FastenersAsia November 2020

November2020

Industry news

Taking new steps into the space sector ❍ Lesjöfors company JWSL developed and manufactured volute springs for a space vessel

In July 2020, the US company Purdy Engineering contacted John While Solutions in Singapore to develop and manufacture volute springs for a space vessel. The American space industry is still very active, but is transforming from government sponsorship to being entrepreneurially driven. One of the best-known space projects is Falcon 9, which took two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in June. It was the first rocket ever designed and manufactured by a privately held company – Space X, founded by the Tesla entrepreneur Elon Musk. Another player in developing the American space engineering business is Bill Purdy, of Purdy Engineering. Mr Purdy has worked in the space industry for decades, with system engineering innovations and troubleshooting in

many space projects. In July 2020, he contacted the Lesjöfors company John While Solutions in Singapore (JWSL) for a request regarding volute springs. Purdy Engineering needed volute springs in stainless steel for a space vessel in progress. Over the following weeks, discussions took place regarding dimensions, force and spring design that would fit in the assembly constraints. Making springs for space vessels is not an everyday task for JWSL. The technical engineers made quality improvements to the springs that were beyond the customer’s request, and the smooth development process resulted in the manufacture of 40 prototype springs that John While Solutions shipped to Maryland, USA. Explaining why the American company selected a spring manufacturer half the world away, Roy Loh, vice president

spring technology Asia, said, “We got the response upon the question that JWSL was the most responsive company to the request and that it was just as easy to work with a company in Singapore as it is to have the supplier next door. We are very happy to contribute with our knowledge and capability to such an exotic business for us.” The Lesjöfors Group provides a wide range of springs and pressings to customers in diverse industries around the world. With expertise in highly technological, custom-made solutions and a flexible manufacturing capacity, Lesjöfors is a partner for all spring requirements. Lesjöfors, owned by Beijer Alma, comprises almost 40 manufacturing and sales companies in various countries. Lesjöfors Springs & Pressings www.lesjoforsab.com

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artist Kumruen Pakom Photo by NASA on Unsplash

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Industry news

Testing and calibration partnership AKO, Inc Torque Specialties has announced a strategic partnership with International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association (IFMSA). AKO has joined the IFMSA with an aim to supplement its continued expansion into the fastener marketplace. complete line of testing and calibration equipment designed specifically for the fastener industry. “With the new launch of products and software we have planned in the near future, joining IFMSA makes perfect sense for us,” said AKO’s new COO, Jim Pagano.

facility in Connecticut. The company receives a large variety of torque tools for calibration on a daily basis. It uses AKO-designed equipment to calibrate torque transducers, hydraulic torque wrenches, torque multipliers, pneumatic torque drivers and click wrenches from 2 oz-in to 150,000 lb-ft, to the highest traceable industry standards. Training for individuals or small groups is available at the headquarters or on-site at the customer’s location. AKO, Inc www.akotorque.com

Located in Windsor, Connecticut, USA, AKO is a manufacturer of torque calibration and testing equipment. With more than 60 years of experience, AKO provides customers with products to support their testing needs. The fastener market has been a cornerstone industry for AKO, where it offers a

“They have the experience and industry knowledge we can capitalise on to leverage our growth in this important market.” AKO also houses an ISO 17025-2017 certified calibration laboratory at its

Optimism over fastener markets with new strategy

Optimas Solutions, a global industrial distributor and service provider specialising in fastening and supply chain solutions, is rolling out a renewed strategy for its Americas market, tailored to an unstable manufacturing landscape affected by COVID-19 and other regional disturbances that have impacted the fastener industry. The strategy focuses on delivering manufacturing solutions for customers looking to gain efficiencies fromworking with fewer, but better equipped, partners for fastener acquisition, inventory management and other manufacturing consumables. The manufacturing solutions strategy is characterised by greater customer intimacy, service innovation, a new sourcing approach, advanced manufacturing, and faster speed in quote to order. Leading this transformation is industry veteran Marc Strandquist, president of the Americas for Optimas Solutions. Mr Strandquist came on board early this year and aligned his team to operate in unique business conditions while positioning the company for growth. “We’ve had to concurrently lead in this moment and get ahead of the curve by investing in our business

