Fastener + Fixing Magazine #60 by Fastener + Fixing Magazine

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CONTENTS

NEWS Europe and World ................................................... 6-18 America................................................................. 20-24 Asian ...........................................................................26 EVENTS CALENDAR....................................................... 30 COVER STORY Performing beyond the Norm ................................28-29 EXHIBITIONS

Performing beyond the Norm

News ...........................................................................32 Fastener Fair Stuttgart Report ............................... 34-49 INSIGHT Driving connecting technology ............................. 50-52 Innovation shines through.................................... 90-92 CATALOGUE RACK Germany ............................................................... 53-56 FACE2FACE David Proctor - Interfast Europe Ltd ............................57 CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Firmly fixed on adding value ..................................... 58 News .....................................................................60-68

Fastener Fair Stuttgart Report

102

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Inspection + Packing News ................................... 70-72 Packed for service ..................................................... 74 Eye on quality ....................................................... 76-78 News ..................................................................... 80-86 Renault talks coatings ............................................... 88 TECHNICAL New standard for stainless fasteners......................... 94 The loosening of prevailing torque nuts ............... 96-98 Developments in measuring clamp load ................. 100 MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS News ........................................................................102

Construction Fixings

Understanding Lean logistics ............................ 104-108 Keep talking… ......................................................... 110 TOOLS

News ..................................................................112-116 APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY News ................................................................. 118-120 FOCUS ON Nuts, washers and locking systems ...................121-125

Inspection Management + Packing + Systems

PRODUCTS News ................................................................. 126-146 RECRUITMENT & ADVERTISERS INDEX ..........................146

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

EDITORIAL

Quite a show If you did not make it to Stuttgart for the Fastener Fair you really did miss a quite extraordinary event. You don’t need to take my word for it. As is our custom in reporting the Fastener Fair we prefer visitors and exhibitors to assess the show in their own words – supported by a splendid array of photographs. Credit for the Phil Matten latter, incidentally, goes to our regular photographer, Paul Marriott who, as usual, belied his stature and demonstrated remarkable stamina in covering virtually every metre of the 21,000 occupied by the Fastener Fair. Thank you Paul. Take a look at his work and some of the many comments received from page 34 onwards. It was a lot of show to get round. I really value the opportunity to catch up with, not just the exhibitors, but also the visitors in the aisles. This show, I have to say, there were far too many people for whom I only managed a wave from a distance or a brief word. If you were one of those or if, indeed, I missed you completely, my apologies – it wasn’t for want of trying! Touring the stands I was consistently impressed by the very high standard of presentation. The modern, airy setting of Stuttgart Messe undoubtedly assisted but there was no question about the thought and effort invested by the vast majority of exhibitors – they clearly meant business. That was equally true of the visitors, something attested by many, many exhibitor comments. And that, of course, is the essence of a good show. It is a market place created by the organiser but unless the right buyers and sellers are there, committed to do business, nobody is going to be satisfied. So, I hope Fastener Fair worked for you – and proves to be a significant milestone on your business’ road to recovery.

Don’t blink Inevitably, and not least for its potential ramifications across the global fastener industry, I have followed the anti-dumping events in the United States over the last couple of months. So much happened, so quickly, we decided to publish additional North American news pages to accommodate the excellent ‘as it occurred’ coverage of John Wolz, from GlobalFastenerNews. Is it all over? I seriously doubt it. When one reads that Nucor Fastener’s plant has been working a 16hour week there can be no question this is a business that is hurting - whether or not that is attributable to the economic crisis, imports from Asia or any other factors, is hard to identify from where we sit. Nor, clearly is Nucor alone although, to date, the IFI, representing US manufacturers generally, seems to have been keen to keep its powder dry on this subject. It took the EIFI several tries to structure its steel fastener complaint to the satisfaction of the European Commission. I am told there have been similar patterns for US anti-dumping petitions in the past. What, though, I cannot let pass without comment is the apparent contrast between US and European procedure. Accepting this complaint was rejected at a preliminary stage, nevertheless the process appears far more transparent and accountable – expressions that, I deeply regret, I have never been able to apply to our own anti-dumping procedure. On which subject, the best I can offer in relation to the current investigation relating to stainless steel fasteners from India and Malaysia is the feeling that a preliminary decision could well be expected earlier than later.

Planning ahead You will find a copy of our Features Calendar for 2010 on page 111 so please take a few minutes just to review it and make a note of issues in which we will be focusing on topics relevant to your business. Our Editorial Guide is also available to download from www.fastenerfair.com and aims to make it easier for any fastener and fixing business, whatever their size or resource, to gain coverage in any issue of the magazine. We are always particularly keen to receive independent, authoritative articles on technical, market or management topics – this issue is rich in such contributions. We recognise you are busy, so If you would like to receive an email advising of the editorial deadline and feature topics ahead of each issue just let us know at editor@fastfair.net Finally you are always welcome to contact me personally to discuss your thoughts and ideas for an article – or simply to chew over the state of the industry. I look forward to hearing from you.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Fastener + Fixing Magazine 18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 OJJ, UK Tel: 0044 (0) 1727 739 150 Fax: 0044 (0) 1727 831 033 Publisher Jeremy Ramsdale jerry@fastfair.net Editor Phil Matten phil@fastfair.net Deputy Editor Will Lowry will@fastfair.net Advertising Director Jamie Mitchell jamie@fastfair.net Senior Advertising Executive Harry Whyte harry@fastfair.net Advertising Executive Claire Lake claire@fastfair.net Production Manager Andy Clo production@fastfair.net Fastener + Fixing Magazine is a dedicated, trade-only publication which is circulated freely throughout the European trade.

Disclaimer

The Publisher cannot be held responsible or, in any way, liable for errors or omissions, during input or printing of any material supplied or contained herein although the utmost care is taken to ensure that information contained is accurate and up to date. The Publisher also cannot be held liable for any claims made by advertisers or in contributions from individuals or companies submitted for inclusion within this publication. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or Fastener Fairs Limited.

Entire contents copyright © Fastener Fairs Limited No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher. Annual subscription (6 issues) to non-trade and outside EU is £80/€120/$160

NEWS

Bossard: First signs of bottoming out Bossard says the worldwide economic crisis continued to impact noticeably on the Group’s sales development. It reported third quarter sales down 32.8% year on year to CHF 93.9 million (approximately 61 million euros). Sales for the nine months totalled CHF 299.8 million, a 30.7% decrease calculated in local currencies. European sales for the third quarter were CHF 54.6 million, down 31.8% in local currencies. Cumulative European sales for the year were down 33% in local currencies, 35.9% converted to Swiss Francs. Bossard commented, “After worldwide demand had dropped to an all-time low in the first half of the year, sales development appears to be stabilising at a low level in Europe.” Bossard reported some signs of recovery in Asia, a less severe decline in the third quarter still leaving sales down 17.8% in local currencies. American demand in the third quarter was again noticeably weaker, says Bossard. Quarter 3 sales fell 35.9% from US$35.4 million to US$22.7 million - primarily attributable to lower demand from one major customer. In the first nine months of 2009 sales in America totalled US$79.3 million, 27.9 % less than in 2008. Summarising its prospects Bossard said, “In the next few months the market environment will remain difficult. Although there are some indications that demand will stabilise – particularly in Europe and Asia, we have still not identified any signs that suggest an early recovery. Although there are some signs of the recession bottoming out, we anticipate that demand will remain weak and at a low level.”

A. Raymond buys Tinnerman Palnut Grenoble-based A. Raymond, a global supplier of automotive engineered fastening and fluid-handling connections systems, has acquired Tinnerman Palnut Engineered Products of Brunswick, Ohio. A. Raymond will merge its North American operations to form A. Raymond Tinnerman Manufacturing. President of the new operating group, David J. Netto, said the acquisition will substantially expand A. Raymond’s presence in automotive as well as other industrial markets in North America. “We’re creating a powerful, new North American organisation to provide our customers with a better, more competitive and complete portfolio of plastic and metal fasteners, fluid quickconnectors and other assemblies.” Tinnerman has supplied A. Raymond with metal fasteners for the past year. Merger talks began six months ago. Financial terms of the acquisition were not released.

