Fastener-World Magazine No.187_Global Version by Fastener-World

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Advertisers Index A

310EXPRESS COMPANY (Japan) Security, Tamper Proof, Anti-theft Screws...

191

A & M PRODUCTS CO., LTD. Automotive Fasteners...

174

A-PLUS SCREWS INC. Chipboard Screws, Customized Special Screws / Bolts...

149

A-STAINLESS INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Concrete Screws, Deck Screws...

淳康

272

ABC FASTENERS CO., LTD. Drop-in Anchors, Expansion Anchors, Wire Anchors...

聯欣

AEH FASTEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. Clevis Pins, Dowel Pins, Hollow Rivets...

鉞昌

ALEX SCREW INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 禾億 Button Head Cap Screws, Button Head Socket Cap Screws... ALLOY & STAINLESS FASTENERS, INC. (U.S.A.) Bolts, Nuts, Studs, Sockets, Washers, Bent Bolts...

137

ALZIN COATING SYSTEMS CO., LTD. Surface Treatment And Related Equipment...

寬長

262

AN CHIAO MOLDS CO., LTD. Dies, Punch Dies, Carbide Quill, Punches, Pins...

安喬

292

ANCHOR FASTENERS INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 安拓 Drop-in Anchors, Expansion Anchors, Wire Anchors... APEX FASTENER INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Nuts, Wing Nuts & Bolts, Turning Parts, Stamping Parts

嵿峰

ARK FASTECH CORP. Multi-Station Cold Forging Bolts / Nuts...

方舟

ARUN CO., LTD. Bi-metal Screws, Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws...

鉅耕

AT-HOME ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Auto Parts, Elevator Bolts, Penta Head Bolts...

安鈜

AUTOLINK INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Automotive Screws, Machine Bolts, Flange Nuts...

浤爵

BCR INC. Automotive Screws, Piston Pins, Weld Bolts (Studs)...

必鋮

118

BESTWELL INTERNATIONAL CORP. Eye Bolts, Flanged Head Bolts, Hanger Bolts...

凱壹

248

BIING FENG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 秉鋒 Blind Nut Formers, Multi-station Cold Forming Machines...

BI-MIRTH CORP. 吉瞬 Carbon Steel Screws, Chipboard Screws, Concrete Screws...

179 90 108

BOLTUN CORPORATION Automotive Screws, Bushes, Conical Washer Nuts...

BÜLTE GmbH (Germany) Plastic Bolts, Plastic/Rubber Materials, Precision Plastic Parts...

134

CANATEX INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Nuts, Turning Parts, Bolts, Plastic Injection Parts...

250

CHAN CHANGE MACHINERY CO., LTD. Screw Head Making Machines...

保力德長薔

全雄

239

CHANG BING ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Hook Bolts, Holders / Hooks / Rings, Dowel Screws...

彰濱

126

CHANG YI BOLT CO., LTD. 6 Cuts/ 8 Cuts Self Drilling Screws, A2 Cap Screws...

長益

268

CHAO JING PRECISE MACHINES CO., LTD. Cold Forging Bolt Formers, Thread Rolling Machines...

朝璟

177

CHIA SING SCREW INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 佳興 Sems Screws, Customized Screws, Rivets, Lathe Turning Parts...

CHIAN YUNG CORPORATION SEMS Screws

將運

CHIEN TSAI MACHINERY ENTERPRISE Thread Rolling Machines

鍵財

CHIN LIH HSING PRECISION ENTERPRISE 金利興 Automotive Nuts, Brass Inserts, Bushes, Bushings...

112

CHIN TAI SING PRECISION MANUFACTORY 金泰興 Self-clinching Nuts, Brass Inserts...

145

CHINA PNEUMATIC CORPORATION Blind Rivet Assembly Machines, Torque Wrenches...

中國氣動

244

CHING CHAN OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY Eddy Current Sorting Machines, Fastener Makers...

精湛

277

CHIREK FASTENER CORPORATION Stainless Steel Fasteners, Self-Drilling Screws, Washers...

錡瑞

CHONG CHENG FASTENER CORP. Cap Nuts, Coupling Nuts, Conical Washer Nuts...

宗鉦

CHUN YU WORKS & CO., LTD. Wheel Bolts, Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws...

春雨

242

CHUN ZU MACHINERY INDUSTRY CO., LTD. 春日 Cold Headers, Header Toolings, Heading Machines...

CPC FASTENERS INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Stainless Steel, Bi-metal Self-drilling Screws...

冠誠

DA YANG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Special Automotive Nuts, Special Weld Nuts...

大楊

DAR YU ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws, Screw Nails...

達宇

107

DE HUI SCREW INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Drywall Screws, Decking Screws, Self-drilling Screws...

德慧

187

DE XIN METAL CO., LTD. 得鑫 Machine Screws, PT Screws, Tapping Screws, Chipboard Screws...

Cover DIING SEN FASTENERS INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 鼎 page Chipboard Screws, Corrosion Resistant Screws...

恒耀工業

144

CHAN HSIUNG FACTORY CO., LTD. Wheel Bolts, Twelve Point Head Screws, Weld Screws...

249

AMBROVIT S.P.A. (Italy) Chipboard Screws, Combined Screws, Machine Screws... AMPLE LONG INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Hollow Rivets, Drive Rivets, Semi-tubular Rivets...

添福德

159

奕瑞

195

189

DIN LING CORP. Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws, Furniture Screws...

登琳

DRA-GOON FASTENERS INC. Chipboard Screws, Phillips Head Screws, TEK Screws...

丞曜

DUNFA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. 敦發 Bushes, Spacers, Automotive Parts, Tubes, Turning Parts...

E CHAIN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws, Machine Screws...

毅程

111

EASON TECH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Spring Pins, Cage Nuts, Clip Nuts, Retaining Rings...

鈺森

110

EASYLINK INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Automotive Nuts, Thread Forming Screws...

易連

263

E-UNION FASTENER CO., LTD. 奕盟 Conveyors, Thread Rolling Machines, Heading Machines...

141

HSIN YU SCREW ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Acme Screws, Hexagon Head Cap Screws...

127

FAITHFUL ENGINEERING PRODUCTS CO., LTD. 誠毅 Anchors, Box Nails, Door/Window Accessories...

255

INFINIX PRECISION CORP. Customized Punches and Dies

FALCON FASTENER CO., LTD. Automotive & Motorcycle Special Screws / Bolts...

鉮達

FANG SHENG SCREW CO., LTD. Shoulder Bolts, Button Head Socket Cap Screws..

芳生

131

INNTECH INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. 建豪 All Kinds of Nuts, All Kinds of Screws, Automotive Special Screws...

102

FAREAST METAL INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. 億萬年 Dowel Pins, Flanged Head Bolts, Flange Screws...

271

IWASHI TECHNOLOGY LIMITED new 岩琦 Wire, Drawing Machine, Pickling Equipment, Wire Furnace

119

FASTENER JAMHER TAIWAN INC. Automotive Nuts, Blind Nuts / Rivet Nuts, Bushings...

占賀 155

FASTNET CORP. Dowel Pins, Flange Nuts, Weld Nuts, 4 Pronged T Nuts...

俊鉞

J. T. FASTENERS SUPPLY CO., LTD. Drop-in Anchors, Floating Nuts, Connecting Nuts...

FILROX INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Blind Nuts / Rivet Nuts, Tee or T Nuts, Blind Rivets...

惠錄

125 39

英飛凌

新雨

10 148

FONG PREAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 豐鵬 Automotive Screws, Bi-metal Screws, Brass & Bronze Screws...

106

FONG WUNS CO., LTD. Flange Nuts, Stainless Steel Nuts, Special Parts...

鋒汶

135

FONG YIEN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Eyebolts, Spindles...

宏盈

FORTUNE BRIGHT INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Cap Nuts, Dome Nuts, Nylon Cap Insert Lock Nuts...

鋒沐

FU HUI SCREW INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Automotive & Motorcycle Special Screws / Bolts...

福輝

INMETCH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Flanged Head Bolts, Locking Bolts, Stud Bolts...

J.C. GRAND CORPORATION All Kinds of Screws, Chipboard Screws...

恆鉅

金祐昇俊良

JA DEN ENTERPRISE CORP., LTD. Drilling Screws JAU YEOU INDUSTRY CO., LTD. 朝友 Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws, High Low Thread Screws...

153

JENG YUH CO., LTD. Plastic Injection Products, Plastic Mold R&D…

政毓

290

JERN YAO ENTERPRISES CO., LTD. Multi-station Cold Forming, Parts Forming Machines...

正曜

JET FAST COMPANY LIMITED Blind Nuts / Rivet Nuts, Aircraft & Aerospace Washers...

捷禾

205

147

FU KAI FASTENER ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 福凱 Precision Electronic Screws, Special Screws, Weld Screws...

JIANGSU WASHEN FASTENER MANUFACTURE 華盛 Blind Rivets, Rivet Nuts & Riveting Tools...

157

104

FUSHANG CO., LTD. 甫商 Carbon Steel Screws, Chipboard Screws, Concrete Screws...

JIEN KUEN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 健坤 Hexagon Nuts, Nylon Cap Insert Lock Nuts, Square Nuts...

JIN SHIN CHYUAN INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Automotive & Motorcycle Special Screws / Bolts...

金欣全

260

GIAN-YEH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Rivet Dies, Self-drilling Screw Dies, Screw Tip Dies...

健業

138

JINGFONG INDUSTRY CO., LTD. 璟鋒 Hex Nylon Insert Lock Nuts, Wing Nuts with Nylon Insert...

225

GINFA WORLD CO., LTD. 濟音發 Chipboard Screws, Countersunk Screws, Drywall Screws...

165

JIN-YINGS ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Special Custom Fasteners, Auto/Motorcycle Fasteners…

晉營

201

GOFAST CO., LTD. Open Die Parts, Stamping Parts, Assembly Parts...

喬邁

JOKER INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Hollow Wall Anchors, Concrete Screws, Jack Nuts...

久可

HAO CHENG PLASTIC CO., LTD. Plastic Box Maker for Fasteners

皓正

133

KATSUHANA FASTENERS CORP. Collated Screws, Drywall Screws, Roofing Screws...

濱井

233

HAO MOU NUTS MFG. CO., LTD. Nuts and Spacers...

豪茂

136

KING CENTURY GROUP CO., LTD. Drop-in Anchors, Self-drilling Anchors, Sleeve Anchors...

慶宇

197

HAUR FUNG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 豪舫 External Tooth Washers, Long Carriage Bolts, Roofing Bolts...

265

KING YUAN DAR METAL ENTERPRISE Continuous Type Heat Treating Furnace

172

HEADER PLAN CO. INC. Chipboard Screws, Collated Screws, Deck Screws...

143

HO HONG SCREWS CO., LTD. 合鋒 Alloy Steel Screws, Button Head Cap Screws, Chipboard Screws...

266

HONG TAY YUE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Wire Straighteners, Hydraulic Clamping Machines...

鴻大裕

KWANTEX RESEARCH INC. Chipboard Screws, Drywall Screws, Furniture Screws...

124

L & W FASTENERS COMPANY Construction Fasteners, Flat Washers, Heavy Nuts...

金元達寬仕

金大鼎

220

HOSHENG PRECISION HARDWARE CO., LTD. 和昇 Auto Parts, CNC Machined Parts, Bolts...

LIAN CHUAN SHING INTERNATIONAL 連全興 Weld Nuts, Special Parts, Special Washers, Flat Washers...

284

130

HSIN CHANG HARDWARE INDUSTRIAL CORP.欣彰 Anchor Bolts, Anchors, Plastic Fasteners...

LIAN SHYANG INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. Nut Formers, Nut Tapping Machines

294

LINKWELL INDUSTRY CO., LTD. 順承 All Kinds of Screws, Automotive & Motorcycle Special Screws...

HSIN HUNG MACHINERY CORP. Cap Nuts, Flange Nuts, Hexagon Nuts, Dome Nuts...

欣翃

HSIN JUI HARDWARE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 欣瑞 Bushes, Construction Bolts, Special Cold / Hot Forming Parts...

LOCKSURE INC. Custom Washers, Flat Washers, Automotive Screws...

連翔

今湛

Advertisers Index L

41 121

93 128

MAO CHUAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Professional Stamping Manufacturer

貿詮

274

MAUDLE INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 茂異 Button Head Socket Cap Screws, Flange Washer Head Screws...

MIN HWEI ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Button Head Socket Cap Screws, Chipboard Screws...

明徽

246

MING TANG MACHINERY (WEN YANG ) Screw Head Making Machines...

玟暘

MODERN ALLOY PLATING CO., LTD. Zinc Plating, Lubricants

202

SHANGHAI FAST-FIX RIVET CORP. Blind Rivets, High Shear Rivets, Closed End Rivets...

259

SHEEN TZAR CO., LTD. Self-Drilling Screw Machines & Dies

新讚

208

SHEH FUNG SCREWS CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Countersunk Screws, Wood Screws...

世豐

206

SHEH KAI PRECISION CO., LTD. Bi-metal Concrete Screw Anchors, Bi-metal Screws...

世鎧

116

SHEN CHOU FASTENERS INDUSTRIAL Button Head Cap Screws, Chipboard Screws...

神洲

267

SHENG LONG INDUSTRY CO. Punches, Pins, Carbide Punches, Dies, Sleeves...

昇隆

SHIH HSANG YWA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 新倡發 Flange Nuts, Flange Nylon Nuts With Washers...

168

SHIN CHUN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 昕群 Automotive Screws, Chipboard Screws, Customized Screws...

193

SHUENN CHANG FA ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 舜倡發 Long Screws, Concrete Screws, Machine Screws...

269

SHUN HSIN TA CORP. 順興達 Punches, Tungsten Carbide Nut Forming Dies, Special Dies… SIN HONG HARDWARE PTE. LTD. (Singapore) 新豐 Hexagon Nuts, Hexagon Head Bolts, Blind Rivets...

頂吉興

MOUNTFASCO INC. 崎鈺 All Kinds of Screws, Alloy Steel Screws, Automotive Screws...

飛可斯

100

NCG TOOLS INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Tools for Fastening Anchors, Blind Nuts / Rivet Nuts...

昶彰

181

132

ND INDUSTRIES, INC. 穩得 ND Pre-Applied Processes, Advanced Sealing Technologies...

SPEC PRODUCTS CORP. Lincensee Fasteners, Turned/Machined Parts...

友鋮

SPECIAL RIVETS CORP. Blind Nuts / Rivet Nuts, Blind Rivets, Air Riveters...

恆昭

SUN CHEN FASTENERS INC. 展鴻鑫 Cup Washers, Flanged Head Bolts, T-head or T-slot Bolts...

SUPER DPD CO., LTD. 三御 All Kinds of Screws, Bi-metal Screws, Carbon Steel Screws...

122

SUPER NUT INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 傑螺 Blind / Rivet Nuts, Security Fasteners, Barrel Nuts, Machine Parts...

150

TAIWAN NYLON WASHER CO., LTD. 東佑典 Rubber Washers, Silicone Washers, Plasterboard Nails... TAIWAN SELF-LOCKING FASTENERS (TSLG) 台灣耐落 Nylok®, Precote®, Nycote®, Nyplas®, Loctite®...

PENGTEH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. SEMs Screws, Special Screws, Binder Screws, PT Screws...

彭特

163

POL SHIN ENT. CO., LTD. 寶薰 Drywall Screws, Concrete Screws, Tapping Screws, Long Screws...

151

PPG INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL INC. 美商必丕志 Chromium-free Coating, ED Coating...

239

PREMIUM PRODUCTS, INC. (U.S.A.) Metal Coatings, Plastic Coatings, Dry Lubricant Coatings...

275

PRO POWER CO., LTD. Screws, Bolts...

鉑川

183

PRO-PATH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Window Screws, Self-drilling Screws, Drywall Screws...

上展

PRO-VISA (LIN) INT'L CORP. 佾鼎 Self-drilling Screws, Stainless Steel Screws, Furniture Screws...

161

龍業百起

鑫瑞

117

LOYAL & BIRCH CO., LTD. Construction Fasteners and Building Fasteners

長隆順

MAC PRECISION HARDWARE CO. Turning Parts, Precision Metal Parts, Cold Forged Nuts...

LONG THREAD FASTENERS CORP. Bi-metal Self-drilling Screws, Chipboard Screws...

123

PS FASTENERS PTE. LTD. (Singapore) Washers, Socket Set Screws, U Bolts, Alloy Steel Screws...

汎昇

120

Q-NUTS INDUSTRIAL CORP. Flange Nuts, Weld Nuts, Special Nuts, Spacers...

友俊

QST INTERNATIONAL CORP. 恒耀國際 Hexagon Head Bolts, Square Head Bolts, Weld Bolts (Studs)...

REXLEN CORP. Clinch Nuts, Clinch Studs, CNC Parts, Stamped Parts...

連宜

SAN SHING FASTECH CORP. Automotive Nuts, Automotive Parts, Carbide Dies...

三星

SCREWTECH INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Machined Parts, Thumb Screws, Micro Screws...

銳禾

97 283

SEN CHANG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 昇錩 Customized Special Screws / Bolts, Socket Head Cap Screws...

TANG AN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Customized Automotive Parts and Special Fasteners

鏜安

THREAD INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Flange Nuts, Heavy Nuts...

英德

264

TICHO INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. 帝潮 Nail Making Machine, Self-drilling Screw Forming Machine...

185

TONE DAR SEEN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Semi-tubular Rivets, Solid Rivets, Shoulder Rivets...

通達興

TONG HEER FASTENERS (THAILAND) CO., LTD. Hex Bolts, Stud Bolts, Socket Cap Screws, Hex Nuts…

TONG HEER FASTENERS CO., SDN. BHD. Stainless Steel Metric Screws, Stainless Steel Screws…

171

TONG HO SHING INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. 桐和興 Hex Washer Head Screws, Indent Hex Head Screws...

TONG HWEI ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. A2 Cap Screws, Button Head Socket Cap Screws...

東徽

TONG MING ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. Stainless Steel Fasteners, Wire Rods...

東明

167

TRINITY STEEL PRIVATE LIMITED (Sri Lanka) Paper Strip, Plastic Strip, Wire Coil, Threaded Rod...

261

TZE PING PRECISION MACHINERY CO., LTD. 智品 Open Die Machines, Cold Headers, Cold Forming Machines...

UNISTRONG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 六曜 Retaining Nuts, Sleeve Nuts, Weld Nuts, Automotive Screws...

VERTEX PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CORP. 緯紘 6 Cuts/ 8 Cuts Self Drilling Screws, Barrel Nuts, Cap Screws...

257

WAN IUAN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 萬淵 Punches/Dies of Various Nuts, Screws, Sleeves and Socket Boxes

60 252 286

WE POWER INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Concrete Screws, Drywall Screws... WEI CHAN CO., LTD. new Wire-drawing Dies, Nut Dies, Special Dies…

威力寶

WILLIAM SPECIALTY INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Chipboard Screws, Concrete Screws, Drywall Screws...

威廉特

威展

WINLINK FASTENERS CO., LTD. T Head Bolts, Flange Screws, Daisy Bolts...

WYSER INTERNATIONAL CORP. Cage Nuts, Cap Nuts, Clinch Nuts, Acme Screws...

緯聯

YESWIN MACHINERY CO., LTD. Bolt Formers, Multi-station Cold Forming Machines...

友信

285

岡山東穎

YI CHUN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. 誼峻 Cap Screws, Socket Set Screws, Cage Nuts, Automotive Parts...

YI HUNG WASHER CO., LTD. Rubber Washers, Plastic Screws, Custom Washers...

益弘

YING MING INDUSTRY CO., LTD. Automotive & Motorcycle Special Screws / Bolts...

穎明

199

YING YI CO., LTD. Sems Parts, Special Nuts, Pressed Parts...

穎翊

103

YOUR CHOICE FASTENERS & TOOLS CO., LTD. 太子 A2 Cap Screws, Bits & Bit Sets, Chipboard Screws...

288

YOW CHERN CO., LTD. 侑城 Flanged Head Bolts, Chipboard Screws, Floorboard Screws...

142

YUH CHYANG HARDWARE INDUSTRIAL Automotive & Motorcycle Special Screws / Bolts...

鈺強

270

YUH HER PRECISION CO., LTD. Drill-Point Dies

育和

Machines & Equipment 機械暨周邊設備區

137 248 250 268 249 244 242 263 266 271 290 265 284 246 57 259 264 261 285

Alzin Coating Systems Co., Ltd. Biing Feng Enterprise Co., Ltd. Chan Change Machinery Co., Ltd. Chao Jing Precise Machines Co., Ltd. Chien Tsai Machinery Enterprise Co., Ltd. Ching Chan Optical Technology Co., Ltd. Chun Zu Machinery Industry Co., Ltd. E-Union Fastener Co., Ltd. Hong Tay Yue Enterprise Co., Ltd. Iwashi Technology Limited new Jern Yao Enterprises Co., Ltd. King Yuan Dar Metal Enterprise Co., Ltd. Lian Shyang Industries Co., Ltd. Ming Tang Machinery Co., Ltd. (Wen Yang ) Modern Alloy Plating Co., Ltd. Sheen Tzar Co., Ltd. Ticho Industries Co., Ltd. Tze Ping Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. Yeswin Machinery Co., Ltd.

添福德秉鋒長薔朝璟鍵財精湛春日奕盟鴻大裕岩琦正曜金元達連翔玟暘頂吉興新讚帝潮智品友信

Tooling / Dies 工 / 模具區 262

An Chiao Molds Co., Ltd.

260 255 267 269 257 252 270

Gian-Yeh Industrial Co., Ltd. Infinix Precision Corp. Sheng Long Industry Co. Shun Hsin Ta Corp. Wan Iuan Enterprise Co., Ltd. Wei Chan Co., Ltd. new Yuh Her Precision Co., Ltd.

Exhibitions 218 223

SUBCON THAILAND 2021 TAIWAN HARDWARE SHOW 2021

安喬健業英飛凌昇隆順興達萬淵威展育和

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Cover Story

Treating Every Customer’s Order as with

0ppm Requirement

CTSP Manufactory

Reinforces Deployment in Global High-end Markets by Gang Hao Chang, Vice Editor-in-Chief of Fastener World

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Fastener World no.187/2021

Cover Story

Founded decades ago, Chin Tai Sing Precision Manufactory (“CTSP”) has had its main business focused on OEM production for standard parts as well as bespoke brass inserts, metal clinching fasteners, and components in stainless steel, aluminum, and various materials, and has become an automotive and electronics parts supplier recognized by global high-end industries. It has not only been certified to both ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 international quality management systems, but also has consolidated a firm presence for years in European/U.S./Japanese high-end markets with its years of excellent manufacturing capabilities, a well-experienced team for marketing and sales, and highly competitive performance-to-price ratios on the market.

Strict Quality Control Beyond Customers’ Requirements The monthly capacity of CTSP quickly jumping from the initial 10 million pcs to 20 million pcs within just a few years did impress its business partners from European/U.S./Japanese high-end markets a lot, and the key factors of this success lie on CTSP’s strict manufacturing & quality control procedures, state-of-the-art automated equipment, and highly systematic production management with batch codes. With the strict monitoring of senior technicians having more than 20 years of experience, CTSP can ensure the compliance with ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 international quality management systems of every part being processed in its fully automated equipment. Meanwhile, in order to meet the requirements of customers’ orders, CTSP attaches importance to every detail a lot. It introduced image measurement instruments and optical sorting machines to inspect dimensions and specifications, and utilizes automated sorting and packaging machines to keep seamless quality control from the very beginning of manufacturing to final delivery. CTSP’s strict requirements and confidence in product quality can be also observed in its service provided to customers. For example, its team will always meet together to find out the most suitable solutions for quality anomaly, manufacturing optimization, and new product inspection. Furthermore, in order to keep customers updated with real-time production status at all times, every product of CTSP will be given a batch code with traceability. It can also provide customers with valid documents for material certification, RoHS certification, PPAP, IMDS, ISIR, etc. if needed. CTSP General Manager Johny Lee said, “In order to offer good quality, we must not only have quality inspectors and precision equipment to carry out strict quality control, but also must hold a firm attitude toward it. Our requirements for quality are not only focused on finished products, but also focused on the procedures of material feeding and all manufacturing procedures. We often assume that all of our customers require 0ppm in their orders placed to us and try our best to meet or even exceed their requirements for quality, provide them with products at competitive prices, and make them have confidence in the quality of our products.”

Targeting High-end Industrial Users and Expanding Efficient Service Despite the fact that CTSP has been widely recognized and accepted in European, U.S. and Japanese high-end markets, CTSP still believes that it should accelerate its steps toward more advanced markets and industries and cultivate unbeatable strength to face possible market challenges in the future. General Manager Lee added, “Taiwanese hardware related industry is currently facing the problems like severe labor shortage and the inability to increase capacity, so CTSP will increase more automated production and inspection equipment to achieve the optimal capacity and quality according to each customer’s demand. In this way, we can improve our production performance, save the labor cost, and increase the yield rate. We will also develop more precision products (within the tolerance of ±0.01) to serve customers from more advanced industries.”

Contact: General Manager Johny Lee

Email: inquiry@ctsp-insert.com.tw

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Certificate of Registration This certifies that the Quality Management System of

Q-Nuts Industrial Corp.

No. 193-1, Lane 315, Sec. 1, Erren Road, Rende District, Tainan, Taiwan

DR AF

has been assessed by NSF-ISR and found to be in conformance to the following standard(s):

ISO 9001:2015 Scope of Registration:

Manufacture of nuts and metal parts. Certificate Number: Certificate Issue Date: Registration Date: Expiration Date *:

1835-IS1 06-NOV-2017 01-NOV-2017 31-OCT-2020

Carl Blazik, Director, Technical Operations & Business Units, NSF-ISR, Ltd.

Certificate of Registration This certifies that the Quality Management System of

Q-Nuts Industrial Corp.

No. 193-1, Lane 315, Sec. 1, Erren Road, Rende District, Tainan, Taiwan

has been assessed by NSF-ISR and found to be in conformance to the following standard(s):

IATF 16949:2016 Scope of Registration:

Manufacture of nuts and metal parts.

Exclusions: Product design.

IATF Certificate Number: 0277634 Certificate Number: 1835-TS10 Certificate Issue Date: 06-NOV-2017 Registration Date: 01-NOV-2017 Expiration Date *: 31-OCT-2020

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Carl Blazik, Director, Technical Operations & Business Units, NSF-ISR, Ltd.

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Editorial

Making the Most of

Accessible Resources and Focusing on Finance & Strategy for Sustainability by Gang Hao Chang, Vice Editor-in-Chief of Fastener Worl For the last year, almost all markets and economies in the world have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with some countries starting to get their people vaccinated in recent months, it seems that the cross-border travel ban can be expected to be lifted soon someday. Many industry professionals also expect optimistically that the European and U.S. markets may gradually get back to normal in the 2nd half of 2021 at the earliest if the pandemic can be gradually under control and the vaccination can be faster and more efficient. On the other hand, Asian markets may also get back to normal soon after China, Japan, S. Korea, and other major countries in the region activated their vaccination schedules. This is not only good news to all industries, but also a timely rainfall to the global fastener industry. Moreover, with the current better performance of the global car manufacturing industry and the increasing demand for machines, it is estimated that the entire industry will be boosted to grow in a positive way as well. Some Taiwanese companies told Fastener World that although Taiwanese fastener industry did show some good signs of market recovery in Q4 2020, it was still suffering a loss if the referenced timeframe is extended backward t o t he d ay-1 of t he p a n d em ic and certain external factors like exchange rates and manufacturing costs are taken into consideration. H owe ve r, we s t i l l s aw m a n y companies (which are not only local Taiwanese companies, but also indispensable partners for the world) working really hard to weat her t he d i f f icu lt t i me. In addition, the performance of Taiwanese IT industry (especially the biggest one, TSMC) in recent 2-3 years has been quite impressive a s wel l. T hei r col lab or at ive partners are also active in looking for empty lots for industrial use around Taiwan to establish plants, indirectly resulting in the rocketing p r i c e fo r l a n d h e l d by m a ny traditional industries. Some fastener suppliers even made humorous remarks, saying “Now we’ve got more bargaining chips to ask for higher credit line from banks.” However, on the basis of the globa l fa st e n e r sup ply ch a i n , w h i c h h a s n’t a p p e a r e d a ny significant change yet, we have some suggestions and advice to share with Taiwanese companies. Below are 4 major issues which we observed and think Taiwanese companies should be aware of.

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1. The High-cost Era Has Come The low-cost era companies experienced over the last decades has gone, and the highcost era featuring rising prices of many things has come. The costs of plant establishment, employment, electricity and materials are also rising year after year. Plus, the appreciating New Taiwanese Dollar is influencing companies’ export competitiveness and reducing their profit margin, and the stricter environmental protection regulations are pushing up the investment costs as well. It is estimated that under such a trend the manufacturing costs of companies in the near future will still go up and the pressure brought by high costs will grow stronger day after day. Companies should learn how to adapt to these situations and be active in figuring out ways to create more profit margin. Below are some suggestions for companies.

- Re-examining Every Sector Within the Company Medium-to-large sized companies not only can consider establishing overseas plants to reduce costs, but also can take the opportunity to re-examine their manufacturing procedures,

Editorial production/sales/operation management, facility utilization, find out unnecessary waste and review if the current cost benefit is within the acceptable range, in order to optimize their labor/equipment/quality management, tap new resources and economize on expense, and extend the service range. In addition, companies should review the quality of their existing products and service and think about how they can do better to serve existing customers. After then, they can think about how their existing products can be used to serve new customers from more industry sectors (e.g. EV, wind power, medical, etc.). After getting in touch and establishing collaboration with the new customers, companies should go back again to re-examine their capabilities and facility utilization, and check if there is still any possibility to develop new products for new customers’ demands. And finally, companies should again go back to reexamine if these new products can also create demands from existing customers. The era in which companies kept passive waiting for customers’ orders has gone, so companies should set up their own goals and expectations, be active in creating profit margin and try their best to improve customers’ service.

- Vertical and Horizontal Development Currently, the industry puts much of its focus on the one-stop service, so maybe companies can try to look for more business opportunities vertically or horizontally on the existing basis. We also have noticed that some Taiwanese companies are going toward that way. For example, fastener manufacturers can not only consider vertically extending service to electroplating, heat treatment, packaging, or direct distribution, but can also consider extending business reach to wire sales. With the extension to wire sales, companies can use them for selfmanufacturing or sell them to increase their revenue, and most importantly, increase their wire supply quota offered by steel plants. Or, companies can choose to widen their product range (e.g. adding screw manufacturing into its current nut manufacturing) or even step into a completely different industry sector, all which are good approaches to extending service and creating more competitiveness and profit margin. However, companies have to evaluate their actual capabilities first before putting into practice or choose suitable partners to collaborate with.

- Mastering Quality and R&D Capabilities For ot her sma ll-to -me diu m si ze d c o m p a n i e s , i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h ey should follow the existing model, which is to keep good quality control and R&D capabilities and adopt suitable marketing approaches to consolidate customers’ loyalty and satisfaction, as there are still many possibilities for them to discover. Since the variation of a fastener is unlimited, if smallto-medium enterprises can master their own technology and dedicate themselves to R&D, they are definitely able to continuously take the lead among other competitors from emerging markets for a certain period of time.

2. Increasing Significance of Financial and Development Strategy Management Years ago many companies with a certain level of technique and R&D capabilities could enter markets to sell their products easily. Later, wit h t he ma rkets getti ng bigger and becoming more competitive, the Fastener World no.187/2021

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Editorial marketing strategy is also getting more important. In recent years, we have noticed that several companies are gradually focusing more on finance and strategy development. For example, through acquisition and making further investments, companies can keep pace with the market, create demands, and obtain customers’ trust and recognition. As stated earlier, relevant costs are increasing day after day, so by establishing a healthy financial system in the company to attract more capital investment, companies will have more capabilities and strength to compete with competitors and create for themselves more bargaining chips.

