The construction industry is in constant evolution, driven by the pursuit of greater energy efficiency, design freedom, and speed and safety on site. In this scenario, fastening systems are no longer considered mere accessories, but strategic components that define a project’s resistance, aesthetics, and durability.
Specialinsert is fully involved in this evolution, offering innovative fastening solutions that make possible what was previously only imaginable, by targeting new-generation materials, from composites to lightweight panels.
1. Fasteners and Hybrid Materials: The Perfect Anchor for Sandwich Panels
Sandwich panels are an excellent construction solution that is increasingly common on today’s building sites. Combining thin outer layers (the “skins”, often metallic, or composed of stone or fibre) with a lightweight, insulating inner core (polyurethane, mineral wool, honeycomb), they offer an optimal balance between lightness, thermal and acoustic insulation, and speed of installation.
However, their lightweight, hybrid nature poses crucial fastening challenges:
- Low Mechanical Resistance of the Core: Traditional fasteners risk compromising the integrity of the insulation or creating structural weak points.
- Risk of Delamination: The fastening system must distribute the load uniformly to prevent the separation of the layers.
Specialinsert Solutions: Concealed and Secure Fastening
For Designers and Architects, fastening systems specifically dedicated to sandwich panels offer unparalleled freedom in modular design. For the Construction Company, they similarly mean reduced installation times and guaranteed structural safety.
Among the most innovative solutions, concealed fastening systems and specific threaded inserts create solid anchoring points, resistant to traction and shear, without compromising the panel’s stratigraphy or its functional aesthetics.
One example is the Deform-nut® TC/SC/1 tubular deformation rivet combined with a threaded adjustment grub screw. It provides mechanical and chemical structural anchoring on sandwich panels. The adjustable system can be used on a wide range of sandwich panel thicknesses and heights, ensuring immediate, simple and quick anchoring.
2. Non-Load-Bearing Internal Walls: Strength Where It’s Needed Most
In modern construction and retrofitting projects, non-load-bearing internal walls (often made of plasterboard or composite panelling) are fundamental for space flexibility and modularity. However, their lightness makes them vulnerable when it comes to anchoring heavy elements such as supports for utilities.
The Challenge: Reliable Anchoring in Lightweight Structures
An inadequate fastening on a lightweight internal wall can lead to failures, costly damage, and a drastic reduction in the perceived quality of the property. Professionals must be able to rely on solutions that:
- Create an extremely robust threaded point in hollow or thin materials.
- Are quick to install without the need for complex counterplates or reinforcements.
An example is FAST-CON®, the stainless steel snap-on system that allows for quick attachment and removal, ideal for panel cladding, ensuring a clean aesthetic result and remarkable ease of maintenance.
Or also the MASTER-PLATE® system, consisting of a FLAT PERFORATED BASE and a fastening element. Studs, bushes or nuts assembled on a wide range of plates with different shapes and sizes. Through or blind solutions for all requirements. A version with a BLIND BASE and ROUND SPACERS is also available to ensure a constant thickness of adhesive.
3. Consolidating Efficiency: The Example of Ventilated Walls
While sandwich panels and internal walls represent the current trend in constructive design, rainscreens (or ventilated façades) were an emblematic forerunner, first demonstrating the essential role of the fastener.
In a ventilated façade system, energy efficiency and aesthetics depend entirely on the quality of the anchoring systems. These must:
- Absorb Dilations: Compensate for movements caused by thermal changes and dynamic stresses (wind).
- Eliminate Thermal Bridges: Be designed to minimize metallic contact between the exterior and the internal structure.
- Ensure Maintenance: Allow for the replacement of individual slabs without dismantling extensive sections.
To delve deeper into the importance of fastening systems in these complex construction systems, we invite you to also read the dedicated article: Fastening Systems for Ventilated Facades. Solutions like KEEP-NUT® (the insert for concealed anchoring on hard materials such as stone and ceramic) are a clear example of how fastening innovation translates into freedom for the designer and speed for the installer.
Conclusion: The Fastener as an Element of Design and Safety
Modern design demands lightweight materials but does not compromise on robustness, safety, and long-term durability. Specialinsert fasteners are the link between these two needs, ensuring that design intuition translates into a safe, efficient, and durable constructive reality.
For the Architect, this means maximum freedom of expression on any material. For the Construction Company, it means optimization of time on site, cost containment, and the guarantee of a flawless installation.
Discover Specialinsert’s complete range of solutions for the construction industry and start designing without limits.