Sundram Fasteners profits double Net profit for the quarter to 30 September doubled for Sundram Fasteners to 188.7 million rupees (2.71 million euros) compared with 91 million rupees in the same period last year. Sundram’s first half year net profits grew 63% to 359 million rupees despite net sales falling 18% to 6.14 billion rupees (88.4 million euros). The company said it continued to face lower demand from both domestic and export markets. For the first half domestic sales were approximately 9% down at 4.72 billion rupees, while exports fell 39.5% to 1.4 billion rupees. While margins were reported to be under continued pressure half year operating expenses were reduced by 17.7%.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Multiple Group consists of Multiple Overseas Exports and Eagleline Fixings and Fixtures Pvt. Ltd, are India’s Leading Manufacturers of Channel Nuts, Bracketry, Fixings, Clamps, Fasteners and Products for the Builder Hardware sectors. We are producing parts complying to BS, ASTM, JIS and DIN standards from Steel, Alloy Steel and Stainless Steel (304/316) by Pressings, Hot Forging and Turning Processes. Our production facility is well equipped with the Latest Zinc, Phosphate, Powder Coating and Hot Dip Galvanizing plants to meet your desired level of satisfaction. Apart from our regular product range, we have comprehensive infrastructure backed by Hi-Tech Dies and Tooling room to develop any kind of special part exactly per your Drawings, Samples and Speciﬁcations. Please contact us to enable us to send you our 2009 Catalogue for a detailed insight into the products manufactured by us. So, we heartily welcome you to our world, which is CONFIDENT, PASSIONATE and PERFORMING.

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NEWS

Metamorphosis at Brighton Best International Brighton Best International has spent the last 12 months on the move, doubling its global warehouse capacity to more than 200,000 square metres across 32 countries – including the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The group is now moving into the next phase of adding new products to its range. The UK operation is getting ready to start the same process - a new warehouse is in the negotiating stage and new products are at the development stage. Brighton Best International is changing from a socket screw specialist to a fastener wholesaler in both steel and stainless steel fasteners. ”Along with warehouse moves will come futuristic computer developments and product scanning allowing real time control and movement of stock on a global scale,” says European managing director, Ray Southam.

Arnold industries opens Irish company Arnold industries of Canton, Massachusetts, a US provider of managed inventory systems, has opened Arnold Industries Cork Limited. The new company will provide fasteners, electronic components and C parts to companies in Europe and Asia. Managing director Billy Newton, who has ten years experience in the fastener distribution business, is joined by Eric Smith as general manager of the new company, which is located in the Eastgate Industrial Park of Cork, Ireland. Arnold Industries executive vice president, Joel Roseman told this magazine, “The addition of the new business will enable Arnold to provide global support to the worldwide manufacturing base for their inventory needs”.

SIG Fixings appoints product development manager SIG Fixings has bolstered its expertise with the appointment of David Kennedy to product development manager at SIG Fixings. David will be responsible for overseeing Fixings and M&E procurement within the business. The appointment represents SIG Fixings’ continual investment in customer service, specialisation and expertise. Neil Jones, division director, SIG Fixings said “David’s appointment is an excellent fit for SIG Fixings’ long term aspirations and he will closely work with both our internal sales team and suppliers to develop future procurement strategy, David has demonstrated excellent knowledge, understanding and experience in domestic and international procurement, ensuring that we are at the forefront of product innovation. I have every confidence that this new role will ensure that we will continue to offer our customers the highest levels of service.” David commented “I’m looking forward to taking on the role of product development manager. SIG Fixings is an industry leading business, with a commitment to quality and service and I am keen to ensure that we continue to provide our customers with innovative products to overcome their challenges.” SIG Fixings was created in July 2009 and brings together some of the fixings businesses within SCP. The business employs 150 people, with 14 branches across the UK, providing national coverage to its customers.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

NEWS

Doncasters appoints director Doncasters Group Ltd, based in Staffordshire, UK, has appointed Tarek Maguid to the newly-created role of global integrated supply chain and continuous improvement director. Currently based in the United States, Tarek will be responsible for all integrated supply chain, information technology, continuous improvement and technical projects across more than 30 engineering sites in the UK, Europe, USA, China and Mexico. Formerly vice president of production control and logistics at Cessna Aircraft, Tarek has a strong operations background. He has significant, experience implementing Lean operating systems and, as a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, has a strong track record of delivering operational improvements. Commenting on his role, Tarek said: “I’ve been very encouraged by what I have seen so far. Everyone is highly motivated and energised with a high degree of focus on succeeding.” He added, “With the economy facing challenging times, it has never been more important to ensure that every site within the Group is operating as smoothly and efficiently as possible. While Doncasters has always enjoyed a strong reputation for its culture of continuous improvement, we are taking steps to further concentrate focus on creating a Lean Enterprise.” Bill Ellis, CEO of Doncasters Group Ltd added “I’m delighted that Tarek has agreed to take on this new role. His knowledge of the industry is second to none and I am looking forward to working closely with him to put a range of programmes in place that will enhance the Group’s performance over the coming months and years.”

NORMA Group names chief operating officer The board of directors of NORMA Group recently elected John Stephenson to the position of chief operating officer (COO). John Stephenson has been placed in charge of the Operation division of NORMA Group. Previously he had been vice president of operations with Hayes-Lemmerz, a supplier for development of steel and aluminium wheels. In this position he was responsible for all aspects of operations and technology in Europe, Asia and Africa. Other roles in his résumé comprise leading positions in enterprises such as Textron Fastening Systems, APW Electronics and Valeo. “In John Stephenson, we are delighted in having found a highly competent and experienced candidate for the position of COO. We believe that he will successfully fill this demanding position and would like to wish him a good start at NORMA Group.” commented Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group.

FCH opens database to third party software US online fastener inventory database FastenersClearingHouse.com has announced a new web service that allows third party software suppliers vendors to interface with FCH, so users can search it from within their own inventory management system and locate hard to find items that other distributors may have in stock. They will also be able to upload their own inventory directly to FCH, creating online listings that can be accessed by other distributors. Michigan based INxSQL Distribution Software is the first to implement the new link, known as FCHServices. The new INxSQL release also features an upload control that enables users to post their inventory to the FCH website without having to first create a spreadsheet or other intermediate file. FCH uses proprietary “Scrubber” technology, originally designed to simplify inventory uploads, and now reverse engineered to support the search tool provided within FCHServices. This uses a knowledge base of industry nomenclature, shorthand and abbreviations and Din, ISO, IFI and ASME standard specifications. It also deploys complex character sequence logic to deliver extremely relevant search result sets from non-standard data. FCH says it currently serves 200 members who have listed over 430,000 fastener line items. Members pay an annual fee; there is no charge for searching the database. FCH describes itself as an independent search engine serving the industrial and commercial fastener industry by providing a marketplace online for hard to find, odd lot, and special fastener inventory.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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NEWS

WTO panel to review EU anti-dumping measures On 23 October the World Trade Organisation established a panel to review EU anti-dumping measures applied to imports of iron and steel fasteners from China. The panel was requested by China and not opposed by the European Commission. The WTO summary notes: China said that the EC’s measures nullified or impaired the benefits it enjoyed under the anti-dumping agreement and had urged the EC to promptly withdraw measures inconsistent with the WTO. The EC recalled that anti-dumping measures were not about protectionism, but about fighting unfair trade. The EC said that it strictly followed the applicable WTO rules in all its antidumping cases. The EC said it was strongly convinced of the strength of its case. The EC added that it had at this point no hope for a mutually agreed solution and this was the reason why the EC accepted the establishment of a panel. The European Commission had already made it clear it would defend its measures before the panel. Thailand, Canada, the US, Chinese Taipei, India and Japan reserved their third-party rights, the WTO says. Doing so allows these countries to receive copies of submissions and to participate in the panel procedure. According to the WTO website it will take six months from the appointment of panellists for the final panel report to be presented to the parties in the dispute. Three weeks later the final panel report is presented to WTO members and there is a further 60 days for the Dispute Settlement Body to adopt the report, if there is no appeal. If an appeal is lodged a further 60 - 90 days is required for the appeals report, and further additional days for the Dispute Settlement Body to adopt it.

