Bolton Sheetmetal Ltd 01204 460542 Upload drawing
Clinch nuts M3–M8Standoffs & studs~6 ton insertion forceLaser locating

Fastener insertion,
made in Bolton.

Self-clinching nuts, standoffs and studs cold-pressed into your sheet metal — permanently locked, no welding, no loose hardware. Parts leave us ready to assemble.

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RSM / ERSM 618MSPe insertion press
450 mm throat · ~6 ton insertion force
5-day standard lead time
RSM 618MSPe fastener insertion press at Bolton Sheetmetal Ltd
RSM / ERSM 618MSPe · fastener insertion press
One operation less for you

Parts leave us with the fasteners already in.

Sheet metal fabrication is the family trade since 1979. Over the years the same situation comes up repeatedly: a customer collects their punched and bent parts, then sends them somewhere else to have clinch nuts pressed in before assembly. That’s a second supplier, a second delivery, a second invoice — and more time before anything gets built.

Our RSM / ERSM 618MSPe insertion press closes that gap. Clinch nuts, standoffs and studs are pressed cold into the sheet — the serrated shank displaces the metal and locks the fastener in permanently. No heat, no welding distortion, no loose hardware rattling around in a bag. The part comes off the press ready to bolt up.

Most insertion work runs straight after punching: we punch the clearance holes on the turret press and press the fasteners in on the insertion press in the same production order. One quote. One delivery. The assembly prep is done when the parts arrive.

RSM 618MSPe fastener insertion press overview on the shop floor
RSM / ERSM 618MSPe — 450mm throat, laser locating light, touch-screen pressure setting
Capability

Fastener insertion capabilities.

What the press handles and what we carry tooling for. Outside this range, call us.

MachineRSM / ERSM 618MSPe insertion press
Insertion force~6 ton / max 63 kN (adjustable)
Throat depth450 mm
Throat height400 mm
PositioningLaser locating light
ControlTouch-screen automatic pressure setting
Clinch nuts (FH)M3 · M4 · M5 · M6 · M8
Standoffs (BSO/SO)M3 · M3.5 · M4 · M5
Studs (S)M3 · M4 · M5 · M6 · M8
Tooling package33-piece metric tooling set
Lead time5 working days standard
Machine detail

Built for accurate, repeatable insertion.

The 618MSPe is set up for production insertion work — laser locating, automatic pressure, positive stop and a 33-piece tooling set.

Touchscreen control and laser locating light on the RSM 618MSPe insertion press
Touch-screen & laser locating — pressure set automatically; laser line positions each insertion point.
33-piece metric tooling package for clinch nuts standoffs and studs M3 to M8
33-piece metric tooling package — punch and die sets covering clinch nuts, standoffs and studs M3–M8.
Side view of the RSM 618MSPe fastener insertion machine on the shop floor
Shop floor installation — positive stop and batch counter for accurate repeat production runs.
Fastener types

Three types. All pressed in cold.

Each does a different job in the assembly. Here’s when to specify which.

01 / Clinch nuts
Clinch nut pressed into a folded sheet metal bracket

Threaded holes that hold in thin sheet

Tapping threads directly into thin sheet gives you limited engagement — the thinner the sheet, the worse it gets. A flush-head clinch nut solves this: pressed into the punched hole, the flanged head clinches flush on the back face and you get full thread depth in the nut regardless of sheet thickness. M3–M8 in stock.

Full thread engagementFlush back faceM3–M8
02 / Standoffs
Self-clinching standoff pressed into sheet metal

PCB mounts, spacers and stand-off threads

Self-clinching standoffs give you a threaded boss projecting from the sheet — used for PCB mounting, panel-to-panel spacing, captive threaded bosses for covers and lids. Press in once; the thread is there permanently. M3, M3.5, M4 and M5 in stock.

PCB mountingPanel spacingM3–M5
03 / Studs
Self-clinching stud inserted into sheet metal

Permanent threaded projections

Self-clinching studs press into the sheet with the threaded shank projecting out — a permanent bolt stud that can’t be removed from the outside. Used for panel attachment, captive hardware, earth bonding points, and any assembly where the stud stays put while a nut is driven onto it. M3–M8 in stock.

Captive hardwareEarth bondingM3–M8
Examples of clinch nuts, standoffs and studs inserted into sheet metal parts
What you get

Parts that are ready to go.

