Hydrajaws Official HQ Open Day and 35th Anniversary Celebration

Family-owned and operated, Hydrajaws Ltd, marked its 35th anniversary with the opening of its new headquarters, Morgan House, in Tamworth on 18th May 2023.

To inaugurate the state-of-the-art new facility, official proceedings were performed by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire Mr Ian Dudson, CBE KStJ. The Mayor of Tamworth, Cllr Moira Greatorex, was also in attendance in her final appearance as Mayor.

Guests included customers from various industries as well as local and national suppliers and a long list of associated firms and partners, together with, naturally, a two-tonne replica rhinoceros.

So why the two-tonne rhino? We wanted to demonstrate the equivalent weight that the Hydrajaws M2000 can pull test to which is 25kN or 2.5 tonnes (the same weight as a male rhino) which was unveiled during the presentations.

We shared with everyone our genesis, our progress, and some truly historic milestones in the construction fixings safety testing sector with presentations from Stephen Hynes MD, Royston Morgan Chairman, Adrian Morgan CEO, and our special invited guest speaker John Pearce of Made in Britain.

Hydrajaws’ Managing Director, Stephen Hynes, said: “We’re very proud to be celebrating 35 years in business, and we enjoyed welcoming visitors to our Open Day. Our products are made in Britain, and we believe that this enriches the brand quality. We’re proud to be part of the Made in Britain campaign and to be able to showcase our products to the world.”

Invited guests and partners were also treated to a guided factory tour and demonstrations of the extraordinary strengths and versatility of the Hydrajaws’ product ranges – these days able to withstand the equivalent weight of over 20 rhinos.

Hydrajaws Technical Staff also demonstrated the new subscription-free Verify PRO app that allows on-site pull tests to be automatically recorded and compiled into a digital report using a mobile phone or tablet device.

We’ve come a long way since having just three staff members when we first started in 1988 and operating from small premises in Tile Cross Birmingham. We also only sold 50 tester kits in the first year. Now we sell to over 70 countries worldwide, have 29 staff and the new headquarters is over 20,000 sq. ft. and has around three times the assembly capacity. The building also includes training facilities on-site and houses Hydrajaws’ manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing, and service operations.

Adrian Morgan, CEO said: ‘We want to thank everyone who attended and made it such an enjoyable day for me, my family and all the Hydrajaws staff.  We look forward to continuing to grow our strong business relationships and developing more opportunities for growth with our exciting product developments coming soon’.

Hydrajaws and Metesco Strengthen Alliance

Hydrajaws, the largest and most trusted designer and producer of pull testers globally, is celebrating 35 years in business in 2023 and is proud to announce the formalisation of its long-standing alliance with Netherlands-based Metesco.

The two companies have deepened their relationship by formally appointing Metesco as an official distributor and an Approved Service Centre for Hydrajaws in the Netherlands, Benelux, and Germany. This appointment is a testament to the trust and confidence that Hydrajaws has in Metesco’s ability to provide the highest levels of service and support to the large pool of Hydrajaws customers in the Benelux markets.

Metesco is a leading provider of calibration and repair services for force and torque measurement instruments and is well-known for its expertise in the field. The company is working towards being ISO 17025 accredited and has been providing calibration and repair services for many years.

Hydrajaws has become the trusted market brand and partners with industry associations and anchor and fixing OEMs such as Ejot, Fischer, Rawlplug, and Klimas to name but a few, and regularly exports to over 70 countries. The company is committed to providing the highest quality products and services to its customers and is delighted to be able to offer this additional level of service and support through its partnership with Metesco.

Commenting on the appointment, Hydrajaws Managing Director, Stephen Hynes said: “We are delighted to be able to formalise our long-standing relationship with Metesco and to be able to offer our customers an even higher level of service and support. We have been working with Metesco for many years and we have the utmost confidence in their ability to provide the highest levels of service and support to our customers.”