Advanced material analysis techniques A workshop on Advanced Materials Analysis was held in October at the National Metalforming Centre in West Bromwich, UK. Dr John Newnham of the Confederation of British Metalforming reports. The event was held in conjunction with the ‘Science City’ collaborative project on advanced materials involving Birmingham and Warwick. Science City is funded by the European Regional Development Fund via Advantage West Midlands. ‘Advanced materials’ is one of the five priority themes identified by the Innovation and Technology Council. Some of the funding available to the project is for capital investment in scientific equipment, to enhance the capability of these universities to conduct research into advanced materials. One of the other objectives of the collaboration is the “development of more effective knowledge transfer between industry and the knowledge base”. The workshop was held so that industry could gain knowledge of the universities’ capabilities, which could be used for problem solving or product development. The range of equipment and techniques available was discussed by three main speakers. Professor Ian Jones of the Centre for Electron Microscopy at Birmingham University spoke about the attributes of the different forms of electron microscopes. One of the more spectacular tools is the focused ion beam (FIB) that can cut away layers of the material being examined in a scanning microscope so that a true 3-D evaluation can be made. Dr Richard Beanland of the University of Warwick Physics Department showed the huge range of techniques that could be used in solid state physics for analysis and evaluation. Dr Martin Strangwood of Birmingham University concentrated on optical microscopy, his presentation focusing more on the methodology of metallurgical problem solving.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

NEWS

WASI looks back on a positive Fastener Fair 2009 Wagener & Simon WASI GmbH & Co. KG based in Wuppertal, Germany, says that Fastener Fair Stuttgart helped prove that WASI’s new logistics centre is able to handle the growing diversity in its customers’ requirements. The construction of the new logistics centre started back in February 2008, with it becoming operational in the middle of 2009. The highbay warehouse has space for 156,000 compartments and 12,200 pallets. In total the built-up area covers 7,300 square metres. “The new logistics centre is an important step for us in meeting the growing logistic needs of our customers and facing the ongoing globalisation process,” commented Dirk Kiele-Dunsche, managing director of WASI. He added, “The growing diversity in our customer’s requirements was again confirmed in the many conversations that took place during Fastener Fair Stuttgart. Short response times, handling of large trading volumes and individual packaging are important features which we can offer our customers with this future-oriented logistics centre.”

EU steel market stuck in slow motion European Steel Association EUROFER’s October report on the Economic and Steel Market Outlook 2009-2011 shows that the EU economy probably turned the corner during the third quarter 2009. However, the recovery penciled in for the coming quarters will be slow and is still surrounded by high levels of uncertainty.

EUROFER director general Gordon Moffat commented: “While the economy probably reached a turning point, the EU steel market will remain stuck in slow motion for the time being”. Prospects for the EU’s steel using sectors, such as automotive and the construction sector, remain subdued. Despite stabilising financial markets, financing is still a bottleneck for many companies. Industrial orders are still weak despite some inventory replenishment. The report shows that while year-on-year output growth should turn positive again in the 2nd quarter of 2010, it could take to 2011 before a more pronounced rebound in output begins. So far this year, steel imports were at much reduced levels compared with 2007 and 2008. However, Moffat warns: “Global crude steel production increasing in anticipation of a recovery in steel demand which yet has to materialise remains a major risk for the EU supply-demand balance”. The full report, which includes forecasts for major steel consumption markets, is available to download from www.eurofer.org

Robert’s a real Las Vegas winner A 28-year-old purchasing and logistics specialist from Lübbecke, Germany will soon be taking the trip of a lifetime to join the US fastener industry at its biggest annual expo in Las Vegas. “It took a couple of days and several phone calls before I really believed I was the winner of such an incredible prize,” says Robert Loewe, who works for Daniel Schrauben GmbH. Robert was the lucky winner of the visitors’ competition at this year’s Fastener Fair, Stuttgart sponsored by Goebel GmbH from Erkrath in Germany. Directors Marcel and Dennis Goebel were at the Fair, together with Fastener Fair director, Jamie Mitchell, to confirm it was really all true. While at the show Robert was also able to take a look at a record breaking 624 fastener, fixings and manufacturing technology exhibitors from across the world. “Our company is a wholesaler for all kinds of fasteners, founded by Mr Daniel in 1985. We have over 100 employees working out our headquarters in Lübbecke and in our store in Eickendorf, where we also CNC manufacture parts. We supply customers all over the world.” “That makes the Fastener Fair a really important show for us but I never dreamed that, by registering to visit the fair, I would end up with a trip to Las Vegas!” Robert and a friend will visit the National Industrial Fastener Show/West at the Mandalay Bay South Convention Centre. Through the generosity of the National Industrial Fastener Show, their base will be a luxury suite at THE Hotel, right next to the convention centre and a short monorail trip from the heart of the glittering Las Vegas strip. And Robert? He’s still smiling, “I can’t wait to start this amazing trip to Las Vegas.” Another winner at the show was Tommy Douhan, chief purchasing officer for ESSVE Produkter AB. He won an 8GB iPod Nano for ‘sharing the fair’ when registering as a visitor.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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NEWS

fischer takes IP action at Fastener Fair In an action instigated by the fischer group of companies, German customs officials confiscated goods and catalogues from eight Asian exhibitors at Fastener Fair Stuttgart. Explaining the action taken, Jörg Klaus Fischer, deputy CEO for the fischer group of companies and chairman of the fixing systems division, said: “Illegal copies of our patented anchors cause us losses running into several hundred thousand euros every year. There is also a higher liability risk for the users of similar-looking, low-quality products which don’t meet the stringent requirements of statutory approvals”. fischer regularly sends patent attorneys to trade fairs at home and abroad. “A number of stands displaying patentinfringing products were identified at this year’s Fastener Fair,” it says. The main examples of patent infringement related to fischer’s GK plasterboard fixing with setting tool. Customs officers examined the stands of eight exhibitors from Taiwan, China and India. Samples, catalogues, brochures, orders and other materials were confiscated,

personal details of the exhibitors were recorded and criminal proceedings were taken against stand personnel. The Stuttgart public prosecutor’s office required payment of a total 36,000 euros to avoid a warrant of arrest (10,000 euros for repeat offences, 4,000 euros for first offences) on the spot or as bail for future fines or conditions. “At the same time we notified the exhibitors by word of mouth and by letter about the background to this action and demanded injunctive declarations which four firms signed at once”, says Dr. Ulrich Suchy, head of Patents and Licences of the fischer group of companies. Four EU companies were also identified as allegedly counterfeiting the GK plasterboard fixing and fischer says it intends pursing legal action against these companies. “I believe we have set an important signal to the market, saying that we will track and prosecute every kind of

patent infringement,” says Dr. Suchy. Show organiser, Jerry Ramsdale, said:” While Fastener Fair regrets that these actions by the Customs authorities proved necessary at an event that in all other regards has been met with great enthusiasm and support from exhibitors and visitors, we completely endorse the robust protection of intellectual property rights. As exhibitor organisers we have no legal right to take action over infringements of other companies’ intellectual property rights but, as in this instance, we will always cooperate fully with the legitimate local authorities. In the interests of fair international trade and the safety and quality reputations of the global fastener industry, it is essential that all companies absolutely respect the law, whether in relation to product design and intellectual property or to other local, national and international regulations relating to fair trade.”

WRAP cuts packaging In September six of the UK’s top DIY retailers and brands signed an historic agreement to reduce packaging and waste to landfill, under a new voluntary industry initiative led by WRAP – the UK government funded Waste & Resources Action Programme. Wickes, B&Q, Homebase, Argos, Focus and Henkel have agreed to work together for the first time to achieve a 15% packaging reduction and a 50% reduction in waste to landfill by the end of 2012, against a 2007 baseline. The new commitment will focus on reducing packaging through improved design and dealing with problematic packaging and product areas. The aim will be to come up with alternatives which are less bulky, easier to open and easier to recycle. It will target improved packaging systems to reduce product damage and wider adoption of re-useable systems in the supply chain and for home deliveries. The commitment will also examine how adopting concentrated products or refillable systems could help cut packaging. The agreement covers primary, secondary and tertiary packaging for own brand and directly sourced products.

NEWS

Cologne targets the trade

Eingang West Entrance West

Eingang Süd Entrance South

Eingang Ost Entrance East

The INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR COLOGNE will take place from 28 February to 3 March 2010. Koelnmesse says “around 2,500 exhibitors …will show the trends in the sectors: Tools, Industry Supply, Fastening & Fittings, Locks & Fittings and Home Improvement.”

