Mechanical Anchors & Concrete Screws

Expanding mechanical anchors have a clip or fins that are pushed against the sides of the fixing hole as an internal wedge activates them when the fixing is set by hammering or tightening, thus securing the fixing in place. Mechanical anchors that tap their own thread into the base material rely on hardened threads to cut into the base material in the same way a woodscrew would fasten into a pre-drilled hole in timber, with each thread creating its very own anchor point.

Both versions of these mechanical fixings offer fast installation and a very strong fixing providing the base material is sound and edge distances are observed; the distance from the edge of the substrate to the fixing hole is more critical with expanding anchors, as there needs to be enough base material to absorb the forces put on it, through expansion stress.

Self tapping masonry anchors (often referred to as concrete screws) place less stress on the substrate as there is no expansion taking place, they are also able to work in shallower base materials as the threads provide fixing points along the entire length of the fixing. It should be noted that although concrete screws exhibit less stress when installed there will of course be stress on the base material when loaded.

Protrade have a comprehensive range of mechanical anchors including drop in anchors, shield anchors, wedge anchors, sleeve anchors, multi fix bolts, tapcon and concrete screws. Brands supplied are ITW Spit and Midwoods.