Traceability System

Innovative manufacturers fulfill this duty of production process documentation by means of a traceability system. This contains the identification of the parts and components mounted in any given product and the details of specific production processes carried out. The identification of the parts is carried out via an information storage label containing a clear part identification number. The information storage label can be read by a scanner and matched with the component information and the details of specific production processes stored in a central database. That enables the tracebility of every individual part produced throughout the complete manufacturing process and the supply chain.

Information storage on products

Different kinds of information storage are available e.g. optical-, magnetic- or radio readable. The optical information storage is very well suited to individual components, as it is easy and cost effective to apply to the surface of the product.

In the recent past the one-dimensional information storage code, e.g. barcode, was usual. Nowadays however, the two-dimensional information storage, e.g. data-matrix-code, is becoming more and more common. Such a data-matrix-code comprises a high information density in a small area, so it is possible to store redundant information for. This also allows error correction enabling the reading and decoding of dirty or damaged codes.

Information storage on a screw

Should fasteners like screws, nuts, studs and washers be fitted with a machine readable matrix code, they will be able to supply all information about their production history and assembly requirements. This provides a "product passport" for every individual part. In addition to the identification of the fastener the part-, serial- , and  batch number of the manufacturer and the production date can also be retrieved.

Additionally the data matrix code can make mounting tools more intelligent. The data matrix code provides the information on handling and mounting parameters and the mounting position. When comparing the information on the fastener with the information stored on the mounting robot a wrong fastener or assembly can be detected and prevented immediately.

Copy protected fasteners

Using a data matrix code on the fastener enables fasteners to be copy protected. For that reason every single fastener receives its individual encrypted identification number and the manufacturer provides the customer with a list of the encrypted information used and the decrypting mechanism. This gives the customer the opportunity to check if the part used is original. Should fasteners with an identical code appear which cannot be decoded, it can be assumed that this screw is a fake.

Fields where fasteners with information storage are used

Fasteners with information storage are particularly used in branches of industry where safety is imperative eg. automotive, aviation, wind turbine parks, military, chemical, power stations, construction.

Clamp load controlled tightening of bolts in wind energy plants:
An application for the  Digifast® Technology

An example of a successful application of the Digifast® technology is found in the wind energy industry: For the storage of the identification number and ultrasonic technical information Intellifast GmbH vequips bolts with an ultrasonic transducer and a 2D-barcode. This combination allows for simple and quick determination of the current bolt load during assembly in a wind energy plant.

The Intellifast advantage is in the transducer: thin, rugged and permanently applied to your bolt. Using the industry proven ultrasonic pulse-echo technique to determine fastener tension load with the additional advantage over conventional technologies that the there is no separate transducer or couplant. The Intellifast technology is truly operator independent.