3. Introduction of AI Automation The idea of “Lights-out Factory” or “Fully Automated Plant” is not something new to the high-tech industry but traditional fastener manufacturing plants. Through upgrading equipment & facilities and introduction of AI technology, plants can greatly reduce the costs and demand for labor force. And, as automation features both stability and consistency, the external impacts caused by “humans” on production will be greatly reduced. If AI automation is used properly, manufacturers can achieve realtime manufacturing schedule and capacity adjustment according to customers’ demands and establish highly efficient plants offering stable quality. For Taiwanese companies which are not only facing challenges from Europe, the U.S., and Japan, but also facing competition from China, India, and Southeast Asia, this is definitely the best approach to quickly defeating competitors, creating significant differences from others and winning the trust of customers on the market.

4. Actively Exploring and Smartly Utilizing Resources from the Government For those large industry-leading companies, it may not be a problem for them to raise funds and obtain resources. However, for Taiwanese fastener companies which are mostly small-to-medium enterprises, how to raise funds and obtain suitable resources will be quite important. In addition to obtaining more resources via the aforesaid approaches to making further market deployment, it is suggested that companies should also make the most of resources offered by the Government to forge industrial development ahead. For example, MOEA, MOST, MOL, and other government bodies of Taiwan responsible for industry-related affairs, basically, all provide abundant resources available for application. These resources can offer constructive assistance to companies for their future product and company upgrade, but it depends on whether the companies can utilize them smartly or not. Qualified companies definitely shouldn’t give up these approaches and should be active in exploring more resources to create opportunities for themselves. The pandemic is a test to the competitive edge of every company and only an extremely few number of companies failed in the test. Facing the upcoming globalized post-pandemic era, companies will definitely encounter more capable competitors from other countries. With so many challenges ahead, what companies should do first is to re-examine their internal management and make positive improvements and satisfy demands of existing and new customers. If possible, they can also consider stepping into a completely different industry sector and try to become one of members in the international supply chain. In addition, they should also make the most of accessible resources and find out their own development way. With all these efforts, they can thus quickly pave the way toward profit and sustainability in such a high-cost era.

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Book Review

Do You Think You Know Electric Vehicles (EVs)? Back in 2020, Tesla’s global sales and stock price reached a historic new high and hit the headlines. The EV maker announced its first model in 2005, and by 2019 it already had installed 12 thousand superchargers across the globe. This kick-started practical use of EVs in every way but at the same time sent an alarm to component suppliers. Many countries have set a timer for the end of gasolinepowered vehicles. The Taiwanese government set a goal for full implementation and localized production of electric buses in a policy which is expected to make a business scale of NTD 170 billion (USD 6 billion). Seeing that a death sentence on a large portion of gasoline-powered vehicles is to come about in a few decades and that EV sales are kicking into high gear, Taiwanese automotive fastener companies have begun to worry if they have enough technology and capacity to catch the wave when EVs become the mainstream consumer products. Over the years, Fastener World Magazine heard the calls of Taiwanese automotive fastener companies that the government must be quick to help with the transition from gasoline-vehicle fastener to EV fastener development, which requires monumental funds as well as formation of Taiwanese multi-corporate coalition and supply chains to open up the future EV fastener market. More importantly, here is a question to those in the fastener industry— Do you think you have a fundamental knowledge of the history, potential and development trend of EVs? Forbes reports that as many as 70% of the Americans do not think they know much about EVs up to this date, let alone the Taiwanese people. Compared to gasoline-powered vehicles already on the market for over a century, EVs have not had stepped up development until 2003 and therefore EVs are shrouded in some kind of mystery to the eyes of the world.

A Book Review on Future EVs

That Could Inspire Taiwan Fastener Industry by Dean Tseng, Fastener World

That is why the Japanese writer Yoshihisa Murasawa published his Japanese book on the future of EVs (Later sold on Taiwanese bookshelves. See the book cover above). The book provides illustrated explanation of the humongous business opportunities in the transition from gasoline engines to electric motors. Note that Japan has the world-renowned Toyota Motor as the dominator of the gasoline-powered vehicle market, but Toyota was caught off guard by the advent of Tesla EVs. The Japanese began to realize their automotive market was being challenged and started to talk about why the Japanese government and carmakers did not react in time, which lays the background for the writing of this book. Now we are going to delve into the book for the gems that are worth the attention of the fastener industry.

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The Approaching Last Day for Gasolinepowered Vehicles; a Brighter Outlook for EVs If you'd like to know the number of days left for gasoline-powered vehicles, Norway is the earliest country to mandate full transition to EVs by 2025. For India, it is by 2030, and for UK and France, it is 2040. Furthermore, an increasing number of countries even regulate that

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Book Review future hybrid electric vehicles will not be regard as EVs, which means only “pure EVs” will be legitimate to be rolled out on the market. In 2019, China demanded that carmakers ought to manufacture a certain portion of new-energy vehicles. Hence, lots of new-energy carmakers appeared in China over the past few years, including Nio, Li Auto, XPeng Motors, Leapmotor, and Qiantu Motor. These along with BYD Auto which made its debut in 2003 make China the biggest EV manufacturing country in the world. Up to 2016, the world saw the sales of 750 thousand EVs, of which China accounted for 44% (330 thousand EVs). China is looking to lift the capacity to 15 million EVs by 2030. The U.S. took the second place at around 160 thousand EVs. Japan at the 6th place saw a merely 30 thousand sales, from which we can sense the anxiety of the Japanese. The remaining 200 thousand EVs were sold in Europe. The world’s EV production is to escalate to 3.57 million vehicles in two years i.e., by 2023. After full transition to EV, the automotive component market will scale up from 700 billion euros in 2005 to 850 billion euros in 2025. The author wrote down a line which is the linchpin of the issue: “The empire of gasoline-powered vehicles will be replaced by that of EVs’ within 30 years.” If reading this line does not give you a sense of the encroaching EVs, it is better for you to have a lookout.

The People and Things to be Bygone in the Era of EVs The writer quotes a survey by Bloomberg New Energy Finance that indicates EVs will be cheaper than gasoline-powered vehicles by 2025. Gee, the price lowering of EVs is too fast to fathom! In 2020, the distance of travel by EV batteries was almost as long as that by the engines of gasoline-powered vehicles. EVs are 3 to 4 times more energy-saving than gasoline-powered vehicles. Driving on electricity is more money-saving than on fuel. These phenomena signify gasoline-powered vehicles will be replaced in our generation. “The future EVs will enter Level Five of unmanned driving capability. Taxi drivers will be out of their jobs. EVs will pick you up at your front door and drive itself back to the parking space after completing the transport,” said founder Eli Liu of Green E2, Inc., the first EV service provider in Taiwan. Simply put, EVs are installed with electricity-driven motors in replacement of fuel-driven engines. The rest of their structure remains the same as that of gasoline-powered vehicles. In replacement of engines motivating on piston motion, motors motivate on rotary motion and therefore are quiet and vibration free. A more critical change is that the transmissions installed on gasoline-powered vehicles will not appear on EVs. Additionally, the same goes with the brake pedal, while the accelerator remains untouched. Hit the accelerator to speed up and release it to auto-decelerate (break). The author points out other automotive components that will disappear, including “radiator, cooling fan, intercooler, oil cooler, ignition coil, magneto, distributor, electrical sensor, spark plug, and fuel injection device”. The author quotes an estimate by VDA that replacing car engines will affect 600 thousand jobs in Germany. Think about this— Does the disappearance of gasoline-powered vehicle components mean the same for the fasteners that fasten them? A gasoline-powered vehicle uses nearly 30 thousand components, 3,500 of which are fasteners (taking up 10%). Switching to EVs will reduce the number of components by 30%, mainly those that are used to provide drive power. How many of the 3,500 fasteners will be cut from the switch to EVs? Perhaps you may find this hard to believe, but the author goes as far as to point out that future EVs could be like tramway. Roads will have embedded electric wires or be enabled with wireless power supply. EVs will have power collectors installed on the bottom to fetch electrical power from the roads as their driving force to move forward, like the European tramway. Such EVs won’t even need batteries. Does that foretell the fasteners for fastening the batteries will disappear?

Three Core Elements of EVs: Motor, Electricity, Control Device Let’s not frighten ourselves yet. Perhaps we won’t see wireless-power roads and tramway-like EVs coming this fast. Is there any perspective the fastener industry can look at in response to the oncoming tide of EVs? The 3 core elements of EVs are the motor replacing the engine, electricity replacing fuel, and the device which controls power output. Take Japan for instance, Toyota is at the top of the supply chain of gasoline-powered vehicles. The upmost tier below Toyota are manufacturers of primary components, and further down at the lower tier are contractors consisting of small companies, altogether forming Toyota’s empire of gasoline-powered vehicles. However, EVs disrupted Toyota’s pyramid. In the EV era, a group of EV startup like the Chinese BYD Motor, Nio, and Li Auto will be the center which the component suppliers (including battery, motor and car body manufacturers) will supply directly. The supply chain will no longer be a triple-tier but a double tier-structure.

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Book Review In other words, if Taiwanese fastener companies are adequately capable of supplying EV fasteners, they can take on the challenges and contact EV start-ups, or take a step backwards and make contact with battery, motor, control device, car body manufacturers for a chance to supply, so as to form a supply chain centered on EV start-ups. We don’t have to be concerned that EV start-ups may disappear into thin air, because a new start-up will keep coming up after another and there is only going to be more. As EV motors feature a simpler structure than gasoline engines, they have lower thresholds in manufacturing. More and more countries gradually have the ability to manufacture EVs. Even the emerging small and medium companies can manufacture at lower prices. The most essential question is still this— Exactly how much capability do we have to convert ourselves into EV fastener suppliers?

A Few Other Examples to Look at To see if we measure up to the task, let’s look at other fastener companies already in the EV field to see what they saw as critical in the development of EV fasteners. Kevin Peacock from Stanley Engineered Fastening said fasteners could result in power loss on battery packs on EVs. Traditional fasteners are difficult to maintain conductivity. The car's vibration and heat cycles will make the fasteners loosen and lose half the clamp load and affect connectivity with EV and battery terminals. It means EV fastener development requires attention to conductivity and clamp load. LISI Automotive rolled out an insulating fastener for EVs that satisfies the demand for both fastening and insulation. To save space, some EV models are installed with a 12V circuit and a 48V BSG (BeltDriven Starter Generator) on the same spot. LISI’s insulating fastener can insulate the circuit from the BSG to prevent danger caused by different voltages, and therefore, can fasten two components of different voltages. The French Desoutter Tools provides EVs with a series of Norms IEC 60664-1:2007 and IEC 60900:2012 compliant insulated installation tools to prevent operators from an electric shock when they install high-voltage components and connect wires. It means hand tool companies can also supply insulating tools for EVs. The renowned Sundram Fasteners from India has also begun supplying parts to global major EV makers, and expressed an interest in acquiring EV companies. More over, t here a re ot her fa st ener products on the market that are supplied to EVs, including Flowform ®, STRUX®, RIVTEX®, PIAS ®, RIVTEX®, Powertite ®, Eco-Sert®, and customized fasteners for car body assembly. However, one product also came in as a strong competitor— LOCTITE® adhesives. It is a type of structural adhesives specifically engineered to application in batteries to ensure firm connection between batteries, as well as between batteries and modules, so as to safely fasten and seal the outer cases of battery packs, preventing dust, liquid and moisture intrusion. This is where adhesives can replace fasteners. These examples tell that fasteners’ entry into the EV industry is already an ongoing thing. We must delve into the development trend of EV to acquire the know-how, and try to take the first step to contact related companies and discuss fastener design so that we can discover the next step of the way in fastener development. This is to be accompanied by the industry’s call for the support of the government and corresponding policies to put together a Taiwanese EV supply chain.

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Industry Focus

The Market Demand and Outlook for

Automotive Fasteners Used on New Energy Powered Vehicles

by Chin Feng & Hsien Ming Chang

The Market Demand for Automotive Fasteners Used on New Energy Powered Vehicles T here a re ma ny types of automotive fasteners on the market, such as bolts, studs, screws, washers, retaining rings, pins, rivets, assembly parts, connecting parts, etc. The demand for automotive fasteners is around 23% of the total amount demanded in the entire fastener industry, which represents the highest market share in the industry. According to the latest statistics released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), in 2020 the profit margin of Chinese car manufacturing industry showed a slight increase from the previous year’s slump, but the increase margin was a little bit slowed down compared to the period from Jan. through Nov. In 2020, the car production and sales of China reached 2.522 million units and 2.531 million units, with the same period ratios being -2% and -1.9%. The cumulative profit margin of Chinese car manufacturing amounted to CNY 509.36 billion, up 4.0% from the previous year’s same period. In recent years, the EV market has been continuously growing, which is significantly revealed on the stronger support of the Chinese Government to the EV industry and the further investments of car manufacturers in their EV business. Such a growing trend is estimated to continue in the following 10 years. With the growing acceptance and application of EV on the market, the demand for these types of fasteners will definitely grow bigger. As a result, the safety of these products used for fastening EV batteries whose power and performance are also becoming more efficient has also become a serious concern in the industry.

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Since many non-metallic materials are used on EV and the requirements for their temperature resistance and safety are higher, the correct use and fastening of fasteners have thus become a critical part in EV assembly. The annual production and sales of new energy powered vehicles reached a new high in history as well. In addition, with years of dedication to the development of the new energy powered vehicles supply chain, more mature industrial sectors, more new energy powered vehicles for selection, and improved environment for driving them, In 2020, the production these cars have been gradually accepted by consumers. In and sales of new energy 2020, t he production a nd powered vehicles in China sales of new energy powered reached 1.366 millions units vehicles in China reached and 1.367 million units, which 1.366 millions units and 1.367 were up 7.5% and 10.9% million units, which were up respectively from the same 7.5% and 10.9% respectively from the same period in the period in the previous year. previous year.

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Industry Focus Of the new energy powered vehicles in China, pure electric vehicles (EV) reached 1.105 million units of production and 1.105 million units of sales (up 5.4% and 11.6% respe ctively f rom t he previous year’s same period); plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) reached 0.26 million units of production and 0.251 million of units of sales (up 18.5% and 8.4% respectively from the previous year’s same period); fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV or FCV) reached 1,000 units of production and 1,000 units of sales (down 57.5% and 56.8% from the previous year’s same period).

The sales of new energy powered vehicles in 2020 represented 5.4% of the total car sales in China, up 0.7% from 2019’s 4.7%. According to CAAM, the sales of new energy powered vehicles in 2020 represented 5.4% of the total car sales in China, up 0.7% from 2019’s 4.7%. In 2020 the total car sales of the top 10 car manufacturers in China reached 22.644 million units, down 2.3% from the previous year’s same period and representing 89.5% of the total sales in China (down 0.4% from the previous year’s period). Of the top 10 car manufacturers in China, Saic Motor remains the largest group. In 2020 its sales reached 5.534 million units, down 11.5% from 2019. FAW Group, Changan Automobile, Great Wall Motors, and Brilliance Auto Group of the top 10 all appeared growing momentum, while the others appeared a decline in sales. Tesla did bring pressure to local Chinese EV brands after it officially entered the Chinese market, so traditional car manufacturers such as NIO, Li Auto, XPeng, Volkswagen, Toyota, etc. were also forced to accelerate their development in new energy powered vehicles. The premium effect of Tesla as well as its strategy to gain more market share via price reduction will definitely take some market share of other competitors away, as the Model 3 at the cost of CNY 0.25 million and the Model Y at the cost of CNY 0.30 million remain attractive to consumers. As a result, most Chinese EV brands will face a certain degree of pressure, especially those at higher prices, most of which may be later forced to reduce their prices to below CNY 0.20 million. The price reduction of Model Y will directly impact the sales of traditional luxury car brands. After the price reduction, the price competition among Tesla Model Y, Audi Q5, M. Benz GLC, BMW X3 may appear a significant change. As the price of Tesla Model Y is comparatively competitive, it may attract more luxury car consumers to buy it. In addition to the impact on BMW, Audi, and many other luxury brands,

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it may also cause impacts on other new energy powered vehicle brands, especially NIO and XPeng. NIO EC6 and Tesla Model Y are both defined as medium sized SUV. In terms of price, the sales price of NIO EC6 after receiving subsidies lands at CNY 0.368 million-0.526 million, and the sales price of Model Y lands at CNY 0.3399 million-0.3699 million, showing that Model Y is more competitive than EC6 when it comes to price. There a re more than 100 above-the-scale automotive fastener manufacturers in China, which can be classified into “large-scale fastener companies specialized in automotive fasteners manufacturing” and “companies specialized in non-standard automotive fasteners manufacturing.” Compared with other similar foreign manufacturers, these companies in China have not been able to reach larger manufacturing capacity yet and their high-end fastener supply to new energy powered vehicles is not sufficient, either. With the fast market development in the future, the demand for high-end fasteners will continue to rise and the development of high-end products will become a major trend.

The Technology Development of Automotive Fasteners for New Energy Powered Vehicle Application of Lightweight Materials More and more Mg-Al alloy or other lightweight materials are used in design and manufacturing of new energy powered vehicles; however, as the significant potential difference between steel and Mg-Al alloy will result in serious electrolytic corrosion and the significant difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between steel and Mg-Al alloy will result in a serious change in preload, making joints come loose, it is suggested that aluminum alloy fasteners with high tensile strength be used to deal with these issues. Given the weight reduction of vehicles, a lot of high-strength steel plates are used in car manufacturing and aluminum alloy plates are also used in some design to further reduce the total weight of vehicles. The thin metallic plates represent a lot of portion in car production and assembly, such as welding of body in white, joint of cars. Using fasteners to fasten metallic plates is a major way (in addition to welding) in car manufacturing and the use of aluminum alloy plates at non-bearing areas instead of using steel plates is mainly due to its light weight. However, aluminum alloy features very poor weldability, so it is usually fastened with fasteners. For example, dual screws and weld nuts are generally used to fasten door hinges and body sheet metal in order to ensure the safety of passengers during car collision or rollover and prevent those fastened areas from deformation in accidents. When it comes to fastening, the issue of electrolytic corrosion due to the use of two types of different sheet metal must be taken into consideration. -General thread connection: 1. Connection without nuts- bolts or screws can be used to fasten directly if sheet metal is thicker or only blind holes can be drilled; 2. Connection with nuts- Weld bolts or weld studs can be used. Weld bolts or studs onto sheet metal first, install mating parts, and fasten with general nuts.

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Industry Focus -While adopting general thread c on n e c t ion , t he a n t i-lo ose n i ng of t h r e a d s m u st b e t a k e n i n t o consideration. There are two basic methods to ensure the anti-loosening of threads, which are preload control and pre-applied thread sealants.

Application of Highstrength Bolts and Heatresistant Bolts Currently, Chinese new energy powered vehicles manufacturers usually use highstrength bolts of Gr. 8.8/9.8/10.9 or even Gr. 12.9 (1,200 Mpa) in 10B33, SCr440(40Cr), SCM435(35CrMo) and SCM440. Under the trend of manufacturing more lightweight vehicles, manufacturers are continuously required to enhance the efficiency of power systems on one hand, and face stricter emission regulations on the other hand. Without doubts, high efficiency of power systems will result in higher pressure, temperature, and load, while stricter emission regulations also require less weight and internal friction. In terms of design of bolts and studs used on new energy powered vehicles, designers not only have to consider the dimensions, materials, tolerances, and mechanical properties of bolts, but also have to fully consider in which environment the bolts will be used (e.g., high / low temperature, vibration, corrosion, etc.). The exhaust emission system has been always a thorny problem to the R&D of various car manufacturers due to the uniqueness of the environment where it is installed and the problem confronted in sealing connecting parts, so high-strength bolts and heatresistant bolts were developed. In response to the increasing demand for domestically produced heat-resistant automotive steel fasteners, China Society of Automotive Engineers has formulated T/CSAE99-2019 (Technical Conditions of Heat-resistant Steel for Automotive F a s t e n e r s) a n d T / C S A E 1 3 6 - 2 0 2 0 (Technical Conditions of Heat-resistant Automotive Fasteners), and China Fastener Standardization Technical Committee has also formulated GB/T3098.24-2020 (Mecha nical P roper ties of FastenersHeat-resistant Stainless Steel and Nickel

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A l loy Bolt s, Sc r ews, St u d s, The commonly used materials for a nd Nuts) and GB/ T3098.252020 (Mechanical Proper ties manufacturing heat-resistant steel of Fasteners- Guideli nes for or nickel alloy fasteners in China are Selection of Stainless Steel and ML06Cr15Ni25Ti2MoAlVB（GH2132）, Nickel Alloy Fasteners). These ML04Cr11Nb, ML41CrMoV, standards mainly include relevant ML21CrMoV, 14Cr17Ni2(1Cr17Ni2) technical requirements for heatand NiCr20TiAl（GH4080A）. resist a nt fast ener mat er ia ls, technical requirements for wire rod and coil, technical conditions for manufacturing heat-resistant fasteners and surface treatments, as well as technical conditions for assembly verification of force performance and torque testing systems, and requirements for marking, packaging, and delivery, which apply to engine fasteners (incl. bolts, dual-head studs, and nuts). The commonly used materials for manufacturing heat-resistant steel or nickel alloy fasteners in China are ML06Cr15Ni25Ti2MoAlVB （GH2132）, ML04Cr11Nb, ML41CrMoV, ML21CrMoV, 14Cr17Ni2(1Cr17Ni2) and NiCr20TiAl（GH4080A）. Although heat-resistant fasteners are usually made of heatresistant materials with a high nickel and chromium content, they still have to be processed with correct heat treatment in order to bring the function of heat-resistant steel into full play. Therefore, heat treatment is a critical process to improve quality, durability, and reliability of heat-resistant steel fasteners. High-strength fasteners can provide higher clamping force, create smaller fastener dimensions, and reduce the total weight. Meanwhile, high-strength fasteners are also favorable to improve heat radiation and friction issues of new energy powered vehicles. Heat-resistant fasteners can be used to solve the problem of fastening failure in a high-temperature environment, as the increasing temperature in the exhaust emission environment of an engine will result in a change in mechanical properties of products, such as reduction in tensile strength and hardness that leads to creep or a change in metallographic structure that leads to fastening failure. All in all, automotive fasteners are comprehensively used in various applications, so the conditions of use and failures differ quite a lot. Hydrogen embrittlement and fatigue failure of automotive fasteners used on new energy powered vehicles are the most common failures which result in the greatest loss. In the entire lifecycle of a car, fasteners are at risk of failure at all times. As a result, Chinese manufacturers should focus on design of fasteners, material selection, forming, heat treatment, surface treatment, assembly, and maintenance to control quality and prevent failure from occurring, which is important for China to improve its fastener manufacturing and application level and the reliability of its car manufacturing.

Industry Focus

2020 in Review on

Chinese Fastener Trade and Electric Vehicle Market by Dean Tseng, Fastener World

| China’s Worldwide Fastener Export up 8.5% Amid the Pandemic According to statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs, the value of fasteners exported from China to the world reached USD 6.97 billion in 2020, up 8.5% from USD 6.41 billion in 2019. China imported USD 2.78 billion worth of fasteners from the world, a minor 1.7% dip from USD 2.83 billion in 2019. The export value plunged 80.4% as a result of the lockdown in February 2020, but in March immediately rebounded to the January level, and peaked at USD 8.16 billion in June, while the import value remained within steady f luctuation. In the third quarter, the export value went back to the January level, and grew further towards the USD 8 billion mark. In regard to China’s fastener export to the U.S., likewise the value plummeted by 80% during the lockdown and sporadically went back to the January level in April, November and December, while the import value remained within steady fluctuation. Overall, despite the impact from both the pandemic and the U.S./China tension, the rebound in China’s fastener trade remains strong. Furthermore, the world’s demand for China’s fasteners increased instead (Fig. 1), and therefore the prospect for China’s fastener export in 2021 is still expectable.

| Decelerated Growth in Chinese Automotive Market Expected to Continue This Year T he sa les f ig u res for 7 major Ch i nese automakers are presented in Figure 2. It is little effort to find their figures f luctuate with the development of the pandemic. Particularly in February 2020 when the pandemic in China peaked, over 80 percent drop in production and sales appeared in five out of the seven automakers. An apparent reduction in drop margin occurred in March on each of the said automakers. The figures basically went upwards starting in April. In May, most of the said automakers have restored sales to the January level and gone from negative to positive growth. Among them, FOTON’s sales in May 2020 was higher by one fold than the sales in May 2019, and Chang'an Automobile saw 50% month-on-month sales growth. Between May and the yearend, the sales slightly fluctuated with the pandemic but did not impede the gradual growth trend. In December, most of the said automakers had sales higher than the January level.

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As long as no more massive lockdown will be announced in China in the foreseeable future, the Chinese automotive market will continue its gradual restoration. However, we cannot overlook the winter in 2020 and spring in 2021 when global positive tested cases and death tolls accelerated at a record speed. The Chinese automotive market growth slowed in around 2018 (Fig. 3) and was met with the pandemic in 2020. It is a long way for China to achieve production and sales surge in 2021, but slower recovery is expectable.

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Industry Focus | Electric Vehicles Propelled by the Pandemic to be on a High-speed Growth Track in China and the World Chinese electric vehicle production and sales will grow at a high speed in 2021 and could breach 2 million vehicles. China produced 167 thousand vehicles (up 69.7%) and sold 160 thousand vehicles (up 104.5%) in October 2020, setting new records the fourth time. China announced the “Automotive Industry Development Plan (2021-2016)” in November 2020. The goal was to have electric vehicle sales take up 20% of new car sales and elevate the core technology of electric vehicles to the international level around the world. The number of delivery for four electric vehicle makers in China, including NIO, Li Auto, XPeng and Leap Motor are shown in Fig.4. Even though electric vehicle sales plunged in February where the lockdown took place, in a f ull-yea r perspective, electric vehicles were hardly affected by the pandemic and went steadily upwards. NIO, Li Auto, XPeng and Leap Motor grew 5 folds in car delivery during the whole year. Leap Motor grew nearly 70% from May to the yearend. In 2018 to 2020 (Fig. 5), the said electric vehicle makers’ delivery grew by folds, showing that the Chinese electric vehicle market was just about to turn around for the better under the pandemic. With Tesla's founder Elon Musk rising as the richest man in the world this January, it is not a far-fetched pipe dream to envisage the next 5 to 10 years as the heyday of the electric vehicle industry. In the 5 years from 2016 to 2020 (Fig. 6), Tesla’s sales went from 15 to 18 thousand vehicles, up 12 folds. The first surge began in the first quarter of 2018, breaching the 30 thousand mark, and through the 100 thousand mark for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2019. The second surge occurred in the third quarter of 2020, followed by another record peak in the fourth quarter, reaching 180 thousand vehicles. In the whole year of 2020, Tesla produced 509 thousand vehicles and delivered 499 thousand vehicles, barely reaching the 500 thousand target range set by Musk. The world’s electric vehicle market share increased nearly 3 percent in the last 5 years. The sales increased from 800 thousand vehicles in 2016 to 2.28 million vehicles in 2020, up 185%. With Tesla’s plant in China, China’s supportive policy, and the emergence of multiple electric vehicle startups in China, the largest and most evident growth market of electric vehicles is China. The U.S and Europe are growing steadily year by year, and Japan is relatively at the starting point. At the writing of this article, respective country's electric vehicle sales figures for 2020 had yet to come up. Despite the pandemic disruption, NIO, Li Auto, XPeng and Leap Motor still have robust sales momentum and Tesla the electric vehicle frontrunner’s sales grows 12 times in five years. The electric vehicle sales from 2020 onwards still look promising.

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Industry Focus

| A New Target for the Fastener Industry: Electric Vehicles Among all the automotive components, those being the heaviest are battery sets, motors, transmissions, which are critical in electric vehicle development with the goal of reducing the weight of heavy components and extending service life through groundbreaking designs. In this way, future ideal electric vehicles will be eco-friendly, fuel-free, and more importantly, no longer need to go under maintenance at an automotive body shop. Fasteners as a critical automotive component must be lighter, used in a fewer amount, priced higher, and more durable to be in line with electric vehicle development. The future electric vehicles will use the following critical types of fasteners: •

Fasteners with electrically isolating coatings

•

Lightweight non-magnetic fasteners

•

Battery retention bolts

Table 1. Tesla’s Production and Sales Figures in 2016 to 2020 (Unit: Vehicles) Year

Manufacturing Output

Delivery

2016

83,922

75,900

2017

101,027

103,100

2018

254,530

244,900

2019

365,284

367,200

2020

509,737

499,000

• Sheet metal fasteners •

Thread-forming screws for plastics and metals

• Security fasteners Furthermore, the future electric vehicles’ battery design will go from graphite-based to lithium-based, and even further upwards to surpass lithium batteries, which could affect future automotive fastener design. All traces signify that electric vehicles have become more acceptable to the public, so to speak. Fastener companies must catch up with new trends under the pandemic, and pre-deploy product development for the electric vehicle fastener market to get a head start as the booming of electric vehicles comes.

The material used for electric vehicle batteries will go from graphite-based to lithium-based, emphasizing on energy density, environmental benignity, and safety.

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Industry Focus

Next World’s Factory?

What is the Future for Indian Fastener Industry? by Shervin Shahidi Hamedani

| The World’s Factory China rose to the "World's Factory" within the last 40 years. This growth initiated when Deng Xiaoping, former president of China, ordered an economic reform in the late 1970s and presented the concept of a free market to China for the first time, which earned him the reputation as the "Architect of Modern China". A combination of relaxed state regulations and access to the world's largest, youngest, workforce in the world made China the impeccable place to outsource global manufacturing. Low labour cost, strong business ecosystem, lack of regulatory compliance, low taxes and duties, and easy access to fast growing consumer populations in Southeast Asia made China one of the most beneficial and productive business hubs in the world. It quickly surpassed the United States in 2011 to become the world's largest manufacturer driving growth in the nation's GDP by 40% and accounted for almost 30 percent of the global manufacturing output in 2018.

Despite the fact that Chinese manufacturing has dominated the rest of the world over the last twenty years, manufacturing is leaving China, and the mature point in China's exponential growth curve headed to a few unexpected circumstances. The cost of finished goods and pace of production and delivery, at which China was able to deliver, has started to slow down as the country's population grew and its presence on a global stage drew attention around environmental and wage regulations. More importantly, specialization has caused labour rates up in recent years. In addition to what was mentioned, Chinese manufacturing and its economic productivity got hit by what can only be described as "A Perfect Storm" of incidents, in the last few years. A combination of old issues and new challenges, such as China - United States trade war and increased geopolitical tensions as well as the recent Covid-19 Pandemic, all lead to a mass departure from Chinese manufacturing, and initiated the start of the downfall of the country's manufacturing dominance. Analysis reports that Chinese global export has been estimated to drop by USD5 billion since the tariffs were first implemented.

| Next World’s Factory Manufacturing has emerged as one of the high growth sectors in India. India is projected to be the world's third-largest automotive market in terms of volume by 2026. Based on the recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute, it is expected that companies will shift one quarter of their global product sourcing from China to other countries in the next five years. In this uncertain trade environment, a growing number of countries are hopeful that they could replace China as the world’s next major manufacturing hub. Now the question is, which country will be the next world’s factory? Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico or maybe a country from Africa? Vietnam, for instance, has been one of the major beneficiaries of the US-China trade war, attracting much of the manufacturing capacity that China lost, but this is not the only factor to become the World’s Factory. To answer this question, first we need to know the key objectives for companies who are willing to expand their new manufacturing bases. New market opportunities, proximity to existing accounts, talent availability, educational infrastructure, business disruption risk and state technology advances are the main objectives which brand owners look for when planning to expand and optimize their factories. As a result, given the proximity to an inflating population base and relatively lower wage rates, India and Southeast Asia still remain lucrative opportunities for those brands looking to outsource manufacturing.

Sources:

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The Exodus of Chinese Manufacturing: Shutting Down 'The World's Factory', by Forbes Top 5 Countries Poised to Become the World’s Next Manufacturing Hub, by World Finance Coronavirus: Can India replace China as world's factory? by BBC Fastener Market in India, by Fastener Eurasia

Industry Focus | India Can Replace China as World's Factory

| Indian Fastener

India, China’s neighbour, a global giant with a fast expanding consumer base and strong manufacturing know-how background, is making a serious effort to (re)gain the world exporter hub. China's weakened global position is a great opportunity for India to attract more investment, as this country already has massive auto, food, and apparel manufacturing bases. Pharmaceutical companies are also turning towards Indian manufacturers for a more reliable production base.

