This section provides an overview for screw plugs as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 45 screw plug manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked screw plug companies as of November, 2024: 1.Indeeco, 2.Applebee-Church, Inc., 3.Fasteners Plus.
Table of Contents
1985-2014: Worked for Alstom Corporation, ABB Corporation, and Gadelius Corporation, designing Jungstrom air preheaters and mechanical design of diamond soot blowers. (ABB Corporation: https://new.abb.com/jp)
2014-2021: Worked as an engineering and project manager at Alvos Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoichi-hiroki-92192394/
Screw plugs are used as oil drain hole plugs in automobiles.
Screw plugs are also commonly called "drain plugs" or "drain bolts". Although it is called a plug, it is not a spark plug for gasoline engine ignition.
The name of the screw plug itself is "Automotive Parts - Screw Plug" as defined in the JIS standard. A plug for a threaded pipe fitting is sometimes called a "Screw Plug" for short. Here, however, we will use the one specified in the aforementioned JIS standard.
Figure 1. Example of screw plug use
As shown in Figure 1, screw plugs are automotive parts used as plugs for oil (lubricating oil) drainage holes in engines and gearboxes, as well as other liquid drainage holes. For example, the sides and bottoms of engines and gearbox housings are threaded with oil drainage holes, and Screw Plugs are screwed into these holes to seal them.
The role of the Screw Plug is the same as that of a plug in a threaded pipe fitting, i.e., to screw and seal a threaded plug into a threaded outlet or the like. However, it is necessary to prevent leakage from the gap between the male and female threads. The method of preventing leakage depends on the type of screw and is explained in the section on Types of Screw Plugs.
The following three types of screws are used in Screw Plugs:
Type of screw | Applicable standard |
Tapered pipe threads | JIS B0203 |
Metric coarse thread | JIS B0205 |
Fine metric threads | JIS B0207 |
Figure 2. Types and shapes of screw plugs
Screw Plugs are classified by screw type and head shape as follows:
Type | Type of screw | Type by head shape | |
Type 1 | Type A | Tapered pipe threads | Square head |
B1 type | Hexagon socket | ||
B2 type | With square hole | ||
C type | Hexagonal head | ||
2 types | Type A | Metric coarse thread, metric fine thread | Hexagon head |
Type B | Hexagon head with flange | ||
Type C | Hexagon socket head with flange |
Type 1, B1 and B2, do not have a hexagonal head, but have a hexagonal or square hole drilled in the screw shaft to allow mounting without the head protruding from the surface of the mounting area. They can be used in tight spaces with a hexagonal or square L-shaped wrench, etc.
Other types have a square or hexagonal head protruding from the surface of the mounting area.
Figure 3. Tip shape of screw plug
Screw Plugs are classified into two types: those with a flat screw tip and those with a slightly tapered pilot tip, and those with a straight or tapered tip (only in the case of tapered pipe screws).
Figure 4. Types of screw plugs and leakage prevention methods
In the case of Type 1 Tapered Screw Plugs for pipes, sealing tape is wrapped around the male threads of the Screw Plug and screwed into the female threads of the housing, etc., so that the gap between the screws is tightly sealed.
In the case of two types of metric coarse and fine threads, a gasket is inserted between the seat surface of the Screw Plug and the housing surface. The Screw Plug is then screwed into the eye thread side of the housing, etc., so that the seat surfaces are sealed in close contact.
The table below lists the materials of common Screw Plugs:
Material | Applicable standards | |
SWCH10A-12A, SWCH10K-12K, SWCH43K-48K | Cold headed carbon steel | JIS G3539 |
S10C~S20C, S43C~S48C | Carbon steel for machine structural use | JIS G4051 |
C3604 | Copper and copper alloy bars | JIS H3250 |
If made of steel, Ep-Fe/Zn5c surface treatment is applied for rust prevention, as specified in JIS D0201 Automotive Parts - General Rules for Electroplating.
There are other types of Screw Plugs available on the market that are not specified in the JIS standard. For example, some have a magnet attached to the tip of the screw to absorb sludge and iron powder deposited in the oil tank or oil pan and prevent impurities from flowing into the engine and other parts.
Sludge is a sediment of oil and engine fuel, such as burnt scum and rust.
