OEM&Lieferant Ausgabe 1/2020

104 Connection technology Another quantum leap Von Annette Löwen, Head of FAT Marketing Deutschland, Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH The time has come. Böllhoff continues to make product history and presents the next development stage of the established HELICOIL thread technology. How is it possible that a product which has been celebrating its 65th birthday in 2019 becomes even more intelligent? You combine the functions of the HELICOIL Plus and the HELICOIL Tangfree, dye it blue and give it a tang that does not have to be broken off. The innovation: The installation mandrel bends it backward during spinning-off and then com- presses it. Tang break and tang removal are not required. A smart idea which in the end also inspired its name: HELICOIL Smart. It represents the start- ing signal for the new generation of thread technology for high-strength joints. This thread insert, which is made from a wire with rhombic profile, is also formed into an elastic spiral. As to the Free Running version, thread by thread it is a completely free running coarse thread. The result is a true-to-gauge internal thread including the last thread which is in every case threadable. However, during all those years, the heart of the functionality has remained unchanged. Then, as now, the thread insert has been cre- ating high-strength joints in low-strength materials such as aluminium, magnesium and fibre-reinforced plastics like carbon fibre composites by transferring forces from flank to flank into the holding thread. For increased quality and value – whether for thread reinforcement or repair. The special thread start, which has been adapted from the HELICOIL Plus, allows to position it like a screw and screw it in. S H A R E The new generation of HELICOIL thread technology – HELICOIL Smart. The thread insert with tang which does not have to be broken off. Images/Graphics: © Böllhoff Driving innovation To screw in the thread insert, all you need is the Smart installation mandrel: a mandrel with two functions — 2 in 1. Very special is the blade position control. Upon screwing-in, the blade has a pull-in function, whereas upon screwing-out, it turns into a bending and com- pression tool. This enables an easy and quick installation in one single process step, whether manually or fully automated. Böllhoff never loses economic efficiency out of sight so that also the pneumatic installation tools are constantly being further developed. The solutions of the most recent generation convince through high flexibility and fast and reliable processing (M4 to M12). Combined with the respective installation tools, the current innovation stage in the HELICOIL technology is a perfect addition to the HELICOIL product family. Like all stages of the HELICOIL evolution, the Smart system is also highly reliable. The HELICOIL Evolution