Manufacturer Profile: KATO
KATO: Manufacturer of Tangless Inserts
KATO Fastening Systems is a leading manufacturer of threaded inserts known for their invention of the bi-directional tangless threaded insert. Founded in 1997, KATO provides a full line of tanged and tangless inserts, insert tools, hinges, and thread repair kits. KATO manufactures equivalent inserts to HeliCoil and Recoil and can often provide cost savings and shorter lead times compared to their competitors. KATO also produces inserts certified to military specifications.
KATO Mil-Spec Insert Series
- NAS1130
- MS122
- MS124
- MS21209C
- MS21209F
Advantages of KATO Tangless Inserts
Tangless inserts have the same fit, form, and function as tanged inserts but with a couple key advantages. One, tangless inserts reduce the possibility of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) from loose tangs which can cause damage to machinery. This translates into reduced costs for maintenance and repair. Two, tangless inserts are bi-directional which means that no orientation is required when installing inserts. This can speed up assembly providing additional cost savings.
bisco industries – Authorized KATO Distributor
bisco industries is proud to be an authorized KATO Distributor. bisco stocks 1000s of KATO parts and offers online pricing and availability as well as production information. To find KATO stock visit biscoind.com today!
Replacing Metal with Plastic? Here’s a Solution for Weaker Threads
Maintaining Thread Strength in Plastic Parent Material
Today, manufacturers and design engineers are looking for alternative ways to decrease the cost, weight, and size of their parts. As a result, more and more companies are turning to plastic to replace heavier and more costly metal materials. Using plastic not only reduces the weight, but can also lower cost, and provide design flexibility. In fact plastic components manufactured using injection molding can be produced in a fraction of the time it takes to machine the same component from metal.
There are many pros and cons to using plastic as an alternative to metal, however one major drawback is weaker thread strength. This issue can be resolved with a product bisco industires is a franchised distributor for – KATO Tangless® CoilThread® inserts.
KATO CoilThread inserts are a helically-coiled fastener that can provide permanent, wear-resistant screw threads that exceed the strength of plastic parent materials. While made of metal, KATO CoilThread inserts weigh less and require the smallest boss diameter (minimum required material thickness around the insert) for a given size when compared to solid/brass inserts. KATO CoilThread inserts can be installed in any plastic material that can be tapped.
Bonus! Additional Cost Savings
KATO Tangless inserts have a drive notch at each end which eliminates the need for orientation thereby reducing overall installation time. In addition, KATO Tangless CoilThread inserts usually cost less than solid inserts! That means, you can reduce costs both by switching to plastic components and by securing them with KATO Tangless® CoilThread inserts. In fact, customer studies show that using KATO Tangless inserts can save from $0.15 – $0.50 per hole in labor costs.
Already working with plastic materials? bisco carries a large selection of tangless inserts and tools. Visit biscoind.com for more info on all KATO products!
One Pawl Fits All – What’s in your tool?
Do you use KATO® Tangless® CoilThread® inserts or tools? If so, KATO has created a new system to simplify the pawl ordering process, streamline inventory management, and reduce overall costs for nearly all KATO Tangless installation tools.
The One Pawl Fits All™ system allows customers to use one pawl with ANY KATO installation tool of the same size. The pawl is an internal component that engages the drive notch of a KATO Tangless CoilThread insert, installing it into the tapped hole.
Many other manufacturers require users to purchase different pawls for different tools of the same thread size, but not KATO! KATO’s One Pawl Fits All system works with all KATO brand installation tools
- KATO Prewinder Electric Tool
- KATO Prewinder Air Tool
- KATO Prewinder Hand Tool
- KATO Hex Electric Tool
- KATO Round Electric Tool
Here’s how it works… order any size KATO installation pawl (2KIP Series) and use it in any KATO Tangless installation tool of the same size. It’s that simple! Go to biscoind.com/KATO and search 2KIP to see a complete list of KATO pawls.
Reduce Costs by Using Captive Screws
What is a Captive Screw?
Captive screws are designed to lock into a hole while allowing the fastened components to be detached without the complete removal of the screw. Thus a captive screw can be locked in place on a parent component without being fastened to a child component. Captive fasteners are typically locked in place using thread locking, press-fitting, or broaching.
Advantages of Using Captive Fasteners
Captive screws help control costs by minimizing damage to machinery from loose screws and by reducing the need for replacement fasteners. Captive screws also help make repairs easier by allowing easy access to components.
Captive Screw Configurations
Captive fasteners are available in a variety of configurations and designs.
| Style | Locking Style | Drive Style | Materials |
| Flush Captive Screws | Flare-In | Philips | Steel |
| Spring-Loaded Captive Screws | Broaching / Spline | Slotted | Stainless Steel |
| Low Profile Captive Screws | Thread Locking | Socket | Brass |
| Knob Captive Screws | Soldering | Torx | Aluminum |
| And More… | And More… | And More… | And More… |
Captive Screw Manufacturers
bisco industries offers captive screws from industry leading manufacturers including:
To find the right captive fastener for your application search biscoind.com or contact our customer service team today!
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