Penn Engineering
Founded in 1942, PennEngineering (PEM®) is a US-based, privately held global manufacturer of self-clinching fasteners, installation equipment, and engineering services serving automotive, consumer electronics, datacom, EV, aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1942
- HeadquartersDanboro, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Penn Engineering does
PennEngineering, doing business as PEM®, is a US-incorporated, privately held fastener manufacturer founded in 1942 in Pennsylvania. The company designs and produces self-clinching fasteners — pressed into sheet metal to create permanent threaded attachment points without welding, heat treatment, or tapping — across product families including nuts, studs, standoffs, captive screws, specialty fasteners, and threaded inserts. Its portfolio also spans surface-mount (SMT), broaching, and adhesive attachment technologies, complemented by installation equipment (Haeger®, PEMSERTER®), magnetic-release fasteners (GHOST™), EV-focused busbar connectors (eConnect®), and the 2024-acquired Sherex/ATLAS blind rivet nut line.
The company operates a global manufacturing and distribution footprint spanning North America (Danboro HQ; San Jose office opened 2021), Europe (Galway, Ireland technical and manufacturing centre), and Asia-Pacific (Kunshan, China as Asia headquarters; offices in Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Korea). Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of fastener products and installation equipment, supplemented by value-added engineering services under the PEMedge® program — application engineering, testing, teardown, and FASTENERCLASS training — provided at no additional cost. Customers are enterprise OEMs across automotive electronics, consumer electronics, datacom/telecom, electric vehicles, aerospace and defense, medical, and industrial markets, reached via authorized distributors (including a March 2024 Endries International North American partnership), direct field sales with dedicated application engineers, and regional e-commerce storefronts in Asia.
The company is independent of any parent and has not disclosed venture or private equity investment. Strategic activity in 2023-2026 includes the Sherex acquisition, CharIN membership (2023), the Endries distribution partnership, the San Jose expansion, and a concentrated cadence of product launches targeting EV power electronics, IP-rated sealing, and AI server/datacom applications. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is conducted via quote-based specification selling.
Penn Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Penn Engineering
- Legal name
- PennEngineering
- Website
- https://pemnet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1942
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Founded in 1942, PennEngineering (PEM®) is a US-based, privately held global manufacturer of self-clinching fasteners, installation equipment, and engineering services serving automotive, consumer electronics, datacom, EV, aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Penn Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Fasteners
- NAICS
- Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing (332722), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)
- SIC
- Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Rivets & Washers (3452)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fasteners, Anchors & Connectors (Bolts, Weld Studs, Plates) (IMADACAJ)
Keywords
Where Penn Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Danboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Penn Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fastener Products: Sale of self-clinching fasteners including nuts, studs, standoffs, captivated screws, specialty fasteners, and threaded inserts for sheet metal, PC boards, and various industrial applications.
- Blind Rivet Nuts (Sherex/ATLAS): Sale of blind rivet nuts under Sherex and ATLAS brands, acquired by PennEngineering in January 2024 to expand product portfolio.
- Installation Equipment: Sale and service of PEMSERTER and Haeger installation machines and equipment, including maintenance, inspections, and repairs through HaegerCare services.
- Engineering Services (PEMedge): Value-added engineering services including application engineering, testing services, teardown services, and technical training, offered at no additional cost to customers.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Penn Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PennEngineering manufactures and sells self-clinching fasteners, threaded inserts, blind rivet nuts, captive panel hardware, surface-mount (SMT) fasteners, and companion installation equipment for industrial OEM assembly. Its products are used by manufacturers in automotive, electronics, datacom/telecom, medical, aerospace, and consumer goods to create permanent threads in sheet metal, plastics, and printed circuit boards. The company also provides engineered specials, application engineering, and tooling support globally.
Product overview
PennEngineering® (PEM®) is a fastener manufacturing company offering an extensive portfolio of self-clinching fasteners and attachment technologies. The core product line includes nuts, studs, standoffs, captivated screws, specialty fasteners, and threaded inserts, all utilizing proprietary self-clinching technology that installs into metal sheets without welding or heat treatment. The portfolio spans multiple attachment technologies including Surface Mount Technology (SMT) for electronics, adhesive solutions, and broaching technology. PennEngineering also offers installation equipment through Haeger® and PEMSERTER® brands, and acquired Sherex Fastening Solutions to add blind rivet nuts under the ATLAS® brand. Engineering services are provided through the PEMedge® program including application engineering, testing, teardown services, and technical training. Notable sub-brands include microPEM® for miniature applications, PEM eConnect® for busbar connections, and GHOST™ magnetic release fasteners for security applications. Regional operations span North America, Europe, Germany, Japan, China, Latin America, Asia, and Korea.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PEMedge®: Value-added engineering services including application engineering, testing services, teardown services, and fastener training.