Since 2014, Hydrajaws has led the way in revolutionising how anchor testing is captured, verified, and easily shared within organisations and with clients when it launched the first Bluetooth reporting system. Hydrajaws has now released its NEW free-to-use Bluetooth reporting App called Verify Pro with all the functionality of the previous app. Also, for customers that have larger teams of engineers with multiple sites and tasks, Hydrajaws has also launched Verify TEAMS to allow for greater collaboration of resources and management and communication of tasks and test reports.

Any new or existing Hydrajaws customers in Western Europe are welcome to contact:

Metesco Nederland BV

Oosterparkweg 35G, 2985SX Ridderkerk

Rental, Sales and Administration: [email protected]

Service and Calibration: [email protected]

General contact call 078 651 11 17

Website: www.metesco.nl

Metesco Belgie BV

Antwerp (by appointment)

Rental, Sales and Calibration: [email protected]

General contact call +32 3 808 1458

Website: www.metesco.be

Metesco Deutschland GmbH

Dieselstrasse 2 | 65779 Kelkheim

Vermietung, Verkauf and Kalibrierung: [email protected]

General contact tel. +49 06195 7006 420

Website: www.metesco.de

Hydrajaws launch Free to Use App called ‘Verify PRO’

Hydrajaws has released a new free-to-use App called Hydrajaws Verify PRO which is a digital reporting system that allows on-site pull tests to be automatically recorded and compiled into a digital report using a mobile phone or tablet device.

The comprehensive digital reporting system allows users to measure and record pull testing results quickly and accurately. The app is designed to be used in a variety of industries, including construction, fall protection, and marine.

The Hydrajaws Verify PRO version includes all the features of the previous subscription-based App, such as the ability to automate processes that allow for quicker testing and less set-up time, especially on sites with many identical repetitive tests to perform.

Available for both iOS and Android devices, the PRO version of the Hydrajaws Verify App is free to download and use and can be used with any Hydrajaws Digital Gauge (issue 3).

“We are excited to release the Hydrajaws Verify App with no subscription required for the PRO version,” said Hydrajaws Managing Director, Stephen Hynes. “We have launched the free-to-access Verify PRO version as we believe this will make the reporting tool more accessible to a wider range of users and benefit our customers in terms of improving the traceability of testing and increased efficiency in generating reports.”

Hydrajaws has also launched a subscription-based App called Verify TEAMS which has increased functionality over the PRO version such as being able to enter clients, sites and tasks centrally as well as assigning tasks to engineers and viewing the schedule for all users via the dashboard.

This is suitable for customers with a larger team of remote-based engineers and delivers high efficiency in terms of scheduling testing and generating client reports. Verify TEAMS is economically priced for SMEs and larger businesses and a typical annual subscription is £300 for up to 3 users.

Find out more information about the Hydrajaws Verify App.

New Distributor in UAE announced

Hydrajaws is pleased to announce that we have a new Distributor in UAE – Gulf Test Safety Consultancies.

The new distributor is a UAE-based ambitious Quality, Health and Safety and Environmental firm with an experienced team of QHSE professionals will now be an Official Hydrajaws distributor from its two locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Hydrajaws’ Training Manager, Neil Stone recently headed up an online training programme for the Gulf Test Safety Consultancies team and gave comprehensive training on the Hydrajaws offering. This included equipment maintenance, safe use of the Hydrajaws tester, and a detailed demonstration of the Hydrajaws Verify Digital Reporting System and App.

Hydrajaws’ MD Stephen Hynes said ‘We’re delighted to have Gulf Test Safety Consultancies as one of our official partners. The training was a great success and we’re looking forward to working with them to grow their business offering’.

Managing Director of Gulf Test Safety Consultancies, Irshad A. Shaikh said “We’re pleased to be entrusted with the Hydrajaws brand in UAE. This partnership will further enhance our value to our clients and extend our product offering. We are committed to the distribution of Hydrajaws’ products while delivering local support and logistical services within the UAE”.

