Tag: #TsamourisFasteners

Texas Company Unveils World’s Largest Hex Nut

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Patriot Bolt and Fastener in Humble, Texas, has claimed the title for the world’s largest hex nut with the
installation of “Big Tex the Incredible Hex” on their property. The massive 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall, 19 feet (5.8
meters) wide nut, crafted by Houston-based JK Welding, dethrones the previous record holder in Komenda,
Slovenia.

CEO and founder Kris Kolb decided to pursue the record, stating, “No better place to have that record in than
Texas because everything is bigger in Texas.” The silver-painted nut, weighing approximately 8,500 pounds
(3,855 kilos), features “Patriot Bolt” and “Made in Texas” inscriptions and boasts a 10-foot (3 meters)
diameter opening, making it theoretically functional if ever needed.

JK Welding owner and founder John King embraced the challenge, with his team investing over 450 man
hours across six weeks to complete the project. Eduardo Hinojosa, a JK Welding employee, expressed his
satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “I have never been a part of anything of this magnitude. This concept
was pretty fun.”

While a Guinness World Records verifier could not attend the installation, Kolb expects the record to be
officially recognized soon. The hex nut’s size significantly surpasses the Slovenian record, which measures
approximately 11.8 feet (3.6 meters) by 13.6 feet (41 meters).

As a leading provider of fasteners, at Tsamouris, we understand the importance of pushing boundaries and
showcasing the vital role bolts play in our world.

How Metal Bolts Save Old Brick Buildings from Earthquakes

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Those metal stars adorning old brick buildings in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and St. Louis, United
States, are not just patriotic decor — they are vital structural components called star bolts, designed to
prevent catastrophic collapses.

In many older brick row houses, floor and roof joists run parallel to the front and rear facades, leaving these
walls connected only at the edges and roof. The problem is that sometimes these end-walls can start to
bulge outwards, since they’re only connected to the rest of the house at their edges.

Star bolts and other shaped plates are a common engineering retrofit, running through the brick and
connecting facades to the joists behind to stabilize the structure. The star shape effectively distributes
tension loads across multiple bricks while looking intentional from any angle.

These tie rods come in various shapes, including diamonds, circles, and squares, with the latter being a
cost-effective choice often found in the Bay Area for seismic reinforcement. In Europe, more sophisticated
and stylized shapes made of cast or wrought iron are also common.

Retrofitting structures with star bolts can be costly, but it’s often cheaper than rebuilding a brick wall.

Tokyo’s Boundary House Built Using Only Nuts and Bolts

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

“Boundary House” in Tokyo, is a residential construction designed by Niji Architects, built exclusively with
lightweight steel and assembled using only nuts and bolts. This prefabricated home showcases the potential
of modular and sustainable construction.

The steel frame, made from light gauged section (LGS) lipped channels, was cut, drilled, and fitted with joint
hardware in a factory before being transported to the site. Once the foundation was ready, the prefabricated
components were simply bolted together, significantly reducing construction time and labor costs.

The home’s lightweight steel frame eliminated the need for pile foundations, further reducing build costs.
The floor, walls, and roof consist of panels strong enough to be directly fastened, eliminating the need for
backing materials.

To ensure privacy in an area flanked by empty lots, Niji Architects strategically placed windows above and
below, creating a comfortable and rhythmic living space with a tranquil, secluded bedroom.

At Tsamouris, we support the growing need of modular and sustainable building practices.

Dutch Bank’s Office Built with 165,312 Screws for Easy Disassembly and Reuse

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In a groundbreaking example of circular design, the Netherlands-based Triodos Bank has constructed an
office building that can be fully disassembled and reused at the end of its life. The building, designed by
Dutch firm Rau Architects, was constructed using an astonishing 165,312 screws, allowing for easy
dismantling and repurposing of its components.

The primarily wooden structure, with towers ranging from two to five stories, stands in stark contrast to
traditional steel and concrete buildings that are welded together and are difficult to disassemble.
Beyond its innovative use of screws, the building boasts several other sustainable features. The wood used
in construction is carbon neutral, and the design maximizes natural daylight to reduce the need for artificial
lighting. The building’s shape was carefully considered to minimize its impact on local wildlife, and the
landscaping includes a pond for animals to drink from.

The office also incorporates renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and geothermal heating
and cooling, while encouraging eco-friendly commuting with bike facilities and proximity to public
transportation.