Asia-Pacif ic has been k nown as the la rgest industrial fastener market for several years, accounting for a major share of the fasteners manufactured globally. The main reason for this growth, more specif ically, in India, der ived f rom the several construction initiatives and activities as well as growing automobile manufacturing.

Recently, India has significantly increased efforts to attract manufacturing investments into the country. The new initiative of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, “Make in India” is intended to help the country replace China as a global manufacturing hub. The base of this plan comprises inspiring the world’s biggest smartphone brands to make their products in India. The northern state of Uttar Pradesh, with the population as large as Brazil, has formed an economic task force to invite manufacturers who are keen to leave China supported by a pool of land twice the size of Luxembourg. Despite all those opportunities and initiatives, India is still blamed because of its severe regulatory environment and restrictions.

Due to various applications of fasteners in diverse sectors, a wide range of fasteners are manufactured in the Indian market, which include exhaust bolts, balance wheel bolts, standard hexagon screws/bolts, socket head cap screws, socket shoulder screws, weld nuts, square nuts, hexagon nuts, self-tapping screws and others. Again, with the support of Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Indian manufacturing sector is expected to generate a huge demand for the industrial fasteners ma rket in the new f uture. The Indian industrial fasteners market is expected to reach a value of 6.3 billion USD by 2023.

The Indian automotive sector is expected to be the largest consumer of industrial fasteners, accounting for a major share of the market by 2023. This will be owing to increased automotive manufacturing in the country. Increasing sales of automobiles in India are considerably driving the growth of the automotive aftermarket in the country, including automobile sector-specific fasteners. In the future, the development of fasteners applications for manufacturing automotive parts such as engines, chassis, moulding, suspension systems and wheels among others, is anticipated to drive the growth of the Indian industrial fasteners market followed by the construction and the engineering sectors. High-tensile fasteners are mainly used in the construction and engineering sectors, whereas mild steel fasteners are used in manufacturing automobiles. Currently, there has been a shift in preference of manufacturing fasteners by using stainless steel, iron, brass, aluminium, nickel, plastics and composites while this shift is expected to continue in the future.

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Technology

Is Human Intelligence the Undoubted Originator of Screw Connections?

by Jozef Dominik

Contrary to historians' opinions, the bolt and nut do not appear to be the product of the human brain. Characteristic detail of the screw – thread – is namely an autochthonous geometric element which has existed in nature since time immemorial. Even according to New Scientist, beetles are the creatures with a body mechanism working on the principle of a screw and a nut. This mechanism was first discovered in the beetle Trigonopterus oblongus (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Biological screw in a beetle’s leg; source from Wikipedia

Further evidence for the existence of a spiral without human intervention is the galaxies for example (Fig. 2). And, you could continue with a snail shell, various kinds of climbing plants, etc. However, human intelligence was applied because it was able to use this geometric element to its advantage. It would be a shame not to take such an opportunity. The result is currently perhaps the most widespread structural element - the screw. The first originator is generally attributed to Arsytas of Tarentum (about 428 BC), Archimedes (about 287 BC) or Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519). But the greatest development occurred in the 18th century during the technical revolution. Without screws, industrial revolution would not be possible, because all the machines would disintegrate into individual parts of which they were assembled. The screws enabled the rapid development of road (Fig. 5) and rail transport (Fig. 6), too.

Fig. 3. Guttenberg Movable-type Printing

Fig. 2. Milky way; source from Wikipedia The first industrial screws were made of wood (Fig. 7). At present, it is steel with a strength of 800 - 1400N/ mm 2, stainless steel with high corrosion resistance and at the same time high mecha n ica l proper ties (ma r tensitic stainless steel), brass, Cu and aluminum. Ti alloys are used for special purposes. Hen r y Maudslay (1771 – 1831), Joseph Whitworth (1803 - 1887), William Sellers (1827 – 1905) and many unnamed pioneers have contributed to the fact that screw, based on the spiral is currently one of the most common elements used in construction and machine design to

Fig. 4. Ford Car

Fig. 5. Watt Steam Engine

Fig. 6. Rail Transport

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Technology prevent loosening. Despite many attempts, the screw can still not be replaced equally.

Fig. 7. Screws made of wood

Fig. 8

An interesting overview of this is provided by the Museum Würth, Schrauben und Gewinde. We will learn from it, for example, about the bold applications of threaded elements in medicine, the armaments industry, architecture, fine mechanics, optics, etc. However, a screw won't be a screw if there is no other natural property of the material – friction. This also exists without the will of man. We can enlarge or reduce it, but can not cancel it because it is a natural property of the surface. Here, it is necessary to recall the well-known screwdriving paradox, which lies in the opposite meaning of friction during assembly and operation. While minimal friction is required during assembly, the opposite is true in operating conditions. Here, high friction is required to prevent the screw connection from loosening. Although there are many solutions to deal with this paradox (Fig. 8), it cannot be said that everything is in order. Cases of accidents involving machinery, various equipment and means of transport are proofs of this. The nature will no longer help here. Or is it? Fig. 9 is an example where corrosion prevents spontaneous loosening of all wheel nuts.

Conclusion:

Of course, such a screw locking system cannot be used in common pr a ct ic e. O n ly t he US Nav y ha s a patented met hod of a r tificially corroding some nuts and bolts.

Fig. 9. Wheel nuts

No matter what their origin is, screw connections are still an irreplaceable component and there is no indication that this should change in the near future.

The way of stressing in operating conditions ranks screws among the most complex cases of strength, thus discouraging many young engineers from demanding study. There is a danger that there will be no one to continue research and development of screw connections. That is why the author tries to popularize this topic by including it on the UNESCO list. The screws deserve it.

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Industry Focus

Analysis of Fastener Trade Between USA and ASEAN by Shervin Shahidi Hamedani

Introduction

Fastener Trade

Industrial fasteners are a part of the foundation of the U.S. industrial sector. Fasteners can be found in a vast range of applications and almost every single machine or construction project incorporates them to a certain degree. The U.S. fastener industry constitutes a multi-billion-dollar segment of the economy. It has a great number of diverse businesses centered around the main buyers of fastener products, including the automotive, construction, aerospace, maritime and military sectors.

The U.S. plays a major role in the international trade system and is generally seen as a supporter of reduced trade barriers and free trade agreements. The United States currently has more than a dozen free trade agreements in place. The U.S. is the second leading exporter of goods and services in the world and the number one leading importer. The U.S. is a major manufacturer of fastener products with the presence of its globally known brands. Expectedly, the country is involved in high volume import and export trading in the international market. The import partners for the country include China, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, France, and India.

In this article we look into fastener trade relations between the U.S. and ASEAN. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It was established in 1967 among five of these countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines) to facilitate trade and economic growth, as well as promote cultural development and social structures in the region. To date, they have been joined by another five nations.

On the other hand, in 2020, the estimated total GDP of all ASEAN states recorded about USD3.11 trillion with a substantial increase from the previous years. In fact, the GDP of the ASEAN region has risen steeply for a few years, showing the region’s thriving economy. In terms of fasteners, Thailand is the largest fastener market and the major exporter in ASEAN. The local manufacturers can support domestic needs while exporting their products to the global market.

In terms of industrial fasteners, the ASEAN market size is expected to continue its growth in the future. Rising product demand as an integral bonding component for manufacturing vehicles, home appliances, industrial machinery, and aerospace structures is likely to drive industrial growth in ASEAN. Infrastructure improvement in emerging economies in this region is likely to drive demand for industrial fasteners. Economic growth and rapid industrialization in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand are anticipated to stimulate investments for construction and because of that are expected to enlarge the industrial fastener market.

In this region, Indonesia is a leading destination market for fastener exporters. The country exports more expensive and high quality fasteners compared with other countries in the region. In some points in Indonesia’s trade statistics, the country has exported fasteners with the price almost twice as high as other ASEAN products. This could prove that fastener industries in Indonesia are the most developed in the region, while countries like Thailand are only good at manufacturing standard fasteners and still require high-tech and specialised fasteners to be imported heavily.

ASEAN-US Trade Relations The United States has a healthy and steady trade and investment relationship with the ASEAN. These countries together are the fourthlargest trading partner with the U.S. in 2019, ASEAN was the United States' 10th largest goods export market with the value of USD86.1 billion. In terms of imports, in 2019, ASEAN was the United States' 8th largest supplier of goods. ASEAN members, exported about USD206.3 billion to the U.S. market in that year. That amount of imports accounted for 8.3% of overall U.S. imports in 2019. Fastener World no.187/2021

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Industry Focus In terms of fastener trade, the U.S. market is a major destination for Asian fastener products from China and Taiwan, but not really for ASEAN exporters. In 2019, China by itself exported more than USD1.2 billion worth of fasteners to the U.S. market which was far beyond the total exports value from ASEAN which was only about USD200 million.

Chart 1.

Chart 1. shows that ASEAN’s fastener export value to the U.S. market is considerably small compared with other countries’. Similarly, the total value of exports from ASEAN to the U.S. is significantly lesser than their total exports to global market. However, the trend exhibits the growth of exports between 2017 and 2019. This trend is expected to continue its growth in the future.

In the first quarter of year 20 20, ASE A N ma nu fact u rer s exported more than USD49 million wor th of fasteners to the U.S. market. This amount shows a 10% growth compared with the last quarter of 2019 when the value of exports was about USD45.2 million. With no doubt, the current pandemic situation has slowed down the exports growth, but it is expected to get back on its track. Table 1. exhibits quarterly fastener export values (USD in millions) from ASEAN to the U.S. market.

If we compare the import and export values of fasteners between the U.S. and ASEAN from 2017 to 2019, there is some sort of trade balance between these two markets. Although there has been a trade deficit for the U.S., the amount is not so substantial and it seems the trade deficit is getting narrower. As is shown in the Chart 2, the U.S. has shipped more than USD183 million worth of fasteners to ASEAN market and in the same year (as stated in the previous chart) the country has imported about USD199.5 million worth of fasteners from ASEAN manufacturers. As a result, there is a USD16.5 million trade deficit in 2019 which is smaller than USD18.6 million in 2018 and USD32.7 million in 2017. That is, the U.S. fastener trade deficit with ASEAN has been reduced by 50% from 2017 to 2019. The U.S. export value to the ASEAN market has increased in last few years, but the value reduced drastically as a result of the cur rent Covid-19 pandemic. As stated in Table 2, there has been a slight change in the export value in Q1 2020 compared with Q4 2019, but by the spread of Covid-19 in the U.S., the export value reduced meaningfully quarter by quarter. Table 2 shows quarterly fastener export values (USD in millions) from the U.S. to ASEAN.

Table 1. Quarterly Fastener Export Values

from ASEAN to the U.S.

(unit: 1,000 USD)

Value in 2019-Q4

Value in 2020-Q1

Value in 2020-Q2

Value in 2020-Q3

45.20

49.42

46.97

48.11

Chart 2.

Table 2. Quarterly Fastener Export Values (unit: 1,000 USD) from the U.S. to ASEAN

Value in 2019-Q4

Value in 2020-Q1

Value in 2020-Q2

Value in 2020-Q3

45.44

45.23

30.74

26.52

In summary, we need to highlight that the U.S. – ASEAN trade relationship is critical for the both sides. Collectively, ASEAN is expected to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2050 and is already the fourth largest export market for the United States, supporting hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs. The trade relations between the U.S. and ASEAN economies are highly complementary, generating significant and extensive benefits for both sides.

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Sources: Oﬃce of the United States Trade Representative Trade Map, trade statistics for international business development

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Industry Focus by

Behrooz Lotﬁan

Analysis of

Fastener Trade Between the EU and ASEAN Exported Fasteners from the EU to ASEAN

This article will explore 12 main countries in two regions. The selected count r ies in ASEAN are: Thailand, Singapore Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines. The selected countries in the EU are: Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland and UK. Although UK is not an EU member anymore, its numbers are mentioned in this study.

The export value of EU countries to ASEAN was equal to 84.77 million USD in the 3rd quarter of 2020. The export value of EU countries to the world was 3,687 million USD in the same period of time. Therefore, only 2% of EU’s exported fasteners were dispatched to ASEAN. On the other hand, the export value of ASEAN countries to the EU was equal to 279.82 million USD in the 3rd quarter of 2020. The export value of ASEAN countries to the world was 859.06 million USD in the same period. Hence, 33% of ASEAN’s exported fasteners were bought by EU’s consumers. The above numbers reveal that the EU is a main market for ASEAN’s fastener producers. However, ASEAN is not a considerable market for EU’s exported fasteners. The following table demonstrates the type of fasteners which EU countries exported to ASEAN:

ASEAN Import from Categories 731811 731815

Italy

Germany

France

Netherlands

Switzerland

Total

614

19,313

19,936

2,020

7,874

1,293

2,379

1,174

3,458

18,198

731812

175

13,931

14,172

731813

7,018

7,146

731814

889

171

564

3,770

5,456

731819

218

1,036

173

156

2,227

1,451

5,261 4,987

731816

177

1,671

358

394

2,290

731829

1,425

743

371

432

238

3,264

731821

825

216

1,144

2,281

731822

771

134

179

757

1,948

731824

190

141

143

616

1,207

731823 Total

140

711

915

2,771

15,517

2,962

4,124

4,700

54,697

84,771

The numbers are for the 3rd quarter of 2020 and in thousand USD

The noteworthy points in the table above are that:

176

•

UK was the main exporter of fasteners to ASEAN. It accounted for 64.5% of the total EU’s exports to ASEAN. Germany was in the second place representing 18.3% of the total EU exports to ASEAN.

•

HS Code 731811 was the main fastener category ASEAN consumers purchased from the EU. 23.5% of their total imports were in this category. HS Code 731815 ranked the second, and its share in the total imports was 21.5%. HS Code 731812 representing a share of 16.7% was at the third place. Fastener World no.187/2021

Industry Focus Bangkok Post reported on 26 Oct 2020, “the United Kingdom has maintained strong and warm ties with ASEAN ever since the regional block was formed in 1967. This longstanding economic partnership has allowed bilateral trade in goods and services to reach approximately £42 billion today. In light of the huge impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the world, the UK and ASEAN have agreed on the importance of economic cooperation and unity to mitigate the economic consequences of the pandemic. Britain is now seeking to become one of ASEAN's trusted dialogue partners, which will allow its representatives to appear at ASEAN ministerial meetings and summits. Its participation would further enhance economic and social collaboration.” The above numbers prove the close relationship between ASEAN and UK. Germany based on the power of “Made in Germany” has a small share in this market and the rest of EU countries have nothing to do in this market.

New Opportunity HS Code 731811 is known as “coach screws”. These screws are primarily used for holding heavy timber together, fixing metal to timber and in some cases masonry or concrete. ASEAN market is expected to grow at 7.5% in the construction sector, compared to the global growth of 3% over the same period by 2021, which means the value of the construction market will have $250 billion worth of new opportunities and which means these buildings need new building and construction materials like fasteners uder HS Code 731811.

Exported Fasteners from ASEAN to the EU The following table shows that the main supplier of EU’s fasteners imported from ASEAN was Vietnam. EU consumers had 2% of their needs satisfied through ASEAN and 76.5% of their fasteners imported from ASEAN were provided by Vietnam. EU Import from Categories 731811

Thailand

Malaysia

520

556

653

31,852

32,685

731812

Singapore

Indonesia

Vietnam

Philippines

Total

731813

1,290

1,314

731814

488

147

21,307

22,012

731815

16,319

10,138

4,523

8,460

154,317

7,533

201,290

731816

1,040

2,308

329

119

863

7,747

12,406

731819

998

332

495

707

2,602

731821

731822

311

2,209

491

3,087

731823

108

731824

895

985

731829

274

325

1,990

2,767

19,412

14,483

5,837

8,644

214,145

17,299

279,820

Total

The numbers are for the 3rd quarter of 2020 and in thousand USD

EU consumers needed 1.4 billion USD worth of fasteners falling within HS Code 731815 quarterly, which they purchased a small amount from ASEAN. The main suppliers of this sector in the EU region were Germany, Italy, China, Taiwan and USA.

Forecasting the Future HS Code 731815 is a fastener category generally used by most industries. Based on Trading Economics statistics, manufacturing with the demand for fasteners such as automotive, aerospace, and home appliances in the EU is expected to grow 4.4% from the last quarter of 2020 by Q1 2021 and is also expected to reach the total growth of 5.2% from the record of 2020 by the end of 2021.

Summary •

It is an opportunity for Vietnamese fastener producers as the main supplier of the EU from ASEAN.

The EU is a main market for ASEAN fasteners, especially for Vietnamese iron or steel threaded screws and bolts not elsewhere classified, whether or not with their nuts or washers.

•

Vietnamese Fasteners

UK is the main fastener exporter to ASEAN and Germany is at the second place.

•

The recent growth of constr uction in ASEAN creates a potential opportunity for EU producers. Likewise, EU’s industrial growth makes an opportunity for ASEAN fastener producers.

•

Based on Vietnamese capability in iron and steel and its low labor cost, Vietnam has an extra opportunity to export inexpensive and high-quality fasteners to the EU.

Vietnamese fastener producers have two big advantages to gain more market share in the EU.

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Labor cost.

Raw materials for fastener manufacturing: The iron and steel industry is growing fast in Vietnam. Since the last decade this industry has grown over 20% each year. Vietnam as the largest consumer and producer of steel in ASEAN is able to make over 16 million tons of steel and over 5 million tons of iron in a year. Fastener World no.187/2021

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Industry Focus

Analysis of

Fastener Trade of Mexico by Sharareh Shahidi Hamedani

exico is the 15th largest economy in the world. The most important trading partner of Mexico is the USA. Mexico has more than 80% of all its goods exported to the United States. The consumption of fasteners in Mexico is rigidly connected to US industrial fastener consumption. The reason for this is that most fasteners produced in Mexico are not for the Mexican market. The majority of finished industrial products assembled in Mexico (automobiles, machinery, building parts, white goods, etc.) are for export and most of the exports are for the North American market. Manufacturing in Mexico is experiencing a measured growth, driven by improving conditions in the domestic economy and an upswing in consumer spending and industrial manufacturing in the U.S., which remains a key export market for cars and automotive products, machinery and intermediate assemblies from Mexico. All those sectors require the use of fasteners; and therefore, the demand from the U.S. makes a significant contribution to Mexican fastener consumption.

An Overview of Mexican Industry Sectors

Monthly Car Production in Mexico from Feb 2020 to Jan 2021 (Unit: Vehicle)

The automotive sector is one of Mexico’s most significant industries. T his sector is divided bet ween t he passenger vehicle sector a nd heavy vehicles for cargo, constr uction and agriculture. Mexico is the sixth largest passenger vehicle manufacturer in the world, producing 3.7 million units of cars annually. However, in 2020, due to the problems caused by the pandemic, this number dropped sharply. Mexico's car output dropped by 15.1 percent year-onyear to 278.7 thousand units in January 2021, following a 18.4 percent jump in the previous month. On the other hand, car production in Mexico is expected to be 310 thousand units by the end of Q1 2021. Mexico is the fifth largest producer of auto parts worldwide, with the production of USD 99 billion in 2019 and USD 57 billion in 2020. It is also the largest export destination for U.S auto parts. 1

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Billion USD1

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total Local Production

Total Exports

62.2

73.5

79.3

27.4

Total Imports

49.1

54.1

55.3

https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/mexico-e-automotive-parts-and-supplies

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Industry Focus Monthly Car Production of the U.S. in 2020

Mexico’s auto parts industry experienced a much tougher condition in 2020, as the US auto industry was hard hit. View the following statistics. Due to the pandemic, car production in the United States has decreased to 2.03 million units in December 2020 compared to 2.25 million units in November 2020; and therefore, car production in the United States is expected to be 2.80 million units by the end of Q1 2021. Meanwhile, Mexico is the sixth largest manufacturer of heav yduty vehicles for cargo, and it is the world’s largest tractor truck exporter, accounting for most of the heavy-duty vehicle exports to the United States. It is also the fourth largest exporter of heavy-duty vehicles for cargo and the second largest export market for U.S. heavy-duty trucks. The value of Mexico’s exported heavy-duty vehicles was 13.1 billion USD in 2019 and 13.0 billion USD in 2020.

Fastener Trade of Mexico The importance of fasteners can be put into perspective by the fact that these tiny components play a big role in providing support and mobility to equipment and machines. HS Code 7318 is the main code of fasteners. Tally with the fact that Mexico is dealing 80% of its trade with USA, the below tables indicate the U.S. is the main trade partner for Mexico in the fastener sector.

Mexico’s Fastener Export to USA (Unit: 1,000 USD) HS Code

2018-Q4

2019-Q1

2019-Q2

2019-Q3

2019-Q4

2020-Q1

2020-Q2

2020-Q3

Ave.

7318

32,189

31,877

34,468

34,149

31,714

31,665

24,418

29,066

31,193

Quarterly Change

-1.0%

8.1%

-0.9%

-7.1%

-0.2%

-22.9%

19.0%

Mexico’s Fastener Import from USA (Unit: 1,000 USD) HS Code

2018-Q4

2019-Q1

2019-Q2

2019-Q3

2019-Q4

2020-Q1

2020-Q2

2020-Q3

Ave.

7318

366,629

395,605

394,136

388,162

350,671

362,244

176,701

327,120

345,158.5

Quarterly Change

7.9%

-0.4%

-1.5%

-9.7%

3.3%

-51.2%

85.1%

The left graph demonstrates the signs of improving fastener market conditions in Mexico.

0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0

2018-Q4

2019-Q1

2019-Q2

2019-Q3

2019-Q4

-0.2 -0.4 -0.6

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Export

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Import

2020-Q1

2020-Q2

2020-Q3

Industry Focus Future of Mexico’s Fastener Trade Due to the amount of fastener consumption in the car industry, the fluctuations of this market are mostly interconnected to the fluctuations of the car market. According to Trading Economics report, in the long-term, the average monthly car production of Mexico is projected to reach around 360 thousand units in 2022 and 370 thousand units in 2023. Trading Economics also reports in the long-term, the average monthly car production of the U.S. is projected to reach around 2.50 million units in 2022 and 2.80 million units in 2023. Furthermore, the following table illustrates variations of the trade values of two main automotive fastener categories. Unit: 1,000 USD

Mexico's Fastener Export to USA 2018-Q4

2019-Q1

2019-Q2

2019-Q3

2019-Q4

2020-Q1

2020-Q2

2020-Q3

HS code 731815

18,762

19,136

20,154

20,085

18,069

18,346

14,147

18,159

Quarterly Change

1.99%

5.32%

(0.34%)

(10.04%)

1.53%

(22.89%)

28.36%

HS code 731816

7,040

6,987

8,460

8,447

7,717

8,878

6,919

5,793

Quarterly Change

(0.75%)

21.08%

(0.15%)

(8.64%)

15.04%

(22.07%) (16.27%)

Mexico's Fastener Import from USA 2018-Q4

2019-Q1

2019-Q2

2019-Q3

2019-Q4

2020-Q1

2020-Q2

2020-Q3

HS code 731815

194,350

208,105

199,756

201,152

193,118

186,510

87,827

169,510

Quarterly Change

7.08%

(4.01%)

0.70%

(3.99%)

(3.42%)

(52.91%)

93.00%

HS code 731816

61,939

65,176

67,798

66,940

58,196

61,185

31,235

60,809

Quarterly Change

5.23%

4.02%

(1.27%)

(13.06%)

5.14%

(48.95%)

94.68%

Meanwhile, in the third quarter of 2020, the import of fasteners from the United States was on the rise, but the export was on the decline, which is in line with the projection of an increase in the Mexican car market and a decreasing demand in the U.S. market.

Summary Given all the above-mentioned assumptions, a moderate growth of the fastener market is expected in Mexico for the reason that Mexico’s industrial fastener consumption has two crucial characteristics. Firstly, industrial fasteners used in Mexico, regardless of where they're sourced, have a good chance of finding their way into the American Market. 83% of Mexico's manufacturing output is produced for export to North America (80% to the U.S. and 3% to Canada). Every major auto manufacturer has made a significant investment in Mexico. Business relationships in Mexico can serve to create a presence in the growing American market but can also be a platform to reach additional US-based opportunities. Additionally, Mexico remains one of the most strategic markets with opportunities to reach North America. The second one refers to the strong cultural attitude in Mexico that promotes sourcing fasteners from local suppliers. They supply the shortage of domestic production from abroad. Consequently, the largest U.S. manufacturers have local Mexican facilities, but as demand grows, Mexican owned companies and facilities continue to be added.

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Compiled by Fastener World

American News 》》Tariffs On Chinese Fasteners To Continue U.S. President Joe Biden intends to keep import tariffs on China in place early in his presidency, saying the U.S. needs more leverage against “abusive” trade practices, MarketWatch reports. “I’m not going to make any immediate moves, and the same applies to the tariffs,” Biden told New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. “I’m not going to prejudice my options.” Biden said he will try to build an allied front against China’s unfair trade practices, while also trying to improve diplomatic ties with China by toning down the harsh rhetoric used by former President Donald Trump.

Du r i ng a 2019 I nter national Fastener Expo conference, attorney Richard Wortman said 301 tariffs were likely to linger even if a new president was elected in the U.S. The tariffs have become federal government income without being called a “tax,” he noted. “It is going to take a while for tariffs to go away.” The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) list includes: 7318.11.00 - Iron or steel, coach screws 7318.12.00 - Iron or steel, wood screws (o/than coach screws) 7318.13.00 - Iron or steel, screw hooks and screw rings 7318.14.10 - Iron or steel, self-tapping screws, w/ shanks or threads less than 6 mm in diameter 7318.14.50 - Iron or steel, self-tapping screws, w/ shanks or threads 6 mm or more in diameter 7318.15.20 - Iron or steel, bolts and bolts & their nuts or washers, imported in the same shipment 7318.15.40 - Iron or steel, machine screws (o/ than cap screws), 9.5 mm or more in length and 3.2 mm in diameter 7318.15.50 - Iron or steel, threaded studs 7318.15.60 - Iron or steel, screws and bolts, nesoi, having shanks or threads less than 6 mm in diameter

Analysts say that by teaming up with Europe and keeping the Trump tariffs in place, Biden will retain leverage over China, mute Congressional criticism and bolster public support. Trump began imposing import tariffs on Chinese products in 2018, leading to doubledigit tariffs on $370 billion in Chinese goods that set off the biggest U.S. trade war in decades. The tariffs include 25% duties on bolts, screws and other fasteners (HTS subheadings 7318.11.00 to 7318.29.00) manufactured in China and 15% on all Chinese iron and steel nuts (HTS subheading 7318.16.00). The tariffs were issued under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the White House to fight foreign trade policy it deems “unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts United States commerce.” In September, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that Trump’s tariffs on more than $400 billion in Chinese goods violate international trade regulations. “While Trump insists China is bearing the costs of the tariffs, every major study has shown that it’s American customers who are paying the price,” MarketWatch reports. While the 301 tariffs will remain in place for now, a Biden administration could “reduce or suspend import tariffs on steel and aluminum that Trump imposed on a number of countries aside from China on national-security grounds,” according to MarketWatch. Those 232 tariffs hiked costs on industrial products and consumer goods such as autos and appliances.

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7318.15.80 - Iron or steel, screws and bolts, nesoi, having shanks or threads 6 mm or more in diameter 7318.19.00 - Iron or steel, threaded articles similar to screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws & screw hooks, nesoi 7318.21.00 - Iron or steel, spring washers and other lock washers 7318.22.00 - Iron or steel, washers (o/than spring washers and other lock washers) 7318.23.00 - Iron or steel, rivets 7318.24.00 - Iron or steel, cotters and cotter pins 7318.29.00 - Iron or steel, nonthreaded articles similar to rivets, cotters, cotter pins, washers and spring washers

》》Sachs: ‘Perfect Storm’ Creates Container Shortage “ T he cost of t he cont ai ners have i ncreased dramatically over the past 12 months,” Bob Sachs of XL Screw said. The shortage is due to a “perfect storm” created by a list of reasons for container shortage.

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American News 》》Acquisitions Boost SWK Fastening Sales St a n ley Black & D e cker repor t e d Engineered Fastening organic revenues dropped by 2% in the final quarter of 2020 “as strong automotive fastener growth was offset by an improved, but still declining, general industrial market.” Those results were offset by an 11% revenue increase from the $1.5 billion acquisition of Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing LLC (CAM). Brea, CA-based CAM, which manufactures aerospace fasteners and components, was launched by Tinicum in 2012 as a holding company for eight manufacturing firms active in aerospace component sector. Among CAM’s holdings are Bristol Industries, E.A. Patten, Aerofit, Voss Industries, 3V Fasteners, QRP and Moeller. “The steamship lines are really taking advantage of the situation and they are reportedly making record profits,” Sachs said. “They are very happy.” Reasons for the container shortage include “empty containers sitting all over the world waiting to be shipped back to the Far East. Not enough cargo to be shipped back to the Far East,” Sachs explained. “This creates a lack of container availability to ship back to the USA.” The pandemic also contributes to the container s h o r t a ge: “ B e c a u s e b u si n e s s slowe d d ow n s o dramatically last year, I heard that the companies that make new shipping containers cut way back on their new production,” Sachs noted. “Now they can't keep up with the demand.” Demand for container space had increased toward the end of 2019 with the economies of the world doing well, Sachs pointed out. “Companies needed to replenish their inventories due to improvement of the demand for product worldwide.”

Q4 Industrial segment revenue, including fasteners, grew 10% to $658 million, with profit rising 14.4% to $88.9 million at a rate of 13.5%. Fullyear Industrial segment revenue, including fasteners, declined 3.4% to $2.35 billion, while profit fell 32.5% to $225.6 million at a rate of 9.6%. Consolidated Black & Decker revenue rose 1% to $14.53 billion. Full-year net earnings gained 29% to $1.23 billion.

》》Dyson Opens New Manufacturing & Distribution Location in Texas Dyson Corporation, Painesville, OH, USA, is proud to announce the opening of its newest location in Houston, TX, USA, as of January 2021. This modern facility is the manufacturing location for foundation anchoring products to support the growing wind energy market in the southwest.

PPE products are especially in demand now and “governments are paying a hefty price to the steamship lines to move the PPE cargo.”Sachs termed giving PPE cargo priority “understandable.” Sachs’ fourth reason for the container shortage is steamship lines “cutting way back on their vessel sailings to create a demand on container space thus taking advantage of the situation and being able to raise their prices.” “Shipping costs change daily,” Sachs finds. Also the Chinese New Year “always creates a push for available container space,” Sachs added. Sachs observed “there are so many ships sitting outside the USA West Coast Ports waiting to unload their cargo. This is creating long delays.” All of those reasons combined have “created the Perfect Storm!” Sachs declared. When will the container situation ease? “I have no idea when container availability will improve and when shipping costs will stabilize,” Sachs explained. “There are so many factors created by the Pandemic. These are very unusual times with many unanswered questions.” “In the past, shortage of container space and large increases in shipping costs typically come and go pretty quickly,” Sachs has found. “I am afraid to say...not this time due to the uncertainty of the Pandemic and the trade war with China. You just need to come up to the plate and keep swinging.”

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》》FINdex: Fastenal Sees Highest Share Growth in 2020 The FIN Fastener Stock Index capped a tumultuous 2020 with a double-digit gain in a year that saw global economies grappling with COVID-19. The FINdex increased 10% during the year, lower than the 12.8% rise in stock value by an index of related industrial stocks. Fastener companies with rising share value in 2020 include Dorman Products, Fastenal, Grainger, ITW, Howmet Aerospace, MSC Industrial, Simpson Mfg., Stanley Black & Decker, Tree Island Steel and TriMas. Fastenal achieved the highest stock gain, rising 32.1% during the year. Fastenal reported the decline in fastener sales that began in March due to the pandemic which continued to slow in November, with sales down

American News only 1.7% compared to an 6.9% decrease in the third quarter of 2020. Overall sales at Fastenal increased 6.8% to $441.03 million in November, while daily sales totaled $22.05 million during the month. During the third quarter, Fastenal fastener daily sales fell 6.9% to $431.05 million (30.5% of total sales), including a 6.1% decline in September. Overall Q3 sales increased 2.5% to $1.41 billion, with gross profit down 1.6% to $640.6 million and net earnings rising 3.7% to $221.5 million. Other fastener companies with share gains in 2020 included Dorman Products (up 14.6%); Grainger (up 20.6%); ITW (up 13.5%); MSC Industrial (up 7.5%); Simpson Mfg. (up 16.5%); Stanley Black & Decker (up 7.7%); Tree Island Steel (up 25.7%); and TriMas (up 0.8%). Fastener stocks losing value during 2020 included Carpenter Technology (down 41.5%); Chicago Rivet (down 11.3%); EACO - Disco Industries (down 15.8%); Lawson Products (down 2.2%); Nucor (down 5.4%); and Park Ohio (down 8.1%). In the third quarter, the FINdex gaining a modest 13.2% after rising 26.7% in the second quarter and falling 30.3% in the first quarter. During the first six months of 2020, the FINdex lost 11.5% of its value, compared to a 7.1% decline by an index of related industrial stocks. Carpenter Technology saw its share value decline 54% during the period. During 2019, the FINdex gained 33.7%, besting a 24.4% increase by an index of related industrial stocks. Bisco Industries achieved the highest percentage gain, improving 84% during the year.

