Wedge-locking washers for extreme conditions: Five projects that benefit from Nord-Lock X-series
Securing bolted joints against spontaneous loosening is a decisive factor in the success or failure of projects that operate under extreme conditions. With heavy vibration, thermal cycling or awkward angles to deal with, it’s easier said than done. This is where Nord-Lock® X-series wedge-locking washers excel. The CE-marked securing washers are engineered with a special conical shape to compensate for settlement and reliably secure bolted connections, no matter how challenging the environment.
The proof is in the results. Here are five demanding projects that benefitted from Nord-Lock X-series washers: from the world’s largest electric mining shovel, to an ambitious German infrastructure revamp and more.
1. Securing an innovative concrete bolting solution for the Nuremberg metro
The self-driving lines of Nuremberg’s pioneering metro keep more than 200,000 people moving each day, but after over 40 years of use, the metro’s track beds required renovation. Its concrete stingers had sustained major wear and tear, and traditional laborious methods of replacing them would have meant multiple closed tunnels. That translates to undesirable delays and service downtime for operator VAG (Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft Nürnberg).
Step forward TOGE Dübel with support from the Nord-Lock X-series. An innovative new concrete bolting solution developed by TOGE Dübel made it possible to strengthen the existing track bed, so work could instead be done in short windows late at night. Nord-Lock X-series washers are used to secure the concrete bolts and provide extra stability, counteracting the inclination caused by the drilling approach required. So far, the method has been successfully deployed at a number of stations, including the second-busiest hub on the .
READ MORE: Renovating the Nuremberg metro – without affecting the timetable
2. Ensuring bolted joint stability in a P & H Mining equipment heavyweight
The mining industry is not for the faint hearted. A vital cog in the global economy, the sector must balance high scrutiny on downtime with the harsh reality of equipment constantly being subjected to vibration while bearing heavy loads.
A market leader in surface mining, P&H mining equipment solves this delicate equation by using X-series washers to reliably lock its bolted joints. This compensates for the risk of joint relaxation even in the mammoth P&H 4800XCP – the world’s largest electric mining rope shovel, which bears a staggering 135-ton payload.
READ MORE: Tough machines for a tough industry - P&H mining equipment
3. Replacing locking plates to improve railway performance
Railway logistics are an essential component of supply chains where disruption has a long domino effect. For Wam Metals, who manufacturer specialized non-ferrous and ferrous components for rail freight, eliminating unnecessary incidents is understandably a must.
When a previous locking plate solution for contact splice conductors consistently failed to stop wires being pulled out of splice, Wam Metals opted to use X-series washers instead. This change meant vibration no longer led to unintentional loosening, and there were no reports of incidents of hook-ups caused by the contact splices fitted with Nord-Lock washers.
READ MORE: How the X-series out-performed locking plates in railways
4. Delivering better valve consistency for Hoyer Group tank containers
Transporting valuable liquids such as chemical products, oils and foodstuffs is a delicate matter. Leakage is costly not only for bottom line, but also reputation, when potential accidents and environmental damage are at play. Hamburg-based Hoyer Group has an acute understanding of the value of consistency in this area: a global market leader in the sphere, they operate over 30,000 tank containers worldwide.
Having previously faced a problem with the valves on gas containers, a customer recommended that Hoyer Group switch to Nord-Lock. The issue was resolved, and Hoyer Group decided to switch to Nord-Lock solutions (including the X-series) on their tank containers throughout Europe. Their reliability in securing valves has proven valuable in a field where every drop saved makes a real difference.
READ MORE: Hoyer Group improve tank container valve seals with X-series
5. Unlocking consistent railway fastening for Deutsche Bahn
The extreme vibration of railways combined with the hefty consequences of infrastructural failure makes reliable fastening a non-negotiable for rail operators. German national railway company Deutsche Bahn’s plan to roll out around 3,000km of trackside noise-absorbing walls required careful planning therefore – down to every bolted joint.
Deutsche Bahn opted for the extra security of Nord-Lock’s X-series washers combined with concrete bolts to secure their noise-absorbing barriers to bridge decks across the country’s railways. The scalability and reliability of this railway fastening solution supports a key component in the operator’s sustainability strategy to reduce rail noise for more than 800,000 people living near German railway lines.
READ MORE: Nord-Lock X-series keeps the noise down in ambitious Deutsche Bahn project