Clinching is a joining technology which is especially beneficial for sheet metals. It is common in the automotive industry since the 1980ies but meanwhile it also delivers robust, energy and cost efficient joints in other sectors such as HVAC, electronics, white goods and construction. A clinching system consists of a clinch plier with attached tools (such as punch and die) and a drive unit (pneumatic, hydraulic or electric) to conduct the joining process.
One of the leading suppliers of clinching technology is BTM (Bending Tools Manufacturing): The European network of BTM Corporation – founded in 1966 in the USA where clinching is popular under the brand name Tog-L-Loc – also includes the company BTM Scandinavia AB. Established in 1990 and independent since 2008, seven employees currently take care of customers from the automotive and metal industry as well as other sectors.
Bo Claesson, one of the directors of BTM Scandinavia AB, reports: “Clinching offers a series of advantages over the alternatives spot welding and riveting. With our various clinching technologies we can offer an optimum solution for almost all applications in sheet metal joining.” In contrast to welding there is no heat input on the part so material structure and properties remain constant. „Furthermore clinching is a joining technology free of residues which does not require any additional parts and therefore saves additional weight.”