Special Feature

Fastener Innovation Alley
Auto-Torq Axle Fastener
Auto-Torq offered by Stemco is designed to streamline wheel end installation
by eliminating the need for complex processes and specialty tools. With no need forwashers, clips, snap rings, screws, or keepers, Auto-Torq makes installation simple andefficient, the company says. Plus, by applying the optimum clamp load on the bearings
every time, bearing wear is minimized, resulting in the longest bearing service life.
Auto-Torq offers an all-in-one solution that is compatible with any industry hub
manufacturer.

Japanś First Colored Titanium
Blind Rivets
To meet the increasingly diverse and complex needs of the industry, Nissen Rivet in Japan has for the first time achieved
100% localized manufacture of titanium blind rivets using advanced processing technology. In addition to improving efficiency
and productivity, the applications of the blind rivets as an environmentally friendly fastening technology are expanding. Thecompany also offers colored titanium blind rivets (using anodized coating).

High Corrosion Resistance
The most important characteristic oftitanium is its high corrosion resistance. Itis ideal for use in corrosive environments.

Light Weight
The weight is about 60% of stainlesssteel and iron counterparts. Ideal
for weight reduction, e.g. for car andmotorcycle silencers and truck bodies.

Environmentally Friendly Material
Titanium hardly ages over time and is highly recyclable. It also has non-toxic and anti-bacterial properties that make it ahuman-friendly material compared to other metals.

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Special Feature

MISTOL High
Performance AI
Sorting Machine
MISTOL® AI, a high-performance inspection and sortingmachine equipped with AI, has been developed by Nitto Seikoto enable inspections similar to human visual inspections andinspections of parts that have been considered difficult in the past.
MISTOL® AI streamlines the image setting process, which used
to be difficult, and makes it possible to configure settings without
being restrained to the skill level of the operator. This productreduces work hours required for setting.
Conventional machines use a “rule-based” method, in whichinspections are performed based on rules set by human operators.
However, the system was not accurate enough to recognize slight changes in the captured image due to unevenness or micro-defects on thesurface of the target. In addition, many quantitative settings had to be made for each inspected item on the captured image, which required
time and skill to set up. MISTOL® AI learns and judges captured images on its own, making it possible to handle inspections that havebeen difficult with conventional methods, with simple settings and operations.

Asfa® WP
Waterproof Screw
Nitto Seiko Corporation has released Asfa® WP, a newconcept O-ring embedded screw that offers high axial forceperformance and waterproof performance. Its unique structure
factors in product misalignment and stable carrying during theassembly process. This product, which has a different shapefrom general waterproof screws and offers various advantages inaddition to waterproof performance, is patent pending.
Because of the structure that incorporates an O-ring in the lower shaft portion of the screw neck, general waterproof screws require
counterboring the fastened object and the contact area with the screw head is small, making it impossible to fasten with high axial force.
The most important thing in fastening screws is to secure axial force. The flat washer on the underside of Asfa® WP provides a larger
contact area with the fastener than an O-ring does, which reduces surface sinking of the fastener and enables fastening with higher axialforce. In addition, since no counterboring is required for the fastener, it contributes to the customer’s total cost reduction.
When we use general waterproof screws with embedded O-rings, if fasteners misalign, the O-ring is not compressed, resulting inloss of waterproof performance. With “ Asfa® WP,” the O-ring is positioned on the periphery of the head, which allows the O-ring to becompressed evenly and provides stable waterproof performance.
Nitto Seiko began selling this product with a goal of selling 2.5 million units per month to the automotive, electrical and electronicequipment industries.

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Tamper-proof Recess Inner®
Recess Inner® rolled out by AzumaNeji from Japan is a tamper-proof part that restrains unauthorized removal of bolts by loading
it into the recesses of a bolt. It was developed to improve safety by reducing the risk of tampering or disassembling to machines andsystems. In addition, it also prevents dust from entering the hexagonal hole. Three types (BARNACLE, FLAT, and PLASTIC) withdifferent characteristics are available in this lineup. The stainless steel “BARNACLE” and steel (stainless steel color plated) “FLAT”
types can be removed with a special tool, while the “PLASTIC” type leaves traces when removed. The “Barnacle” is made of stainlesssteel and has high corrosion resistance, while the “Flat” is suitable for use where design is prioritized. “PLASTIC” is available in twocolors, white and black. The white type is mainly for indoor use or machine tools, while the black type is mainly for outdoor use. It
provides safety and security in a varietyof locations and applications, including
equipment and facilities in places where
unspecified numbers of people come andgo (park playground equipment, window
grids, license plates, etc.), dusty locations
in factories and outdoors, and parts ofmachines and equipment that should not
be removed without authorization (moldpositioning parts, core parts of precision
machines, etc.).

New ICC Insert Nut
Japanese Iwata Bolt headquartered in Tokyo has recently added
a new product “ICC Insert Nut” into its wide range of fastener
portfolio, which, according to the company, can solve various platingproblems.
This new product is currently available from M3 to M8. With
improved plating feasibility and silver clearance, it can create aclosed end by crimping the lid and eliminate common issues suchas plating deposition. It can be applied to transportation, electronics
and many other industries.
With the application of this product, the overall length can betrimmed and the corrosion resistance, quality and reliability canbe greatly improved. Iwata Bolt under the leadership of President
Kiyotaka and Iwata celebrated its 74th anniversary in 2023 andcontinues to strive for maintaining sustainability and achieving
further growth.
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