to address fast-changing conditions in our Americas marketplace,” said Mr Strandquist. “In the coming weeks, we will be rolling out new offerings, based on feedback from our customers, in the wake of this evolving landscape. Optimas Solutions is an active, innovative and vibrant partner offering stability and trust to customers. These traits are imperative to helping our customers through such challenging and uncertain times.” In support of the new strategy, the company will be making new offering announcements in manufacturing, manufacturing consumables, engi- neering services, e-commerce, and with its OptiTech and other technology- driven platforms. According to Mr Strandquist, recent feedback from Optimas customers shows they are concerned about supply chain disruptions, the stability of suppliers, lack of visibility in parts availability, and a greater need for standard and engineered parts, inventory management solutions and quality services. “Optimas Solutions is unique in the marketplace,” said Mr Strandquist. “While we are a distributor of industrial fasteners and component parts, we also have centrally located cold-form manufacturing to complement and

exceed customer needs as a single source supplier. With an increased emphasis on the customer intimacy, technology-enabled solutions and speed to market, we think this new strategy is going to deliver huge dividends for our audiences.” The strategy includes the strengthening of Optimas’s supplier network. According to Mr Strandquist, in addition to announcements that focus on meeting and supporting customers’ needs, there is emphasis on initiatives that enhance the vendor relationships that are critical to the company’s ability to provide stability and product availability at optimal cost. The renewed focus on supplier relationships is based on collabora- tion, transparency and proactively smoothing the flow of parts to users. “We’ll be re-energising existing offerings and rolling out new services in the coming months that will highlight how much customers are at the core of what we do,” Mr Strandquist emphasised. “We want customers to know us for manufacturing solutions that support their production, product quality and financial goals.” Optimas Solutions https://optimas.com

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Industry news

Torqx acquires European fastener group Fabory

Torqx Capital Partners, a Dutch private equity company, has acquired Fabory Group (FG), a European supplier of fastener solutions and industrial products, from Fabory’s parent company WW Grainger Inc. As a strategic investor, Torqx will be able to support Fabory in its ambition to strengthen its position as specialist distributor in fasteners, to enhance the customer experience and to grow the group organically and through add-on acquisitions. Fabory and Torqx also want to further strengthen Fabory’s position in the highly fragmented European fastener market and drive economies of scale, while maintaining and strengthening its specialist position as one of the top fastener companies in Europe. Fabory, headquartered in Tilburg, the Netherlands, is active in 11 European countries and has revenues of over €220mn. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition, but is subject to the standard regulatory approvals. Ronald Baarslag, CEO of Fabory Group, commented, “Finding a new

“Therefore, we need to accelerate our growth and expand our European presence, while remaining in the driver’s seat. “With Torqx we are delighted to have found a partner that will support us in executing our strategy and add value. We remain focused on delivering an effortless experience to our customers and serving in the best interest of our employees and new shareholder.” Harmen Geerts, managing partner of Torqx, said, “Based on our extensive experience and strong track record with technical distribution businesses, we see a strong fit between Fabory and Torqx. We can help the company to strengthen its position as leading fastener specialist in its core markets and achieve its full potential.” Fabory offers a one-stop shop with more than 400,000 products (120,000 in stock) to more than 60,000 customers, and handles over 7.5mn orders a year, including 24/7 online ordering. Fabory Group www.fabory.com

❍ Torqx managing partner​Harmen Geerts

strategic partner for Fabory was an important next step in our strategy, while focusing on further growth and with an eye on the consolidation of the European fastener industry. “As a business we’re in good shape and in the past years we have built a new fundament for the growth of Fabory. “While strengthening our business, we also see that the market further developed with customers increasing in size and behaviour, further digitalisation and competitors bundling forces.

