What makes SwivWasher™ different from standard washers?

SwivWasher™ is the only product that prevents both screw loss AND cable twist in one integrated design. The captive variant mechanically retains fasteners to help prevent dropped hardware, while the swiveling washer prevents cable twist that causes premature wear and failure.

How does SwivWasher™ prevent FOD (Foreign Object Debris)?

The captive SwivWasher™ variant mechanically retains screws and washers, preventing them from dropping during maintenance or assembly operations. This helps prevent foreign object debris that can damage equipment or create safety hazards in critical applications.

What industries benefit most from SwivWasher™?

SwivWasher™ is ideal for marine, automotive, and industrial applications where cable twist prevention and fastener retention are critical. Any application with frequent maintenance access or safety-critical hardware retention benefits from this solution.

Patent Pending 360° Rotation Optional Captive Retrofit Ready Made in Ohio

SwivWasher™ Prevents Cable Twist
Captive Variant Retains Fasteners

Proprietary multi-axis swivel (patent pending) prevents cable twist and helps prevent dropped fasteners—cut FOD, rework, and lost‑hardware downtime across maintenance, assembly, and service. This innovative screw-retaining washer system delivers maintenance efficiency for aerospace, marine, and automotive applications.

Join Pilot Program Request CAD / NDA

Now piloting: 1/4-20 and M6 socket head cap screws

SwivWasher™ technology demonstration

Swivel Lanyard Washer in Action

Interactive comparison showing before and after SwivWasher™ installation. Drag the slider to see how components gain complete freedom of movement.

Component Installed

multi-axis swivel washer preventing cable twist on component with 360 degree rotation

Component Freedom

Drag to Compare

Component Installed - Normal Operation

SwivWasher™ Standard ready for service access - component secured in operating position

Touch and drag to compare

Swipe the center handle left and right to see component freedom

The Difference is Clear

Before: Component restricted by cable tension
After: Complete 360° freedom of movement
Easier maintenance access
No cable stress or damage

Key Benefits

SwivWasher‑S (Standard)

A swiveling lanyard you can attach to just about anything

Perfect for Tethered Components

Ideal for panels, guarding, covers, fixtures and jigs that are removed during maintenance or changeover. Tethers components while maintaining freedom of movement, eliminating lanyard kinking, strain, and damage to make installation and removal easier.

360° rotation + tilt even when fully torqued
Prevents cable twist and kinks during component service
No adhesives or patches — clean torque behavior
Retrofit‑friendly under common screw sizes
Low profile design fits existing applications
Metal construction for durability

Simple Retrofit Solution

Use SwivWasher to turn any loose component into a tethered one while still allowing free movement. Simply install the SwivWasher to the removable component and attach the other side of the lanyard to a fixed component.

SwivWasher‑C (Captive)

A swiveling lanyard that retains removed screws

Perfect for Maintenance-Heavy Screws

Have a screw that is constantly removed for maintenance or changeover? Add a SwivWasher-C to the screw and it will always be there, attached to the lanyard when it's time to reinstall it. Reduce time and FOD risk from commonly removed screws without modifying any parts.

Captive screw can't drop — stays with assembly during service
Helps prevent FOD risk from dropped fasteners
Mechanical retention — no thread patches needed
Reuses existing bolts — perfect for retrofitting
All Standard benefits plus screw retention
Designed for repeat service cycles

Critical for High-Risk Environments

Industrial FOD incidents can exceed six figures in cost. Manufacturing downtime costs can reach seven figures per hour. Captive variant prevents these risks.

Both Variants Include:

Made in Ohio by Roy I. Kaufman Mfg.

Patent pending ball‑in‑track technology

Multiple material options per environment

Professional pilot program validation

Screw-Retaining Washer Technology

The SwivWasher™-C (Captive) variant is a fastener retention washer that mechanically retains screws during maintenance, helping prevent Foreign Object Debris (FOD) risk in critical applications.

Zero Drop Risk

Hardware cannot fall during maintenance or assembly

FOD Prevention

Helps prevent foreign object debris contamination risk

Time Savings

No time wasted searching for dropped fasteners

Service Ready

Designed for repeated maintenance cycles

The Hidden Cost of Lost Fasteners

Billions

Annual FOD cost to industry*

6+ Figures

Average cost per FOD incident**

7+ Figures

Cost per hour of automotive downtime***

Traditional Risk

High-Performance Engines: FOD from dropped fasteners causes damage, delays
Food Processing: Metal contamination triggers costly product recalls
Manufacturing: Production line shutdowns while searching for lost hardware
Clean Rooms: Contamination events require extensive decontamination

SwivWasher™ Prevention

Zero Drop Risk: Screw mechanically retained during maintenance
No Production Delays: Helps prevent time spent searching for lost fasteners
Prevents Recalls: Hardware cannot fall into products or processes
Maintains Cleanliness: No foreign debris introduction to controlled environments

Sources: *FAA FOD Prevention, **USAF FOD Analysis 1995-2004, ***Manufacturing Downtime Study 2024

captive screw washer retaining fastener under head prevents FOD and hardware loss during maintenance

Critical for marine, automotive, food processing, and clean room environments

Industrial Fastener Retention Applications

Common use cases across marine, automotive, and industrial sectors

Aerospace Applications Notice: Any aerospace or safety-critical applications would require additional testing, validation, and certification before use. Contact us to discuss aerospace qualification requirements.

Guarding & Access

Guards, access doors, machine covers, and enclosures with anti-twist hardware retention

Enclosures

Equipment enclosures and junction boxes with captive fastener retention

Fixtures & Jigs

Fixtures, jigs, and test stands

Robotics & EOAT

Robotics/EOAT change‑outs and small automation modules

Field Service

Field service kits and MRO tasks where dropped screws are costly

Lighting & Signage

Lighting fixtures, outdoor equipment, and signage hardware

Solution Comparison

See how SwivWasher™ compares to traditional approaches

Approach	Prevents Drops?	Affects Torque?	Consumables	Key Notes
SwivWasher‑C	Yes (mechanical)	No	None	Retains screw + prevents cable twist
Nylon patch/threadlocker	Sometimes	Yes	Single‑use	Doesn't prevent drops when fully removed
Separate tether ring	No	No	Extra parts	Screw still loose; cable still twists
Cage/captive fasteners	Yes	No	Panel rework	Not retrofit‑friendly

Technical Specifications

Current Pilot Specifications
Screw Sizes	1/4" and M6 screws Initial focus
Head Compatibility	Socket head cap screws (Allen key drive)
Materials Available	1018 CRS, 304/316 SS, 6061‑T6 aluminum
Finish Options	Zinc plating, black oxide, passivated stainless, clear anodize
Swivel Mechanism	Precision ball‑in‑track with 360° rotation + tilt capability
Retention Method	Mechanical (Captive variant) — no adhesives or thread patches
Profile	Low profile design for retrofit applications

Performance

Under Validation:

Cycle life testing
Retention force
Vibration resistance
Temperature range

Complete specifications available post-pilot validation

Pre-production specifications subject to change based on pilot program feedback and validation results.

Join the Pilot Program

We're validating retention force, vibration, and cycle‑life with selected OEMs and integrators. Share your use case to request evaluation units.

* indicates required fields

Contact Information

Company *

Name *

Email *

Phone (optional)

Technical Requirements

Screw size(s) & head style *

Environment *

Estimated volumes *

Timeline *

Application Details

Need Captive (fastener‑retaining)?

NDA needed for CAD?

Application summary *

Free pilot units • NDA available • Technical support included

Frequently Asked Questions

SwivWasher™ is currently in pre-production with pilot quantities available to approved partners. We're conducting validation testing with selected OEMs and integrators before full commercial release.

Complete specifications including load rating, retention force, vibration resistance, temperature range, and cycle life will be published after pilot testing validation. Preliminary testing shows excellent performance across target applications.

We currently have 1/4\" and M6 sizes available. Additional sizes and custom configurations available on request for qualified applications.

Submit a pilot request through our form above with your application details, timeline, and success criteria. We provide free pilot units to qualified customers for validation testing before full deployment.

A screw-retaining washer like SwivWasher™-C mechanically captures the screw head while allowing the threaded shaft to remain free, making it retrofit-friendly. Traditional captive screws require component redesign and drilling modifications. SwivWasher™ works under existing fasteners without component rework.

SwivWasher features a proprietary multi-axis swivel (patent pending) that allows 360° rotation plus tilt movement, even when fully torqued. This multi-axis swivel prevents cable binding and twist during component movement, helping prevent premature wear and cable failure.

SwivWasher is designed with a low-profile form factor for retrofit applications. We currently have 1/4\" and M6 sizes available. Contact us with your specific fastener details for compatibility confirmation.

The SwivWasher™-C (Captive) variant mechanically retains fasteners to prevent Foreign Object Debris. Made with industrial-grade materials (304/316 SS, 6061-T6), it's currently being validated for marine, automotive, and industrial applications where dropped hardware poses safety or contamination risks. Future aerospace applications would require additional testing and certification.

SwivWasher™ has demonstrated superior twist prevention capabilities and zero consumables operation. Complete specifications including cycle life testing, retention force, vibration resistance, and temperature range will be available post-pilot validation.

Important Legal Disclaimers

Patent Pending: SwivWasher™ technology is patent pending. All design and technical information is proprietary and confidential.

Safety-Critical Applications: While SwivWasher™ helps prevent fastener loss and cable wear, proper engineering verification is required for all safety-critical applications. Users are responsible for ensuring product suitability for their specific application requirements.

Development Product: SwivWasher™ is currently in pilot development phase. Final specifications, testing data, and certifications will be available upon completion of validation testing. Contact us for current development status and availability.

SwivWasher™ Prevents Cable Twist Captive Variant Retains Fasteners