Hallenbelegung / Hall layout

In 2008 there were 3,360 exhibitors, only a marginal reduction on the previous fair but gross exhibition space fell markedly, from 247,000 to 195,000 square metres. Koelnmesse has announced that the 2010 hardware fair will occupy Halls 1 to 5 and 10, implying a further reduction in exhibition space. In 2008 70,000 visitors came from 132 countries. The focus for the 2010 fair “is clearly on addressing the specialist trade, hence the restructuring of the product ranges,” says Koelnmesse. The Tools segment has been ‘strongly positioned’ and will present a broad range of hand and power tools, as well as accessories. Tools will occupy both levels of the largest Hall 10, plus part of Hall 4.1. “Hardware from Asia” will occupy all of Halls 1 to 3. For the first time industrial supplies, workshop and factory equipment will come under the ‘Industrial Supply’ banner, in Halls 4.1 and 4.2. Fastening & Fittings will

all be on one level in Hall 5.2. The other level will hold Locks & Fittings and Home Improvement. Explaining the focus of the coming hardware fair, Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive vice president of Koelnmesse, said: “The trade must meet the daily changing demands of its customers. At the 2010 trade fair we aim to present a range of products and services oriented more than ever before to meeting the needs of the qualified specialist trade.” At around 50% of overall turnout, specialist suppliers traditionally form the largest visitor group surpassing the number of industry buyers. Referring to fastening technology Koelnmesse says, “A new trend is emerging in the area of screws, especially those used for hardwoods. The current generation of screws is of excellent quality and features impressive material hardness, giving them unprecedented strength. These products

Halle / Hall

Handwerkzeuge / Hand tools

4.1 + 10.1

Elektrowerkzeuge und Zubehör Electrical tools and accessories

10.2

Hardware aus Asien / Hardware from Asia

1– 3

Industriebedarf, Werkstatt- und Betriebsausstattung Industrial supply, Workshop and factory equipment

4.1 + 4.2

Halle / Hall

Befestigungs- und Beschlagtechnik Fastening and fittings technology

5.2

Schloss + Beschlag / Locks and fittings

5.1

Bau- und Heimwerkerbedarf / Home improvement

5.1

make the work processes of the skilled trades far easier because now one can, in theory, even leave out the pre-drilling process, as the screws don’t break any more during insertion. This innovation will also make construction of terraces significantly easier. Nevertheless, manufacturers continue to advise people to pre-drill, especially when working with hard woods, as it helps to prolong the life of cordless screwdrivers and ensures shorter insertion time. Furthermore, many manufacturers will be presenting an even broader product range than before. Thanks to so-called accompanying product ranges, such as dowels, other fastening elements and chemical products, customers will receive even more added value from their specialised suppliers. Another trend among manufacturers is towards smaller packaging. In this way, the suppliers are deliberately and consistently focusing on the presentation of products in the trade.”

Totally Shows well timed to catch market recovery With real evidence that business confidence is returning to the market sectors covered by the Totally Shows portfolio, show sales director Paul Grinsell is delighted to report that interest in exhibiting at the shows is also on the up. “Understandably many companies have been avoiding committing too far ahead, but February 2010 is now on the horizon, the retail market is looking stronger and interest in taking space at the show has picked up,” commented Paul. Recent signings to Totally DIY include Active Products, Dustbubble, Darlac Tools and HG Hagesan, most of which are returning to exhibit at the newly located show after a break. In addition, JMS Bridge, Plasti-kote, RhinoCo Technology, Salepoint Shopfitting and Sodepac International have all renewed their stands for 2010, with RhinoCo, Salepoint and Sodepac all opting to increase their selling space. New to Totally DIY is Veto BV, a Dutch tool company with over 40 years experience in the tool market, who wants to expand its existing

business in the UK and will be on the look out for new clients and partners. In addition, Scan Safety Products has signed up for Totally Tools, along with Rapid UK who is returning to exhibit having taken time out in 2009. “Our exhibitors are motivated by the shows’ new location, the opportunity to run alongside the Spring Fair and attract new visitors, plus the feeling that, for our sectors the worst of the economic downturn is past, and retailers will be on the look out for new and exciting products to tempt consumers back to their stores,” said Paul. Totally Tools: Totally DIY: Totally Secure runs alongside Spring Fair International in Hall 10 at the NEC in Birmingham on 7, 8 and 9 February 2010.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

AMERICAN NEWS

By John Wolz editor@FastenerNews.com

Stanley Works and Black & Decker merging Citing annual cost savings of US$350 million (234 million euros), Stanley Works and Black & Decker announced a merger valued at US$4.5 billion (3 billion euros). The new firm will be called Stanley Black & Decker and will be headquartered in New Britain, CT, with the Power Tools headquarters remaining in Towson, MD. The all-stock transaction will give Stanley a 50.5% stake in the new US$8.4 billion company. “Black & Decker’s position in power tools, security hardware products and engineered fasteners fits seamlessly with Stanley’s product and service offerings in hand tools and mechanical and electronic security solutions, with no significant overlap in product lines,” the companies said in a statement. Stanley Black & Decker will be led by Stanley CEO John Lundgren and COO James Loree. Black & Decker CEO Nolan Archibald will serve as executive chairman of the board for three years. Fasteners have been consistently profitable for Black & Decker. Fastening and Assembly Systems revenue totaled US$700 million during 2008, with segment profit reaching US$103.3 million. Fastener sales during the first nine months of 2009 dropped 30% to US$381.7 million, with operating income decreasing 74% to US$22 million. In September 2008 Black & Decker paid US$24.1 million to

acquire threaded fastener maker Spiralock. Best known for its power tools, Black & Decker maintains a fastener industry presence through Emhart Teknologies, which manufactures Autoset, Dodge, Dril-Kwick, F-Series, Gripco, Gripco Assemblies, Heli-Coil, Jack Nut, Kalei, Mentor, NPR, Nut-Fast, ParkerKalon, Plastifast, Plasti-Kwick, Point & Set, Pop, Pop-Lok, Popmatic, Popnut, Pop-Sert, Powerlink, Proset, Smartset, SWS, T-Rivet, Tucker, Ultra-Grip, Ultrasert, Swageform, Warren, Weldfast and Well-Nut. Black & Decker’s fastener markets include automotive, transportation, construction, electronics, aerospace, machine tool and appliance industries. Principal fastener facilities are located in Danbury, CT; Montpelier, IN; Campbellsville and Hopkinsville, KY; Chesterfield, MI; Birmingham, England; Giessen, Germany; and Toyohashi, Japan.

Camcar Aerospace-Rockford to close Acument Global Technologies will shut its Camcar Aerospace facility in Rockford, less than two years after returning to the “Fastener Capital of the World” with plans for US$70 million (46.8 million euros) in aerospace production by 2010, according to BusinessRockford.com. Acument re-entered the aerospace fastener market with the March 2008 opening of its Camcar Aerospace production complex occupying two renovated facilities in Rockford. “Employees made a concerted effort to get the plant lean and efficient enough to offset a sharp decline in sales,” Acument director for corporate communications, Timothy G. Weir stated. “Ultimately, their efforts were not enough to offset the sustained drop in order volume we’ve experienced due to the aerospace industry downturn.” Camcar employed 50 workers. Following a staggered shutdown tooling and machinery will transfer to the Saturn Fasteners plant in California. Acument’s Belvidere facility in Illinois is expanding production, Weir said. Auto and industrial fastener production was moved there following the June closing of an Acument facility in Wytheville, VA.

Simpson Strong-Tie sales drop Simpson Strong-Tie sales, including fasteners and anchor systems, fell 22% during the third quarter of 2009, as ongoing weakness in homebuilding markets hampered growth. During the first nine months of 2009 Simpson Strong-Tie revenue decreased 25.5%. Overall Q3 sales at parent company Simpson Manufacturing Co. fell 23.9% to US$167.2 million (111.8 million euros), while net income was nearly halved to US$12.8 million (8.6 million euros). Nine-month sales dipped 25% to US$452.4 million (302.6 million euros), with net income dropping 71% to US$15 million (10 million euros).

