Precision Aerospace Fasteners for nearly 50 Years

2017 marks the 50 year anniversary of PB Fasteners. Founded by Paul R. Briles, PB Fasteners specializes in the manufacture of airframe structural nuts & bolts.

PB Fasteners is best known for our developed Taper-Lok® and SLEEVbolt® fastening systems, which are used to enhance structural performance and manage electromagnetic effects in composite and multi-metal structure. PB Fasteners also manufactures fuse pins, screws, and nuts on a build-to-print basis in its 95,000 sq. ft. facility in Gardena, California.

PB Fasteners is devoted to manufacturing high-strength aerospace fasteners. Our experienced staff are determined not just to keep abreast of technology, but to be among those who increasingly add to it.  

A Complete Line Under One Roof

PB Fasteners has over 95,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space in a single building with the following processes:

• Hot/Cold Heading
• Thread Rolling
• Machining
• Grinding
• Heat Treating
• Plating (Types: Cadmium, Nickel Cadmium, Passivation Treatment)
• Nadcap
• Non-Destructive Testing (MT, PT)

PB Fasteners manufactures structural bolts from many materials including 8740, H11 and PH13-8Mo steel; Ti 6Al-4V; Inconel® 718; and MP35N® and MP159® multiphase alloys.

We also have the capability of producing fasteners as small as 4-40 thread size to over four inches in diameter. Please see the table below for a list of our more common materials and styles.

Test Labs

We have a full line of mechanical and metallurgical equipment to perform in-house testing including:

• One (1) shear tester capable of up to 1,200,000 lbs.  
• Five (5) fatigue machines capable of up to 200,000 lbs. dynamic loading
• Three (3) tensile/shear testers capable of up to 500,000 lbs.
• Stress durability/hydrogen embrittlement testing
• Metallography
• Stress rupture machines
• Hardness testing (HRC, superficial, and microhardness)
• Torque testing
• Hydrogen determination (titanium fasteners)
• Salt spray
• Thickness of metallic coatings

Standards

PB Fasteners manufactures a complete line of bolts and nuts including MS and NAS Standards and are qualified to produce thousands of different customer standards and specials. PB Fasteners also manufactures proprietary bolts such as Taper-Lok® and SLEEVbolt®.

PB Fasteners is capable of producing parts from various alloys, including titanium, Inconel® 718, A-286, PH13-8Mo, PH17-4Mo, MP35N®, MP159®, 4130, 4140, 4340, 8740, H-11, etc.

We manufacture fasteners with many types of recess configuration such as:

• Torq-Set® (Offset Cruciform)
• Torq-Set ACR® (Offset Cruciform-Ribbed)
• Phillips® (Cruciform)
• Phillips ACR® (Cruciform-Ribbed)
• Tri-Wing® (Tri-Slot)
• Torx® (Six Lobe Drive-Internal)
• Hex Socket

Fastener sizes as small as 4-40 (.1120") to over four inches (4.000") in diameter can be manufactured at PB Fasteners.

Specials

We welcome your inquiries regarding special fasteners, and will be happy to assist you in fastener design problems that may arise.

Proprietary Product highlights 

Fuse Pins 

Fuse pins (also known as breakaway safety bolts) are used in aero engine and landing gear attachments as a safeguard to ensure these systems move in a predetermined direction when overloaded, such as during an emergency belly landing. PB Fasteners manufacture a full line of fuse pins to meet OEM requirements.

SLEEVbolt®

The SLEEVbolt® is a two piece assembly used in either interference fit applications where fatigue enhancement is required or as a hole fill fastener in composite type applications. The SLEEVbolt® consists of a tapered bolt and an internally tapered flanged outer sleeve, ground straight externally for use in straight-sided clearance holes. Interference fit, in proportion to the bolt protrusion from the sleeve, is realized as the bolt head comes in contact with the structure.

The SLEEVbolt® Fastening System has been used to assemble a long list of air vehicles including the F-22, F/A-18, C-17, B-1, B-2, 787, 747, 767 and even NASA's Space Shuttle. The system has accumulated over 100 million flight hours without incident.

Taper-Lok®

Taper-Lok® is an integrated fastening system used specifically for interference fit applications. It's comprised of a tapered, conical-shank fastener installed into a precision tapered hole. The static preload, radial compression, and peripheral tension induced by the interference fit effectively reduces stress amplitude to proportionately enhance fatigue life.

Taper-Lok® has been in service for more than 40 years with proven effectiveness over full aircraft life cycles including the B-52, C-130, C-141, 707, 727, DC-10, MD-11, and more. Yet it still finds use today on the A380 and other modern aircraft.

Quality Standards and Approvals

Through continuous quality improvements, enhanced technical capability and strategic planning, PB Fasteners continues to be a leader in providing reliable, competitive fasteners that satisfy our customers' needs in a world market economy.

Management establishes and flows down quality goals and objectives. From Sales to Shipping, PB Fasteners skilled, knowledgeable employees are dedicated to outstanding customer service, producing a quality product, and delivering it on time.

PB Fasteners maintains an ISO 9001:2015/AS9100 Quality System Accreditation as well as quality system approvals from prime customers.

Our quality system is subject to regularly scheduled internal, customer and third party audits. Customer visits are routine and welcomed. Preventive and corrective action plans and programs have been developed and implemented to ensure continuous process improvement.

PB Fasteners is committed to meeting all customer requirements and exceeding expectations. We are dedicated to the improvement of our quality management system in an effort to strengthen our processes and overall performance and achieve product and performance excellence.

• ISO 9001/AS 9100
• ISO-IEC 17025
• Nadcap Certified (Non-Destructive Testing, Chemical Processing, Heat Treat, Materials Testing)
• Trained and certified laboratory technicians provide in-house dimensional, metallurgical, mechanical and nondestructive inspection
• Statistical techniques are applied to help ensure the highest quality product
• Customer approvals include: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Bell Helicopter, BAE, and many more
• Committed to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction
• Focus on product and performance excellence 

Supplier Quality Requirements

PB Fasteners Procurement Quality Requirements are located in our PQR001. The PQR document outlines PB Fasteners' quality requirements, conditions and expectations. The standards defined are mandatory and supplement any special instructions, specific customer flow-down and Nadcap requirements, as well as purchasing specifications or other referenced documentation.

PB Fasteners Approved Suppliers are closely monitored and performance is measured to ensure the highest level of quality and delivery. Approved Suppliers (processes, raw material etc.) are subject to regularly scheduled on-site audits and thorough root cause and corrective action is required for all non-conformances.

It is the specific responsibility of the PB Fastener Supplier to review the requirements set forth in PQR-001 and ensure strict compliance.

We appreciate the great business relationship we have established with our suppliers. Please call if you have any questions regarding the PQR-001. You may submit your qualifications to become a supplier here.

Quality Policy

PB Fasteners will comply with all requirements and is committed to producing fasteners which comply with all customer and regulatory defined requirements, including delivered quality and on time delivery, and to continuously improve our Quality Management System

Documents

Procurement Quality Requirements

PQR001

Revised: 05/02/2019

View Document
(pdf - 256.62 KB)