》》Cetin Civata and Tata International Partner to Enter the USA Fastener Market Cetin Civata and Tata International have partnered up to jointly develop the USA fastener market. Cetin Civata, as one of Turkey’s leading fastener manufacturers, opened its newest cold heading operation in 1976, producing fasteners for the domestic European market. Through a continued focus on investment and optimization, Cetin’s business continued to grow rapidly. Today nearly 50% of the fasteners produced at its Istanbul, Turkey, facilities are exported, primarily to western Europe and Germany. Cetin Civata produces a wide array of cold headed fasteners for the automotive industry, construction, OEM and industrial distribution sector. With over 800 employees staffing its four vertically integrated operations, Cetin Civata possesses the capacity and technical ability to produce a wide variety of standard and special fasteners. Tata International is a globally operating trading and distribution company. The Metals Division trades and distributes steel and steel-related products through a network of 30 offices. In this partnership, Tata International Metal Americas, with its headquarters in Schaumburg, IL, USA, takes on the fastener’s sales and marketing for the Americas. Tata International combines its global reach and market development experience with Cetin Civata’s cold-heading manufacturing excellence.

John Wolz, Editor of FIN (globalfastenernews.com) Mike McNulty, FTI VP & Editor (www.fastenertech.com)

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European News 》》Container Shortages Impact Fastener Supply Chain A shortage of shipping containers at major global export ports has been seriously impacting fastener availability in the UK and Ireland, the British & Irish Association of Fastener Distributors warns. The crisis is also forcing up container freight costs three-fold and exacerbating other cost drivers to fuel sharp product inflation. Container shortages were the biggest disrupter according to specialist supply chain media The Loadstar on 1st December 2020. That was an assessment echoed by BIAFD importer members, who say they now have major backlogs at factories, which cannot be shipped to the UK and Ireland due to the lack of containers. The CAx, an index of container availability, was at record low levels at the end of 2020. A reading below 0.5 indicates a deficit of containers. For week 49 the reading for Shanghai Port was just 0.03 – compared with 0.53 ten weeks previously, and 0.66 in Week 6 of 2020. The indices for other global – and also European ports – also showed plunging container availability over recent weeks. The container shortages are an indirect consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic. Emerging early from the pandemic, Chinese factories recovered production and recommenced exports to global markets. Export shipments increased ahead of the Chinese National Day holiday in October, further ratcheting during the peak season run-up to Christmas. Containers are collected from port and road or rail freighted to companies. However, return times to ports in all import markets have significantly increased, due to coronavirus-related shortages of vehicles and drivers. Container shortages were also exacerbated by the volumes of personal protection equipment being imported. In November, the UK’s main container port at Felixstowe was said to be storing some 11,000 containers of PPE ordered by the British Government. Many of these containers have now been moved to inland storage points but the containers are unlikely to be released for many months and potentially longer. With finances hit hard by the collapse of global trade, resulting from the pandemic, shipping lines radically tightened capacity on most routes. Lack of capacity and low backhaul profitability has meant cont a i ner s ret u r n i ng to exp or t ma rkets fa r more slowly. More lucrative t ra nspacific routes to American markets have also taken priority for both container ships and containers over European routes. While container manufacturers are reported to have stepped up

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production, output lags well behind demand, and the knowledge that the container market will eventually rebalance is a disincentive to further ramping up output. All the indications are that it will be several months before equilibrium is restored. With backlogs rapidly growing at exporters and an early Chinese New Year putting further pressure on capacity, it looks improbable the situation will return to any level of normality until the end of quarter one 2021. UK and Irish importers have faced additional challenges, due to persistent delays at Felixstowe Port, which have knocked onto other UK ports. Some car riers have applied substantial port congestion surcharges, further adding to importers’ costs. More problematically, some shipping lines are by-passing UK ports to avoid delays, dropping containers at Northern European ports – which typically adds a further two weeks to lead times, placing further pressure on availability. In addition to creating availability challenges, all of these factors are driving major increases in freight costs for importers. BIAFD importers report container freight costs tripling, without factoring in port surcharges or costs of rerouted shipments. This means an effective on-cost to products often well in excess of ten percent. Other inflationary pressures on fastener costs were already becoming evident. Asian steel prices have also increased sharply, with further increases predicted, as supply tightness is compounded by a serious accident in a major Korean steel plant. European steel lead times have also extended sharply, for some wire grades tripling to more than twenty weeks, and steel producers are expected to introduce substantial cost increases early in 2021. The British & Irish Association of Fastener Distributors represents the interests of more than 85 United Kingdom and Ireland fastener importers, wholesalers and distributors.

sales@amproducts.com.tw www.fastener-world.com/en/supplier/a&m

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European News 》》Lederer Takes over NORMTEC Lederer GmbH has announced that it has taken over all shares in NORMTEC Montage- und Befestigungstechnik GmbH from Theo Förch GmbH & Co. KG.

Based in Wuppertal, Germany, NORMTEC has eleven employees and has been successfully selling stainless steel fasteners for seven years. From now on, NORMTEC will join Lederer in pursuing the goal of sustainably strengthening and further developing their position in the market for stainless fasteners. The long-standing employee, and authorised signatory, Sebastian Ovenhausen will take over the management of NORMTEC. NORMTEC will continue to exist as an independent company at its previous location and will continue to operate as part of Lederer GmbH.

》》VVG to Become Honsel

As of 1st January 2021, VVG Befestingungstechnik is now known under the new name HONSEL Distribution GmbH & Co – having fully merged with the Honsel Group. VVG and Honsel have been closely linked for a number of years – working together and sharing many resources. Alexander Siefert, managing director at VVG Befestigungstechnik, explained: “We have experienced very unusual times in the last few months, which has resulted in us changing our focus to what is important for our company’s future. With VVG and Honsel already working closely together, the natural decision was to merge VVG with Honsel so they both operate under the same brand.” Alexander added: “For the customers’ perspective there will be no real changes. The company type and company number will stay the same, as will the VAT and registration numbers. Contracts and/or agreements will remain the same and customers will still contact the same person. By merging the companies we will simply become an even stronger partner for customers when it comes to fastening technology.” Honsel Group has more than 90 years of experience in the development, production and sale of high-quality fasteners and processing solutions.

》》New Improvements for RIV949 The RIV949, a hydropneumatic riveter for rivet nuts from Rivit Srl, has been designed for those sectors where work automation has become necessary, as well as fixed workstations with vertical applications. To increase the fastening possibilities and the mobility of the tool, Rivit has developed solutions that provide the riveter with the necessary support to ensure easy and precise balancing and tool handling. The triple articulated joint arm was already available in the Rivit range, but the new upgrade added supports that allow its use with the riveting tools RIV503, RIV504 and RIV506, both horizontally and vertically. The chrome hardened steel cartesian arm with balancer for RIV949, has been projected with a new a modern concept. Thanks to the movement on recirculating ball bearings, it allows a fast and precise alignment on the holes and high smoothness. Its main advantages include a multidirectional head that allows riveting in any position; great flexibility in extension and rotation; as well as a fluidity of movement and reduction of operator fatigue. The supports for the new arm, both horizontal and vertical, have also been designed to allow its use with RIV503, RIV504 and RIV506 riveting tools. It also has a minimum – maximum radius of 500mm – 850mm, a load range of 2kg – 7kg, as well as a working height range of 200mm – 1,000mm. To ensure maximum mobility, Rivit also proposes a housing workbench for the arms and riveting tools, complete with wheels and lower shelf.

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》》Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2021 Postponed Mack-Brooks Exhibitions has announced the postponement of Fastener Fair Stuttgart, which was scheduled to take place from 18th to 20th May 2021. The 9th edition of the show will now take place from 9th – 11th November 2021. Mack Brooks Exhibitions explains the decision was taken in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and following conversations with all exhibitors and visitors that have taken place over the past weeks and months. Uncertainties around continued travel restrictions were also a contributing factor to this decision due to the truly i nter nationa l cha racter of t he Fastener Fair Stuttgart show.

News provided by: Fastener + Fixing Magazine www.fastenerandfixing.com

European News 》》The Italian Economic Situation in 2020 It has now become normal practice at the end of the year to try to predict what the future may hold. 2020 was a very particular year that will be remembered for one thing – the Coronavirus pandemic. Almost the entire world has been infected by this evil virus which has caused severe negative consequences to public health, the economy and society as a whole. Covid-19 has had a detrimental impact on the market. The reduction and very often total closure of production activities has caused many economic indicators to fall, thus highlighting all the symptoms of a dangerous recession. In Italy, the most economically critical period was recorded in the first four months of 2020, which corresponded to the first lockdown period. An easing of restrictions in the following months led to a promising economic recovery. With the arrival of winter and a resurgence of the virus, new – although less restrictive – lockdown measures were implemented, resulting in a general slowdown in the economy. Let’ take a broader look at the effects of the pandemic on the Italian economy. On 31 October 2020, the Bank of Italy announced that Italy’s public debt, i.e. the debt contracted by the Italian government to meet its own needs to which is added the interest on previous debt, hit an all-time high of 2,587 billion euros. In fact, at the end of 2019, the nation’s public debt amounted to just under 2,420 billion euros. Consequently, the Debt/GDP ratio at the end of 2020 also rose to maximum values (159.9%). However, the debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to fall to around 153.6% in 2021, thanks to a foreseeable recovery in production activities. In 2020, the entire manufacturing sector, in various ways, was affected by the lockdown. After the summer break, characterised by a weak economic recovery, it slipped into a new recessionary phase. According to ISTAT data, the monthly seasonally-adjusted index rose by 0.2% on a cyclical basis only for intermediate goods, which are those goods that can be used only once in the production process. On the other hand, the consumer goods index decreased (-4.0%), which is a logical consequence of the reduced activity in the distribution chain. The indices for energy (-3.6%) and capital goods (-0.6%) were also negative. However, the manufacture of rubber and plastic products (+2.9%) and transport equipment did well, a recovery that compensated for a significant drop recorded in previous months (+9.3%). According to data provided by the European Commission, private consumption in Italy fell by 10.9% in 2020 due to the lockdown, but a recovery of about +7.3% is expected in 2021.

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The collapse in demand for private consumption associated with a widespread st ate of i nsecu r it y is t he cause of a substantial drop in investments of 14.2% wh i c h s h o u l d h oweve r r e b o u n d by around 13.0% in 2021. The contribution of exports, after the large drop in 2020 (-13.0%) should turn positive in 2021, (the forecast is +10.5%) in line with the trend in world trade. In terms of the labour market, unemployment will rise to 11.8% in 2020 and then settle at 10.7% during 2021. At this point, the question is: “What is the forecast of Italy’s socioeconomic situation for the near future?” The famous economist J.K. Galbraith once said: “The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” Perhaps there is too much pessimism in the famous economist’s statement, although there is a grain of truth in it. However, there are mathematical and statistical techniques that can be used to produce reliable economic forecasts. The greatest margin of uncertainty generally lies in numerical forecasting, or rather in quantitative forecasting. Forecasts of economic trends are perhaps more reliable and interesting. In order to have a certain degree of validity and reliability, any type of forecast needs to be periodically revised and recalculated according to the changes that may occur in the variables considered. That said, there is nothing to prevent us from formulating hypothetical forecasts regarding the Italian economic scenario. The pandemic is currently the biggest unknown factor because it has amply shown how it is capable of affecting not only the Italian healthcare industry but also the entire socioeconomic fabric of the country. Right now, the greatest hope lies in the efficacy of the vaccine, but it will take months before the entire population is made safe, so the current state of unease will continue for some time. But will everything go back to normal once the storm has passed? Many people are doubtful. Moralisation of the epidemic and ambitions to reform the capitalist system – writes Alberto Mingardi in an article for “Economia e Politica,”– wager that Covid-19 will leave its mark on us. The pandemic will impoverish us, so we will be able to afford fewer trips, fewer dinners out, and to change our cars less frequently than we want. We will probably be inclined to save more than in the past, as is almost always the case for those who have suffered a very strong shock.” The current state of insecurity in the various social strata can be seen by analysing the main economic indicators such as consumer confidence, which has fallen sharply, and the

European News index of a firm’s propensity to invest, which is negative for the near future. On the other hand, the strong growth in bank savings by citizens is confirmation of a general mood characterised by fear and uncertainty about the future, which is becoming more and more widespread, resulting in a lower propensity to spend. This begs the question: “Is the Italian economy slowly freezing up because of the virus?” It depends on the business sectors. For example, the jobs most affected are those of services (e.g. cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, tourism), clothing, energy and construction, while other sectors appear not to have been affected by the crisis at all. One of the better performing sectors is that of industrial goods, i.e. products that are sold to other companies, which in turn use them in the production of goods they manufacture. According to people operating in this field, in 2020, the performance of their work was very positive, with orders remaining at satisfactory levels, as did the value of turnover. So what are the reasons for this deviation from the national trend? Perhaps it is the replenishment of stocks by customers, which were depleted during the pandemic, or purchases made for fear of a resurgence of the Coronavirus with the consequent suspension of production activities, or it could be the early effects of the Recovery Fund, or the important role played by exports. The truth probably lies in correct marketing actions, which have consciously or unconsciously induced operators in the sector to favour a globalised clientele that has been able to divert its commercial activities from a market in recession to a more effervescent one. The most enlightening case is probably that of Volkswagen which, in 2020, achieved a profit of 10 billion euros, a figure lower than that achieved in 2019, but still higher than expected, thanks to an increase in sales recorded in the second half of 2020. The pull of VW was certainly helped by China, whose strong demand for cars compensated for the downturn VW suffered in the European and US markets, where the pandemic has been and continues to be very active. VW’s suppliers should therefore have felt the effects of the pandemic to a lesser extent. And just like VW, many globalised companies have been able to cushion the impact of the crisis on their suppliers by virtue of their dynamic operations. Undoubtedly, with the pandemic, the manufacturing world finds itself in a difficult situation, which must be tackled with determination. A good entrepreneur is one who knows how to face and overcome moments of difficulty with the appropriate tools, which are mainly: marketing, information, management technique and above all entrepreneurial intuition. In conclusion, these times call for the entrepreneur to be able to react positively to negative situations, in a word: resilience.

by Marco A. Guerritore, Editor in Chief of Italian Fasteners magazine Fastener World no.187/2021

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Russian News 》》The Fixing Union Develops a Standard for Calculation of Anchoring in Masonry Calculation and design of anchors in masonry is an urgent task that occurs, for example, in the design of facade systems of buildings, where the system brackets are attached with anchors to the building base. This leads to the need to develop an appropriate regulatory document that would regulate the procedure for calculating anchors in masonry, and, similarly to the method for calculating anchors in a concrete base, would take into account both the strength and geometric characteristics of the base, as well as the characteristics of anchor fasteners, and also the nature of the effect of the load on this fastener. The development of such a standard is carried out by Association of Manufacturers and Distributors of Fixing Systems (Fixing Union) with the participation of the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (NRU MGSU), taking into account the provisions of the Russian standards (including SP 15.13330 "Stone and reinforced stone structures").

》》NLMK-Ural to Increase Production of High-carbon Wire Rod N LM K-Ura l ( Russia n d ivision of N LM K Group) has expanded its product line. After the modernization of steel-making and rolling facilities, the plant mastered the production of continuously cast steel billets with a cross section of 150x150 mm. Previously, the capabilities of the electric steelmaking shop were limited to the production of billets with a cross section of 125x125 mm. This will allow to expand the assortment of metal products (wire rods, wires, fasteners), as well as improve the quality of existing ones. Thus, the production of one of the most demanded products - high-carbon wire rod - will be increased by 40% per year with a simultaneous i mprovement i n physica l a nd me cha n ica l characteristics.

》》Europartner Offers Multi-fastening Solutions One of the notable novelties of the past 2020 by Europartner Group is a fundamentally new packaging for fasteners. It is multifunctional. Among its advantages are visual presentation of the product, vandal resistance, technical information on the product, Torx bit included, neat storage, ease of reusability. Last December, the nylon fastener plant significantly expanded its production. In 2020, on the basis of the Europartner plant a training center was established. It invites Russian plastic processors by injection molding to attend training courses. The courses are conducted by leading experts in plastic processing, materials science, representatives of suppliers of injection molding machines and peripheral equipment, mold designers.

》》BSW Increased Exports to 13 EU Countries By the end of 2020, BSW exported more than 925 thousand tons of steel products to the European Union market. The greatest growth in consumption last year was demonstrated by Spain, Slovenia and France, where the volume of shipments doubled or more. Countries such as Austria, Ireland, Romania, Poland and Finland provided more than 30% of export growth. The market share of the European Union in the total volume of BSW exports in 2020 exceeded 45 percent. Wire rod, steel wire and structural steel intended for the automotive industry were in great demand. The shipments of the latter have increased significantly compared to the previous year. So, in 2020, the growth rate of exports of structural steel with a diameter of 20 to 80 mm to the EU amounted to more than 150 percent. These products were sold to the EU market for $ 34.5 million. In total, in 2020, BSW exported 2 million tons of steel products to 53 countries. It is worth noting that last spring, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the enterprise faced a decrease in demand, primarily for the products of steel wire workshops. However, since last June, its consumption began to recover and reached its usual level. In general, as of 01.01.2021, stocks of finished products at BSW were equivalent to two days of production.

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》》159 New Products from Severstal-metiz, Oryol Steel Rolling Plant and Volgograd Plant Severstal Kanatov mastered 159 new types of products in 2020. This process involved almost all product areas: wire, calibrated and hot-rolled steel, and fasteners. All new products are developed in cooperation with customers. The product portfolio of the Severstal-metiz in 2020 was replenished with 39 new types of products. One of the significant projects was the launch of a chopped wire shot production. Compared with traditional shots, high-tensile wire shot offers lower consumption, higher abrasion resistance and lower operating costs for customers. Orel Steel Rolling Plant mastered 114 new products in 2020. These are mainly fasteners - up to 85%. Among them are new standard sizes of bolts, nuts, washers, fasteners for the automotive industry and construction.

Alexander Ostashov, editor of "Fasteners, Adhesives, Tools and..." Magazine Mariya Valiakhmetova, editor of "Metiz" Magazine

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Chronicle of Taiwan Fastener Industry

Special Feature

2006年新時光軸

Apr.

4月 >>>

04/03

04/24

UNIPACK set up a new plant in Kaohsiung

WIRE Düsseldorf 德國杜賽道夫線材展

全立發設立高雄新廠

04/24 Hannover Messe 德國漢諾威工業展

May 5月 >>>

05/02

05/09-11

26th Annual National Industrial Fastener Show/ East, USA

National Hardware Show (Las Vegas) USA 美國拉斯維加斯五金展

美國哥倫布斯螺絲展

05/12

05/19-22

A9100 Certification Presenting Ceremony

Taipei International Auto Motorcycle Parts & Accessories Show (AMPA)

航太扣件研發聯盟通過 AS9100國際航太認證

台北國際汽機車零配件展

May Central Taiwan Tour of TFTA 台灣螺絲貿易協會中部工廠參訪

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Special Feature

2006年新時光軸

Jun.

6月 >>>

06/01 Anchor Fasteners celebrated 20th anniversary

06/21-23

安拓二十歲立足台灣放眼全球

第十屆日本東京機械與零配件展

10th Mechanical Components & Materials Technology Expo

06/22-23 EFDA Conference– Stratford-uponAvon 歐洲螺絲經銷商協會大會於英國史特拉福舉行

June DesignBuild Australia

06/30

Jul.

RoHS came effective on July 1st. Seminar on Fastener Trading with Experts’ Instructions

澳洲國際建材設計暨五金展

RoHS風潮 7/1新制上路-螺絲貿易座談會高手指點迷津

7月 >>>

07/13

07/17

07/18

Sansoar opened up a new factory

Gwo Lian new factory inauguration and product launch ceremony

Taiho Tool Mfg. Co., Ltd. held an inauguration ceremony for its new factory

橫跨研發、生產上碩新廠開創貿易新格局

國聯新廠落成見證38年伸線風華

大寶新廠落成

08/31

Aug. 8月 >>>

TFTA & EFDA Symposium of Fastener Market 台灣螺絲貿易協會會員大會暨歐洲螺絲經銷商協會聯誼會

08/23-26

Aug.

The International Woodworking Fair, Atlanta

Topist Enterprise expanded facilities for tapping into multi-stage fastener manufacturing and pre-packed fastener market

美國亞特蘭大木工機械暨家具五金展

高順益擴廠搶攻多沖程螺絲與小包裝市場

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Special Feature

2006年新時光軸

Sep. 9月 >>>

09/08-10

Sep.

Expo Nacional Ferretera

Fastener World Magazine “Issue No. 100” was released

墨西哥瓜達拉哈拉五金展

滙達螺絲世界雙月刊邁入第100期

Sep. Hu Pao’s new factory obtained the TS 16949 certification

Oct.

如保通過TS 16949認證新廠氣勢恢弘

10月 >>>

QST International Corp. new plant was completed 友信新廠落成

10/23 Four Regions Fastener Association Conference 第四屆四地區螺絲協會交流大會

Nov. 11月 >>>

Nov. New plant of Chien Tsai was completed in Gangshan 鍵財岡山新廠落成

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Nov.

Min Jui Automation developed new NS-100 optical nut screening machines

Lins Air Tools Enterprise aims at international markets with its automatic screw feeder

敏銳自動化創新NS-100 型邁向螺帽分檢新紀元

螺絲自動供給鎖緊機政茂瞄準國際市場

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Brazilian News 》》Brazilian Fastener Trade - 2020 in Summary In 2020 the fastener export and import of Brazil generated US$ 636.13 million in value and 130,989.11 tons in volume respectively. This result was 22.01% less than the US$ 815.58 million and 14.67% less than the 153,499.58 tons recorded in 2019. No surprise about the drop due to the pandemic. It is also not surprising that the fastener import is predominant over the fastener export in Brazil. In 2020, the share of imported fasteners was 78.50% in the total value (US$ 499.27 million) and 79.43% in the total volume (104,052.1 tons). In 2019 it was 76.22% in the total value (US$ 621.65 million) and 80.74% in the total volume (123,923 tons). The share of Brazilian fastener export in 2020 was 21.50% in the total value (US$ 136.86 million) and 20.57% in the total volume (26,937.01 tons). In 2019 the result was 23.78% in the total value (US$ 193.93 million) and 23.86% in the total volume (29,576.18 tons).

2020 2019

Export

Export Share

Import

Import Share

Export + Import

Value (US$ million)

136.86

21.50%

499.27

78.50%

636.13

Volume (ton)

26.937,01

20.57%

104,052.10

79.43%

130,989.11

Value (US$ million)

193.93

23.78%

621.65

76.22%

815.58

Volume (ton)

29,576.18

19.26%

123,923.40

80.74%

153,499.58

One of the sources, the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC) of Brazil does not provide data on volume by country, both in import and export. Last year China maintained its leadership, taking up 25% of Brazilian fastener import (US$ 127 million). The USA followed at 16% (US$ 77.5 million); Japan, 10% (US$ 51.9 million); Germany, 10% (US$ 51.6 million) and Taiwan, 5.6% (US$ 27.7 million). Among the top five export destinations for Brazilian fasteners were the USA taking up 36% (US$ 49.9 million); Argentina, 17% (US $ 23.7 million); Paraguay, 11% (US$ 11 million); France, 4.5% (US$ 6.21 million) and Germany, 3.5% (US$ 4.76 million).

Regarding the average price per kilogram, among the fasteners exported in 2020, the price was US$ 5.08 (US$ 6.55 in 2019), higher than the US$ 4.79 (US$ 5.01 in 2019) of imports.

Top 5 Countries Involved in Brazilian Fastener Trade (Unit: US$ Million) Export Destinations in 2020

Import Origins in 2020

1. USA: 49.3

36%

1. China: 127.0

25%

2. Argentina: 23.7

17%

2. USA: 77.5

16%

3. Paraguay: 11.0

8.0%

3. Japan: 51.9

10%

4. France: 6.21

4.5%

4. Germany: 51.6

10%

5. Germany: 4.76

3.5%

5. Taiwan: 27.7

5.6%

Total Export Value: 136.86

---

Total Import Value: 499.27

---

Export Destinations in 2019

Import Origins in 2019

1. USA: 79.7

41%

1. China: 130.0

21%

2. Argentina: 22.6

12%

2. USA: 95.5

15%

3. Paraguay: 13.0

6.7%

3. Germany: 72.9

12%

4. France: 7.86

4.1%

4. Japan: 72.0

12%

5. Germany: 6.07

3.1%

5. Taiwan: 33.4

5.4%

Total Export Value: 193.93

---

Total Import Value: 621.65

---

Source: www.mdic.gov.br

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by Sergio Milatias, Editor Revista do Parafuso (The Fastener Brazil Magazine) milatias@revistadoparafuso.com.br www.revistadoparafuso.com

Brazilian News

Belenus factory (Vinhedo Town, SP, Brazil)

》》Belenus Becomes the Top Fastener Manufacturer in Brazil The company substantially increased its capacity after acquiring several machines in 2020 Founded in 2002 and led by the businessman João Marcos Lucas, Belenus Ltd substantially expanded its capacity after acquiring several used machines in 2020, especially a lot of cold forming machines, including 13 Sacma and 5 National Machinery models that are able to produce fasteners from M6 to M20. With around 1,400 employees, the company raised its capacity to 8,000 tons/month, which is 2,000 tons more than its former capacity, including the production of fasteners such as bolts, screws, and nuts, standard and special, making Belenus the top fastener manufacturer in brazil. Belenus also has a big trade division dedicated to distribution Sergio Lucas and João Marcos Lucas (Belenus directors) of more than 15,000 items for the construction industry and other relevant products, such as hardware, tools, various parts and equipment, including its own brands, such as BelEnergy (photovoltaic products), BelFit (hydraulic hoses and terminals), BelLift (cargo handling products) and Beltools (tools and hardware).

》》Walsywa: Heating the Solar Energy Market Founded in 1964 as a leader in supplying fastening products especially for civil construction, Walsywa has been expanding its portfolio since the second half of 2020, by including items for use in solar energy capturing systems, an emerging and promising business. Made of stainless steel, 100% passivated, the Walsywa solar energy lines include terminal clamps, flat and rubber washers, flanged hexagonal nuts, screws, rods and rod sets, anchor bolts, as well as specialty fasteners.

João Pedro Schrott (the Walsywa president)

"More than ever, the emerging solar energy system needs the best fastening options, which is a know-how that Walsywa has for more than half a century of history. We intend, then, to differentiate ourselves in this market, because we make fasteners for civil construction. Supported by a highly trained team, we have been providing the best service and efficient logistics running 24 hours in most regions of Brazil. In addition, we have our own laboratory for product development that meets stringent demands," said João Pedro Schrott, Walsywa president. Fastener World no.187/2021

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News

compiled by Fastener World

Taiwan CSC Back to Pre-pandemic Profit Level in Jan. 2021 Taiwan CSC's revenue in January 2021 reached NTD 30.81 billion, hovering above the 30 billion mark for two straight months. Pre-tax net profit reached NTD 3.61 billion, up 42% over the previous month and up a whopping 386% over the previous year. CSC expects the recovery of the main economic entities including the U.S., Europe, Japan and China will create an uptrend for the steel market in the second half of 2021 that outperforms the first half. CSC was in deficit until last July. The steel market reversed the downtrend in the second half of last year, and saw the monthly and quarterly steel price rise which increased CSC's profits. Last November, CSC turned the deficit into profits. In January 2021, CSC's profit landed at NTD 3.61 billion and was back at the prepandemic level. The steel prices from January to March 2021 increased by 6.1%, 9.5% and 2.5 respectively. CSC said its price adjustment has been mild. It raised the price by less than 20% in the first quarter. It sold 874.8 thousand tons of carbon steel in January 2021 which marked a domestic sales ratio of 71%. The domestic sales ratio this year is expected to be higher than last year thanks to business owners returning from China, infrastructure construction, a vibrant housing market, and more demand from fastener clients. CSC expects to deliver up to 3.05 million tons of steel products in the first quarter of 2021 and hopefully 3.1 million tons in the second quarter of 2021. The uptrend of the economy as a whole has a positive influence on the steel market as electric vehicle development and public construction are driving the market.

Industry Update UKCA Comes into Effect on 01/01/2021 The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product marking that is used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking. The UKCA marking alone cannot be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland market, which require the CE marking or UKNI marking. The technical requirements (‘essential requirements’) you must meet – and the conformity assessment processes and standards that can be used to demonstrate conformity – are largely the same as they were for the CE marking. The UKCA marking came into effect on 1 January 2021. However, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, you will still be able to use the CE marking until 1 January 2022 in most cases. In some cases, you need to apply the new UKCA marking to goods being sold in Great Britain immediately from 1 January 2021. The CE marking is only valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your product on the basis of those new rules you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain, even before 31 December 2021. The UKCA marking is not recognised on the EU market. Products need a CE marking for sale in the EU. You only need to use the new UKCA marking before 1 January 2022 if all of the following apply. Your product: - is for the market in Great Britain - is covered by legislation which requires the UKCA marking - requires mandatory third-party conformity assessment - conformity assessment has been carried out by a UK conformity assessment body This does not apply to existing stock, for example if your good was fully manufactured, CE marked and ready to place on the market before 1 January 2021. In these cases, your good can still be sold in Great Britain with a CE marking even if covered by a certificate of conformity issued by a UK body before 1 January 2021.

Quintain Steel Raises March Wire Rod Price by NTD 1,000 Quintain Steel announced on February 25 the wire rod price for March which was up NTD 1,000. It came as a result of the heightened price of steel billets as well as vibrant downstream demand. The announced price applies to wire rods for low carbon hardware, fasteners and threaded rods used for construction.

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Fastener World News Formosa (Taiwan) Plastics Group's Steel Plant in Vietnam Turns Losses into Profits The Vietnam plant (Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation, FHTS) grows rapidly and has had its first turnaround with profit gains since its establishment i n Novemb er 2020. Wit h t he st e el price expected to steer up continuously from last December to this February, the Vietnam plant could see monthly growt h du ri ng this yea r. T he pla nt spans up to 30 million square meters with a third fur nace to be in place and a "steel satellite city (2 million square meters)" preliminary plan in arrangement to draw dozens of companies in steel processing, fastener manufacturing, transportation, inventory and maintenance in June this year. The plan gained support from steel-related industries.

Malaysia Automotive Association Releases Production & Sales Results for 2020 According to the association, a higher than expected performance in the last quarter of 2020 helped to reduce the expected decline in the total sales for full year of 2020. On the whole, the total sales registered i n 2020 were 529,43 4 u n it s , a d e c r e a s e of 74,847 units or 12.4% compared t o 2 019 w i t h 6 0 4 , 2 81 u n i t s . Despite a double-digit drop, it was nonetheless a good achievement for the local automotive industry given the extremely challenging environment. It was higher than what M A A had fore cast e d at 470,0 0 0 u n it s. T he sa les t a x exempt ion a n nou nc e d by t he government effective from 15 June 2020 boosted sales in the second half of the year. Production of new vehicles in year 2020 also decreased 86,446 units or 15% to reach a total of 485,186 units compared to 571,632 units in 2019. The industry lost ove r t wo mont h s of ve h icle s production in 2020.

