Skip to main content

Solutions for the Automotive Industry

Welding, fastening and assembly technologies for metal, sheet-metal and plastic components used throughout automotive manufacturing.

Automotive manufacturing requires joining processes capable of operating at high production volumes while maintaining consistent cycle times and repeatable results.

Body structures, sheet-metal assemblies, brackets, electronic housings, plastic components and functional parts each present different joining requirements depending on material, thickness, geometry and position within the manufacturing sequence.

A.T.S. supports these applications with resistance and spot welding equipment, projection welding technologies, copper-alloy electrodes and welding components, stud welding systems, rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets, threaded inserts for plastics and related installation equipment.

Rather than treating the joining element in isolation, the technology is selected according to the component, accessibility, production volume and required degree of automation.

Which joining technologies are used in automotive manufacturing?

Automotive production may combine resistance spot and projection welding, nut and stud welding, mechanical fastening, rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets and threaded inserts for plastic components. Material, geometry, mechanical requirements and production volume determine which process is most appropriate.

Resistance Spot Welding in High-Volume Vehicle Production

Resistance welding is widely used for joining sheet-metal and metallic components in automotive manufacturing.

In repetitive production, weld consistency depends on the interaction between welding current, weld time, electrode force, joint geometry and cooling.

Depending on the operation, manufacturing systems may use spot welders, suspended welding guns, press welders, dedicated stations or robot welding guns integrated directly into automated cells.

Electrode selection also becomes critical where high-strength steels, coated sheet or aluminium are involved. Copper-alloy electrodes, welding arms and electrical connections must therefore be considered as part of the complete welding process.

Projection Welding of Nuts, Studs and Functional Components

Automotive assemblies frequently require threaded attachment points directly on sheet-metal components.

Weld nuts and studs can be installed using resistance and projection welding processes, with dedicated electrodes designed to locate the component and transfer welding current correctly.

Other requirements may be addressed through capacitor-discharge stud welding, allowing threaded studs, internally threaded elements or similar fasteners to be welded directly to a metallic surface.

For high-volume production, component feeding can become part of the automated process, combining feeding, positioning and welding within a defined manufacturing sequence.

Mechanical Fastening for Sheet-Metal and Vehicle Assemblies

Not every automotive joint should be welded.

Rivet nuts can create serviceable threaded fixing points in thin material, including applications where installation is possible from only one side.

Self-clinching fasteners can permanently integrate nuts, studs and standoffs into sheet-metal components using controlled pressing force.

Blind rivets and other mechanical fastening technologies provide further options for permanent joining or for assemblies involving different materials.

In high-volume production, the installation equipment is as important as the fastener. Presses, installation tools and automated feeding systems need to match the component geometry and production rate.

Fastening Automotive Plastics, Electronics and EV Components

Modern vehicles contain an increasing number of plastic components, electronic modules and electrically functional assemblies.

Where a thread formed directly in plastic does not provide the required durability, brass threaded inserts can create a permanent metallic fixing point inside the component.

Depending on the polymer and manufacturing process, inserts may be installed by heat, pressure or mould-in methods.

Self-clinching and other engineered fasteners also have applications in automotive electronics and electrification, where reliable fixing points are required in thin sheet assemblies and enclosures.

This means fastening selection increasingly needs to account for both mechanical performance and the material system surrounding the joint.

Automation, Cycle Time and Process Repeatability

Automotive joining processes must fit the production line rather than interrupt it.

Robot welding guns can integrate resistance spot welding into automated cells. Fastener presses and feeding equipment can make mechanical installation repeatable. Automatic stud feeders can incorporate stud welding into a defined machine cycle.

As production volume increases, process control becomes as important as the individual joining element.

Cycle time, equipment access, consumable replacement, production continuity and model variation therefore influence the final solution.

A.T.S. approaches automotive applications by considering joining technology, installation equipment and the component itself as parts of the same manufacturing process.

The right solution for your application, with the support of our experts

Our experts will help you find the right product for your needs, with no obligation. Tell us what you need: together we will find the most suitable solution.

