Self Clinch Technology Evolves

As manufacturers continually strive to reduce weight and costs by moving to ever thinner panel materials self-clinch technology has had to evolve in order to ensure that it remains current at the forefront of design when thinking about threads for these new materials. PEM continues to lead the way in self-clinch technology and has developed two new products to help customers with these new materials.

The new SMPS and SMPP ranges can install into steel or stainless steel panels as thin as 0.64 mm. Available in thread sizes M2.5, M3 and M3.5 plus unified threads 2-56, 4-40 and 6-32, SMPS and SMPP inserts share very low standoff heights of only 1.4 mm which combined with a reduced footprint ensures that design does not have to be compromised in order to accommodate fixing hardware.

For both fasteners the under head knurl design has been designed to offer enhanced push-out and torque out performance in thin sheet applications when compared to conventional products.

SMPS self-clinching nuts can be installed into most cold rolled materials including aluminium, and steel up to HRB (Rockwell "B" scale) 70 or less and HB (Hardness Brinell) 125 or less.

SMPP parts can in addition install into stainless steel with a hardness up to HRB 90 / HB 192 or less and offers corrosion resistance similar to 300 grade stainless steel.

For more information on SMPS and SMPP go to our website where product specifications, CAD models and other information is available by clicking here.

Since 1942 when it first pioneered self-clinch technology Penn Engineering and Manufacturing (PEM) has led the way in thin sheet joining technology. With manufacturing facilities in the USA, Asia and Europe PEM products are widely copied, but never matched for quality. Today the majority of PEM products sold into the European market are produced at the company's state of the art manufacturing plant in Galway, Ireland. New product concepts are constantly being developed and new products regularly brought to market. FHX Express thread studs, HFLH studs for use in very hard steels, SH nuts for use in very thin hard steels, the Micro range of pins, nuts and standoffs with threads down to M1.6 plus the highly successful SMT range of hardware for surface mount PCB applications are just a few of the innovations now enabling manufacturers to improve their products and processes.

On a final note self-clinch fasteners that are loose, turn, fall out of the panel or requiring tack welding, flush head studs and standoffs which do not actually set flush in the panel and stainless steel that rusts are not normal traits which need to be accepted. Low quality, poorly produced self-clinch PEM copies are rife in the industry. If you are having problems with the installation of the fasteners you are using currently let us show you how to resolve these issues without any major re-engineering on your part. Remember if it does not have the PEM trademark on it - it's not PEM. Call us now on 0808 123 1221 if you would like advise on improving your quality and reducing your rework or customer rejects.

About Zygology Ltd
With nearly 40 years of experience Zygology is the country's largest distributor for POP Avdel and Southco; and lead distributor for PEM in the UK. We are in addition the UK distribution hub for Masterfix fasteners and tooling. We have in-house repair facilities for POP Avdel and Masterfix tools. Zygology Ltd has an in depth knowledge of the products we sell and how they can be best incorporated into yours. We will always give the best advice we can - even if this sometimes means that we end up recommending a competing technology. We combine friendly service with competitive prices and excellent stock availability.