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

AMERICAN NEWS

United States anti-dumping investigation It is unusual for this magazine to report on the initiation and termination of an anti-dumping case occurring between two issues. In Europe we’re used to a more drawn out and less transparent process. In the United States, though, events have galloped on between our issues so, drawing on GlobalFastenerNews as it happened coverage here’s the timeline. Perhaps we ought to add - so far. 28 September: Nucor Fastener files anti-dumping case against fasteners from China and Taiwan Nucor Fastener filed anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions alleging that Chinese exports of standard fasteners, including structural bolts, nuts and capscrews, are subsidized by the Chinese government, and that Chinese and Taiwanese fastener producers are dumping their products in the U.S. “The Chinese and Taiwanese producers have been dumping their products in the United States at unfair prices, and the American producers of standard fasteners have suffered,” said Alan Price of Wiley Rein’s International Trade Practice, counsel to Nucor Fastener. “To keep manufacturing, and manufacturing jobs, in the country, it is essential that the U.S. government vigorously enforce our trade laws, especially during hard economic times like we are experiencing now.” The petitions, filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, allege average dumping margins for Chinese imports of 145%, and of 74% for imports from Taiwan. If successful, the petitions could lead to the imposition of special anti-dumping and countervailing duties on fasteners imported from China and Taiwan. Nucor Fastener appeared to act alone when it filed the petitions. “This is purely the action of one company taking perfectly legal steps to protect its own interest,” Industrial Fasteners Institute managing director Rob Harris told GlobalFastenerNews.

7 October: Fastener industry responds to AD and countervailing petitions A group of importers and master distributors have banded together “to collectively respond to the petition,” Heads and Threads International vice president of materials Joe Peplinski told GlobalFastenerNews. “We believe that the scope as outlined is too broad and the relief being sought too great,” Peplinski stated. “A ruling in favor of the petitioner will likely result in price increases on affected products and will generally be detrimental to our industry and consumers.” According to documents filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, HTI is working with Porteous Fastener Co., Indent Metals LLC, Stelfast Inc., Excel Screw, Bossard North America, the Hillman Group and Earnest Machine Products Co. The group has collectively retained attorney Matthew T. McGrath of the D.C. law firm of Barnes Richardson & Colburn to represent them.

Other fastener firms who are actively disputing the petitions are NASCO Inc. and Brighton Best International, both of which have reportedly retained attorneys. At least one association has provided anti-dumping petition information to its members. The National Fastener Distributors Association sent its members a one page “Fact File” on 5 October with details on the petitions.

Conference scheduled in AD case Importers are lining up to testify against the petitions to the U.S. ITC. That testimony could occur as soon as 14 October, when U.S. ITC investigator Joshua Kaplan has scheduled a conference. His report to the full commission is due on 2 November, 2009, with a vote scheduled for 6 November. A preliminary determination in the case must be issued by 9 November, unless the Commerce Department extends the time for initiation. Preliminary findings are due at the Commerce Department by 17 November.

15 October: Importers challenge U.S. Tariffs on Chinese and Taiwan standard fasteners U.S. importers selected Porteous Fastener CEO Barry Porteous to testify for them at a conference held at the U.S. International Trade Commission headquarters in Washington DC on Wednesday, 14 October. Porteous said the low-carbon nuts that Nucor Fastener seeks to produce if its anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions against standard fasteners from China and Taiwan are successful have not been manufactured on a large scale in the U.S. since the 1960s. He went on to assert that a tariff against such components would not protect American businesses because no U.S. manufacturer currently produces them except by special request. Nucor Fastener lead attorney Alan Price argued that the domestic fastener industry is at risk because Chinese and Taiwanese fastener companies are able to offer significantly cheaper standard nuts, bolts and capscrews. “This case is filed...when the (domestic) industry is on the brink of extinction,” Price told an ITC panel. The panel also heard testimony from Nucor Fastener general manager Tom Miller, who claimed that Chinese and Taiwanese exporters were able to offer Grade 2, Grade 5 and Grade 8 nuts and bolts at prices lower than what the raw materials cost U.S. producers. Nucor entered the steel fastener business in 1986 when it opened a US$25 million plant in St. Joe, IN. Nucor opened

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AMERICAN NEWS

a second plant in Conway, AR, in 1995, but closed the Arkansas plant in 2002 because of low-cost foreign competition, Miller told investigators. Workers at Nucor Fastener’s Indiana facility have been reduced to 16-hour weeks as the U.S. recession deepened, driving consumers to place price above other considerations. Part of the reason Chinese fastener producers are able to sell the same quality fasteners at unrealistically low prices is access to subsidized steel, Miller claimed. In the face of such competition, Nucor has reduced prices twice in 2009, and has now reached the point where they can’t lower prices any more, he added. He said competition with Chinese and Taiwanese importers is pushing down prices and keeping them down, with the price for some imported fasteners not even covering raw materials for Nucor. This was already a problem when the economy is good, but with the economy pretty bad, “The industry we started out in will be gone,” Miller stated. David Aman, national sales manager of Sems and Specials, told the ITC panel that the ability to provide low-cost fasteners is crucial to surviving the current economic environment. “The single most important factor is price,” Aman stated. He added that he believes the Chinese are trying to run Americans out of the business altogether. “Our industry has been under attack for 20 years.” Both sides agreed that automotive and aerospace fasteners should not be considered in the scope of the ITC’s investigation, but the coalition of importers argued that many OEM nuts should not be eligible for a tariff at all because they are specially designed or made from a print.

15 October: U.S. Commerce Dept. initiates antidumping and countervailing investigations on China and Taiwan Fasteners The U.S. Department of Commerce officially initiated antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) investigations on imports of certain standard steel fasteners from China and Taiwan. “From 2006 to 2008, imports of certain standard steel fasteners from China increased by 4.48% and were valued at an estimated US$291 million in 2008. Imports from Taiwan over the same time period decreased by 19.09% and were valued at an estimated US$395 million in 2008,” the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration stated. Attorneys for Nucor Fastener are currently finalizing the petitions’ scope with the U.S. Department of Commerce. “The heart of this investigation is focused on standard bolts, standard cap screws and standard nuts,” Nucor Fastener attorney Daniel Pickard told GlobalFastenerNews. All stainless steel fasteners are excluded from the scope. Also excluded are “proprietary or modified fasteners” made to aerospace and automotive OEM specs and consumed by those OEMs. “These cases aren’t about cutting out imports, but making sure those imports are being brought in at fair prices,” Pickard told GlobalFastenerNews. “This used to be a far broader industry than it is today,” he added. Pickard said domestic manufacturers have displayed “a real show of support” for the petitions. The reaction from importers is understandably different. A group of importers and master distributors have banded together to collectively respond to the petitions. “We believe that the scope as outlined is too broad and the relief being sought too great,” Heads and Threads International vice president of materials Joe Peplinski

told GlobalFastenerNews. “A ruling in favor of the petitioner will likely result in price increases on affected products and will generally be detrimental to our industry and consumers.” U.S. ITC investigator Joshua Kaplan’s report on material injury to the domestic fastener industry is due on 2 November, 2009, with a trade commission vote scheduled for 6 November. A preliminary determination in the case must be issued by 9 November, unless the Commerce Department extends the time for initiation. Preliminary findings are due by 17 November at the Commerce Department, which will then take a couple of months to determine the “extent of unfair pricing” before making a preliminary ruling. A final dumping and countervailing ruling by the Commerce Department follows roughly six months after its preliminary decision is announced. The last stage of the cases involves a final procedure by the U.S. ITC, which includes a formal hearing before the full trade commission. All testimony at this proceeding will be given under oath, with the commission’s final determination due in September 2010 - approximately one year after the petitions were filed.

