, will have an important effect on bar pressure, turning speed and the overall crisp feeling of your kite. A quick and lively kite can become dull and slow with heavy bar pressure when made with a different material. Switch Kites is constantly testing different materials in our test laboratory and in real life applications. After 16 months of testing, we have chosen a new 56 gr/m2 double rip stop fabric which has a 37% higher puncture tensile strength in the critical warp direction, with minimal weight increase.
We use Dimension-Polyant Dacron exclusively. Dimension-Polyant Dacron is the only sailcloth manufacturer with its own modern sailcloth-weaving mill and a unique finishing plant where the fabrics pass through a 14-stage program. Weaving, finishing and laminating – all in one location, made in Germany. It’s the most stable and durable structure that ensures the designed shape is retained for ultimate performance.
All stitching locations on any struts are internally reinforced first with Dacron and then adhesive-backed Dacron Mark Cloth to ensure the stitching doesn’t compromise the material. Strut seams are double stitched with a larger thread. Strut attachments are reinforced with webbing and all valve positions have extra reinforcing to prevent blowouts under high pressures and crashes.
We glue and double stitch the seams. One straight stitch folded over would be much faster and cheaper to produce, but it is simply not as strong.
Fully glued canopy framing of Dacron and adhesive-backed Mark Cloth for extra strength along struts, leading edge, trailing edges and wingtips.
Why are we not using one single row of three-step zigzag like all the others? Every added hole in the leading edge weakens the structure. If you need to add holes, they must be spaced out as far as possible. We use a more time consuming two rows of two-step zigzag to produce considerable added strength to the design.
Double-reinforced with Dacron, the LE seam is fully glued, double-folded and double stitched with an exterior webbing cover for ultimate strength and durability. Extra heavy thread is used to protect against ruptures and blowouts.
One is good. Two is better. We use two parallel seams on our durable TPU bladders, plus reinforced valve locations.
Custom moulded bumpers and lightweight abrasion-resistant rub pads wherever you need it during set up, launching, landing and packing.
LIFETIME
We are so confident in the quality of our kites we stand behind them 100%.