The sizes of Screw Plugs specified in the above JIS standards are as follows
Type | Screw size | |
Type 1 | Type A | R1/8 to R1 |
B1 type, B2 type | R1/16 to R1 | |
Type C | R1/8 to R1/2 | |
2 types | Type A, Type B, Type C | M6 to M36 |
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co has been a manufacturer of plumbing and drainage products since 1926, in Alabama. The company designs Water Closet Supports that are installed behind the finished wall to support toilets and urinals, along with Commercial hydrants, Drain systems of various types including Green Roof Drains that are applicable in planting areas. The complete series of Fluid Controls products, including air gap fittings, trap primers, dielectric unions, adapters, distribution units, and more and other products help cater to the non-residential construction industry such as commercial construction, plating and polishing services, green building design, and Labor saving contracting.
Dixon Valve & Coupling Company, LLC is a manufacturer of hose couplings, valves, and many other products, established in 1916 and headquartered in Chestertown, United States of America. The company offers actuators, brass fittings, cams and grooves, and engineered fluid transfer couplings. It also produces hydraulic couplings, adapters, and valves, pipe, weld, and tube fittings, and pneumatic accessories. The applications of the products pertain to various engineering purposes. It has passed 3-A, ASSE, EHEDG, ISO 9001:2015, and NSF certifications.
Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc. was founded in 1941 in Arkansas and is now located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company is a manufacturer of miniature pneumatic valves, specializing in ultra low leak, precision pressure control, and high-resolution flow control. Categories of Clipard Products include electronic valves, proportional valves, isolation valves, electronic controls, custom solutions, ppressure regulators, control valves, directional control valves, air pilot valves, air preparation equipment, and fittings hose, and tubings.
StockCap was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Arnold, Missouri as a division of Sinclair & Rush, Inc. The company is an ISO 9001:2015 certified custom designer and manufacturer of parts for the automotive, finishing, and HVAC markets. The company produces several types of products including caps, plugs, tapes, and others, using materials such as vinyl, rubber, and plastic. The company’s custom capabilities include plastic injection molding, vinyl dip and rubber molding, extrusions, thermoforming, and finishing operations.
NBK America LLC, founded in 2015 and based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is an American manufacturer and a subsidiary of Japan's Nabeya Bi-tech Kaisha, specializing in mechanical components. Their product range includes couplings, like miniature shaft couplings for precision machine tools and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, special screws, such as vacuum application screws and other machine components. NBK offers finite automaton (FA) solutions, including wireless positioning units for production lines and setup operations. NBK provides machine component servicing, such as vibration resistance treatment and laser engraving. Services for couplings and special screws include coupling stainless steel screw alteration and screw length adjustment.
OMEGA Engineering Inc., founded in Norwalk, CT, in 1962 is a manufacturer of products used to measure temperature and humidity, flow and level, and pressure. The company's product portfolio includes thermocouple probes and assemblies, pressure gauges and switches, and air velocity measurement systems, wireless systems and portable optic sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company also offers customer services that include support, custom research projects and customized services.
INDEECO Heating Solutions was founded in 1929 in St. Louis, USA, and is a manufacturer of a complete line of equipment for electric heating and heating elements. Its products are designed for industrial, commercial, transportation, maritime heating, snow and ice melting. It offers immersion heaters, circulation and inline heaters, process air heaters, pipe heating systems, and other industrial heating solutions. For commercial purposes, it provides duct heaters, wall-mounted, ceiling, and floor heaters, among others. The company is currently working on projects to address heating for duct heaters in construction application, while all its products are used in major industry sectors.
CAPLUGS is a manufacturer and distributor of protective solutions. The company is founded in 2005 and is based in New York, United States. The company product lineup includes plastic caps, plugs, netting, tubing, and masking devices, designed to prevent damage, contamination, and moisture ingress. The company caters to diverse industries including automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical, and more. The company offers an extensive range of protective solutions to safeguard critical components during manufacturing, shipping, and storage.
Applebee-Church, Inc., established in 1957, operates as a distributor and manufacturer's representative specializing in electrical heating systems. The company is headquarted in Peach Tree Corners, Georgia with branch offices in the states of Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. The company offers products and services such as electric heater systems, industrial heating systems, electric comfort heat, and power temperature controls. These solutions cater to needs of both the industrial and commercial heating and control sectors.
