Automatic Self-Piercing Rivets Market Set for Prosperity in Future

Self-piercing rivets (SPR) offer better fastening solutions in instances where spot welding is not practical. It is the process of forming a mechanical interlock between multiple pieces of similar or different materials. The interlocking is done by forcing a rivet through the top sheet through the piercing and then fortifying the top one with the one on the bottom, without piercing it. The process of applying automatic SPRs incorporates four steps— clamping, piercing, flaring, and compression. It is used to interlock pre-painted metals (white goods), zinc-coated steel (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning [HVAC] industry, construction sector, and automobile sector), and aluminum (signs).

Automatic Self-Piercing Rivets Market Outlook

The demand for such fasteners is expected to grow from 8.1 billion units in 2015 to 45.0 billion units by 2022, with the automatic self-piercing rivets market growing at a CAGR of 26.2% during 2016–2022. This projected increase would be the result of the growing popularity of lightweight premium vehicles. Luxury marques, such as Porsche, Daimler AG, and Audi AG, are developing aluminum-intensive vehicles by making use of automatic SPRs. Other automobile giants, such as BMW, Ford, Land Rover, and Renault, are also focused on lightweight hatchbacks and sedans. All these manufacturers are using automatic SPRs in the trunk lids, hoods, boot lids, doors, and window regulators.

The emission and fuel efficiency norms laid down by governments, especially those in North America and Europe, are the major reasons behind the increasing production of lightweight vehicles. The reduced weight of automobiles leads to the consumption of lesser fuel and lower carbon dioxide emissions. As per the Aluminum Transportation Group (ATG), 5–7% fuel can be conserved by curtailing the weight of vehicles by 10%. This can be done by replacing heavy metals with aluminum, by increasing the usage of automatic SPRs.

According to P&S Intelligence, the European automatic self-piercing rivets market generated the maximum demand for these fasteners in the recent past. Among the European countries, Germany demanded the maximum number of such rivets, as it is the home of major luxury carmakers. As for the Asia-Pacific region, China consumed the maximum number of automatic rivets. In North America, the U.S. showcased the higher demand for automatic SPRs. Other countries that are witnessing an increase in the requirement for these fasteners are Brazil, Iran, and South Africa.

Thus, the increasing demand for lightweight vehicles will lead to the rising usage of automatic self-piercing rivets. A shift toward the adoption of environment-friendly and energy-conserving vehicles will pave the way for the increasing usage of automatic SPRs around the globe in the foreseeable future.