A refinery plant had a daily maintenance application that required two large valves be opened and closed twice per day for cleaning. Two low cost torque multipliers were being used for loosening and re-tightening the bolts on the valves. These tools were selected with the intent to speed up the maintenance process and reduce the overall maintenance cost. However, in a short period of time the low cost torque multipliers had become high cost tools. Each multiplier tool was being sent in for service and repair 3 or more times a year. A large portion of the refinery plant’s yearly maintenance budget was being consumed by these two tools. After two years, the repair costs for these two these tools had become three times more than the original purchasing cost for the tools. The short term solution had become a long term problem.

Faced with a continuing high cost maintenance problem, the plant manager for refinery plant started searching for alternative tools to quickly resolve this cost issue. The plant manager contacted Mountz, Inc. and asked for a representative to visit their facility and demonstrate some cost effective torque control solutions that were available to resolve their maintenance cost and fastening application.

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Small torque tools go out of calibration with use. To maintain consistent accuracy, small torque tools must be checked periodically for wear or defective parts. A small power or hand torque tool is a measuring tool that must be properly calibrated and maintained.

The easy-to-use EZ-TorQ digital torque tester is ideal for all small hand torque and non-impacting torque power tools. The small size and portability of the torque tester makes it ideal for checking torque tools on production floor daily or weekly to ensure the tools aren’t falling out of calibration. The concept of torque validation is a central theme in every successful quality assurance program.

As a torque controlling, monitoring and documentation solution, the EZ-TorQ II enables operators and engineers to ensure product quality, safety and reliability promptly on the production floor. The EZ-TorQ II can calibrate hand torque screwdrivers and wrenches as well as power tools to avoid over tightening problems such as stripped fasteners and parts, under or over torque tightening problems, which can increase liability and risk of recall.

A regular torque tool calibration and re-calibration guarantees the operator repeatable accuracy and adherence to international standards. Torque testing also ensures torque equipment is operating to peak performance and can highlight potential tooling problems before they arise perhaps due to tool wear or broken components.

One fastener does not fit all. Do you have the right ones for your needs?

Many of the screws we sell work for a wide range of applications. Examples of good general-purpose fasteners include our line of metric pan screws, which come in slotted, Philips or Torx varieties. If you don’t have, say, a truss, or binding head screw, you can most likely drop one of these in as a substitute. Other screws, however, work well in one type of situation but not in another.

Sometimes it is the material that makes the difference. Nylon, for example, is great for electrical assembly work because it doesn’t conduct electricity and won’t corrode. But for large-scale structural fastening, nylon just isn’t strong enough. Stainless steel screws, on the other hand, are both strong and corrosion-resistant for those big outdoor industrial applications. But environmental considerations can mean more than just “indoors versus outdoors.” Fasteners used in boats, for instance, must stand up against seawater, as our stainless A-4 metric hex bolts do.

And what about head types? Do you know when you need socket or socket shoulder screws, button head screws, or pipe plug screws, and what application each kind of screw performs best? Chances are you don’t — and that’s why you need Mr. Metric, they live and breathe fastener technology. Mr. Metric is the leading metric fastener specialist in North America. Well regarded as experts in metric, Mr. Metric is known for hard to find metric items at competitive prices. The staff at Mr. Metric are happy to advise you personally on the ideal screws, nuts or bolts for your specific needs. If you have any doubts on what fasteners you need, contact Mr. Metric.

Not only make sure you order the right fastener for the job, but also make sure you are using the proper torque tool for the fastening application. Whether you are using a torque wrench, torque driver, electric screwdriver or a pneumatic screwdriver, controlling torque is essential for companies to ensure their product’s quality, safety and reliability isn’t compromised. The failure of a three-cent fastener that isn’t properly tightened can lead to catastrophic or latent failures. Fasteners that are insufficiently torqued can vibrate loose and excessive torque can strip threaded fasteners. Using a quality torque tool has become increasingly important for many companies to ensure that proper torque is being applied and maintains gauge requirements associated with the ISO 9001 Quality Standard.