Plastic Screws: Lightweight, Strong, and Versatile
Bülte’s fastening solutions – engineered to hold your concepts firmly in place.
September 12, 2023With one of the broadest portfolios of plastic screws globally, Bülte meets the needs of virtually any application.
Plastic screws from Bülte are typically manufactured using durable PA6.6 (polyamide 6.6), a reliable engineering-grade plastic ideal for industrial fastening applications. Depending on the specific application requirements, our injection-molded screws can be produced from a wide range of high-quality materials and in any desired RAL colour. In addition to standard PA6.6, we also offer plastic screws made of polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), and polyethylene (PE). For demanding environments, Bülte supplies high-performance plastic screws made from PVDF, PTFE, and PEEK, known for their exceptional chemical resistance and thermal stability.
Our product range includes a wide variety of screw drive types to meet diverse fastening needs. Alongside standard drive styles like hex head, hex socket, slotted, Phillips, and 6-lobe (Torx), Bülte also offers wing screws and knurled screws designed for easy, tool-free installation. Additionally, we have developed innovative screw heads that combine multiple drive types, offering increased flexibility and compatibility in assembly.
Versatile plastic screws in various sizes, colors, and materials – perfect for lightweight, non-conductive, and rust-free fastening solutions.
Many of our plastic screws are manufactured according to widely recognized ISO and DIN standards, such as ISO 1207 cheese head screws, ISO 4017 hex head screws, partially threaded DIN 931 hex head screws, and ISO 4762 hex socket head screws. These plastic fasteners come with a metric thread, available in diameters ranging from M2 to M24. Using our advanced injection molding process, we can manufacture plastic screws with a thread length of up to 150 mm, offering robust solutions for industrial and technical applications.
What are the advantages of plastic screws?
Plastic screws are a popular choice in many industrial and technical applications thanks to their unique material properties and performance benefits. Here are the key advantages of using plastic fasteners over metal alternatives:
- Lightweight plastic fasteners: Plastic screws are significantly lighter than metal screws, making them ideal for applications where weight reduction is critical, such as in automotive, aerospace, and electronics.
- Excellent electrical insulation: Non-conductive plastic materials make these screws suitable for electrical and electronic applications, helping to prevent short circuits and improve safety.
- High corrosion resistance: Plastic screws are naturally resistant to corrosion and oxidation, offering reliable performance in wet, chemical, or marine environments.
- Noise and vibration reduction: Plastic fasteners help dampen vibrations and reduce operational noise compared to metal components—ideal for moving or sensitive equipment.
- Temperature and strength tolerance: Depending on the material (e.g., PTFE, PEEK, or PVDF), plastic screws can withstand high temperatures exceeding 100°C and resist brittle failure at sub-zero conditions.
- Flexible design options: Plastic screws can be custom-molded in various shapes, head types, and sizes, offering design flexibility for specific project needs.
- Cost-effective solution: Compared to metal alternatives, plastic fasteners are often more affordable and efficient, especially for high-volume production.
- Recyclable materials: Many plastic injection molding materials can be recycled, allowing for the reuse of processed parts and incorporation of recycled content—supporting sustainable production.
- Low-friction performance: Certain plastics provide naturally low-friction surfaces, helping reduce wear in moving assemblies and extending component life.
Choosing the right plastic screw depends on your specific technical requirements, including mechanical stress, environmental conditions, and compliance needs. For personalized advice or support in selecting the optimal plastic fastening solution, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.
Which screws to choose ?
Here is our range of screws and their specific features :
- Hex head standard screws : With their hexagonal head, these screws can be tightened and loosened using a hexagonal key. The best-known is the fully threaded DIN 933 screw, also known as ISO 4017 under the ISO standard that replaces DIN 933. They are similar but the nominal size has been extended and the flats modified for diameters M10, M12, M14 and M22. The other well-known screw is the partially threaded DIN 931.
- Cheese head screws : Available as standard from Bülte, these screws have a rounded or domed head. You can find them in our standard catalogue: DIN 84, DIN 85, DIN 34813, DIN 7985, DIN 404, etc.
- Flat head screws : These screws follow the shape of the support to which they are screwed, without being invisible. They provide greater strength to your assemblies. The Bülte catalogue includes the NFE 25-120 pan head screw and the classic flat head screw, available in several diameters.
- Countersunk head screws : They have a flat or domed head (with a choice of various shapes) and a slope under the head towards the thread, to make screwing easier, fit flush with the surface and allow better integration into the material.
- Pan head screws : These screws, which may be countersunk, have a rounded head with a clamping indentation to give your surface a neat and original finish.
- Grub screws : Also known as plastic set screws, these headless screws have a flat or rounded end with a number of available marks. They are generally used to create invisible fixings or to hold components together. They are particularly suited to adjusting mechanisms, precision assemblies, tools, electronic equipment and other applications where discreet fastening is required.
- Hex socket head screws : Hexagon socket head cap screws, either fully or partially threaded, have a head with a hollow hexagon socket on the inside that is flush with the support, while providing a large contact surface with the support. The hollow hexagonal recess, which can be fixed with a hexagonal key (or Allen key), withstands a higher tightening torque and enables the screw to be fixed in a narrow space with little clearance.
- Knurled head screws : Knurled-head screws are ideal for manual assembly, as they can be fixed and adjusted without tools. Thanks to all our different shapes of screws , you will be able to find the right part for your needs.
- Wing screws : The T-shaped section at the end of the thumbscrew - also known as a butterfly screw - provides a comfortable grip for the user, allowing quick and easy manual adjustment. This feature makes it a popular choice for applications where frequent adjustment is required.
- Violin head screws : These hand-tightened screws, available with different types of fiddlehead, are particularly appreciated for their electrical insulation properties, making them a perfect alternative to metal screws.
- Four stars screws : These nylon screws - also known as star-head screws or wing screws - have a head designed with four notches or grooves. Ideal for manual assembly, these screws are lightweight, insulating and corrosion-resistant.
- Binder posts : These plastic screws are designed to bind books, sample collections, menus, fans, etc. reliably and securely, while allowing easy opening for consulting or adding pages.
- Metal/plastic screws : These screws, which combine plastic and metal, are designed to offer specific advantages in applications where metal and plastic materials need to be assembled safely and reliably. Robust and easy to use, these screws come in a range of heads for precise, solid manual assembly.
At Bülte, all our screws are available in a variety of sizes, materials and thread types to meet the specific needs of your different applications. We can also study your projects for customised manufacture.
For over 60 years, our wide range of plastic screws has been available in different types, from the most standard (normalised) screw models to the most specific screws, depending on the application.
You can now consult our online catalogue, and choose your parts according to head type, length, diameter, materials, etc.
Our team of experts will be glad to study your project and advise you on your choice of parts and send you samples.