THE CAMX FORECAST

Published 08/22/2025

Lightweight, load-bearing fasteners enhance composites assembly

CAMX 2025: Perlane presents fastening solutions like Optisert and Onsert, and services that have supported composites manufacturers and OEMs for more than 40 years.

Edited by: Grace Stubbins

Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld and Products Finishing

Source | CGS

The Perlane Engineered Fastening Systems Division of Component Solutions Group (CSG, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.), an AS9120- and ISO9001-registered fastener specialist, delivers engineered solutions and resilient supply chains to OEMs, ensuring quality, compliance and operational efficiency. Its team — Jim, Tom and Chris — are available, featuring live demos and limited product samples during the show.

Perlane Engineered Fastening Systems works with OEMs, engineers and designers to solve real-world, cost-effective assembly problems in composite materials. The company started working with composites in the 1980s, introducing new fastening systems for carbon fiber parent materials in aerospace. Since then, Perlane has aided manufacturers validate, test and implement fasteners for lightweight structures, evolving with materials to support, aerospace, automotive, electronics and defense applications.

Fastener and service solutions highlighted at its booth include:

Optisert. This rivet nut is designed to provide optimal spin-out resistance in a round hole. It works in aluminum and composites materials of various thicknesses, with aggressive wedges and proprietary knurls down the shank. Optisert eliminates time and expense of special-shaped holes to mitigate potential spinning of fastener.

Onsert. A surface-mounted fastener for applications when holes are prohibitive. Its UV-curable adhesive provides full load-bearing strength in under 5 sec. It supports inserts, studs, tie mounts and more, with no wait times or excess consumables.

Tooling. Perlane’s tooling aims to make installation smarter. The company offers pull to pressure, and process monitor options to provide quick, reliable installation. The tools are designed to adjust in real time to fluctuate wall thicknesses, ensuring proper seating and performance from hole to hole.

Custom concepts: Nearly 60% of Perlane’s sales are custom fasteners not found in catalogs. It offers corrosion resistance, mixed-material assembly and one-off load requirements through collaborative design.

How can I prevent an insert from spinning? I’m stuck with a round hole — what works? I don’t want any holes — what then? My material thickness is inconsistent — how do I know the fastener is seated correctly? These are some ways in which Perlane’s solutions respond to common composite fastening challenges.