The history of riveting technology

In the beginning there were: man, his hammer and a rivet head maker (riveting die).

Riveting as one of the oldest methods of connecting two components in an inseparable way is already known since early history.

Riveted unions were produced by peening bolt rivets over with a hammer.

As industrialisation was on the rise, also presses or mechanical hammers for metal working were gaining ground but were soon replaced by specific riveting machines. The great amount of force to be exerted along with high noise levels on the one hand and, on the other hand, the changes in the structure of the rivets and their embrittlement were less and less accepted by users who demanded higher quality standards.

Though the orbital riveting technology did bring some improvements in its wake, the hardenings of the rivet structure and the damage to the closing head surface still remained.

New riveting method



The invention that revolutionised the riveting world

The Radial Point Riveting Technology by Friedrich


In the year 1966, Friedrich's engineers layed the foundation for a
technology which to this date remains the most efficient and economic one:

The Friedrich Radial Point Riveting Technology



The advantages of the radial point riveting technology:

- low effort combined with a high riveting power
- low-noise and uniform rivet shaping
- low transverse forces, therefore workpiece fastening is easy
- particularly suited to meet quality assurance requirements due to the vertical riveting die
- minimum friction, little heat development and a smooth rivet surface
- gentle change to the rivet material structure
- no rotation of the die, therefore also stamping is possible
- allows to achieve an easily dimensionable  bearing stress

A comparison of riveting methods

These microsections show the differences in structural conditions obtained by the different riveting methods for shaping the rivets.  It is with the radial point riveting method only that the material structure remains unchanged to the greatest possible extent.

Pressing and hammering

The rivet is shaped either by pressing or by hammering. Pressing uses a one-time pressure applied to the rivet, while in hammering the rivet is beaten several times in axial direction. The disadvantages: both methods need great efforts and cause much noise.

Orbital riveting

Describing an orbital path K, the end E of the riveting die rotates about the centre line Z of the riveting spindle. The longitudinal axis of the riveting die intersects the riveting spindle axis in point M. The shaping of the rivet takes place on a contact line whose length is identical to the riveting die radius.

Radial Point Riveting

The end E of the riveting die describes a hypocycloid loop-path S. Here, too, the longitudinal axis of the riveting die intersects the riveting spindle axis in point M. Due to the hypocycloid drive the angle of attack of the die constantly changes between 0° and X°.  The shaping of the rivet is done by point contact, forming the rivet material outward from the centre.

very strong hardening
highly visible hardening
low structural change

Riveting dies and closing head shapes


shear riveting

flat into countersunk



tubular rivet crimped externally


tubular rivet crimped internally