Torqx Capital Partners www.torqxcapital.com

Specifying in seconds Cable cleat manufacturer Ellis Patents has developed an online calculator to provide users with accurate specification information for any project within seconds. The calculator provides correctly specified cleat spacings, with respect to short circuit conditions, and recommends products for the project through a pre-programmed calculation that considers cable formation, cable size, short circuit current and the installation environment. Stephen Walton, technical director of Ellis Patents, said, “Correctly specifying cable cleats, and the spacing they need to be installed at, is vital in ensuring they function properly when called into action. “Until now, specifiers and planners needed to make the calculation using a complex formula, and then interpret these results into product type, quantity and exact spacing. “Our cable cleat calculator removes this complicated mathematical element from the specification process, and replaces it with a foolproof option that provides the correct cleat specification quickly and easily.” Ellis Patents Ltd www.ellispatents.co.uk ❍ The online tool calculates the necessary cleat spacings and recommends products

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Products

❍ Valley Forge’s SPC4 with reader

Load-indicating technology: accurate measuring of bolted joint tension

Knowing the tension of critical joints is a matter of safety, peak performance and maximum uptime. Valley Forge & Bolt’s SPC4™ load-indicating technology makes it possible to measure the actual tension in a fastener, rather than just the preload that is being applied by torque or tension tools. By using SPC4 and any one of its specially designed interchangeable readers, technicians can quickly and easily gauge tension, and also have the option of remotely monitoring fastener tension within SPC4 bolted joints. The manufacturer says that the technology is solving complex bolting issues in mining, oil and gas, refining, nuclear, power generation, rail, crane, steel mill, military and subsea industries around the world. SPC4 is proprietary technology from Valley Forge that is ASTM F2482 compliant and accurately measures direct tension in the fastener within

±5 per cent. It provides absolute, real- time knowledge of fastener tension and performance, from installation and throughout the fastener’s life. SPC4 measures the stretch of the bolt (ie the bolt tension), directly from the fastener. Because stretch is the force that creates clamp load, this capability makes SPC4 an accurate method to monitor the clamp load of critical joints. Virtually any technician can use any type of tightening tool – hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or hand wrench – and still achieve even and optimal load on a bolted joint. SPC4 can measure preload in the fastener at installation, monitor load while in service, or measure load and load loss during maintenance inspections. The result is optimal joint integrity, less downtime, and safe performance of equipment. Valley Forge engineers and manu- factures a variety of SPC4 readers in analogue and electronic formats to

suit the application and the budget. Technicians can simply quick-connect the reader to a datum disc on the end of the SPC4 fastener, and the tension is displayed in real time on the reader as a percentage of minimal yield strength. Any reader can be used with any SPC4 fastener. Electronic readers, offered in both wired and wireless configurations, provide digital and Bluetooth output, installation tool control, and load data recording systems. Wireless readers allow for real-time remote load monitoring, and include Wi-Fi and low- frequency options. SPC4 technology is available in standard bolts, studs, custom designs and retrofits for customer-supplied fasteners, each modified with Valley Forge’s datum disc and gauge pin, compatible with any Valley Forge- supplied reader. Valley Forge & Bolt Mfg Co www.vfbolts.com

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artist Wladimir

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Products

One-piece locking clevis pins The Quick-Release SLIC Pin from Pivot Point Inc is an all-in-one pin and cotter. The one-piece locking clevis pin is fast and secure, and functions as a quick- locking pin wherever a quick-lock function is required, in a wide range of applications.

as an easy insertion ramp. The plunger retracts when inserted, then springs back up once through the joined material. The vertical face at the rear of the plunger prevents backing out and locks the pin into place. The patented design is suitable for limited-space applications where cotter pin or retaining clip access is reduced.

