Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co. has added another major industry honor to its growing list of accolades. The company’s MTC Tool Controller was awarded “New Product of the Year” in the Fastening Tools Division at the 2025 Assembly Show, held October 21–23 in Rosemont, Illinois. The winner was determined by attendee votes, with the MTC Tool Controller earning the top spot among four finalists in its category.
The award was presented as part of ASSEMBLY Magazine’s 7th Annual New Product of the Year Awards, which recognize groundbreaking technologies shaping the future of manufacturing across five divisions: Assembly Machines & Systems, Adhesives/Dispensing/Curing, Fastening Tools, Robotics, and Manufacturing Software.
What Is the MTC Tool Controller?
The MTC Tool Controller is a universal control and monitoring system designed to work across the entire RivetKing® FreeSet® cordless tool line, including the RK-777C for blind rivets, RK-787C for rivet nuts, and RK-797C for pin and collar bolts. It brings universal control, enhanced data protection, and process intelligence to cordless assembly operations — delivering seamless integration, real-time monitoring, and connectivity for modern manufacturing environments.
Each tool in the FreeSet® cordless line is capable of operating independently and can be programmed directly through FreeSet Manager software for standalone use. When connected through the MTC Tool Controller, however, manufacturers gain the ability to manage an entire fleet of FreeSet® tools simultaneously — streamlining operations and enabling full integration into a connected, data-driven production environment.
What Makes It Stand Out
Jay Franetovich, Product Manager for Tools at Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co., described what sets the MTC apart from conventional tool control systems: “The MTC Tool Controller brings a new level of simplicity and control to the fastening process. It unites precision with flexibility — enabling manufacturers to manage multiple tools, protect production data, and maintain full traceability, all within one intuitive system.”
Walter Corter, Tech Services Manager at Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co., added: “Winning this award underscores the innovation behind the FreeSet system. Together, the FreeSet cordless tools and MTC Controller deliver precision fastening with true process control — helping manufacturers build faster and smarter.”
Why It Matters for Modern Manufacturing
As manufacturing environments become increasingly data-driven, the ability to monitor, control, and trace fastening processes in real time is no longer optional — it’s a competitive necessity. The MTC Tool Controller addresses this directly by giving production teams a single, unified interface for managing tool settings, tracking output data, and maintaining process consistency across an entire cordless tool fleet.
For fastener distributors and OEM customers working with high-volume assembly operations, the combination of the FreeSet® cordless tool line and MTC Tool Controller represents a significant upgrade in both efficiency and quality control.
To learn more about the MTC Tool Controller and the full RivetKing® FreeSet® cordless riveting system, visit rivet.com or call email marketing@rivet.com.
Originally published in Distributor’s Link Magazine, 2025.