Product category:
Manufacturing orders, contracts, financial reports
News Release from: Profil UK
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 January 2006
Profil wins EUR 500,000 fastener system
order
Pierce fastening technology specialist has won a EUR 500,000 contract to supply Swindon Pressings with fasteners and automated installation equipment for use on the next BMW Mini.
Leading pierce fastening technology specialist, Profil UK has won a EUR 500,000 contract to supply Swindon Pressings with fasteners and automated installation equipment for use on the next generation BMW Mini Through the order, seven auto-feed and insertion units will be incorporated within the customer's manufacturing processes, enabling Profil's high strength fasteners to be installed as an integral part of the production cycle for many sheet metal components on the new vehicle
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Latest aluminium fasteners are cost-effective
Profil - the UK's leading supplier of pierce nut and stud assembly technology - has added a new range of aluminium variants to its versatile fastening system for sheet metal components.
Pierce nuts preferred for feet attachment
After evaluating various rivet nut alternatives the Dyson engineering team selected pierce nuts as our preferred option to attach feet onto a high performance washing machine.
"The ability to install our fasteners in-press provides tremendous cost and quality advantages," says Profil's UK sales manager, Adrian Ellis.
"It is the ideal method for automotive manufacturers to mount male or female threads in pressed components.
Similarly, exceptionally high installation rates - backed by excellent water sealing, vibration and corrosion resistance - mean that our systems are increasingly superseding welded and other threaded fasteners in 'wet' vehicle areas and 'safety critical' applications as well." Available in a wide variety of configurations, including large flange, shouldered, conical, ultra low profile, high shear, flush fitting and special purpose types, Profil fasteners will accommodate panel thicknesses from 0.6 to 4.0mm thick.
Further reading
Aluminium fasteners have 85% steel strength
Profil aluminium fasteners provide as much as 85% of the performance of equivalent steel parts and offer high corrosion resistance and weight savings.
Clinch nuts meet safety critical standards
Clinch nut technology from Profil UK has been specified at the heart of 'foolproof' fastening methods used by Land Rover in safety critical assembly areas in its Defender vehicles.
Ball pin fastener produces strong pivot joints
A new ball pin fastener provides a fast and cost-effective method of achieving high strength pivot points in sheet metal components from 0.8-1.5mm thick Inco
They are just as suitable for use with coated or uncoated materials, high grade, stainless and sandwich steels, and can even be installed in aluminium and magnesium castings.
In addition, they are ideal for use with corrosion resistant finishes and materials, such as galvanised steel or 'Zintec', as well as the growing number of aluminium panels found on modern motor vehicles.
"These are major benefits over welded fastening methods, which are not only slow, but open to many more process variables than pierce/clinch installation methods," says Ellis.
"Our fasteners are installed as part of the presswork process, so offer significantly better positional accuracy and repeatability than other fixing methods.
Typically, tolerances of +0.2mm can readily be maintained, while a figure of five times this value might be expected for corresponding welded parts." The latest order builds on the success of Profil fastening technology in the assembly of the current Mini models.
More than 70 Profil nuts and studs are used in applications ranging from simple brackets on the vehicle's fusebox and foot rests, through to 'safety-critical' areas including the steering column, bumper and sub-frame mountings.
With setting rates in excess of 100 fasteners per minute, the process has proved easily capable of keeping pace with BMW's production requirements for the Mini of more than 2000 cars per week.
"We are delighted with this latest order, as it underlines the inherent cost and productivity advantages of our process," says Ellis.
"What is more, it sees BMW join other leading vehicle OEMs, including Land-Rover, Ford and Peugeot-Citroen, who now regard Profil as a preferred fastening method for all their new vehicle builds." * About Profil UK - based in Coalville, Leicestershire, Profil UK draws on 40 years experience in the development and application of pierce fastening technology.
The company offers a comprehensive range of fastener styles and installation equipment - all backed by ISO 9001 certification - and is a principal supplier to customers throughout the automotive, domestic appliance and sheet metal fabrication sectors. Request free introductory details about products from Profil UK ...
• Profil UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
