FOCUS ON FASTENERS
Self-tapping screws for sheet roofing applications .
product demand from aerospace and other industrial applications . The aerospace-grade product segment is expected to have the fastest growth over the coming years because of increased military and defence operations in the U . S .,” commented the analyst .
Europe is a prime destination for automotive development . The presence of multinational automakers in the region , coupled with enhanced production facilities , and innovative manufacturing techniques has assisted market growth . The adoption of automation in production facilities is further expected to boost market growth .
“ Product demand in Germany is likely to grow at a steady rate because of the growth of construction and manufacturing sectors . In Europe , Germany stood as the largest industrial manufacturing country , holding over 20 % of overall market share . The country is known for its electronics , machinery and automotive industries . The automotive industry has been the largest consumer of fasteners in the country and this trend is expected to continue over the projected period ,” explained Grand View Research .
Fastener segmentation
Industrial fasteners include a wide variety of mechanical fastening devices , ranging from mass-produced simple items with little opportunity for product differentiation , to complex and ad-hoc products designed for specialist applications .
The most common form of product segmentation identifies threaded and nonthreaded fasteners . The major types of threaded fasteners are bolts , nuts and screws . Bolts are usually used in conjunction with nuts . A variety of materials are used for their production , depending upon the required tensile strength of each application . Standard bolts are made of iron or steel , with brass and copper bolts widely used in electrical assemblies .
Aluminium bolts are frequently , but not exclusively , used in the aerospace sector , and those made of nickel are used where hightemperature tolerances are required .
Standard nuts utilise hexagonal heads , although square-headed nuts are commonly used for woodworking applications . Different shape variations are also used to ensure the satisfactory locking of bolts . In safety-critical applications and where frequent vibration occurs , self-locking nuts are most commonly used .
Applications for self-locking nuts have increased strongly over the past few years and a wide range of such mechanisms are now available . Screws differ from bolts as they have the capability to be used in a threaded hole without a nut .
The most commonly identified non-threaded fasteners are nails , tacks , studs , staples , rivets and washers . Nails and tacks are some of the simplest mass-produced fasteners , with little opportunity for product differentiation . Even so , a wide variety of materials are used in their production depending upon the required tensile strength and corrosive resistance of the finished item . Studs and staples also tend to have similar characteristics .
Rivets are one of the oldest forms of fastener and , like most fasteners , can be manufactured using a wide variety of materials , depending upon the application for which the product is required . Washers are also classified as non-threaded fasteners , although strictly they are not fasteners but components within a fastening system .
Increased levels of automation in end-user industries , particularly the automotive sector , have fundamentally changed the requirements for fasteners in recent years . In the past , the emphasis of production centred around time , handling and effort , but now the key characteristics are repeatability and tight performance tolerance .
The increased life expectancy of many end-use products , such as the two-sided galvanization of automotive bodies , better finishes , increased use of plastics and new designs in engines and transmissions , have dictated that fasteners adapt to greater longevity . This has resulted in old practices ,
Rivets in construction .
20 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR March 2022