PennEngineering of Danboro, Pennsylvania, US has released PEM self-clinching fasteners for use in stainless steel sheets. These specially hardened stainless fasteners in various types and styles install permanently in thin stainless sheets and some provide the added benefit of corrosion resistance to protect against corrosive conditions often encountered with medical devices and chemical and food processing equipment, among others. The PEM stainless self-clinching product line includes panel fasteners integrating captive screws for “tool only” access to stainless assemblies; thru-hole threaded and blind threaded standoffs for stacking or spacing components to or from stainless steel panels; non-locking and self-locking floating nuts to accommodate mating hole misalignment; fasteners for flush-mount attachment applications enabling permanent joining of two sheets without protrusions; flush-head studs; pins; and nuts. Depending on type, the fasteners are produced from precipitation hardening grade stainless, 300 Series stainless, 400 Series stainless, or A286 stainless steels and most are designed to install in stainless sheets as thin as 0.8mm. With the fastener harder than the host stainless sheet, successful clinching results in their becoming integral parts of an assembly without risk of loose hardware.