The world’s main zipper firm simply demonstrated a self-zipping zipper. YKK’s eloquently-named “self-propelled fastener” is meant for big tents and industrial tasks, although a refined and miniaturized model of know-how may seem in clothes in some unspecified time in the future.

YKK labored with Taiyo Kogyo, a enterprise that manufactures tensile membrane constructions, to display the brand new self-propelled zipper. These producers consider that self-propelled zippers might be utilized when setting up buildings, roofs, canopies, or giant tents with tensile membrane materials (plastic, material, and so forth)—as an alternative of sending a human to manually tether giant items of building materials, you’ll be able to carry out the duty remotely utilizing motorized zippers.

So, not solely do these zippers have the potential to scale back building prices, however they might additionally enhance job-site security. There are some caveats right here—the zippers seem to require wired energy, and people nonetheless want to connect the zipper itself by hand—nevertheless it’s a compelling idea, and in any case, it is nonetheless in a prototype stage.

“YKK has developed a ‘self-propelled fastener’ that may remotely management the opening and shutting of zippers for industrial supplies together with tents. The ‘self-propelled fastener’ lets you open and shut the fastener remotely by attaching a self-propelled unit with built-in gears and motors to the fastener and working it with a wired controller.” – YKK Pressroom, Translated

Curiously, the zipper seems to journey alongside a observe of standard interlocking tooth, identical to a jacket or a pair of pants. However the zipper itself has a reasonably unconventional design—it is just a little longer than the common human hand, for one, and it makes use of a spinning worm gear to wind itself ahead. Zipper motion is managed by distant, that means that constructions may be zipped or unzipped at a distance. In fact, the unzipping a part of this equation could also be extra helpful when coping with non permanent constructions, somewhat than everlasting or semi-permanent installations.

This know-how may very well be miniaturized for clothes in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later. Nevertheless, the ability requirement can be annoying (you’d want a battery), and the self-zipping design brings to thoughts some very comical security considerations. People who find themselves bodily disabled might be able to overlook these quirks, however magnetic-latching zippers and different low-tech accessibility options seem like a much better and extra fascinating choice, at the least in most conditions. Self-zipping footwear appear to be a extra viable choice than self-zipping pants, for instance.

In fact, customers may use the self-zipping zipper in some non-clothing contexts—outside tents, luggage or baggage, and so forth. And the know-how may prolong zipper utilization to new product classes, though I am undecided what these classes is likely to be. Momentary awnings? Distant-controlled curtains? I will cease whereas I am forward.

As a fast facet word, YKK offered over 10 billion zippers from April 2024 to March 2025—sufficient zippers to circle the globe 80 instances. The corporate additionally sells a variety of different merchandise, akin to plastic latches, buttons, and adhesive fasteners.

Supply: YKK through The Verge