Cold heading, also called cold forming, is a cost-effective and efficient process to produce both standard parts, such as bolts, screws, and pins, as well as custom fasteners. This technology has been in existence for over 150 years. The process uses a series of dies and punches to form steel coils into rivets, studs, bolts, and other male fasteners. These fasteners align, locate, position, fix, or conjoin two or more components.
Significant material savings because of reduced scrap in manufacturing versus machining.
Bolts and screws coming off a cold header are usually complete, less thread rolling or outside processing, with nearly zero scrap.
Cold heading can improve bolt performance. The grain flow is uninterrupted, unlike in screw machining. The cold heading process rearranges the grain structure increasing shear strength performance.
Cold heading of bolts and screws offers a consistent, higher quality surface finish due to the smooth condition and dimensions of the forming dies. This can eliminate secondary finishing.
Cold heading features a tight tolerance consistency.