Orbital & Spiral Riveting Machines
Northwick are exclusive distributors in Europe "Orbitform Group" products. Northwick and Orbitform manufacture precision riveting solutions as standard machines, modular assemblies or as custom built integrated sproductions cells suitable for a wide range of industries and applications.
We provide prototype engineering services for assembly of parts and specialised forming and fastening. All of our machines can be upgraded with intelligent controls to accurately monitor and control the manufacturing and assembly process.
What is Orbital Forming? Orbital forming is a quiet, non-impact process of coldforming - replacing traditional riveting, staking, crimping, pressing, welding, and other fastening operations.
Orbital forming uses a peen tool, mounted in a rotating spindle and inclined at a slight angle toward the center of the spindle. The peen intersects the workpiece in a line of contact and gradually moves material to the desired final form.
Orbital forming can accomplish the same amount of forming work with a fraction (20%) of the force of conventional processes like staking and pressing. It can be used to replace loose fasteners, be applied with exacting process control, and be used over a wide spectrum of materials (metal, plastics, delicate, hard, etc.).
What is Spiral Forming?
Spiralform is a unique fastening development that allows engineers to assemble products using a 360 degree, eleven sided forming pattern. The method can be applied to fasten rivets or pre-formed posts/pegs used in product assemblies.
Spiralform is an alternative joining process to orbital forming, adhesives, welding and riveting, and is most suitable for applications involving delicate articles or thin wall, hollow rivets or long shank pegs where it is important that the end result should not be excessively deformed or affected by the forming operation itself.
Typical applications for this method include automotive assemblies, electronic components, white goods, aerospace products and many varied general industyrial products.
Development Laboratory Our development laboratories in UK and USA are unique to the industry and provides customers with exclusive access to the latest machine technology to test an develop their products. From prototypes to short-run production there is a range of riveting equipment available to suit most applications.
Ask us to run sample parts to determine the best fastening method and the most efficient type of forming. 
View of Development Laboratory