6 November: ITC terminates fastener dumping probe, appeal possible The U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously rejected Nucor Fastener’s claims that standard fastener imports from China and Taiwan were being dumped domestically. The ITC voted 6-0 to end its investigation, which began in September after Nucor Fastener filed petitions alleging average dumping margins of 145% for Chinese imports, and 74% for imports from Taiwan. The ITC determined “there is not a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain standard steel fasteners from China that are allegedly subsidized and from China and Taiwan that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.” Nucor Fastener could appeal the decision. The fastener manufacturer has 30 days to file a notice of appeal, and an additional 30 days to file its complaint. The appeal would be heard by the U.S. Court of International Trade. The Commission’s public report, “Certain Standard Steel Fasteners from China and Taiwan” (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-472 and 731-TA1171-1172 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4109, November 2009), will be released in December with the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Importers ‘pleased’ by vote “We’re very pleased,” said attorney Matthew McGrath, who represented a coalition of U.S. importers. McGrath told GlobalFastenerNews the unanimous rejection of import injury was a “well supportable result.” McGrath argued successfully that imports had declined right along with domestic fastener production as demand slowed during the global recession. “We’re in an unusual economy, with enormous changes in the market” that are unrelated to fastener imports, he explained. “Some of this product moved offshore years ago.” While Nucor Fastener attorney Alan Price had asserted that domestic fastener production was “on the brink of extinction,” McGrath said the evidence didn’t support that claim. “Nucor and other U.S. producers of fasteners will continue to do well,” McGrath said. “(Losing the tariff bid) is not going to drive them out of business.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

ASIAN NEWS

Exhibitors double at Chinese Fastener Trade Show The second Fastener Trade Show staged in Guangzhou, September 23-25, attracted 275 exhibitors, reported organisers Chinafastener.info, compared with 133 exhibiting companies at the 2008 inaugural event. 243 companies occupied standard ‘shell scheme’ booths. The number of companies investing in ‘special’ own-design stands increased from 6 in 2008 to 32. Total exhibition space increased 70% to 12,500 square metres at the Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Centre. Based on information published by ChinaFastener.info the overwhelming majority of exhibitors appear to have been Chinese companies or, in some cases, Chinese subsidiaries of international groups, including Bollhoff Wuxi and National Machinery’s business in Suzhou. Chinafastener.info reported 7,212 visitors to the three-day event, which also included a “Fastener FAQ Forum” on two of the afternoons, at which “famous Chinese fastener experts” made presentations on both domestic and foreign fastener standards. Chinafastener.info also presented the “2009 Top Supplier” awards at a first night reception, attended by over 600 guests, and addressed by several fastener industry dignities and some overseas visitors. Overall visitor numbers increased by 40% and the 2009 figure included 805 visitors from outside China – the organisers list sixty countries of origin ranging from North America and Europe, across the Middle East and Asia. The visitor profile is more difficult to establish. In its promotional material Fastener Trade Show refers to attracting end users from an extensive range of industries, as well as domestic fastener companies and buyers from global importers. While international buyers were definitely present, Sven Ammer general manager of Böllhoff Wuxi, which had a stand at the show, told this magazine, “Visitors were mainly traders and not end users, which are our target.” He rated the organisation of the event as “in general good” but felt the visitor frequency was “low the whole time”. Overall, he said the event was “not interesting and successful for us,” and did not plan to exhibit again. European visitors, to whom we were able to speak, concurred with the general quality of organisation of the event. Several noted a wide variation between exhibitors’ booths, arguably to ChinaFastener.info’s credit in encouraging higher standards of presentation than has been seen at most other fastener related shows in China. The implementation of anti-dumping tariffs on carbon steel fasteners imported from China inevitably limited European visitor interest to the relatively narrow bands of products without tariffs. Visitors from the US, Australasia and other parts of Asia unrestrained by this consideration gained greater benefit from the range of product on show. ChinaFastener.info plans to stage two Fastener Trade Shows during 2010. The southern China show will relocate to Shenzhen in September but the company is planning an interim show in March at the Leisure Expo Garden Exhibition Centre in Hangzhou. News of this event came hard on the heels of rival publication house, Guangzhou Ebseek Information Tech. Co Limited, publishers of ChinaFastener.com, announcing that – in conjunction with the Chinese Fastener Industry Association - it will stage the 2010 Fastener Expo Shanghai and Shanghai Auto Fastener Exhibition at the Shanghai Everbright Exhibition Centre, 16-18 June 2010.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

COVER STORY

Performing beyond the Norm The sea is unforgiving and competing offshore under sail is arguably one of the ultimate tests of leadership, teamwork and technology – traits that Norm has no less successfully combined to chart its course through a turbulent global market and achieve a reputation that, in many ways, belies its name. The Norm Sailing Team was founded in 2004, at the initiative of Fatih Uysal, vice-chairman of the company’s board. In five years the team, comprising entirely of Norm employees, has won recognition and the trophies that attest to its competitive ability in major sailing championships staged along the Turkish coast. To anyone who knows Norm Fasteners and has visited its production facilities in Izmir Turkey’s third largest city and second most important port after Istanbul - such single-minded determination to excel is unlikely to come as a great surprise. In 1973 Norm Fasteners began bolt production with a single two-blow header. In 1977 the company moved into nut production to meet domestic market demand. Today the Norm Fastener Group has an annual capacity of 38,000 tonnes in both male and female fasteners as well as special parts – in 2008 achieving combined manufacturing and trading sales in excess of 110 million euros.

While standard fasteners remain a significant element of Norm’s business, it has distinguished itself through developing its capabilities in special parts for OEMs and the aftermarket. Characteristically, the Group has invested not just in production capabilities that give it direct control over every phase of manufacturing but also in advanced process simulation technologies, which allow it to accurately model and develop production of the complex special parts demanded particularly by the automotive sector. Norm is accredited to ISO 9001, ISO TS 16949 and Ford Q1. In the domestic market the Group has won top supplier awards from the Turkish Automotive Association as well as from FIAT-Tofas. A long domestic OEM reference list also includes Mercedes Benz Turk, Uzel, Karsan, Otokar, Valeo, BMC, Turk Traktor, Man Turkiye, Ford-Otosan and Oyak Renault. An acknowledged global supplier to Ford Motor Company, FIAT, Valeo and John Deere, Norm Fastener Group also supplies Volvo and Scania in Scandinavia, VW, Audi and

Porsche in Germany and PSA in France. In fact, around forty percent of manufacturing output is exported, primarily to nearby Europe, and the group now has its own distribution operations at Meaux, in France and Gevelsberg, in Germany. Norm’s quality accreditation, and its production capabilities, should not however be seen as exclusive to the automotive sector. The Group, for example, is also certified to EN 14399-1:2005 for construction fasteners. Consistent leadership of the Norm Group emanates from family ownership, now entering its third generation as Fatih Uysal’s son, having completed his business education in Chicago, started working this year in a company founded by his grandfather, who continues as chairman of the board. Family values extend throughout the business - as Fatih Uysal puts it, “bonding the family of all the employees into the business.” Norm demonstrates real commitment to the education and skills of its employees. That starts with thorough training for production - a crucial element in achieving the levels of personal competence and commitment essential to Norm’s adoption of Lean manufacturing techniques. It also includes ensuring wide ranging commercial skills including the ability to communicate with export customers in their own language. The sailing team is only one example of how Norm goes beyond the immediate skills requirements for the job and invests in the personal development of its people. One of Norm’s four sites also contains its art gallery - a showpiece not for bought-in works but for the creativity in paint and ceramics of its own employees, tutored regularly by a visiting professor. It has also developed an education programme for eight high school students, who combine three days academic study with two days working in the production environment. For Norm the bond with its people is an integral part of the strategy aimed at ensuring the highest levels of product quality – ‘quality cannot be controlled, it can be produced’ is a corporate mantra, as is the statement that ‘education is the best motivational tool’. That Norm has unquestionably put these beliefs in to practice is, again, a combination of leadership, technology and teamwork. Crucially, every phase of the production process, from receipt of the wire to despatch of the packaged product, is fulfilled directly by Norm, ensuring it can indeed ensure production of all aspects of quality. The group’s main facility and head office in Izmir is a 38,000 square metre plant producing both male standard fasteners and special parts. In addition to some sixty sets of heading and thread rolling machines, the facility houses four atmosphere controlled, continuous belt heat treatment lines with inline dephosphating, ensuring compliance to the most stringent of automotive requirements. The building also houses Norm’s extensively-equipped central quality laboratory, responsible for inspection from raw material through all stages of manufacture to finished product. Norm has now implemented company-wide Lean manufacturing techniques, which combined with a fully integrated MRP system, forge the link between technology and personal responsibility that delivers its unequivocal commitment to producing quality. Advanced production equipment, the result of a continuous programme of investment in manufacturing technology, is interspersed with SPC computer stations, where the operators regularly carry out sample checks. Out of specification readings immediately trigger an on-screen alert to both plant and quality managers.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

