22 minute read
TORQUE TOOLS FOCUS
GERMANY –SÜDWESTFALEN
GWI > PROFESSIONAL PARTNER FOR THE FASTENER INDUSTRY
GWI is the German agent of Wintwire Ltd, a UK manufacturer of specialty wires
GWI’s service team has an established place in the market
Cold heading wire specialist GWI discusses its affiliated company Märkische Forming Tools (MFT) and its role as the German agent of Wintwire LTD with Torque Magazine...
GWI GmbH, a specialist in cold heading wire, has been in business for a quarter of a century, operating out of Iserlohn, North‐Rhine Westphalia, Germany. Originally known as a distributor, the company is now recognised as an agent and manufacturer, offering a wide range of products and services for European cold headers. GWI’s service team, also in charge of maintainance, repair‐ing, and overhalls of cold heading and thread rolling machines, has an established place in the market. At the beginning of the company’s founding, the team’s main job was repairing, but this now includes modifications to customers‘ requirements. This means that GWI customers will have an overhauled machine which is more suited to their needs and is more cost‐efficient. Affiliated company Märkische Forming Tools (MFT) is contin‐uously growing and is becoming more and more popular. The group has invested in new equipment, such as the purchasing of another machine for hard turning operations. In August 2019, GWI became the German agent of Wintwire Ltd, a UK manufacturer of specialty wires including stainless steels, nickel alloys, ferrous and non‐ferrous metals. The company experienced its best ever year during the pandemic and has now registered a 7‐figure turnover in Q1. Ben Turner, Managing Director, says: “The company has completed its first year after a management buyout (MBO) and has outperformed all of the forecasts, on top if this, we have started the new financial year with huge growth. The demand for our product continues to soar as our uniqueness shines. With the in‐house ability of pickling, batch and strand annealing, drawing, rolling, cutting, spooling and copper coat‐ing it is easy to see why.” Furthermore, Wintwire Ltd has recently won a share of a £1.2M Innovate UK Smart Grant. The consortium faced an extremely competitive bidding process for the grant, coming up against other groundbreaking research and development projects. The grant will fund an R&D project based on High Productivity Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (HPWAAM). The process known as WAAM, is the combination of an electric arc as heat source and wire as feedstock (raw material), to 3D print large scale components for industries such as mining, oil and gas, aerospace, construction and engineering. Turner adds: “The success rate of such applications is as low as a few percent and with the current climate the number of applications was very high, which is a testament to the unique value of this project. Wintwire has just recorded a record year despite the pandemic and has the potential to be catapulted to huge levels of growth on the back of the project.” “Being Involved with such a powerful consortium is an amazing opportunity to deliver ambitious technology targets and drive the wide‐spread adoption of Additive Manufacturing” Although the actual market situation is facing a variety of challenges, Wintwire is offering acceptable lead times.
www.gwi-iserlohn.de
Markische Forming Tools (MFT)
STAHLWILLE > SHARING
EXPERT TORQUE KNOWLEDGE
With 150 years’ experience of hand tool development, Stahlwille has gathered generations of essential expertise and experience in the field of tool systems and intelligent torque technology…
Accuracy is everything when it comes to torque wrenches. If you want to avoid defects and problems on the production line, garage or anywhere else, ensuring that the correct torque is applied to bolted joints is vital, not least in safety critical applications. Thankfully, Stahlwille is aware of the pitfalls and helps customers avoid them with some carefully crafted solutions.
FLEXIBLE ROD REDUCES USER EFFORT
For example, traditional mechanical compression spring wrenches have a disadvantage in that users must remember to reset them to zero (or the smallest value that can be set) after use, to prevent the spring from becoming deformed – or risk the wrench inaccurately measuring torque. Stahlwille has cleverly designed this problem out with its unique Flexible Rod system, which does not contain a spring. By jettisoning the spring, Stahlwille’s Flexible Rod doesn’t just provide a more reliable torque application (particularly when switching between torque settings) but also provides a longer service life, saving money for customers. What is the Flexible Rod system, you ask? It uses a time‐honoured principle that if the lever (in this case the flexible rod) is short then more force is required to overcome the resis‐tance. The user moves the setting slide to modify the position of the counter bearing and in doing so changes the effective length of the lever arm (the Flexible Rod), thus increasing its resistance. A specific force is needed to overcome the resistance, which depends on the torque that has been set. As soon as this point is reached, the switching element will be able to continue to travel and will produce both an audible and tactile signal – or “click”. Crucially, the tool components automatically return to their unloaded positions after the user ceases to apply force, avoiding the need to manually reset to zero, reducing errors and reducing user effort.
