Inventors, designers, and pioneers of the original helical wall tie and retrofit masonry reinforcement technologies founded Thorhelical. We educate, promote, and sell stainless steel helical bars and ties to maintain and restore the structural integrity. This covers brick walls, concrete block walls, stone walls, stucco walls, and other masonry structures with outstanding results.

The History of the Helical Design

The innovation of hammer driven helical fixings originated from a GKN/Timber Research and Development Association programme undertaken in the 1970’s. Headed by their Chief Architect John Ollis together with his son, Henry. They researched, developed and patented a wide range of fixing and reinforcement technologies using extrusions, drawn tubes and wire sections.

As the originators and pioneers of the helical fixing concept, John and Henry founded HELIFIX Ltd in 1984, to exploit their patented technologies under licence. In 1986, HELIFIX received a licence to manufacture under the Ollis’s two patents, EP0150906B1 and EP0171250B1. Subsequently, Target Fixings Ltd. (U.K.) and Brutt Helical Kft were also licensed. Many helical stainless steel ties and reinforcement wires bear the Ollis’s Pat. No. 171250. This is a European Patent No EP0171250B1 which had a priority date of 31/07/1984 which expired in July 2005.

In the late 1990’s the Ollis’s formed the Thorhelical product development team to progress and nurture new concepts. With highly consistent characteristics, using precision engineering to tolerance levels that had not previously been achievable. This comprehensive range of Thorhelical fixings, wall ties, reinforcement wires, and anchors suit a variety of construction and repair applications. Companies have filed new patents for many products, manufacturing methods, and building applications, as one innovation follows another.

Our Clients

Our clients are professionals that specialise in masonry restoration and building preservation. This includes Architects and Engineers, contractors, property owners and property managers. All parties involved, using Thor’s Helical Products will experience integration of cost savings and preservation of the building’s aesthetics.

At Thorhelical, serving and attending to our customers is paramount. Our technical representatives and in house engineers will guide you. Determining which products and installation techniques can reliably solve the structural problems. Additionally to restore your building’s masonry facade to its original perfection.

Why choose Thorhelical

The most attractive advantage to clients in selecting Thorhelical Ties is the cost effective and non-invasive installation process. While avoiding the disruptive demolition activities of traditional construction. Thorhelical Ties and reinforcing bars allows you to maintain the aesthetics and restore the structural integrity of your building’s masonry façade. They achieve this with minimal disturbance to the building, the environment, and its occupants.

In the Past

GKN/Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) study addresses the effect of timber shrinkage on the integrity of 1967conventional nails. The project delivers headless helical rods that interlock with the fibres of the timber along the full length of the anchors’ helix.

• British Patent No: 1233175 – W Ollis

Original roll-profiled helical wire fasteners (and twisted tubular ties) are commercially produced under Licence.1984

The helical pitch is introduced through a clamping and twisting operation in which one end of a length of profiled wire is secured in a fixed position and the other end held and spun. The twisting forces work their way along the length of the wire to form the helix. The tightly twisted ends portions are discarded to leave a usable length of helical wire having a pitch consistency that fluctuates by less than 2mm.

• European Patent No: 0150906 – W Ollis
• European Patent No: 0171250 – W Ollis

Thorhelical development team design and build an energy efficient and zero waste twisting machinery, through which whole coils of wire are 2001continuously forced to deliver consistent stress and pitch characteristics to tolerances that were not previously achievable.

 

Thorhelical twisting die technology delivers patented helical wire product with “precise pitch” accuracy to within 1mm per kilometre (0.001mm/m) to supersede earlier brands of helical wire anchors.

• European Patent No: 1307303 – W Ollis
• U.S. Patent No: 7269987 – W Ollis

Thorhelical develops helical fasteners having retaining heads or clips that offer great versatility when used to fix thin or friable layers.

This range of headed helical fasteners is ideal for use in fastening insulation layers to a comprehensive range of masonry and timber construction elements, combining high speed installation with excellent and consistent performance reliability.

In Closing

Curious about our products? Want to request a quote, or simply have a few questions? We’d love to hear from you. Our experienced structural engineers can answer any of your questions. 

Please contact us for more information on our full product range. Our solutions can be part of your next successful project.

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