Third 100% Sorting Line Commissioned: Dimensional & Hardness Control

To support our zero-defect target in fasteners, we have commissioned our third sorting line. With the new line, our 100% sorting capacity has expanded and we now run a single-pass architecture that performs both dimensional and hardness/heat-treatment separation. This makes lot-certified shipments—beyond sampling—standard for safety-critical applications including automotive.

The Mectron Inspection Systems platform we use combines 360° dimensional scanning around the part with multiple lasers; eddy current/Magnetic Imagery™ for heat-treatment/material mix detection and hardness verification; and additional camera stations for head/drive and hole inspections—all within one machine. When a part falls outside tolerance, the system routes it to the automatic reject station; conforming parts are stacked and recorded by lot.

In dimensional control, critical features such as diameter, length, head-to-shank ratios, eccentricity and thread profile are measured at high speed. Hardness and heat-treatment verification is performed by detecting deviations in the metallurgical signature; risks such as material mix-ups or insufficient hardening are segregated before they escape into production. This approach delivers high reliability together with low PPM levels for serial assembly lines.

The 100% sorting line operates as part of planned activities with easy commissioning and maintenance; for special projects, control windows and reporting outputs are customised to the customer’s critical characteristics. With three lines running in parallel, both capacity and lead-time flexibility increase, while backward traceability is strengthened—reducing recall risk.

In short, with this Mectron-based setup, dimensional nonconformities, mix-ups and hardness deviations are detected and separated quickly and repeatably. This lets us provide our customers not only compliant products but measurable quality assurance throughout the process.