A stud supplier purchases studs from overseas. Then he conducts independent NATA-approved testing to make sure of the quality and then sells them. He puts test results on his own certificate. This certificate also includes manufacturer's heat number, batch number, etc.

Problem is that his certificate does not show: (1) manufacturer's name & (2) manufacturer's country.
He says that if he shows this info on the cert, then his competitors will soon find out his (cheap) source.

If my customer requires EN10204 3.1, I do not believe that my supplier's certificate is sufficient (but I'm not 100% sure). Does anyone know?
If my customer does not require EN10204 3.1, I think that I would still like to know manufacturer's country. Do you think that I am asking too much (considering that the studs have passed independent NATA testing)?

If this supplier (reasonably good price, but this is not really relevant) comes to you, would you do business with him?

Note, this supplier supplies a number of large well-known oil/gas companies.

PVer

Read the specification of the material.

PVer,

From the ASME Code material stand point, the material should have a MTR or CMTR which identified the material manufacturer,material grade, heat number, chemical and physical analysis of the material. Be careful since there are counterfeit products out there specially coming from India or China.

leem

Code, e.g. for Spec. SA-193, establishes the Manufacturer is as follows:

19.3 For purposes of identification marking, the manufacturer
is considered the organization that certifies the
fastener was manufactured, sampled, tested, and
inspected in accordance with the specification and the
results have been determined to meet the requirements
of this specification.

It appears that a dealer may issue the MTR and stamp the items.
But the point is: How a dealer, who is not the Manufacturer may establish lot number, and ladle analysis?
Mauro

By transfering the figures from the original documents!
You know, the codes and standards cannot replace good old trust. If you start to loose the confidence for your supplier- better audit them immediately or find somebody else. The responsibility is all yours anyway, isn't it?
Konrad

_________________
Konrad Anikiel

Right Konrad. My concern is that the dealer will have boxes of bolts and nuts, since there is no traceability required on the product, nor on the boxe, how does a dealer assign the heat number?
Mauro

The dealer purchases studs to order only. Then when the goods arrive, he conducts independent testing.
I have no reason to doubt the quality of the goods.

The main issue is really this: If a client specifies EN10204 3.1, can the client legitimately reject the material certificate if the certificate does not contain country of origin and/or original manufacturer's name?
From the replies above, I think the consensus view is NO.

PVer

EN10204.3.1 is not part of ASME. Therefore cannot be discussed in terms of ASME acceptance. I would say it should not be in this post either, but the issue was interesting.
mauro