GETTING THE RIGHT ANGLE FOR SAFETY-CRITICAL APPLICATIONS
While accuracy in torque assembly is always important, for certain industries and instances with safety critical applica‐tions, precision becomes ever more vital. In these instances, it’s not just the torque applied that is controlled. Torque‐angle tightening is where the fastener in question is to be rotated through a predefined angle after the snug point (or pre‐load torque threshold) has been reached. The snug points and angles are calculated prior to assembly so they can be applied repeatedly for bolted connections under constant conditions.
Reproducing clamping forces exactly is the aim of the game, this is where Stahlwille steps in with a solution for this complex process. Stahlwille’s MANOSKOP 714 is an angle‐controlled torque wrench. It has four measuring modes; torque, angle (with torque pre‐load), torque backed up by angle and angle backed up by torque. What’s more, this electromechanical torque wrench uses Stahlwille’s cunning electromechanical technology,
Peek inside: The Flexible Rod system is used in Stahlwille’s mechanical wrenches for a more reliable torque setting...
...meanwhile, Stahlwille’s MANOSKOP 714 is an angle-controlled torque wrench, using Stahlwille’s electromechanical technology.
so not only does it provide precise, electronic tracking but also the classic ‘Click & Slip’ of mechanical torque wrenches. The tightening action is evaluated visually on the high‐res OLED display and lateral LEDS – and is also indicated acous‐tically. The MANOSKOP can also log tightening actions which can be downloaded for evaluation and analysis, and complex fastener settings and sequences can be pre‐programmed for selection by the operator.
NEXT LEVEL TORQUE: INDUSTRY 4.0 WORKPLACES AND NETWORKABLE TOOLS
DAPTIQ is Stahlwille’s label for interconnectable systems; tools that communicate with each other as well as with the controlling and monitoring systems of the work environ‐ment. Benefiting customers and users with greater efficiency and capability, Stahlwille’s smart solutions are geared up for digitalisation and Industry 4.0, with error proofing and safety continuing to be the name of the game. In practice, this means the user doesn’t have to fiddle with settings and can concentrate on the task in hand with the likes of Stahlwille’s MANOSKOP 766 DAPTIQ angle‐controlled torque wrench. Production runs more efficiently, human error is minimised, training requirements are reduced, and a consistent high product quality is achieved through the clever tech. We’ll have more on this next level smart torque technology from Stahlwille in the November issue of Torque Magazine. In the meantime, Stahlwille has an online knowledge portal – named Spectrum –explaining the topics in this arti‐cle (and more) in far greater depth. Find that at:
www.stahlwille.de/en/news/spectrum
MAIN OFFICE Via Bellardi, 40/A - 10146 Torino - ITALY Phone +39 011 707 23 98 +39 011 707 08 77 www.fixi.it - info@fixi.it
TOOLING FOR EVERY LIVE ELECTRICAL JOB
With electrification being implemented into ever more spheres of life, Insulated Tools has invested to produce tooling for all live electrical jobs, from electric automotive maintenance to offshore oil rigs and more…
Insulated Tools Ltd was founded in 1965 and has been manufacturing insulated tools in Great Britain via a unique injection moulding process ever since and are said to remain the only company in the world to do so. Over the years the equipment and tooling have changed but the mission remains the same; make the longest lasting, hardest wearing, and safest insulated tools. The world’s thirst for electricity is growing at a rapid rate and Insulated Tools has responded: “We have taken action by invest‐ing in new product development and plant and equipment which allow us to provide the tooling solution for every live electrical job, from offshore oil rigs to electrical vehicle maintenance.” Insulated Tools’ new range of innovative insulated torque wrenches are designed to ensure that the correct torque is safely applied to live connectors, fixings and fasteners. Each torque wrench is individually tested to 10,000 Volts for three minutes to ensure it complies with the international spec‐ification for live line working, IEC60900. When coupled with Insulated Tools’ injection moulded range of sockets and accessories you’re fully protected up to 1,000 Volts, whether you’re installing underground cables or maintaining DC batteries, you’ll be safe. With a newly designed handle, Insulated Tools’ torque wrenches enable repetitive use whilst providing maximum comfort for the user. As well as being easy to use, each wrench comes with an increment gauge meaning each live fixing or fastener can be accurately installed. To discuss the range in greater detail please either call one of the team members on +44 (0) 1342 324 255, or email at enquiries@insulatedtools.co.uk or visit the website...
