E-Z LOK will begin to build out a portfolio of both pull-out and torque out test data for the inserts it offers, announced Sales & Marketing Director Kyle Lindsly-Roach.

Initially the company planned to use a third-party lab to test the performance of E-Z LOK inserts in various materials. However, E-Z LOK found it would be more cost effective and beneficial to bring the testing equipment in-house because it allows them to complete testing at their own pace, as well as perform testing on future products.

This decision was made in the first quarter of 2024 as a way for the company to build a more complete library of test data. Carver Engineering/Labs in El Cajon, CA, built the machines, which came online at E-Z LOK’s Gardena, CA, facility in October.

Insert pull-out strength is tested by installation in various test blocks of materials (plastic, wood or metal) and threading a bolt into the insert. Then, the bolt is pulled upwards until the insert is pulled out of the material. The insert testing machine records the value. The torque out machine measures the torque the insert can withstand before spinning out of the material, breaking the fastener or stripping the threads of the insert.

Available on the E-Z LOK website, the data will be housed under the “Resources” section with links for specific product groups. Additionally, the company will create PDFs of the testing data on a product group basis.

“It is a great resource that helps engineers and customers who are designing bolted joints, and want to know the approximate pull-out and torque values they could expect to see in their applications,” Lindsly-Roach noted. E-mail: klindsly@ezlok.com

Founded in 1956, E-Z LOK is a third-generation family owned and operated manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood. Web: ezlok.com