Products range from industry specific developments for the likes of the automotive, aerospace and railways sectors to industry standards for all kinds of sheet metal work. Key Böllhoff product designations are RIVNUT®, RIVSET®, RIVTAC® and RIVCLINCH®.
The clinching process is a method of joining sheet metal or extrusions by localised cold-forming the materials. The result is an interlocking friction joint between two or more layers of material formed by a punch into a special die. Coated and painted sheet metals can also be joined together with no damage to the surface finish.
The RIVCLINCH® joining technique can be used to join steel and stainless steel materials as well as aluminium and/or non-ferrous materials in a cost effective, environmentally friendly process.
The product range of RIVCLINCH® systems are designed for different application ranges and adapt to varied manufacturing environments.
Benefits of RIVCLINCH® include no need for additional fasteners; no damage to surface finishes on the workpiece; and high repeatability. Steel- and stainless steel materials and also aluminium and other nonferrous metals can be joined economically and in an environmentally friendly manner.
Found across a span of applications is RIVNUT®. This fastener is a blind rivet nut and RIVSTUD® blind rivet studs, are the most versatile solution for fastening high-strength nut or bolt threads to components when tapped threads are not possible due to small wall thicknesses. For internal and external threads of components with small wall thicknesses, Böllhoff offers RIVNUT® blind rivet nuts and RIVSTUD® blind rivet studs. These elements are mounted without counter pressure ("blindly") and can therefore also be set at hollow sections. RIVNUT® blind rivet nuts and RIVSTUD® blind rivet studs are available in many variations and sizes and therefore offer numerous fastening solutions with additional functions.
A novel fastener is the RIVSET® a self-piercing rivet. This is a process for a high strength mechanical joining of similar or combinations of materials whereby several layers can be joined without problem. All manufacturing industry has to join materials together. The importance and use of mechanical joining methods has increased significantly in recent years.
Benefits include no pre-drilling; especially apposite for hybrid joining; high dynamic fastness; and force and form-fitting. The trend is towards the use of lightweight assemblies, galvanised and coated steels, high strength steels, aluminium and plastics and combinations of these materials. Particularly in the sheet-metal industry, RIVSET® self-pierce riveting makes an alternative and/or an addition to the previously dominating joining methods.
RIVTAC® is ideal for diverse material combinations and for applications involving mass production with maximum flexibility in terms of production planning.
Universal material combinations are becoming increasingly important, especially in the development of modern vehicle and car body designs. RIVTAC® is particularly suitable for joining aluminium, steel, plastics and non-ferrous metals as well as for mixed joints, multilayer joints and hybrid joints of these materials. RIVTAC® is particularly suitable for joints of aluminium, steel, plastics, non-ferrous metals as well as for mixed joints, multilayer joints and hybrid joints of these materials.
The RIVTAC® automation system permits fully automated joining and is ideal for applications involving mass production with maximum flexibility in terms of production planning.