FHTS President Chen Yuan-Cheng says arranging a large industrial land for Vietnam requires compliance to environmental requirements. The demand in Vietnam is large and this country is now the most popular place in Southeast Asia drawing investments from multiple industries. The fastener industry also sees it as a critical base, especially because the said Vietnam plant provides a stable source of steel and will create massive midstream and downstream steel-consuming industries.

EU Offers 2.9 Billion Euros Funds to Enhance EV Battery Production EU announced to provide multiple corporations including Tesla and BMW with 2.9 billion euros to enhance EV battery production within the region. EU has started public fundraising and estimates the total investment value at 12 billion euros. The fund receivers are 42 corporations including a joint venture between Fiat Chrysler and PSA, as well as the startup EV battery developer Northvolt AB. EU hopes to reduce dependence on Asian companies by procuring EV batteries. The European EV battery market value will reach 250 billion euros by 2025.

Companies Development PROFIL® Launches New Website PROFIL®, a PennEngineering® company and leading global manufacturer of mechanically attached fasteners for the automotive market, has announced the launch of a new website, www. profil-global.com. The new website, available in English and German, provides visitors with an enhanced user experience that makes it easy to learn about PROFIL® products, installation methods, and application usage. PROFIL® is the world’s premier global manufacturer of Mechanically Attached Fasteners (MAF), an alternative to traditional weld fasteners, for the automotive industry. For over 50 years, PROFIL® has partnered with the world’s leading automotive OEMs to develop and engineer high integrity, cost-effective joining solutions for a wide range of demanding vehicle applications. Fastener World no.187/2021

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Fastener World News Bulten Inaugurates New Factory in Taiwan Bulten has i naug u rated a new production facility in Taipei, Taiwan through its subsidiary PSM Fasteners Taiwan Ltd. With the establishment of the new facility, Bulten has strengthened its position as an international supplier of fastener solutions and created very good conditions for managing future growth. “ Ta iwa n is a c ent er for fa st ener manufacturing in Asia and the world, with great know-how and proximity to necessary infrastructure as a machine and tool manufacturer. Having a modern manufacturing facility in Taiwan is important for Bulten and is an essential step for our future growth,” says Anders Nyström, President and CEO of Bulten. The move to the new factory has been carried through according to plan. The new facility enables more efficient and sustainable operation and forms a basis for further expansion.

Grainger Announces Appointments of Chief Financial Officer and President of Grainger Business Unit Grainger, the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (M RO) products ser ving businesses and institutions, announced executive leadership appointments. Deidra (Dee) Merriwether, currently Senior Vice President (SVP) and President, North American Sales and Services, has been named Chief Financial Officer. Paige Robbins, currently SVP, Chief Technology, Merchandising, Marketing and Strategy Officer, has been named SVP and President of the Grainger Business Unit, comprised of Grainger businesses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The Grainger Business Unit will merge all commercial functions for the Grainger brand in North America into a single organization. This new structure will help drive profitable share gain and exceptional customer solutions across geographies. Merriwether and Robbins will assume their new roles effective immediately.

SOUTHCO Expands India Operations Footprint SOUTHCO® is pleased to announce the official opening of its expanded facility in Ranjangoan, Pune, India. The 20,000 square foot expansion, which commenced in 2019, has tripled available office space and doubled the manufacturing space and distribution footprint, positioning Southco for future growth in the fastest growing market in the world. After a decade of phenomenal performance in the Indian market, Southco India’s increased production capacity, coupled with continued investment in sales, engineering and marketing resources will allow Southco to better serve its local customers. Southco will continue to bring new manufacturing technologies to India and produce more parts locally to support the “Make in India” initiative of the Indian Government. “The expansion of our operations footprint in India contributes to Southco’s strategy of driving global business growth” said Prakash T. John, General Manager of Southco India. ”This is not only an opportunity to bring more jobs to the area, but it is a long-term commitment of Southco to deliver more value to our customers and meet the growing needs of the Indian market.”

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Optimas Completes Global IATF Certification Optimas Solutions, a global industrial manufacturer/distributor and service provider, announced it has completed IATF Certification for its worldwide operations by adding its center of excellence in Pune, India, and new distribution sites in Mexicali, Mexico, and Lockbourne, OH, placing it at a level of quality assurance certification unmatched in the fastener industry. IATF Certification comes from the International Automotive Task Force and represents the highest level of quality assurance in the automotive industry and beyond. This coupled with the company's annual achievement of ISO 9001 certification is a high-water mark for Optimas as the first time all its global operations have achieved these levels of certification. According to Optimas CEO Marc Strandquist, this achievement opens more doors for securing new business and working at new levels with existing customers. "We are one of very few fastener suppliers and manufacturers that have IATF registration, which is well recognized outside of the automotive industry as a premiere level of quality assurance in the business world," he said. "Our Manufacturing Solutions strategy announced last August is once again paying off for our customers and suppliers alike."

Simpson Strong-Tie Announces Mike Olosky to be New Chief Operating Officer Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, recently announced the appointment of Mike Olosky to Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.’s executive leadership team as Chief Operating Officer (COO). A sen ior executive wit h more t ha n a decade of global management experience in Asia and Europe, Olosky was most recently President of Henkel North America and Head of the company’s Industrial and Electronics d ivision . P r eviou sly Olosk y wa s He a d of Innovation for Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies

business and President of Henkel Asia Pacific. Olosky holds degrees in mecha nical engineering f rom Michigan Technological University and Oakland University and received h i s M BA f r o m M i c h iga n St a t e Un iversit y’s Eli Broad School of Business. Simpson Strong-Tie is the primary subsidiary of Simpson Manufacturing, Co., Inc.

Super Cheng to Invest NTD 0.7 bn in Setting up a New Plant and R&D Center in Kaohsiung R

Focusing its product sales mainly in the N. American market, Taiwan’s leading lock nuts and high-strength bolts manufacturing giant, Super Cheng Industrial Co., Ltd., plans to invest NTD 0.7 billion in setting up a brand new “lowcarbon-emission and energy-saving” plant and R&D center in Gangshan District of Kaohsiung (Taiwan), in response to the increasing market demand for customized products and automotive fasteners, as well as reinforce the manufacturing capacity for special fasteners and diversify its existing product range. The new plant will be completed with the introduction of Smart Manufacturing and Fully Automated Warehouse to improve capacity and efficiency. In addition, Super Cheng will also hire more product R&D staff to develop more suitable products according to various customers’ demands at the new products R&D center. Established in 1982, Super Cheng’s main products include: all metal lock nuts, nylon insert lock nuts, flange nylon insert nuts, flange bolts, socket head cap screws, OEM parts, and auto parts.

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Acquisitions

WINA Acquires Atlantic Fasteners, Inc. to Grow New Construction Services Division Würth Industry North America (WINA) announced that it has acquired Atlantic Fasteners Inc., a mainstay in the structural industry with 36 years of history manufacturing structural bolts and distributing standard and specialty fasteners. The purchase will better serve the needs of Würth Industry’s customers in the construction and structural markets by providing end to end distribution and manufacturing support and will deepen their geographic footprint in the mid-Atlantic region. Atlantic Fasteners will join Würth’s new construction services business division, Würth Construction Services. This acquisition fits into Würth Industry’s strategy to provide expert supply chain solutions of structural fasteners, safety, and MRO products and complements Würth Industry’s strength in the construction market as the premier distributor of structural products for fabricators, erectors, and the metal building industry. The acquisition of Atlantic Fasteners Inc. supplies Würth with new manufacturing capabilities that increase their ability to serve customers and offer competitive lead times on a range of end to end structural products. Atlantic Fasteners, together with Würth House of Threads, Weinstock Bros., and Würth Action Bolt and Tool, as Würth Construction Services, will provide expanded services to its structural customers across the US, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.

Master Automatic Merges into the MFCS Engineered Solutions Group MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions (MFCS), Mundelein, IL, and Master Automatic, Plymouth, MI, announce the merger of Master Automatic into the MFCS Engineered Solutions Group. The new division will be known as MacLean Master LLC with locations in Plymouth and Livonia, MI. MacLean-Fogg President, Duncan MacLean, said, "We are thrilled. Master Automatic is a terrific, family-owned business with a culture similar to ours. This merger enables us both to further diversify and expand our customer base, and increase our capabilities, technology, and products in precision machining. We are able to better support our customers with an expanded portfolio of high-quality products and services." Founded in 1942, Master Automatic, an Evasic family business, is a premier supplier of precision machined components and assemblies, and a market leader for critical automotive propulsion and steering components, providing a broad range of manufacturing capabilities, engineering, customer focus and commitment to quality to leading automotive OEM and Tier 1 companies.

Association

George Hunt III Elected as New MWFA President George Hunt III, Regional Manager of Brighton-Best International has been nominated and elected as President of the 2021 Mid-West Fastener Association (MWFA). The new Board of Directors of MWFA include Matt Delawder of SWD Inc. as Vice President, Bob Baer of Abbott Interfast Inc. as Treasurer, Jake Davis of BTM as Secretary. Directors are Glen Brin of Innovative Components Inc., Rich Cavoto of Metric & Multistandard Components, Paula Evitts of Avante Imports, David Gawlik of Stanley Engineered Fastening, and Bobby Wegner of Beacon Fasteners and Components. Fastener World no.187/2021

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Technology

Meet Our Expert of the Month: The Fastener Professor, Dr. Toshimichi Fukuoka Thread Strength & Stiffness Q1: What is the meaning of thread strength of 10.9? A: With a decimal point, the number 10.9 tells two kinds of strength. Multiplying the whole number 10 by 100, tensile strength of the thread material is obtained, which is 1000MPa in this case. Multiplying this value by the decimal number 0.9, yield stress is found to be 900MPa. If the material is mild steel, the thread strength is usually 4.6 or 4.8. Although the two materials have the same tensile strength, their yield strengths are 240MPa and 320MPa respectively, which means that the latter material is unlikely to deform plastically.

Q2: What is stiffness? I can’t understand the difference from strength. A: Stiffness indicates “unlikeliness to deform”. Note that high stiffness and high strength are different characteristics. Let’s suppose that tension or compression is applied to a round bar with cross-sectional area of A and length of L. Let Young’s modulus of the material be E. The stiffness is AE / L. That is, the bigger cross-sectional area and shorter threads length, the higher the stiffness. Comparing the materials with different Young’s modulus for screw threads with the same shape, the stiffness of carbon steel threads is nearly 3 times higher than that of aluminum alloy threads. In the case of the same thread materials, the lower the stiffness, the higher the fatigue strength and loosening resistance.

Q3: Tell me a concrete method to evaluate thread stiffness. A: Figure 1 shows one way to Fig. 1 evaluate the stiffness of a bolted joint. The whole joint is replaced with 5 springs connected in series. Bolt cylindrical portion is regarded as a cylinder (round bar), and the stiffness (spring constant) can be evaluated with the nominal diameter and the cylinder length using the equation presented in the previous question. The stiffness of unengaged threads is calculated by regarding it as a cylinder whose cross-sectional area is equal to the stress area. The por tion where ma le a nd fema le t h r e a d s a r e e n ga ge d (e n ga ge d threads) is wholly replaced with a cylinder whose cross-sectional area is equal to the stress area. In this case, the height of the cylinder is called “equivalent length”, whose value is about 0.85 times the nominal diameter according to finite element analysis. Bolt head portion is regarded as a cylinder whose cross-sectional area is equal to that of the cylinder portion, and the equivalent length is around 0.55 times the nominal diameter. The stiffness of fastened plates is the most difficult to evaluate because the regions around nut and bolt head bearing surfaces deform into complex shapes. There exists an equation derived from advanced solid mechanics theories. Meanwhile, in the author’s laboratory, focusing on the bolted joints with widely used shapes, simple graphs are published to show the stiffness obtained by finite element analysis for the purpose of practical use.

Fig. 2

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Technology Q4: What do we learn of bolted joints from thread stiffness? A: We can understand various mechanical properties of bolted joints. For instance, we can draw joint diagrams for evaluating fatigue strength, or diagrams for estimating the amount of axial force reduction resulting from non-rotation loosening which occurs without rotation of threaded fasteners. In the author’s laboratory, using simple spring models shown in Figure 1, numerical approaches are proposed to predict how much initial tension is required to obtain the target axial bolt force when using a hydraulic tensioner, to obtain the relationship between the axial bolt force and heating time when using a bolt heater for fastening, etc.

Q5: What is the ratio of flank loads? A: When a bolt-nut pair is fastened, bolt threads elongate and nut threads shrink. Additionally, the axial deformation of the nut bearing surface is restrained by the fastened plates. Therefore, each th read does not equally sustain the axial bolt force. The ratio of axial bolt force sustained by each thread is called “ratio of flank loads”. In general, the ratio of flank loads of the thread nearest to the nut bearing surface becomes fairly high (ranging from 20% to 30% or above, for instance). Therefore, excessively increasing the number of engaged threads only gives limited improvement of strength.

Reference: • To s h i m i c h i F u k u o k a , “ T h r e a d e d Fasteners for Engineers and Design – Solid Mechanics and Numerical Analysis –”, pp.33-52, Corona Publishing Co., Ltd. (2015)

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Industry Focus

by Dr. Wayne Sung

The New Focus of Regional Economic Integration in 2021 O n Ja n / 2 0 / 2 0 21,t he 78 -ye a r- old Democratic U.S. President-elect Joe Biden swore the oath of office as the 46th U.S. President and soon after the inauguration he sig ne d 17 ad m i n ist rative orders, memorandums, and correspondences, and reverted several measures imposed during the term of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in order to correspond with 3 major challenges, i.e. Covid-19, climate change, and race issue. Some scholars also surmised that President Biden was very likely to reconsider going back to the table for CPTPP negotiations. Back to 01/23/2017, the then U.S. President Donald Trump signed an administrative order to secede from The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and later, on 11/11/2017, TPP was rena med to Comprehensive a nd Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with 22 articles proposed by the U.S. but declined by ma ny other member countries being frozen. On 03/08/2018, representatives of CPTPP member countries gathered in San Diego (Chile) to sign the Agreement, which has officially come into force since 12/30/2018. CPTPP consists of 11 member countries with the total population of up to 0.5 billion, contributing around 13% of the world’s total GDP. Such a giant CPTPP ma rket i ncludes 5 cou nt ries i n Asia (Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Brunei), 1 in America (Canada), 1 in Central America (Mexico), 2 in S. America (Chile and Peru), and 2 in the Oceania

(Australia and New Zealand). Although t he e c onom ic sca le of C P T PP is so comprehensive, still no European country is among the 11 members. However, the vacant position has been taken by the UK when it announced on Feb/01/2021 that it had officially applied for a membership in CPTPP. According to CPTPP regulations, after the UK submitted its application, existing members will have to establish a task force to audit the qualification of the UK. During the audit, the UK has to demonstrate to the task force how many efforts it has made for joining CPTPP, submit a list of acceptance that opens its market to other members, and seek a unanimous support among all members before it can be officially accepted as a member. All these procedures for the UK to apply for a CPTPP membership will be a very good reference for Taiwan and other countries interested in joining CPTPP. In the chapter of CPTPP, it reads: “Any economic entity in the world can apply for a CPTPP membership, but it must establish a smooth and unrestricted communication with existing members and get their unanimous support.” The reason that the UK could become the first non-founding CPTPP member to apply for a membership may be relevant to its capabilities for independently negotiating economic and trade agreements with other countries after leaving the EU and the high compatibility of its own economic

a nd t r a de reg u lat ion s wit h t hose of CPTPP. Prior to the application, the UK has signed FTA with 7 CPTPP countries and is also negotiating with Australia and New Zealand for FTA. With many FTA signed already, the UK has basically earned the full support of most CPTPP members, especially Japan, which strongly supports the participation of the UK and has officially included “supporting the UK to join CPTPP” into its FTA with the UK. Generally, it is expected that the participation of the UK in CPTPP as the first new member will not face too many challenges. As a result, I’ll include the data of the UK into the following economic and trade analysis. After the UK announced to apply for a CPT PP membership, without doubts it has become a new focus of the global regional economic integration in 2021. The UK is the world’s 7th largest economy. With participation of the UK, CPTPP will become an economic region with the total population of 0.57 billion, contributing around 16% of the world’s GDP. Although the economic scale of CPTPP, compared to RCEP, is smaller with less members, the issues it covers are more comprehensive than Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership ( RC E P) do e s , e sp e ci a l ly t ho s e no t included by WTO, such as digital trade, labor regulations, competency policies, EP regulations, etc. In addition to the UK, Fastener World no.187/2021

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Industry Focus countries like Taiwan, S. Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, etc. have also expressed their interest in joining. Taiwan has a very good relationship with Japan (the leading role in CPTPP) and also has signed FTA with Singapore and New Zealand. On the other hand, China, the most significant political threat to Taiwan, hasn’t become a member yet. All these aforementioned sit uations may offer Taiwa n a bet ter opportunity to join CPTPP, compared to joining RCEP.

The Impact of CPTPP on Taiwan Accordi ng to “ T he Eva lu ation of Certain Impacts on Relevant Industries of Taiwan’s Future Participation in Economic and Trade Organizations and Negotiations” Taiwan Executive Yuan released in 2019, “Around 20% of Taiwan’s total exports are exported to CPTPP countries and a majority of the products exported are intermediate goods, revealing the fact that CPTPP countries are not only Taiwan’s m ajo r exp o r t d e st i n a t io n s , b u t a l s o significant partners for Taiwan’s division of labor. Around 25.53% of Taiwan’s exports are subject to import tariffs in CPTPP countries and up to 57.82% of the products Taiwan exported to

CPTPP countries are subject to a tariff rate of at least 5%, which means, if Taiwan can join CPTPP, the resultant reduced tariffs will definitely benefit Taiwan’s exports to CPTPP countries.” In recent years, the percentage of CPTPP countries in Taiwan’s global investments varied from 23.9% in 2017, 14.0% in 2018 to 31.0% in 2019, showing the close trade partnership between Taiwan and CPTPP countries. What’s worth mentioning is that, in addition to preferential tariff treatment for CPTPP members, there are also requirements for country of origin, i.e. end products (including materials used) must be of CPTPP countries origin, which is a big challenge to non-CPTPP members. As a result, some people in Taiwanese industries worry that CPTPP may change the current industrial supply chain or even form a new supply chain under CPTPP. Thus far, many industries impacted by CPTPP have gradually relocated their operations from China and Taiwan to CPTPP countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan, in order to mitigate possible risks to industries in the future. As far as Taiwanese steel industries are concerned, they have actively extended their business reach to Southeast Asian countries (especially Vietnam) since the beginning of the 21st century. Many Taiwanese companies traded on the stock market or the OTC market have also made investments in Vietnam, such as CSVC invested by Taiwan CSC (put into operation in 2013), Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation invested by Formosa Plastics Group (beginning mass production in 2017), Tung Ho Viet Nam invested by Tung Ho Steel Enterprise Corp. (launched in 2018), and a Vietnam subsidiary invested by Sheh Fung Screws Company, showing that Taiwanese steel related industries have been working really hard to invest in Vietnam (also one of CPTPP countries) in order to maintain the competitive edge of Taiwanese steel related industries in the CPTPP supply chain. Table 1 shows the values of fasteners Taiwan exported to CPTPP countries (incl. the UK) from 2016 to 2020. CPTPP countries represented 18.21%-19.43% of Taiwan’s total fastener (HS code 7318) export, showing CPTPP countries are important to Taiwanese fastener industry. However, to compare the values in 2020 with those in 2019, it shows that Taiwan’s total fastener export value dropped by 8.04% and even dropped by 13.15% in the exports to CPTPP countries. As a result, Taiwanese fastener companies must be cautious about whether the order-switching effect has appeared after RCEP or CPTPP was signed.

Table 1. Taiwan’s Fastener (HS code 7318) Exports to CPTPP Countries in 2016-2020

Unit: 1,000 USD

Export Value

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

YoY Ratio (2020/2019)

Taiwan's Total Export

3,610,630

4,090,044

4,638,379

4,316,160

3,969,106

-8.04%

Taiwan’s Export to CPTPP Countries (Incl. the UK)

701,652

787,480

881,314

832,314

722,866

-13.15%

CPTPP Countries in Taiwan’s Total Export

19.43%

19.25%

19.00%

19.28%

18.21%

-1.07%

Table 2 shows the detailed Taiwan’s fastener export to each of the 11 CPTPP countries and the UK in 2016-2020. Top 1 export destination was Japan, top 2 was the UK, top 3 was Canada, sequentially followed by Mexico, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, and Brunei. To compare the export values in 2020 with those in 2019, it shows that the top 3 countries with the most significant decline were Japan (-13%), the UK (-20%), and Canada (-11%), and only Vietnam shows a growth of 5%. Although the world’s economy was hard hit by the Covid-19 in 2020 and the decline was inevitable, Taiwanese fastener companies should not only be aware of the impacts of regional economic agreements, but should also be aware that if their investments in the world have been concentrated on Vietnam too much.

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The Efforts Taiwan Has Made for Joining CPTPP and Difficulties It is Facing Taiwan is an export-oriented economy highly depending upon external material supply and markets, so almost all Taiwanese people are looking forward to participating in transnational trade organizations and agreements as more as possible, as by being included in economic and trade agreements, Taiwanese industries can get more opportunities to expand their business reach around the world. As a matter of fact, Taiwan has expressed its interest in participation since TPP (already renamed CPTPP) was seeking more members. It should be one of the countries expressing their interest in participation, but has not been accepted yet. After CPTPP was officially signed, Taiwan also expressed its strong interest in participation. In a public statement announced on Dec. 13, 2020, Taiwan’s MOFA said Taiwanese Government was in non-

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Industry Focus Table 2. The Detailed Taiwan’s Fastener Export to Each of the 11 CPTPP Unit: 1,000 USD Countries and the UK in 2016-2020 Region

Country

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

YoY Ratio (2020/2019)

Asia

Japan

182,441

207,135

230,497

241,269

209,479

-13%

Asia

Vietnam

44,718

49,010

47,936

32,719

34,370

Asia

Singapore

26,324

31,015

31,884

27,781

21,916

-21%

Asia

Malaysia

19,503

17,911

18,720

16,506

17,077

Asia

Brunei

110

-31%

America

Canada

106,384

127,046

163,066

145,031

128,758

-11%

Mexico

70,659

81,487

94,919

97,385

77,863

-20%

Chile

6,022

5,954

9,106

6,001

4,020

-33%

Peru

2,731

3,445

5,158

3,149

2,796

-11%

Australia

62,062

67,138

80,345

69,2332

69,804

New Zealand

18,064

18,877

21,267

21,872

19,869

-9%

U.K.

162,660

178,425

178,348

171,259

136,838

-20%

Central America South America South America The Oceania The Oceania Europe

official negotiations with existing CPTPP members and was trying to reach a consensus with them under the requirements of CPTPP for new membership applicants. However, Taiwan’s participation in regional economic agreements are sometimes influenced by political pressure from China. On the other hand, its economic and trade measures also play a critical role in influencing its participation. For example, Taiwan is currently facing the pressure from Japan to open up its market to Japanese food imported from prefectures impacted by the 311 nuclear plant explosion as a prerequisite for joining CPTPP. Taiwanese Government is actually working hard to reform relevant regulations. For example, on July 2019 it completed the reform of “Customs Import Tariffs Regulations” which reduced the tariffs against 15 items of agricultural/fishery products and processed food, especially, yams, tangerines, Sake. All these tariff reforms of Taiwanese Government specifically for Japanese products are basically for deepening partnership with Japan and creating opportunities for further CPTPP negotiations. These efforts did actually gain some positive feedback. For example, former Representative of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association said that Japanese Government should lend strong support to Taiwan’s participation in CPTPP in the future; Australian former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also hoped that Taiwan could join CPTPP; one survey conducted by Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada also shows that 68% of Canadian nationals support the participation of Taiwan in CPTPP. On the other hand, after the public statement of China’s President Xi Jinping expressing his will to join CPTPP, Chinese Government also expressed its will to join and determination for times. Although Japan spoke bluntly that there still exist many obstacles ahead for China to join for the time being and many other CPTPP countries also raise doubts that if China is able to abide by the strict requirements of CPTPP, it is unquestionable that the participation of China will definitely influence the participation of Taiwan and Taiwanese Government will be forced to stay on the same stage with China to compete for the ticket to CPTPP. If Taiwan wants to join CPTPP, in principle, it has to follow the existing CPTPP requirements, however, Taiwan also has its own advantages for negotiations, which it can make the most of. For example, TSMC plays a leading role in the world’s chip manufacturing industry. In the beginning of 2021, the shortage of chips seriously influenced the production lines of European and U.S. car manufacturing and caused the lines to stop temporarily, Taiwanese Government should utilize this advantage to seek CPTPP countries’ support.

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Ta iwa nese fa stener compa n ies have taken several actions to deal with possible impacts of CP TPP on the supply chain since the beginning of the 21st century. However, due to the considerations of locations and costs, their investments were mostly made in Vietnam rather than other Southeast Asian countries. In recent years, problems like appreciating V N D and the shortage of labor force in Southern Vietnam continue to emerge, as a result, if Taiwanese fastener companies would like to go invest in Vietnam, they have to be cautious and make some prior assessments. Below are my suggestions: 1. To integrate their overseas plants in RCEP and CPTPP countries for tax avoidance: B e s i d e s V i e t n a m , Ta i w a n e s e fa st e n e r c omp a n ie s c a n c on sid e r i nvesti ng i n Ma laysia , Br u nei, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, which are RCEP and CPTPP countries, or consider investing in Mexico or Chile in America, which are both CPTPP members. 2. To improve innovation and technology and find out niche markets: After 2020, low-price fasteners of Taiwan face more and more fierce competition from China and Vietnam. Viet n a m , i n pa r t icu la r, enjoys preferential tariffs almost around the world, which causes a huge impact on Taiwanese fastener industry. As a result, instead of getting involved into the price cutting competition, Taiwanese manufacturers should turn to seeking orders at high unit prices with high quality and technology, and even seeking orders for various niche products in low volumes, and adopting the strategy of differentiation, and improving their patented technology, special material & ma nufact u r i ng procedure innovation to consolidate their presence in Taiwan. 3. To introduce smart manufacturing to mitigate cost pressure: While AI equipment and robotics are being widely used in high-tech plants, Taiwanese fastener companies must also have their old-fashioned

Industry Focus equipment and devices replaced with new ones as soon as possible, increase product precision, establish intelligent SOP, and introduce automated equipment, in order to lower labor demand and increase product quality. 4. Relentless Quality Improvement is the Basis of Competition I once referred to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for more than one time and suggested that Taiwanese fastener companies should try their best to meet the requirements of ISO-9001 (for quality), ISO14001 (for the environment), and ISO45001 (for work safety) as well as fulfil the goal of PDCA (Plan/ Do/Check/Act) for continuous improvement and quality enhancement. Setting up overseas plants to avoid tariffs and keeping operations in Taiwan and improving products are both options Taiwanese fastener companies can take into account. If Taiwan can successfully join CPTPP to enjoy preferential tariff treatment, those companies still keeping plants in Taiwan will also get benefited. In terms of technology reinforcement and development or considering setting up overseas plants, Taiwanese fastener industry should also accelerate its steps for industrial upgrade and strengthen its competitive edge in export. Facing the new market scenarios brought by RCEP and CPTPP in

2021, most Taiwanese fastener companies have had their own solutions for years. The most common way is to set up overseas plants, register companies in other countries, applying for processing export tax refunds in countries where their plants are located, or cover the tariffs from other items. However, the influence of CPTPP on Taiwanese fastener companies has been shown in Table 1 of this article, which shows the decline margin of Taiwan’s fastener export to CPTPP countries in 2020 compared to the result in 2019 has been much more significant than that of Taiwan’s fastener export to the world during the same period. In the beginning of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, China adopted full city lockdowns to contain the spread, which later proved to be effective, so its economy started to recover in H2 2020. On the contrary, in Europe and USA, the virus was initially neglected until it became a nationwide pandemic. In the beginning of 2021, although some European countries and USA have started to get their people vaccinated, the complete recovery of their economy still remain uncertain. As a result, many countries around the world seem to depend more upon Chinese economy, so what Taiwanese Government should be eager to do now is to keep pace with the trends and make the most of its advantages to sign FTA/ECA with other countries and seek the participation in CPTPP. People should also support the policies the Government proposes for joining regional economic agreements. What’s the most important is, the Government should also propose relevant subsidies and guidelines to Taiwanese fastener industry before Taiwan can be accepted as a member of certain regional economic agreements.

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Industry Focus Where does the U.S. stand when it comes to fastener trade with India? Has there been a significant increase in fastener imports from India? How much has the ongoing pandemic affected fastener trade between the U.S. and India?

Data note: The data for this article is derived from Descartes™ Datamyne's US Census trade statistics. US Import and Export Census trade statistics is based on all modes of transportation. That value is calculated in USD by CIF (imports). In this article fasteners are defined as any product under HS Code 7318 (screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws, rivets, cotters, cotter pins, washers and similar articles or iron or steel), as well as the subcategories of 7318.

U.S. Fasteners Trade with India by Sabrina Rodriguez

Navigati ng t he fastener supply chai n a nd understanding the market demand is challenging, especially during a global pandemic. While the end of 2020 was the light at the end of a very dark trade tunnel, many supply chains were unable to recover their losses from earlier in the year. Fastener demand in the U.S. is undeniable – the auto industry, manufacturers of household appliances and medical devices all rely on a wide range of fastener types. Let us take a closer look into U.S. fastener trade with India for a complete understanding of the existing market. Can we discover notable trends that could have shifted U.S. sourcing of fasteners to or from India? Could trade between the U.S. and India be impacted by the USMCA? How significant is India when it comes to supplying the U.S. with fasteners and vise versa?

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Fastener World no.187/2021

U.S. Imports: Is India One of the Leading Suppliers of Fasteners? Considering the decline in manufacturing amidst a global pandemic, the U.S. managed to import a total of over 5 billion USD worth of fasteners in 2020. India alone contributed over 116 million USD of that total, making it self the 8th largest fastener exporter to the U.S. When compared to 2019, India exported nearly 25% less in 2020. Most major countries exporting fasteners to the U.S. decreased their supply during 2020 including India which exported 13% less fasteners in 2020 when compared to 2019. While U.S. imports of 731815 dropped by over 21% in 2020, the majority of fastener exports from India fell under 731815 two years in a row. In fact, all subcategories of fasteners dropped in 2020 except for 731813 which increased by over 15% in 2020 by comparison to 2019. Despite the decline in 2020, India had been consistently increasing their fastener exports to the U.S. every year. In 2019, the U.S. saw the largest

Industry Focus value of fasteners likely due to the turmoil on Chinese tariffs. 2019 impacted trade like no other, causing U.S. importers to diversify their sourcing after so many of the Chinese tariffs had increased substantially. These types of circumstances may have temporarily put a strain on Chinese manufacturers of fasteners, but it opened new opportunities for fastener manufacturers in India which led them to increase the overall volume of fastener exports. Fasteners are an essential commodity for a wide variety of industries, so any abrupt change in procurement can disrupt the supply chain.

While Mexico and Canada may have only accounted for nearly 7.5% of the total imported value of fasteners in 2020, they remain as two of the U.S.’s strongest trading partners. This may partially be due to the USMCA (formerly recognized as NAFTA) and the turmoil of tariffs that occurred during 2019. Mexico and Canada have a firm grip on the U.S. supply of fasteners which could potentially shift U.S. sourcing efforts away from countries like India and China in the future.

