Along with the wheel, the invention of the screw thread should perhaps be considered as one of man's key innovations. It is one of those things which we are so used to that we take it for granted and never give it a second thought. However, it is such an integral part of our lives that almost every thing we construct uses it in some form. From simple everyday appliances, toys and furniture to the complexity of the space station, all utilise the humble screw to hold things together and would be impossible without it.

It has not always been this way as the development of the screw thread as we know it has been a relatively recent one. The initial concept of the screw is accredited to the Greek mathematician Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, and by the 1st century BC they were in common use in the Mediterranean region for things like wine presses. Metal screws for fastening did not appear until the 15th century, and it was only in the 19th century that the screw driver as we know it was developed. It was not until the invention of manufacturing equipment such as turret lathes and screw cutting machines were developed in the late 19th century that production of screws began to develop into what we are now familiar with.

With the development of injection moulding techniques the humble screw entered a new phase, with all sorts of plastic fasteners being manufactured. These can be used in all sorts off applications where the requirement is for a component which does not conduct electricity, such as insulating connections in electronic equipment, or where weight is an issue.

We at Bluemay manufacture plastic nuts and plastic bolts specifically engineered to meet the demands of the particular application. So the next time you look at a piece of equipment just take a few moments to thank Archimedes for all his hard work.