STRUCTURAL FASTENERS
AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING >
Bolts and adhesives from Owlett-Jaton and Bostik feature in our round-up…
STRUCTUAL FASTENERS
& STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING >
Bolts and adhesives from Owlett-Jaton and Bostik feature in our round-up…
It’s Easy to See Blind Bolt’s Simplicity and Ingenuity
Owlett-Jaton is the Master Wholesaler for Blind Bolt across the UK and Europe.
Blind Bolt is a high-performance constructional cavity fixing. A simple yet ingenious solution for blind fixing applications, the simplicity of Blind Bolt makes it an ideal choice for fixing to steel sections where access is restricted or when working at height, needs access from only one side, and covers horizontal and vertical applications.
Independently SCI (Steel Construction Institute) assessed, Blind Bolt brings exceptional qualities to the market and is changing the way architects, specifiers, builders, and engineers alike approach their designs. They are widely used throughout the construction industry in hollow sections, girders and beams, masonry support systems, as well as cladding and facades.
Designed for structural connections, Blind Bolt does not require an oversized hole, requiring just a standard hole clearance. It is a high performance fixing with a diameter range of M8 to M30, manufactured in high tensile steel. For applications requiring a high degree of protection, a Geomet 500 finish is optional, offering approximately 1,000 hours of salt spray protection; certain sizes are also available in A4 stainless steel.
Heavy Duty Blind Bolt
In addition, the heavy-duty version features an expanding base and unique pin locking mechanism, has a higher tensile strength than the standard Blind Bolt, and guarantees fast installation with no special tools required. Developed to address the need for a shorter blind fixing with improved performance, it is the ideal fixing solution for heavyweight steel sections. Employing a simple activation method designed to reduce installation time and expense, a hammer, relevant screwdriver and spanner is all that are required. The HD range is also available in Geomet 500 and A4 stainless steel.
The thin wall bolt version was developed to address the need for a blind fixing to be used in lightweight steel sheets or cladding materials. After installation, a neat low-profile head is left with no stud. The thin wall bolt has a strong shear capacity and is available with a zinc electroplated finish for excellent protection, or A2 stainless steel.
Since its inception, the uses for the Blind Bolt range have grown considerably with new and innovative ways being identified. Blind Bolt has been used on many prestigious projects including:
- The Bull Ring
- Shell UK Ltd
- Railtrack approved for up to 125 MPH (PA05/710) on steel sleepers
- British Waterways
- Crossrail
- Heathrow Airport
Owlett-Jaton carries the complete Blind Bolt range making it readily available for next day Nationwide delivery. Detailed technical information on the installation and removal of Blind Bolt can be provided to Owlett-Jaton customers and end-users. Further information can be found on the JCP Fixings website www.jcpfixings.co.uk. To view Blind Bolt installation and removal videos visit the Owlett-Jaton YouTube channel.
Bostik > Instant adhesive prototype for critical applications
At the In-Adhesives event in Munich this May, Bostik revealed details of a new 2K cyanoacrylate-based adhesive prototype. According to Bostik, the new prototype could have benefits for a vast array of sectors, from automotive to wearable technology and even for structural engineering.
Bostik’s Born2Bond™ R&D team explained how instant adhesives can be used for long-term critical applications at the event. In the presentation, ‘New n-Butyl cyanoacrylate-based adhesive to combine flexibility, humidity resistance and low CLP’, the Born2Bond™ R&D team revealed a new two-component (2K) solution that will deliver long-term durability. It will propel Born2Bond’s instant adhesives’ use outside of repair and maintenance applications, into a solution that can be relied upon for longer-term, structural engineering use.
This development has been achieved thanks to the use of n-Butyl cyanoacrylate (BuCa), a hydrophobic monomer that when properly formulated becomes a highly-flexible polymer, recognised as the main component of many existing instant medical grade adhesives.
During the presentation, the team demonstrated how the 2K solution will enable more engineers to realise the benefits of instant adhesives, including fast-curing (generally less than one minute, depending on the substrate and environmental conditions) which can vastly accelerate the manufacturing process, thereby increasing efficiencies and productivity. They also have the benefit of delivering higher quality achieved through precise dispensing and automated and reliable process control, and durability resulting in less product failure and replacement parts, furthering sustainability.
"The product has been developed directly as a result of customer demand and feedback, and our team are proud to be working on a product that provides a genuinely unique proposition to the market."
"The product has been developed directly as a result of customer demand and feedback, and our team are proud to be working on a product that provides a genuinely unique proposition to the market."
The low-odor and low-blooming product will not carry hazard labels or CLP pictograms, enhancing working comfort and providing a more environmentally-friendly solution.
Arnau Pejoan, Engineering Adhesives R&D Team Leader, who led the In-Adhesives presentation says the development of a 2K solution will realise a new era for engineering adhesives: “It will fill a gap in the market, delivering a hybrid solution for engineers needing to utilise more efficient manufacturing processes, but also requiring impact resistant and flexible results that will remain stable over many years.”
“The product has been developed directly as a result of customer demand and feedback, and our team are proud to be working on a product that provides a genuinely unique proposition to the market.”
The prototype is in the final stages of development and for businesses looking to become part of this innovative engineering adhesive solution, samples can be produced for customer testing.