HYTORC, manufacturer of industrial bolting systems, has partnered with Cambridge, Mass-based Cumulus Digital Systems Inc, whose ?Internet of Tools? platform collects data from digitally-enabled tools to provide real-time quality assurance and progress tracking
The partnership will couple HYTORC?s bolting solutions with Cumulus? Smart Torque System (STS), to create fully connected and data-driven solutions that significantly improve safety, quality and productivity in bolting maintenance and construction.
Paired with HYTORC bolting solutions, the fully Bluetooth-enabled technology allows users to programme bolting patterns on a tablet and transmit that information directly to an HYTORC pump. The pump then activates the rest of the connected HYTORC bolting solution ? hydraulic or battery-powered torque tools ? to automatically tighten bolts uniformly, substantially increasing joint integrity by achieving a verifiable, even circumferential and targeted bolt load.
The integrated system is easily applied to the ASME PCC-1 recommended ?Simultaneous Multibolt Tightening Pattern.? HYTORC refers to this enhanced method as the ?Parallel Joint Closure Method,? which uses multiple tools ? usually four ? on each bolting application. The result is substantially reduced torque increments and bolting time while further increasing joint integrity, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating leaks.
By applying STS, users can realise up to 60 per cent reductions in quality assurance and control costs and reductions in bolting time of 50 per cent or more. STS has also been proven to reduce dangerous and potentially costly, bolting safety incidents. And, with more than 150,000 flanges under management, STS has delivered 60 per cent decreases in quality control and assurance costs, and eliminate leaks.
Among the major features of the integrated HYTORC and Cumulus system is its digital documentation functionality. In line with the industry?s push to go paperless, STS logs all activity for effective record-keeping, planning and overall accountability and traceability.
The partnership aims to ensure integration of HYTORC?s bolting equipment with Cumulus? software. HYTORC personnel will be certified to provide STS training and support, and Cumulus? customers will have access to HYTORC?s global field service network.
