Instead of relying on traditional wrenches or torque tools to fasten nuts with twisting forces at various degrees of accuracy, the HydraNut applies hydraulic force axially and evenly without torsion. The hydraulic force stretches the bolt with the required force needed for fastening in different applications.

Lock rings and the hydraulic tension are released to loosen the nuts.

The company said the technology superseded manual methods such as heavy flogging tools or costly heat elongation.

The HiTemp HydraNut recently won the commercial technology of the year award at the Platts 2004 Global Energy Awards in New York.

“But the energy industry is just one major industry where there is a need for greater speed and greater precision in fastening and loosening operations. Just as you have scores and scores of big bolts and nuts on turbines and the like, so you have them on giant presses, rollers and crushers used in the paper, steel, primary product processing and manufacturing industries,” Technofast chief John Bucknell said.

“The principle of the product is the same, whether you’re using them to load blast furnace rods in a steel mill or retaining a drum drive on a dragline – it’s all about speed, safety and efficiency.”