Learn About the Specialized Benefits of Nord-Lock Washers

The Nord-Lock washer is the result of years of engineering and design persistence in creating the ultimate locking washer. It offers superior holding power without damaging the surface it is attached to. When it was first launched in 1982, it was a vast improvement over previous wedge-locking mechanisms and soon caught the attention of manufacturers and designers worldwide.

Brief History of Washers

Washers have been in use since around 400 BC. As technology advanced, different designs for washers were conceived for various purposes and applications. While washers were first used to help spread the load over a larger surface, engineers realized that they could also provide holding power.

Split washers, spring washers, and serrated washers of various shapes were designed to add to the holding power of fasteners. They would either have sharp edges that could grip the surface they were screwed into and increase the fastener's holding capacity, or, in the case of spring washers, they'd provide tension between the nut and surface that served to boost the holding power.

Wedge-locking washers, which used two serrated washers that locked into each other, were a novel concept. But a working design wasn't refined until the 1980s.

Early Nord-Lock Washers

In 1982, Nobex, a Swedish hardware manufacturer, acquired the existing patent for wedge-locking washers. They appreciated that wedge-locking washers, in principle, represented a cleaner way to add to the holding power of fasteners. The washers worked on the concept of tension instead of friction.

Earlier washers that claimed to increase the efficiency of nuts and screws to hold fast to the surfaces they were attached to did so because they would dig into the surfaces of the materials. This could cause scrapes and gouges, and though they accomplished their purpose, they also damaged the surfaces they were attached to. Spring washers were designed to solve the surface damage issue, but they would suffer from metal fatigue over time and lose their ability to apply even tension.

Nobex had faith that once the correct design was found, wedge-locking washers could solve many of the vibration-caused loosening problems of modern machinery manufacturers. The company hired a design engineer to redesign the existing wedge-locking washer, and, over time, they arrived at a breakthrough design for the washer.

Launch of Nord-Lock Washers

In 1984, the design of Nord-Lock washers was launched, although they wouldn’t be widely known as Nord-Lock until the company changed its name to that appellation in 2001.

As holders of the patent, Nobex would be the first supplier to offer stainless steel, wedge-locking washers featuring the breakthrough modern design. Designers and manufacturers worldwide immediately saw the benefits of these unique washers, and the company's fortunes soared.

By 2001, with the rebranding of Nobex, the new Nord-Lock company focused on its signature product. Nord-Lock introduced special alloys of their washers in 2003 that included 254 SMO® that could withstand a saltwater and chloride environment. Nord-Lock also introduced nickel-based alloys for high-temperature and corrosive element applications.

How Do Nord-Lock Washers Work?

Nord-Lock washers took the world by storm by offering a washer system that provided all the increased holding power of serrated, split and spring washers, but caused none of the damage of serrated and split washers, and none of the metal fatigue that afflicts spring washers.

The washer system features two washers that lock together with interlocking ridges on the inside of the facing washers. The outsides of the washers have a ring of small ridges that hold the washers in place against the surfaces. The internal tension of the two washers dissipates the friction and allows the washers to function without gouging or scraping the surfaces they’re attached to.

What Are Nord-Lock Washers Used for?

Nord-Lock washers are found in any application subjected to heavy vibration and movement. The automotive and aerospace industries were early supporters of Nord-Lock washers. Today, any manufacturer that produces machines and applications designed to operate and withstand heavy, constant vibration will benefit from the capabilities of Nord-Lock washers.

But Nord-Lock Washers Online in Thailand

We offer a range of Nord-Lock washers for sale. These washers can be ordered online for delivery to anywhere across Thailand. Discover the benefits of these breakthrough innovations in washers. Order Nord-Lock washers online today.