COVER STORY

“leadership, teamwork and technology has combined to produce exceptitional quality.” In 1996 nut production was moved to a separate, close-by site, which also houses the Norm art gallery. On the production floor an in-process inspection regime, similar to that at the bolt plant and supported by a satellite laboratory, ensures creativity on the production floor is restricted to far more precise parameters. At the rear of the nut factory is the first of a number of 100% inspection operations, in this instance, a battery of Dimac vision machines with inline packing to eliminate any risk of post inspection cross contamination. Nearby is a water treatment plant, one of several visible reminders that Norm takes equally seriously its environmental responsibilities, conforming to ISO 14001 throughout its production operations. Beyond is, perhaps, the most surprisingly impressive of Norm’s facilities – an in-house tooling company that, in investment and technology terms, could very easily put many independent tooling specialists in the shade. Established in 2006 and employing 27 people it is effectively a production line for all of Norm’s tooling requirements, once again exercising direct and stringent control over a crucial contributor to final product quality. Each piece of tooling is laboratory inspected before leaving the tooling facility, with separate input controls in the production plants before use on the machines. Norm’s coating plant, at 17,000 square metres not far short of the area of the nut factory, processes under both Dörken and MacDermid licences, applying ZInKlad, Zinc-Nickel and Delta Protekt coatings. Formal statistical process control blends with Lean

principles – bar coding for traceability and sample inspection, highly visible segregation lanes and colour coded binning to prevent cross contamination. A chemical laboratory and three salt spray cabinets assure coatings quality. This year the laboratory also took delivery of a new Schatz torque friction tester, one of only a handful across Europe. Rotating at up to 200rpm the machine accurately simulates fastener insertion conditions in application, in particular replicating the friction-induced heat that can significantly affect torque characteristics. Here Norm also carries out its own adhesive and patching application, using four lines designed and constructed in house. Another, larger, array of inspection machines, again packing direct into boxes, represents the final affirmation of quality for critical parts. Elsewhere in the building a mixture of Iman Pack automatic lines, and semi automatic and manual packing operations, prepares standard products for storage in the finished product warehouse. Norm’s fourth site in Izmir is the 24,000 square metre warehouse for its trading business, Standart Civata, established in 1981 and now, Norm says, the largest trading house in Turkey – with 14,000 pallet spaces for imported standard fasteners supplied to wholesalers and distributors throughout Turkey and to export customers. In Izmir, leadership, teamwork and technology has combined to produce exceptional quality – a company that today belies its name, as it performs way beyond the norm.

Norm’s bolt plant and offices, one of four facilities in Izmir

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

EVENTS CALENDAR

Totally Tools, DIY & Secure

Where: Birmingham, UK When: 7 Feb - 9 Feb 2010 Web: www.totallytools.co.uk What: Tools, metal-working and manufacturing technologies.

The Big 5

Bulgaria Building Week

Where: When: Web: What:

Dubai, UAE 23 Nov - 26 Nov 2009 www.thebig5exhibition.com Construction and contracting industry.

Sofia, Bulgaria 9 Mar - 13 Mar 2010 www.planetfair.de International building exhibition.

IndiaMart Hardware & Tools Expo

Intertool Kiev

Where: When: Web: What:

Mumbai, India 20 Dec - 22 Dec 2009 www.iihtexpo.com Handtools & fasteners exhibition.

Kiev, Ukraine 17 Mar - 19 Mar 2010 www.intertool-kiev.com Trade fair for manufacturing technology.

Swissbau

Mosbuild

Where: When: Web: What:

Basel, Switzerland 12 Jan - 16 Jan 2010 www.swissbau.ch National construction fair.

Moscow, Russia 6 Apr - 9 Apr 2010 www.mosbuild-expo.com Construction technology, materials and equipment.

BUDMA - International Construction Fair

wire Dusseldorf 2010

Where: When: Web: What:

Poznan, Poland 19 Jan - 22 Jan 2010 www.budma.pl Building technology, equipment and materials.

Dusseldorf, Germany 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2010 www.wire.de Wire and cable, including fastener manufacturing technology.

BAUTEC

Construma

Where: When: Web: What:

Berlin, Germany 16 Feb - 20 Feb 2010 www.bautec.com Building and construction technology.

Budapest, Hungary 14 Apr - 18 Apr 2010 www.construma.hu International building trade exhibition.

International Hardware Fair Cologne

Hannover Industrial Fair

Where: When: Web: What:

Cologne, Germany 28 Feb - 3 Mar 2010 www.koelnmesse.com Hardware and DIY sector.

Hannover, Germany 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2010 www.hannovermesse.de Industrial products, technologies and services.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 60 November 2009

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Adolf Pühl GmbH & Co. KG Herscheider Str. 33 D-58840 Plettenberg/GERMANY Phone: +49 2391 8107-0 Fax: +49 2391 14512 www.puehl.de E-Mail: sales@puehl.de

EXHIBITIONS

Unimer pleased with Interbuild Unimer plc, a UK invoice clearing house for the building products industry, says it is celebrating another successful Unimer Lounge at the recent Interbuild 2009, with its suppliers rushed off their feet with enquiries and order taking. Despite a slightly ‘downsized’ Interbuild, Suzanne Millward, marketing manager at Unimer, expressed her satisfaction with the event. “We are tremendously pleased to yet again be part of Interbuild. It gave us the opportunity to meet with new potential members and suppliers, and also to catch up with existing members and suppliers”. “I was very pleased to see the steady stream of visitors to the stands of our supporting suppliers. In fact, at one point there were so many visitors to a couple of stands, you couldn’t possibly have accommodated any more!” Patrick Buckley, commercial manager for Conder Environmental Solutions concurred with Suzanne’s comments: “I was delighted with the response and the quality of visitors at the event. It was an excellent opportunity for Conder and the feedback from all my sales staff was very good with plenty of leads to work on since the event”. The Unimer Lounge was surrounded by exhibiting suppliers including Conder Environmental, Flo-Plast, CombiLift, Marsh Industries, Contour Showers, Ultratape and Dale Hardware, who were all very pleased with the high level of interest shown in their products. Suzanne concludes:”It appears that the interest in our suppliers and their products and Unimer’s value-added services, such as our invoice clearing offerings, have not diminished despite the current economic climate”.

Sheet metal working specialists met in Kielce Kielce, Poland, was the meeting point for 1,200 trade visitors from all over the country who attended BLECH Polska 2009, the technology exhibition for sheet metal working. Sixty exhibitors from twelve countries presented a vast array of machines, tools, systems and materials from all sectors of the sheet metal manufacturing process, including metal-forming and bending solutions, stamping, pressing, automation, flexible manufacturing systems, metal supply, cutting, punching, joining/welding, tooling, laser technology, CAD/CAM, finishing/coating, quality assurance and material handling. Organisers, Mack Brooks Exhibitions explains that “Although the current global economic crisis has affected Polish industry roduction, Poland still represents a key production site for quality products within the metal working sector. A large number of foreign companies have been investing in Poland’s special economic zones, such as the sub zones of Łódz and Kutno.” The latest investor is an Italian company, which Mack Brooks says intends to construct a factory manufacturing metal sheets for domestic appliances. The new production facility is expected to create 100-120 jobs. A large majority of the exhibiting companies at BLECH Polska 2009 were machine tool producers and suppliers from outside Poland, predominantly from Germany and Italy. BLECH Polska is part of the BLECH series of events organised by Mack Brooks Exhibitions. Next year EuroBLECH, the technology exhibition for sheet metal working, will take place again in Hannover, Germany, from 26 – 30 October 2010. With 1,520 exhibitors from 38 countries and 70,000 visitors from all over the world, the previous EuroBLECH show was the biggest ever.

