Frequently asked questions.

The GRIP-X cabinet is available for sale empty; it can be built modularly, and it always starts with an empty base setup. Of course, the empty cabinet can be filled with filled or empty inlays, and there are many other options to customise the cabinet based on your needs. Visit the GRIP-X page for more information.

Only logged-in users of the Sinatec portal can see the gross and net prices, as well as the exact stock. Log in or request a login for complete insight into this information.

To request a login, we first need your company details. Please check our registration page for the details.

The price list is exclusively available for logged-in customers. Once logged in, the price list can be downloaded in Excel and RAI format. For an up-to-date condition overview, we ask you to contact the back office of Sinatec.

To request a login, we first need your company details. Please check our registration page for the details.

Only partners and their end users have access to the Sinatec Order Tool. Read all information on the SOT page or contact us.

The article data from Sinatec is available in various formats such as xls, Json, XML etc. There are also different article data feeds available. To accurately assess your needs, we recommend scheduling an appointment or contacting us.

Would you like to make an appointment as an end user, for example for the PromobusXXL for advice on GRIP-X or other products? Then get in touch or schedule an appointment directly.

Would you like to make an appointment as a (future) partner of Sinatec for example for the PromobusXXL for advice on GRIP-X or other products? Please get in touch or schedule an appointment directly.

Making an appointment for a day out with the PromobusXXL is very easy with our online planning tool. Schedule an appointment directly!

Where possible, Sinatec has made its products available in multiple packaging units, and the products are offered based on the needs of the partner and end-user. The following item composition is often used to indicate which packaging is involved:

• ITEM NUMBER: base item number packaged in the most commonly used content.
• BL-ITEM NUMBER: the BL- indicates that it is a variant that is packaged smaller than ITEM NUMBER
• ITEM NUMBER-BULK: The range -BULK indicates that it is a large packaging.

View all information about the app on our app page.

The article data from Sinatec is available in various formats such as xls, Json, XML etc. There are also different article data feeds available. To accurately assess your needs, we recommend scheduling an appointment or contacting us.

The price list is exclusively available for logged-in customers. Once logged in, the price list can be downloaded in Excel and RAI format. For an up-to-date condition overview, we ask you to contact the back office of Sinatec.

For access to the API, please contact our IT team. Access to the API is only granted to Sinatec partners. 

When a partner of Sinatec has login details for the Sinatec portal (www.sinatec.com), they also have access to the mobile app.

Only partners and their end users have access to the Sinatec Order Tool. Read all information on the SOT page or contact us.

Would you like to make an appointment as an end user, for example for the PromobusXXL for advice on GRIP-X or other products? Then get in touch or schedule an appointment directly.

Would you like to make an appointment as a (future) partner of Sinatec for example for the PromobusXXL for advice on GRIP-X or other products? Please get in touch or schedule an appointment directly.

Making an appointment for a day out with the PromobusXXL is very easy with our online planning tool. Schedule an appointment directly!

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The GRIP-X cabinet is available for sale empty; it can be built modularly, and it always starts with an empty base setup. Of course, the empty cabinet can be filled with filled or empty inlays, and there are many other options to customise the cabinet based on your needs. Visit the GRIP-X page for more information.

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Only partners and their end users have access to the Sinatec Order Tool. Read all information on the SOT page or contact us.

Absolutely, the page linked at the bottom contains all the information about the Sinatec Order Tool, including a manual.

A blind rivet consists of a shell and a pull pin. The shell deforms and remains in the joint. The pull pin deforms the shell and breaks off at the specific breaking point. At the optimal grip range, the pull pin should break.  The materials to be joined only need to be accessible from one side. Blind rivets with a large head are suitable for use with soft materials (such as plastic, cardboard, wood, etc.).

Generally, 3 measurements are important when measuring a blind rivet:

• d1: the diameter of the blind rivet
• L; the length of the blind rivet, for a cylindrical head this is measured under the head, for a countersunk head this is the total length (incl. head)
• d2: the diameter of the head. In 90% of the cases, a standard head size is used, but with softer materials or materials where a wider load-bearing surface is necessary, a larger head diameter is also applied.

Important when using a blind rivet:

More important than the length of a blind rivet is the grip range of the blind rivet. This ensures that the blind rivet can build the correct clamping force based on the sheet material to be clamped and that the pull pin breaks off at the moment the optimal fastening has been completed.

In electrolytic galvanising, the zinc layer is deposited from an aqueous solution of zinc (see question 2) by electrolytic means (current through the product and liquid). The layer is uniform and smooth. The layer thickness varies from approximately 5 to about 40 µm. The layer thickness is determined by the current density and the duration in the zinc bath. Unfortunately, the distribution of current density over the product is not uniform. This means that the layer thickness is higher in certain places (outer sides/protruding parts) and lower in others (inner corners/inner sides). The current always seeks the path of least resistance. Inner sides of tanks or pipes can, for instance, only be electrolytically galvanized if a so-called 'helper anode' is placed on the inside, which reduces the distance that the current has to travel at that location.

After galvanising, the layer is passivated (also known as 'chromated' or 'bichromated'), resulting in a significant increase in corrosion resistance and an improvement in appearance. The passivation layer is a thin layer of zinc chromate/zinc oxide on top of the zinc layer. The passivation layer can be applied in different colours, namely blue, yellow, green, and black. From blue to green, the chromate content of the layer increases, the layer becomes slightly thicker, and its corrosion resistance improves. Black passivation is often used for visual applications. The layer is beautifully uniform, semi-glossy black, and in terms of corrosion resistance, it falls between blue and yellow. In a product that is well galvanized and yellow passivated, it may be the case that the passivation layer accounts for half of the lifespan (until red rust). When comparing with hot-dip galvanising, this must be taken into serious consideration.

The highest temperature during electrolytic galvanising should be sought in the pre-treatment and is, in most cases, a maximum of 70 degrees Celsius. Therefore, there is no risk of distortion of thin material. However, during electrolytic galvanising, hydrogen gas is produced, which can be absorbed into the material structure, especially in hardened steel types. This leads to "hydrogen embrittlement." This hydrogen gas can be driven out again after galvanising through heat treatment.

In hot-dip galvanising, the product is immersed in a bath of liquid zinc. A large block of zinc is heated to about 400 degrees and molten. During immersion, the product is covered with a layer of liquid zinc, and immediately after removal, this layer solidifies. The layer is less shiny and usually appears matte grey after a few days. The layer thickness is not determined by the duration in the bath. Only the thickness of the material influences the layer thickness (the thicker the material, the thicker the layer). The layer thickness is at least approximately 60 µm and can sometimes reach up to 200 µm. Droplet formation and distortion of thin material (approximately < 5 mm) are disadvantages of hot-dip galvanising. The advantage of hot-dip galvanising is that it coats all over the product, including the inner sides of tanks and pipes.

Galvanising is actually a collective term for all galvanic processes. Galvanic processes are processes in which a metal layer is deposited on a metal surface via galvanic (electrolytic) means. Examples of this include electrolytic zinc plating, nickel plating, or chrome plating. It always involves aqueous solutions in which the metal to be deposited is dissolved. The electric current flowing through the product and the liquid pulls the dissolved metal particles towards the product surface. An electrochemical reaction then occurs at the product surface, causing the dissolved metal to become solid metal. This solid metal then forms a layer on the product surface.

The term "galvanising" is unfortunately very often colloquially used to refer to galvanising. Given the above, this is incorrect. To make matters worse, the term is also used for both electrolytic and thermal galvanising. However, these are two completely different processes.

This is the designation of the mechanical properties for bolts. In this case, it is 8.8, but it can also be 4.6, 4.8, 10.9, or 12.9.
The first number corresponds to 1/100 of the nominal tensile strength (Rm) in N/mm². For an 8.8 bolt, the tensile strength is thus 8 x 100 = 800 N/mm².
The second number is the ratio of the nominal yield strength (Re) to the nominal tensile strength (Rm) multiplied by 10.
Multiplying both numbers gives 1/10 of the nominal yield strength. For our 8.8 bolt, Re is thus (8 x 8) x 10 = 640 N/mm².
For calculating the bolt area, you start with the core diameter. This is therefore different from the outer diameter!
In short, the higher the number, the stronger the bolt.

See below an overview of the quality ratings of hose clips:

W2Band + housing made of chrome steel AISI 430; screw (or bolt) made of galvanised steel

W3All parts made of chrome steel AISI 430

W4All parts made of stainless steel - SS A2 - AISI/

SS 304W5All parts made of stainless steel - SS A4 - AISI/SS 316

The black cable tie is often used outdoors. Due to an extra addition of carbon, the black tie is UV resistant, while the transparent cable tie is used more indoors.

This depends on the tensile strength that the cable tie needs to have. Generally, you can say that the wider the cable tie, the greater the tensile strength. It is also important to know in which environment the cable ties will be used; when in doubt, always consult with Sinatec.

This is difficult to indicate because it depends on the UV intensity and the temperature.

The standard cable ties can be processed from  -40 degrees to +85 degrees.

No, transparent cable ties always discolour slightly, but this does not negatively affect the cable tie itself.

Indeed, most cable ties are made from polyamide 6.6. However, this is never 100%. The higher the percentage of polyamide, the better the quality of the cable tie. Sinatec only sells cable ties with a high percentage of polyamide.

If the cable ties have been stored in a too warm environment, in an open package, they can dry out. Cable ties contain a percentage of moisture to keep the cable tie supple and flexible. If cable ties are dried out, they become hard and break. A poor quality cable tie can also easily break.

The Sinatec cable ties are flame retardant and UL 94 V2 certified.

A screw is the origin of threaded fasteners. A head was formed on a piece of threaded rod, in which a saw cut was provided to tighten the screw.

To apply more force or for example to secure the connection against easy sabotage, various other drive forms were conceived. The general term for the different types of drive via a recess is recess.

An example to apply more force is the cross recess.

An example to provide reasonable security is the torx with pin recess.

To tighten with even more force, the hexagonal external drive was designed. These were originally heavy fasteners that bolt two products together.

Bolts are fasteners with a so-called 'external hex drive'. Allen bolts are essentially Allen screws because they have internal drive. Still, the common name has become Allen bolts and not entirely without reason. Due to the hexagon recess, more force can be transmitted than for example with a cross recess.

Ear clamps differ from worm drive hose clamps:

- Simple design intended for single use.
- Difficult to loosen after fastening.
- The clamp looks neat and is less likely to catch onto something.

The single-ear clamps with an inner ring contain a thin and rustproof steel inner ring that runs through the ear opening, allowing it to encircle the hose circumference over a full 360 degrees. The inner ring thus reinforces the clamping force. Result: a significantly improved seal compared to the single-ear hose clamps without an inner ring. Additionally, the flattened corners of the inner ring protect the hose during the closing of the ear clamp. The inner ring prevents the hose from being cut into, making these single-ear clamps with an inner ring suitable for soft and flexible hoses.

The ears of two-ear clamps do not have a notch and have nearly double clamping range compared to the single-ear clamp. Two ears provide some elasticity for changes in size of the parts, such as those caused by thermal expansion or vibrations.

Installation is similar to that for single-ear clamps, but the force applied when closing the second ear may react against the opposite closed ear and necessitate a second closing. For a perfect seal, the ears must be sufficiently closed during installation.

To find the right retaining ring, there is a size chart available for download. Go directly to our downloads.

