CoMech have provided torque calibration services for many years; our engineers are experienced and competent in calibrating torque tools from a variety of brands to BS EN ISO 6789:2003 or BS EN ISO 6789-2:2017 standards. Our dedicated laboratory sees a number of torque wrenches on a daily basis and we are committed to continual improvement in this area having recently expanded our calibration range for torque and adding a new power torque calibration rig enabling us to stay at the forefront of industry standards.
In this blog we review the industries that are using torque wrenches and why it is important to use a competent calibration service to ensure the integrity of your tools.
Torque wrenches are vital tools across multiple industries, ensuring precise tightening of fasteners to avoid mechanical failures and maintain safety standards. In many of those industries torque wrenches must be calibrated to UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) standards on a regular basis to guarantee accuracy and compliance.
Rail Industry
The UK rail sector requires torque wrenches for assembling track systems, securing fasteners in rail infrastructure, and maintaining rolling stock.
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Proper calibration ensures consistent torque application, critical to ensuring track stability, reducing maintenance issues, and enhancing passenger safety.
Automotive Industry
The UK’s automotive sector demands precise torque application to ensure vehicle safety and performance. Torque wrenches are essential for:
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Assembling engines
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Installing wheels
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Ensuring suspension and steering components are securely fastened
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Calibration ensures each torque wrench maintains precise torque settings which is critical in reducing the risk of component failure and ensuring compliance with industry safety standards such as ISO 6789.
Aerospace Industry
The aerospace sector relies on extremely precise engineering. Torque wrenches are indispensable in assembling aircraft engines, fuselage components, and control surfaces.
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Given the high safety risks in aviation, torque wrench calibration ensures that fasteners meet strict torque specifications, reducing the risk of mechanical faults and enhancing passenger safety.
Manufacturing and Engineering
In the manufacturing sector, torque wrenches are commonly used for assembling machinery, electronics, and precision tools.
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Accurate torque application is essential to ensure product consistency, reduce defects, and prevent over-tightening or under-tightening that could compromise structural integrity of the processing equipment used to manufacture.
Oil and Gas Industry
The UK oil and gas industry involves heavy machinery and infrastructure, requiring secure bolting systems for pipelines, valves, and drilling equipment.
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Precise torque control helps prevent leaks, explosions, and environmental hazards by ensuring secure seals in critical components.
Construction and Structural Engineering
Torque wrenches are vital for assembling steel frameworks, securing structural bolts, and ensuring stability in buildings and infrastructure projects.
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Proper calibration ensures load-bearing fasteners are tightened correctly, preventing structural weaknesses or failures which is essential for safety on a construction site.
Renewable Energy Industry
The renewable sector, including wind turbines and solar panel installations, relies on torque wrenches to secure crucial components that face high mechanical stress.
Why UKAS torque wrench calibration? Calibration helps meet industry regulations and ensures optimal performance, especially in remote or offshore installations where maintenance access is limited.
The importance of UKAS torque wrench calibration
UKAS accreditation is the benchmark for calibration excellence in the UK, offering businesses:
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Traceability: Ensuring measurement results are linked to national and international standards.
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Accuracy and Reliability: Guaranteeing torque tools meet strict tolerance levels.
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Compliance: Satisfying industry regulations and quality management systems such as ISO 9001.
Torque wrench calibration schedule
The next question is how often? How often should you send your torque wrenches in for calibration is something we are asked regularly and our answer is ‘it depends’ and ‘at least once per year’.
It depends because there are likely to be regulatory requirements within your industry that highlights the required schedule for calibration. Or it could be the tooling manufacturer suggests the regularity of calibration based on usage.
So we’ll need to see your torque wrenches for calibration, either at our labs or for onsite visits, at least annually and for some customers we see them more often. Our technical team can help ascertain what schedule you require for torque wrench calibration.
