Vehicle lightweighting and optimisation of assembly times are at the heart of current issues in the automotive industry. Decreasing vehicles' weight helps reduce pollutant emissions and extend range, while optimising assemblies helps to control costs and to offer a variety of options to meet consumers' needs. As a specialist in automotive fastening solutions, LISI Automotive has developed the EBS screw range of flow-tapping screws to securely and durably assemble different materials such as carbon-fibre composites, steel, and aluminium.
Today, affordable lightweighting of vehicles involves the use of multiple materials - steels, aluminium, plastics and composites - in the design of the vehicle and its body-in-white, in order to combine lightweight, strength and energy absorption and benefit from the characteristics of each material. The EBS flow-tapping screws allow assembling these various materials in a fast and reliable way, by robotic or manual assembly. They also allow the attachment of optional accessories and trim directly onto the body-in-white without a pre-punched hole.
The EBS screws can be used to facilitate the assembly of different elements of the bodywork, for example the wing; bumper; grille; rear apron; tailgate, etc. Beyond guaranteeing a durable and safe assembly, the EBS flow-tapping screw has advantageous technical characteristics, such as:
- Elimination of pre-drilling or pre-punching operations.
- Creation of a tapped barrel without residual shavings
- Possibility to assemble additional components in different materials without pre-drilling.
- Low axial pressure required to install the screw thanks to its special geometry.
- Guaranteed fast screw mounting (± 1.6 seconds) for sheet metal thickness up to 6mm for automated/2.5mm - 3 mm for manual drilling depending on the material.
- Ability to remove the EBS screw and reuse the hole formed with a standard ISO screw, thus facilitating repair and recycling actions.
The EBS flow-tapping screw has been designed with a specific spiral placed at the end of the screw that creates additional heat to facilitate the flow-tapping of the sheet metal. The screw therefore needs less force to be put in place, thus avoiding any risk of material deformation.
The screw can be easily mounted in manual or automatic assembly, allowing adaptation to all your workstations. Therefore, the use of a robotic screwdriver is not essential for the installation of our EBS screw.
“Thanks to the combination of our team's multidisciplinary knowledge, our EBS screw has been designed to answer vehicle light-weighting and assembly optimisation issues. Our experience in fasteners and our expertise in the field of flow-tapping screws allow us to offer the most effective solutions for each of our customers’ needs,” comments LISI.
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
