Construction

RAD Torque and the Wind Energy Industry

When it comes to heavy-duty bolting, wind turbine manufacturers, wind power construction and maintenance contractors, as well as utilities around the world rely on RAD Torque Systems.

That’s because our wrenches are accurate, easy to use, lightweight, quick and quiet. At RAD, we understand that the wind energy industry faces unique challenges, so we design tools to make technicians’ jobs easier.

We work with manufacturers such as General Electric, Vestas, Siemens, Goldwin, and operators like Iberdrola, Nextera, and Morteson Construction, to meet torque needs at their facilities.

High torque at high heights

At RAD, we know that wind energy technicians require tools to get jobs done several hundred feet above the ground.

The E-RAD and B-RAD are extremely light in comparison to their hydraulic competitors and do not require a heavy pump. That means they are easier to transport up to and use on work platforms. But that doesn’t mean they compromise on torque strength.

It can take up to 120 bolts and up to 11,000 foot-pounds to connect a large diameter flange. The E-RAD is a continuous rotation tool and can complete a task like this in a much shorter time than a hydraulic wrench.

Unique tools for a unique workplace

In some wind turbine towers, technicians have to flange sections from the inside. Other turbines have unique curvatures that do not allow for the use of straight tools.

RAD’s offset gearboxes and 90 degree tools allow an E-RAD to fit inside the diameter and curvature of a turbine’s shell, which means no job is out of reach – even on more challenging turbine designs.

The RAD advantage

When it comes to bolting components for construction and maintenance of wind turbines, companies can rest assured that they have the best tools for the job. Our E-RAD, B-RAD, offset gearbox and smart sockets can be used to install and maintain tower bolts, blade bolts, shrink discs, gearboxes, generators, hub bolts, and yaw bolts.

Our Product Advantages

Planetary gear driven wrenches, as opposed to conventional torque tools, have the advantage of continuous rotation while applying controlled torque. This makes them much faster than conventional hydraulic wrenches and with their pistol grip they are safer and more ergonomic. Our motor is built right in the handle, so no longer the hassle of bringing a heavy and expensive hydraulic pump to the jobsite.

The E-RAD BLU-S is the newest addition to the E-RAD BLU product line from RAD. Equipped with a transducer, the E-RAD BLU-S allows for the highest accuracy on the market and features operator identification, which ensures traceability of each torque sequence performed. With a pass/fail indicator on both sides, and password protection, you’ll be sure you’re getting controlled and accurate torquing.

The new B-RAD Select BL battery series torque wrenches come with two simple buttons to increase or decrease the value by 10 ft. lbs. At the four-digit display, the set torque value is displayed. The B-RAD Select BL series automatically backs off when the torque cycle is complete, this allows for the end user to move quickly to the next bolt.

The B-RAD is especially suitable for pre-torque and service jobs where electricity or compressed air are not available.