The word “fastener” is a noun derived from the verb “to fasten,” which in turn is rooted in the Proto-Germanic word fastinon.
Since the late 18th century, the term has been used specifically to refer to mechanical devices that serve the purpose of joining or affixing objects together. The term “fasteners” encompasses a wide range of items, including screws, bolts, nuts, washers, as well as bushings, pins, and threaded inserts.
Permanent vs. Non-Permanent Fasteners
Fasteners can be divided into two main categories:
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Permanent fasteners (e.g., nails, rivets): used once, cannot be removed without damage. Ideal for structures that must remain fixed, like building frameworks or aircraft panels.
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Non-permanent fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts): reusable, allow disassembly and reassembly without harming the parts. Common in automotive and machinery for maintenance and upgrades.
Types of Fasteners
In technical standards, each fastener has a precise name. However, in everyday engineering practice, terminology often shifts: for example, smooth bolts may be called pins, and certain threaded pins (studs) are considered a type of screw. Below is a practical classification.
Screws (incl. Studs)
Threaded fasteners designed to create or engage a thread in the material.
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Standard screws: with slotted, Phillips, or hex heads.
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Studs: double-ended threaded rods, often screwed into a base component and fastened with a nut.
Bolts
Threaded fasteners (similar to screws) but normally used with a nut to clamp unthreaded components. In practice, “bolt” is sometimes used even for smooth cylindrical pins.
Nuts
Internally threaded fasteners, paired with bolts or studs to secure joints.
Washers
Flat discs placed under nuts or bolt heads to spread load and protect surfaces.
Spacers
Cylindrical components used to maintain a gap between two parts, not for clamping but for positioning.
Rivets
Permanent fasteners joining two or more materials; once installed, they cannot be removed intact.
Anchors
Fasteners designed to expand in masonry, concrete, or hollow walls, providing secure fixing.
Retaining Rings (Circlips)
Spring-steel rings that fit into grooves on shafts or bores, preventing axial movement of components.
Pins
Unthreaded fasteners used for alignment, positioning, or as locking elements (e.g., dowel pins, cotter pins).
Nails
Unthreaded fasteners hammered into wood or similar materials to create permanent joints.
Bushings (support category)
Although not always classified as fasteners, bushings are often grouped together in catalogues as they are essential companion components for shafts and bolts.
Material
The choice of material strongly influences the durability and performance of a fastener.
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Carbon steel is strong and cost-effective but offers limited corrosion resistance, making it suitable for indoor use.
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Stainless steel provides excellent corrosion resistance and durability, ideal for outdoor and marine applications.
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Aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, often used in aerospace and outdoor equipment.
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Titanium combines extreme strength, light weight, and superior resistance, chosen for aerospace, high-temperature, and demanding environments.
Applications
Fasteners are vital across industries, each with specific demands:
- Construction: Fasteners are essential for structural integrity in buildings. Nails and structural screws are used for framing, while bolts and anchors are critical for foundations and handling high loads.
- Automotive: The automotive industry relies on a vast array of fasteners for vehicle safety and performance. From high-strength engine bolts to plastic clips for interior components, these parts must endure extreme vibrations, heat cycles, and moisture.
- Aerospace: This industry places the highest demands on its fasteners. An average aircraft contains over a million fasteners, and each must withstand dramatic temperature fluctuations, immense pressure, and intense vibrations.Specialized lightweight and high-strength materials like titanium and aluminum are common choices.
Difference between shafts botl and pins
The terms shaft and pin are sometimes used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes in mechanical systems.
A shaft is generally longer, often rotating, and used to transmit torque or motion. Shafts are typical in engines, gearboxes, and rotating machines.
A pin, on the other hand, is shorter and used mainly as a pivot or support, particularly in jointed mechanisms with bushings. Pins are widespread in construction equipment and heavy articulated structures.
Fastener Manufacturers
The fastener industry includes several global players, each specialized in different product families:
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Brugola – screws and general fasteners
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Fischer – anchors and fixing systems
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Fontana Fasteners – bolts and structural applications
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Seeger-Orbis – retaining rings and circlips
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Würth – fastening and assembly materials
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Hilti – anchors, fastening, and installation systems
Sibo Bushings Catalog
If you need custom steel bushings, our production usually starts from 30 mm diameter – contact us to evaluate your project.
If you want to see our standard range, request our PDF catalog by filling out the form below.
