Product category:
Fasteners, threaded and non-threaded
News Release from: Profil UK | Subject: Clinch nuts and studs
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 August 2006
Pierce fasteners get a grip on the
Freelander 2
Land-Rover uses 145 Profil clinch nuts and studs in the assembly of its all new Freelander 2 models.
Leading vehicle manufacturer Land-Rover is building on the success of Profil's pierce fastening methods in its Discovery and Defender ranges by specifying a further 145 of the company's clinch nuts and studs in the assembly of its all new Freelander 2 models Through this latest contract, Profil has underlined its position as Land-Rover's preferred method of providing male and female threads in sheet metal components and body panels; superseding welded and other traditional threaded fasteners in many areas of the company's products
A key feature of the Freelander 2 is the extensive use of high strength (600-800MPa) steel panels at the rear of the vehicle and in safety-critical impact areas around door apertures.
"In addition to ensuring secure door hinge and seat anchorages in this material, Profil pierce fasteners provide a variety of high strength, vibration resistant mountings in areas such as the gear change console, front bulkhead and cross members", notes Profil's UK Sales Manager, Adrian Ellis.
"Thanks to our fasteners' clinching action, Land-Rover has been able to specify standard type RND nuts throughout the vehicle - even in 2mm thick 600MPa panels at the base of the A pillar".
"This is a major advantage over normal welded nuts and studs, which are extremely difficult to secure to this material consistently".
Additional benefits offered by Profil fasteners include their ability to accommodate panel thicknesses from 0.6 to 4.0mm thick.
They are equally suitable for use with coated or uncoated materials, high tensile, stainless and sandwich steels, and can even be installed in aluminium and magnesium castings - further reducing inventory and production costs.
Profil fasteners can also be installed during the multistage forming process of pressed components at more than 100 fasteners per minute - an order of magnitude faster than other methods.
"The use of automatic sensing in the press ensures that no components are made without the required fasteners being correctly installed", adds Ellis.
"This is in marked contrast to other joining processes; and one that is well recognised by Land-Rover".
"In-press monitoring means that components are effectively 100% inspected before shipment and, as a result, achieve zero defects at final assembly".
"This not only provides significant productivity benefits, but also leads to a dramatic reduction in the rework and warranty costs associated with normal threaded fasteners".
In parallel, installation as part of the presswork process ensures high positional accuracy and repeatability.
Typically, tolerances of +0.2mm can readily be maintained using Profil fasteners, whereas a figure of five times this value can be expected for welded parts.
"We are delighted that Profil fasteners have again been specified for the recently-announced Freelander 2 series", adds Ellis.
"It follows their use on numerous other Land-Rover models and underlines the fundamental cost, quality and in-service performance advantages of our pierce fastening technology". Request a free brochure from Profil UK ...
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