Fasteners Plus, incorporated in 2020, is a distributor of fastener products based in Urbana, Iowa, USA. Since our inception, they have curated a range of products from many brands in the commercial fastener industry. Their online platform offers a streamlined, 24/7 shopping experience, ensuring easy access to diverse products across devices. With over 200 employees, their range of over 20,000 products feature brands like Simpson Strong-Tie, Tapcon, Metabo Power Tools, and more. From Metal Roofing Screws to Hidden Deck Fastener Systems, their products cater to diverse needs, including Cabinet Hardware, Hand Tools, and Structural Wood Screws.
Ojiya Seiki Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of gauges since 1966 and is headquartered in Japan. The company deals in Screw Thread Gauges that have applications in checking threaded parts of fluid equipment, plumbing parts, and pipes along with Measuring Instruments such as Digital Thread Depth Gauge, and Inspection JIGs that are used to cope with the measuring items of geometrical tolerance. There are also Air Micrometers and Gauge Heads for Air Micrometer along with Measuring Heads PMK series for various dimension measuring. These products have vast uses in the automotive, plumbing and related industries.
OBO Bettermann Holding GmbH & Co. KG, established in 1911 and headquartered in Menden, Germany, is a manufacturer specializing in installation systems for electrotechnical equipment. The company's product portfolio includes connection and routing systems, device installation trunking and poles, floor installation systems and underfloor applications, external lightning protection, equipotential bonding and earthing, and more. It caters to a diverse set of applications, serving architects, offering fire protection competence, and providing solutions for electrical installations in residential housing construction, as well as addressing the needs of photovoltaics.
Moltec International, established in 1980 and based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, is a manufacturer and supplier of wire and cable protection solutions. The company's product range includes flexible nylon conduit, nylon conduit fittings, metal threaded nylon fittings, connectors, and specialty and custom items. These products offer protection to wires and cables from environmental and mechanical stresses. It serves industries such as transit-related, general machines, wind energy, and solar installations. The company provides services like design & development, manufacturing, and custom assemblies.
Teesing, established in 1952, is a global manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Rijswijk, Netherlands specializing in the supply of fittings, valves, tubing, systems, and assemblies for industrial applications. The company’s product portfolio includes fittings, valves, tubing, systems and assemblies for industrial applications. They also provide solutions in pneumatics, hydraulics, instrumentation, and media transport catering to various industries including medical, water treatment, automotive, and more. The company offers engineering field support and can develop customized products and assemblies to meet the customer’s specifications. The company offers solutions worldwide with offices in the Netherlands, USA, China, and Taiwan.
IHARA SCIENCE CORPORATION, established in 1941 and headquartered in Takanawa, Minato ward, Tokyo, is a manufacturer specializing in bite-type tube fittings and other high-pressure fittings designed for hydraulic applications. The company offers a wide range of product portfolios including fittings, pipes, valves, and related components. These quality products serve critical roles in various industries, including railway vehicles, semiconductor manufacturing, measurement instruments, construction machinery, and more. The aim of the company is to provide optimal piping systems tailored to meet the specific needs and demands of diverse applications.
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG, established in 1935, and headquartered in Winnenden, Germany, is a manufacturer of cleaning technology solutions. Its product range includes high-pressure cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and scrubber driers, which are used across commercial, industrial, and residential markets. Other products include dry ice blasters, drinking and water dispensers. These also include coordinated products, cleaning agents and accessories, along with original product parts thru request. Over 50,000 service centres worldwide allows the company to ensure a seamless supply to customers all around the globe.
JACOB GMBH, founded in 1922 and headquartered in Kernen, Germany, is a manufacturer of cable glands, cord grips and cable entry systems. The company develops metal and plastic cable glands, and level measurement technology for a range of applications, such as wind parks, solar inverters and charging stations. It provides over 6000 products that are used in electrical installations, mechanical engineering and energy supply. It also offers resources like online catalogs, product data sheets and venting calculation tools. The company has obtained ISO certifications for quality, energy and environmental systems.
Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG, since 1949, has been a manufacturer of plastic products in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China. The company has categories like KAPSTO for plastic protective caps and plugs, K-TECH for precision injected-molded engineering parts, FAMAC for functional parts and packaging, and TEKU for products used in the horticultural sector. It also produces flange covers, thermoformed trays, and solutions such as sealing technology, functional integration, technical cleanliness, weight reduction, and cable management.
