Nord-Lock.

About Nord-Lock

Nord-Lock Group was founded in 1982 in Lugnvik, Sweden, and concentrates on bolted joint security, keeping threaded fasteners from loosening under vibration, dynamic loading, thermal cycling and mechanical shock. The Nord-Lock wedge-locking washer was the company’s first product and is still its most widely used: a paired washer system that uses cam-action geometry to lock the fastener in place even under severe vibration that defeats spring washers, serrated flanges, lock nuts and thread-locking adhesives.

The mechanics of wedge-locking are neat. Each Nord-Lock washer pair has radial teeth on one face, which grip the bearing surface, and cams on the other, which mate with the opposite washer. The cam angle is greater than the thread pitch angle of the bolt, so when vibration tries to rotate the bolt in the loosening direction, the cam action of the washer pair forces the bolt to move axially outwards, increasing the bolt tension rather than letting it rotate. Because loosening the joint would require even more tension, the joint self-locks under vibration instead of working loose.

Nord-Lock Group has grown well beyond the original washer to include the Superbolt multi-jackbolt tensioner (for precise high-force bolt tensioning on large fasteners without special tooling), Boltight hydraulic bolt tensioners, and the Expander System pivot pin replacement for worn pin-and-clevis joints. Between them, these products cover the full range of bolted joint security and tensioning challenges in heavy industry.

Products We Can Supply from Nord-Lock

Nord-Lock wedge-locking washers. Nord-Lock steel washers come in metric and imperial sizes from M3 to M200 (and larger on request) for locking bolted connections, in carbon steel, hot-dip galvanised and stainless steel (A4 / 316 grade). The standard carbon steel washers suit general industrial and construction use, while the stainless versions cover marine, chemical and outdoor work where corrosion resistance is needed. They are a direct bolt-in replacement for standard flat washers anywhere vibration loosening has been identified as a problem.

Nord-Lock XL and wheel bolting washers. The Nord-Lock XL series suits large bolt applications where the standard washer outer diameter is not enough to span slotted holes or large bearing areas, and there are specialist wheel bolting washers for commercial vehicle wheel fastening. The XL series sees particular use in structural steel and civil engineering, where bolt holes are oversized or slotted for fit-up.

Superbolt multi-jackbolt tensioners. The Nord-Lock Superbolt system tensions large fasteners (M24 and above) with accurate, even load distribution using small standard hand tools rather than large hydraulic torque tools. Superbolt replaces the standard nut with a tensioner nut loaded by multiple small jackbolts arranged radially around its face. Tightening those jackbolts in equal increments achieves precise, verifiable bolt tension without any specialised hydraulic equipment.

Expander System pivot pins. The Nord-Lock Expander System replaces worn pin-and-clevis joints in construction equipment, mining machinery and heavy plant. The Expander pin is a two-part device that expands radially when tensioned, taking up wear clearance in the bore of the joint and restoring correct function without machining the bore or replacing the whole joint assembly. It is used in excavator buckets, crane hooks, linkages and any heavily loaded pin joint that has developed wear clearance.

Industries

Nord-Lock products are used in rail and transport infrastructure, wind turbine manufacture and maintenance, mining and quarrying, oil and gas production, structural steel and civil engineering, construction plant and equipment, marine and offshore, power generation, automotive and commercial vehicle manufacture, and any application where bolted joint integrity under vibration and dynamic loading is a safety or operational reliability requirement.