Tamper-proof Documentation of Torque Wrench Measurements
Sector: Secondary sector · Industry: Mechanical and plant engineering · Organisation: Blockchain Reallabor · Maturity level: Production
Blockchain technology is used to tamper-proof store torque values when tightening screws with a torque wrench. The solution enables companies to create tamper-proof evidence for the correct execution of maintenance work. This documentation can be used as quality and compliance evidence with insurance companies and regulatory authorities.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
The Blockchain Reallabor Huerth (Fraunhofer FIT + WZL of RWTH Aachen + Fraunhofer IML) developed a blockchain-connected digital torque wrench as one of its core demonstrators. The system records every bolt tightening operation immutably on the blockchain — a use case from mechanical engineering with direct safety relevance.
In industrial manufacturing and maintenance, bolted connections are safety-critical: too little torque leads to loosening under load; too much causes material fatigue and breakage. ISO 9001, DIN EN and other standards require seamless documentation of tightening torques for safety-critical connections — e.g. in wind turbines, bridges, aircraft, railway systems. The digital blockchain torque wrench from the Reallabor: the precision tool automatically measures the applied torque; data is transmitted wirelessly (Bluetooth/WiFi) to a gateway; the blockchain entry is made immediately with timestamp, GPS coordinates of the tightening point, torque value, tool ID and operator ID. No subsequent falsification possible. Fraunhofer IML (Dortmund) officially launched the Blockchain Reallabor in April 2021; WZL of RWTH Aachen is a research partner. The demonstrator is live and accessible at euronova CAMPUS Studio 6.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Mechanical and plant engineering companies can document tightening torques seamlessly and tamper-proof with blockchain-connected precision tools — ISO-compliant, instantly verifiable, without manual logging.
Employees perspective
Maintenance technicians are relieved from manually documenting their work, as all measurements are automatically recorded and stored. This allows employees to focus more on the actual technical tasks.
Benefits
General
- Automatic documentation eliminates human errors and significantly reduces administrative effort.
- Blockchain-based storage makes subsequent manipulation of maintenance data impossible.
- Companies can more easily meet their compliance requirements and accelerate audit processes.
B2B — organisations
- The tamper-proof evidence can lead to reduced insurance premiums and lower liability risks.
Employees
- Technicians save time on documentation and can concentrate on their core tasks.
Challenges
General
- Integrating IoT sensors into existing tools requires technical adjustments and investments.
- Companies must train their employees in handling the new technology.
B2B — organisations
- Implementation requires adapting existing maintenance processes and possibly new software systems.
Employees
- Maintenance technicians need to learn to work with digitally connected tools.
Technology foundation
A permissioned blockchain is used, allowing authorised participants to write and read data. The IoT sensors of the torque wrench automatically transmit measurement data in real time to the blockchain, where it is stored immutably.
Implementation examples
Torque wrench demo in the Blockchain Reallabor
Companies need tamper-proof evidence for their maintenance work to meet compliance requirements and minimise liability risks. Manual documentation is prone to errors and time-consuming.
The Blockchain Reallabor has developed a working demo that stores torque wrench measurements securely on a blockchain.
As part of the Blockchain Reallabor, a demonstration was developed showing how tensile strength values when tightening screws can be automatically stored on a blockchain. The solution uses IoT sensors in torque wrenches to capture measurements in real time and document them immutably. The project was developed from 2019 to 2020 and is available at the demonstration centre.
The solution eliminates the possibility of subsequent data manipulation and automates the documentation process. This allows companies to improve their quality assurance and reduce administrative costs.
Tags
IoT integration, Quality assurance, Compliance, Automation, Maintenance documentation