Hydrajaws provide the knowledge and support to ensure their distributors benefit greatly from promoting and selling Hydrajaws products and ancillary services.  Localised services ensure Hydrajaws’ customers benefit from a quicker turnaround, reduced shipping costs, and local knowledge.

Any new or existing Hydrajaws customers in UAE are welcome to contact:

Gulf Test Safety Consultancies
P.O. Box: 184518, Dubai, U.A.E.

Tel: +971 4 273 4038

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.gulftest.org

Choosing the right adaptor

When pull testing on-site you never know what fixing you may come across next. Choosing the right adaptor ensures that each one is tested correctly.

Hydrajaws provides a range of testers and adaptors to test just about anything.

Testers
Most pull testing engineers will have a Hydrajaws M2000 which will cope with anything up to 25kN. The M2008 is a heavy-duty tester that will test up to 145kN. And in-between is the M2050 which will pull up to 50kN whilst still remaining light and portable.

Adaptors
Hydrajaws adaptors are available for all testers and will be chosen to fit the fixing that is to be tested. This chart shows some of the main ones and the adaptor to be used:

They are set up as follows:

The M12 locking adaptor

The M12 Locking Adaptor fits into the tester and allows various adaptors to fit into the tester (eg the bolt adaptor).

The bolt test adaptor

For M16 nuts, the bolt tester adaptor (a) directly engages the nut (b) in the pulling jaw.

The slotted button adaptor

For testing fixings where a connection is made underneath the head of the fixing or anchor the slotted button adaptor is used. The slotted button adaptor (a) slots into the bolt tester adaptor (b) and engages the fixing (c). Please note when using the M2050 heavy-duty slotted button adaptors must be used.

 

The threaded button adaptor

For testing threaded fixings the threaded button adaptor is used. The threaded button adaptor (a) threads onto the fixing (c) and then slots into the bolt tester adaptor (b). Please note when using the M2050 heavy-duty threaded button adaptors must be used.

The clevis adaptor

For testing ringbolts, the Clevis adaptor is used. Remove the cross-pin from the clevis adaptor and offer the tester and bridge to engage the eye of the anchor in the clevis. Push the clevis pin through the clevis and eyebolt, ensuring that the ball on the pin clicks into place, having passed through the second fork.

Threaded stud adaptors

Threaded stud adaptors are suitable for testing sleeve and stud anchors. A suitable threaded rod (a) is screwed into the anchor and the adaptor (b) is then fitted.

Threaded rod adaptors

The M5 and M6 threaded rod adaptors are equipped with an external M12 thread for use in conjunction with the M12 threaded button adaptor. They are used primarily for testing remedial wall ties. The M8 and M10 threaded rod adaptors are equipped with an M16 external thread and the M16 nut connects to the pulling slot in the tester or bolt tester adaptor.

Connect the threaded rod adaptor complete with the M12 button adaptor to the thread on the fixing (fig 11).

Hydrajaws Technical Advice

If a fixing location seems too unworkable then contact Hydrajaws and their technical team who will be able to suggest an appropriate adaptor or even an alternative bridge or bespoke setup.

New Hydrajaws Service Agent Appointed in the Republic of Ireland

Masonry Fixing Services Ltd was recently appointed as our Service Agent offering service, sales, and calibration in the Republic of Ireland.    

Hydrajaws CEO Adrian Morgan and his commercial team gave the Masonry Services Technical guys comprehensive training on the Hydrajaws offering. This included sales training, equipment maintenance, and calibration services and support, together with a detailed demonstration of the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital Report System and App.

Adrian said ‘We’re delighted to have Masonry Fixing Services Ltd as one of our official partners.  It was a great opportunity to reinforce our relationship and assist them in setting up their Hydrajaws Service Agent status. We look forward to working with them to grow their business offering’.

Managing Director of Masonry Fixing Services Ltd, Bryan Carroll said ‘We’re excited to be the Hydrajaws Service Agent in the Republic of Ireland. This partnership complements our fixings offering as we are the exclusive distributor for Fischer and Spit fixings in Ireland since 1979.’

