Future of the Fasteners
Blindbolt NZ | 27th October 2020
Blind Bolts
The global engineering and construction industry seems set to emerge from the many challenges of 2020 with growth intact. This growth will call for innovation, with new products and techniques making it easy to complete projects quickly without compromising quality.
Developments of this kind are already taking the market by storm and the fasteners used in construction and engineering are part of that trend. Industrial fasteners of this kind are vitally important but often overlooked, despite the fact that they fix, reinforce and bond construction materials from heavy machinery to buildings. The innovations within the sector have led to three types of fasteners emerging as the likely choices in the future. These are lock bolts, blind bolts and wire threaded inserts. Although each of these fasteners is suited to completely different tasks, they all share high levels of durability and effectiveness.
Lock bolts
A lock bolt, which consists of a pin and a collar, can be used in place of bolts, nuts or rivets. A benefit offered by lock bolts is that they can be applied without the use of a washer or cotter pin, which makes them easier to use and less prone to error. In addition to this, lock bolts are stronger and last longer than the alternatives, making them a popular choice in the construction industry.
The toughness of lock bolts and the fact that they are resistant to vibration means that they are frequently chosen to secure equipment including factory machinery and agricultural vehicles. When pressure is applied to the lock bolt the collar collapses against the pin, and this forms a seal which is extremely difficult to work loose. There are two types of lock bolts:
- Those with separating pintails
- Those without separating pintails
Both types have their own uses and specific advantages
Blind bolts
Although lock bolts are able to offer a tight and durable connection, blind bolts lead the field when it comes to strength and versatility. The popularity of blind bolts is testament to the ease with which they can be installed, which makes them the ideal choice for projects demanding multiple installations. The name ‘blind bolts’ refers to the fact that they can be installed with access to just one side of the material, making them perfect for use when access to the other side is restricted.
Application involves inserting the bolts into pre-drilled holes and then tightening them. As they tighten, the collar on the bolt expands to form a joint which is secure, extremely strong and long-lasting. The strength offered by blind bolts makes them the ideal choice for industries such as automobiles and mining, where strong and stable connections could be a matter of life and death.
The Blind Bolt Fasteners
The Blind Bolt was one of the first generation of blind fixings, and has since gone on to become a form of fastening which is widely utilised across the construction industry. The blind bolt is the perfect example of the way in which evolutionary change throughout the construction industry drives new ways of working, which are then utilised by both designers and architects. It solves the problem of fixing into a girder or box section in a way which reduces costs and provides rock solid results. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of blind bolts is that they’ve already transformed the way designers, builders and architects work, and their full potential hardly begun to be explored.
Wire threaded Inserts
Wire threaded inserts are ideal for use in repairing stripped threaded drill holes or for working with softer core materials. The pressure applied by the bolt presses the wire against the sides of the bolt hole, and this forms a high strength internal fastening. Once in place this fastening is resistant to damage from factors such as corrosion, high temperatures and extreme vibrations. This is what makes wire threaded inserts extremely popular in the aerospace industry, underlining their suitability for high-stress locations and situations. For a strong connection which may even outlast the material being connected, there is nothing better than a wire threaded insert.
Bolted Shut
The engineering and construction industries are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative products to help them grow, and also for products, such as the blind bolt, which can genuinely revolutionise the way they work.
Want to find out more information about our blind bolts? Then get in touch and speak to a member of our team today on 0800 42 52 56 or send us an email on enquiries@blindbolt.co.nz. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thin Wall Bolts (TW Bolts)