Bolt Tightening Solutions

Autoclaves are used throughout industry for a wide variety of applications from sterilization of medical equipment to vulcanizing rubber and curing composites. At Siemens Subsea specially designed autoclaves, with an 18-bolt flange opening, are being used to test its high integrity electrical and fiber optic connector systems for subsea power and communications for use at depths down to 2,000 metres. 

The sophisticated autoclaves are extensively used and in order to save both time and money, a solution was sought to ensure that the 18-bolt flange door could be closed and opened safely and quickly on each test cycle. 

So, at the design stage, Siemens and KW Designed Solutions accessed the Tentec range bolt-tightening expertise at Atlas Copco to design a multi-stud tensioner that would enable all 18 M85 bolts to be tightened simultaneously. The company’s in-house design and production teams have successfully designed and delivered a wide range of MST systems for a wide variety of applications including wind turbine gearbox tensioning and manway covers in the nuclear industry. 

As well as providing a comprehensive range of standard bolt tightening products, the Tentec product expertise within Atlas Copco prides itself on being able to supply customers with products that are exactly suited to their requirements. “Some projects merely require a modification to existing standard equipment,” explains Roy Sheldon, Business Manager, Energy  “whereas others, such as this bespoke Multi-Stud Tensioner, are more complex and make full use of our in-house design engineers, their knowledge and expertise.”

Bearing in mind autoclaves are pressurized vessels and are governed by strict health and safety regulations, operators also needed to be fully trained. Glenn Dixon, Training Manager trained personnel from the new autoclave manufacturers and Siemens themselves.