'TenCon Load Indicating Washer' earns Clarkwood Engineering Manufacturing Achievement Award

By Clarkwood Engineering Ltd
schedule31st Oct 12

In recognition of their innovative new product, Clarkwood Engineering have received a Manufacturing Achievement award for ‘Innovation/Diversification’ at the Made in the Midlands award.  Sponsored by Wolverhampton Business Solution Centre, the award highlighted the new product, the ‘TenCon Load Indicating washer,’ which was developed with the help of Wolverhampton University.  Professor Andrew Pollard of the Department of Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton said: “We are delighted to have played a small part in the refinement of the TenCon concept – this is just the sort of product development project where the University can contribute, and help to advance Midlands Manufacturing.”

Already exhibited at the London Science Museum ‘Make it in Great Britain’ as a finalist during the 2012 Olympic Games, TenCon is a tension indicating washer that allows joint tension control in fasteners.  The new tension indicating washer is seen as a major worldwide contribution in overcoming problems and meeting industry’s needs for a cost-effective simple means of monitoring bolt stress, improving safety in critical structures and preventing environmental problems. 

Clarkwood Engineering manufactures state-of-the-art fasteners and special turned parts from its unit at Blakenhall Industrial Estate, Wolverhampton.  The firm have a range of new products and are continuing to invest in new technology and apprenticeships.  The future looks particularly bright for ‘TenCon’ as it has now been awarded a finalist place in the Chamber of Commerce KEEN awards for excellence in innovation.