FEATURED VIDEO: EJOT UK’s collaborative approach to addressing tomorrow’s fastening challenges

EJOT UK is helping the roofing and facades sector to raise the bar in terms of optimising performance and installation processes through a dedicated research, development and testing programme within its Applitec Centre.

The valuable facility allows systems manufacturers, envelope designers and installers to consult with the fastener manufacturer at an early design stage, ensuring that the most suitable fastening approach can be researched, tested and confirmed.

Despite EJOT UK’s new product development (NPD) work being carried out largely under the radar, it is crucially important. It supports the industry to continuously improve building performance standards, safety and longevity, as well as respond to architectural trends.

Facilitating innovation

NPD is a key focus for the Applitec team due to the long term benefits their work delivers. Without EJOT pushing the boundaries, new designs and materials for roofing and cladding sheets, systems and panels, may never achieve their long term potential if they cannot be effectively fixed into position.

Hence why EJOT UK has a dedicated technical team who have at their disposal state of the art machinery and technology within the Applitec Centre to develop tomorrow’s fastening solutions. This laboratory is a key part of the company’s Yorkshire site, which is integral to its UK manufacturing operations, but it also makes an important contribution to the success of the EJOT Group globally.

The Applitec team work in virtual tandem with their engineering counterparts based at EJOT in Germany, who are involved in their own extensive research, development and testing programmes within the EJOT TEC ACADEMY. In addition to collaborating with EJOT divisions around the world, this facility allows the team to support customers via a digital training portal, mirroring the UK team’s goal to provide best practice in construction projects when using EJOT fasteners.

Insights to transform concepts into reality

The Applitec Team is increasingly utilising innovative technology to drive better performance of fasteners and increase the value of their contribution to the built environment. The team’s Technical Advisor, Dylan Roe, plays a key role here by leading on EJOT UK’s product design developments.

Dylan utilises CAD (computer aided design), including SolidWorks software for designing new products and modifying existing fasteners to achieve new design and performance goals. His work is initially completed almost entirely in a digital environment, meaning that physical resources are not required until much later in the NPD process.

Once approval is secured on the virtual design, the team progresses it to rapid prototyping where 3D printing technology within Applitec is used. This delivers significant time and cost savings compared to traditional prototyping processes.

Dylan says: “SolidWorks is an important tool for us as it enables us to generate the files required for prototyping. We also use it to assist with CAM (computer aided manufacturing) and there are other elements within the software that will be increasingly important in future.

“For example, it will enable us to unlock the power of FEA (finite element analysis), which allows us to see where the stress points are digitally, and where the forces are localised using colour gradients. This makes it possible to predict how the product will perform in-situ with a high degree of accuracy to further streamline the NPD process.”

Rigorous analysis of installation processes and techniques

Installation analysis is another key dimension to the NPD work carried out at EJOT UK’s Applitec Centre. Evaluating the specified performance of fasteners versus the actual performance is crucially important, so the team uses a state of the art machine as part of their analysis which generates test data. This also feeds in to quality control.

This work means the Applitec team can replicate processes being used on site. As a result, they can provide the equivalent values to installers who will actually be using screw guns on-site. Hence why installation analysis is not only key to NPD, but also important for when investigating issues that customers may be facing with non-standard applications.

How does installation analysis help maintain quality? Firstly, it helps to confirm the consistency of products arriving at EJOT UK from other manufacturing subsidiaries in the EJOT Group.

In addition, the process is also utilised by OEMs who may turn to EJOT during the development of their new products for specialist assistance regarding which fasteners to use for optimum installation.

Benefits of early consultation

The Applitec team’s work goes beyond the design and application of the fastener itself, taking time to understand the entire system in which the fasteners are being used. EJOT UK’s Technical Services Team Leader, Stephen Holl, factors this into the Applitec schedule.

The team assists OEMs test their products, such as to confirm performance figures, using numerous different types of testing including tensile testing, pullover testing and installation testing.

Stephen and the Applitec team can draw on a huge number of fasteners within the EJOT portfolio to meet the needs of new applications, as well as those which may have changed. In addition, EJOT UK has a close relationship with many OEM customers who consult with the company first when they are considering making changes, particularly with systems.

This kind of early consultation with EJOT UK, along with a collaborative design approach, has the potential to pay huge dividends given the savings that can be achieved overall in the development process for a new system or product. It may enable new products to be launched to the market earlier due to a shorter development period, thus enabling a faster return on investment, as well as achieving an overall reduction in the design, prototyping and testing processes – all of which come with a cost.

Collaboration with EJOT Group colleagues in Germany

EJOT is a global brand with a reputation for technical excellence that goes far beyond the UK’s shores. What this means for EJOT UK’s technical team is that they are not only part of a highly skilled and experienced technical team here in the UK, but supported by colleagues at EJOT Group based in Germany, as and when required.

And it is also a two-way relationship. In certain projects, Dylan is able to make minor modifications to an established EJOT fastener for his design and manufacturing colleagues in Germany to develop further and progress into production.

EJOT UK
Hurricane Close
Sherburn Enterprise Park
Sherburn-in-Elmet
Leeds
LS25 6PB
UK

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