Carver Labs
A network of 13 in-house laboratories and external partners for fastener testing and consultation.
Testing you can stand behind
Carver Labs exists because fastener failures don't happen in clean conditions. We run the full range of tests a fastener is likely to see in service — and the ones only a failure investigation reveals. Our work supports everything from incoming-lot verification to root-cause analysis on parts that were already in the field.
Testing capabilities
Mechanical testing
Tensile, hardness, shear, impact, and fatigue — the core characterization suite.
- Tensile
- Hardness
- Shear
- Impact
- Fatigue
Screw performance
Everything that determines whether a screw seats cleanly and holds under service loads.
- Torsional strength
- Drive performance and drivability
- Drill time
- Ductility
- Pull-out and pull-over
- Locking element performance
Torque-tension
K-factor determination, torque-angle analysis, tightening strategies, and lock nut testing — the data you need to specify a joint with confidence.
- K-factor determination
- Torque-angle analysis
- Tightening strategy development
- Lock nut testing
Coatings and corrosion
Coating thickness verification and salt spray testing for aerospace, marine, and outdoor-service parts.
- Coating thickness
- Salt spray testing
Vibration resistance
Junkers Vibration Test Machine and shaker table for self-loosening and fatigue evaluation under real-world dynamic loads.
- Junkers Vibration Test Machine
- Shaker table
Structural bolting
ROCAP, PIV, DOT-specific testing, plus concrete anchor and structural screw qualification.
- ROCAP
- PIV
- Special DOT testing
- Concrete anchor and screw testing
Hydrogen embrittlement
HE testing including recovery analysis and risk management strategies for high-strength fasteners.
Metallurgy
Case depth, decarb analysis, grain flow, and coating-thickness metallography.
- Case depth
- Decarburization
- Grain flow
- Coating thickness
Chemistry
XRF positive material identification, OES full-spectrum chemistry, and mill test report review.
- XRF positive material identification
- OES full spectrum chemistry
- Mill test report review
Other services
Blind rivet and threaded insert testing, dimensional inspection on any part type, and sealing fastener leak and pressure testing. Gage calibration through our partner Greenslade and Company.
Carver Fact2 Center
Beyond routine testing, the Carver Fact2 Center provides expert services for product development, problem-solving, failure investigation, and consulting.
On-Call Consultant Program
A dedicated fastener engineer on staff for priority testing access, discounted rates, expert opinions, and comprehensive technical support — ask us about the retainer option.