Hydrajaws provide the knowledge and support to ensure our Service Agents benefit greatly from promoting and selling our products and ancillary services.  Localised services ensure that Hydrajaws’ customers benefit from a quicker turnaround, reduced shipping costs, and local knowledge.

Any new or existing Hydrajaws customers in Ireland are welcome to contact:

Masonry Fixings Serviced Limited, Unit 83, Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate, Dublin 10, D10 P381

Telephone: +353 1 642 6789

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.masonryfixings.ie

Masonry Fixing Services Ltd is the latest Hydrajaws Service Agent to be added to the growing number of Service Agents around the world. If you’re interested in becoming one of our Service Agents, please email [email protected]

New MD for Hydrajaws Limited

Hydrajaws has recruited a new managing director tasked with the exciting job of continuing the successful growth of the business.

Stephen Hynes has joined Hydrajaws Limited with an extensive background in a diverse range of industries from automotive, and chemicals to off-highway and logistics experience in B2B manufacturing and distribution. Within these industries, he has gained knowledge of global export markets and has led commercial teams and manufacturing operations in large corporates and SMEs.

“It’s a very exciting time to be joining Hydrajaws Limited,” Stephen said. “We have an excellent established team and a trusted name within the pull testing industry. I am looking forward to leading and evolving the business during its next stage of significant development.”

Adrian Morgan, CEO of Hydrajaws Limited added “At a time when Hydrajaws is growing and expanding its footprint across our customer base worldwide, it is appropriate, as an important part of our growth strategy, to establish this new leadership role for the business.”

Hydrajaws Ltd is proud to be the world’s largest and most trusted manufacturer of hydraulic pull testers for load-testing anchors and fixings. With twenty-nine staff occupying a newly built 20,000 sq. ft HQ in Tamworth, Staffordshire Hydrajaws runs its’ manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing, training, and service operations under one roof.

Established in 1988, the company supplies several large OEMs in the anchors and fixings sector, its comprehensive range of equipment working on several major construction projects, most recently Crossrail and now HS2. As well as growth in the UK market, exports have grown significantly with the business now supplying over 70 countries.

Hydrajaws New Website Launch

We are excited to announce that the new and much improved Hydrajaws website is now live and has many enhanced features.

We’ve designed it so you can access our range and view our information in an easier more user-friendly way. With a brand-new layout, search facility, product pricing, and more accessory details to look at, there’s a whole lot more content to view.

What’s new…

• Greater product details – including price and new product information sheets
• Search facility – making it easier to find your chosen product
• Enhanced accessories page – see more information about what is available
• Easier navigation – get to what you want quicker
• Mobile & tablet friendly – get the info you need on the go

Coming soon…

• New product videos on Hydrajaws YouTube channel will also be accessed via the website.
• Also, on YouTube – NEW ‘How to… ’ and ‘Handy Tips’ videos available soon.

Also, look at…

Our newsletter – you’ll be the first to find out about new products, new innovations and of course what’s happening at Hydrajaws – SIGN UP HERE

You can also follow us on our social media channels:

LinkedIn – to follow us click here

Twitter – to follow us click here

Facebook – to like and follow us click here

Please explore the updated website and send us your feedback via our Contact Page – it’ll be greatly appreciated.

Hydrajaws 35th Anniversary Year Photo Competition

YOU COULD WIN

an annual subscription to the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System (worth £299) or one of 10 x vouchers entitling your company to one FREE calibration and service of one piece of Hydrajaws equipment (excludes shipping)

To celebrate our forthcoming 35th Anniversary year we will be selecting eleven of the best photographs of Hydrajaws equipment being used on-site every quarter throughout the competition period.

Each quarter one entrant will win 12 months FREE subscription to the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System and ten entrants will each receive a voucher for a FREE calibration and service of a Hydrajaws Tester (excludes shipping).

Our selection panel will judge the entries based on the guidance given below.

The competition runs from 16^th March 2022 until 15^th March 2023.

