Manufacturing processes

Tool design

Exceptional tool design and the use of precision tooling are indispensable for mass producing metal parts. That is where our own toolmaking facility comes into play. Our tooling experts make sure we use high quality tools with an optimal service life that enable us to produce fast and accurate.

Cold forming

Our core business and key competency is, and always has been cold forming. With this manufacturing process we produce metal parts at the highest speeds and precision. This process is used to create the contour of parts, before they are further processed.

Machining operations

Most parts we produce by means of cold forming alone. Yet, we also have the necessary equipment to carry out secondary machining operations, in case extremely narrow tolerances are desired. These operations include turning, milling and drilling.

Heat treatment

Heat treatment is one of the critical processes in making fasteners. During this process we use our in-house furnaces and oil-baths to improve their physical properties through heating and cooling. First the parts undergo hardening, meaning they are heated to a temperature above 850˚C that changes the structure of the steel. This is followed by a process called quenching, in which the parts are rapidly cooled down by submerging them in oil. In the final step called tempering, the parts are heated again to around 450˚C. This reduces their hardness and brittleness and gives them toughness.

Thread manufacturing

Many parts such as screws, bolts and nuts need to be fitted with an external or internal thread, or a combination of both. External threads we create by using machines with thread rolling dies. Internal threads are made using machines with tapping tools. These machines enable us to apply metric threads as well as NPT (tapered) and NPS (straight) threads.

Surface treatment

Specialized industrial coatings improve the performance of fasteners in one or more ways. It can make them acquire greater strength and resistant to corrosion and extreme temperatures. Product finishings can also provide reduced friction or serve as color coding for easier assembly. They can even add to the aesthetic value of your end product. This is the case with chromed wheel bolts or motorcycle gas tank caps. Whether in house or by using our network of trusted surface treatment specialists, we can apply whatever coating suits your requirements.

Assembling and welding

Some parts consist of multiple elements that need to be put together during the manufacturing process. For example, cage nuts, nylon lock nuts or stamped parts fitted with nuts. Whether assembling or welding is required, we have the resources available to create a finished fastener. We can even put together complete component subassemblies for you.

Testing and sorting

Quality assurance starts with using the right base material and producing exactly according to specifications. It also requires in-process control, meaning testing throughout every phase along the manufacturing process, and sorting out any defective parts.

Packaging

The last step in the manufacturing process is preparing your cargo for transport. This means packing the parts into small load carriers, which are then correctly labeled and placed on a pallet. Having many packaging possibilities at our disposal, this process can be tailored exactly to your specific requirements. For some customers this means we slide their parts into VCI film bags before putting them into carton boxes. These contain an integrated anti-corrosion agent that protects the parts and inhibits corrosive processes. Other customers utilize reusable plastic containers for handling the logistics of their parts.