ASTM International’s Subcommittee on Bolting Technology encourages those interested in bolted joint design and threaded fasteners to attend a special meeting on November 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) in Independence, Ohio. The meeting is free to attend and open to the public.
In 1986, 17 engineers met at the United Engineering Center in New York for the purpose of establishing an expert group. John Bickford, who organized the meeting, was concerned about the lack of real knowledge about how engineers use threaded fasteners in their designs. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Bolting Technology Council (BTC), an independent engineering society dedicated to the art and science of threaded fasteners and bolted joints. Bickford was elected chairman and served for 10 years until he was replaced by Bengt Blendulf for the next 10 years, and then by Joseph Barron who currently serves as chairman.
The BTC maintained a membership of over 75 and held twice yearly meetings at various locations in the U.S. with technical presentations by industry experts. It established a bolting library and sponsored several research projects. In 2003, the BTC joined ASTM as subcommittee F16.96 on Bolting Technology in order to avail itself of ASTM’s established standing in the engineering community. As a part of ASTM F16 Committee on Fasteners, F16.96 held meetings in conjunction with other ASTM standards committees.
To reintroduce the Subcommittee on Bolting Technology to engineers and technologists, ASTM F16.96’s November 7 meeting, co-hosted by IFI, will focus on committee business information and include several technical presentations on bolting-related topics. For more information concerning the meeting and membership in F16.96, contact Joseph Barron at 757.688.8026, b.j.barron@hii-nns.com.