Perhaps most unique is the building’s status as the first “temporary materials bank.” All materials used in the
design are logged on a public platform called “Madaster,” which tracks materials in the built environment to
eliminate waste. Each component, from wooden beams to glass panels, has a “materials passport” detailing
its specifications and origins.

At Tsamouris, we recognize the importance of innovative fastening solutions in enabling circular design and
sustainable construction.

Broken Bolt Blamed for Oregon Train Derailment

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In June 2016, a broken bolt sent a Union Pacific train carrying volatile crude oil hurtling off the tracks in the
Columbia River Gorge, spilling 42,000 gallons (158,987 liters) and forcing the evacuation of the nearby town
of Mosier, Oregon, United States. The accident was caused by at least one broken bolt holding the rail in
place, according to a report filed by the company with the Federal Railroad Administration.

The broken bolt, which is unique to curved sections of track, failed despite the train traveling at 26 mph (42
km/h) in a 30 mph (48 km/h) zone. As a result of the accident, Union Pacific checked similar bolts in curved
sections of its 32,000 mi (51,499 km) of track across 23 states. The company also replaced bolts in the
derailment area with heavier duty ones and increased inspections in the Columbia River Gorge from once
every 18 months to four times a year.

The derailment, which caused no injuries, raised concerns about the risks associated with transporting
crude oil by rail.

At Tsamouris, we understand the critical role that quality fasteners play in ensuring the safety and reliability
of transportation infrastructure.

Bahco’s Inaugural Washington State Pruning Competition

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Tsamouris, the Hand Tools Specialists©

In a thrilling display of skill and precision, 17 professional pruners from across Washington, DC, gathered at
the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center in Richland on March 9, 2024, for the first-ever
Washington State Pruning Competition. The event, a collaboration between Bahco, the leading
manufacturer of cutting tools and professional horticulture equipment, and Washington State University’s
Viticulture and Enology Program, aimed to honor the unnoticed heroes of the agricultural industry.

Pruning, a crucial task in winemaking that involves removing excess wood from vines to promote fruit
development and overall vine health, requires a keen eye and steady hand. The competition put the pruners’
abilities to the test, with judges evaluating the precision of their grapevine cuts, including the angle,
proximity to buds, and other key criteria.

Shaw Vineyards, the largest grower in Washington’s Red Mountain AVA, dominated the event, with their
employees sweeping the top three spots in both the men’s and women’s categories. The winners received
an impressive array of prizes, including cash, silver belt buckles, and specially crafted golden secateurs,
while all contestants took home Bahco pruning tools.

At Tsamouris, we are proud to offer Bahco’s world-class hand tools in Greece, designed for long-term use
and optimum performance.

The success of the inaugural Washington State Pruning Competition has set the stage for an even bigger
and better event in 2025.

University of Nebraska Engineer Researching Causes and Solutions to Bolt Loosening

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Keegan Moore, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln engineer, is on a mission to solve one of the most puzzling
problems in mechanics: why bolts loosen over time. With a USD 727,410 (EUR 671,210) grant from the U.S.
National Science Foundation, Moore is investigating the causes and solutions to this issue that has led to
numerous accidents, from train derailments to oil spills.

Loose bolts pose a threat not only in high-profile accidents but also in everyday life, affecting school
facilities, cars, and even the James Webb Space Telescope. Despite the widespread use of bolts, little is
understood about how a structure’s dynamics influence their loosening during normal operation.

Moore’s research focuses on rotational loosening caused by vibrations. Using high-speed cameras and
modeling frameworks, he aims to uncover how the interface contact conditions around the bolt hole change
as the bolt loosens and the structure shakes. This could lead to predictive maintenance strategies that target
specific problem areas, offering a more efficient approach to monitoring aging infrastructure.

Giant Bolts Replaced on London’s Tower Bridge for the First Time in Decades

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In October 2023, London’s Tower Bridge underwent an important maintenance operation, as four massive
nose bolts, each measuring two meters long, were replaced for the first time in decades.

These bolts play a vital role in locking the bridge’s moving parts, known as bascules, in place when lowered
to allow traffic and pedestrians to cross the 129-year-old structure.
The City Bridge Foundation, a 900-year-old charity responsible for maintaining Tower Bridge and four other

Thames crossings, carried out the complex operation during overnight closures to minimize disruption to
the 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles that use the bridge daily.

At Tsamouris, we understand the critical role that fasteners play in ensuring the structural integrity of high availability
structures with moving parts like the Tower Bridge — it is inevitable that we will see wear and
tear, but carrying out planned work like this avoids the need for more disruptive and costly repairs further
down the line.