- Huyett Marketing Department
- 11/04/2021
Manufacturers often need to join and connect other components to panels. Many fasteners can be used in this scenario, from dowels and clevis pins; to screws, bolts, and nuts; to more permanent solutions such as rivets. However, today's manufacturers can also choose from a range of
panel clips and trim clips engineered to meet manufacturing requirements in industries as diverse as electronics, construction, aerospace, automotive, HVAC, and more.
This article explores some of the panel clips and trim clips available to manufacturers and the many ways engineered fasteners improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce assembly costs.
What is a Panel Clip?
Panel clips are one‑piece fasteners used to connect panels. There are many different designs, but all panel clips are engineered to reduce manufacturing complexity by, for example, removing the need to access both sides of a panel or allowing panels to be assembled by hand without tools.
Let's look at a few of the most widely used types of panel clip.
U-Clips are u‑shaped panel clips that fit over the edges of mating panels. THey are made from a single piece of steel or plastic bent or molded to form legs, which fit over the panels and exert a holding force. Manu U‑Clips can be installed without tools and do not require additional fasteners such as screws or bolts. However, some U‑Clips — often referred to as U‑Nuts — include a tapped or untapped hole, which, when positioned over a hole in the panel, allows screws and other fasteners to be installed without access to the panel's back.
S-Clips are similar to U‑Clips, but they are bent into an s‑shape, allowing them to attach to panels where the edges are in opposing directions. They are available with or without barbs, and like U‑Clips, can be installed without tools.
In addition to panel clips that fit over the panel's edge, many connect via holes in various positions on a panel's body. These include
Dart Clips, which feature sprung legs that are pushed through drilled or punched holes in mating panels. The legs expand and exert a strong holding force between the panels. Bayonet Clips are another member of this category. Bayonet Clips connect panels at right angles to each other. One end is inserted into a hole on one panel, while the other end — which resembles a pair of U‑Clips — grips the perpendicular mating panel.
Blind Pushnuts and
Tube Clips are another widely used type of panel clip. These are expansion nuts used to join panels or connect components to panels when only one side is accessible. The panel clip snaps into a hole on the lower panel, allowing a screw or bolt to be driven through both components.
What is a Trim Clip?
Trim clips connect components to panels without screws. Trim clips are engineered fasteners that push on to a stud or shaft in the panel. A hole in a connecting component can then be pushed over springs or barbs on the clip for tool‑free assembly. Unlike screws, manufacturers can use trim clips in applications where the fastener must be invisible, which is why they are widely used for attaching trim pieces in the automotive industry, among many others.
6 Advantages of Using Panel Clips and Trim Clips in Your Manufacturing Process
In recent decades, engineered fasteners, including trim clips and panel clips, have been adopted in many different industries. They are often used in applications that would once have called for screws, rivets, nuts and bolts, and other traditional fasteners. There are, of course, many applications in which traditional fasteners are preferred, but let's explore some of the reasons manufacturers opt to use panel and trim clips.
- Designs to Suit Diverse Manufacturing Scenarios
As you can see from our online catalog, there are many different panel clips and trim clips, each designed with a particular purpose in mind. As we noted earlier, panel clips can join panels in parallel and at right angles, with screws and without, at panel edges and through panel bodies, with or without studs. You will find an easy‑to‑install, purpose‑designed, low‑cost panel or trim clip for almost any manufacturing scenario. - Invisible and Rattle‑Free Panel and Component Holding
Panel and trim clips allow manufacturers to quickly construct complex assemblies in which, in many cases, the fastener is not visible once the component is mounted. The clips provide durable and vibration‑free holding for a serviceable joint that can be attached, removed, and re‑attached during manufacturing and servicing. - Tool‑Free Assembly
Assembly line workers can install most panel and trim clips without tools. For example, U‑Clips and S‑Clips slide over the panel edge with minimal pressure. The same is true of trim clips, which are pushed onto studs, after which the mating component is pushed onto the clip. Both operations can be carried out by hand without tools, allowing for quick‑moving production lines with minimal delays for fastener installation. - Simplified Assembly Lines
Panel and trim clips significantly reduce manufacturing complexity. Assembly line workers don't need to be trained to use special tools. The clips are self‑retaining and can be installed while accessing only one side of the component. Compare the ease with which Dart Clips are installed to an alternative such as a screw and nut. The latter is a two‑part fastener that requires at least two tools and access to both sides of the panel. Installation is a precise operation that calls for fine motor skills and coordination. In contrast, Dart Clips are simply pushed through a hole in mating panels. - Fast Production Line Assembly
Manufacturers significantly accelerate production lines by using engineered panel and trim clips. Fast, straightforward fastener installation helps products move through the production line and onto the market with reduced lead times. Additionally, assembly mistakes are less likely, reducing the number of products rejected or returned for reworking after they reach quality control. - Lower Manufacturing Costs
Each of the five benefits discussed above contributes to perhaps the most important advantage of using panel and trim clips: reduced manufacturing costs. Fasteners typically comprise a small proportion of materials costs, but the type and quality of fastener components make a big difference to overall manufacturing costs.
To summarize, engineered panel and trim clips reduce manufacturing and servicing costs by:
- Accelerating production lines
- Lowering rework and rejects
- Providing strong, vibration‑free, and serviceable joints
- Reducing the need for skilled production‑line workers
How Huyett Helps
Huyett stocks a wide selection of panel and trim clips, including:
Call our expert Sales Team to source panel and trim clips for your application. We also stock a comprehensive range of engineered fasteners, which you can learn about on our
FAQ page.
