Bay Supply Blog - Rivets, Fasteners, and Tools | Mike Eichinger (10)

Lockbolts are the preferred fastener for tough environments because, once installed, they won’t loosen, even under the toughest conditions such as continuous stress or vibration. The two-piece lockbolt consists of a grooved pin and a sleeve, and once installation is complete, the sleeve is permanently fixed so it can only be removed with a special cutting tool.

Lockbolts have become one of the most popular types of fasteners for manufacturing, construction, transportation, mining, and a variety of other applications. There are many benefits of lockbolts, and they have proven to be a durable and lasting fastener solution in most applications.

What is a Lockbolt?

Lockbolts are just what they sound like—bolts that lock in place when installed so they won’t loosen over time, even with extreme stress and vibration. Lockbolts are used in a variety of applications in place of a rivet or conventional bolt because of their superior strength and lasting performance.

When you need a fastener that is easy to install and designed to last, there is nothing like a blind bolt. Blind bolts are used in place of welds or other types of joints, allowing you to clamp materials together for a lasting joint. They have become common for use in aircraft and automotive manufacturing and in heavy-duty applications such as mining, trucking, and construction.

Helical inserts are the most innovative and secure means of installing fasteners in stripped screw holes or soft materials. Bay Supply carries a variety of helical inserts and helical coil products, and Kato Fastening Systems inserts continue to be a top seller because they provide permanent, wear-resistant threads for almost any job.

The construction industry continues to grow, and that means an increasing demand for industrial fasteners and lockbolts. By the end of the third quarter in 2018, construction spending was up 5.5 percent over the previous year, and 2019 promises even more growth.

A rivet nut is a unique type of rivet, sometimes known as a blind rivet nut, a threaded insert, a rivnut, or a nutsert. It is tubular, internally threaded, and counterbored so it can be driven just like a blind rivet from one side. However, there are various types of rivet nuts from multiple manufacturers, so it’s important to understand some of the nuances. 

The fastener industry saw a lot of changes and advances in 2018, but they only laid the foundation for more growth in the year to come. 2019 looks to be a promising year for Bay Supply. We’re excited about the new products and new services we are preparing for 2019 and want to give you a preview of what you can expect from Bay Supply this year.

Precision is essential for many manufacturing and construction applications. Sometimes the required precision can vary across applications, and even among different areas of the same application.

Metal price hikes, primarily caused by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, have resulted in major headaches for American companies. How prices will be affected in the future remains uncertain.