United States - Import Main query filters: Product HS : 7318 - Screws, Bolts, Nuts, Coach Screws, Screw Hooks, Rivets, Cotters, Cotter Pins, Washers and Similar Articles, of Iron or Steel Country of Origin

2016 General Total Value CIF (USD)

2017

General Quantity (kg)

General Total Value CIF (USD)

2018

General Quantity (kg)

General Total Value CIF (USD)

General Quantity (kg)

Taiwan

1,512,763,809

31.62

544,975,268

36.03

1,695,177,002

32.80

572,892,820

37.05

1,935,363,130

32.10

642,108,310

36.03

China

1,089,267,219

22.77

552,585,092

36.53

1,229,973,800

23.80

577,920,267

37.37

1,630,859,894

27.05

703,375,316

39.46

Japan

645,603,874

13.50

136,998,245

9.06

648,194,818

12.55

96,792,773

6.26

644,506,115

10.69

101,606,714

5.71

Germany

304,531,405

6.37

37,775,762

2.50

297,601,078

5.76

34,902,355

2.26

344,921,221

5.73

32,657,036

1.84

Canada

263,340,402

5.51

58,970,087

3.90

277,584,037

5.38

66,367,145

4.30

313,533,514

5.21

76,422,263

4.29

S. Korea

220,695,373

4.62

45,536,620

3.01

188,722,047

3.66

42,404,509

2.75

198,057,295

3.29

45,024,072

2.53

Mexico

105,183,837

2.20

12,552,726

0.83

110,837,933

2.15

12,593,742

0.82

121,771,895

2.02

13,636,933

0.77

Italy

103,507,730

2.17

15,010,621

1.00

139,830,777

2.71

20,744,214

1.35

161,124,929

2.68

22,662,888

1.28

India

94,439,645

1.98

46,518,739

3.08

99,159,729

1.92

49,848,457

3.23

124,494,325

2.07

54,607,876

3.07

France

83,194,275

1.74

3,622,410

0.24

88,195,580

1.71

4,399,425

0.29

87,583,105

1.46

4,368,457

0.25

4,785,685,901

100.00

1,512,964,397

100.00

5,168,791,299

100.00

1,546,678,148

100.00

6,029,489,521

100.00

1,782,518,912

100.00

General Total Value CIF (USD)

Total

Country of Origin

2019 General Total Value CIF (USD)

Taiwan

2,017,113,212

34.53

2020

General Quantity (kg) 647,320,640

39.50

1,878,810,525

General Quantity (kg)

37.04

611,967,110

41.03 28.02

China

1,207,846,153

20.68

516,843,311

31.54

906,334,869

17.87

417,921,776

Japan

648,298,263

11.10

100,429,867

6.13

524,511,802

10.34

82,099,225

5.51

Germany

381,542,652

6.54

46,957,565

2.87

343,044,039

6.77

41,671,866

2.80

Canada

315,553,400

5.41

73,544,433

4.49

264,497,330

5.22

54,444,523

3.66

S. Korea

197,953,133

3.39

43,288,996

2.65

182,819,205

3.61

67,151,608

4.51

Mexico

132,206,656

2.27

12,899,674

0.79

114,068,791

2.25

13,485,743

0.91

Italy

150,498,031

2.58

19,697,076

1.21

143,541,776

2.83

16,625,921

1.12

India

155,067,539

2.66

61,184,524

3.74

116,556,900

2.30

55,992,096

3.76

France

89,293,822

1.53

3,372,924

0.21

71,848,617

1.42

2,495,212

0.17

5,841,885,221

100.00

1,638,796,650

100.00

5,073,308,249

100.00

1,491,564,174

100.00

Total

Fastener World no.187/2021

227

Industry Focus

United States - Import

Main query filters: Product HS : 7318 - Screws, Bolts, Nuts, Coach Screws, Screw Hooks, Rivets, Cotters, Cotter Pins, Washers and Similar Articles, of Iron or Steel Country of Origin

2019 General Total Value CIF (USD)

Taiwan

2020 %

General Total Value CIF (USD)

647,320,640

39.50

1,878,810,525

37.04

20.68

516,843,311

31.54

906,334,869

11.10

100,429,867

6.13

524,511,802

6.54

46,957,565

2.87

343,044,039

5.41

73,544,433

4.49

264,497,330

197,953,133

3.39

43,288,996

2.65

182,819,205

155,067,539

2.66

61,184,524

3.74

116,556,900

General Quantity (kg)

2,017,113,212

34.53

China

1,207,846,153

Japan

648,298,263

Germany

381,542,652

Canada

315,553,400

S. Korea India

Volume Change %

General Total Value CIF (USD)

General Quantity (kg)

611,967,110

41.03

-138,302,687

-6.86

-35,353,530

-5.47

17.87

417,921,776

28.02

-301,511,284

-24.97

-98,921,535

-19.14

10.34

82,099,225

5.51

-123,786,461

-19.10

-18,330,642

-18.26

6.77

41,671,866

2.80

-38,498,613

-10.10

-5,285,699

-11.26

5.22

54,444,523

3.66

-51,056,070

-16.18

-19,099,910

-25.98

3.61

67,151,608

4.51

-15,133,928

-7.65

23,862,612

55.13

2.30

55,992,096

3.76

-38,510,639

-24.84

-5,192,428

-8.49 -15.60

General Quantity (kg)

Italy

150,498,031

2.58

19,697,076

1.21

143,541,776

2.83

16,625,921

1.12

-6,956,255

-4.63

-3,071,155

Mexico

132,206,656

2.27

12,899,674

0.79

114,068,791

2.25

13,485,743

0.91

-18,137,865

-13.72

586,069

4.55

U.K.

89,547,877

1.54

5,784,994

0.36

84,450,915

1.67

6,415,441

0.44

-5,096,962

-5.70

630,447

10.90

Total

5,841,885,221

100.00

1,638,796,650

100.00

5,073,308,249

100.00

1,491,564,174

100.00

-768,576,972

-13.16

-147,232,476

-8.99

2019 Product HS (6) 731815 - Threaded screws and bolts others, with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel 731816 - Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel 731822 - Washers, other than lock washers, of iron or steel 731829 - Nonthreaded articles (fasteners) others, of iron or steel 731819 - Threaded articles of iron or steel others 731824 - Cotters and cotter pins, of iron or steel 731821 - Spring washers and other lock washers, of iron or steel 731813 - Screw hooks and screw rings, threaded, of iron or steel 731812 - Wood screws other than coach screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731814 - Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel Total

2020 General Quantity (kg)

General Quantity (kg)

General Total Value CIF (USD)

45,093,385

73.71

81,544,339

52.59 41,342,766

5,876,441

9.61

24,473,678

15.79

4,642,759

7.59

14,292,411

4,237,188

6.93

568,237

Volume Change General Quantity (kg)

General Total Value CIF (USD)

73.84

63,722,819

54.68 -3,750,619

-8.32

-17,821,520

-21.86

5,057,057

9.04

20,059,092

17.21

-819,384

-13.95

-4,414,586

-18.04

9.22

3,988,122

7.13

11,025,633

9.46

-654,637

-14.11

-3,266,778

-22.86

27,499,881

17.74

3,955,008

7.07

16,408,244

14.08

-282,180

-6.66

-11,091,637

-40.34

0.93

3,743,347

2.42

973,493

1.74

2,460,334

2.12

405,256

71.32

-1,283,013

-34.28

232,016

0.38

1,160,362

0.75

250,011

0.45

923,858

0.80

17,995

7.76

-236,504

-20.39

201,630

0.33

1,342,227

0.87

121,237

0.22

869,539

0.75

-80,393

-39.88

-472,688

-35.22

188,307

0.31

527,660

0.35

210,945

0.38

611,035

0.53

22,638

12.03

83,375

15.81

49,598

0.09

71,108

0.05

0.00

-49,598 -100.00

-71,108

-100.00

48,129

0.08

230,475

0.15

28,465

0.06

227,998

0.20

-19,664

-2,477

-1.08

-8.49 -38,510,639

-24.84

61,184,524 100.00 155,067,539 100.00 55,992,096 100.00 116,556,900 100.00 -5,192,428

-40.86

U.S. Exports: Does the U.S. Really Export Fasteners? The U.S. is not the first country one would assume to be leading the global market of fastener manufacturing. In reality, the U.S. exported a little over 3.6 billion USD in fasteners during 2020 and India accounted for less than 1%. Exports to India were on a steady increase during 2017/2018, and unfortunately dropped in 2019/2020. At no point during these years did fastener exports account for more than 1% of the total value exported to India. The most drastic decline in fastener exports to India occurred during 2020 when the total value decreased by 23% when compared to 2019.

228

Fastener World no.187/2021

Similar to fastener imports from India, the majority of fastener exports to India are seen within the 731815 subcategory. 731815 accounted for 47% of the total volume of fastener exports to India in 2020, while others such as 731816, 731829 and 781822 accounted for only a small fraction of the total value for the year 2020. It is very difficult for countries in Europe and Asia to enter the U.S. supply chain, especially when it comes to U.S. manufactured fasteners. Mexico and Canada combined imported nearly 60% of the total value of U.S. fasteners in 2020 which is a direct result of

Industry Focus

United States - Export

Main query filters: Product HS : 7318 - Screws, Bolts, Nuts, Coach Screws, Screw Hooks, Rivets, Cotters, Cotter Pins, Washers and Similar Articles, of Iron or Steel Country of Origin

2016 General Total Value CIF (USD)

2017

General Quantity (kg)

General Total Value CIF (USD)

2018

General Quantity (kg)

General Total Value CIF (USD)

General Quantity (kg)

Mexico

1,314,654,296

32.25

203,863,541

28.04

1,412,953,785

32.74

222,665,666

28.46

1,499,699,725

34.49

231,263,430

29.89

Canada

1,005,906,068

24.68

408,775,729

56.23

1,048,308,919

24.29

441,917,998

56.49

1,115,481,725

25.66

428,795,685

55.41

Brazil

299,423,733

7.35

7,366,754

1.02

293,671,098

6.81

9,298,870

1.19

92,605,918

2.13

8,267,540

1.07

China

190,075,624

4.67

23,026,246

3.17

214,463,469

4.97

25,026,182

3.20

204,021,437

4.70

18,255,470

2.36 1.27

U.K.

163,622,895

4.02

10,139,488

1.40

164,221,037

3.81

10,389,620

1.33

168,552,437

3.88

9,778,718

Germany

117,867,815

2.90

8,241,516

1.14

121,337,992

2.82

8,199,628

1.05

116,394,757

2.68

8,073,587

1.05

France

111,789,548

2.75

3,187,001

0.44

107,454,702

2.49

2,357,514

0.31

103,682,248

2.39

2,747,118

0.36

Japan

83,231,548

2.05

3,921,081

0.54

76,326,006

1.77

3,411,218

0.44

91,433,597

2.11

3,122,248

0.41

Singapore

77,791,434

1.91

4,137,691

0.57

86,775,503

2.02

3,449,250

0.45

96,586,451

2.23

3,443,820

0.45

S. Korea

65,706,333

1.62

4,044,874

0.56

83,023,821

1.93

3,976,045

0.51

89,653,958

2.07

4,325,897

0.56

Australia

53,263,745

1.31

2,786,774

0.39

72,189,571

1.68

3,479,478

0.45

72,274,354

1.67

3,659,816

0.48

Netherlands

33,750,636

0.83

3,443,941

0.48

33,171,802

0.77

3,306,741

0.43

38,618,921

0.89

3,795,089

0.50

Italy

33,209,728

0.82

1,757,287

0.25

37,137,615

0.87

2,119,679

0.28

34,639,767

0.80

1,803,799

0.24

Spain

30,730,216

0.76

3,285,002

0.46

32,885,566

0.77

3,300,002

0.43

37,386,332

0.86

3,404,930

0.44

Thailand

23,321,083

0.58

3,200,664

0.45

23,171,450

0.54

3,634,594

0.47

22,883,037

0.53

3,655,844

0.48

U.A.E.

22,936,285

0.57

940,348

0.13

22,643,101

0.53

899,110

0.12

20,374,007

0.47

1,187,955

0.16

India

22,924,971

0.57

2,311,975

0.32

35,445,913

0.83

3,051,150

0.39

36,818,357

0.85

3,515,981

0.46

Poland

22,508,002

0.56

1,625,661

0.23

18,409,414

0.43

1,260,218

0.17

14,413,722

0.34

1,145,676

0.15

Saudi Arabia

21,778,212

0.54

3,460,850

0.48

15,524,574

0.36

818,903

0.11

19,903,451

0.46

798,031

0.11

Chile

21,298,239

0.53

1,499,717

0.21

23,841,660

0.56

1,577,473

0.21

39,048,715

0.90

2,153,134

0.28

4,076,555,511 100.00

727,053,375

100.00

4,316,300,639

100.00

782,429,289

100.00

4,348,457,743

100.00

773,885,156

100.00

General Total Value CIF (USD)

Total

Country of Origin

2019 General Total Value CIF (USD)

2020

General Quantity (kg)

Mexico

1,528,570,326

34.77

218,810,790

28.27

1,216,036,841

33.57

167,065,567

23.12

Canada

1,142,383,822

25.99

456,623,732

59.00

939,556,124

25.94

473,885,439

65.56

Brazil

109,464,772

2.49

10,875,768

1.41

90,407,063

2.50

9,125,876

1.27

China

183,175,516

4.17

9,689,066

1.26

183,080,439

5.06

12,644,021

1.75

U.K.

160,267,016

3.65

7,519,342

0.98

127,209,982

3.52

5,587,940

0.78

Germany

123,712,184

2.82

8,101,157

1.05

98,187,380

2.72

5,376,840

0.75

France

89,890,788

2.05

2,293,625

0.30

79,427,768

2.20

1,887,147

0.27

Japan

98,481,641

2.24

3,307,978

0.43

83,679,269

2.31

2,702,268

0.38

104,546,228

2.38

3,654,153

0.48

76,825,029

2.13

2,448,890

0.34

S. Korea

88,427,189

2.02

3,487,393

0.46

76,834,479

2.13

3,085,856

0.43

Australia

73,097,950

1.67

4,522,533

0.59

65,206,446

1.81

2,938,543

0.41

Singapore

Netherlands

32,977,306

0.76

2,950,051

0.39

28,091,168

0.78

2,389,855

0.34

Italy

34,726,324

0.79

2,166,257

0.28

30,354,858

0.84

1,604,698

0.23

Spain

36,080,842

0.83

2,342,826

0.31

17,801,165

0.50

1,519,117

0.22

Thailand

24,874,744

0.57

3,372,673

0.44

17,743,235

0.49

2,479,684

0.35

U.A.E.

29,313,035

0.67

1,182,518

0.16

21,511,666

0.60

626,930

0.09

India

34,232,691

0.78

2,758,027

0.36

26,244,739

0.73

2,094,010

0.29

Poland

16,008,810

0.37

1,183,284

0.16

14,623,845

0.41

850,749

0.12

Saudi Arabia

14,742,262

0.34

495,880

0.07

12,306,637

0.34

434,411

0.07

Chile

28,638,189

0.66

2,475,660

0.32

30,385,932

0.84

2,120,429

0.30

Total

4,396,938,196

100.00

774,017,702

100.00

3,622,489,339

100.00

722,896,941

100.00

USMCA. In theory, U.S. trade with Mexico and Canada is seen to be beneficial because of the reduced tariffs imposed on goods being traded within North America.

Looking Beyond 2020 and the New U.S. Administration Un d e r s t a n d i n g 2 0 2 0 wa s a n a n o m a ly fo r g l o b a l t r a d e , i t i s promising to see a steady increase of fa s t e n e r i m p o r t s f r o m I n d i a over the last several years. While fastener imports from India showed a significant uptick towards the end of 2020, it was not enough to make up for the earlier months of 2020 during the height of the pandemic. It’s important to keep in mind the U.S. is under an entirely new administration which firmly believes and supports the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), USMCA (more commonly k nown as NAFTA) and China’s entry into the World Trade Organization. A few priorities have al ready been Fastener World no.187/2021

229

Industry Focus established: investment into high-speed trains and the manufacturing of electric cars, both industries that would require U.S. companies to source and import fasteners from its trading partners. It may still be too early to know how foreig n t rade will be i mpacted by the new administration or if the new administration will be able to revert the high tariffs with China and other countries. One thing remains certain; the U.S.’s demand for fasteners is expected to continue well into the future.

United States - Export Main query filters: Product HS : 7318 - Screws, Bolts, Nuts, Coach Screws, Screw Hooks, Rivets, Cotters, Cotter Pins, Washers and Similar Articles, of Iron or Steel Country of Destination

2019 FOB Value (USD)

Mexico

1,528,570,326

Canada

1,142,383,822

China

183,175,516

U.K. Germany

2020

Volume Change

Quantity (kg)

FOB Value (USD)

34.77

218,810,790

28.27

1,216,036,841

33.57

167,065,567

23.12

-312,533,485

-20.45

-51,745,223

25.99

456,623,732

59.00

939,556,124

25.94

473,885,439

65.56

-202,827,698

-17.76

17,261,707

3.79

4.17

9,689,066

1.26

183,080,439

5.06

12,644,021

1.75

-95,077

-0.06

2,954,955

30.50

160,267,016

3.65

7,519,342

0.98

127,209,982

3.52

5,587,940

0.78

-33,057,034

-20.63

-1,931,402

-25.69

123,712,184

2.82

8,101,157

1.05

98,187,380

2.72

5,376,840

0.75

-25,524,804

-20.64

-2,724,317

-33.63

Quantity (kg)

FOB Value (USD)

Quantity (kg)

% -23.65

Brazil

109,464,772

2.49

10,875,768

1.41

90,407,063

2.50

9,125,876

1.27

-19,057,709

-17.41

-1,749,892

-16.09

Singapore

104,546,228

2.38

3,654,153

0.48

76,825,029

2.13

2,448,890

0.34

-27,721,199

-26.52

-1,205,263

-32.99

Japan

98,481,641

2.24

3,307,978

0.43

83,679,269

2.31

2,702,268

0.38

-14,802,372

-15.04

-605,710

-18.32

France

89,890,788

2.05

2,293,625

0.30

79,427,768

2.20

1,887,147

0.27

-10,463,020

-11.64

-406,478

-17.73

S. Korea

88,427,189

2.02

3,487,393

0.46

76,834,479

2.13

3,085,856

0.43

-11,592,710

-13.11

-401,537

-11.52

Australia

73,097,950

1.67

4,522,533

0.59

65,206,446

1.81

2,938,543

0.41

-7,891,504

-10.80

-1,583,990

-35.03

Spain

36,080,842

0.83

2,342,826

0.31

17,801,165

0.50

1,519,117

0.22

-18,279,677

-50.67

-823,709

-35.16

Italy

34,726,324

0.79

2,166,257

0.28

30,354,858

0.84

1,604,698

0.23

-4,371,466

-12.59

-561,559

-25.93 -24.08

India

34,232,691

0.78

2,758,027

0.36

26,244,739

0.73

2,094,010

0.29

-7,987,952

-23.34

-664,017

Netherlands

32,977,306

0.76

2,950,051

0.39

28,091,168

0.78

2,389,855

0.34

-4,886,138

-14.82

-560,196

-18.99

Turkey

30,408,604

0.70

2,660,071

0.35

30,034,065

0.83

1,919,189

0.27

-374,539

-1.24

-740,882

-27.86

U.A.E.

29,313,035

0.67

1,182,518

0.16

21,511,666

0.60

626,930

0.09

-7,801,369

-26.62

-555,588

-46.99

Chile

28,638,189

0.66

2,475,660

0.32

30,385,932

0.84

2,120,429

0.30

1,747,743

6.11

-355,231

-14.35

Taiwan

25,915,750

0.59

1,003,335

0.13

22,780,074

0.63

924,701

0.13

-3,135,676

-12.10

-78,634

-7.84

Thailand

24,874,744

0.57

3,372,673

0.44

17,743,235

0.49

2,479,684

0.35

-7,131,509

-28.67

-892,989

-26.48

4,396,938,196

100.00

774,017,702

100.00

3,622,489,339

100.00

722,896,941

100.00

-774,448,857

-17.62

-51,120,761

-6.61

Total

2019 Product HS (6)

2020

FOB Value (USD)

Quantity (kg)

15,072,198

44.03

1,589,063

731816 - Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel

6,811,017

19.90

731829 - Nonthreaded articles (fasteners) others, of iron or steel

3,951,949

731819 - Threaded articles of iron or steel others 731822 - Washers, other than lock washers, of iron or steel

Volume Change %

FOB Value (USD)

Quantity (kg)

47.18 1,353,321

64.63

-2,690,025

-17.85

-235,742

-14.84

4,245,378

16.18

230,693

11.02 -2,565,639

-37.67

-180,307

-43.88

6.12

2,477,633

9.45

76,923

3.68

-1,474,316

-37.31

-91,685

-54.38

93,680

3.40

1,796,645

6.85

68,063

3.26

-449,235

-20.01

-25,617

-27.35

6.30

188,003

6.82

1,491,157

5.69

125,392

5.99

-662,746

-30.77

-62,611

-33.31

1,369,267

4.00

117,174

4.25

1,227,009

4.68

83,046

3.97

-142,258

-10.39

-34,128

-29.13

1,302,989

3.81

118,504

4.30

1,090,764

4.16

102,202

4.89

-212,225

-16.29

-16,302

-13.76

731823 - Rivets of iron or steel

886,148

2.59

51,795

1.88

1,121,490

4.28

32,209

1.54

235,342

26.56

-19,586

-37.82

731821 - Spring washers and other lock washers, of iron or steel

327,822

0.96

12,839

0.47

338,776

1.30

17,323

0.83

10,954

3.35

4,484

34.93

731811 - Coach screws, threaded, of iron or steel

80,930

0.24

4,425

0.17

56,327

0.22

3,822

0.19

-24,603

-30.41

-603

-13.63

34,232,691 100.00 2,758,027 100.00 26,244,739 100.00 2,094,010 100.00

-7,987,952

-23.34

-664,017

-24.08

FOB Value (USD)

57.62

12,382,173

411,000

14.91

11.55

168,608

2,245,880

6.57

2,153,903

731824 - Cotters and cotter pins, of iron or steel 731814 - Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel

731815 - Threaded screws and bolts others, with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel

Total

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Fastener World no.187/2021

Quantity (kg)

Industry Focus

China Fastener Market Scale and Prospect for 2021 by Hsien-Ming Chang

1. Definition and Categories of Fastener Industry Fasteners are a fundamental mechanical component dubbed as the pillar of the industrial sector. Fasteners are diversified in their types and specifications and have different performances and uses. They are highly standardized, serialized and generalized and applied in various fields. They are involved in multiple industries from space shuttle, automobile, equipment to toy, tables and chairs. Fasteners are a generic term for a type of mechanical components to connect two or more parts to make an entity. They include bolts, studs, screws, nuts, self-tapping screws, wood screws, retaining rings, washers, pins, rivets, composite parts, SEMs, weld screws. They are used for fastening and are a widely used component type.

2. Overview of China Fastener Industry China’s fastener industry has grown into a large entity through four decades of Chinese economic reform. The country is now a major fastener manufacturer and exporter that lives up to its title with the world’s largest fastener capacity. As the most fundamental and universal mechanical component, fasteners are a critical pillar as an emerging industry under the country’s new tactics. Fasteners are a tactical industry that is capital-intensive and highly technical, with vast market demand and a good prospect. Fasteners are the most widely used mechanical components, used in the automotive, energy, electric, electronics and machinery industries. Assorted fasteners can be seen on various types of equipment, vehicles, ships, railroads, bridges, constructions, and dashboards. Among them, automobiles are the largest application field for fasteners, taking up 23.2%, followed by maintenance

and construction industries taking up 20%, and the electronics industry taking up 16.6%. The last is industrial machines industry taking up 13%, metal products at 11% and others at 16.2%.

3. Market Scale Form 2012 to 2019, the Chinese fastener industry’s revenues continued rising until it peaked in 2017. At the end of 2019, the Chinese fastener industry’s revenues were RMB 122.059 billion. In 2019, the fastener industry was met with various challenges and predicaments. The impact of U.S./China trade war emerged that led to an obvious drop in export. International trade conflicts increased which hampered companies’ export. Material prices were high and increased production costs. Greater supervision on environmental protection demands makeover, relocation and even closure on many companies. High costs in every aspect refrain companies from increasing production and export. The COVID broke out at the start of 2020. Despite a better current situation in China, the pandemic control to prevent viral spread is still difficult. The pandemic is still not under effective control, which will continue to impact fastener production and export. The revenues for 2020 are expected to continue the decline and reach RMB 112.56 billion. With the proactive measures by the Chinese government against the pandemic, the epidemic in the country is under full control and the people can do business as usual. The government is pushing for an industry cycle which is good news for the fastener industry. From the perspective of competition, China’s sizable fastener manufacturers have increased to 7,000. They have started to form an industrial conglomerate which centers on Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Bohai Economic Zone. The fastener industries in these areas take up over 75% of the market share. So far, China’s fastener industry mostly consists of medium and small companies. Fastener World no.187/2021

231

Industry Focus In 2020, China exported 4,069,125 tons of fasteners, down 2.1%, and the export value was USD 8,792,590,000, up 8.1%. The average export price was USD 2.16 thousand per ton. The revenues are expected to bounce up in 2021 to reach RMB 122.54 billion.

These companies have a smaller scale and weaker R&D, and therefore, most products are manufactured for low-end and mid-end fields. However, they lack the advantage in the highly technical high-end industrial market. Therefore, speeding up towards high-end fields will be the mainstream in the future fastener market.

Three Major Challenges for the Fastener Industry (1) Steel price hike leads to evident cost pressure China's steel price dropped and then bounced up. The first quarter of 2020 saw a sluggish steel market nationwide due to the pandemic. The market began to bottom up in April as steel demand increased, and continued to fluctuate upwards. Up to the end of 2020, the national steel price index rose around 26% above the low point. 2020 was indeed a difficult year for the fastener industry. Steel price continued upwards and led to continuous cost surge on fastener companies. There was an economic downturn, the domestic and overseas demand was weak. Trade protectionism was predominant. Trade deals were getting fewer. Factory purchase prices were getting higher and people had to opt for rental. Material costs and price level were going up and shrinked the profit margin. People were stuck in a negative cycle where they feared to purchase equipment when there was no business and they didn’t receive orders because they didn’t purchase equipment. Recruiting workers was difficult, especially technical workers. This is a common problem currently faced by the Chinese companies. Lack of labor persists despite raising the annual wage. Collecting payment is difficult and repayment is slow. Goods payment is delayed by each supplier in the chain. Therefore, it is believed that the fastener companies that pull themselves through the pandemic are the reliable and powerful ones.

(2) Appreciated RMB; More Pressure on Export During the end of 2020 and the start of 2021, it was 6.40~ 6.50 RMB in exchange for USD 1. The rapid RMB appreciation driven by both internal and external factors is a double-edged sword. From a global perspective, this is a need for global fund hedging. The pandemic is still not under effective control and positive tested patients as well as death rate set records every day. Economically, by the World Bank’s estimates, the world economy remained in a state of negative

232

Fastener World no.187/2021

growth in 2020. These all entail urgent global fund hedging. Domestically, this is a manifestation of China’s power. The country’s performance on epidemic control is for all to see. The economic growth rate is turning positive from negative. The country’s burst of consumption demand stimulates the growth of domestic demand and leads to re-evaluating RMB assets. Meanwhile, full work resumption makes for China to quickly dominate the world’s demand for products. Currency appreciation is a double-edged sword that raises RMB asset price on one hand and poses a negative impact on export on the other hand. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain stability, balance and controllability of RMB’s currency value and exchange rates. Despite gradual work resumption and economic recovery in overseas countries, external trade faces pressure from fluctuating exchange rates.

(3) Price War; Malevolent Competition In the backdrop of weakening domestic and overseas demand, the fastener industry competition is turning more intense and white-hot. Besides increased material and labor costs, and decreased domestic and overseas demand, fastener companies have to deal with rival competition. An example is that rivals could sacrifice profits by lowing the price by 15% to gain market share. How should a fastener company react to that? Should the company stick to its price and risk losing clients, or lower to the same price as the rivals’ and strike a deal that loses money? The fastener industry in nature is lowprofit and price-transparent, and malevolent price competition is a common occurrence. However, fastener people must get this straight: There is no end to price competition and the consequence is that no one gets to earn the money! We look up to companies that stick to their brand/quality/ price positions. They are the pillars, future and hope of the industry that are worth the respect. Those that truly earns the respect are not the fastest growing and fastest expanding companies, nor the ones with the largest scale, but the ones that stick to creating business and society values and guard their bottom lines throughout the way. Their existence is a blessing for the industry, society and ourselves! Therefore, the critical corporate and commercial bottom line is sticking to your own product value, commercial value, and the value of your existence.

4. Industry Forecast 2021 is the year for the 14th Five-Year Plan of China. It is of utmost importance to develop the economy the and society well as the first step in China’s development during the 14th Five-Year Plan. This first step has to be precise and steady and draw innovation that brings new progress. In the new phase of development, the fastener industry facilitates its role as a critical infrastructure to realize national industry ecology, digitization, intelligent and high-speed manufacturing, transformation to new momentum, and economic structural symmetry. The industry also sticks to innovative, coordinated, eco-friendly, open and mutual development. This new infrastructure receives attention from all walks of life.

Industry Focus (1) Innovation is the Road Map for Building a Fastener Nation We c a n n o t d e n y t h a t C h i n a i s less c apable of i n novat i ng fa st ener technology which is apparent in its low density of innovative factors, lack of independent innovation, and low added value of products. China is at the low end of the international fastener supply chain, and it uses technologies that are mostly originated from the innovation of overseas cou ntries which Chi na’s fastening technology is often restrained to. Improving the capabilities for innovation requires digesting external technologies and reinventing, and boosting independent innovation for advantageous products to form IPR-driven and critical technologies.

and lowering wind power cost, more and more countries are making their ways into wind power. According to China Wind Power Road Map 2050, the electric capacity of wind power equipment installed in China will be 250,000 megawatts in 2021, 400,000 megawatts in 2030 and 1 million megawatts in 2050. Wind power will cater to 17 % of electric demand by 2050 and become one of the 5 major sources of electricity for China. Fasteners are an indispensable part in wind power and there is a margin for the growth of wind power equipment installation in China and the world. This makes for a vast market for the Chinese fastener manufacturing industry. The government's policies provide a good environment for the fastener industry. In recent years, China’s multiple policies and regulations on wind power scale, growth rate, management, technical standards make a margin for the future development of Chinese wind power. As a fundamental industry

Critical tech nologies a re not just plainly exclusive. They don’t qualify as new, but t hey a re ha rd to master a n d r e pl ic a t e. T hey a r e a s e r ie s of technologies which explain that a company has improved tech nical capabilities, performance, quality and lower costs. They are unique to the company, are the tricks and essence of day-to-day technique, and are effective methods combined. T he Ch i nese fastener compa n ies must elevate in novation capabilities, stick to independent R&D, master core technologies, polish day-to-day technique, and work on technical differentiation. Meanwhile, different corporations should share critical technologies (platforms) and avoid fighting alone.

(2) Chinese Fastener Industry Prospect in the New Phase In 2021, China’s fastener industry enters a new development phase of steady progression where the growth slows down to a pace of 2% to 5%. There is increased improvement on product structures to speed up development of high strength, non-standard mechanical components. There ought to be new breakthrough in critical and fundamental technique. We must grasp the opportunities in electric vehicles, alter native fuel equipment, railroad vehicles, aircraft and aerospace, and develop high strength fasteners made of steel and alloys that are resistant to heat, corrosion and fatigue. The continuous development of wind power industr y provides a great market outlook for the fastener industry. With global increasing awareness on environmental protection Fastener World no.187/2021

233

Industry Focus China’s attention to the wind power industry provides a powerful political support for the fastener industry. High performance, high added value and high strength fasteners must take up 10% of all fastener products. Fastener capacity for 2021 is estimated at 9 to 9.5 million tons, up 2% to 5%.

for h ig h- end equipment ma nu fact u r i ng, t he h ig hstrength fastener industr y plays a cr itical role i n emerging tactical industries.

Table 1 National Standards Related To Fastener Inspection and Production No.

(3) Counting on Technical Innovation to Expand Domestic & Overseas Markets We m u s t s t a y o n t h e track of suppliers structural refor m t his yea r, a nd p u t o u r fo c u s o n s u p p l y management to invigorate the ma rket, find ma rket potentials and create dynamic balance between supply and demand. We must resort to tech nologica l i n novation, combine infor mation, technology and standards, mon it or t he d evelopment of ISO-compliant fastener sta nda rdization to keep China in sync with global standards. Implementing ISO standards is very important in elevating China’s technical level and connect with the world. This is an essential and fundamental national policy. It is necessary to implement new standards (refer to Table 1 fo r n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s related to fastener inspection a nd p r o duct ion), d evelop IT and advanced technical applications, develop new cold for m i ng mach i nes enabled with human-machine i nt er action a nd develop online automatic inspection equ ipment , promot e e co friendly electroplating, and promote new applications for untempered steel.

