Why cheap bolts cost more
Procurement sees one number.
Site sees another.
Cheap bolts save money on paper.
They lose money on site.
Through:
- Rework
- Downtime
- Failed inspections
- Replacement cost
What goes wrong with cheap bolts
1. Inconsistent material quality
2. Incorrect heat treatment
3. Poor dimensional control
4. No traceability
5. No after-sales support
What this causes on site
- Stripped threads
- Bolt failures
- Rejected material
- Crew idle time
- Project delays
Why quality bolts matter
High tensile bolts must meet:
- Mechanical strength
- Dimensional accuracy
- Surface finish standards
- Traceability
- Consistency across batches
How to evaluate bolt suppliers
Ask for standards compliance
Ask for MTC
Ask for sample test results
Check batch consistency
Check supplier track record
Final thought
The cheapest bolt is often the most expensive decision.