Construcciones Yamaro: Applied Bolting and Hobson Engineering boost bolting confidence

With a robust supply of Applied Bolting products in its Australian warehouses, Hobson Engineering is empowering contractors to deliver projects faster and with greater efficiency.

For nearly a century, Hobson Engineering has been a key partner to the construction industry, offering high-quality fastening solutions through collaborations with top global suppliers. Among these, its partnership with Applied Bolting has transformed structural bolting practices across Australia.

Around 17 years ago, Hobson Engineering introduced Applied Bolting’s Squirter direct tension indicating (DTI) washers to the Australian market. These washers contain a unique orange media that squirts out when the bolt achieves the correct tension, providing a visual indication of proper installation. Today, Squirter DTI washers are specified for major construction projects nationwide, further cementing Hobson Engineering’s reputation for driving innovation in structural bolting.

Visual confirmation of bolt tension with Squirter direct tension indicating washers.

Ensuring quality and reliability

Traditionally, the part-turn of nut method has been used to tension structural bolts. While effective, it involves extra steps of marking nuts and measuring rotation to demonstrate bolt tension has been achieved. Applied Bolting’s Squirter DTI washers streamline the bolt tensioning process, improving both speed and quality control onsite.

Gavin McPherson, lead engineer at Hobson Engineering, highlights the advantages: “There are two approved methods for installing structural bolts: the part-turn of nut method or using a DTI device. With the part‑turn method, nuts are marked after snugging and then further rotated. The amount of rotation must be checked to confirm the correct installation.

McPherson explains that Applied Bolting’s innovation lies in the orange media embedded under the washer’s bumps.

“With the Squirter DTI method, when the bumps compress to a certain point, the media squirts out, giving a clear visual signal that the correct tension has been achieved. This eliminates the need for gap measurement – installers just tighten the bolt until the media squirts,” he says.

While the part-turn of nut method may appear to indicate a properly installed bolt, McPherson points out potential issues: “You could have oversized or slotted holes, or the steel might not be in firm contact before tightening. From the outside, everything might appear correct, but the bolt may not have reached the minimum tension required. By specifying Squirter DTI washers, any problems that exist in the connection will be identified by the DTI not squirting, signalling a problem.”

He adds, “Squirter DTI washers offer reliable onsite quality control. The part‑turn method works well when done correctly – but that’s always the unknown. With Squirter DTI washers, you remove the guesswork and ensure correct installation every time.”

Rob Westover, vice president of sales and technical support at Applied Bolting, underscores the practical advantages of Squirter DTI washers.

“They allow for visual representation of bolt tension independently of specified torque values; it’s easy for the ironworker to use, for quality assurance to inspect, and for the owners to verify quality work,” says Westover. “The guarantee of proper bolt tension gives the owners the highest quality of steel construction.”

Westover also highlights the challenge posed by the influx of hardware from around the world. “With hardware flooding Australia’s market, Squirter DTI washers guarantee proper bolt tension,” he says. “Simply put, they verify good hardware and do not work when the hardware is subpar.”

In addition, the instant visual feedback provided by Squirter DTI washers helps reduce rework and delays. The operator knows exactly when to stop tightening, and inspectors can easily identify the orange Squirt media around the DTI, quickly verifying the bolt is correctly installed.

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Squirter direct tension indicating washers were used on a Level Crossing Removal Project in Reservoir, Victoria.

Squirter DTI washers in action

Westover shares a success story from Bechtel, an engineering, construction and project management company. “Bechtel was very happy using our Squirter DTI washers at Pluto LNG; the [team] in Australia took to using them with ease, and the modular units they had to inspect from Indonesia, which were assembled with Squirter DTI washers, made site inspection a breeze,” he says.

McPherson has also seen widespread adoption across Australia, with many clients specifying Squirter DTI washers for all structural connections due to their proven efficiency and reliability.

“A prime example is Kemps Creek in New South Wales, where industrial warehouse projects are exclusively specifying Squirter DTI washers for structural bolting,” he says.

“The visual confirmation provided by these washers has also led to innovative inspection methods. For instance, inspectors use drones to fly up to large portal frames and confirm the full indication of proper tension. This not only satisfies them but also saves significant time.”

Hobson Engineering’s technical expertise and support are instrumental in the success of Applied Bolting’s Squirter DTI washers in the Australian market. The team regularly visits customer sites to demonstrate correct installation techniques and ensure that users are getting the most out of these products.

“Hobson Engineering offers great communication and technical support; this allows Applied Bolting to be successful halfway around the world,” says Westover.

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Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini