Award for revolutionary device

A company that worked with the University of Wolverhampton to develop a revolutionary device to check the tightness of bolts has won a prestigious award.

Clarkwood Engineering, based in Wolverhampton, scooped the Made in the Midlands ‘Manufacturing Achievement Award’ in a ceremony held at the Thinktank in Birmingham.

The company worked with the Caparo Innovation Centre at the University to develop the ‘TenCon’ system which can be used by the oil industry, amongst other applications.

The system provides a cost-effective method of monitoring bolt stress in safety critical applications.

It aims to minimise the occurrence of warranty claims, safety breaches and production down-time associated with under-tensioned bolts.

Andrew Pollard, Caparo Industrial Professor, said: “We are delighted to have played our 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.”

The award is the second accolade for the TenCon system after it was selected by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to be exhibited at the “Make it in Great Britain” event at the Science Museum, London.

ENDS

Picture: Left to right – Emma Wood, Clarkwood Engineering; Stan Ceney, Clarkwood Engineering; Lord Digby Jones; Prof. Andrew Pollard, Caparo Innovation Centre; Gary Dimmock, Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre.

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