Almost 100 years ago a Canadian named Peter Robertson had the idea of making a better screw system. Recognising the limitations of the conventional slot he looked for a better system and recognised the many advantages of a Square drive system. It was self centring. It could go deeper into the head of the screw. It tended to lock into the head rather than push out. The driver drove on four points rather than two and gave far better driver life. The problem was how to make it. Robertson patented his system and while there were several challenges to the patent it stood, Robertson defended his patent vigourously and would not license his patent, as a result he captured the Canadian market but lost the world market for many years. This is now changing and the system is spreading around the world. SACHYS Robertson screws are the sole Australian importer of the genuine Robertson screws.
Despite other drive systems dominating the world screw market the Roberston system still dominates in Canada and is spreading rapidly through the US other countries. It is a better system. The original Robertson company has merged several times and this has enabled it to pursue new markets with modern products and is thriving. It has developed the square drive system in conjunction with new materials and manufacturing systems to produce even better products. Robertson aim at the quality end of the market. The cannot compete with the eastern manufacturers in price but they are far superior in quality. There are inferior copies of the Robertson screws but they do not have the strength and quality of the genuine Robertson screws. When you need quality choose Robertson - you won't be disappointed.
The first known use of a slotted head screw as we know it was by a German clock maker in 1513. Over almost 500 years incredible changes have taken place. Early screws were made by hand with the threads cut by a file. Later numerous inventors developed lathe attachments to produce screws. In those days screws were simply a piece of wire with a thread cut on one end and a slotted head struck on the other It wasn't until late in the 19th century that screw were made with tapered points. With the massive industrial expansion brought by the motor car production methods were improved. In the latter part of the 20th century the material developed from soft steel to hardened steel and instead of cutting threads they were rolled. This made far stronger screws. Today machines are capable of producing around 1400 screws per minute and Robertson Inc in Canada are at the forefront of fastener development.