Heat staking, which is also known as metal-to-plastic insertion, involves preheating an insert with induction and then pressing it into a hole in a plastic part. This is accomplished by positioning the induction coil over the hole and then holding the insert in the coil for a short period of time. When the correct temperature is achieved, the insert is pressed into the plastic. A narrow zone of plastic then melts and flows into the knurls of the insert. The plastic re-solidifies resulting in a complete assembly that often has much better mechanical properties than what results from alternative heating methods. The inserts are often brass or steel. 

An organization had been using a torch for this metal-to-plastic insertion application involving heating a brass shaft, however it required multiple torches to meet their growing throughput requirements. Consequently, they wanted to see if induction heating could offer them a more efficient solution. They turned to THE LAB at Ambrell and took advantage of complimentary application testing.

A supplier to an engine manufacturer needed to heat magnetic steel inserts for a metal-to-plastic insertion (also known as heat staking) application. The parts needed to heat to 500 ^°F (260 ^°C) within five seconds prior to being placed into an injection mold. Due to it taking the robot a few seconds to place the parts in the mold, it was also important that it maintain the temperature for a few seconds after heating concluded.

A supplier to the automotive industry was looking to heat a cooling fan shaft for a metal-to-plastic insertion (heat staking) application. They needed to heat the end of the shaft to 572 ^oF (300 ^oC) within three seconds. They turned to the application engineers at THE LAB at Ambrell to come up with a solution.