There are numerous types of manufacturing businesses that may require the use of a hydraulic torque wrench.

Some of the specific products which knowing that fasteners such are nuts and bolts are tightened correctly, safely, and at the correct torque is vital, include:

• Commercial Vehicle Engines
• Commercial Vehicles Gearboxes
• Industrial Machinery
• Pumps And Pipelines
• Wind Turbines
• Energy Generators
• Tower Cranes

These are but a few of the many products that a hydraulic torque wrench will be required for.

The question for any manufacturing business responsible for creating these products, or indeed any business or individual who needs a hydraulic torque wrench is “What is the best way to choose the right one?”.

Read on, and you will discover the answer to that main question, comes from answering a series of further questions related to hydraulic torque wrenches.

Will It Have A Single Purpose, Or Does It Need To Be Multi-Purpose?

Hydraulic torque wrenches, whilst all having a main purpose, can also be used in different ways which depend on the specific model and how it has been designed and manufactured.

It follows that if you will need it for several jobs, a versatile hydraulic torque wrench is more suitable than one designed for basic use.

The multi-purpose option may also reduce the number of individual tools you need to purchase.

Will It Be Used Occasionally, Or Will It Be Required For Heavy-Duty Use?

This is more than likely going to depend on the type of products you manufacture.

In some cases, there may be just half a dozen large bolts that require a hydraulic torque wrench on a product that takes several weeks to manufacture.

Alternatively, you may have products with multiple bolts, which comes off a production line several times per day.

What Is The Required Torque Output?

You want a hydraulic torque wrench that is suitable for the job and that means you need one which comes with the cassettes and sockets which are appropriate for the products you are manufacturing.

Drive heads come in various sizes, and each has a specific maximum torque over a range of hex sizes.

You, therefore, need to establish the maximum and minimum sizes which are required.

Low Profile Or Square Drive?

For smaller manufacturing settings and smaller products, the need is more likely going to be for a square drive hydraulic torque wrench where sockets of different sizes are interchangeable to suit various bolt and nut sizes.

A low profile hydraulic torque wrench is more suitable for larger manufacturing settings where interchangeable cassettes are used to alter the sizes.

Aluminium Or Steel Construction?

Whilst both steel and aluminium hydraulic torque wrenches are strong and durable, steel has the edge when it comes to a comparison of their relative strength.

However, if a robust hydraulic torque wrench is needed which is lightweight and smaller, then aluminium is the best choice as it can be used in more scenarios.

What Hydraulic Pumps Are Suitable/Available?

Choosing a hydraulic torque wrench also requires you to choose a hydraulic pump for use with it and this may mean that the choice of one influences the other.

As such, before finalising your choice of hydraulic torque wrench, ensure that a hydraulic pump is available which is compatible with it, and which has the specifications recommended for use with it too.

Safety/Ease Of Use?

Often overlooked, this is a vital part of making the right choice of hydraulic torque wrench.

You want to ensure that your choice has the necessary safety and ease of use features including tether points, safety handle, fast cassette change, and swivel hoses, for example.

Prioritise those features which are most applicable to your manufacturing set-up and environment.