STRAP SLIPPING? BUCKLE ISSUES?
A letter from Lee E. Richards, President/Product Development Head/ Senior Design Engineer for ProKnee Corporation speaking on behalf of ProKnee kneepad buckle breakage and slip issues:
Our Customer Service team has been working hard at taking care of buckle related issues (ie. broken buckles, along with locks dislodging prematurely) and encourages you to fill out the evaluation form below if you are still experiencing difficulties. Additionally, I would like to dispel a very concerning misconception. The ProKnee patented Smartlock Plus buckles are USA made with a stronger, more resilient resin and were developed by us to be able to control and ensure the quality and function of our buckles in house. Over the past 34 years we have continued to tweak our kneepad design with slight advancements where we see areas that can improve based on customer feedback and field testing. Unfortunately, when we make these improvements, sometimes there is a period of further tweaking that has to be done to get a part just perfect. It's an art and a craft, much like you all do, so we do greatly appreciate you all bearing with us through these kinks of innovation.
It has also been noted that after an undetermined period of time, some of the straps have prematurely loosened. We have been working with our suppliers over the past several months on developing a strap that has mechanical features that will work with our buckles to absolutely lock in your exact strap length, without over tightening. This strap was officially released last month and we are actively building stock that should be available at your local distributor soon. Unfortunately, once an issue is brought to the forefront, it takes time to analyze the issue, R&D the solution and effectively make shifts in production before we can release a fix. Being proactive about our products' consistent performance and functionality is top priority to us. We have heard you all and we vow to always deliver on what our customers have come to expect and deserve from us. Top quality USA made kneepads. If you are experiencing this issue, we encourage you to also fill out the following evaluation form.
We truly appreciate your customer loyalty over the years. We encourage all to have faith in our brand, knowing we will address your concerns in as timely a fashion as possible.
Posted June 4, 2023