Calibration: How to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Downtime

The accurate application of mechanical tension is critical to ensure quality work and the safety of the engineering or mechanical team doing the job. Tools such as hydraulic torque wrenches, chain hoists, grinders, drills, band saws, and jacks are all dependent on proper and regular calibration of their components to deliver consistent results.

A well-calibrated tool performs more efficiently, reducing the need for more expensive maintenance solutions down the road, and avoiding potentially costly delays and shutdowns from a failed part.

Let’s take a closer look at how investing in the expert calibration of your assets increases their efficiency, reduces potential downtime, and creates a safer, more uniform tensioning result.

Why is Proper Calibration Important for Tool Efficiency?

Regular calibration like torque wrench calibration helps to ensure your tools are working to their full potential. It’s vitally important that you’re certain of their accuracy, for the sake of your quality assurance, and your safety reputation. If you play fast and loose with the accuracy of your tools like your torque wrench calibration, or gamble on cost-saving measures like trying to calibrate all your assets in-house, the cost of a damaged reputation, delayed orders, or lost customers due to a potential incident will far outweigh that of making sure your tools are calibrated perfectly.

A more efficient tool also performs better and doesn’t require as much adjustment to maintain correct tightening over an extended period. One example of a commonly employed tool that benefits greatly from regular calibration is your hydraulic torque wrench. Making sure your torque wrench calibration is accurate can significantly increase its efficiency.

Hydraulic Torque Wrench

Unless obvious physical damage is visible, you can’t look at a tool like a torque wrench and know if it’s within tolerance. If it's not correctly calibrated, it’ll exert too much or too little pressure. This could break a coupling part, or leave it dangerously loose. That’s why it's recommended that your torque wrench calibration is performed annually or by its 5,000th cycle unless your industry requires otherwise.

The best way to make sure your hydraulic torque wrench calibration is accurate is to partner with a company like Aztec Bolting that offers calibration services. A quality calibration service will use top-of-the-line tools like the Safe T Torque Checker to ensure absolute precision within 1%. If you’re going through the effort of coordinating with a service partner, you shouldn’t have to wonder if the job is done to your required specifications.

How Does Calibration Reduce Downtime?

Proactive maintenance will always take less time than reactive problem solving and repairs. A poorly calibrated tool reduces your productivity by demanding maintenance downtime due to pipe or equipment failure. When you can’t work effectively, deadlines pass by. At that point, you may have to contact a third party for repairs, but what if they’re unreliable or slow? When you’re put in a position where you have to rely on someone else’s schedule, the losses are compounded.

Third-party bolting service providers like Aztec can perform fast calibration services on-site, or offer tools for rent while maintenance is underway. Aztec Bolting’s fleet of mobile units brings our calibration experts straight to you, further reducing your downtime. We offer 24-hour emergency mobilization of our bolting technicians.

Want To Be Sure Your Critical Tools Are Always on Point?

Contact Aztec Bolting today to learn more about our calibration solutions and to discuss your specific needs.