SmartBolts

Real-time visual indication of bolt preload, so you can know at a glance it's tight.

Fastener installation and inspection has never been more safe, accurate, and fast — with visual Direct Tension Indicating SmartBolts®. With SmartBolts® you’ll know FOR CERTAIN whether critical joints are tight at installation and whether they remain tight throughout the service life of the fastener.

09/22/2026

How do SmartBolts® hold up in the real world? Let's look at some of the questions that come up around durability, service life, and environmental performance.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗕𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?
Yes. SmartBolts are designed to operate within the elastic range of the fastener, allowing them to be reused for the endurance limit of the bolt.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗕𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘀?
When used as specified, SmartBolts have an operational service life of more than 20 years, comparable to that of a solid steel fastener.

𝗗𝗼 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗕𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵?
Generally, no. SmartBolts retain the tensile strength of the original fastener. If the indicator modification extends into the threaded or transition regions, tensile strength may be reduced. The reduction is determined through engineering analysis and provided for evaluation before ordering.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗕𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘀?
SmartBolts are specified to operate from -4°F to 168°F (-20°C to 75°C). If temperatures fall below -4°F (-20°C), the indicator may not function properly but returns to normal functionality when temperatures return within the operating range. Continuous exposure above 168°F (75°C) may permanently degrade the indicator.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗕𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀?
Yes. Within the specified temperature range, SmartBolts are designed to perform under normal environmental conditions, including outdoor and wet-weather exposure as well as metalworking fluid environments.

Have another question about SmartBolts fasteners? Explore our product information and technical resources: https://smartbolts.com/resources/product-information?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socials&utm_campaign=smartbolts-durability

09/17/2026

What happens when a slew bearing loses bolt preload?

A slew bearing, also known as a slewing ring bearing, depends on its mounting bolts maintaining sufficient preload throughout its service life.

If preload falls, movement or separation can develop between the bearing ring and its supporting structure. Load may then be distributed unevenly across the bolt circle, increasing stress on individual fasteners and potentially accelerating bolt fatigue, bearing wear, and damage to the mounting structure.

The challenge is knowing whether the required preload is still there.

SmartBolts® provide a visual indication of bolt tension at each fastener. The indicator is calibrated to turn black at the specified tension, while a change toward red indicates tension loss.

This gives engineering and maintenance teams a practical way to check slew bearing bolts during installation and routine inspections, then investigate any change according to the equipment’s maintenance requirements.

Learn more about SmartBolts for material handling equipment:

https://tinyurl.com/ycyvsnew

09/15/2026

How many of these bolting challenges sound familiar?

- Maintenance takes too long.
- There are too many bolts to keep track of.
- Testing tools are heavy and cumbersome.
- Bolts break after installation.

These are real challenges we hear from customers, and each one has a different solution.

We’ve put six of the ones we hear about the most together, along with the lessons from the teams dealing with them.

See if any sound familiar: https://tinyurl.com/3ktsceek

09/08/2026

Some jobs start long before the kit reaches your site.

Every SmartBolts® Aftermarket Kit ships in a custom-built crate to help protect critical components from dispatch through delivery.

Packed for the journey. Ready for the job.

See where our Aftermarket Kits fit: https://tinyurl.com/mupmwdy6

Looking for more maintenance insights? Visit our blog: https://tinyurl.com/5n8bjca9

09/03/2026

Vibration, thermal cycling, embedding, shock and other operating conditions can all change tension in a bolted joint over time.

The hardest part? Knowing when the tension has actually changed.

We break down five common causes of loose bolts and how you can prevent them.

Read the article: https://tinyurl.com/3e25k73e

08/27/2026

When bolted busway connections lose clamp force, contact resistance can rise, generating excess heat and increasing the risk of electrical failure and system downtime. Whatever the system, one question is critical to preventing this: is every connection tight?

Every system relies on bolted joints maintaining proper clamp force. Designs vary, but the need to verify those connections does not. Over time, thermal cycling, vibration and operating conditions can loosen your critical joints.

SmartBolts® make changes in fastener tension visible through a built-in colour-changing indicator.

Black means tight. Red means loose.

Designed for a wide range of busway systems, SmartBolts can be customized for new OEM designs or retrofitted into existing installations, giving teams a consistent way to verify their critical connections.

See SmartBolts in action across OEM and retrofit busway applications: https://tinyurl.com/2tanf79b

08/18/2026

When a major excavator component needs replacing, the last thing maintenance teams need is to source every bolt, washer, and spacer separately.

SmartBolts® Aftermarket Kits provide direct replacements for critical fastener components in CAT®, Hitachi and Komatsu hydraulic excavators. Each kit includes inspected SmartBolts, hardened washers and spacers, ready for installation.

Available for slew bearings, track frames and tumblers, final drives, and counterweights, the SmartBolts make changes in tension visible, supporting verified installation and faster inspections throughout service.

Explore SmartBolts Aftermarket Kits: https://tinyurl.com/5e48cc2m

08/14/2026

Finding the right fastener starts with knowing what's available.

The SmartBolts® Product Catalog brings together our range of pre-engineered fasteners in one place, making it easier to explore sizes, grades, finishes, and configurations for your application.

Whether you're specifying new equipment or replacing critical fasteners in the field, it's a practical starting point for selecting the right SmartBolt. The catalog also includes ordering information, verification guidance, and aftermarket kits.

Browse the Product Catalog: https://tinyurl.com/3rksb5kc

08/11/2026

What does bolt failure look like in the field? A haul truck taken out of service after structural movement was detected in a critical bolted joint, even though torque checks showed everything was within spec.

Bolt tension changed while the truck was in operation, but no one saw it. And if you can’t see tension, you’re just assuming the correct clamp force has been achieved and the bolt is secure.

The reality is only around 10–15% of applied torque ends up as tension in most joints while the rest is lost to friction in the threads, under the bolt head, and across mating surfaces.

Preload can vary too, by ±25% to ±35%, even when calibrated tools and correct procedures are used.

On heavy mobile equipment, that turns into structural movement under load, uneven wear, and joints loosening while the machine is still running. You’re risking unplanned failure, accidents and serious injury that can all lead to downtime.

SmartBolts® show actual bolt tension through the patented Visual Indication System™. It changes color with load, allowing maintenance teams to verify tension status during inspection.

Red is low tension. Black is your target tension. That’s what you’re looking at during inspection.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/msp8xypb

08/05/2026

You don’t usually see bolt tension change. With SmartBolts®, you can.

Watch the indicator darken as tension increases, then return to red as tension is released.

SmartBolts aren’t one and done. When used within the fastener’s elastic limits, they can be tightened and loosened repeatedly throughout the fastener’s service life.

Bolt tension made visible, cycle after cycle.

https://tinyurl.com/nht57zup

Address

3951 Dartmouth Court Suite 8
Frederick, MD
21703

Telephone

(240) 631-7246

Website

https://www.smartbolts.com/

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