Rivet Tool Insider

Solar farms are usually assembled in vary large flat outside areas. Solar is becoming more widely adopted too. Solar farms are assembled right on site. To set up a solar farm, a cement slab is laid and the brackets are put together right on location. The problem is that, traditionally, they have been assembled with nuts and bolts. Why? Because the concern of rivets pulling through the material is of major concern. The problem with a nut and bolt are many. For example, nuts and bolts require two pieces(naturally). Bolts and nuts are heavy and require tons of manual labor and time to install. Many world-class solar installation companies are discovering the “Orlock Rivet” fastening solution. Orlock, first and foremost, has a back-side flange that allows it to grip and hold the mating material together, without the threat of pulling through the material. Orlock is also amazingly easy and quick to install. Orlock is of coarse is a one piece blind fastener, so inventories are light and requires less total pieces of material. All of these reasons can help make Solar a more useful energy alternative for our planet. Orlock is helping to protect our planet… One rivet at a time.

 This is the “before Pic “of a troublesome rivet application(a look at the blind side):

Before rivet solution: 3/16 stainless steel open end, non-structural blind rivets.

Problems:

1. Rivets are too loose, causing the louvers to flex and allow the grill to callapse

side-ways and come out of alignment. This creates the illusion to the customer that the grill does not fit

When they try to mount new grill.

2. Vibration causes rivets to pop out after a year or so of use(its a non-structural rivet).

3. Rivets dramatically loosen over time, starting after installation.