Fasteners pressed in before the parts leave us — bolted straight to the assembly on arrival.

Sheet metal bracket with pressed-in threaded inserts
Brackets and mounts with clinch nuts pressed in — bolt straight to the frame on arrival.
Sheet metal assembly with inserted fasteners ready for assembly
Fabricated assemblies with hardware already inserted — one delivery, ready to build.
Press-fit or tapped?

Not sure whether to specify clinch fasteners or tapped holes?

Both are valid. Here’s the honest split — and we run both processes.

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Choose press-fit if…

The sheet is thin (under ~2mm) and tapped threads would strip or give insufficient engagement. Or you need a projecting standoff or stud. Or the part will be assembled and disassembled repeatedly — clinch fasteners hold better in thin material under repeated loading.

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Choose tapped if…

The sheet is thick enough for proper engagement (typically 3mm+ for most M-sizes), or the assembly is a one-off, or your design already specifies external hardware. Our turret punch handles in-turret and manual tapping.

CNC punching & tapping
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Often it’s both

A single part might have clinch nuts in thin flanges and tapped holes where the section is thicker. Send the drawing and we’ll specify which is right for each feature. You don’t need to decide in advance.

For your quote

What to send for a quote.

The more clearly the fasteners are called out, the faster the quote and the more accurate the price.

  • A DXF of the flat part with clearance hole positions — we need to know where each fastener goes.
  • Fastener spec — type (clinch nut, standoff or stud), thread size, and which face the head sits on.
  • Material and thickness — clinch fasteners need minimum sheet thickness to grip correctly.
  • Quantity — and whether this is a one-off or a repeat order.

File formats accepted

DXF DWG STEPIGESPDFSketch

No DXF? Send a PDF with dimensions, a STEP or IGES, or a sketch with fastener sizes called out. We’ll work with what you have.

Why BSM

There are fastener insertion services in the North West.
Here’s what BSM brings.

Punch and insert under one roof

Clearance holes on the turret press, fasteners on the insertion press, in the same production order. No second supplier, no transit between processes, no second delivery.

Ready to assemble on arrival

Parts arrive at your site with fasteners in. Pick them from stores, bolt them straight to the assembly. The prep work is done before the parts leave us.

One accountable contact

When you ring us, you get someone who knows your job. If the fastener spec needs changing, we change it on the drawing and on the shop floor — same conversation.

The family trade since 1979

Sheet metal runs in the family — started in 1979, carried on by Bolton Sheetmetal Ltd since 2011. Family-run. Debt-free. Working towards ISO 9001.

FAQ

Fastener insertion, asked & answered.

What is press-fit fastener insertion?
A hydraulic press pushes a self-clinching fastener cold into a pre-punched hole. The serrated shank displaces and compresses the surrounding metal, locking the fastener in permanently. No welding, no adhesive, no heat — done in one stroke.
What fasteners can you insert?
We carry tooling for flush-head clinch nuts (FH) M3–M8, self-clinching standoffs (BSO/SO) M3–M5, and self-clinching studs (S) M3–M8. All carbon steel. If you need something outside that range, call us and we’ll confirm whether we can tool up for it.
Can you punch the holes and insert the fasteners in the same job?
Yes — and this is how most jobs run. We punch the clearance holes on the turret press and press the fasteners in on the insertion press in the same order. One quote, one delivery, parts arrive ready to assemble.
What sheet thickness do you need for clinch fasteners?
Typically from 1.0mm minimum depending on fastener type and size, up to around 3.0mm maximum for most clinch types. The exact limits depend on the specific fastener and material. We confirm at quote stage for your combination.
Does this work in stainless and aluminium as well as mild steel?
Yes. Clinch fasteners work in any ductile sheet — mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium. The mechanism works by displacing the sheet material, so material type matters less than thickness and ductility. Minimum thickness requirements vary slightly by material.
What’s your typical lead time?
5 working days standard for insertion work. If the job also involves punching, bending or welding, tell us the full scope and we’ll quote a realistic lead time for the complete assembly.
Ready when you are

Need fasteners in your sheet metal parts?

Send us your drawing and fastener spec and we’ll come back with a price within the working day. DXF, STEP, PDF or a sketch — whatever you’ve got.

Upload drawing for quote Call 01204 460542
01204 460542
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