Design and Engineering
CMC’s full-time engineering department is responsible for product design, quality assurance, design documentation, testing, and coordinating the certification of products to industry standards. Combining engineering principles with experience gained in the field has made CMC a leader in the design and manufacture of rescue equipment. We also contribute engineering staff time to NFPA, ASTM, SPRAT, and the Cordage Institute and other organizations working to develop national standards.
CMC’s ongoing testing program is also key to the quality of our products. In order to know how to make products stronger, you have to break them. If you’re going to make products perform better, you have to use them. Our testing program includes in-house testing, field testing by our instructors and engineering staff, and additional test support from key manufacturers. CMC verifies in-house testing through independent laboratories and certification organizations.
Manufacturing
We created our manufacturing division when we were unable to locate specialized pieces of equipment that we felt should have been available to rescuers. Today, our life safety harnesses and belts are manufactured at our Santa Barbara, California facility. We’ve learned that it takes much more than a sewing machine and some material to produce life support products. It requires highly trained production personnel, and a quality-based inspection program backed by a sound design and engineering.
Much of our reputation has been based on a sales staff knowledgeable in how to use the equipment. Our philosophy of educating the customer rather than just providing a sales pitch, grew into our school program. We also learn from teaching, and this knowledge of our customers’ needs and problems is fed back into our product development program.
“More than 30 years ago… I was told that a carabiner with a brake bar was no longer considered safe for rope rescue and that I should consider a Russ Anderson Figure 8 Descender. Such a rescue specific item was not available at climbing shops and I learned that several had to be ordered at a time. This looked like a business opportunity, so I bought six with the intention of selling the other five. Russ’ oversized Figure 8’s were machined out of plate aluminum and worked for lowering systems. The rope we used was a nylon 7/16-inch, three-strand Goldline laid rope. Most of our gear was recreational climbing or caving equipment. Carabiners were only aluminum and rock climbing harnesses were considered state-of-the-art. There have been many changes in the last 34 years. Rescue specific products were introduced, and NFPA Standard 1983 was developed to provide consistency in testing and labeling. Today we’ve started to see descenders that automatically stop and lock themselves, harnesses made from high tech materials for comfort and strength, carabiners with a variety of safety locking systems, and specialized communication equipment to meet the changing needs of our rescuers.”
James A. Frank, Founder and Chairman, CMC Rescue, Inc.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA proclaims CMC’s American roots, our commitment to American jobs, and our pride in American workmanship.
We consistently assess our manufacturing processes, materials and vendors, and choose to work with those who share our commitment.
Made in the USA helps minimize transportation costs, emissions, and the depletion of other natural resources, and supports our sustainability program through the manufacture and sale of American goods and services.
Whenever possible, we make our products in the United States and, when necessary, source the best manufacturers globally. Look for the Made in USA icon on our website.
