Click Bond technology is a new way of attaching equipment to walls or panels without through holes, and is the latest innovation being introduced here in Australia, by Acument Australia.

Click Bond attaches studs, standoff and cable mounts to structures without through holes. No through holes, means more strength and no leaks in walls, skins or panels. The Click Bond system delivers a fastener to the structure using a patented fixture. This means there are no operator errors with a maximum bond strength and performance of the fastener being attached.

The fasteners are made in most materials, A286 300 series cres and composite materials. The adhesives are already military approved through the NSN system. Each fastener comes with a plastic or rubber fixture that aids in the installation process. The fixture keeps the joint under constant pressure during the adhesive cure, and insures a consistent bond line. Bonded studs can be used to secure furniture, pipes, hoses, junction boxes and wiring runs.

The benefits of using Click Bond fastening systems include:

• the elimination of the need for hot work and the costs associated with it, such as insulation removal and fire watchers
• gas freeing of compartments and tanks can also be eliminated
• ability to attach to structure without damage to composites or violation of structural integrity
• Elimination of holes and potential leak paths, and moisture intrusion, improving long term durability and reducing corrosion, and
• potential weight savings.

Colin Campbell from Acument Australia says this new technology is creating quite a lot of interest here in Australia. “This technology has been in development for the last 10 years. The Click Bond system is being used extensively on the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, some of which is being assembled using Click Bond right here in Australia."

“Acument are the factory representatives for the major fastening manufacturers in the USA including Click Bond. We have Boeing and Airbus approval as well as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Australian Defence Force approval,” said Mr Campbell.

As the pioneer of standardised bonded fastening systems, Click Bond has supplied leading OEM's in the aerospace, defence, naval, and transportation industries with innovative solutions tailored to address their particular engineering challenges. “As new materials are being developed such as composites, these bonded fasteners will be a perfect fit to give maximum performance without sacrificing strength or weight,” says Mr Campbell.

Acument Australia has been in operation for over 40 years and was formerly Avdel, Textron.  They were acquired by Acument in 2007 and have around 60 staff nationally with offices in each state. Acument specialise in fastening systems and assembly tooling for aircraft, land vehicles and marine.

For more information, visit www.clickbond.com or phone (03) 9765 6400.