234

Standard Code

Title of Standard General Rules for Metallographic Examination

Alternative Standard

Effective Date

2018-05-01

GB/T34895-2017 of Heat Treatment

GB/T230.1-2018

Metallic Materials- Rockwell Hardness TestPart 1: Test Method

GB/T230.12009

2018-12-01

GB/T231.1-2018

Metallic Materials- Brinell Hardness TestPart 1: Test Method

GB/T231.12009

2019-02-01

GB/T2975-2018

Steel and Steel Products—Location and Preparation of Samples and Test Pieces for Mechanical Testing

GB/T29751998

2019-02-01

GB/T224-2019

Determination of Depth of Decarburization of Steels.

GB/T2242008

2020-05-01

2020-11-01

2020-10-01

Spheroidite Examination and Grading for Low

2020-11-01

Technical Requirements of Controlled

2020-11-01

General Rules for Metallographic Examination

GB/T38751-2020 of Heat Treatment

GB/T38720-2020 Carbon Steel and Medium-Carbon Alloy

GB/T38770-2020 and Medium Carbon Steels

GB/T38749-2020 Atmosphere Heat Treatment

Microstructure Examination of MediumStructural Steel After Quenching

GB/T3098.232020

Fastener Mechanical Performance: M42~M72 Bolts, Screws, Studs

2020-10-01

GB/T3098.242020

Mechanical Properties of Fasteners—Stainless Steel and Nickel Alloys Bolts, Screws, Studs and Nuts for High Temperature Applications

2021-06-01

GB/T3098.252020

Mechanical Properties of Fasteners— Guidance for the Selection of Stainless Steels and Nickel Alloys for Fasteners

2021-06-01

GB/T229-2020

Charpy Pendulum Impact Test Method for Metals

GB/T2292007

2021-04-01

Heat Treatment of Stainless Steel And Heat-

GB/T39191-2020 Resistant Steel

2021-05-01

GB/T39192-2020 Heat Treatment of High Temperature Alloys

2021-05-01

GB/T39194-2020 Vacuum Low Pressure Carburizing and high

2021-02-01

GB/T39130-2020 Property for Galvanized Steel Sheet

Test Methods of Determination of Adhesive

2021-05-01

GB/T39039-2020 Delayed Fracture of High Strength Steels

Evaluation Method for Hydrogen-induced

2021-02-01

GB/T13912-2020 Coatings on Fabricated Iron and Steel

GB/T139122002

2021-05-01

GB/T11376-2020 Phosphate Conversion Coating of Metals

GB/T113761997

2021-05-01

GB/T38807-2020 Stainless Steels

General Specification for Super Austenitic

2021-01-01

GB/T39033-2020 Rods

Austenitic-ferritic Duplex Stainless Steel Wire

2021-02-01

Fastener World no.187/2021

Technical Requirement of Heat Treatment for Pressure Gas Quenching Furnace.

Metallic Coatings--Hot Dip Galvanized Articles--Specifications and Test Methods Metallic and Other Inorganic Coatings—

Industry Focus

U.S. Fasteners Trade with Turkey by Sabrina Rodriguez

An analysis on U.S fastener trade from Turkey. Has the U.S. increased their fastener imports from Turkey? How much does the U.S. export to Turkey? Which U.S. companies are leading in fastener trade with Turkey? Data note: The data for this article is derived from the US Census trade statistics. US Import and Export Census trade statistics is based on all modes of transportation. That value is calculated in USD by CIF (imports). In this article fasteners are defined as any product under HS Code 7318 (screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws, rivets, cotters, cotter pins, washers and similar articles or iron or steel), as well as the subcategories of 7318. United States - Import 2016-2019 Import Origin

2016 USD

Taiwan

1,512,763,809 31.62

China Japan

2017 KG

USD

544,975,268

36.03 1,695,177,002

1,089,267,219 22.77

552,585,092

36.53 1,229,973,800

645,603,874 13.50

136,998,245

9.06

648,194,818

2018 KG

USD

32.80

572,892,820

37.05 1,935,363,130

23.80

577,920,267

37.37 1,630,859,894

12.55

96,792,773

6.26

644,506,115

% 32.10

2019 KG

USD

642,108,310

36.03 2,017,113,212

27.05

703,375,316

39.46 1,207,846,153

10.69

101,606,714

5.71

648,298,263

% 34.53

647,320,640

39.50

20.68

516,843,311

31.54

11.10

100,429,867

6.13

Germany

304,531,405

6.37

37,775,762

2.50

297,601,078

5.76

34,902,355

2.26

344,921,221

5.73

32,657,036

1.84

381,542,652

6.54

46,957,565

2.87

Canada

263,340,402

5.51

58,970,087

3.90

277,584,037

5.38

66,367,145

4.30

313,533,514

5.21

76,422,263

4.29

315,553,400

5.41

73,544,433

4.49

S. Korea

220,695,373

4.62

45,536,620

3.01

188,722,047

3.66

42,404,509

2.75

198,057,295

3.29

45,024,072

2.53

197,953,133

3.39

43,288,996

2.65

Mexico

105,183,837

2.20

12,552,726

0.83

110,837,933

2.15

12,593,742

0.82

121,771,895

2.02

13,636,933

0.77

132,206,656

2.27

12,899,674

0.79

Italy

103,507,730

2.17

15,010,621

1.00

139,830,777

2.71

20,744,214

1.35

161,124,929

2.68

22,662,888

1.28

150,498,031

2.58

19,697,076

1.21

India

94,439,645

1.98

46,518,739

3.08

99,159,729

1.92

49,848,457

3.23

124,494,325

2.07

54,607,876

3.07

155,067,539

2.66

61,184,524

3.74

France

83,194,275

1.74

3,622,410

0.24

88,195,580

1.71

4,399,425

0.29

87,583,105

1.46

4,368,457

0.25

89,293,822

1.53

3,372,924

0.21

United Kingdom

63,050,998

1.32

3,148,364

0.21

65,177,138

1.27

3,830,219

0.25

81,459,330

1.36

4,099,660

0.23

89,547,877

1.54

5,784,994

0.36

Thailand

55,253,123

1.16

22,327,066

1.48

64,834,787

1.26

24,160,324

1.57

84,438,487

1.41

28,596,628

1.61

88,549,925

1.52

30,462,423

1.86

Switzerland

30,316,776

0.64

1,050,951

0.07

34,541,920

0.67

1,532,972

0.10

33,629,670

0.56

1,265,788

0.08

32,178,307

0.56

2,456,966

0.15

Spain

22,526,535

0.48

2,987,871

0.20

18,788,155

0.37

1,923,122

0.13

20,661,358

0.35

2,898,303

0.17

28,863,974

0.50

3,689,273

0.23

Sweden

17,418,991

0.37

1,359,095

0.09

19,773,650

0.39

1,722,760

0.12

23,747,818

0.40

2,329,453

0.14

27,416,741

0.47

2,007,121

0.13

Vietnam

16,366,298

0.35

7,741,855

0.52

25,133,552

0.49

10,430,327

0.68

31,008,738

0.52

22,914,488

1.29

67,618,847

1.16

34,435,183

2.11

Netherlands

11,920,220

0.25

1,349,725

0.09

13,289,395

0.26

1,905,159

0.13

13,059,102

0.22

937,895

0.06

14,493,796

0.25

1,505,760

0.10

Czech Republic

11,874,307

0.25

1,180,848

0.08

13,284,723

0.26

1,591,710

0.11

15,682,317

0.27

1,500,867

0.09

17,009,804

0.30

1,831,772

0.12

Liechtenstein

11,308,143

0.24

1,663,662

0.11

10,836,125

0.21

1,451,596

0.10

11,169,713

0.19

1,193,420

0.07

15,222,401

0.27

1,626,967

0.10

Norway

11,191,675

0.24

1,036,765

0.07

4,102,565

0.08

650,751

0.05

4,269,514

0.08

582,967

0.04

10,249,657

0.18

639,656

0.04

Turkey

10,778,560

0.23

883,127

0.06

12,573,307

0.25

1,066,591

0.07

18,237,064

0.31

2,119,310

0.12

21,568,175

0.37

2,891,546

0.18

Total

4,785,685,901 100.00 1,512,964,397 100.00 5,168,791,299 100.00 1,546,678,148 100.00 6,029,489,521 100.00 1,782,518,912 100.00 5,841,885,221 100.00 1,638,796,650 100.00

Fastener World no.187/2021

235

Industry Focus U.S. Imports from Turkey

When considering the U.S.’s major trading partners the immediate assumption is China and Southeast Asia, but data shows many other countries are involved in fastener trade with the U.S. Amongst these countries is Turkey, an Asian country located on the Mediterranean Sea and bordering several middle eastern countries. In 2019, the U.S. imported a total of 21,569,175 USD worth of fasteners from Turkey, making it the 18th largest trading partner for the U.S. Turkey accounted for a mere 0.37% of the total value of fasteners imported into the U.S. in 2019. Similarly, the U.S. exports fasteners, and in 2019 the U.S. exported a total value of 30,408,604 USD, ranking Turkey as the 16th largest fastener buyer in the world and accounting for 0.69% of the total value of U.S. fastener exports.

U.S. fastener imports from Turkey have gone from a total of 10,778,560 USD in 2016 to 21,568,175 USD i n 2019 a nd i nc r e a se d ever y ye a r du r i ng that per iod. Amongst the subcategories that increased the most significantly during this period are 731815 and 731829. During the first 10 months of 2020, 731815 had already reached a t o t a l va lu e of 12 , 6 8 8 , 0 9 2 USD by comparison to full year 2019 which had a total value of

Even though Turkey is a relatively small trading partner for the U.S., many recognized companies are sourcing fasteners from Turkey. Amongst these U.S. companies importing the largest quantity of fasteners from Turkey are Norm Fasteners, Tesla Motors and Livingston International. Like many U.S. companies, the last several years have become tumultuous for sourcing commodities from China due to the trade wars and increased tariffs. It is possible that many of these U.S. companies were previously sourcing from China but had to procure suppliers in other countries where they would ultimately pay less tariffs. In Turkey, the top companies exporting fasteners to the U.S. are Norm Civata San Tic, Pergamon Status Di Tcaret and Taskazan Somun Civata. United States - Import from Turkey 2016-2019 731815 - Threaded screws and bolts others, with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel 731829 - Nonthreaded articles (fasteners) others, of iron or steel 731816 - Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel 731812 - Wood screws other than coach screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731822 - Washers, other than lock washers, of iron or steel 731821 - Spring washers and other lock washers, of iron or steel Product HS (6)

2016 %

USD

731815

3,759,890

34.89

731824 - Cotters and cotter pins, of iron or steel 731819 - Threaded articles of iron or steel others 731814 - Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731823 - Rivets of iron or steel 731813 - Screw hooks and screw rings, threaded, of iron or steel

2017 KG

USD

373,373

42.28

4,617,292

% 36.73

2018 KG 508,343

2019

USD

47.67

7,687,741

42.16

1,053,036

USD

49.69

10,442,701

48.42 1,869,252

% 64.65

731829

2,313,048

21.46

26,826

3.04

2,481,752

19.74

14,103

1.33

3,533,092

19.38

173,114

8.17

5,159,274

23.93

226,707

7.85

731816

1,351,654.00

12.55

61,811

7.00

1,737,194

13.82

105,728

9.92

3,179,896

17.44

481,684

22.73

3,811,528

17.68

628,066

21.73

731812

1,102,610.00

10.23

311,540

35.28

905,460

7.21

267,568

25.09

1,005,753

5.52

279,234

13.18

445,183

2.07

91,617

3.17

731822

980,093.00

9.10

47,441

5.38

676,355

5.38

32,035

3.01

578,912

3.18

27,460

1.30

721,974

3.35

47,113

1.63

731821

489,585.00

4.55

21,804

2.47

1,639,253

13.04

64,252

6.03

1,879,880

10.31

79,542

3.76

471,227

2.19

8,888

0.31

731824

451,288.00

4.19

1,311

0.15

200,494

1.60

13,385

1.26

120,385

0.67

14,945

0.71

82,603

0.39

3,447

0.12

731819

215,347.00

2.00

26,208

2.97

176,991

1.41

45,626

4.28

163,166

0.90

1,893

0.09

301,006

1.40

5,553

0.20

731814

95,630.00

0.89

12,742

1.45

111,397

0.89

15,086

1.42

76,787

0.43

7,775

0.37

120,421

0.56

10,467

0.37

731823

11,517.00

0.11

0.01

17,583

0.14

327

0.04

7,040

0.04

500

0.03

7,874

0.04

317

0.02

7,898.00

0.08

0.01

9,536

0.08

138

0.02

4,412

0.03

127

0.01

4,384

0.03

119

0.01

1,066,591 100.00 18,237,064 100.00

2,119,310

100.00

21,568,175

100.00 2,891,546

100.00

731813 Total

10,778,560.00 100.00

883,127 100.00

12,573,307 100.00

United States - Import 2019 vs 2020 Import Origin Taiwan

1,730,195,612

China Japan

34.67

554,900,849

39.60

1,045,570,878

20.95

445,675,146

31.80

547,735,693

10.98

84,386,825

6.03

USD

01/01/2020 - 10/30/2020 % KG

1,549,273,217

USD

Volume Change % KG

(180,922,395) -10.46

(50,086,288)

36.93

504,814,561

40.88

-9.03

754,898,482

18.00

350,130,294

28.36

(290,672,396) -27.81

(95,544,852) -21.44

421,231,244

10.05

65,463,599

5.31

(126,504,449) -23.10

(18,923,226) -22.43

Germany

322,444,156

6.47

39,691,640

2.84

290,569,969

6.93

35,366,467

2.87

(31,874,187)

-9.89

(4,325,173) -10.90

Canada

270,597,626

5.43

63,316,565

4.52

217,952,379

5.20

45,153,937

3.66

(52,645,247) -19.46

(18,162,628) -28.69

S. Korea

167,068,005

3.35

35,832,214

2.56

148,087,118

3.53

53,111,234

4.31

(18,980,887) -11.37

17,279,020

India

132,575,433

2.66

52,414,943

3.74

93,923,087

2.24

45,600,451

3.70

(38,652,346) -29.16

(6,814,492) -13.01 (2,968,312) -17.77

Italy

127,165,643

2.55

16,707,893

1.20

116,687,040

2.79

13,739,581

1.12

(10,478,603)

113,047,338

2.27

10,881,127

0.78

95,578,556

2.28

11,396,506

0.93

(17,468,782) -15.46

515,379

4.74

Thailand

75,336,981

1.51

25,846,628

1.85

67,571,140

1.62

24,116,886

1.96

(7,765,841) -10.31

(1,729,742)

-6.70

614,988

12.70

United Kingdom

74,742,510

1.50

4,844,421

0.35

72,160,376

1.73

5,459,409

0.45

France

74,155,091

1.49

2,953,452

0.22

61,362,846

1.47

2,084,472

0.17

Vietnam

58,150,750

1.17

29,450,398

2.11

62,471,349

1.49

34,342,589

2.79

Switzerland

27,404,433

0.55

1,244,475

0.09

24,477,945

0.59

1,055,806

0.09

(2,582,134)

-8.25

48.23

Mexico

-3.46

(12,792,245) -17.26 4,320,599

7.43

(2,926,488) -10.68

4,892,191

16.62

(188,669) -15.17

Spain

24,689,590

0.50

3,190,973

0.23

28,120,639

0.68

3,721,231

0.31

13.90

530,258

16.62

20,443,167

0.41

7,179,147

0.52

15,337,311

0.37

7,150,375

0.58

(5,105,856) -24.98

(28,772)

-0.41

Sweden

20,128,526

0.41

1,694,983

0.13

15,197,660

0.37

900,002

0.08

(4,930,866) -24.50

Turkey

18,584,902

0.38

2,478,835

0.18

21,883,079

0.53

3,167,036

0.26

4,990,864,166 100.00

Fastener World no.187/2021

1,401,592,330 100.00

4,195,245,847 100.00

1,234,883,070 100.00

3,431,049

(868,980) -29.43

Malaysia

Total

236

USD

01/01/2019 - 10/31/2019 % KG

3,298,177

17.75

(795,618,319) -15.95

(794,981) -46.91 688,201

27.77

(166,709,260) -11.90

Industry Focus United States - Import from Turkey 2019 vs 2020 731815 - Threaded screws and bolts others, with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel 731829 - Nonthreaded articles (fasteners) others, of iron or steel 731816 - Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel 731822 - Washers, other than lock washers, of iron or steel 731812 - Wood screws other than coach screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731821 - Spring washers and other lock washers, of iron or steel Product HS (6)

01/01/2019 - 10/31/2019 % KG

USD

731819 - Threaded articles of iron or steel others 731814 - Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731824 - Cotters and cotter pins, of iron or steel 731823 - Rivets of iron or steel 731813 - Screw hooks and screw rings, threaded, of iron or steel

01/01/2020 - 10/30/2020 % KG

USD

63.75

12,688,092

57.99

3,955,071

45.29

660,483

41.80 -76.92

USD

70.75

731815

8,733,021

46.99

1,580,176

731829

4,763,584

25.64

217,975

8.80

4,057,799

18.55

50,310

1.59

(705,785)

-14.82

(167,665)

731816

3,183,189

17.13

521,647

21.05

3,921,586

17.93

835,380

26.38

738,397

23.20

313,733

60.15

731822

639,474

3.45

43,131

1.74

325,326

1.49

13,191

0.42

(314,148)

-49.13

(29,940)

-69.42

731812

445,183

2.40

91,617

3.70

0.00

(445,183)

-100.00

(91,617)

-100.00

731821

379,831

2.05

7,273

0.30

246,469

1.13

1,408

0.05

(133,362)

-35.12

(5,865)

-80.65

731819

266,030

1.44

5,324

0.22

394,660

1.81

5,583

0.18

128,630

48.36

259

4.87

731814

96,110

0.52

8,438

0.35

134,932

0.62

10,809

0.35

38,822

40.40

2,371

28.10

731824

66,222

0.36

2,818

0.12

62,361

0.29

2,470

0.08

(3,861)

-5.84

(348)

-12.35

731823

7,874

0.05

317

0.02

51,854

0.24

7,226

0.23

43,980

558.55

6,909

2,179.50

731813 Total

2,240,659

Volume Change % KG

4,384

0.03

119

0.01

0.00

(4,384)

-100.00

(119)

-100.00

18,584,902

100.00

2,478,835

100.00

21,883,079

100.00

3,167,036

100.00

3,298,177

17.75

688,201

27.77

10,442,701 USD. 731816 has been on a continuous rise since 2016, demonstrating the biggest increase in 2018 when the total value increased to 3,179,896 USD from 1,737,194 USD in 2017. Other subcategories of fasteners have decreased total value over the years and have proven to be more unstable than others. 731822, 731821 and 731824 have proven to be extremely unstable with total yearly values increasing and decreasing sporadically over the years. As predicted, trade was impacted during the first 10 months of 2020 by COVID-19 and many subcategories of fastener imports from Turkey decreased significantly. However, the overall total of fastener imports increased by 17% during the first 10 months of 2020 by comparison to the first 10 months of 2019. Subcategory 731819 increased the most in 2020 by 48% when compared to 2019, followed by 731815 which increased by 45% in 2020. Most fastener imports have traditionally been imported through the predominant eastern seaboard ports and gulf ports. Amongst the top three importing fasteners into the U.S. during 2019 were the ports of Philadelphia, Dallas Fort-Worth and New York City. Imports into the port of Philadelphia decreased by 48% during the first 10 months of 2020 by comparison to the same time frame in United States - Export 2016-2019 Export Destination

2016 USD

2017 KG

USD

2018 KG

USD

2019 KG

USD

Mexico

1,314,654,296 32.25

203,863,541 28.04 1,412,953,785 32.74

222,665,666 28.46 1,499,699,725 34.49

231,263,430 29.89 1,528,570,326 34.77

218,810,790 28.27

Canada

1,005,906,068 24.68

408,775,729 56.23 1,048,308,919 24.29

441,917,998 56.49 1,115,481,725 25.66

428,795,685

456,623,732

55.41 1,142,383,822 25.99

59.00

Brazil

299,423,733

7.35

7,366,754

1.02

293,671,098

6.81

9,298,870

1.19

92,605,918

2.13

8,267,540

1.07

109,464,772

2.49

10,875,768

1.41

China

190,075,624

4.67

23,026,246

3.17

214,463,469

4.97

25,026,182

3.20

204,021,437

4.70

18,255,470

2.36

183,175,516

4.17

9,689,066

1.26

United Kingdom

163,622,895

4.02

10,139,488

1.40

164,221,037

3.81

10,389,620

1.33

168,552,437

3.88

9,778,718

1.27

160,267,016

3.65

7,519,342

0.98

Germany

117,867,815

2.90

8,241,516

1.14

121,337,992

2.82

8,199,628

1.05

116,394,757

2.68

8,073,587

1.05

123,712,184

2.82

8,101,157

1.05

France

111,789,548

2.75

3,187,001

0.44

107,454,702

2.49

2,357,514

0.31

103,682,248

2.39

2,747,118

0.36

89,890,788

2.05

2,293,625

0.30

Japan

83,231,548

2.05

3,921,081

0.54

76,326,006

1.77

3,411,218

0.44

91,433,597

2.11

3,122,248

0.41

98,481,641

2.24

3,307,978

0.43

Singapore

77,791,434

1.91

4,137,691

0.57

86,775,503

2.02

3,449,250

0.45

96,586,451

2.23

3,443,820

0.45

104,546,228

2.38

3,654,153

0.48 0.46

S. Korea

65,706,333

1.62

4,044,874

0.56

83,023,821

1.93

3,976,045

0.51

89,653,958

2.07

4,325,897

0.56

88,427,189

2.02

3,487,393

Australia

53,263,745

1.31

2,786,774

0.39

72,189,571

1.68

3,479,478

0.45

72,274,354

1.67

3,659,816

0.48

73,097,950

1.67

4,522,533

0.59

Netherlands

33,750,636

0.83

3,443,941

0.48

33,171,802

0.77

3,306,741

0.43

38,618,921

0.89

3,795,089

0.50

32,977,306

0.76

2,950,051

0.39 0.28

Italy

33,209,728

0.82

1,757,287

0.25

37,137,615

0.87

2,119,679

0.28

34,639,767

0.80

1,803,799

0.24

34,726,324

0.79

2,166,257

Spain

30,730,216

0.76

3,285,002

0.46

32,885,566

0.77

3,300,002

0.43

37,386,332

0.86

3,404,930

0.44

36,080,842

0.83

2,342,826

0.31

Thailand

23,321,083

0.58

3,200,664

0.45

23,171,450

0.54

3,634,594

0.47

22,883,037

0.53

3,655,844

0.48

24,874,744

0.57

3,372,673

0.44

United Arab Emirates

22,936,285

0.57

940,348

0.13

22,643,101

0.53

899,110

0.12

20,374,007

0.47

1,187,955

0.16

29,313,035

0.67

1,182,518

0.16

India

22,924,971

0.57

2,311,975

0.32

35,445,913

0.83

3,051,150

0.39

36,818,357

0.85

3,515,981

0.46

34,232,691

0.78

2,758,027

0.36

Poland

22,508,002

0.56

1,625,661

0.23

18,409,414

0.43

1,260,218

0.17

14,413,722

0.34

1,145,676

0.15

16,008,810

0.37

1,183,284

0.16

Saudi Arabia

21,778,212

0.54

3,460,850

0.48

15,524,574

0.36

818,903

0.11

19,903,451

0.46

798,031

0.11

14,742,262

0.34

495,880

0.07 0.32

Chile

21,298,239

0.53

1,499,717

0.21

23,841,660

0.56

1,577,473

0.21

39,048,715

0.90

2,153,134

0.28

28,638,189

0.66

2,475,660

Taiwan

21,065,784

0.52

1,258,158

0.18

22,086,685

0.52

972,397

0.13

24,694,832

0.57

1,306,861

0.17

25,915,750

0.59

1,003,335

0.13

Switzerland

18,570,800

0.46

406,269

0.06

19,966,956

0.47

498,147

0.07

17,683,950

0.41

419,670

0.06

18,504,669

0.43

390,800

0.06

Turkey

18,288,485

0.45

2,093,034

0.29

24,796,937

0.58

2,835,622

0.37

27,532,794

0.64

2,809,592

0.37

30,408,604

0.70

2,660,071

0.35

Total

4,076,555,511 100.00

727,053,375 100.00 4,316,300,639 100.00

782,429,289 100.00 4,348,457,743 100.00

773,885,156 100.00 4,396,938,196 100.00

774,017,702 100.00

Fastener World no.187/2021

237

Industry Focus United States - Export to Turkey 2016-2019 731815 - Threaded screws and bolts others, with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel 731816 - Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel 731829 - Nonthreaded articles (fasteners) others, of iron or steel 731819 - Threaded articles of iron or steel others 731823 - Rivets of iron or steel 2016

Product HS (6)

731822 - Washers, other than lock washers, of iron or steel 731814 - Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731824 - Cotters and cotter pins, of iron or steel 731821 - Spring washers and other lock washers, of iron or steel 731811 - Coach screws, threaded, of iron or stee

2017

2018

2019

USD

731815

9,752,357

53.33

1,726,986

82.52

12,964,678

52.29

2,352,834

82.98

13,416,277

48.73

2,083,327

731816

3,141,935

17.18

71,575

3.42

5,064,509

20.43

151,214

5.34

6,218,007

22.59

203,514

7.25

7,247,132

731829

2,689,224

14.71

73,976

3.54

2,973,552

12.00

66,815

2.36

2,583,719

9.39

50,763

1.81

2,807,121

731819

744,419

4.08

25,689

1.23

1,873,899

7.56

108,268

3.82

2,165,339

7.87

275,312

9.80

731823

714,996

3.91

32,152

1.54

528,974

2.14

16,949

0.60

738,397

2.69

24,097

731822

450,819

2.47

52,545

2.52

615,254

2.49

69,306

2.45

1,431,658

5.20

89,020

731814

382,036

2.09

80,923

3.87

210,194

0.85

23,421

0.83

288,976

1.05

731824

237,749

1.30

20,497

0.98

371,244

1.50

34,224

1.21

489,910

731821

161,650

0.89

7,504

0.36

86,624

0.35

3,102

0.11

731811

13,300

0.08

1,187

0.06

83,533

0.34

7,458

18,288,485

100.00

2,093,034

100.00

24,796,937

100.00

2,835,622

Total

USD

46.83

1,881,466

70.73

23.84

64,219

2.42

9.24

103,696

3.90

2,813,748

9.26

290,907

10.94

0.86

725,761

2.39

27,889

1.05

3.17

1,915,487

6.30

231,757

8.72

30,500

1.09

255,665

0.85

30,753

1.16

1.78

44,759

1.60

272,218

0.90

25,608

0.97

168,199

0.62

6,125

0.22

106,501

0.36

2,192

0.09

0.27

5,383

0.02

750

0.03

15,613

0.06

1,169

0.05

100.00

27,532,794

100.00

2,809,592

100.00 30,408,604 100.00

2,660,071

100.00

74.16 14,239,990

2019. Meanwhile, imports into Dallas Fort-Worth and New York City increased in 2020. Port of San Francisco increased their fastener imports from Turkey by 1.167% during the first 10 months of 2020, totaling a value of 2,926,158 USD compared to 43,738 USD in 2019. Port of Miami demonstrated a similar increase in 2020, going from 102,646 USD in 2019 to 2,479,959 USD in 2020. That increase of 2.316% proved to be the most significant in 2020.

U.S. Exports to Turkey While the U.S. is not known to be one of the major global exporters of steel or fastener products, fastener exports to Turkey have increased over the years. In 2016, U.S. exports to Turkey totaled 18,288,485 USD and reached 30,408,604 USD in 2019. The total during the first 10 months of 2020 was 26,389,164 USD which was slightly lower than 2019, but 8% higher than the total in 2019 during the same period. Subcategories 731815, 731816, 731819 and 731822 all showed increases between 2016 and 2019, while subcategories 731823 and 731814 showed either decreases over the years or erratic changes over the years. During the first 10 months of 2020, the U.S. exported over 8% by comparison to that same period in 2019. 731816 increased by a total of 29%, 731829 by nearly 46% and 781821 by a staggering 362%. Most of the other subcategories of fasteners decreased in 2020, for example 731823 decreased by 46% and 731814 decreased by 77%. The U.S. ports that exported the highest quantity of fasteners to Turkey in 2019 were the ports of New York City and Norfolk, and in 2020 the quantities and values decreased significantly. The port of New York City decreased in value by 22% which was 2,165,774 USD and the port of Norfolk decreased by 35% which was 1,137,081 USD. Other ports such as port of Miami, port of Washington DC and port of Los Angeles also showed decreases in 2020. The port that showed the most significant increase in 2020 was the port of Houston Galveston which increased by 986%, or 4,889,458 USD. New Orleans had a similar increase in 2020 of 264%, or 261,165 USD. United States - Export 2019 vs 2020 Export Destination Mexico

USD

01/01/2019 - 10/31/2019 % KG

1,303,889,387

35.15

189,547,028

28.72

Canada

972,560,013

26.22

388,286,791

China

152,910,121

4.13

7,978,643

USD

01/01/2020 - 10/30/2020 % KG

USD

Volume Change % KG

989,990,265

32.99

137,161,459

23.32

(313,899,122)

-24.08

(52,385,569)

-27.64

58.84

776,131,334

25.86

383,613,338

65.22

(196,428,679)

-20.20

(4,673,453)

-1.21

1.21

148,601,869

4.96

9,761,856

1.66

(4,308,252)

-2.82

1,783,213

22.35

United Kingdom

132,819,716

3.59

6,400,537

0.97

108,633,220

3.62

4,498,303

0.77

(24,186,496)

-18.22

(1,902,234)

-29.72

Germany

101,169,387

2.73

6,833,655

1.04

84,643,470

2.83

4,540,697

0.78

(16,525,917)

-16.34

(2,292,958)

-33.56

Brazil

92,895,906

2.51

9,214,839

1.40

75,124,277

2.51

7,288,680

1.24

(17,771,629)

-19.14

(1,926,159)

-20.91

Singapore

87,562,739

2.37

3,002,876

0.46

62,992,171

2.10

2,037,981

0.35

(24,570,568)

-28.07

(964,895)

-32.14

Japan

83,281,959

2.25

2,816,929

0.43

73,724,632

2.46

2,422,192

0.42

(9,557,327)

-11.48

(394,737)

-14.02

France

73,385,052

1.98

1,919,787

0.30

69,962,188

2.34

1,674,269

0.29

(3,422,864)

-4.67

(245,518)

-12.79

S. Korea

71,947,317

1.94

2,883,128

0.44

63,736,301

2.13

2,573,542

0.44

(8,211,016)

-11.42

(309,586)

-10.74

Australia

61,070,839

1.65

3,710,117

0.57

53,894,184

1.80

2,527,825

0.43

(7,176,655)

-11.76

(1,182,292)

-31.87

Spain

30,873,533

0.84

2,009,032

0.31

14,707,085

0.50

1,253,654

0.22

(16,166,448)

-52.37

(755,378)

-37.60

India

29,280,818

0.79

2,417,999

0.37

21,953,313

0.74

1,778,315

0.31

(7,327,505)

-25.03

(639,684)

-26.46

Netherlands

27,902,134

0.76

2,553,591

0.39

24,165,484

0.81

1,980,746

0.34

(3,736,650)

-13.40

(572,845)

-22.44

Italy

27,370,398

0.74

1,621,850

0.25

26,122,871

0.88

1,365,177

0.24

(1,247,527)

-4.56

(256,673)

-15.83

Turkey

24,389,428

0.66

2,175,840

0.33

26,389,164

0.88

1,568,722

0.27

1,999,736

8.20

(607,118)

-27.91

3,709,534,962

100.00

660,009,601

100.00

3,001,409,198

100.00

588,200,745

100.00

(708,125,764)

-19.09

(71,808,856)

-10.88

Total

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Industry Focus United States - Export to Turkey 2019 vs 2020 731815 - Threaded screws and bolts others, with or without their nuts or washers, of iron or steel 731816 - Nuts, threaded, of iron or steel 731829 - Nonthreaded articles (fasteners) others, of iron or steel 731819 - Threaded articles of iron or steel others 731822 - Washers, other than lock washers, of iron or steel 731823 - Rivets of iron or steel Product HS (6)

USD

01/01/2019 - 10/31/2019 % KG

USD

731824 - Cotters and cotter pins, of iron or steel 731814 - Self-tapping screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731821 - Spring washers and other lock washers, of iron or steel 731811 - Coach screws, threaded, of iron or steel 731813 - Screw hooks and screw rings, threaded, of iron or steel

01/01/2020 - 10/30/2020 % KG

USD

Volume Change % KG

731815

11,086,443

45.46

1,555,988

71.52

10,462,614

39.65

931,808

59.40

(623,829)

-5.63

731816

5,958,453

24.44

52,782

2.43

7,697,593

29.17

104,376

6.66

1,739,140

731829

2,430,692

9.97

79,758

3.67

3,547,314

13.45

74,456

4.75

1,116,622

731819

2,313,358

9.49

241,243

11.09

2,439,442

9.25

280,746

17.90

731822

1,364,859

5.60

166,219

7.64

1,151,260

4.37

109,092

731823

626,221

2.57

24,457

1.13

333,340

1.27

13,876

731824

258,656

1.07

24,566

1.13

270,087

1.03

731814

234,486

0.97

27,457

1.27

53,408

731821

91,279

0.38

1,786

0.09

731811

15,613

0.07

1,169

0.06

731813

9,368

0.04

415

24,389,428

100.00

2,175,840

Total

(624,180)

-40.12

29.19

51,594

97.75

45.94

(5,302)

-6.65

126,084

5.46

39,503

16.38

6.96

(213,599)

-15.65

(57,127)

-34.37

0.89

(292,881)

-46.77

(10,581)

-43.27

26,025

1.66

11,431

4.42

1,459

5.94

0.21

8,161

0.53

(181,078)

-77.23

(19,296)

-70.28

422,427

1.61

19,346

1.24

331,148

362.79

17,560

983.21

6,010

0.03

536

0.04

(9,603)

-61.51

(633)

-54.15

0.02

0.00

(9,368)

-100.00

(415)

-100.00

100.00

26,389,164

100.00

1,568,722

100.00

1,999,736

8.20

(607,118)

-27.91

The Future for U.S. Fastener Trade with Turkey There has been a heavy focus on trade during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the underlying impact on international trade. Unlike many countries exporting fasteners to the U.S., Turkey was amongst the few that increased their exports to the U.S. during 2020 by nearly 18%. During the first 10 months of 2020, the U.S. imported a total of 21,883,079 USD of fasteners by comparison to 18,584,902 USD during the same period in 2019. The U.S. reduced their fastener exports to the world by 19% during the first 10 months of 2020 when compared to the first 10 months of 2019. U.S. exports to Turkey increased from 24,389,428 USD in 2019 to 26,389,164 USD in 2020 accounting for an 8.2% increase. The pandemic may not be declared over for several more months, but trade has already started to normalize. The last two months of 2020 may prove to be some of the strongest in 2020 while companies continue to regulate their supply and demand.

