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As an industrial material, stainless steel has many advantages. It is resistant to rust and corrosion and is uniform in composition. It is remarkably self-repairing. Any surface damage, such as scratching or chipping, is fixed by an invisible film know as nonreactive chromium oxide, which forms when oxygen is present. And it can be combined with other materials such as nickel, molybdenum, titanium, copper, or aluminum, to vary its properties.

So, it’s no surprise that Bossard offers many fastener varieties that are made from this material. If you’re trying to determine which is the best one, the short answer is there is none. Instead, the stainless steel screw that you should choose depends on the following factors:

• What is your application? Screws are engineered for specific purposes. Those designed for wood would not work for metal joins and vice-versa. Does your application demand high strength, extreme temperature tolerance, or moisture resistance?
• What is the shape of the screw? The head, for example, can be hex, socket head, flange head, or another design. The shape determines the amount of torque that the screw can take, among other issues. What kind of thread can handle your load characteristics? A coarse thread makes for faster assembly. A fine thread engages better but takes longer to assemble.
• What grade do you require? A2-50 is inexpensive and used in applications of relatively low strength, such as with pipe clamps and hangers. A2-70 has higher strength, making them more suitable for applications that see more stress.
• What are your corrosion requirements? A2 stainless is suitable for most applications in the food and beverage industry, while A4 has a higher corrosion resistance required for marine type applications.

We can help you choose the best stainless steel screw for your fastening challenge. Contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to see how.

When your workflow demands opening and closing doors and lids, the Southco Counterbalance Hinge can make it safer and more efficient. By compensating for the weight of heavy lids and panels, this engineered access solution gives its users specific control when dealing with heavy panels, improves ergonomics, and minimizes liability issues. Among its many advantages are the following.

• It reduces to zero any effort needed to open and close heavy lids and doors by counteracting the force of gravity. Users can smoothly and precisely position a panel or lid without having to strain themselves, which lessens the risks of accidents and minimizes potential danger. This ease of use makes opening and closing quicker, which makes user tasks more efficient.
• Because the hardware is compact around its pivot points, the hinge can fit inside most enclosures with no protrusions. The lack of gas-strut posts and mounts removes catch points.
• You can adjust the assembly to match the precise requirements of even stringent applications, such as in construction or the military.
• The hinge is highly resistant to vibration, making it suitable for storage applications that are mobile or stationary, such as those found with industrial and medical equipment.
• Due to its aluminum construction, it resists corrosion and tolerates a wide range of temperatures, making it ideal for cooking and food processing.
• No energy source is needed, so even outdoor applications far from generators or powerplants can benefit.
• This technology offers a lifetime of worry-free and consistent operation because it requires no maintenance and is designed for up to 100,000 cycles. This is useful for reducing costs related to warranties, insurance, installation, maintenance, and repair.

Do you want more information about Southco Counterbalance Hinges can work with your application? Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Safety stands out as a concern whether you’re working with any kind of commercial container or industrial equipment. When you lift the hinged lift off a compartment, you can’t risk it dropping down on your hands or head. Southco’s CounterBalance Modular Torsion Spring System addresses this issue when it assists in lifting force with positional stability. You still get the full range of motion during opening and closing, which makes operations safer and more reliable.

The CounterBalance Hinge minimizes the effort needed to raise and lower lids, doors, covers, and electromechanical equipment, and to keep them supported. It consists of the following components:

• Cam Assembly controls the motion of the lid or door by managing how spring energy is released.
• Counterbalance Torque Engine consists of the Cam Follower Arm that transfers the spring energy from the torsion rods to the cam assembly and the Internal Torsion Toads that twist to specific angles to counteract the weight of the lid or door.
• Internal Torsion Rods twist (pre-load) to specific angles, counteracting the weight of the lid or door.
• Anchor Mount joins the torque engine to the base of the unit.

When the lid or door moves, these parts work together to neutralize the weight of the lid by managing mechanical energy from the torsion spring and cams. You gain precise control as the spring technology counteracts downward force.

The Counterbalance Hinge is often used in the following applications:

• Lab equipment
• Architectural doors and panels
• Cooking and food processing equipment
• Military and armored vehicles
• Gaming machines and kiosks

It enhances your work tasks by reducing lifting effort to almost nothing and can repeat its process up to 100,000 cycles. This technology is virtually maintenance-free because it requires no power source and resists temperatures from -37–107°C (-98-224°F).

Need more information about Southco Counterbalance Hinges? Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Choosing the right fastener for the job plays a crucial role in how the final product turns out. When an application involves joining materials that are too soft or too thin, directly accepting self-tapping screws or bolts will cause damage to the base material. In this situation, threaded inserts make joining those materials possible. Once this type of fastener is installed, the internal threads of the insert are available to support screws, bolts, and other fasteners with male threading.

Threaded inserts aren’t just useful for workpieces made from soft or thin materials. These inserts are often used to replace existing threaded holes that have been stripped or are otherwise no longer suitable for securely holding threaded fasteners. Compared with self-tapping screws, screws and bolts with threaded inserts can handle higher axial and radial loads.

Threaded inserts were initially developed for the aerospace and aviation industries, where their main purpose was to secure deicers to airplane wings. Today, threaded inserts are used in a wide variety of industries and applications. For instance, wellnut threaded inserts are commonly used in the automotive industry to secure plastic and metal body parts. These inserts feature rubber flanges ideal for vibration reduction and creating a watertight seal.

You will also find threaded inserts made from corrosion-resistant materials such as brass and coated steel throughout the boatbuilding industry, mainly to secure boat hulls and trim to wooden and fiberglass bodies. Household appliances also rely on threaded inserts to keep circuit board controls and plastic covers in place. Threaded inserts are also commonly chosen for their durability, making them ideal for use in green energy construction applications. Outdoor solar panels and windmills rely on threaded inserts for their high strength and ease of installation.

The experts at Bossard are more than happy to discuss threaded inserts in greater detail. Contact us to find the right fasteners for your application at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.