HEICO Group expands portfolio - product highlights presented in Hamburg in September

The international shipbuilding trade fair SMM and the WindEnergy Hamburg provided an ideal platform for the HEICO Group to unveil its latest innovations: the HEICO-TEC® Expansion Bolts and HEICO-LOCK® Reaction Washers. Within the last few weeks, the fastener technology manufacturer introduced three significant product advancements.

The newly launched HEICO-TEC® Expansion Bolts, presented for the first time at this year’s SMM in Hamburg, offer an ideal solution for connecting large drive flanges or couplings, replacing traditional fitted bolts in gearboxes and shafts used in wind turbines, hydroelectric turbines, gas turbines, and other drive systems. Their unique conical design allows for precise alignment of components and perfect adaptation to boreholes through radial expansion, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming reworking of boreholes and fitted bolts. HEICO-TEC®

Expansion Bolts are engineered to meet specific application needs and are tailored to individual customer requirements. The product line includes three base types: for non-threaded boreholes, threaded blind boreholes, and through-holes. A wide range of customization options are available, from selecting the HEICO-TEC® tensioning element to using elastic HEICO-TEC® Reaction Nuts to ensure optimal joint longevity, with additional options to protect bolted joints against self-loosening.

At WindEnergy Hamburg, the HEICO Group further attracted attention with the introduction of the new HEICO-LOCK® Reaction Washers and the HEICO-ONE Safety Washer. The Reaction Washers not only provide secure bolt locking but also allow large, bolted joints to be tightened quickly and safely by using conventional high-torque wrenches, without the need for reaction arms.

Like all products in the HEICO-LOCK® range, the new Reaction Washers are based on the proven wedge-locking principle. The reaction washers consist of a two-washer system with radial ribs on the outer surfaces and opposing wedge-shaped inner surfaces. The gear-like contour of the larger washer at the bottom enables safe, reaction-arm-free tightening with commonly available powered torque tools, preventing harmful bending moments during the tightening process. HEICO also offers compatible dual sockets, which are adaptable to torque tools from nearly all leading manufacturers.

To facilitate the use of HEICO-LOCK® Reaction Washers in through-bolt connections without the need for time-consuming countering or holding on the passive side, HEICO has developed a friction-based backup washer featuring wave-like locking ribs on both sides. The HEICO-ONE Safety Washer complements the Reaction Washers by being placed on the passive side between the nut/bolt head and the bearing surface, preventing the passive-side bolt/nut from rotating during tightening on the active side, while also protecting the bolted joint against self-loosening.

“With the launch of these new products, we are expanding HEICO Group’s already comprehensive portfolio, providing our customers with innovative, tailored solutions and optimization potential,” explains Sales Engineer Sven Heggemann, who played a master role in the development of these products. “We are confident that this expansion will not only offer substantial value to our existing customers but will also significantly drive growth in new markets and customer segments.”