A standard tyre cord (Reference BK10) does not have self-vulcanising properties. Therefore, applying a vulcanising liquid (608F/8OZ or 658F) is necessary. The Safety Seal tyre cords (Reference 613501) have self-vulcanising properties and are also TUV certified.
A common misconception is that a standard tyre cord is a permanent repair, which is not the case. A permanent tyre repair is done from the inside, using for example a combination patch. Repairing from the outside (often with a tyre cord) is an emergency repair.

Certainly. The PDM article is suitable for the MOT.  This is due to the resilient needle and the accuracy of 0.1mm. Moreover, it must be "zeroed" by the MOT inspector himself. Below you will find the text from the RDW regulations:

"Use the tread depth gauge. If in doubt, you must measure the tread depth. This measurement is therefore necessary as soon as it can be an advisory point (AC1). You must indicate AC1 when the tread depth is 2.5 mm or less. Below 1.6 mm, it is considered a rejection (G05).

The requirement for the tread depth gauge, according to article 11 paragraph i of the approval regulation: an effective tire tread depth gauge, with a resilient measuring pin and a measurement accuracy of 0.1 mm. Before measuring, you must zero the gauge. HOW DO YOU ZERO THE TREAD DEPTH GAUGE? Use a smooth part of the tire’s tread surface to zero the gauge. You only get accurate readings if you zero the gauge on the same material. The tip of the measuring pin of the tread depth gauge always presses slightly into the (softer) material through the spring behind it. If the tread depth gauge is zeroed on a hard surface, it may falsely indicate a few tenths of millimeters on a tire without tread."

For commercial vehicle wheels and French wheels, you can use the FRV series wheel weights.

A rubber valve has an insurmountable problem, which is ageing/wear. The valve will gradually wear down, deform, and lose its elasticity. Normally, a rubber valve lasts between 3 and 4 years, comparable to the lifespan of the tyre. Therefore, a rubber valve should also be replaced when the tyre is replaced.

Metal valves, such as a steel valve, do not have this ageing problem. They last 2 to 3 times longer than a rubber valve because these valves do not oxidise easily. On the other hand, the price is higher than that of a rubber valve.

A relay is essentially a remotely operated switch. A relay consists of make or break contacts that are operated by an electromagnet. An electromagnet is a coil wound with copper wire wrapped around a soft iron core. Usually, one end of the coil winding is connected to ground, and a voltage of 12 volts is applied to the other side. This causes a small current to flow through the coil, making the soft iron core magnetic and attracting a metal arm. On that arm, there is a contact that rests against another contact when in the idle position. As soon as voltage is applied to the coil, the changeover contact moves and connects to another contact point. The photo below shows an industrial relay, with the coil made of very thin copper wire on the left side and the contacts on the right side.

The current needed to close a relay is quite small, in the range of 300-400 mA (= 0.3 to 0.4 A) for a car relay. The contacts can usually switch about 20-30 A. This is typically indicated on the plastic or, in the case of MB, the aluminium housing. Since the coil only requires this little current, a simple switch is all that is needed, and the length of wire from the control switch to the relay coil is no longer important. Another advantage is that the wire carrying the high current from the load can be kept as short as possible, since the relay can be placed anywhere. The manually operated switch must necessarily be placed further away to be conveniently accessible.

The reason headlights do not operate via a relay is that it is quite a hefty switch that can handle the current. The downside is the extra length of wire needed to run from the front of the car to the dashboard, which results in some loss. A common modification is to give the headlights a relay.

