Down the Line: New Way to Join Plastic and Metal Is Available
Collar joining is a two-step process: first, the collar is formed in sheet metal and then it’s pressed into a sheet of plastic. The base of the collar features an undercut, which anchors it firmly in the plastic.
"The process involves no heat and is suitable for both unreinforced and reinforced polymers," claims Ulrich Endemann, head of research for hybrid parts and one of the system’s inventors.