A smart bolt that measures itself – every 10 minutes, 24/7
Your critical bolted joints are affected by heat, cold and vibration every single day. Yet you only know their condition when the line stops.
The Strainlabs Bolt changes that.
- 144 inspections per day
- Remote monitoring – no manual access needed
- Works in heat, cold and vibration
Find out if Strainlabs fits your operation
Manual inspections show you how things look right now. Not what is about to happen.
A torque check gives you a snapshot – one value, one moment in time. But preload in a bolted joint changes continuously. Temperatures rise and fall. Vibration loosens the grip. Materials settle over time.
Between inspections, you have no visibility. And by the time you discover something is wrong, it has often already led to damage – or unplanned downtime.
What does an unplanned stop actually cost you?
An unplanned shutdown is never just lost production time. It is a chain reaction.
Production losses. Every hour a line stands still costs your operation directly – in lost output, delayed deliveries and contract penalties.
Consequential damage. A bolt failure rarely stays isolated. When one joint fails under load, it puts stress on surrounding components. What starts as one bolt becomes a full repair.
Safety risk. Failed joints in pressure vessels, rotating equipment or elevated structures put people in danger. The cost of an accident is never just financial.
Emergency response. Unplanned stops mean overtime, emergency procurement, rushed repairs and decisions made under pressure – all at a premium.
The question is not whether you can afford to monitor your critical joints. It is whether you can afford not to.
One bolt. Three problems solved.
144 data points. Zero guesswork. Today, most bolted joints are checked manually – if they are checked at all. The Strainlabs Bolt measures preload every 10 minutes with built-in thermal compensation, giving you 144 verified data points per day. For the first time, you know exactly what is happening in the joint – not what you assume is happening.
Act months before failure. Deviations in preload become visible weeks or months before they lead to failure. That means you can schedule maintenance when it suits your operation – instead of scrambling after something has already broken. Fewer emergency shutdowns. Fewer costly surprises.
Full control without being there. Manual inspections often require climbing, scaffolding and confined-space entry – in environments with extreme heat, vibration or height. The Strainlabs Bolt reports remotely. Your team gets better data without the risk.
From snapshots to continuous insight
The Strainlabs Bolt replaces your existing bolt in the critical joint. It is a fully functional industrial bolt with an integrated sensor that measures preload every 10 minutes – with built-in thermal compensation so the data reflects actual preload, not thermal effects.
Visibility around the clock. 144 data points per day, per joint. You see trends and changes that a manual inspection will never capture.
Control from the moment of installation. Immediate feedback on whether the correct preload has been achieved – no uncertainty about your starting point.
Early warning. Deviations become visible weeks or months before they turn into failures. You have time to plan instead of scrambling to react.
Explore what it looks like in your operation
Built for industry – not for the lab
Standard range M10–M36. Custom dimensions on request.
The standard range of Strainlabs Bolts include M10-M36 hex head bolts.
| ISO 4014/4017 | Steel | Stainless steel | Special alloys |
|---|---|---|---|
| M10 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M12 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M16 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M16 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M20 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M22 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M24 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M27 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M30 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M33 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Spec. |
| M36 | Grades 88 & 109 by Bumax®, A4-70 and A4-80 | Grades 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 | Spec. |
Once the battery is discharged, Strainlabs IoT bolts can either remain in the joint (function as a traditional bolt) or be replaced. Strainlabs bolts are recyclable, just dismantle the PCBA from the metal parts and the battery is easily removed from its clip. Recycle separately the electronics, the battery and the steel / stainless steel.
Frequently asked questions
What is a smart bolt?
A smart bolt is an industrial bolt with built-in measurement technology. Instead of only holding a joint together, it also provides data about what is happening inside the joint. In critical applications, this makes it possible to monitor preload, detect deviations and reduce the risk of unexpected failures.
What does a bolt sensor measure?
A bolt sensor measures the condition of a bolted joint. In the case of Strainlabs, the bolt measures preload every 10 minutes, giving you continuous insight into how the joint behaves over time.
What is preload in a bolted joint?
Preload is the clamping force created when a bolt is tightened. It is what keeps the joint secure. If preload is lost due to vibration, temperature changes, settling or fatigue, the joint can become unsafe or unreliable.
Why is preload monitoring important?
Preload monitoring helps you see changes before they become failures. A joint can lose preload long before there are visible signs of a problem. With continuous data, maintenance teams can act early instead of waiting for a breakdown or unplanned shutdown.
How is continuous monitoring different from manual inspection?
Manual inspection gives you a snapshot. Continuous monitoring gives you a trend. A torque check or manual inspection only shows the condition at one point in time, while a smart bolt can show how preload changes during operation, day and night.
How often is the joint measured?
The Strainlabs Bolt measures preload every 10 minutes. That equals 144 data points per day, per joint.
Can smart bolts detect problems before failure?
Yes. Changes in preload can become visible weeks or months before they lead to failure. This gives maintenance teams time to plan corrective action instead of reacting under pressure after something has already gone wrong.
What are force sensing bolts?
Force sensing bolts are bolts designed to measure force or preload in a bolted joint. They are used when the condition of the joint is critical and when manual inspections are not enough to ensure reliability.
Can the bolt be monitored remotely?
Yes. The data can be monitored remotely, which reduces the need for manual access to the joint. This is especially useful in environments with heat, vibration, height, confined spaces or other safety risks.
Does temperature affect the measurement?
Temperature can affect bolted joints and measurement data. That is why Strainlabs uses built-in thermal compensation, so the data reflects actual preload changes rather than misleading effects caused by heat or cold.
Which bolt sizes are available?
The standard range includes M10–M36 hex head bolts. Custom dimensions can also be discussed depending on the application and operating environment.
Where are smart bolts used?
Smart bolts are used in industrial environments where bolted joints are critical to safety, uptime or production reliability. Common applications include mining, process industry, energy, infrastructure, rotating equipment and other assets where an unexpected stop would be costly.
Can a smart bolt replace manual inspections?
In many cases, smart bolts can reduce the need for manual inspections by providing continuous preload data. The right setup depends on the application, safety requirements and existing maintenance routines.
What happens when the battery is discharged?
When the battery is discharged, the bolt can either remain in the joint and function as a traditional bolt or be replaced. The components can be recycled separately, including electronics, battery and metal parts.
How do I know if this fits my application?
Start with the critical joint. If failure would create downtime, safety risks, difficult repairs or high inspection costs, continuous preload monitoring may be relevant. Tell us about your application, and we can help assess what can be monitored.