• The competition is open to all owners and users of Hydrajaws Equipment.
• The competition is free to enter.
• The judging panel’s decision is final and no negotiation will be entered into with respect to any such decision.
• The judges are seeking a range of images to showcase Hydrajaws Pull Testers being used on-site (it could be a good location or a great angle that will be one of the winning shots).
• There is no limit to the number of images a user can submit.
• The content must be technically correct and observe health and safety protocol.
• The frame of the picture should avoid views of sensitive locations, processes or site security arrangements and client approval should be sought where appropriate.
• Own Company logos are acceptable.
• Images can be taken from any timeframe i.e. historic photos are welcome.
• By submitting images to the competition, you confirm:
  – You give consent for Hydrajaws to use these in promotional marketing material
  – You give consent for the name of your company, to be shared publicly
  – You are the sole owner of each image
  – You have the permission of any persons pictured to submit their image
  – No-one under the age of 18 is included in the photographs.
• Hydrajaws reserves the right to re-enter unsuccessful images in the following quarter’s competition.
• Images should be submitted to [email protected] no later than midnight (GMT) on the following closing dates:
  – Wednesday 15 June 2022
  – Wednesday 14 September 2022
  – Wednesday 14 December 2022
  – Wednesday 15 March 2023.
• Winners will be notified by email.
• One prize voucher per winning image will be issued to the company that submitted the image.
• Calibration and servicing vouchers will be for one piece of Hydrajaws equipment only (excludes shipping).

Should you have any queries about the competition please get in touch with Michelle Cross at [email protected]

Happy snapping and good luck!

New Era for Hydrajaws is on the Horizon

December 2021 will start a new era for Hydrajaws as the global headquarters relocates to a brand new purpose built premises at 73 Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth B77 1AG UK.

High demand for our product range has driven continuous growth in the business, now requiring additional capacity, which cannot be contained in our current premises. Twenty-five staff will occupy the new HQ in Tamworth, five of those needing recruitment, substantial growth from the original three employees in the 1980s.

The new HQ building covers 20,000 sq. ft. and houses our manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing, training and service operations. Exports have grown significantly across the decades, with us now supplying all continents across the globe with distributors in the US, Australia and Continental Europe. A network of global service centres and field support teams also offer comprehensive customer support.

Designed to incorporate high standards of efficiency the latest construction materials have been used including solar panels, water conservation measures and digital computer systems. Anticipating growth in electric car usage, charging points for staff and visitors have also been included in the specification.

Since Hydrajaws started the manufacture of the original tester, back in 1986 located at a 500 sq. ft. premises in Birmingham, expansion has seen four other separate premises over the ensuing 35 years.

Adrian Morgan, Managing Director (and son of CEO Royston Morgan) said: ‘In today’s world of high safety awareness, Hydrajaws is proud to have led the way in testing equipment and techniques that have potential to save lives across the world. The high quality and robust nature of our products has seen demand outgrow our supply capacity, hence our investment in a new HQ operation, helping to ensure continuity of supply and services to our customers. The all-new building not only future proofs demand but also enables a more efficient and cost-effective flow for our manufacturing and distribution process plus the establishment of more comprehensive training, research and development, service and testing facilities to serve our global customer base’.

Over 200 Subscribers now using the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System

Hydrajaws is pleased to announce that the number of subscribers to our Bluetooth Digital System has reached over 200 – more than double in the last ten months.

Since its launch in April 2020, the powerful pull-test results management system has gone from strength to strength reaching 35+ countries from all corners of the globe.

