"While tried and true assembly methods sometimes continue to work well, it is not a bad idea to do a periodic review. One major appliance company did so and found an alternative to a spot welding operation. Previously, the spot welder was swung into place in a hard-to-reach washer cabinet hole to apply a single weld. This was a cumbersome, non-ergonomic operation.

After a review, the appliance company switched to a Tog-L-Loc system from BTM Corporation (Marysville, MI, U.S.). The appliance OEM reports that the hand-held, air-over-hydraulic clinch lock unit, supported by a balancer, is easier to maneuver and operate. The company feels that nothing is compromised in joint quality with the new approach.

BTM adds that clinched joints are consistently applied, and that the joint expands and contracts at the same rate as the surrounding material. Spot welding, however, may be subject to cold weld, too much flash, the presence of oil, tip conditions, and power fluctuations, which affect the quality and consistency."