Contact us, no obligation

Other applications

See all applications
Solutions for Industrial Automation Industrial automation brings mechanical structures, robots, handling equipment, sensors and control systems together within increasingly integrated production environments.Behind the automation itself, however, every machine still requires physical joining and assembly operations. Sheet-metal parts must be welded or fastened, panels and guards need fixing points, studs may need to be attached to metal surfaces and tools have to be managed efficiently throughout repetitive production cycles.A.T.S. supplies technologies for these operations, including resistance welding equipment, fastening systems, welding electrodes and components, stud welding solutions, installation tooling, automated welding systems and tool balancers.The appropriate technology depends on the component, material, joint design, production volume, accessibility and required level of process automation.
Solutions for Metal Fabrication Metal fabrication covers a broad range of products, from sheet-metal enclosures, guards and panels to frames, brackets and complete fabricated structures.Each job can involve a different combination of materials, thicknesses, dimensions and production quantities. The joining process therefore needs to match the actual component rather than follow a single standard solution.A.T.S. supports fabrication applications with resistance welding equipment, copper-alloy electrodes and welding components, capacitor-discharge and arc stud welding systems, rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets and related installation equipment.Selecting the correct process requires an understanding of the material, joint geometry, accessibility, production volume and the function the connection has to perform in the finished structure.
Technologies for the Appliance Industry Appliance manufacturing brings together a wide range of materials, components and production stages within highly organised industrial processes. Refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and other appliances combine sheet-metal structures, plastic parts, mechanical assemblies and electrical or electronic components that must be integrated through carefully coordinated production sequences.The characteristics of each appliance determine the most appropriate manufacturing and assembly approach. Depending on the application, production may involve joining metal components, attaching welded elements to sheet metal, creating mechanical connections, installing fastening points or integrating components through automated assembly operations. Each process must be compatible with the materials, geometry and production requirements of the finished product.A.T.S. develops solutions for different manufacturing requirements, combining joining technologies, fastening systems, installation equipment and automation. The starting point is the application itself and the process that needs to be achieved, allowing the technology to be selected according to the product, production line and required level of repeatability.
Solutions for Industrial Plant Engineering Industrial plants combine machinery, structural frames, guards, enclosures, access panels, supports and production equipment within a single operating environment.These components do not all require the same type of joint. Some connections are intended to remain permanent, while others must allow inspection, adjustment or replacement throughout the service life of the plant.A.T.S. supplies resistance welding equipment, stud welding technologies, rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets and installation systems for different stages of plant construction and equipment integration.The appropriate solution depends on material, thickness, mechanical load, accessibility, operating environment and future maintenance requirements.
Solutions for Railway Manufacturing Railway manufacturing combines large metallic structures with sheet-metal assemblies, panels, interior fittings, supports and technical components.These parts do not all require the same joining process. Some joints need to remain permanent, while others must allow later assembly, inspection or replacement.A.T.S. supplies resistance welding technologies, copper-alloy electrodes and components, capacitor-discharge and arc stud welding systems, rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets and related installation equipment.The correct joining method depends on material, thickness, geometry, accessibility, load, vibration, maintenance requirements and the production process.
Solutions for Sheet Metal Fabrication Cutting, punching and bending give a sheet-metal part its geometry. The component still needs joining features, threaded fixing points and functional attachments before it can become part of a machine, enclosure, panel or industrial assembly.This is where fastening and welding technologies become part of the fabrication process.Thin sheet may require a strong thread without conventional tapping. A nut, stud or standoff may need to become a permanent part of the panel without welding. Other components may require riveting, spot welding or a stud welded directly to the surface.A.T.S. supplies rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets, resistance welding equipment, copper-alloy electrodes, stud welding systems and installation tooling for these applications.Material, thickness, geometry, accessibility and production volume determine the appropriate solution.
Solutions for Shipbuilding and Marine Outfitting Shipbuilding combines workshop fabrication, modular construction, subassembly and final onboard outfitting.Metal structures, panels, interior systems, brackets and technical equipment all require joining methods suited to their material, location and installation sequence.A.T.S. supplies rivet nuts, self-clinching fasteners, blind rivets, stud welding systems, weldable elements and related installation equipment.In marine applications, material compatibility, corrosion exposure, accessibility, vibration and future maintenance also influence the fastening strategy.
Solutions for Plastic Injection Moulding Injection-moulded components frequently need to be screwed together, connected to another assembly or reopened during maintenance.In these applications, relying directly on the polymer to form the threaded connection may not provide the required performance, particularly where repeated assembly or defined mechanical loads are involved.Metal threaded inserts provide a permanent thread inside the plastic component and allow the fastening point to be engineered as part of the product.A.T.S. supplies brass inserts for mould-in, heat insertion, selected ultrasonic insertion applications and press-fit installation, together with self-tapping threaded inserts for plastics and other soft materials.Insert selection should consider polymer type, wall and boss geometry, mechanical load, required assembly cycles and installation process.