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The endless variety of fasteners might lead you to believe that you can always find what you need off-the-shelf–until the moment arrives when you can’t. Custom fasteners, by definition, are non-standard and not readily available for your application or production needs. The level of customization depends on the unique needs of the application.

For instance, you may need a particular thread type, head style, or material. Other customizable characteristics include coating or plating, tolerance and precision, load-bearing capacity, thread length, corrosion resistance, special features such as locking mechanisms, anti-vibration properties or tamper-resistant designs.

When your project requires something truly unique or when delivery speed is crucial, a custom fastener is the solution. Here are three scenarios that can be addressed with a custom fastener:

Unique Specifications

Custom fasteners are tailor made to meet your precise specifications. These may include unusual lengths, exact tolerances regarding length or body diameter, or other distinctive characteristics.

Material Matters

In certain situations and applications you may need special materials due to strength requirements or corrosive environments . Custom fasteners can be crafted from a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, aluminum, or even exotic alloys, to ensure your fasteners can withstand the harshest conditions.

Engineering Collaboration

Opting for custom fasteners often involves close collaboration between your engineering and our team. Your engineers provide CAD drawings that detail all aspects of the fastener required for your production. This collaborative effort ensures that the custom fasteners align perfectly with your project's needs.

Who’s Most Likely to Require Custom Fasteners?

While custom fasteners may be needed in nearly every industry, some are more likely than others to have a high demand for these specialized solutions. Industries that prioritize safety, reliability, and precision often turn to custom fasteners to meet their exacting standards. These sectors include:

Aerospace: The aerospace industry demands custom fasteners with extreme precision and reliability to meet strict safety and performance standards.

Automotive: Customization is common in the automotive industry, where specialized components with unique sizes and materials are required to meet safety and performance standards.

Medical Devices: Strict regulatory requirements for materials, cleanliness and precision make the medical device industry a prime niche for custom fasteners.

Defense and Military: Military vehicles, weapons systems and specialized equipment all require custom fasteners to meet security standards.

Renewable Energy: The renewable energy sector, including wind turbines and solar panel installations, relies on custom fasteners to meet specific design and environmental requirements.

And while custom fasteners may come at a higher initial cost than off-the-shelf options, the long term benefits more than justifies the investment.

It’s most important to be precise when submitting your requirements for your custom order. Manufacturers will follow your instructions to the letter. Even minor mistakes can end up wasting time and money.

To ensure that custom fasteners are tailored to meet the needs of your application, we work closely with you. For information on ordering custom fasteners, call (973-227-0045) or email us at [email protected].

About the Author

Larry Melone
By Larry Melone
President

Started my career in the fastener world in 1969 at, Parker Kalon Corp. a NJ based screw manufacturer located in Clifton, NJ working in inventory control, scheduling secondary production and concluding there in purchasing. In 1971 I accepted a sales position at Star Stainless Screw Co., Totowa, NJ working in inside sales and later as an outside salesman, having a successful career at Star I had the desire with a friend to start our own fastener distribution company in 1980 named: Divspec, Kenilworth, NJ. This was a successful adventure but ended in 1985 with me starting Melfast in August 1985 and have stayed competitive and successful to date. Melfast serves the OEM market with approximately 400 accounts nationally.

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