Here’s what people are saying:

“I would recommend the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System because it is a game changer and a big time saver for doing the reports” – M Walker, Allfasteners USA

“The main challenge with our previous method of recording test results was that we had to hand calculate every test we’d done, now with the digital gauge and the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System it does it all for us.”-
O Frost, Construction Fixing Systems UK

“What convinced me to try the Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System was the traceability. Being a company that installs anchors etc. it is critical to have results and reports that are un-questionable.” A Butcher, Correct Safety Australia

“Yes, I would recommend the system. If you have field staff performing the work, it is beneficial to set up all the required testing before they get to the site.” J Hughes, Hughes Engineering, LLC USA

“I was convinced to try the system because the resulting form matches the Australian VicRoads Standard. It is also a time saver and a large amount of data can be recorded with no risk of losing it.” Sujan KC, John Holland (Metro Tunnel) Australia

“The main benefits of Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital System are the hub and the detailed reports. I would definitely recommend it!” N Wilson, Gable Fall Safe Ltd UK

Here’s how it works:

The Bluetooth Digital System and App digitally record your pull-test results in real-time by generating a report with result graphs, photos, and notes. The result graphs not only show that the test load was achieved but also that it withstood the test load for a specified length of time. This vital information is useful to prove compliance with the testing elements of BS 8539:2012 and BS 7883:2019.

Proof of Results

The digital reports are stored safely in the cloud on a server system that encrypts the data and timestamps it ensuring that it can’t be tampered with, reassuring clients and managers about the integrity of their data. The data is also available for the lifetime of the fixing.

Project Management

From the dashboard, project managers have a full view of their team and their equipment, and can manage job creation, reports, client communication, user access, and equipment servicing and repairs.

We are offering a 30-day FREE trial then the option to pay £30 (monthly rolling plan, cancel and re-join anytime) or £299 annually (best value). Simply sign up via the dashboard on your browser using dashboard.hydrajaws.co.uk

How to Select the Right Hydrajaws Product

At Hydrajaws, we sell several models of tester and a variety of kits with different accessories – so how do you know which kit is right for you?

Follow these simple steps and you will find the right kit with the right accessories for all your current and future jobs.

Step 1 – What are you testing?

Firstly, decide the sort of things you will be testing. Is it a safety lifeline cable, Scaffold tie anchors, wall ties, bolts, studs or a different type of fixing? List all of the types of fixings you will likely be testing in the future.

Secondly, decide what loads you will be testing up to. All our pull tester models have been designed and built for specific load ranges. Try to match your target loads as close as possible to the model load range and don’t be tempted to go higher for the sake of it (e.g. although an M2008 will test as low as 10kN it is not as accurate as an M2000 will be at that range).

Step 2 – Product Selector Flowchart

With the information in step 1, follow our Product flowchart below. By answering the questions, you should be able to conclude the most suitable Hydrajaws kit. NB If in doubt, please contact us for further advice.

Step 3 – Check the accessories.

With a list of the contents of the kit selected in step 2, check you have the necessary accessories for all the fixings you will be testing by checking our accessories chart below:

NB If your test fixing is not shown, please contact us for advice.

If an accessory is missing, you can purchase it separately from us (see our accessories). If many accessories aren’t included then it may be a better option to purchase an M2000 Pro Tester Kit that has a comprehensive range of extras to cover most testing jobs. If in doubt, please contact us for advice.

Step 4 – Consider optional extras.

At this stage, it may be worth considering these optional extras to make life easier and jobs quicker.

Extension Bridges

If the standard bridge of your chosen tester is not big enough to sit over a fixing then consider our larger extension bridges. The footprints of all our bridges (standard and extension) are available on our Bridges page if you think space is an issue.

Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital Reporting System Subscription

Most of our customers are now moving on from the standard analogue gauge and offering the most accurate and ‘cutting edge’ service to their customers by using a hi-tech Hydrajaws Digital gauge.

The Hydrajaws Digital Gauge is Bluetooth enabled allowing pull test results to be sent to Hydrajaws Bluetooth Digital Reporting System via a mobile device which is then stored securely in the cloud, for data storage and/or analysis. This system makes pull testing easier and more accountable by proving on-site results. The digitally generated reports, which can include photos and notes, can be sent directly to clients or managers and accessed remotely anywhere on a browser via a user’s company dashboard.

This system has the added advantage of flagging up when your gauge is due for calibration to help keep your important calibration up to date.

If you are still unsure about which Hydrajaws product is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and one of our technicians will be happy to discuss your job and its requirements.