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A P P L I C AT I O N T E C H N O LO G Y
One
true
blue
The Electrolytic Plating Company Ltd (EPC), the
sole UK licensee of the TUFLOK® NYLOK® BLUE®
NYLON TORQ-PATCH®, has recently established
a new Thread Locking & Sealing division. Deputy
Editor Claire Edwards visited Aldridge, UK, to see
how the new facility is enabling EPC to deliver
an end-to-end full service for its customers.
F
ormed in 1896, EPC is an established barrel plating
and surface coating company that offers a number
of processes – including zinc flake coating, zinc alloy
plating and zinc plating (zinklad licensed). It is also
a licensed applicator of Dörken, Magni and Atotech systems
and specialises in meeting OEM and global specifications.
EPC was awarded the license for the TUFLOK® NYLOK®
BLUE® NYLON TORQ-PATCH® in 2014, which is compliant
with IFI, DIN and major OEM specifications including IFI-524.
“We drew on our extensive experience to establish the new
division in order to grow to meet our customers’ requirements
for a coatings and patches package – they both go hand in
hand,” explains Andrew Dawson, operations manager at EPC.
“Even though ultimately the distributor is our customer, we have
an extensive knowledge spanning over 100 years, which allows
us to deliver effective communication and expert technical
support to end users across all key industries – particularly
at the design stage.”
Operational since January this year, the new division
encompasses a modern office environment and an on-site testing
facility. The new site also houses a number of state of the art
NYLOK licensed processing machines and equipment, with the
capabilities to apply TUFLOK 180° (standard) or 360° (optional)
radial coverage to a wide range of screws from M1.6 to M30.
TUFLOK – often referred to as the ‘blue patch’ – is a
cost-effective self-locking element comprised of nylon
permanently bonded onto the threads of a fastener. When
engaged, it creates a wedge between the fastener and mating part
compressing the nylon – creating metal to metal contact opposite
the blue patch. This metal to metal contact results in a positive
resistance to vibration and loosening. EPC points out that since
nylon has great memory characteristics, this locking element can
be reused several times – ensuring a quality, cost saving solution.
The blue patch can be applied to any size or thread
configuration of a fastener and bonds to a broad range of
fastener finishes. Not affected by high humidity conditions, and
environmentally friendly, the patch can be applied on external
118 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 95 September 2015
Thread Locking & Sealing Division
Wharf Road, Aldridge, Walsall,
West Midlands, WS9 8BX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1922 749 713
The Electrolytic Plating Co. Ltd
138 Wednesbury Road, Walsall,
West Midlands, WS1 4JJ, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1922 627 466
www.electrolytic.co.uk
A P P L I C AT I O N T E C H N O LO G Y
EPC is expanding its capabilities by investing
substantially in new machinery to enable it to provide
a high-quality service for the fastener industry
and internal threaded fasteners making it suitable for a wide
range of applications including automotive, aerospace, and
military. For instance, TUFLOK was recently applied to bolts in
the continuous track of military serviceable vehicles to stop the
bolts from loosening.
To meet demand and drive further growth EPC is already
expanding its capabilities with the addition of another NYLOK
licensed machine, which is currently on order. The fully bespoke
headless machine will enable EPC to offer the NYSEAL® under
the head sealant. Suitable for a variety of industries, NYSEAL is
applied to the underhead of a screw and creates a gasket-type
seal that prevents leakage of fluids and gases under pressure.
As the screw is seated to its final position against the mating
part, the NYSEAL element compresses slightly and fills the
void between the bearing surface of the head and the counter
sink/counter bore. The NYSEAL sealant can be applied to
virtually any headed fastener and also increases longevity.
EPC has also made a substantial investment in a state of the
art barcode process control traceability system. The new DNAsme
system is specifically designed for the needs of companies
providing CNC and conventional machining and assemblies.
The system enables EPC to optimise delivery and productivity
performance whilst continually driving its customer service.
“The new barcode process control traceability system
has enabled us to completely streamline our operations.
We can easily and quickly identify information on specific jobs,
which helps us to communicate and build relationships with
customers,” explains Simon Elwell, manager of the Thread
Locking & Sealing division. “Order times do vary on batch size
but we target a 3-5 day delivery to our customers.”
With the continued commitment and investment it is clear
EPC is building on its reputation to become a ‘one stop shop’
for its customers – providing a reliable high-quality service
for the fastener industry. “Our motto at EPC is simple: Quality.
Service. Price,” comments Andrew. “By providing a coherent
and quality service, customers can trust in our products now
and in the future.”
www.electrolytic.co.uk
120 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 95 September 2015