The air conditioning ducting market is split between two technologies to hold the sections together. The high volume, high strength ducting applications tend to take the pierce rivets approach. The low volume, low strength market typically uses clinching, riv-bonding, pop rivets and spot welding.
When you take into account the overall costs of the process and the cycle times, Henrob Self Pierce Riveting (HSPR) process still works out as the most cost effective solution.
The use of a structural rivets or engineered rivet like HSPR gives the customer the reassurance of a quality product. The clinch process is now seen as an inferior process and due to H&S issues it is now becoming less commonly used as a joining process. The same can be said of a blind fastener.
Not only are the ducting companies looking at HSPR but air conditioning companies are looking at taking advantage of the self pierce rivets in the air conditioning manufacturing.
Taking this one step further Henrob is current working on joining air conditioning ducting fans together and we have also highlighted an opportunity in the mining industry were air conditioning fans could take advantage of the SPR process.