Punch Industry Co. Ltd., established in 1975 and situated in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of plastic molds and press dies. The company delivers straight plastic molds, shouldered plastic molds, rectangular plastic molds, and plastic molds for die cast. It also presents round press dies, block press dies, and pilot press dies. Plastic molds are used to manufacture many plastic products such as the exterior parts of plastic models and mobile phones. Press dies are used to manufacture metal components such as the housing of batteries and car body panels.
OSG Corporation., founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toyokawa, Japan, is a manufacturer of various cutting tools, including end mills, drills, taps, rolling dies, and gauges. The cutting tools are engineered for an array of industries, including energy, automotive, aerospace, die/mold, and heavy. The company also has an academy that it uses as an innovation hub for researching, designing, and developing new products. It established its first overseas subsidiary in the U.S. in 1968, and since then, it has continued to build a network of manufacturing, sales, and technical support locations spanning 33 countries.
MiniTec GmbH & Co. KG, launched in 1986 and based in Schönenberg-Kübelberg, Germany, is a manufacturer of profile and linear systems. The company crafts aluminum profiles, special profiles, linear modules, sliding guides, and height-adjustable tables. It also makes mini conveyor belts, protection systems, steel shafts, and industry products. Whenever particularly lightweight profiles are required, its aluminum profiles in grid size 30 are used, e.g. for the construction of protective enclosures and covers, or for bracing.
Martigrap, S.L., founded in 1986 and headquartered in Gelida, Barcelona, Spain, is a manufacturer of natural gas and LPG meter centralization systems. The company sells pipe clamps, perforated profiles, kit steel brackets for big feet, air conditioning accessories, and cabinets for gas columns. The products are used in the electrical, manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace industries. The company has ISO 9001:2015-compliant Quality Management Systems and the AENOR N accreditation in gas meter centralizations.
BIG KAISER Precision Tooling Inc., established in 1948 and currently a subsidiary of Japan's BIG Daishowa Seiki Co Ltd, is a manufacturer and supplier based in Rümlang, Switzerland, specializing in high-precision modular tooling systems. With manufacturing bases in Switzerland and Japan, the company offers over 20,000 items, including cutting, turning, damping, and boring tools. Other offerings include angle heads, spindle increasers, tool holders, and measuring instruments. Notably, within the EWE product line, the company has introduced the world's smallest digital fine boring heads. It has also developed the BIG KAISER Application for real-time data on machinery, tools, parameters, and configurations.
Normelemente KG, established in 1958 and based in Markgroningen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, is a German manufacturer and supplier that specializes in standard parts and machine components. Norelem offers an extensive catalog of more than 70,000 products, catering to the needs of engineers and designers in various projects. Their product range includes clamping technology, measuring and testing components, electromechanics, systems and components for machine and plant construction, and material handling and transport solutions. These products find applications in diverse engineering fields, such as automotive, aerospace, machinery, and robotics sectors.
Warren Electric Corporation has been a manufacturer of standard and custom electric process heaters since 1962 and is based in Rhode Island, USA. The company manufactures a complete line of flanged immersion heaters, screw plug immersion heaters, and circulation heaters using various element sheath materials, flange types, screw plugs, terminal enclosures, etc. The different types of heaters designed include air heaters, cooking, lube and fuel oil heaters, and various water heaters and they have numerous applications of heating acids, adhesives, degreasing solutions, paints, etc. serving various industries like Automotive, Medical, Petroleum, Textile, Food Processing and more.
NOSTRALI, founded in Germany in 1948, is a manufacturer of performing components for oil-pressure and pneumatic fields. The company's product portfolio includes magnetic filter caps, level gauges, level indicators, breather caps, and security valves. Its products are used in industries such as agricultural machines, power reducers, axles, compressors and oil-dynamic devices. The company has ISO 9001 certification and is part of the Athena Group which includes Athena, Bluetech, Athena Sud, and Athena USA.
Murrelektronik, a manufacturer of industrial automation solutions, founded in 1974, and located in Murrhardt, Germany. The company specializes in manufacturing power supplies, interfaces, cables and connectors, and IO systems, utilized across diverse industries, including machine building, automation, packaging, and food processing. Their interfaces enable seamless device and system connections in industrial automation, featuring fieldbus, Ethernet, and serial interfaces. Providing secure and dependable connections, their cables and connectors encompass shielded, fiber optic, and various connector options. Murrelektronik is ISO 9001:2015 certified for its quality management system.