The interior of a standard relay looks like this (the contact points are not so clear here, but the switching current is still 20A.) The relay in this case has only make contacts, meaning a connection is made when there is voltage on the coil contacts. Fortunately, there is a standard numbering for the contacts (the DIN standard), which is implemented across all German cars and also many others, but not on American cars/electronic parts. The coil contacts are always 85 and 86, while the coil in a circuit is represented by a rectangle with a slash through it; this is also clearly visible on the housing. The current must (usually) flow from 85 (+) to 86 (-). The reason for this will be discussed later. The contacts in a schematic are always presented in the idle position, meaning when there is no voltage on the coil. The contacts for a make switch are always 30 and 87. The supply voltage is always applied to contact 30. This can be directly from the battery or through a fuse, or from a voltage-carrying point via the ignition switch. If there is also a normally closed contact, it is numbered 87a.

The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is an American standard that does not belong to international norms, which indicates the cross-section of a metal wire using a limited number of numerical codes. The AWG code is used in some American-oriented countries, particularly in electrical engineering to denote the thickness of electrical conductors and their accessories such as terminal lugs, cable shoes, and clamps, and for example, in body piercing techniques to specify the thickness of piercings. The AWG value increases as the wire becomes thinner and can be converted to metric values using tables or formulas.

The colours of the different cable lugs (insulated) indicate which wire diameter they are intended for.

The following colour codes apply:

• White: 0.3-0.8 mm
• Red: 0.5-1.5 mm
• Blue: 1.5-2.5 mm
• Yellow: 4.0-6.0 mm

The CAL fuse is a main fuse that most closely corresponds to the MEGA bolt-on fuses from Sinatec.

CAL type fuse: CAL1
MTA ref: 06.01350 or 07.01350
RENAULT ref: 8200177919
Sinatec ref: (BL-)SMG350

CAL type fuse: CAL2
MTA ref: 06.01400 or 07.01400
RENAULT ref: 8200177920
Sinatec ref: (BL-)SMG400

CAL type fuse: CAL3
MTA ref: 06.01450 or 07.01450
RENAULT ref: 8200315682
PSA ref: 9659539580
Sinatec ref: (BL-)SMG450

CAL type fuse: CAL4
MTA ref: 07.01500 or 07.01500

PSA ref: 9655749484
FIAT ref: 71748379
Sinatec ref: (BL-)SMG500

CAL type fuse: CAL5
MTA ref: 06.01700 or 07.01700
RENAULT ref: 8200713480
PSA ref: 9662512780
Sinatec ref: -

'Thin Wall' refers to the thinner layer of insulation around the cable harnesses. This harder quality of insulation is achieved with less material, yet results in superior insulation properties.

Additionally, Thin Wall cables are generally constructed from a larger number of copper strands with a smaller diameter. This provides more flexibility and better resistance to vibrations.

Most vehicle manufacturers specify that Thin Wall must be used in their designs. This is because the engines in those vehicles are increasingly operating at higher temperatures to improve efficiency.
Additionally, weight and space are becoming increasingly important for vehicle designers.

As Thin Wall contributes to a significant reduction in diameter and weight, several advantages can be recognized:

• Cost savings: less expensive than the equivalent standard PVC cables
• Space saving: creates room for all the new gadgets expected in modern vehicles
• Eco-friendly: less waste compared to standard PVC cables

The higher melting point of the insulation, up to 105ºC, meets the requirements of modern vehicles. In comparison, standard PVC cable is only resistant up to 70ºC. Additionally, the Thin Wall cable, due to its harder quality insulation, is denser and more resistant to abrasion, impact damage, and moisture.

If you want to, for example, carry out an adhesive bond on a fuel tank, a housing that comes into contact with fuels, always check whether it is wise to repair it. Repairs in these environments are difficult, and there are no guarantees for them. For this application, we recommend the XTREME MMA (710011), which has excellent adhesion to many substrates and has been tested against fuel for a month.

Always leave the used mixer tip on after use. Store it in a dark, dry place with minimal temperature fluctuations. When you want to use the two-component adhesive again, attach a new mixer tip.

At the top of the side of the tube, there is a number from which you can read this information.
Here it states, for example:                1038-6345    326

The first number (1) indicates the day of the week = Monday.
The second and third numbers (03) indicate the week = week 3.
The fourth number (8) indicates the year = 2018.
After the hyphen (-) is the internal batch code: 6345.
The loose numbers following indicate the tube number from the respective batch.

