New Orders Highlight Diversity of Boltight's Bolt Tensioning Solutions

Orders to supply NASA, Boeing and Siemens highlight the diversity of applications for Boltight's high quality hydraulic bolt tensioning systems.

A number of recent orders for non-standard bolt tensioning solutions has highlighted the diversity of applications for Boltight’s high quality hydraulic bolt tensioning systems, while demonstrating the company’s capability to design special tools for customers working in very different industry sectors. The company recently won orders to supply NASA, Boeing and Siemens.

A complete bolt tensioning system comprising spring return tensioners, air pump and hoses, was recently delivered to NASA's White Sands Test Facility, which is part of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Boltight supplied an effective solution for quickly and accurately fastening the piping sections of a hypervelocity impact ‘light gas gun’. The gun is used to test the strength of space craft materials and components. In order to accommodate an unusual stud and nut configuration on the flange, a specially modified puller bar, bridge and socket had to be designed and fabricated in the UK.

"These orders serve to illustrate just how important critical bolt tensioning is for many different industries and how our tools can be used for a wide range of applications. Whatever the requirement we work with customers to either adapt our standard tools or manufacture completely new equipment designed to accomplish a specific application."

Phil Jarvis, General Manager Boltight

Boltight also supplied specialist pulling tools to Boeing in Seattle for the assembly line tooling on the new Boeing 777X, the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet.  The equipment included two long stroke load cells (1” and 1.75”) that could be configured to pull rivets through a fabricated structure in areas of restricted and unrestricted space. This was achieved by designing a special bridge extension and interchangeable pullers of different lengths that could be used with the hydraulic load cells to deliver precise loading tolerances.

Another unusual request was to design special hydraulic cylinders that would allow Siemens to improve the process for pre-stressing critical components during the assembly of their MRI scanners. The cylinders deliver a constant stretch on the carbon fibre bands that are used to position the helium vessel within the scanner. The idea to use hydraulic cylinders for this highly precise operation was developed in collaboration with Siemens. It required many months of working together within a small project team. 

Said Phil Jarvis, Boltight's General Manager: "These orders serve to illustrate just how important critical bolt tensioning is for many different industries and how our tools can be used for a wide range of applications. Whatever the requirement we work with customers to either adapt our standard tools or manufacture completely new equipment designed to accomplish a specific application." 

For more information on Boltight’s products and services call +44 (0)845 500 5556, email sales@boltight.com or link to the website www.boltight.com.  Boltight Limited is a division of the Nord-Lock Group, the world-leading provider in bolting solutions. Boltight is located in Walsall, West Midlands, UK.