- PEMSERTER®
- HaegerCare™
- PEM® GHOST™
- ATLAS®
- microPEM®
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 90% of the world's top automakers trust PEM fasteners
Companies that use Penn Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Penn Engineering technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
Penn Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Endries InternationalcoreDistributor partnership announced March 21, 2024 for North American distribution of PennEngineering products.
- Sherex Fastening SolutionscorePennEngineering acquired Sherex Fastening Solutions on January 8, 2024, adding blind rivet nut products to the portfolio under Sherex and ATLAS brands.
- CharINminorPennEngineering joined CharIN (Charging Interface Initiative) in March 2023 to support EV charging standards and interoperability.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Penn Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Böllhoff Group: Family-owned German fastening technology specialist offering self-clinching fasteners, threaded inserts, and assembly solutions to automotive, electronics, and industrial OEMs — directly competes with PEM in Europe.
- LISI Group: France-based manufacturer of fasteners and mechanical components for aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets; directly comparable in serving European OEMs and offering engineered fastening solutions.
- Nedschroef: Netherlands-based automotive fastener specialist focused on cold-formed fasteners for automotive and industrial applications; directly comparable in serving tier-1 automotive OEMs with engineered fastening solutions.
- Bossard Group: Swiss-based global fastening solutions provider offering engineered fasteners, supply chain services, and assembly technology across automotive, electronics, and industrial markets — directly comparable product portfolio and customer base to PEM.
Broad incumbents
- Fastenal Company: Largest North American distributor of fasteners and industrial supplies with on-site vending and vending solutions; competes at the distribution/fulfillment layer and offers its own manufactured products under FAST brand.
- Würth Group: Germany-based global market leader in fastening and assembly materials with deep automotive and industrial customer base; broader portfolio including tools, chemicals, and direct-to-tradesman distribution via Würth Industrie.
- Hilti Group: Liechtenstein-based global leader in fastening technology for the construction industry with direct-to-customer sales model; overlaps with PEM in fastening technology but focuses on construction rather than automotive/electronics.
- Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Large diversified industrial manufacturer with significant fasteners and engineered components segments serving automotive, construction, and industrial markets globally; operates at much larger scale across many categories beyond fastening.
- Stanley Black & Decker: Global tool and industrial company with fastening product lines (e.g., DEWALT, STANLEY) and broader portfolio in tools, fasteners, and industrial fastening systems serving construction and industrial markets.
Regional players
- Howmet Aerospace: Specializes in engineered fasteners and components for aerospace and defense — overlaps with PEM's aerospace & defense vertical but operates primarily in aerospace rather than automotive/electronics focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Penn Engineering social profiles
Digital presencePenn Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Penn Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Penn Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Penn Engineering subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Penn Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Penn Engineering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Penn Engineering
What does Penn Engineering do?
PennEngineering manufactures and sells self-clinching fasteners, threaded inserts, blind rivet nuts, captive panel hardware, surface-mount (SMT) fasteners, and companion installation equipment for industrial OEM assembly. Its products are used by manufacturers in automotive, electronics, datacom/telecom, medical, aerospace, and consumer goods to create permanent threads in sheet metal, plastics, and printed circuit boards. The company also provides engineered specials, application engineering, and tooling support globally.
Is Penn Engineering a public or private company?
Penn Engineering is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Penn Engineering founded?
Penn Engineering was founded in 1942. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Penn Engineering based?
Penn Engineering is headquartered in Danboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does Penn Engineering make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fastener Products are the primary driver. The others are blind Rivet Nuts (Sherex/ATLAS), installation Equipment and engineering Services (PEMedge).
Who are Penn Engineering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Böllhoff Group, LISI Group, Nedschroef and Bossard Group. Broad incumbents are Fastenal Company, Würth Group, Hilti Group, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Stanley Black & Decker. Howmet Aerospace is listed as a regional player.
Does Penn Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Penn Engineering.
What industry is Penn Engineering in?
Penn Engineering's product category is Industrial Fasteners. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADACAJ, Fasteners, Anchors & Connectors (Bolts, Weld Studs, Plates). Its NAICS code is 332722 and its SIC code is 3452.