This is therefore a tube produced on Monday, week 3 of 2018
Batch: 6345 and the 326th tube from the batch.

The average shelf life of an MS Polymer is a minimum of 12 months but often up to 24 months is achievable.
In the industry, people say: is it still coming from the tube, is it still good.

In pulsed welding, the power source has two different levels of current strength. There is a constant base current that maintains the welding arc, along with a (pulsing) pulse current that facilitates the release of droplets of filler material. In Double Pulse, the welding wire is also fed in a pulsing manner. The advantages of this are that less heat is introduced (minimal distortion of the base material), there is optimal burn-in (high-quality weld), it becomes easier to weld thin material or in position (for example, vertically upward), and spatter formation is reduced (no post-processing required). Especially when welding aluminium, pulsed welding is essential.

The control options of modern welding machines are very extensive. For instance, to achieve the best welding results, the welder can manually adjust all welding parameters. However, since this can be quite complex, various welding machines feature a ‘synergism’ function. This means that the machine is set using just 1 welding parameter (1 button), the wire feed speed. All other related parameters are adjusted accordingly. Additionally, users can save new programmes themselves and import newly available programmes into the machine through a simple procedure. All of this contributes to a particularly fast and user-friendly operation of the welding machines.

With an eye on the safety of car bodies and reducing fuel consumption, more and more car manufacturers are constructing differently. There is an increasing use of lighter but stronger materials (aluminium, HSS, UHSS, boron steel, etc.). This also requires a different type of welding connection for repair work on these car bodies. 

The response to this development is MIG brazing. Due to the low temperature during MIG brazing, 950°C instead of 1500°C in the MIG welding process, automotive sheet metal is subjected to less heating. The result is that the zinc protective layer hardly burns and the automotive sheet metal undergoes much less structural change.

TIG is the abbreviation for Tungsten Inert Gas and derives its name from the English name for tungsten (Tungsten) and the use of an inert (argon) gas. In TIG welding, an arc is struck between a tungsten (non-melting) electrode in the TIG welding torch and the workpiece. 

The welding filler material is added separately, by hand. TIG welding is ideal for precise welding work where high quality standards are required. It is used in all sectors of industry and is particularly suitable for high-quality welds, especially of stainless steel or aluminium. 

For TIG welding of aluminium, a welding machine with alternating current (AC) is necessary. Steel and stainless steel, etc., can be welded with a direct current (DC) welding machine.

Work gloves, the standards and icons.

For work gloves, many standards have been established, and we will limit ourselves here to the standards EN420, EN388, EN407, and EN374, which are the most commonly applied. The EN420 standard is for gloves with 'minimal risks' and is also referred to as category 1 gloves. Since all gloves must meet this basic standard, no specific icon has been developed for it. The EN388 standard is for 'mechanical risks'. For gloves under this standard, a type approval conducted by a recognised laboratory (notified body) is required. These are also known as category 2 gloves.

The gloves are tested for:

• abrasion resistance,
• cut resistance,
• tear resistance,
• puncture resistance,

With the scores being found in this order at the icon with the hammer.

Passing these tests results in a certificate as proof for a class 2 glove according to the EN388 standard.

For gloves intended for applications involving heat and/or fire, there is an addition to the EN388 standard: the EN407. Gloves that pass these tests also receive scores on a corresponding certificate and additionally get the icon with the flame.

The parameters tested are in fixed order: non-flammability, resistance to radiant heat, and resistance to small molten metal particles.

Another addition to the EN388 standard is the EN374. In this case, the glove is tested for the permeability of chemicals. The scores can again be found on a corresponding certificate. This standard is indicated with the icon featuring a bottle.

The icons with scores can be found in the instruction manual that must be included with each smallest packaging unit.