Products + Tools

Spanish-based Smartfix Tecnologia e Innovacion S.L is able to work with customers to help choose the best rivet solution for their applications.

Thanks to over 30 years of experience in the sector, Smartfix can offer a technical service to develop special rivet nuts with specific requirements according to customer specifications. The company also has a large stock of products, produced in its own factory in Asia, to distribute across Europe.

A rivet nut is a mechanical fastener that offers a strong thread in applications where it is not possible to use a tap for threading due to small sheet thickness or low profile materials. The most popular way to produce rivets is by cold forming, however in some cases, for prototypes and short production, it is possible to produce them by turning. One of the most common uses for these rivets is in the automotive industry because of the possibility to make different assemblies in different levels.

In the beginning the first rivets featured cylindrical bodies, but as industry requirements changed, new designs were developed including hexagonal, half hexagonal, square and triform bodies to name a few. The principle of use is still the same as the very first rivet – to offer a strong thread.

There are other solutions to offer threads in parts, but usually rivet nuts offer excellent technical features, as well as a wide range of measures, materials and types. Furthermore, rivet nuts offer a fast installing process making them a better choice than other more expensive and harder to install products.

Before installing a rivet nut, the following things should be taken into account – hole diameter, shape of hole, sheet material and the thickness of the sheet. The answers will indicate which rivet nut type should be chosen. Another thing to keep in mind before installing a rivet nut is the kind of tool being used and the final application.  

There are different ways and machineries to install a rivet nut including both manual, battery, as well as pneumatic tools. Where a large amount of rivet nuts need to be installed there are also automatic systems available.