Automobile Fasteners and Industrial Fasteners

Hi Guest,

Since Fasteners is a vast subject, I think the simple answer to your question would be - you will require machines for forging, machining and rolling.

And you will also need to look at:-

Mild Steel Pressing

Spring Steel Pressing

Deep Drawing

Plastic Injection Moulding

Diecasting (Zinc Alloy & Aluminium)

And, if you can finally decide which technology is the one to go for, you'll have to set up a Quality Control system to provide the mass of support documentation as required by all the automotive manufacturers. (I am aware of several large manufacturing companies who won't deal with the automotive industry as they consider this too onerous).

Still interested?

look at this company:

http://www.bihler.de/englisch/index.htm

they make amazing machines that can produce most fastners. after that, contact them for qoute, unless you are looking into mass production do not proceed with it.

it is very expensive tooling!

Aner's correct, tooling is a major factor in mass-production of fasteners, e.g.

Bihler tooling can cost 15-30,000 Euros.

Plastic injection Moulding tooling 5-30,000 euros for small parts.

Deep Drawing tooling can be 60,000 Euros or more.

And you've still got to design and draw the parts!

From inside the automotive manufacturing field, you will have a great challenge.

When we design product, one of our objectives is to incorporate the fastening into the product design so as to minimise the number of fasteners used. We design plastic "clips" and pressed metal barbs or clips into our products and thus eleiminate the need for many fasteners.

Become a good fastener supplier and then IF the auto industry cannot build out the requirement, then they may invite you to quote.

You will need to have in place a good and proven (externally audited) quality system that works, good supply chain control and be prepared to run the products with a full "open book" process on costing with no more than 3% profit and expected annual sell price REDUCTION of 3% to 5% regardless of raw material and economic conditions competing against anyone else in the world. Those big customers have no loyalty to the little suppliers (Like fasteners, springs and hoses) and if you make a loss, they might be sympathetic, but will take their business to the next supplier who is willing to risk all to get into the market.

You will also need to have resources available for product validation to prove to your customers that you are able to consistently supply the quality of product that you claim.

If you can succeed in automotive, then you will truly be able to claim to be world class competitive.

Now to answer your question about wanting to know the technologies, go to an auto repair shop and have a look at them dismantling a car. You'll see the types of fasteners used. Ask them for some "trashed" assemblies (like instrument panels and lamps assemblies) and take them away and dismantle them yourself.

In the non-critical areas (like suspension, wheels and engine) you will probably see screws, speed nuts, clips, expanding push through plugs, mild steel threaded bolts with "hi/lo" threads to set into plastic, bolts with no thread for the first 1 x nut thickness to eliminate cross threading, thread cutting screws for blind holes in plastic, decorated stainless steel screws for fastening trim and external lamps, and lots of specialty spring steel shapes and circlips.

How's that song go "Welcome to the house of fun........"

I am currently developing a simple easy to use positive-locking fastener that may be useful to the fastener markets and technologies you are aiming for. Please contact me to discuss possible opportunities and or visit the following sites to learn more.

http://www.createthefuturecontest.com/pages/view/entriesdetail.html?entryID=1690 OR

www.phil-lok.com

Phil Grainger

(330)285-8170

Hi, We are also a Fasteners Manufacturer and Suppliers, For Further Discussion Visit our Website.

Fasteners Manufacturer and Suppliers