www.insulatedtools.co.uk
Live work: Insulates Tools’ range can cope with a wide range of electrical jobs
Industrial Bolting
Special Metals and Alloys Over 150 Material Grades 10,000 Ton Inventory Over 300 Machines We Service All Quantities Serving Distributors Worldwide
SCS’s Freedom4 Quality
Understanding physics, materials and solutions is an indispensable fundament of tightening technology. For years, SCS Concept has worked as an expert, actively help shaping some key technical rules, studying the problems on the field and proposing new solutions. Theo‐retical, technical and regulations skills has been shared with its global partners throughout. “Knowledge is the key to our success,” says the business. SCS Concept delivers either consultancy for tightening aspects and training at different levels depending on the user. It has developed a vast set of theoretical education modules and practical trainings for threaded joints, assembly processes and the respective quality assurance. Training is always target‐group‐specific: assembly line to management level, construction and quality assurance department, planning, laboratory, operator on the production line. Contents include: joint analysis and yield point, joint relaxation, screw friction, torque and angle measurement principles, tightening strategies, quality control methods, statistical process control (Cm/Cmk, Cp/Cpk, control charts), tool testing, calibration and more. Beyond the technical issues, regulations and norms are always involved: ISO standard, IATF, VDI/VDE. SCS Concept introduced its first electronic torque and angle wrenches in 2007. With the partner company Q‐Direct GmbH, now SCS Concept Deutschland GmbH, attained DKD accreditation (Dakks) according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. In 2021, it is a company with over 150 employees worldwide, certified ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, offering customers a wide range of torque/angle wrenches for production, quality & lab, data collector / analysers, rotary & static transducers, test benches, software, calibration and service, including customised solutions. It operates globally in all prime vertical markets: Automo‐tive industry, aerospace industry and general industry, as an advanced partner for all things that concern tightening and quality control.
www.scsconcept.com
24-7 Emergency Service
www.GoASF.com info@GoASF.com
CLINCHING FASTENER SPECIALIST
Main Products: • Clinch & Sheet Metal Fasteners • Self-Clinching Nuts, Standoff, Studs • Welding Studs and Standoff • Cage Nut • Rivet Bushes • Brass Inserts for Plastics • Rivet Nuts • Customised CNC/Cold forming hardware. Strengths: • Produced in China • IATF 16949 Certificate • PPAP and IMDS free • Optical Sorting 100% • Full range of clinching fasteners
HOW BATTERY POWERED TOOLS ARE
RESHAPING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Cut the cord: Industry is increasingly looking towards battery powered power tools, but what do companies need to consider when choosing between a pneumatic tool and a battery powered tool? Stanley Engineered Fastening is here to help…
We’ve been living in unusual times, so the likes of Stan‐ley Engineered Fastening (SEF) have been wisely leveraging their communication platforms to bring their knowledge to a wide audience, including SEF’s recent webinar taster session, named ‘Cut the cord’. The webinar session – which is still available to watch online – tackles how battery powered tools are reshaping the manu‐facturing industry. “We are seeing a significant shift in the use of battery tools,” explains Chris Magson, European Commercial Director at SEF. “We are seeing more and more manufacturers turning from pneumatic tools to battery tools. Innovations have brought lighter, more powerful tools with longer lasting batteries. “We’re also seeing more distribution partners gearing their aftersales service to this growing market.” That traditional adherence to pneumatic production tools is loosening as more sophisticated hand tools become even more cost‐efficient and competitive, says SEF. Magson also notes the environmental advantages: “There is increased focus on carbon neutrality and renewable energy sources continue to be a hot topic. Therefore it makes sense for companies to have possibil‐ities to identify energy saving opportunities and the switch from energy‐intensive pneumatic tools to battery power tools is one of those opportunities.”
Among the numerous advantages of battery power tools over pneumatic is they are less power hungry Stanley Engineered Fastening has recorded a significant shift in industry toward battery tools
Watch the webinar at https://bit.ly/3u8nKpl
Other factors behind the trend include significant growth ahead for markets that clearly favour remote working, includ‐ing solar energy and wind power, as well as innovations in tools that now offer increased repeatability, more accurate torque and the beginnings of smart tool services.
THE END IS NIGH FOR PNEUMATIC TOOLS?
