SUMMER 2021

82 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

82 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK CELO FIXINGS TECHNOLOGY Rosselló, 7, 08211, Castellar del Vallés, Spain TEL +34 93 715 83 83 EMAIL info@celofixings.com WEB www.celofixings.com MECHANICAL ANCHORS THROUGH THE YEARS Did you know that while the use of mechnical anchors has been around for decades, the popularity of different types of anchor hasn’t always been the same? Below we take a look at 3 different types of mechnical anchors, to compare their usages, advantages and popularity through the decades. The Start Of The Millenium (2000) Sleeve anchors have always been the most popular form of mechnical anchor, providing a strong and reliable hold in concrete. Commonly used for connecting structural and non-structural elements to concrete. The anchor has an expansion cone, which expands the sleeve through its internal threading. As it is tightened it will expand against the base material, giving it a strong hold that distributes the load along the length of the embedment. Their thicker width, provides them with a higher shear resistance making it the best mechanical anchor for installations on walls. SLEEVE ANCHOR Back in 2000 it is estimated that around 90% of all fasteners in concrete were sleeve anchors. Their popularity with experts was due to their versatility of being applied to cracked or non-cracked concrete, as well as providing a suitable option in countries like Chile and Japan, where seismic activity needs to be taken in to account. 2010 By the time 2010 came around other mechanical anchors like the wedge anchor started to become popular, as well as the use of chemical anchors. The wedge anchor provided a cheaper alternative to the sleeve anchor, due to way it is designed and behaves on installation. Unlike the sleeve anchor the wedge anchor gets its hold from just a small area with a short collar at the base of the anchor that will open as the anchor is tightened. WEDGE ANCHOR It is this collar that makes it suitable for ceiling applications as it can readjust in case of cracking from the pressure of weight. Wedge anchors are also typically thinner than sleeve anchors, reducing the time and effort needed when drilling a pilot hole. During this time we saw the rate of construction growing in places like the Middle East and there was an increasing demand for wedge anchors due to its benefits in ceiling and other applications. There was also growing awareness of the concrete screw and its faster installation time. Which is why by 2010 the use of the sleeve anchor was now around 70% globally, a 20% reduction compared to the previous decade. TECHNICAL ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 152