SLIC Pins eliminate cotters, bolts, nuts and clips, and do not require tools for use, for reduced assembly times. The quick-locking pins are suited to automated assembly, and are claimed to be easier, safer and faster than standard clevis pins, cotter pins and clips. Pivot Point, Inc www.pivotpins.com

Quick-Release SLIC (self-locking implanted cotter) Pins feature a strong, spring-loaded plunger that functions

Shaft collars, couplings and flange mounts Stafford Manufacturing Corp has introduced a line of shaft collars, couplings and mounts available in stainless steel and plastic for use with berry and nut processing machinery and conveyors. Suitable for processing systems requiring frequent wash down, they feature hex, square and round bores, and can be supplied with special bore, face and OD treatments. Suited to a wide range of applications, the fittings can be modified with special bores, keyways, knurls and other treatments.

nylon and Delrin ® collars are available in 1" to 4" ID sizes. Custom parts made from high temperature alloys are also offered. Stafford shaft collars, couplings and flange mounts are priced according to material, size and quantity. Stafford Manufacturing Corp www.staffordmfg.com and has an ISO 17025 accredited lab; and Sherex Akron, located in Akron, Ohio, USA, is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and AS 9100. The company serves a wide range of industries, including automotive, general manufacturing, energy, agricultural, aerospace and defence. Sherex Fastening Solutions www.sherex.com

The shaft collars, couplings and flange mounts are offered as standard parts in USDA- and FDAA-approved 303 or 316 stainless steel, nylon or Delrin ® , with 18-8 or SS fasteners.

Bore sizes range from 0.25" to 14" ID, depending upon material, and the

Rivet nut hand tool calibration unit Sherex Fastening Solutions, a specialist in engineered fasteners, tooling and automation, has announced the release of its Hand Tool Calibration Unit, which measures the pulling force for both pneumatic and hydro-pneumatic rivet nut tools to ensure the tool is meeting the required setting force to install into the application. spin-pull tools need to be calibrated or require maintenance. “This is more than just a calibration unit, it’s a tool to ensure quality. Every manufacturer that uses pneumatic or hydro-pneumatic tools to install rivet nuts should have this asset at their work station.”

With the ability to measure the pulling force of a tool before performing an installation, operators are assured the tool is calibrated correctly. This helps manufacturers and operators improve the quality of their rivet nut installations in real time. “The development of the Hand Tool Calibration Unit is a direct result from feedback from our customers and manufacturers,” said Sherex president Adam Pratt. “Our customers wanted a tool that could show the pulling force of both pneumatic and hydro-pneumatic tools, and get results in real time. Manufacturers and operators will see an increase in quality, and will be able to better determine if their spin-spin or

Sherex Fastening Solutions is a manu- facturer of fasteners for thin sheet

material applications in steel, aluminium and composite materials. It manufactures rivet nuts, clinch nuts, inserts for composite, stud and nut plates, and through the acquisition of Disc-Lock ® , wedge-locking washers and nuts. The company is headquartered in Buffalo, New York, USA, with offices in the UK and Mexico, and has two strategic production facilities: Sherex Taiwan, located in Chungli, Taiwan, is certified to IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 14001,

❍ Sherex’s new calibration unit

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Manufacturing Technology

❍ General Inspection’s Halo inspection system

Technology simplified: 100% bolt sorting machine

The Halo inspection system from General Inspection LLC uses a simple hang-by-the-head gravity track to feed parts through a series of inspection sensors – multiple cameras, lasers and eddy current – to provide 360° dimensional inspection, 360° visual defect detection, crack detection, heat treatment verification and recess inspection/measurement, at inspection rates of up to 400 parts per minute. The system requires only a quick width adjustment for shank diameter, rather than complicated bowl feeder changeovers, and does not need dial plates or conveyors. The simple, single-point track adjustment provides fast changeover, and the system ensures defect-free products with advanced (patent pending) feature measurement and defect-detection capability. The standard Halo inspection system is equipped with four cameras with

