Quick connects, also commonly referred to as "quick connect fittings," provide fast, easy connections for fluid and gas transfer lines. Quick connects are designed to be operated by hand and take the place of flanged or threaded connectors, which require wrenches for installation and therefore require more time and effort in the process. Use of quick connects helps eliminate spills, reduce downtime for service and maintenance, and increase safety in work environments.
Quick connect fittings are used in a broad spectrum of applications, from food service, medical devices, and chemical management to underwater drilling, space exploration, and beyond.
In general, quick connect fittings are easy to operate and simple to maintain, as they are most often of solid, single-piece construction. Quick connects are usually made from either plastic materials, such as PTFE, ABS, acetal, PVDF, polypropylene, and other engineered plastics, or metal, such as stainless steel, brass, and zinc. Metal quick connects may also be plated with chrome or coating materials for performance-enhancing or aesthetic purposes. Medical-grade quick connect fittings may also include special coatings, such as anti-bacterial films.
Quick connects can be used with both plastic and metal tubing. As long as the sizes are compatible, metal quick connects are suitable for use with plastic tubing, and plastic quick connects can be used with metal tubing. Standard quick connect fittings are available in nearly every conceivable imperial and metric size, and many manufacturers provide custom-designed quick connects for specialized applications.
Colder Products Company provides a wide range of quick connects for myriad applications. They offer plastic and metal quick connect fittings, as well as custom quick connects to meet the unique needs of challenging customer applications.