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Technical Bolting

Ensure leak-free operations and maximize safety with our reliable technical bolting services.

With a deep understanding of the critical role bolted flange connections play in industrial facilities, we offer comprehensive solutions to maintain joint integrity.

Our expertise in controlled bolting, including hydraulic techniques, engineered specifications, and meticulous inspection, ensures precise and reliable bolted connections.

Trust us to provide the highest standards of safety and quality, giving you peace of mind and minimizing the risk of leaks or failures.

Experience leak-free operations with our trusted technical bolting services.

Learn About Technical Bolting

Capability

  • Bolting Torquing
  • Hydraulic Torquing
    • High-precision bolt tightening
    • Consistent and controlled torque application
    • Ideal for large-scale industrial projects
  • Stud Tensioning
    • Uniform and accurate bolt tensioning
    • Minimizes risk of joint failure or leakage
    • Hydraulic or pneumatic equipment for precise stud stretching
  • Hot Bolt Change-outs
    • Replacement of bolts in high-temperature environments
    • Specialized techniques and tools for working in hot conditions
    • Ensures safe and efficient bolt removal and installation

Benefits

  • Reliable Bolt Tension: Achieve optimal bolt tension, preventing leaks and joint failures.
  • Enhanced Safety: Trust our expertise and industry-leading quality for leak-free operations.
  • Cost Savings: Benefit from our cost-effective solutions, minimizing maintenance expenses.
  • Minimized Downtime: Efficient hot bolt change-outs reduce downtime during bolt replacements in high-temperature environments.
  • Consistent Torque Application: High-precision hydraulic torquing ensures reliable and controlled torque application.
  • Even Load Distribution: Uniform stud tensioning minimizes joint failure risks by ensuring even distribution of loads.

Applications

  • Flange connections in oil and gas pipelines
  • Bolting for pressure vessels and reactors in chemical plants
  • Turbine assembly in power generation facilities
  • Fastening of structural components in heavy machinery and equipment
  • Bolted connections in offshore drilling rigs and platforms
  • Assembly of heat exchangers and boilers in industrial plants
  • Flange connections in water treatment facilities
  • Bolting for compressor and pump installations
  • Pipeline flange connections in refineries
  • Fastening of conveyor systems in mining operations
  • And More!

Compliance

  • ABSA
  • TSASK
  • TSSA
  • AMSE
  • And More!

Listen To The Technical Bolting Podcast

Click on the button below to hear Don Cooper and CanTorque discuss the technical bolting industry and how it has evolved over the years.

Save Money

Innovator Industrial services Technical Bolting solutions provide a wide range of options, so you don’t waste any time, money or energy hunting around for suppliers. Our pricing is among the most competitive in the industry to give you the peace-of-mind that you always get the best ROI.

Save Time

Innovator Technical Bolting professionals are trained and practiced to perform their duties with 100% efficiency, without compromise to safety or quality. That means down-time is reduced and your facilty is up and running more quickly.

Protect Health

Technical bolting is not an easy job to do. That’s why we use the very best equipment and parts, and the most highly trained professionals in the country. The prime concern at Innovator is that no one ever gets hurt on the job. That’s a rock-solid promise.

Suffering from Bolted Connection Issues? Get Reliable Technical Bolting Solutions!

Call Innovator

Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm MST Available 24/7 For Emergencies

Make an Inquiry

Fill out a quick form and tell us about you and your potential project. We'll get back to you within 24hrs.

Schedule A Meeting

Schedule some time with one of our team members to learn more about composite repairs, or discuss a project.

Every challenge is accepted. We start with how, and then we find a way.

Don Cooper Founder & CEO

Forge Bonding - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

API 653, a standard for tank retrofits and repairs, has approved the use of friction stud welding as a repair method. Friction stud welding reduces the risk of igniting flammable vapors and allows for installations on tanks where conventional welding is unachievable. The proposed changes to API 653 include guidelines for friction stud welding, such as qualification requirements, design considerations, safety protocols, and examination procedures. Notably, Section 11.5 covers the use of friction stud welding, while Section 12.1.11 focuses on the examination and testing of friction welded studs.

Friction welding is a solid-state welding process that generates heat through mechanical friction between workpieces, without relying on external heat sources.

With API approval, friction stud welding is recognized as a standardized and safe welding method, delivering exceptional benefits in terms of repair quality and unmatched safety for bolted-on retrofits and repairs of ASTs.

According to API 653 Section 12.1.11, friction welded studs should undergo visual examination and torque testing, adhering to ASME Section IX torque test requirements. Non-destructive examination (NDE) applies to all tank and stud materials.