four backlights and two surface illuminating lights (one from the top and one from the bottom), for 360° profile measurements and 360° visual defect detection. A patented light sequence process generates eight images from four cameras. The four backlit images provide 360° dimensional inspection to part print specifications. Easy-to-use menu-driven software allows for fast set-up, as each part feature is clearly defined, with print specifications entered, saved and recalled from memory. In addition to its 360° dimensional measurement capabilities, Halo has a patented process of light sequencing. Milliseconds after backlighting the parts, front lights from above and below illuminate the part’s surface

to provide 360° surface inspection. This allows detection of thread nicks, knurl damage, dents, scratches and other surface defects, as well as coating inspection and thread patch analysis. The top front light is used by the Axial View lens to detect small cracks that are typically undetected by other inspection means, such as standard vision or eddy current. The bottom front light is utilised by a set of cameras to inspect the bearing surface for cracks and other visual defects. These defects cannot be detected by dial table sorting machines. A dedicated standard lens camera is used to measure recess and recess features, and eddy current can be added to detect the presence of heat treatment. General Inspection LLC https://geninsp.com

Graphics bigstockphoto.com Artist Koloj

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Manufacturing Technology

Metalworking machine safeguarding Rockford Systems LLC has introduced Protector™ series shields for safe- guarding cutting and turning machines such as drills, mills, lathes and grinders. The product line improves the safety and productivity of operators working with dangerous machinery.

“For nearly 50 years, Rockford Systems has been a leader in machine safeguarding due to our relentless commitment to quality, meeting the needs of our customers and developing innovative solutions that solve their safety problems,” said Matt Brenner, vice president of machine safeguarding services for Rockford Systems. “We have learned that customers are not happy with machine safety shields available on the market today. Operators complain that safeguarding shields limit their visibility and impede their work; supervisors report that shields can be bypassed or disabled, making machines unsafe to operate; and EHS leaders need to demonstrate a positive return on investment by maximising safety while minimising expenses. Protector series shields solve all of those problems.” The shields are constructed of 14-gauge powder-coated steel and thick 3 / 16 " shock-proof, scratch- resistant polycarbonate, creating a tough, rigid and durable safety shield that protects operators from flying debris, lubricants, coolants and swarf. The Protector shields are modular in design so that shield shape, size,mount, arm, offset, lighting, interlocking and ❍ Lathe chuck illuminated with white LED

❍ Protector series shields are modular in design

safety monitoring can be configured to provide the best solution. Available with various mounting options, the shields allow for reversal to address opposite- hand mounting scenarios when necessary. All shields are vertically and horizontally adjustable to clear varying work set-ups and table heights. The shields can include colour- changing LED lighting nested into the frame of the shield to illuminate the work area during machine operation. The LED light strip is integrated into the shield frame and each strip provides 262 lumens of light per linear foot. For example, the Protector 28" octagonal or circular shield supplies 2,180 lumens, compared to a typical clip- on work lamp that provides only 800 lumens.

When the shield is moved out of the safe work position, the white LEDs switch off and red LEDs switch on, providing a visual indication that the shield is in the open position. All LED lighting has been manufactured to IEC IP65 outdoor/wet location standards to withstand coolant and lubricant splashes. The shields can be upgraded with a safety interlock switch or switches, depending on the application. Interlocking shields exceed OSHA regulations and ANSI standards, and are considered a best safety practice. The shield interlocks shut off or disengage power and prevent machine start-up when the guard is not closed, increasing operator safety and preventing bypassing. All safety interlock switches are mounted in a tamper-resistant NEMA 4 housing, compliant with the IEC/ EN 60947 safety standard, and carry IEC IP66/67 device ratings. Additional motor starter or anti-restart devices may be required when incorporating interlocking devices into the Protector series shields in order to ensure safe operation. The Protector series shields are manufactured by Rockford Systems LLC in Rockford, Illinois, USA, and are available for immediate ordering. Rockford Systems, LLC www.rockfordsystems.com

