Innovations at Böllhoff

We analyse global market trends and set out clearly defined areas in which we systematically search for innovations. Example: In one of countless search fields, we looked for ideas on how we could use our production expertise to implement intelligent fasteners for aircraft seats. Promising ideas from our employees are then presented to the Innovation Steering Committee.

The Böllhoff Innovation Steering Committee meets twice a year. Developers and project managers have the opportunity to present their ideas for new products or processes to a European management committee at an early stage. The committee then decides which ideas it considers to be promising and will therefore be given further support. As a rule, we look at around 25 innovation projects at each steering committee.
 

The in-house Euro Innovation Contest has been held every two years since 2012. On average, ten teams participate from all over Europe. Each team presents an innovative joining solution or a process innovation that grew out of a customer project, for example. 

A jury of experts then awards the “Best of Innovation” prize to the best innovation. In addition to this award, all podium finishers will also have the opportunity to win further prizes in the form of team events, for example.
 

The thread insert combines the properties of two product variants of the HELICOIL® – the easy installation of the HELICOIL® Plus (with tang) and the elimination of the tang break with the HELICOIL® Tangfree.

The innovation of the HELICOIL® Smart: The installation mandrel bends the tang backward during spinning off and then compresses it. The special characteristic of the installation mandrel is the blade position control. When the thread insert is screwed in, the blade catches the HELICOIL® by the tang, making it easier to screw in; when unscrewing the tool, the blade bends and compresses the tang.

Excessive noise and vibrations cause problems. They can negatively effect the performance of a product by causing it to wear out faster or work less efficiently. With SITEC® fasteners, we are meeting the trend towards NVH development (NVH = Noise, Vibration, Harshness). 

E.g. electric cars: eliminating background noises from the drive train makes it easier to identify disruptive noises. This is where SITEC® elements come into play. They effectively reduce noise and vibrations – thanks to their wide range of variants, they are also used in many other applications outside the automotive sector.
 

This series of containers for our ECOSIT® systems combines many practical features in a single solution. The access flaps make it easy for workers to remove the C-parts. The rounded inner edge is also new: It prevents C-parts from jamming in the container corners. Thanks to the special waffle base, all three container sizes can be stacked in any arrangement – in a stable and safe configuration.

The high-quality functionality also impressed the jury of the German Design Awards: In 2020, ECOBin won the prize in the category “Excellent Communications Design”.