About Sherex Fastening Solutions
Sherex Fastening Solutions Rivet Nuts & Inserts
Sherex Fastening Solutions, a specialist in industrial fastener components since 1979 and the largest U.S. manufacturer of rivet nuts, engineers high-performance fasteners that solve common assembly challenges in aerospace, automotive, military, and industrial applications where lightweight, high-strength fastening is non-negotiable for safety and performance.
The company's rivet nut portfolio includes Riv-Float (prevents spin-out in composite laminates via floating anchor action), Opti-Cert (certified aerospace fasteners meeting NADCAP requirements), and High-Strength rivet nuts rated for aluminum, steel, and composite base materials. Each variant addresses specific failure modes: Riv-Float eliminates the pull-through failures common in printed circuit boards and sandwich composites; Opti-Cert ensures repeatable clamp load for mission-critical assemblies.
Sherex threaded inserts (flathead and panhead configurations) install in soft or hard plastics, composites, and elastomers, providing a durable threaded attachment point without the risk of stripped bolt holes that plague plastic assembly. Molded inserts permanently embed into plastic housings during injection molding, creating monolithic assemblies without post-molding installation.
Blind rivet nuts eliminate the need for access to both sides of a component, a critical advantage in sandwich-composite aircraft fuselage panels, honeycomb structures, and multi-layer assemblies where back-side access is impossible. Sherex's engineered nose geometry ensures consistent thread form and clamping force even in soft or variable-density materials where traditional self-clinching nuts fail.
ChatMRO's fastener matcher interfaces with Sherex's engineering database to calculate the ideal rivet nut or insert size, material specification (aluminum vs. steel), and installation tool requirement based on your base material thickness, bolt size, and clamp-load requirement, then locates suppliers with stock inventory and lead times for immediate procurement.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a rivet nut and a threaded insert?
Rivet nuts are installed with a pneumatic tool and squeeze the base material, creating a mechanical lock; they're reusable only by drilling out the damaged fastener. Threaded inserts screw into pre-threaded holes, allowing removal and replacement without altering the base material. Rivet nuts are faster for high-volume assembly (aerospace fuselage); inserts are preferred when disassembly/repair is expected.
Why do some rivet nuts have a 'floating' design?
Sherex Riv-Float rivet nuts have a split anchor that accommodates slight misalignment or thickness variation in composite laminates, preventing pull-through failures. Rigid rivet nuts fail abruptly if material thickness is 0.5mm outside specification; Riv-Float maintains reliable clamp loads across ±1mm thickness tolerance, critical for hand-laid composite structures with natural variation.
Can I install Sherex threaded inserts in plastic, or only in metal?
Sherex threaded inserts are specifically designed for soft and hard plastics, elastomers, and composites. Installing standard metal fasteners in plastic creates galling and stripped threads; threaded inserts distribute clamping force over a larger area, preventing material crushing. Use plastic-rated inserts (vs. metal-rated) to avoid over-clamping and cracking the plastic housing.
What's NADCAP certification, and why does Opti-Cert have it?
NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) certifies that fasteners are produced under documented quality processes with statistical verification of clamp load, thread runout, and material properties. Opti-Cert rivet nuts are NADCAP-audited, meeting military (MS/AN), aerospace (AS), and automotive (IATF) specifications for mission-critical assemblies where fastener failure could cause catastrophic outcomes.
How do I determine the correct tool and setting for installing Sherex fasteners?
Each rivet nut style requires a matched pneumatic mandrel tool and air pressure specification. Under-tightening leaves the fastener loose; over-tightening can crumple or tear the material. Sherex provides installation guides with tool models and pressure settings; using incorrect tools voids warranty and risks assembly failures, so always consult Sherex technical documentation before production runs.