Safe Assist Case Study – Albert Jagger and Blue Light Services

Safe Assist Case Study – Albert Jagger and Blue Light Services

At Austin Hardware, we work closely with industry partners to solve real-world challenges for OEMs and end users. One recent example is our collaboration with Albert Jagger to support Blue Light Services (BLS), one of the UK’s leading ambulance conversion specialists serving both private healthcare providers and the NHS.

BLS delivers reliable, innovative, and customized ambulance solutions. When a design challenge arose with their latest Renault Master platform, they turned to Albert Jagger for a solution that would maintain safety, efficiency, and usability for frontline workers.

The Challenge

The Renault Master has long been a popular base vehicle for ambulance conversions due to its versatility and durability. However, the latest model introduced a significant change: a more aerodynamic design that reduced rear door aperture height to lower carbon emissions.

The problem created for BLS was that their original ramp system sat on the vehicle floor, further reducing headroom and increasing the risk of injury to patients and operators entering and exiting the vehicle. A new approach was required to restore clearance while maintaining safety and functionality.

The Solution

Working in collaboration with Albert Jagger, BLS spent months developing a custom latching system that integrates Austin Hardware’s Safe Assist into the Renault Master’s base chassis. The engineering team at BLS then designed a ramp system around this solution, combining innovative engineering with practical, real-world functionality.

By incorporating Safe Assist, the ramp could be countersunk into the vehicle floor, allowing it to sit flush when lowered. This maximized height clearance and ensured the rear doors remained fully operable even with the ramp deployed.

To ensure security without sacrificing ease of use, a custom one-step latching system was developed. Its two-stage safety mechanism prevents accidental release when the ramp is not fully closed, while still enabling quick, effortless deployment when needed.

Safe Assist significantly reduces the effort required to operate the ramp by bearing most of its weight, improving manual handling safety, and minimizing operator strain. The fully concealed, non-electrical system also reduces vehicle off-road (VOR) time by eliminating risks associated with snapped cables and minimizing maintenance requirements.

What Is Safe Assist?

Safe Assist is Austin Hardware’s patent-pending ramp assist system designed to eliminate the physical strain of opening and closing ramps.

Thanks to uniform weight distribution, heavy ramps can be operated with just one finger throughout the entire movement when Safe Assist is installed. This enhances operator control, reduces injury risk, and improves long-term ergonomics.

Additionally, unlike traditional torsion spring systems, Safe Assist features a fully concealed mechanism, eliminating the dangerous tripping hazard posed by exposed cables. The system can also be easily adjusted over its lifetime by simply changing the torque.

While developed originally for enclosed-trailer applications, Safe Assist has proven invaluable in emergency vehicle environments, helping improve safety, reliability, and operational efficiency for ambulance services.

The design of Safe Assist truly unlocks endless possibilities. It's versatile and adaptable to a wide variety of applications. Plus, it highlights our engineering team’s talent for creating innovative solutions that effectively address challenges. If you’re working on a unique problem, we're here to support you every step of the way.

To learn more about Safe Assist, visit our official Safe Assist page. To schedule a consultation with our engineering team, contact your Austin Hardware sales representative or one of our 12 locations near you.

For more information on Albert Jagger: Click HERE.

For more information on Blue Light Services: Click HERE.