Smart maintenance with connected and innovative sensor technology

Emmy Pavlovic, CTO, Bulten Group

Most people associate Bulten with development and production of fasteners for industries such as automotive and consumer electronics. What many don't know is that the 150-year-old company, since January 2023, is the majority shareholder in TensionCam, a Gothenburg based Technology Company. The uniqueness with TensionCam is their offering which consists of a service measuring and monitoring clamp loads in screw joints by using connected sensor technology. 

The benefit? The user can access collected data in the cloud, which results in predictability in maintenance and service - something that saves both time and money.

Precise and predictable maintenance 

TensionCam's technology is based on many years of engineering in combination with the advantages of sensor technology converged with the opportunities that connected products offer in the form of data collection. With the patented TensionCam sensor concept nut, screws and sensor modules are installed in order to measure the clamp load. The uniqueness is that the sensors can be attached to the nuts and screws without affecting their load-bearing capacity. The connected sensors collect data, which is analyzed, thus solving a common problem in many industries, namely the ability to achieve as precise and predictable maintenance as possible.

"customers in need of sensor technology to be able to measure and monitor clamping force and who value having instant access to their collected data in the cloud”

“With TensionCam, the risk of downtime, costly repairs caused by inadequate installation and maintenance and uneven wear is reduced. At the same time, TensionCam can help extend the technical life of critical fasteners and also reduce downtime caused by things failing because it was not detected in time”, says Jonas Nilsagård, CEO TensionCam. 

Since maintenance problems are something that many industries struggle with, the company's customers are spread over a variety of industries and areas. Among the customers are, for example, companies in the process industry or in the wind and energy industry, but also in refineries, railways or companies with industrial heat exchangers. In essence: customers in need of sensor technology to be able to measure and monitor clamping force and who value having instant access to their collected data in the cloud.

Added value by smart technology 

The fact that Bulten took the step and became the majority owner is in line with the company's strategy to diversify the offering with new applicable technology that can be easily used by customers from day one.

“Bulten sees great potential in the service and in particular that it is suitable for installation and monitoring of critical fastener applications, such as larger pipe joints or machines that are exposed to various types of stress and strain. It is these kinds of applications that we, together with TensionCam, have identified as the most interesting for new business opportunities”, says Emmy Pavlovic SVP Technology and Innovation, Bulten. 

To be able to capitalize on this to full extent, TensionCam has initiated a number of pilot projects with third-parties in areas such as wind turbines, water and sewage. The purpose of the pilot projects is that they will result in customer offers. In this context, Bulten sees great potential by combining the large company's technical expertise, financial muscles and broad contact network with the smaller company's agile behavior and innovative ability.