Here we speak to Michael Claassen, president of CAMCAR Innovations®, about the TORX® ttap® – a premium drive system that helps make screwdriving faster and easier.
What is the history of TORX® ttap® and how does the drive system work?
“The ttap® was invented in Norway to solve problems with unstable drive systems used in the construction industry. With an unstable drive system, a construction worker must hold the workpiece in position, guide the screw, and manipulate the screw gun to drive the screw into position. This requires three hands or two people. With the ttap® drive system the screw drives in a stable (non-wobbling) fashion and sticks on the bit, meaning the installation only requires two hands as the screw no longer needs to be guided – bringing greater productivity to the job site and making it much easier for the worker.
The TORX® ttap® utilises the high-quality TORX® drive in combination with the ttap® button, which is a pocket at the bottom of the screw recess that mates to a corresponding button on the end of the drive bit. The engagement of the drive button with the ttap® recess creates additional points of contact, which provides remarkable stability. Not only is job site productivity improved, virtually all workpiece damage and minor cuts and bruises resulting from the drive bit slipping out of the recess are eliminated. For the worker, faster installation, and removing frustration from the work, allows quick and high-quality installations. The stability also enables the screw thread to tap into the wood faster.
This makes the TORX® ttap® particularly suitable for the construction sector, including rough structural wood framing, steel roof systems, HVAC ducting, as well as window installation. A simple way to think about it is that it is suitable for any application where the screw is required to make its own hole.”
How does the TORX® ttap® compare to other drive systems? How does it compare to other TORX® systems?
“TORX® was initially developed to prevent cam-out. To aid automated assembly, into tapped holes, a clearance was designed between bit and fastener recess to allow easy seating of the bit into the recess. While ideal for most industrial applications, the clearance does allow a minimal amount of wobble, which is greater than ideal for construction applications. Generic six-lobe or star bits, lacking any defining standard, often have far more clearance between bit and screw than genuine TORX®, resulting in severe generic wobble and, given their common use in construction screws, a dramatic reduction in bit life along with severe difficulties to install. TORX® ttap® builds upon a great TORX® system and adapts it for applications such as construction – where wobble, regardless of how minimal, cannot be tolerated.”
How do you guarantee the quality of the TORX® ttap® drive system?
“Similar to the TORX® brand, quality and consistency are critical to performance for the TORX® ttap®. That is why we have created a quality system that includes in process gauges for manufacturers to check initial quality at the machine; final gauges to check final quality after all additional processing; detailed part and bit standards; detailed forming tool standards; and quality audits. All of this helps guarantee the quality of the TORX® ttap® drive system.”
How does a manufacturer become a licensee of the TORX® ttap® drive system? What are the benefits of becoming a licensee?
“To become a licensee, a company just needs to reach out to CAMCAR Innovations® through our website or directly to start the evaluation process. We have two licenses for this programme. The first is for the manufacturers who are only authorised to sell to brand partners and the second is for brand partner distributors who are authorised to purchase from the licensed manufacturers. The benefits of becoming a licensee now is that you are still on the front end of a growing product line that will be the premium standard in this industry. Additionally, the programme is well defined making it easy and fast to implement, as well as monetise investment as soon as possible.”
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 12 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector – interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe. Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the brand is renowned.