Friction welding can be used for various repairs and retrofits of tanks and vessels, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Installation of studs: Friction stud welding can be employed to install studs on in-service and out-of-service tanks, such as tank shells, roofs, and floating roofs.

  2. Structural repairs: Friction welding can be utilized for repairing structural components of tanks and vessels, addressing issues like cracks, corrosion, or damaged sections.

  3. Leak repairs: Friction welding can be employed to repair leaks in tanks and vessels by joining or sealing damaged areas.

  4. Attachment of components: Friction welding can be used to attach or weld additional components, such as reinforcing plates, brackets, or support structures, to tanks and vessels.

  5. Retrofitting: Friction welding can facilitate retrofitting activities, enabling the installation of new equipment, modifications, or upgrades to existing tanks and vessels.

It is important to note that the specific repairs that can be done with friction welding may vary depending on factors such as the condition of the tank or vessel, the type of material involved, and the recommendations of engineering professionals overseeing the repair process.

Forge bonding uses very high pressures to bond instead of high temperatures. A 5/16” stainless steel stud is inserted, and pressure is applied to rotate the stud at very high speeds for a few seconds. A small amount of thermal energy is applied during this process, which softens the two metals to a clay-like consistency.

After the three seconds are up, the metals are fused together. And the bond is so strong, it becomes stronger than either of the two metals involved in the bonding process.

There are a few varieties of steel that are worked on with Forge Bonding, but the most common is carbon steel. And when making the repairs, we will always try to use carbon steel in the repairs that is the same as the parent material.

98% of the studs we put down use a 304 stainless steel, which creates an incredibly strong bond that is immune to the elements. A standard polymer is used to seal the plate against the leak, which fills the pits and helps to planarize if we have to cross a lap joint.
Also, Forge bonding enhances the asset the repair is performed on, which means that the equipment that is repaired is left in better shape than before the leak happened in the first place!

The good news is that a forge bond itself only takes about 3 seconds, plus or minus depending on the temperature of the equipment being worked on. The more time consuming portion is moving and setting up the machine for each bond.

Three sizes of plates are typically worked with – 4 bolt, 8 bolt, and 12 bolt, with 12 bolt being the most common. We estimate on a good day, sixty studs can be put down. So if we happen to be working with 8 bolt plates, you can expect six to eight to be put down in a typical shift.

This is of course affected by things like obstacles and hard to reach areas, but that is to be expected.

Forge Bonding is incredibly safe for a few different reasons.

First, there’s the benefit of being able to eliminate hot work by using this process. And as the industry is becoming more and more safety conscious, the amount of safety gained by eliminating hot work is huge.

Second, the amount of thermal energy used in the bond is very minimal. Truth is, the auto-ignition temperature of most hydrocarbons is in fact exceeded that the bonds are performed on top of. However, the auto-ignition temperature is measured over a 10 minute interval. And according to API practice 2216, if the thermal energy that the hydrocarbon is exposed to is small enough, it takes a much higher temperature to ignite. Considering the bond only takes 3 seconds, a much higher temperature is required, which is never reached.

And Third – the machine used for the bonding process is completely air driven. There’s no electrical hookups required. Plus, the pressure and temperatures are regulated on the machine to ensure maximum safety. There are pneumatic timer counts down the 3 seconds that the bond takes, then shuts off. There’s also redundant timers built in as backup to ensure a smooth process

If you’re going to be implementing a new process, you’ll obviously need some numbers to justify your decision. We understand that.

First, let us tell you that the bonding studs are fully qualified to the ASME codes, section nine.

Second, the torque test performed(where a stack of washers is put on the stud and a nut is torqued on until something gives) fails at 45 foot pounds of force. Code only requires passed 1 foot pound!

Third, when taking a hydraulic press to the stud and pulling, it fails at a whopping 5000 pounds of force! (Which actually rips the base metal out rather than the stud)

As just mentioned, the skill level required for forge bonding does not need to be specialized.

While we can’t guarantee you a price point without looking at your situation, we can say that it is going to cost a heck of a lot less than taking your tanks out of service. If your tank is only 10 feet in diameter, welding might be for you.
Once you get larger than that, forge bonding truly starts to shine.

In Conclusion…

Forge bonding solves a big problem in the marketplace by letting you keep your production going while you make repairs to your equipment. It also lets you make these repairs outside of your turnaround which eases the pressure next time you have to shutdown.

Considering Technical Bolting or Have Some Questions? Let's Chat.

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