Lightweight ‘smart’ technology fastening solutions

Adhesion Technologies (ATL) has launched a range of Spida Fixings solutions, developed to offer a fast, cost effective system for the modular assembly of composite, metal and plastic parts using a choice of both metallic and non-metallic fixings.

‘Spida studs’ are available in standard diameters M4 to M12 and lengths from 20 to 60mm, with matching bases and threaded ‘blind’ or ‘through’ standoffs. Spida studs, threaded standoffs and bases can be used alone or together as a welded fixing.

Spida Fixings use a proprietary adhesion system which forms a high strength bond with a wide range of substrates. Spida bases have a number of key design features incorporated to improved adhesive performance. All base option designs include a large bearing area for attachments and a positive landing area which prevents adhesive from being squeezed out from under the fixing, as well as concave shape that provides a ‘micro chamber’ in which an adhesive’s long chain molecule structure can orientate from 0 to 180 degrees during curing, resulting in enhanced peel, shear, torsion, cleavage, tension and compressive loading capabilities.

The overall result is a stronger, lighter, higher performance method of mechanically joining metal, composite and engineering plastic components which, according to the test data provides up to 54% more adhesion performance; the Grippa base fixing option, with its castellated edge design, provides 24% greater torsional resistance strength than circular fixings by forming lugs in adhesive.