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| New standard in the coupling of re-bar  Steel reinforcement specialist Hy-Ten has set a new standard in the coupling of re-bar with the UK's first ever fully approved friction welded coupler. Using high tech friction-welding technology, widely used in aerospace and automotive industries, the HT Welded Coupler offers better productivity, enhanced structural performance and cost savings. "Normally, to create a coupled joint both bars have to be threaded – one end receiving a coupler in the factory and the other end being positioned and screwed-in on-site. With our system there is no threading involved, we friction weld the couplers to the re-bar in the factory so they are simply screwed together on site, you don't even have to use a torque wrench. The process is quick, simple and efficient," commented Hy-Ten director Richard Webster.Hy-Ten has invested a substantial sum in researching, perfecting and setting-up the new process. Using a dedicated machine, couplers are rotated at high speed. The re-bar is offered up to the coupler and the friction between the surfaces scours and heats the metal surfaces to fusing point. The joint made by the HT Friction Welded Coupler is remarkably strong as shown in extensive trials by the Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steel (CARES) who tested multiple samples to destruction. Ultimate failure was in the re-bar and not the joint, with forces as high as 630 Newton's being applied to break the bar. Hy-Ten has already tested and obtained approval for bar diameters from 16 to 40mm with tests on 50mm bar pending. The company began offering the new system in August and has already noted strong interest from construction contractors and consultants. "Contractors are interested in the productivity improvement and significant cost saving. Importantly, the material savings make this system a more economic alternative for 25mm bars and larger, as the friction welded joint is cheaper than the corresponding lap length," concluded Richard Webster. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Construction News :: home page |