Malco’s Zip-in screws take center stage!

By Emma Peterson.

When it comes to construction products and tools, screws are often a supporting act. But Malco’s Zip-in screws are changing that!  

Meet the best-selling sheet metal screws worldwide — Malco Tools’ Zip-in® Self Piercing Sheet Metal Screws. Malco developed these in the 1970s when the standard practice for HVAC technicians was to pre-drill holes for fasteners or use hard-to-remove rivets. The Zip-ins revolutionized the industry by providing a much-needed alternative that eliminated the need for pre-drilling.

Zip-ins are uniquely designed using a sophisticated heat treatment process. This enables the screws to taper to a strong, sharp point that is perfect for penetrating metal. Because they are able to reach such a fine point without losing any critical point strength, they are one of the favorite fasteners of professionals working with metal duct in the HVAC industry. Beyond the tip of the screw, Zip-ins feature a unique thread design that sets them apart from other fasteners. This design uses a thread that runs to the very tip of the screw. Once the first thread is reached through the initial penetration, there is a second thread that engages. This sits above the point and drills the screw into the metal twice as fast as traditionally possible.  

The core Zip-in design that allows these screws to be faster driving and retain the capacity of fastening heavy gauges of sheet metal might have originated 50 years ago, but Malco has not stopped innovating to find ways to expand and improve upon their designs. One way they’ve done this is through the introduction of the Malco C-RHEX™ Cleanable, Reversible Dual Sided Hex Driver. These drivers are engineered for versatility and convenience without the sacrifice of durability. The patented cleanable and reversable design allows professionals to boost their productivity by enabling them to use two fastener sizes with one tool! Pairing the time-tested Zip-ins with this newer innovation is a huge game changer for professionals in the field.