Fastener industry on fast track of change

Technologies developed for fastening of metal aerospace parts are being transferred for bonding of composite parts.

Aerospace manufacturing for decades has been a nuts and bolts affair, but introduction of composite airplane parts is throwing a wrench into the works.

Especially on the military side, composites are gaining ground quickly, meaning that bonding as a way of putting parts together is playing an increasingly larger role, at the expense of metal fasteners.