Nord-Lock

What Nord-Lock does

Nord-Lock Group is a Swedish-headquartered engineering company specializing in bolt-securing solutions for industrial applications exposed to vibration, dynamic loads, and extreme environments. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Gothenburg (with the firmographics also listing Malmö), the group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Investment AB Latour and operates four technology brands: Nord-Lock (wedge-locking washers), Expander (expansion-based solutions), Superbolt (mechanical multi-jackbolt tensioners), and Boltight (hydraulic tensioning), with Energy Bolting added as a fifth brand following the June 2025 acquisition.

The company's core technology is the wedge-locking washer pair - two conical washers with cam faces on one side and serrations on the other, where the cam angle exceeds the thread pitch to mechanically prevent bolt loosening independent of lubrication state. The portfolio extends to Steel Construction washers (CE marked under ETA-19/0813 and ETA-20/0010, EN 1090/EN 14399), Wheel Nuts for heavy vehicles, Combi Nuts, and customized solutions in specialty alloys including 254 SMO, Alloy C-276, and Alloy 718. Products are validated via the Junker vibration test methodology and supported by three Technical Centers on three continents.

The business model combines direct enterprise sales through owned regional offices in 50+ countries, an e-commerce webshop serving both enterprise and individual buyers, and authorized distributor networks. Revenue is generated primarily through unit-priced hardware sales, complemented by technical-support and engineering services (VDI 2230 analysis, torque calculations, custom product development). Primary end-markets include industrial manufacturing, construction and steel structures, heavy vehicle and mining, and increasingly energy and defense via the Energy Bolting acquisition.

Name

Nord-Lock

Legal name

Nord-Lock International AB

Website

https://nord-lock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Nord-Lock Group is a Swedish-engineering company (founded 1982, owned by Investment AB Latour) that designs and manufactures wedge-locking washers and related bolt-securing solutions for industrial, construction, heavy-vehicle, mining, and energy/defense customers across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gothenburg

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bolting Hardware Products: Sale of Nord-Lock washers, wheel nuts, combi nuts, and customized bolting solutions. Products are available in various materials including steel, stainless steel, 254 SMO, Alloy C-276, and Alloy 718.
2. Technical Support Services: Performance services including technical expertise on bolted applications, evaluation of bolt locking methods, cost calculations, ROI analysis, VDI2230 bolted joints analysis, validation services, torque calculations, and customer-specific product development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nord-Lock designs, manufactures, and sells wedge-locking washer systems, wheel nuts, combi nuts, steel construction washers, and customized bolting solutions that prevent bolt loosening under vibration, dynamic loads, and extreme conditions. The portfolio also includes bolt tensioning products under the Superbolt, Boltight, and Expander sub-brands, plus safety-critical fasteners for energy and defense via the acquired Energy Bolting brand. Technical Center services support customers with bolted joint analysis, torque calculations, and application validation.

Product overview

Nord-Lock Group is a global engineering and bolting technology company founded in 1982, offering a comprehensive portfolio of bolt securing solutions. The core offering centers on the Nord-Lock brand of wedge-locking washers including Original Washers for general vibration protection, X-Series Washers for advanced compensation against settlements and dynamic loads, Steel Construction Washers for structural steel applications, Wheel Nuts for heavy vehicle applications, and Combi Nuts combining nuts with washers for simplified assembly. The portfolio is supplemented by Customized Solutions for unique requirements. Nord-Lock Group operates four technology brands: Nord-Lock (wedge-locking washers), Expander (expansion-based solutions), Superbolt (mechanical tensioning), and Boltight (hydraulic tensioning). Following a June 2025 acquisition, Energy Bolting (safety-critical fasteners for energy and defense) was added to the portfolio. The company also provides Technical Centers for engineering support and CAD download services for product specification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expander: Expanders and pivot pins for heavy vehicles
• Superbolt
• Boltight