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Manufacturing Technology

Double spindle turning machine Sacma’s range of CNC machines for secondary operations meets the needs of productivity and precision required by this specific market. The range includes three machine architectures: single spindle, double spindle and multi spindle (four) on an indexing table. The machines are equipped with leading-edge equipment (direct drive technology coupled with torque motors), allowing high performance and precision. Multi spindle configuration allows for the maximum productivity, making possible the execution of diverse operations in overlapping processes. Parts loading and unloading can be performed in a dedicated location, keeping the working part in process over the spindle. Sorting and feeding can be optimised by customising the solution to each machine based on each part and the needs of the client. All spindles are indexable and inde- pendent, which allows for optimisation of feeding. The machines can be customised with various feeding solutions, such as vibrator bowls, linear vibrators, motorised belts, robotics and

Three-axis wire forming YHM Springtech Machinery Co is a Taiwanese company that has been involved in wire forming machinery since 1987.

Options include standard cams and tools for quick set-up, stereo microscope for micro spring set-up, micro payoff for micro wire, profile magnifier for production monitoring, and spring gauge for spring measuring and offset. The company states that it is dedicated to the development of its machines, and it has progressed from two-axis to three-axis machines, all controlled by servo. The working range of pitch and outside diameter dimensions of the three-axis machine are wider than the two-axis machine. By simply entering the program, it is easier and faster to set up different complicated compression springs. Regarding consistency and speed, for common compression springs the three-axis machine is still competitive with the two-axismachine. Themachine can run 24/7 with a probe gauge, decreasing labour requirements. YHM’s latest technique for tooling is UVw surface treatment, which provides a glossier surface in order to efficiently avoid wire scraping and heating during production. With UVw surface treatment, the production rate can be increased by 30 to 50 per cent, and the cycle time of tooling can be enhanced two to five times. YHM Springtech Machinery Co www.wire-machine.com.tw HTL claims a global reputation in the fastener tooling markets for quality tooling solutions that offer reliability and competitive cost-per-piece production, specialising in safety- critical applications, rolling after heat treat and rolling exotic materials. Its range includes flat dies, cylindrical dies, forming dies, planetary dies, medical products and aerospace punches. Reed has been involved in the manufacturing of machines and tooling for the fastener industry for more than 90 years. The company’s manufacturing facilities, in Auburn, USA, and Haryana, India, specialise in cylindrical thread rolls, flat milled dies (licensed products), flat dies, planetary

The company has developed machines for bending, forming, coiling, winding, stamping, chamfering, stripping, threading, tapping and heading actions with wire, tube, strip or stock material. Machines of the CNC spring coiler series can be used to produce items such as cylinder springs, compression springs, conical springs, hourglass springs and flat spiral cables for many industry fields.

pick-and-place units. Sacma Limbiate SpA www.sacmagroup.com

❍ CNC spring coiler

Global tooling solutions Precision Tool Group (PTG) is a supplier of tooling solutions for the fastener in- dustry, specialising in aerospace, auto- motive, energy, medical and general industries. With a global presence of sales offices, distribution partnerships and manufacturing facilities, PTG comprises the brands Hi-Life Tools, Reed and Howell Penncraft, enabling it to offer solutions to the fastener industry anywhere in the world.

dies and special licensed products, and offer a full regrinding service for flat and round dies. Howell Penncraft has extensive experience in the design and manufacture of precision tooling. The company specialises in standard and special trim dies manufactured to customer specifications, such as trim dies for unified hex bolts and metric hex bolts. All parts supplied by the company are manufactured using ISO 9001:2000 registered quality systems. Precision Tool Group www.ptgtools.com

Based in Shannon, Ireland, Hi-Life Tools (HTL) has an experienced and skilled workforce that has been assembled over 50 years of business. The manu- facturing facility is 9001-2008 and ISO 13485:2012 certified, and utilises a fully integrated manufacturing operation.

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