With other factors such as battery power tools being easier to maintain than pneumatic, you’d perhaps be forgiven for assuming the days are numbered for pneumatic tools. Not so, argues SEF, which predicts future and growing demand for pneumatic tools, just not at the level of battery power tools (which will grow at around 2‐3 times the market rate, it reckons). Predicting evolu‐tion, not revolution, SEF will continue to offer pneumatic tools. SEF is part of Stanley Black + Decker, the world’s largest tool company. DeWalt is its biggest brand with what it says is the world’s largest battery platform, producing tens of millions of batteries and with large established professional user bases in every large market in the world. Benefitting from that battery tech, SEF has significant scale and battery expertise to leverage in its tools. The ‘Cut the cord’ webinar also covers trends, assembly line productivity, and a demo of recent tool launches Stanley Engi‐neered Fastening, including the NB08‐18 Battery Powered Blind Rivet Nut Tool, the PB2500 Smart Rivet Tool and the SB25PT‐05 Battery Powered Speed Fastening Tool.
Serenco’s cordless torque multiplier is among its quality tool solutions
SERIOUS TORQUE
Serenco already has customers for its quality tools in 55 countries, but the firm is now ready to take another step in its ambitious growth plan...
Serenco Nederland B.V. is an ambitious supplier of tools and equipment for the international industry and auto‐motive (mobility) sector. From its distribution centre in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, Serenco supplies quality products to a growing group of loyal partners, spread over 55 countries worldwide: “We are known for our expertise, flexibility, excellent service and fast deliveries from stock. By listening carefully to our customers, we have been able to build a strong, and still expanding, range of inno‐vative tools for the professional user. With these products, excellent people, and ground‐breaking marketing we are fulfill‐ing the growth ambitions of our partners.”
SERIOUS RESULTS, SERIOUS SUPPORT
Serenco believes in helping craftsmen and women improve their efficiency while working safely with high‐quality tool solutions: “We aim to consistently support our long‐term wholesaling‐ and OEM‐partners in growing their business in their own national markets. We do this through excellent service, sharing of know‐how, product training, operational flexibility, stock deliveries and partner‐marketing support.” With long‐term partners and its own organisations in Europe, Asia (Taiwan) and USA, Serenco has logistic, procure‐ment and quality control advantages and efficiencies to benefit its wholesaling partners and tool end users. The high quality range is backed by the experienced team, with the business itself celebrating 35 years. Set up by Rob Serruijs in 1986, Serenco introduced among the first boosters, LED‐lights, Go‐Jak vehicle movers, cordless tools and the universal Metrinch‐keys to the market. In 2018, the company was acquired by current CEO Remco Geirnaert, who has taken the company on a new and ambitious growth journey. With the introduction of new and innovative products, expansion of its geographic sales areas, finding new application markets and through partnering up with new suppliers, the company is now ready for the next steps in growth.
NEW PRODUCTS AND A ‘PARTNER FOR LIFE’ COMMITMENT Serenco is continuously investing in product development and innovation, from the likes of Power‐Start and Projecta‐boosters, Boxo tools and workshop equipment, to Powerhand lighting solutions, with minimal energy consumption. GoJak, mean‐while, is a tough and durable solution for vehicle movement and repositioning. Serenco aims for a “partner‐for‐life” commitment, something which can only be successful if mutual expectations are met or exceeded, and optimal support and quality is provided. Serenco offers wholesaling and industrial partners opera‐tional excellence through stock deliveries, digital ordering, and online configuration tools. “With our affiliate marketing programmes we support our partners in their communication to the end user. Education, sharing know‐how, product infor‐mation and branding promotions are just a part of that programme. Where applicable and needed, we offer private label services to our partners. The feedback that we receive from end users and partners is brought back into product improvements or the introduction of new, innovative solutions. The growth that results from a valuable partnership translates into business growth for both.” Serenco is interested in speaking with anyone sharing its vision and looking to talk about a potential business relation‐ship in sales, procurement, manufacturing, or distribution, on OEM‐private label opportunities, or its wide range of high quality products. Find out more at...
www.serenco.nl/en
GEDORE > THE NEXT GENERATION
The latest set of torque tools from stalwart Gedore promise intuitive, optimised operation, suitable for various and special applications…
Gedore’s new TORCOFIX 2.0 model has precision and safety as top priorities and further expands the manufacturer’s increasingly comprehensive torque expertise. In addition to highly accurate torque measurement for controlled screw tightening, the torque wrenches are also characterised by intuitive, efficient and optimised operation. This ensures safe bolting during repairs and maintenance in mechanical engineering as well as in the automotive and commercial vehicle industry. The new TORCOFIX 2.0 is avail‐able in the variants TF‐K, TF‐SE and TF‐Z, which means that the series offers versatile solutions for very different areas of application and also special applications. The TORCOFIX TF‐K enables controlled screw tightening in the range from 20 to 850 Nm with ratchet function: this variant has an integrated mushroom head square drive with ball lock for the models 1/2” up to 300 Nm, the models 3/4” in the range up to a maximum of 400, 550 and 850 Nm are in turn equipped with a push‐through square drive and pin lock. Due to the reversible mushroom head/through‐square, the tool is equally suitable for clockwise and anti‐clockwise rotation. To change the direction of rotation, simply remove the mushroom head/square drive and reinsert it on the other side after turning the torque wrench. The model TORCOFIX TF‐SE is designed for the range from 20 to 400 Nm and has an internal rectangular holder including ejector device in the versions 9 x 12 mm (in the range 20‐150 Nm) and 14 x 18 mm (in the range 40‐400 Nm). This adaptor allows for an optimal adjustment to the respective tightening situation and the application, as completely different, inter‐changeable insertion tools with quick‐change system can be combined with the torque spanner. This makes the TF‐SE the ideal partner for work in confined spaces, for example.