Products and services

• Nord-Lock Original Washers Wedge-locking security washers for bolted joints exposed to extreme vibration and dynamic loads. Available in steel, stainless steel, and specialty alloys, in metric and imperial sizes for bolts up to property class 12.9 (steel) and A4-80 (stainless steel). Locking function is unaffected by lubrication.
• Nord-Lock X-Series Washers Advanced washers combining wedge-locking technology with compensation against settlements. Conical shape distributes load more evenly, reducing surface deformation and preload loss, preventing both rotation loosening and slackening. Suitable for short clamp lengths, soft materials, and painted or coated surfaces. Approved by EBA, abZ, and TÜV.
• Nord-Lock Steel Construction (SC) Washers Specialized washers for structural steel applications using HV and HR bolting assemblies. CE marked under ETA-19/0813 and ETA-20/0010 for use in load-bearing steel structures in EU and UK markets. Available in sizes M12-M36 with temperature range from -40°C to 150°C.
• Nord-Lock Wheel Nuts High-clamping force wheel nuts that eliminate wheel loosening on heavy vehicles under extreme conditions. Pre-lubricated for installation with hand tools, suits flat-faced steel rims, available in sizes M16-M24. Validated using the Junker vibration test methodology.
• Nord-Lock Combi Nuts Combined nut and 2-piece Nord-Lock washer assembly that simplifies installation, reduces risk of incorrect assembly, and eases disassembly during maintenance. Tested and certified to DIN 25201.
• Nord-Lock Customized Solutions Custom-designed bolting solutions tailored to unique application requirements, including specialty alloys (254 SMO, Alloy C-276, Alloy 718), custom sizes, and engineering support for specific operating environments.
• Energy Bolting Safety-critical fasteners brand within Nord-Lock Group serving the global energy and defense industries, delivering complex materials with urgent lead times for demanding operations. Operates from Wolverhampton.
• Superbolt Multi-jackbolt tensioners within the Nord-Lock Group portfolio for mechanical bolt tensioning and bolting applications in heavy industry.
• Boltight Boltight brand within the Nord-Lock Group portfolio, providing hydraulic and mechanical bolt tensioning equipment for industrial bolting applications.
• Expander Expander brand within the Nord-Lock Group portfolio, providing expansion-based bolting solutions including expanders and pivot pins for heavy vehicles. Operates through Expander System Sweden AB, Expander Americas Inc., and Expander UK Limited.
• Nord-Lock Technical Centers and Performance Services Engineering services delivered through Technical Centers covering bolted joint analysis, bolt locking method evaluation, VDI 2230 analysis, torque calculations, ROI analysis, validation testing, customer-specific product development, and on-site engineer visits for real-life testing or product training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lifetime warranty on securing function
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Energy BoltingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2025Energy Bolting, a manufacturer of safety-critical fasteners for the global energy and defense industries, was acquired by Nord-Lock Group. The acquisition expands Nord-Lock's market reach and strengthens its position in the safety-critical fastener sector. Energy Bolting continues operations from its Wolverhampton facility, leveraging Nord-Lock's global footprint and technological expertise.
• Precision Bolting LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2024Precision Bolting Ltd, based in Edmonton, Canada, was acquired by Nord-Lock Group along with Condor Machinery Ltd. The company has combined revenues of around CAD 7 million. The acquisition enhances Nord-Lock Group's position in Canada and the mining segment.
• Condor Machinery LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 January 2024Condor Machinery Ltd, based in Edmonton, Canada, was acquired by Nord-Lock Group along with Precision Bolting Ltd. Combined revenue of approximately CAD 7 million. Strengthens Nord-Lock Group's offerings in the mining segment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LISI Group: French-listed fastener and aerospace fastener manufacturer with both safety-critical (aerospace, defense) and industrial product lines. Comparable to Nord-Lock in regulated, high-spec fastener markets including aerospace and defense adjacencies that overlap with Energy Bolting.
• Hilti Group: Liechtenstein-based manufacturer of tools, anchors and fasteners for construction professionals; broad portfolio means construction fasteners are a subset of overall business, but direct overlap with Nord-Lock's structural-bolt securing applications in commercial construction.
• Fastenal: Largest US distributor of fasteners, tools and industrial supplies with on-site vending and kitting services. Different model (distribution-led vs. Nord-Lock's engineering-specialist focus) but overlapping fastener customer base and a benchmark for industrial fastener scale economics.
• Würth Industrie (Würth Group): Industrial arm of the Würth Group selling fasteners, C-parts management and assembly engineering to European industrial customers. Overlaps with Nord-Lock on engineering fasteners but is far broader in catalog and serves commodity plus specialty segments.
• Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Diversified industrial conglomerate with multiple fastener and engineered component businesses (e.g., Shaklee, Buildex). Industrial fastener segment overlaps with Nord-Lock but is one of many verticals ITW serves globally.

Direct peers

• Bossard Group: Swiss-headquartered global fastener specialist serving industrial customers across energy, rail, automotive and machinery. Highly comparable B2B field-sales model, technical-services overlay, and focus on engineering-grade fastening solutions.
• SFS Group: Swiss-listed specialist in engineered fastening solutions for construction, automotive and industrial markets. Closely comparable in the structural steel, façade and engineering fastener categories Nord-Lock serves with SC washers and X-Series.
• TR Fastenings: UK-based distributor and manufacturer of industrial fasteners to automotive, electronics and industrial OEMs. Comparable in product range and customer profile to Nord-Lock, with similar engineered-fastener focus on safety-critical applications.
• Nedschroef: Netherlands-headquartered producer of cold-formed fasteners (bolts, screws, nuts) for automotive, heavy machinery and energy markets. Closely comparable engineered-fastener product set and end-markets for high-vibration applications.
• Kamax Group: Specialist in high-strength bolts, studs and engineered threaded components for automotive, rail and industrial customers. Comparable engineering-fastener positioning to Nord-Lock, particularly for vibration-critical bolted joints.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nordlockgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/nordlockgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordlockgroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A8 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nord-Lock