In industrial sectors where precision and control of bolted joints are essential, a common question arises: Can screws and bolts be tightened without using a torque wrench? To answer this question, it is necessary to observe the historical development of controlled tightening.

During the first half of the 20th century, with the rise of industrialization and mass production, techniques and tools for tightening joints were developed and refined. Precision was not considered a priority, and tightening methods were often more artisanal and rudimentary, relying heavily on the skill and experience of the operator.

This resulted in wide variability in the results obtained and made it difficult to achieve uniform tightening. However, from the second half of the 20th century onwards, torque wrenches and other controlled tightening devices began to be increasingly used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and manufacturing of goods and equipment, due to the emergence of increasingly complex structures and machinery.

Is there an alternative to torque wrenches?

Nowadays, thanks to Smart Bolting technologies, we can ensure that controlled tightening is possible with more advanced tools than torque wrenches. Smart Bolting represents a revolution in tightening management and control, combining software, hardware, and smart controlled tightening tools to provide a complete solution.

Essentially, Smart Bolting seeks to guarantee precision, traceability, and remote control of the bolting process, so that companies can monitor and verify the result of each bolting operation. It also serves to ensure compliance with technical specifications and quality standards. In addition, Smart Bolting systems eliminate the possibility of human error and provide precise data for optimization calculations and subsequent analysis, thanks to the advanced recording of tightening operations they enable.

With BoltPilot, you can operate without a torque wrench and reduce human error

In this context, Texas Controls presents its comprehensive management tool BoltPilot as the first Smart Bolting solution. BoltPilot is an integrated control system that includes software, hardware devices, and different tightening tools, such as tensioners and hydraulic, electric, or battery-powered wrenches.

BoltPilot is perfect for optimizing the tightening processes of bolted joints in a wide variety of industries, ranging from power generation to the petrochemical industry or civil engineering construction. With BoltPilot, companies can digitize and optimize their tightening operations, improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of their equipment and structures, and maximize the safety of their operators.