This Clamcleat rope-holding system won a Design Council Award in 1968 and was designed by R J Emery and Colin R Cheetham. The Clamcleat was the first major innovation in rope-holding systems for more than 30 years and whilst it was well known to yachtsmen, it was also used in the home to hold clothes lines and venetian blinds. In industry, its use was being tested at that time by cable and telephone manufacturers, and by British Railways and the Post Office. In 1968, more than 120,000 Clamcleats were supplied to yachtsmen including Sir Francis Chichester who used ten on Gipsy Moth V, describing them as "excellent and very valuable."

The idea for the system was first conceived by engineer, R. J. Emery in 1964. Emery set up his own business in 1953 and initially offered an engineering and industrial design service before turning towards the manufacture of specialised mould castings for the plastics industry. As part of the design process, Emery consulted ICI to determine the best choice of material that would be strong, resistant to abrasion and be capable of undergoing moulding on a mass production basis without stress cracking. Eventually, a heat and light stabilised nylon was chosen. Colin R. Cheetham, who proposed the name 'Clamcleat', was brought in to design the appearance of the product range, commenting, 'I tried to make the appearance express the direction of the rope and indicate how it is used. All edges are rounded to avoid causing injury should anyone fall against it'.