TORCOFIX 2.0 comes in a number of variants tailored for different industries, including the automotive market ERGONOMICS, INTUITIVE OPERATION & ACCURACY
All models of the new generation TORCOFIX 2.0 provide intuitive operation of the torque wrench. The convex handle is based on the natural gripping position of the hand, the ergonomically optimised shape with a circumferential notch centres the hand in the middle of the handle. This position‐ing is essential for precise application of the set torque. The torque is also adjusted via the handle of the torque wrench. By pulling out the colour‐coded locking knob, the handle can be turned, allowing the required torque value to be set. A fixing recess at the upper end of the handle serves as an ideal counterhold. Subsequently pressing in the locking knob fixes the selected torque value. The audi‐ble and tactile release of the torque is even better perceived thanks to the optimised handle. When the torque wrench is not in use, it is stabilised by a stand on the handle and thus prevented from rolling away. Another helpful detail that makes working with the TORCOFIX 2.0 particularly useful. Since precise setting of the required torque is essential, GEDORE has also further developed the scale of the TORCOFIX 2.0 series. Maximum accuracy is achieved with the new double scale (Nm/lbf‐ft) with vernier. In addi‐tion, the practical double scale eliminates the need for time‐consuming conversion. Depending on the model, the scale is divided into increments of 0.5 to 1 Nm and is located under a viewing window that protects against dirt and abrasion. A higher‐contrast colour scheme makes it much easier to read, even in poor lighting condi‐tions. Another plus is the vertical orientation of the scale: This makes reading and setting equally effortless for right‐ and left‐handers. Made of robust tubular steel with high‐quality plastic parts, the matt powder‐coated surface protects against annoying reflections. Thanks to the automatic release when the torque is reached, the TORCOFIX 2.0 is immedi‐ately ready for use without having to be adjusted again, thus saving time.
TORQUING AT -35C IS SNOW JOKE
Extreme torquing: Battery-powered RAD torque tools proved able to perform in extreme conditions in one of the most inhospitable landscapes on earth…
When the team at Canadian mining company Baffin‐land started planning an expanded rail link over the Arctic tundra, nearly 100 kilometres away, they knew they’d need tough tools to get the job done –so they turned to RAD Torque Systems. Linking Baffinland’s River Mary mine to the new Sealift facil‐ity meant Baffinland needed to acquire more torque wrenches that could withstand the extreme cold temperatures. How cold? Well, the new facility sits about 1,500 kilometres inside the Arctic Circle reaching an average winter temperature of ‐35C. It’s so cold that the extreme weather only allows for 90 days of ice‐free shipping every year. Typically, pneumatic tools are the primary choice for work done in these sub‐zero temperatures. However, in these extreme situations, air tools freeze up and workers cannot run alcohol through the lines to keep them from doing so. Having used RAD Torque battery tools in the past, Baffinland knew that the B‐RAD and DB‐RAD would be ideal for the extreme conditions. In particular, the Digital B‐RAD 3000–2 has become the service tool of choice for both mine operations as well as fleet maintenance. RAD battery tools feature fresh lithium‐ion 18V battery tech‐nology and while lithium‐ion batteries perform best when cold, the temperatures at Baffin Island were among the toughest endurance tests known. A large shipment of RAD’s B‐RAD and DB‐RAD tool was scheduled for August to begin the rail line construction. Then the mine crew will have to act fast, as they will only have 90 days to build the expansion before everything freezes up again in October.
www.radtorque.com
Battery tools were the only option, as the temperatures would freeze air tools up
Standard Listed - you know who’s best! But contact us for all the rest...
• Non-preferred Metrics • Intermediate Sizes • Short and Long Lengths • Slotted Grub Screws • A4/80 Bolts & Socket Caps • 6 Lobe (TX) Drive Screws • All Metal Self-Locking Nuts • Studding Connectors And many more...
