Award - Wining bolt locking system

Bolted joints can loosen when transverse repeated loadings or vibration from internal and external sources are applied to the joints after they are tightened. The loosening process is accompanied by a gradual reduction of bolt tension and in extreme cases can result in the failure of an important joint. There are many cases, loosened bolts and fasteners have resulted in road accidents involving vehicles, damage to steel structures, equipment failures, etc., all with tragic consequences. One way to effectively prevent the loosening of bolts and fasteners, and related joint failures, is the patented locking system IstLock (IL) from Ferodom Ltd., Žilina, Slovakia. The Ist Lock nut received the third place award in the Innovative Product of the Year competition at Fastener Fair Stuttgart, in Stuttgart, Germany in 2009.