SmartBolts

09/03/2026

Vibration, thermal cycling, embedding, shock and other operating conditions can all change tension in a bolted joint over time.

The hardest part? Knowing when the tension has actually changed.

We break down five common causes of loose bolts and how you can prevent them.

Read the article: https://tinyurl.com/3e25k73e

08/27/2026

When bolted busway connections lose clamp force, contact resistance can rise, generating excess heat and increasing the risk of electrical failure and system downtime. Whatever the system, one question is critical to preventing this: is every connection tight?

Every system relies on bolted joints maintaining proper clamp force. Designs vary, but the need to verify those connections does not. Over time, thermal cycling, vibration and operating conditions can loosen your critical joints.

SmartBolts® make changes in fastener tension visible through a built-in colour-changing indicator.

Black means tight. Red means loose.

Designed for a wide range of busway systems, SmartBolts can be customized for new OEM designs or retrofitted into existing installations, giving teams a consistent way to verify their critical connections.

See SmartBolts in action across OEM and retrofit busway applications: https://tinyurl.com/2tanf79b

08/18/2026

When a major excavator component needs replacing, the last thing maintenance teams need is to source every bolt, washer, and spacer separately.

SmartBolts® Aftermarket Kits provide direct replacements for critical fastener components in CAT®, Hitachi and Komatsu hydraulic excavators. Each kit includes inspected SmartBolts, hardened washers and spacers, ready for installation.

Available for slew bearings, track frames and tumblers, final drives, and counterweights, the SmartBolts make changes in tension visible, supporting verified installation and faster inspections throughout service.

Explore SmartBolts Aftermarket Kits: https://tinyurl.com/5e48cc2m

08/14/2026

Finding the right fastener starts with knowing what's available.

The SmartBolts® Product Catalog brings together our range of pre-engineered fasteners in one place, making it easier to explore sizes, grades, finishes, and configurations for your application.

Whether you're specifying new equipment or replacing critical fasteners in the field, it's a practical starting point for selecting the right SmartBolt. The catalog also includes ordering information, verification guidance, and aftermarket kits.

Browse the Product Catalog: https://tinyurl.com/3rksb5kc

08/11/2026

What does bolt failure look like in the field? A haul truck taken out of service after structural movement was detected in a critical bolted joint, even though torque checks showed everything was within spec.

Bolt tension changed while the truck was in operation, but no one saw it. And if you can’t see tension, you’re just assuming the correct clamp force has been achieved and the bolt is secure.

The reality is only around 10–15% of applied torque ends up as tension in most joints while the rest is lost to friction in the threads, under the bolt head, and across mating surfaces.

Preload can vary too, by ±25% to ±35%, even when calibrated tools and correct procedures are used.

On heavy mobile equipment, that turns into structural movement under load, uneven wear, and joints loosening while the machine is still running. You’re risking unplanned failure, accidents and serious injury that can all lead to downtime.

SmartBolts® show actual bolt tension through the patented Visual Indication System™. It changes color with load, allowing maintenance teams to verify tension status during inspection.

Red is low tension. Black is your target tension. That’s what you’re looking at during inspection.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/msp8xypb

08/05/2026

You don’t usually see bolt tension change. With SmartBolts®, you can.

Watch the indicator darken as tension increases, then return to red as tension is released.

SmartBolts aren’t one and done. When used within the fastener’s elastic limits, they can be tightened and loosened repeatedly throughout the fastener’s service life.

Bolt tension made visible, cycle after cycle.

https://tinyurl.com/nht57zup

07/30/2026

Throwback Thursday: The story behind SmartBolts®

What if a bolt could show you when it is properly tightened and when it is loose? That’s what Chuck Popenoe asked way back in 1966!

Chuck was an aerospace engineer, applied physicist and prolific inventor. He had seen a bolt with a visual tension indicator, but it would only show tension for one tightening cycle and was not reusable. What the world needed was an indicator that would accurately show tension through repeated tightening and loosening, so he set out to create one.

With 35 U.S. and international patents to his name, Chuck patented his Direct Tension Indicator bolt design in 1966. He later developed the concept into SmartBolts®, making changes in fastener tension visible through a red-to-black color change.

Precision defined Chuck’s career. At the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), he designed a system to measure and certify light bulb output against industry standards. When the SmartBolts team visited NIST in 2012, the system was still in use, 30 years after Chuck retired.

Chuck believed inventing required imagination, visualization and persistence. Those principles remain at the heart of SmartBolts today, making hidden tension visible so teams can see when their critical joints need attention.

Swipe through to meet Chuck, the man behind SmartBolts.

https://tinyurl.com/4avpzn5m

07/24/2026

The most satisfying color change you’ll see today!

🔴 Red = loose
⚫ Black = tight.

Why would you measure bolt tension any other way?

https://tinyurl.com/53unkyr3

07/21/2026

07/21/2026

When conveyor pulley bolts lose tension, alignment is usually the next problem.

And once alignment shifts, wear, downtime and bigger maintenance issues can follow.

These critical bolted connections all depend on proper tension to stay secure under constant load, vibration, and impact:

- Bearing Blocks
- Pulley Mounts & Hubs
- Drive & Take-Up Frames
- Idler Frames

SmartBolts® provide a clear way to verify bolt tension during installation and routine walk-arounds. The patented Visual Indication System™ makes tension changes visible at a glance, helping maintenance teams quickly see when a critical joint may need attention.

Swipe through to see the conveyor pulley locations worth checking.
Download the full conveyor pulley guide here: https://tinyurl.com/r5xspbkt