Tyco exploits special-purpose fastening solutions

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 21, 2005

A range of standard and special-purpose fasteners supplied by Northern Precision is playing a small but significant role in the evolution of Tyco Electronics' products.

A range of standard and special-purpose fasteners supplied by Northern Precision is playing a small but significant role in the evolution of Tyco Electronics' products, a growing world-leading passive component manufacturer.

Tyco Electronics has a full complement of leading brands which offer customers an unparalleled portfolio of connectors, relays and circuit breakers, active and passive fibre optic components, wireless products, power components, resistors and inductors, motors and myriad others across 25 product segments.

At the company's Braintree (Essex) site, Tyco's programme of continual product development includes the innovative use of fasteners to implement design changes to enable racks, cabinets and enclosures to be made more easily, quicker and at lower cost.

The Tyco Electronics/Comacc site focuses on the design and manufacture of bespoke optical fibre racks and fibre management enclosures and accessories for telecommunications customers worldwide, to complement Tyco's global success in the aerospace, automotive, computing and consumer goods industries.

Designer Matt Craig explains how the design and purchasing departments are constantly seeking new products that will make every job more efficient and effective - for both Tyco and its customers.

"That includes fasteners", he says: "since the majority of products we produce are based around the use of sheet metalwork".

"We've been working with Northern Precision and specifying their fasteners for some time".

"Tyco Electronics/Comacc specifies the types/sises of fasteners that must be used".

"Northern Precision is obviously satisfying those needs on a regular basis".

Reliable delivery and cost-effectiveness are key factors that enable Northern Precision to consistently supply Tyco Electronic/Comacc with a range of standard products - including a wide variety of self-clinch nuts that are used in 90% of applications.

At its Doncaster site, BS EN ISO9001:2000-accredited Northern Precision maintains 5000 in-stock standard line items covering most applications and materials; self-clinching fasteners, rivet bushes, sheet nuts, high-strength and broaching fasteners, weld nuts and studs, cage nuts and blind rivets, included.

For Tyco Electronics/Comacc to make further improvements to the manufacturing process also means that Tyco Electronics/Comacc has capitalised on Northern Precision's adeptness at providing special-purpose fastening solutions in turned and cold-formed components.

"In addition to nonstandard standoffs and low profile knurled head fasteners, fasteners traditionally associated with PCB board manufacture are increasingly being used by us for other purposes and to good effect", Matt Craig continues.

"In one case, a moulded plastic clip has been successfully replaced with a PCB snap-top - simply updating the drawing by showing the use of a stud instead of a hole has not only resulted in a more efficient and lower cost manufacturing process through reduced assembly time, but it has also meant we have eliminated a stock item".

Another example concerns Northern Precision's supply of nonstandard M3 standoffs (turned from aluminium rod) in lengths of 30 and 38mm, which have in some applications eliminated four separate assembly operations.

"Of course, the savings we make improves our efficiency and saves us money in terms of assembly and product costs", Matt Craig concludes.

"It is difficult to quantify how much we do save, but it is clear that our association with Northern Precision is a profitable one".