Future fastener developing trends
Future development trends in the fastener industry and smart manufacturing
TAIWAN Business. EU l institutions22
SPECIAL 2024 T+T TECHNIKA A TRH
Aerospace fastener demand:
Fasteners are small parts, but they are
an indispensable key component to
support and connect the entire aircraft.
According to Boeing and Airbus'
forecast, the global aircraft demand in
the next 20 years will exceed 40,000
aircraft, which even does not include
military airplanes and helicopters. There
are millions of fasteners on each aircraft.
In terms of aluminum fastener sizes,
aerospace fasteners with a diameter
of less than 32mm can generally be
produced in large quantities using
aluminum wire. However, the large-
size aerospace fasteners that are used
on aircraft interiors and even on air
cargo containers can be produced
by aluminum extruded straight or
hexagonal bar.
The future trend of fastener
market:
• Lightweight design of aerospace
fasteners: Corresponding to the trend
of energy saving, carbon emissions
reduction, and consolidating the
competitiveness of airline companies,
Lightweight aircraft design has become
the mainstream trend in the aviation
industry, and the fastener is definitely
one of the main items of lightweight
design. In addition to lightweight
design, the strength of the fastener
itself must conform to aeronautical
safety standards as well. Therefore, the
demand for lightweight designs in high-
strength aluminum fasteners is about
to see a boom in the future.
• Application of automotive fasteners:
Nowadays, it’s an inevitable trend to
reduce the weight of vehicles. Not
only the frame, body sheet metal,
and chassis are all developing toward
lightweight designs, but also the high-
end models are aluminum alloyed for
engines and transmissions. Therefore,
expanding the aluminum fastener
market is also the mainstream trend
at this moment for the automotive
market.
The specifications of Aerospace
Fasteners in the current market:
• Alloy type: mainly in 7050, 7075, 2024
series
• Produced by straight/ hexagonal bar:
6mm to 63.5mm in diameter (30% of
the total demand)
• Produced by wire: 2mm to 25.4mm in
diameter (70% of the total demand)
Ye Fong Hot-Rolled aluminum
wire / rod:
• Production method: Hot Rolled Type
• Weight: around 600lb (300kg) per coil
• Alloy: 7075, 7050, 2024, 2014, 2017,
2117, 6061, 6056, 5056, 6082, etc.
• Condition: O /H/ T
• Redraw Rod (Ø 8~32mm) for forging
and drawing
• Finished Wire (Ø 4~30mm) for cold
heading, fasteners and rivets
• Features: Fine Grain Size Structure /
Better Formability & Machinability &
Superior Surface Quality
• Application: Aerospace fasteners /
Automotive fasteners
The aluminum wire from Ye Fong is hot-
rolled type instead of a cast-rolled type.
The highest application of fasteners
manufactured by cast-rolling can only be
used for automotive, and cannot be used
for aerospace. However, the aluminum
wire produced by hot-rolled method
completely solves the problem of surface
segregation layer impurities and non-
uniformity grain structure. This is achieved
through Ye Fong peeling, shaving, hot
rolling, homogenization treatment,
on-line eddy current test and other
manufacturing processes. It also provides
fastener manufacturers with better
machinability & formability, meeting the
demand of the aerospace and automotive
fastener markets at the same time.
For more information please visit our
website https://www.ye-fong.com
T+T
Future fastener
developing trends
TAIWAN Business. EU l introduction of companies22
T + T Technika a trh 3/2024