Hobson Engineering
Utility operators depend on the integrity of every component to keep critical infrastructure online. Fasteners are small components that play a huge role - bolts, nuts, screws and anchors literally hold assets together across the sector.
But verifying product integrity is not always straightforward. Documentation can be incomplete or misleading, especially with low cost and low-quality products. Testing of fasteners can be inconsistent, impacting compliance. Confusion can arise around correct installation to meet engineering requirements and standards such as AS 5216 and AS/NZS 1252:2016.
Using the wrong fastener, or a poor-quality fastener can leave asset owners and contractors risking structural and production failures resulting in the need for costly rework and even regulatory consequences. When the stakes are so high, accredited testing and clear documentation are essential safeguards.
How Hobson Engineering is raising the standard?
Hobson Engineering has been supplying fasteners to the Australian market since 1935. The company offers a vast range of products from global brands, backed by technical knowledge, an in-house laboratory and correct installation documentation. All critical fasteners are independently tested in a NATA or ILAC-accredited lab, ensuring that mechanical properties, material composition and performance characteristics meet applicable standards.
Every product is traceable to the box level. For some products like structural bolts, traceability goes even further - back to the bolt itself. Hobson makes it easy to check the documentation - simply type a three letter code from the bolt or the trace number from the label into the Hobson Engineering website, and get the test certificates for that batch. There’s no need to log in or register. There are currently over 56,000 certificates available.
Gavin McPherson, Lead Engineer at Hobson, says these measures set the company apart from other suppliers, helping inspire trust and confidence.
“People believe if they buy Hobson they will get a quality product. Obviously, we back that with our technical support, and we’ve got good traceability on our stock holdings nationwide,” he says. “We invest heavily in quality. I don’t think anyone tests as much product as we do. The standard doesn’t require it, but we pay for additional verification testing on a lot of our high tensile products, so that we’re confident the product we’re supplying will meet the requirements of the standard.”
Hobson is also certified to ISO 9001: 2015, the global standard for quality management. This certification means companies have robust quality control processes and are providing products that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
Installation matters as much as verification.
Of course, even the highest-quality fastener can fail if it’s incorrectly installed or not suitable for the application. Gavin says understanding the product and how it’s used is a key challenge.
“Installation is the biggest problem. There’s a lot of misconception, particularly about structural bolts and how to install them correctly,” he says. “The second problem is compatibility and suitability of materials for various environments. If you were to install a zinc bolt in a harsh environment, it would very quickly corrode and you would start getting material degradation, which will affect the performance of the system. Selecting the right material or coating for the environment you’re in is a big part of fastener selection.”
To help, Hobson publishes technical notes and data sheets that state where fasteners can be used and what they can be used for. The Hobson team is also available to provide specific technical support. The Hobson Engineering range at Blackwoods includes structural bolt, nut and washer assemblies, Nord-Lock® bolt securing systems, high tensile bolts and nuts, Allthread rods, Bumax Washers and SCHNORR® disc spring washers and much more!
Available at Blackwoods - Your utilities solutions partner.
Make sure fasteners are up to the job. Work with Hobson Engineering and your local Blackwoods Technical Fastening & Power Tools Specialist to ensure the fasteners you choose meet standards and engineering requirements.
