Kruiskop

Kruiskop, in Dutch usage, is the term for the cross-shaped screw drive typically known in English as the Phillips head. The kruiskop drive is defined by a cross-shaped recess formed by two intersecting ridges that fit a corresponding cross-shaped screwdriver tip. This design enables self-centering engagement and allows relatively high torque transmission. The drive is also designed so that, at high torque, the tip may cam out, a feature that can protect fasteners from overtightening in some applications.

The kruiskop was developed in the 1930s by the Phillips Screw Company and became widely adopted in the following decades. The standard version in many markets is the Phillips (PH) family of screw drives, identified by a number (e.g., PH0, PH1, PH2) indicating size. In Europe, producers also use Pozidriv (PZ) and other cross-head variants that resemble the kruiskop but add additional ribs to improve torque and reduce wear. In Japan, the JIS cross-head is a distinct standard used in electronics and machinery.

Kruiskop screws are common in consumer electronics, appliances, automotive components, and furniture. They were instrumental in the mid-20th century expansion of mass production due to the ease of aligning and driving with a screwdriver. Today, kruiskop heads face competition from other fastener drives such as Torx and hex in high-torque applications, but remain ubiquitous in many standard assemblies.

See also: Phillips screw, Pozidriv, cross-head screw.