NL33sp, Nord-Lock steel wedge-locking washers
Dalam dunia pertambangan, setiap menit downtime berarti kerugian besar. Salah satu sumber permasalahan umum pada alat berat khususnya dump truck kapasitas besar seperti CAT777 adalah longgarnya bahkan terlepasnya baut roda akibat getaran tinggi dan beban ekstrem. Kondisi ini tidak hanya menyebabkan downtime karena perlunya re-torque berulang, tetapi juga dapat mengakibatkan resiko keselamatan (safety).
Lebih dari itu, masalah pelonggaran baut dapat menjadi ancaman serius terhadap keselamatan (safety) kerja. Bayangkan jika ban terlepas saat unit beroperasi di area tambang, potensi kecelakaan fatal bagi operator maupun pekerja di sekitarnya sangat tinggi.
Sebagai bagaian dari upaya untuk peningkatan keandalan (reliability) dan keselamatan (safety), PT Bimura Putra Persada, sebagai distributor resmi Nord-Lock Group, melakukan uji coba penggunaan Nord-Lock Washer (NL33SP) pada unit CAT 777E yang beroperasi di area tambang batubara.
Penggunaan Nord-Lock Washer diharapkan mampu mengurangi risiko lepasnya baut, meningkatkan keselamatan (safety) kerja, serta meminimalkan downtime akibat kebutuhan re-torque.
Latar Belakang Pengujian
Uji coba ini dilakukan sebagai tindak lanjut dari permasalahan pelonggaran baut roda yang kerap terjadi pada unit dengan beban kerja intensif di area tambang. Aplikasi Nord-Lock Washer (NL33SP) dilakukan pada posisi tyre bolt area yang mengalami beban dinamis dan getaran tinggi selama operasi.
Kondisi di lapangan menunjukkan bahwa proses re-torque berkala pada sambungan baut roda membutuhkan waktu dan sumber daya yang tidak sedikit, serta dapat memicu downtime tambahan dan potensi risiko keselamatan (safety) bagi tim maintenance.
Melalui uji ini, PT Bimura Putra Persada ingin membuktikan kemampuan Nord-Lock Washer dalam mencegah pelonggaran akibat getaran dan perubahan beban dinamis, tanpa perlu dilakukan re-torque, sehingga dapat meningkatkan keselamatan (safety) operasional sekaligus mengurangi downtime secara signifikan.
Metode dan Pelaksanaan
- Tipe washer: Nord-Lock NL33SP
- Nilai torsi: ±1000 ft.lbs
- Durasi uji: 1.000 jam operasional (2 bulan)
- Pelaksana lapangan: Tim mekanik site
Pemeriksaan dalam uji coba ini dilakukan secara berkala setelah pemasangan, yaitu pada interval 2 jam, 40 jam, 250 jam, 500 jam, dan 1.000 jam operasi, untuk memastikan performa penguncian tetap optimal dan mendeteksi potensi pelonggaran sejak dini.
Hasil Pengamatan di Lapangan
Selama masa uji coba:
- Tidak ditemukan baut patah, kendor, atau slip pada area penguncian.
- Tanda torque seal tetap utuh hingga akhir periode pengujian.
Nord-Lock Washer berhasil menjaga kekencangan sambungan baut secara konsisten meskipun bekerja dalam kondisi ekstrem, getaran tinggi, beban berat, serta lingkungan penuh debu dan lumpur.
Kesimpulan
Setelah 1.000 jam operasi, hasil pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa:
- Nord-Lock Washer terbukti efektif mencegah pelonggaran pada sambungan baut roda unit dump truck tambang.
- Tidak diperlukan re-torque atau pengetatan ulang selama masa uji, sehingga downtime dan biaya perawatan berkurang signifikan.
- Tingkat keselamatan (safety) kerja meningkat, karena sambungan roda tetap stabil meskipun berada dalam kondisi operasi berat dan getaran tinggi.
Produk ini memberikan keandalan (reability) jangka panjang sekaligus peningkatan keselamatan (safety) kerja pada operasional alat berat di lapangan.
Tentang Nord-Lock Washer
Nord-Lock Washer menggunakan teknologi wedge-locking yang bekerja dengan prinsip mengunci baut melalui gaya irisan, bukan gesekan. Sistem ini mempertahankan tegangan baut meskipun di bawah kondisi getaran ekstrem, memastikan sambungan tetap aman dan tidak longgar.
Teknologi ini telah terbukti di berbagai industri berat seperti pertambangan, minyak & gas, energi, dan konstruksi, menjadikannya solusi unggulan untuk sambungan baut yang aman, tahan lama, dan bebas perawatan berulang.
NL33sp, Nord-Lock steel wedge-locking washers
English:
In the mining industry, every minute of downtime means a significant loss. One of the common issues in heavy equipment particularly large-capacity dump trucks such as the CAT 777 is the loosening or even detachment of wheel bolts due to high vibration and extreme loads. This condition not only causes downtime due to repeated re-torque requirements but can also pose serious safety risks.
Moreover, bolt loosening is a serious threat to operational safety. Imagine if a wheel detaches while the unit is operating in a mining area the potential for fatal accidents involving the operator or nearby workers is extremely high.
As part of efforts to improve reliability and safety, PT Bimura Putra Persada, the official distributor of Nord-Lock Group, conducted a field trial of Nord-Lock Washer (NL33SP) on a CAT 777E dump truck operating in a coal mining area.
The use of Nord-Lock Washer is expected to reduce the risk of bolt loosening, enhance workplace safety, and minimize downtime caused by re-torque requirements.
Background of the Test
This trial was conducted as a follow-up to recurring issues of wheel bolt loosening commonly found in high-duty dump trucks operating under intense workloads in mining environments. The Nord-Lock Washer (NL33SP) was applied to the tyre bolt positions exposed to dynamic loads and high vibration during operation.
Field conditions show that periodic re-torqueing of wheel bolts consumes considerable time and resources, potentially leading to additional downtime and increased safety risks for the maintenance team.
Through this test, PT Bimura Putra Persada aims to demonstrate the ability of the Nord-Lock Washer to prevent bolt loosening caused by vibration and dynamic load changes without requiring re-torque thereby improving operational safety and significantly reducing downtime.
Method and Implementation
- Washer type: Nord-Lock NL33SP
- Torque value: ±1000 ft.lbs
- Test duration: 1,000 operating hours
- Execution: On-site mechanic team
Inspections were carried out periodically after installation—at 2 hours, 40 hours, 250 hours, 500 hours, and 1,000 hours of operation—to ensure the locking performance remained optimal and to detect potential loosening at an early stage.
Field Observation Results
Throughout the test period:
No broken, loose, or slipped bolts were found in the locking area.
The torque seal marks remained intact until the end of the test period.
The Nord-Lock Washer successfully maintained consistent bolt tension despite extreme working conditions, high vibration, heavy loads, and a harsh environment filled with dust and mud.
Conclusion
After 1,000 hours of operation, the results showed that:
The Nord-Lock Washer effectively prevented loosening on dump truck wheel bolt joints.
No re-torque or retightening was required during the entire test period, significantly reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Workplace safety improved, as the wheel assembly remained stable under heavy-duty and high-vibration conditions.
This product delivers long-term reliability and enhances operational safety for heavy equipment in the field.
About Nord-Lock Washer
The Nord-Lock Washer uses wedge-locking technology, which secures bolts through tension rather than friction. This system maintains bolt preload even under extreme vibration, ensuring the joint remains safe and tight.
This technology has been proven across heavy industries such as mining, oil & gas, energy, and construction, making it the leading solution for secure, durable, and maintenance-free bolted connections.