Accu Therm, Inc., established in 1979 and headquartered in the United States, is a manufacturer that specializes in the design of precision heating and cooling solutions. Serving industries including Aerospace, Electronics, Medical Devices, and Manufacturing, the company offers an extensive range of hard-performance temperature control systems, including electric heaters, process chillers, and custom thermal management solutions. The company's advanced thermal solutions are used in maintaining precise temperature control in industrial processes, ensuring product quality and process efficiency.
KIPP Inc., founded in Stevensville, Michigan, in 2006 is a manufacturer of clamping tools, standard components, and operating parts. The company's product portfolio includes Adjustable Handles, Indexing Plungers, Spring Plungers, Ball Lock Pins and Toggle Clamps. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. They have distribution offices in the USA, Canada, and Mexico and they provide worldwide distribution and technical support.
Shenzhen Milvent Technology Co. Ltd. is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer and supplier of fluid handling components and accessories that was established in Shenzhen, China, in 2013. The company’s product lineup includes membrane-based protective vent for shielding sensitive components from water, breathable vent plugs for installation on electronic equipment housings, and water flow meters utilizing opto-electronic sensor technology. It also offers related accessories, such as springs and cable glands for sealing or securing the ends of cables. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the telecom, LED, and renewable energy industries.
EISELE GmbH, a company founded in 1939 and headquartered in Waiblingen, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in connection technology. The company's product portfolio includes double nipples, sleeves, tubes, push-in fittings, and various other connectors. These products are used in various sectors, including automotive, renewable energy, robotics, filling technology, and machine and plant engineering. The company is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified and has locations and distributors in various countries, including Germany, Austria, the USA, Australia, and others.
Phoenix Contact is headquartered in Blomberg, Germany, originally founded in 1923. Phoenix Contact’s Israeli subsidiary was founded in 2006 and located in Quadima Tzoran. Phoenix Contact provides tools and components for e-mobility, power, infrastructure, process industry, production manufacturing, system manufacturing, and others. Phoenix Contact’s product lines include automate including cloud computing, connect including PCB terminal blocks, “mark, assemble, and install” including hand tools, “supply, charge, and protect” including power distributors, and “switch, measure, and monitor” including relays and optocouplers.
Nippon Chemical Screw & Co. Ltd., established in 1965 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of plastic fasteners. The company specializes in diverse range of plastic screws and components, including micro screws, bolts, spacers, and various molds, like injection and press molds. It serves diverse industries such as semiconductors, marine, and electronics, handling an array of materials ranging from engineering plastics to advanced PPS and PEEK for diverse applications. The company also offers custom parts development, from initial design to mold creation and final injection molding.
fischer, founded in Germany in 1948, is a manufacturer of components for car interiors, process consulting, and electronic systems. The company offers a wide range of fixing solutions in the fields of chemical steel and nylon, automotive systems, construction kits, and electronic systems. The company serves industries such as automotive, electronics, and IT and has distributors in more than 100 countries. The company provides services such as custom projects, after sales services, and customer support.
Thermal Devices Inc. is a supplier of temperature sensors, industrial heaters & control products established in 1975 and headquartered in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The company offers control products including electrical & motor control products such as contactors, disconnect switches, soft starters, and control transformers as well as temperature & process control products such as temperature controls, solid state relays, control panels, and heat trace controls. Its industrial heater products segment includes duct air, strip, ceramic fiber, cartridge, and immersion heaters. These products are used in power systems & heaters, manufacturing, food service, medical, and analytical instruments applications.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Indeeco |
6.3%
|
2 | Applebee-Church, Inc. |
6.3%
|
3 | Fasteners Plus |
5.4%
|
4 | NBK America LLC |
4.5%
|
5 | Ohio Screw Products, Inc. |
3.6%
|
6 | EISELE GmbH |
3.6%
|
7 | HEINRICH KIPP WERK GmbH & Co. KG |
3.6%
|
8 | CAPLUGS |
3.6%
|
9 | Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., Inc. |
3.6%
|
10 | Clippard |
3.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the screw plug page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 11 | 30.6% |
Germany | 8 | 22.2% |
Japan | 5 | 13.9% |
China | 4 | 11.1% |
Switzerland | 2 | 5.6% |
Canada | 1 | 2.8% |
Netherlands | 1 | 2.8% |
Spain | 1 | 2.8% |
New Zealand | 1 | 2.8% |
Finland | 1 | 2.8% |
India | 1 | 2.8% |