EIFI Files Complaint About Imported Sub-Standard Stainless Bolts

Jason Sandefur

The European Industrial Fastener Institute filed a complaint with the European Antifraud Office about the import of sub-standard stainless bolts into Europe. \
The EIFI”‘s letter, signed by Dr. Giuseppe Marzorati, chair of the EIFI Stainless Steel Fastener Group, cites independent test results carried out on several batches of imported bolts and requests action to prohibit further importation.
According to Dr. John Newnham, recently appointed fastener specialist at the UK”‘s Confederation of British Metalforming, the samples tested were bolts to DIN 919, DIN 931 and DIN 933, ranging from M8 to M12 diameter. They were headmarked “A2 70”, to signify compliance with EN ISO 3506 property class A2, at strength grade 70.
A2 stainless is required to contain between 15% and 20% chromium and between 8% and 19% nickel. “In the imported bolts obtained by EIFI,” Newnham told Fastener & Fixing Europe, “the nickel content was in the range of 3.17% to 3.30%.” He added, “”These nickel contents are even below the reduced 5% to 10% range allowed for type A1 stainless fasteners. This will inevitably result in a large reduction in corrosion resistance.”

“”Obviously, sub-standard stainless steels have been used in the manufacture of these fasteners, which clearly do not comply with the standards inferred by their head markings,” Newnham concluded. “The importers of these bolts need to be aware of their liabilities in case of product failure, and buyers need to be on their guard for such fraudulent products.” Web: eifi.org �2007 FastenerNews.com