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Company Focus

Wei Chan Co., Ltd. Dies Manufacturer with Superb Craftsmanship by Dean Tseng, Fastener World

Laser Focus on Assorted Punches & Dies Wei Chan located in Alian District of Kauhsiung City, the fastener heartland of Taiwan, is a punch and die manufacturer with 27 years of industry expertise. For years, its product line has been expanding. Now it provides industrial and automotive customers with nut dies, tungsten carbide dies, cold/hot forged dies, special dies, ultra-hard dies, wire drawing dies, nut punches and customized punches.

Craftsmanship & Durability The company has a dozen of manufacturing machines including conventional and automated processing machines. One of them is a vertical machining center purchased from the international TongTai Group which features efficient cutting, stable machining, high precision and supports customized machining. The manufacturing area contains EDM machines and polishing machines operated by well-trained technical personnel with experience in machining. The company is particular about quality of punches and dies and produces durable quality products for customers. With Wei Chan’s products, customers can save the cost of frequent punch and die replacement and increase their fastener and special parts capacity. “We are based on craftsmanship. We seek superb quality and profession. We continue to innovate and customize our manufacturing process to provide quality punches and dies. Since we started the company, this has remained unchanged throughout our manufacturing process from product development to quality control of finished products and prompt punctual delivery.”

Riding the Domestic Market Rebound, Getting Ready to Satisfy Overseas Customers Taiwan Institute of Economic Research forecasts Taiwan’s economic growth for 2021 at 4.3%. The momentum of Taiwanese manufacturing remains robust. Thanks to the effective domestic public health system, the past year saw continuous construction of infrastructure and a vibrant housing market. The Taiwanese market is on the path of regaining fastener demand. Wei Chan expects the fastener demand to drive its punch and die sales. It hopes to get ready by optimizing capacity and customizing manufacturing so as to provide overseas customers with quality products from Taiwan as soon as other countries in the world reopen their borders.

Contact: Mrs. Shin-In Tsai E-mail: we6331589@gmail.com

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Company Focus

Multiply Your Fastener Capacity with Infinix Tungsten Steel Dies

& Segmented Dies I

nfinix has a 2,000 square meters o f p l a n t i n Ta i n a n C i t y w h i c h manufactures punches, punch dies, cutters, fingers, ejector pins and other assorted dies. It provides clients with one-stop purchase of dies used for manufacturing screws and nuts. A well-known dies company in southern Taiwan, Infinix serves the automotive, aerospace, energy and construction industries. With the company’s onestop service, clients are free from the trouble of searching and comparing suppliers, and therefore save more time. Additionally, the company uses ERP on its production line and management process. Its self-developed management syst em wh ich c ombi nes E R P a nd MES can utilize big data analysis to provide information on production to effectively improve human operation and production efficiency.

by Dean Tseng, Fastener World

Tungsten Steel Dies & Segmented Dies with Longer Service Life An average steel punch can produce roughly 150 thousand socket hex cap screws. The Infinix tungsten steel hex punch sustains longer and works more efficiently with 10 times productivity that allows to produce 1.5 million tungsten steel hex punches. Furthermore, an average punch die produces 4 million hex nuts. The Infinix segmented die by design can produce 13 million hex nuts, up 225%. With its selfdeveloped grinding machine, the company can process thermally hardened materials into punches in one manufacturing procedure. This will significantly streamline the production and reduce the cost to make products more price competitive.

Punch Precision Reaching 0.005mm Tolerance The company has 30 years of experience in dies manufacture. In its formative years, it purchased automated equipment from Japan including MAZAK 5-axle CNC machines, SEIBU wire cutters, coupled with software such as NX CAD/CAM, SMARTCAM, and SOLIDWORK CAD/CAM. The Japanese equipment is more precise with good machining efficiency so that Infinix can produce products within the 0.01mm tolerance range. The company also has self-developed machines to produce punches reaching the 0.005mm tolerance.

Customized Service to Drive Global Expansion Infinix features customized service offering small batch and diversified products. It not only manufactures dies but also provides consulting service to recommend die materials to customers, get their feedback and make improvement. Besides the American and European markets already known to Infinix, it is actively developing the Asian market to extend to different types of customers. To cope with increased orders, it purchased two CNC EDM machines at the start of the year. With 5 CNC EDM machines in total, it can speed up production and make lead time shorter and more competitive. Despite the fight with the world against the invisible enemy in 2020, Infinix continues to grow steadily in Taiwan, and it is looking forward to a heartfelt and congenial business collaboration with everyone in the near future.

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Contact: Ms. Nini Ni (sales representative) tooling@infinix.com.tw

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Technology

by Laurence Claus

» What do Multi-station Formers Do?

Multi-station Parts Forming

Prior to considering the machine itself, we should first consider what consumers and manufacturers want from these machines. The answer to this question is pretty simple, consumers want quality parts, suited for the intended purpose at a reasonable price and manufacturers want to provide such parts with the most efficient processes or methods available. In other words, as parts become more complex and sophisticated they usually become more challenging to manufacture. The manufacturer is motivated to remain competitive, and, therefore, must evolve their manufacturing capabilities to be as efficient as possible. Let us consider for example a high volume trimmed hex head part. An untrimmed blank could be manufactured on a simple onedie-two-blow header and transferred to a secondary trimming operation or the part could be manufactured complete on a Multistation Part Former. The end result is exactly the same, but in the first scenario the blanks have to be collected after heading, moved, and reloaded in the secondary trimmer. The quality of the part should be no different, but additional labor and burden has been added to facilitate the extra handling and operation of a second machine. Although this example may begin to fall apart when the volume begins to decrease, it is still illustrative that there are definite advantages to fully completing parts in one manufacturing process. The process of producing a part in an almost complete form is known as “net shape” manufacturing.

How Does a Parts Former Differ from a Nut Former? T he ma jor it y of s cr e w s and s ome bolt s ar e simple configurations that can be formed merely by upsetting a head on a cylindrical body. The one-die-two-blow equipment utilized to make such parts is the simplest available. These machines are ideal for such parts as they are fast and efficient. When parts are more complex, such as many bolts, shoulder screws, special engineered parts, and nuts, the forming equipment must be able to shuttle the part past multiple dies resulting in the ability to strike the part at least three or more times. These machines that are able to accomplish this are known as Multi-station Parts or Nut Formers. Parts Formers are generally used to make more complex externally threaded parts while Nut Formers are used for internally threaded nuts and hollow parts. Although both Parts and Nut Formers are conceptually similar, there are some differences which lend one to be better suited to specific part designs than the other. This article will explore Multi-station Formers as a general topic but also look at what sets Nut Formers apart from Parts Formers.

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A part is net shape when it comes off the header or former complete except for a thread and any post heat treating or surface finishing steps. A part is considered “near net shape” when it comes off the header or former requiring additional forming steps, such as shaving a groove, undercut, special geometry (like a sphere or ball shape) or squaring a surface (like an underhead bearing surface, flange diameter, or tip end). Often times these secondary operations will be necessary because no manner of header or forming equipment is capable of producing the geometry or tolerances required, although just as often, perhaps, they are required because the manufacturer does not have the multi-station equipment or knowledge how to use the multi-station equipment that would facilitate net shape production.

Technology Although the forming process for fasteners can produce some very interesting and elaborate parts, the fundamental processes available from the machines that make the parts is relatively limited. Headers and formers can essentially perform three different processes:

1. Upsetting > 2. Extrusion > 3. Trimming and Piercing Upsetting is perhaps the most basic of fastener manufacturing processes. It is the process of accumulating or moving material into a head or collar. For the simplest of screws this is all that is needed. The manufacturer starts with a round cylinder of wire and moves some portion of it into a larger diameter and different geometry head shape. For all practical purposes upsetting is the only thing that the simplest one-dietwo-blow headers do. Extrusion takes several different forms but is essentially the process of moving material either forward or backwards to achieve smaller diameters, special shapes, or hollow features. Parts can include forward extrusion processes known as “Open Extrusion” or “Trapped Extrusion” or reverse extrusion where material flows backwards along a pin. Trimming can be accomplished on external parts to provide a shaped head or collar. The most common example would be a trimmed hex head fastener. The material is simply sheared into the desired shape. Likewise, an internally threaded or hollow part usually has a web separating the two sides of the hollow feature that must be pierced to provide the through hole. As parts become more complex they require multiple combinations of these operations to form the part. No longer can the manufacturer ju st u p s e t t h e h e a d . I n st e a d , for m or e sophisticated bolts and externally threaded components, manufacturers may have to employ several forward extrusions and a trimming operation along with the upsetting operation to complete a net shape part. Likewise manufacturers of nuts are likely to incorporate multiple reverse extrusions, upsetting, and a piercing operation to achieve a net shape nut blank. Naturally, this takes more than one forming station to accomplish and can only be realized using multi-station machines. In addition to providing more than one forming station to conduct this combination of operations, multi-station machines may also be designed with other mechanisms or tools that perform special functions to provide net shape parts. One important mechanism is the “Transfer” or how parts are shuttled from one station to another. In some instances these mechanisms can turn, orient, or introduce blanks into the forming process which may provide versatility regarding which side of the machine the forming process is occurring on or provide a means to introduce the part along a non-traditional axis. Another mechanism might be to introduce a segmented tool, which is really a mechanism that splits the dies open and allows the manufacture of configurations impossible to produce in solid tooling. Parts and Nut Formers can be designed to run cold or hot. Most Multi-station Formers are cold formers as there is simply a larger demand for such equipment. However, when parts, especially nuts or other hollow parts, start to get larger in size, have very complex geometries, or are being manufactured with exotic, hard to form materials, using a hot former may be advantageous. In most cases where heat is added, it is included in the initial design of the machine, so that heat introduction and control are well regulated. Of course, heat can be a later add-on or introduced prior to entering the machine, but these situations are probably not as optimal as when the machine has been designed to introduce heat into the parts. Fastener World no.187/2021

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Technology » What is the Anatomy of a Multistation Former? Conceptually a Multi-station Former is setup much like the simple one-die-two-blow headers except that it has more than one die. Heading machines have two sides in which forming occurs. There is a stationary side of the machine which houses the dies and a moving (sliding) ram that houses the punches (sometimes called hammers) which strike the part forcing it into the die. One of the signature attributes of a one-dietwo-blow machine is that even though it only has a single die, there are two punches or hammers that separately strike the part before it is complete. Although this concept has been adapted to multistation machines, including 2-die-3-blow headers and 2-die-4-blow headers, machines normally considered to be Multi-station Parts and Nut Formers have one hammer (blow) for each die. In this way, a machine with four dies would be called a 4-die-4-blow header or parts/nut former. In these machines, therefore, every time the machine strokes (comes together) it will be performing the same number of operations as dies and one finished part will be completed. This process is no different in concept from a part on an assembly line that moves from one station to the next until it is complete. Each stop along the way is only one incremental piece of the entire assembly process. Taking this into account, one of the key factors in the successful operation of a multistation machine is the transfer mechanism. This mechanism must be able to successfully shuttle the part from one station to the next. This can get tricky. In the analogy above, parts on an assembly line are often shuttled on a fixture or a pallet so that the part actually never moves, only the pallet it is on. If you have to move the part each time, this process gets significantly more difficult because not only do you have to grab the part but re-establish it in the desired orientation. This, however, is what occurs in a multistation header, i.e. the part is individually moved each time. This adds a layer of complexity including added manufacturing controls to prevent dropping the part or changing its angular orientation and presentation to the next die. The impact of these added controls is normally needing to slow the speed of the machine. Once the manufacturer gets the order in which the part is to be manufactured from its engineering resources (known as the Part Progression) and figures out the transfer sequence, the actual process is pretty straight forward. Wire is drawn into the machine, cut-off, and transferred to the first station. That cutoff blank is then sequentially transferred to each station in the machine until it has seen every tool and drops off as a completed part. At each station along the sequence either one or a combination of the heading processes, upsetting, extrusion, or trimming/ piercing, as designed by the engineer and built into the tooling will occur.

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» Is There a Difference Between a Parts Former and a Nut Former? Is there a difference between a Parts Former and a Nut Former? The simple answer to this question is yes. Although the processes being performed, upsetting, extrusion, and trimming/piercing are fundamentally the same, the execution and machine parameters are different.

Machine Stroke/Speed: With every strike of the machine the part is usually forced into the die. The part requires some assistance to be removed from the die. This comes in the form of a pin (known as the Knock Out Pin) which pushes forward all the way to the face of the die as the ram (moving side of the machine) is moving backward. As parts get longer, the effective part of the dies must also get longer resulting in a longer forward stroke of the pin to reach the die face. Obviously the longer the stroke, the more time it takes to accomplish this task and the slower the machine can run. Machines are designed to optimally run certain lengths of parts and are available in short, medium, and long stroke versions. Naturally a long stroke machine will have the capability of running longer parts while a short stroke machine will be limited to shorter parts. When you consider the design of screws, bolts and nuts, it would be fair to describe most screws and bolts as “long and thin” and most nuts and hollow parts as “short and stubby”. Screws and Bolts, therefore, need machines with medium and long stroke capability while nuts only require short stroke machines. The resulting significance of this is that Nut Formers will run faster than their Parts Former counterparts because it takes less time to push the Knock-Out Pin forward.

Number of Stations: In theory a Multi-station Former can have an infinite number of stations. In practice, however, the number of stations is limited because too many would result in such a wide machine that it would be impractical for an operator to run it. Therefore, Parts and Nut Formers usually do not exceed about six stations. In fact, more often than not, nuts need more stations than bolts and screws so that a fastener manufacturer specializing in bolts and screws likely has more Four Station Parts Formers than five or six station while nut manufacturers likely have almost all Five and Six Station Nut Formers.

Transfer: One of the biggest distinguishing factors between Parts and Nut Formers is the method of transfer between stations. When forming a bolt or screw there are two distinct regions of the part, the head and the body. Forming of the head is well suited to the punch side tooling and the body to the die side tooling. In most instances there is no advantage to being able to flip the part around and from an engineering standpoint the “long and thin” aspect ratio would make this difficult or impossible anyway. Therefore, screws and bolts just get transferred straight across. Nuts, on the other hand, are usually symmetric or nearly symmetric across the center axis. Therefore, if we begin working on one side with the punch, it is likely that working the other side with the punch would be equally advantageous. That is, in fact, the case so that being able to control which side of the part is presented to the punch at each station becomes a strategic benefit. Nut manufacturers therefore, need to find a way to be able to flip the part so that both sides of the part may be strategically presented to the punch or die side of the machine. To accomplish this Nut Formers are equipped with Universal Transfers which unlike the one dimensional transfers of the Parts Former can move the part laterally to the next station or rotate it 180° as it is moved from one station to the other. By flipping the part it allows the manufacturer to work the hole in the nut from both sides of the part, which is advantageous when compared to trying to drive the hole and form the hex shape all from one side.

» Summary: Multi-station Parts and Nut Formers are versatile machines in the manufacturer’s arsenal. They are particularly important in generating more complex net shape parts. Although they provide the same basic functions as simpler machines do, the added stations allow manufacturers to combine functions and make more difficult and complex parts. In particular, Nut Formers are the mainstay of fastener manufacturers focused on nuts and have some unique and special features that provide advantages in nut manufacturing.

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www.fastener-world.com/en/supplier/shunhsin

acquired patents on some die forming methods.

with

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Fastener World no.187/2021

277

Special Feature

Fastener Trade & Fluctuations of

2018

USA/Canada/Japan/Brazil/Taiwan

2020

(in USD), in descending order according to figures of 2020

USA

Source: U.S. ITA of Department of Commerce

Import HS 7318 Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers, etc. Rank

Partner

2018

2019

2020

World

5,710,903,737

5,545,540,394

4,805,473,416

Taiwan

1,827,122,542

1,901,629,533

1,766,745,641

China

1,517,433,573

1,124,027,707

837,987,154

Japan

620,400,669

624,435,819

507,240,399

Germany

329,436,542

367,603,496

330,809,360

Canada

307,849,389

310,630,890

260,136,829

South Korea

188,758,025

188,277,555

173,468,237

Italy

152,763,573

145,214,555

139,038,186

Mexico

119,731,124

130,515,686

112,812,733

India

115,225,246

145,329,726

107,732,893

79,612,854

87,094,634

82,304,526

Export Rank

Partner

2018

2019

2020

World

4,350,304,358

4,400,456,907

3,622,489,339

Mexico

1,493,137,231

1,526,828,779

1,216,036,841

Canada

1,125,426,323

1,149,112,882

939,556,124

China

204,299,063

183,107,846

183,080,439

168,528,149

160,019,660

127,209,982

Germany

116,187,696

123,777,529

98,187,380

Brazil

92,608,574

109,485,174

90,407,063

Japan

91,411,619

98,567,349

83,679,269

France

103,674,764

89,869,700

79,427,768

South Korea

89,653,958

88,443,922

76,834,479

Singapore

96,608,045

104,484,712

76,825,029

Import

Export

278

Fastener World no.187/2021

2020

2018

2019

e po r

a Ko re

Sin ga

an ce

2020

az Br

an y

in Ch

(USD)

a In di

ico

2019

ex M

Ita

Ko re

da na

2018

an y

pa n Ja

Ge r

Ch in a

(USD)

iw an

500,000,000

1,000,000,000

1,500,000,000

ico

1,750,000,000 1,500,000,000 1,250,000,000 1,000,000,000 750,000,000 500,000,000 250,000,000 0

2,000,000,000

Special Feature (in USD), in descending order according to figures of 2020

Canada

Source: Canada.ca

Import HS 7318 Screws, bolts, nuts, screw hooks, rivets, washers, cotter pins and like articles of iron or steel Rank 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Partner World USA Taiwan China Japan Germany Vietnam Italy South Korea UK Mexico

2018 1,643,449,509 806,637,915 248,265,336 216,092,146 66,634,869 40,885,116 28,804,118 31,115,913 32,343,265 25,535,080 15,049,686

2019 1,659,744,357 840,122,906 235,402,175 213,156,424 73,459,938 41,387,846 24,644,198 32,439,473 28,130,461 24,746,980 17,573,807

2020 1,383,874,310 670,904,335 204,477,269 188,601,033 64,821,116 32,910,632 31,632,046 24,746,333 22,384,569 19,429,080 14,603,026

2019 503,627,435 406,850,761 22,136,681 6,039,962 9,878,019 5,917,413 3,387,355 5,803,740 3,332,779 1,587,994 3,566,116

2020 429,022,363 347,578,270 17,278,092 9,071,403 6,638,080 4,944,374 4,870,352 4,389,714 2,553,094 2,377,323 2,294,046

Export Partner World USA Mexico China UK Germany Poland France Brazil Turkey Singapore

2018 482,874,901 391,223,560 17,773,123 8,055,115 8,367,474 6,994,069 2,258,899 4,773,422 1,972,476 674,655 3,637,470

Import

400,000,000

800,000,000

2019

2018

Export

Fr a

lan

a in

2020 400,000,000

US A

ico ex

Ita

et na

a in Ch

2018

0 re a

(USD)

100,000,000

200,000,000

iw an

200,000,000

US A

400,000,000

ico

300,000,000

600,000,000

Rank 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2020

2019

300,000,000

200,000,000

100,000,000

2019

2020

2018

Sin

zil Br a

Fr an

lan

a in Ch

ico ex

US A

ico

re a

ly Ita

et n

y an

2018

in Ch

US A

0 (USD)

2019

2020

Fastener World no.187/2021

279

Special Feature in descending order according to volumes of 2020

Japan

Source: Ministry of Finance, Japan

Import Japan P.C. Code 61703 Nails, bolts, nuts, etc. Rank

Partner

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

World China Taiwan S. Korea Vietnam Thailand Malaysia Germany USA Australia Indonesia

2018 333,108 216,254 72,278 14,775 11,731 5,889 4,604 1,332 1,333 214 822

Metric Tons 2019 348,661 221,268 74,664 25,336 11,163 5,457 3,657 1,349 1,328 401 671

2020 297,917 194,047 66,154 12,839 11,839 4,645 2,533 1,032 933 803 500

1,000 Yens 2019 120,112,826 46,588,998 28,759,101 7,860,063 3,443,248 3,459,067 1,671,085 2,781,108 18,214,622 291,032 624,023

2018 120,589,782 48,469,169 28,407,337 5,789,484 3,387,791 3,627,621 1,973,062 3,024,923 17,586,698 190,370 747,327

2020 97,060,506 38,054,837 24,773,147 4,685,723 3,247,338 2,956,292 1,046,231 2,419,395 13,396,617 491,145 431,798

Export Rank

Partner

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

World China USA Thailand Indonesia Mexico India UK Brazil Turkey Malaysia

2018 376,145 89,764 83,915 52,768 30,455 15,536 13,273 11,632 9,851 6,665 5,760

Metric Tons 2019 2020 338,616 279,577 78,914 84,221 80,804 66,278 45,554 32,210 25,738 13,283 14,336 12,056 9,943 8,170 9,100 6,177 8,588 5,930 5,917 5,153 5,672 4,512

Import Volume (Metric Tons)

2020 257,090,865 74,397,136 61,504,586 29,203,131 10,972,051 10,613,230 7,805,556 4,447,837 4,597,655 3,859,177 4,149,960

Import Value (1,000 Yens)

250,000

80,000,000

200,000

60,000,000

150,000

40,000,000

100,000

20,000,000

50,000

Fastener World no.187/2021

lia do ne sia

an y

ys ala

an d ail

na m

Ko re

2018

2019

2020

Tu rk ey M ala ys ia

il Br

a di In

In do

ne sia M ex ico

Th ail

in Ch

ala

rk Tu

il az Br

a In di

ico ex

do n

an ail

0 d

0 A

50,000,000

Ch in a

50,000

2020

2019

Export Value (1,000 Yens) 100,000,000

Export Volume (Metric Tons)

2019

In d

2018

100,000

2018

iw an

lia

on es

2020

2019

tra

Au s

an rm

ala

an d

tn am

Th ail

Vi e

Ko r

2018

Ch in a

280

1,000 Yens 2019 305,163,698 71,463,784 73,501,386 39,876,989 21,023,412 12,523,841 9,327,437 6,528,126 6,173,937 4,405,194 5,183,760

2018 333,255,619 78,634,130 74,276,199 44,383,274 25,334,111 13,144,879 11,765,238 8,008,615 7,427,164 5,332,815 5,130,880

Special Feature in descending order according to values of 2020

Taiwan

Source: Bureau of Foreign Trade (Taiwan)

Import HS 7318 Screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws, screw hooks, rivets, cotters, cotter-pins, washers (including spring washers) and similar articles, of iron or steel Rank 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Partner World Japan China Vietnam Philippines S. Korea Germany Thailand USA Turkey Netherlands

2018 (kg) 5,534,740 3,034,870 2,492,054 1,176,520 300,417 377,593 354,386 302,901 182,373 154,768

2019 (kg) 2020 (kg) 18,374,272 16,597,504 6,248,319 5,923,341 3,672,525 3,647,936 3,170,962 2,312,366 1,167,517 517,069 332,917 476,283 399,763 413,784 321,688 395,728 351,534 389,272 312,557 379,366 238,793 160,162

Partner World Japan USA China Germany S. Korea Netherlands Vietnam Switzerland Sweden UK

2018 (USD) 2019 (USD) 2020 (USD) 152,356,212 159,937,426 157,680,579 65,320,339 66,179,082 61,494,765 22,444,713 26,785,166 27,844,570 9,393,007 10,279,450 15,143,539 10,207,160 11,857,743 10,329,451 4,692,658 4,113,424 5,660,405 3,004,484 3,392,145 4,058,735 4,013,572 4,580,616 3,719,309 2,290,556 2,073,390 2,182,902 3,047,454 2,857,695 2,033,164 1,296,907 1,582,266 2,017,286

Export Rank Partner 2018 (kg) 2019 (kg) 2020 (kg) Partner World 1,595,705,450 1,479,292,223 1,363,248,785 World 0 1 USA 629,276,927 621,962,469 609,131,936 USA 2 Germany 155,300,468 132,505,809 116,637,180 Germany Netherlands 92,492,281 80,348,283 67,226,720 Japan 3 Japan 69,039,707 72,771,839 63,283,611 Netherlands 4 Canada 60,651,391 51,295,923 45,368,429 UK 5 UK 59,378,375 55,620,928 41,692,178 China 6 Poland 34,104,044 31,645,985 27,418,561 Canada 7 Italy 41,551,408 32,429,910 27,368,054 Sweden 8 Sweden 29,841,067 28,912,202 24,839,100 Mexico 9 China 24,331,806 20,276,785 24,079,023 Italy 10

2018 (USD) 4,638,685,129 1,775,046,209 453,134,133 230,517,250 261,652,295 178,355,595 143,940,786 163,070,593 98,766,182 94,925,177 105,402,379

2019 (USD) 4,316,380,032 1,751,810,124 392,118,297 241,272,905 227,785,981 171,259,001 114,145,687 145,037,763 94,555,904 97,384,603 82,026,949

Sw ed

lan

m na

itz er

er lan

2020 (USD)

ly Ita

M ex

ico

n de

Sw e

Ca na

Ch in

n pa Ne

an y

A US

Ch in

Sw e

Ita

ds lan

0 de n

0 ly

500,000,000

lan d

200,000,000

1,000,000,000

na da

400,000,000

pa n

1,500,000,000

600,000,000

th er

2019 (USD)

Export Value 2,000,000,000

2018 (USD)

Export Volume

2020 (kg)

lan ds

2019 (kg)

800,000,000

US A

th Ne

2018 (kg)

pa n

lan ds

an d ail

rm Ge

pi n

ilip Ph

Vi et

Ch in

0 in a

20,000,000

2,000,000

40,000,000

an y

4,000,000

re a

60,000,000

na m

6,000,000

pa n

80,000,000

Import Value

8,000,000

Import Volume

2020 (USD) 3,969,360,344 1,689,801,153 340,191,792 209,498,781 195,105,056 136,840,671 129,131,272 128,760,834 85,303,928 77,878,026 70,888,895

2019 (kg)

2020 (kg)

2018 (USD)

2019 (USD)

2020 (USD)

Fastener World no.187/2021

281

Special Feature in descending order according to values of 2020

Brazil

Source: Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Service, Brazil

Import HS 7318 Screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws, screw hooks, rivets, cotters, cotter-pins, washers (including spring washers) and similar articles, of iron or steel Rank

Partner

2018 - Net

2019 - Net

2020 - Net

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

World China USA Japan Germany Taiwan Italy France S. Korea India UK

123,292,034 44,237,435 8,301,603 11,969,245 8,313,039 12,938,026 9,722,978 4,021,996 5,015,276 2,565,552 702,681

114,959,546 45,018,883 7,112,581 12,567,987 7,579,926 10,067,320 6,187,395 3,222,984 5,420,189 4,222,521 620,760

96,393,965 47,398,383 5,311,821 6,439,826 5,020,829 8,863,240 3,937,145 1,776,499 3,613,568 4,751,957 824,494

Rank

Partner

2018 - Net

2019 - Net

2020 - Net

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

World USA Argentina Paraguay France Germany Mexico Chile Uruguay UK Colombia

25,432,517 2,265,250 9,219,473 5,059,103 1,014,741 1,340,192 594,482 363,574 1,151,947 65,874 276,956

22,329,231 2,438,889 8,011,757 3,997,950 644,262 810,435 637,662 389,234 937,654 118,278 398,550

23,176,849 2,134,365 10,553,234 4,212,001 462,338 606,937 383,559 398,314 1,163,475 30,644 298,073

Weight (KG)

2018 - US$ 2019 - US$ 2020 - US$ FOB FOB FOB 648,742,258 590,527,630 474,232,850 121,801,344 118,639,032 117,144,626 91,721,428 90,805,045 74,741,939 76,353,804 70,152,664 50,589,453 75,407,856 70,658,088 49,658,606 39,233,139 32,208,728 26,170,865 55,768,923 36,164,478 26,130,323 36,707,910 33,315,010 21,120,192 25,387,542 26,505,450 16,778,777 10,339,308 12,299,795 13,885,699 8,780,294 9,438,011 10,245,445

Weight (KG)

Export Weight (KG)

Weight (KG)

2018 - US$ 2019 - US$ 2020 - US$ FOB FOB FOB 148,564,500 180,726,436 129,207,220 41,206,524 77,379,432 47,341,359 27,686,444 21,638,852 23,367,086 11,703,049 9,222,881 9,174,626 8,194,419 7,715,397 6,053,469 8,483,953 5,788,623 4,556,664 5,368,961 6,420,788 4,145,272 3,634,378 4,765,329 3,547,027 3,194,424 2,619,460 2,754,061 3,446,003 4,805,382 2,716,998 3,400,752 3,698,306 2,651,859

Weight (KG)

Import Volume

Import Value 200,000,000

60,000,000 40,000,000

100,000,000 20,000,000

2019 - Net Weight (KG)

2018 - US$ FOB

2019 - US$ FOB

a In di

ea Ko r

an ce

Ita

iw an

an y

pa n

Ge r

2020 - Net Weight (KG)

Export Volume

15,000,000

in a

di a

Ko r

an Fr

ly Ita

iw an

an y

Ge r

pa n

in a Ch

2018 - Net Weight (KG)

2020 - US$ FOB

Export Value

100,000,000 80,000,000

10,000,000

60,000,000 40,000,000

5,000,000

20,000,000

2018 - Net Weight (KG)

282

Fastener World no.187/2021

2020 - Net Weight (KG)

2019 - US$ FOB

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2018 - US$ FOB

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2019 - Net Weight (KG)

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2020 - US$ FOB

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285

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290 Fastener World no.187/2021

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