HANNOVER MESSE renames trade show HANNOVER MESSE 2010 (19 – 23 April) has announced that the innovative marketplace for the component supply industry will be staged under a new name – ‘Industrial Supply’. ‘Industrial Supply’ – formerly known as ‘Subcontracting’ – is one of the largest trade shows in the HANNOVER MESSE portfolio. In 2009 approximately 1,500 exhibitors presented their products and innovations to 48,500 visitors, including 13,900 from outside Germany. HANNOVER MESSE highlights that the fact that half of the exhibitors come from abroad (from 60 countries) underlines the importance of ‘Industrial Supply’ as a marketplace for global sourcing. “The new name underlines the significance of this high-profile marketplace under the umbrella of HANNOVER MESSE. With its innovative, cross-industry line-up ‘Industrial Supply’ is geared even more closely to the requirements of the component supply industry and its customers,” explains Wolfgang Pech, senior vice president HANNOVER MESSE at Deutsche Messe AG. “We aim to reflect the importance of the component supply industry and ensure that it achieves an even higher profile at HANNOVER MESSE.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

There’s lots to do in Branson! Remarkable vacation destination at an incredible value 12 championship golf courses including Payne Stewart Golf Club More than 50 live performance theaters Three pristine lakes

Be a part of the first All American Fastener Show

May 6-7, 2010 • Centrally located in the heart of the U.S.A.– Branson, Missouri – easy travel and great entertainment! • Cost effective way to generate sales leads, introduce new products and enhance your image and visibility. • Mix business and pleasure within the fastener community.

International awardwinning theme park, Silver Dollar City Full range of dining options available Retail & outlet shopping galore including Branson Landing Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is the show location

10x10 Tabletop Booth Spaces • Standard $695, Premium corner $795 (Early birds, register by 2/1/10 for $100 off) • Registration deadline 4/1/10 • Attendees: pre-register $15 register at the door $25

Space Includes: 8 foot table, 2 chairs, 3 exhibitor passes, wastepaper basket, 24-hour security, year-round promotion for the show (direct mail, advertising in “industry specific” publications, online, free listing in show directory), and more.

Visit Us Online – AllAmericanFastenerShow.com • For the latest schedule updates • Reserve and pay for exhibit space • Pre-register • Convenient links to book hotel and airfare Photos courtesy of SwiftShots, Silver Dollar City, Rob Perry.

Interested in exhibiting, attending, or being a sponsor – visit us online at

AllAmericanFastenerShow.com Toll Free 1-877-865-8237

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

Stuttgart creates new records Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2009 – the largest dedicated fastener and fixing exhibition ever to be held in Europe – took place over two days in October. A record breaking 625 exhibitors, a 43% increase on the 2007 show, packed the two 10,000 square metre halls, to provide a stunning backdrop for the biggest gathering of fastener professionals in Europe. “The hefty increases in both exhibitors and attendees, amidst still challenging economic conditions, shows the resilience of the fastener and fixing sector,” says organiser Jerry Ramsdale. “It also shows the unique opportunity Fastener Fair Stuttgart presented to re-establish key trade links across the global fastener market.”

Almost 6,000 fastener professionals “The show had a real buzz throughout its two days,” says Ramsdale. “That’s not surprising when you consider there were almost 6,000 fastener professionals meeting in Stuttgart – 3,783 visitors and 2,210 stand personnel. And what’s even more encouraging than our recordbreaking figures is the feedback from exhibitors, who reported consistently that people were there to do serious business, not just to look.” Visitors came from all over the world, with 83% from the 27 countries of the European Union. At 38.3%, the largest proportion came from Germany, followed by other major industrialised countries of Europe. Around two-thirds of visitors described themselves as fastener distributors or wholesalers, a similar proportion to previous shows. “Throughout the show, exhibitors commended the quality of the visitors,” says Ramsdale, “views endorsed by the fact that more than three quarters of visitors told us they have purchasing authority and 43% described themselves as directors or senior management.” While many leading fastener groups, including Würth, Bufab and Berrang, fielded full teams of buyers to maximise their return from the show, it was clear that smaller businesses were able to take full advantage of Stuttgart Messe’s close proximity to the international airport to pack in a full day visiting the exhibits. Ramsdale says: “We were also very pleased that two-thirds of visitors pre-registered online. It shows that Fastener Fair Stuttgart is now established as a ‘must visit’ for European fastener and fixing professionals.”

International exhibitor representation The record-breaking 625 exhibiting companies represented 33 countries, with 57% coming from Europe. The number of German, Italian and Asian companies exhibiting was up over 50% in each case. “In addition to the stunning growth from Italy and Germany, most other European countries saw significant growth, too,” says Ramsdale. “For example, the Netherlands was up by 25%, Spain by 33% and Poland by 50%. There were double the number of exhibitors from Turkey, and we were pleased to welcome Austrian, Hungarian and Slovakian companies for the first time.” Ramsdale was particularly delighted with the quality and content of exhibitors’ stands: “Companies made an amazing effort to display themselves and their offerings well,” he said. “Clearly, exhibitors take their investment in Fastener Fair Stuttgart very seriously.” He was also pleased with the success of established features of the event, such as the New Product Showcase, and with new features. “For example, having a dedicated fastener production technology section proved popular with visitors and exhibitors alike,” says Ramsdale. “Exhibitors were telling us before the show ended that their investment had proven more than worthwhile and we have already received several enquiries from machinery manufacturers that didn’t exhibit this time, so we expect this to be a real growth area in 2011.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

In their own words – visitors “ I will rate this as the best and most organised Fastener Fair in Europe, and may be one of the best in the World.” Tingstad AS, Norway

“ I feel this was the best fastener show I have attended and will attend again at some point” Hillman Group, USA

“The Fastener Fair is an important show for screw manufacturers and distributors” Fuchs + Sanders Schrauben Großhandels GmbH + Co. KG, Germany

What was your main objective in visiting Fastener Fair Stuttgart? “Meeting friends and customers from producer and distributors and looking for new chances for business.” Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

What was your overall opinion of Fastener Fair Stuttgart? “Well worth the 30 hours travel” Manufacturing Supplies Ltd, New Zealand

“It was a very good event, although I didn’t have enough time to visit all the stands” Iran Tohid Co, Iran

“Great!” Metalúrgica Véra Indústria e Comércio Ltda, Brasil

How well did your visit allow you to achieve this objective? “Very well, many good meetings” Suomen Erikoisruuvi Oy, Finland

“This show was one of, if not the, best exhibition that I have visited for a long while” Fixfast, UK

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

Taking the long view Fortress Fasteners managing director, Ian Hart visited this year’s Fastener Fair, together with his national sales manager, Steve Williams. Nothing unusual there – they were in the company of close to 6,000 other fastener professionals. Except… it took Ian and Steve thirty hours to get to the show. Manufacturing Suppliers Ltd, the distribution channel for Fortress Fasteners, has been servicing the fastener market for 30 years – that is the fastener market in New Zealand, which makes Ian and Steve’s trip to the show somewhere around 18,000 kilometres each way. “We saw from the exhibitor list there were a lot of suppliers, including many Asian companies, at the Fastener Fair relevant to our business,” Ian told Jamie Mitchell at Stuttgart, “so we decided we better come look.” Ian set up MSL in 1980. Now there are nine branches nationwide, employing more than one hundred people and supplying over 10,000 product lines, including the Fortress Fastener brand, which was launched in 1997. Acknowledging that the financial crisis has affected the business, Ian Hart says it has not changed the way MSL works. “We have the same model now as when I started the business in 1980 – deliver in full and on time”. As MSL reaches its thirtieth anniversary, Ian Hart is looking to expand and create new jobs. “MSL is 100% New Zealand owned and operated and we take pride in supporting the country’s economy.” Steve Williams joined MSL 19 years ago and played a key role in setting up several MSL branches around North Island. He has recently

been appointed national sales manager – a new role that includes developing new opportunities across the range. “We are going to ensure,” says Ian Hart, “that, when the demand picks back up, Fortress Fasteners remains the number one fastener company here in New Zealand.” Results of the Stuttgart trip? “We have approached a number of potential suppliers from the show, and hope to be dealing with those suppliers soon,” says Ian.

Transatlantic perspective By John Wolz, editor, GlobalFastenerNew.com Quickly upon entering the new Stuttgart exhibition center two North American distributors noticed differences between Fastener Fair Stuttgart and traditional U.S. trade shows. Distributors Jim Ruetz of All Fasteners and Kevin Queenin of Specialty Bolt & Screw went to the 7 - 8 October, 2009 show in Germany. “There was an interesting enigma between the booths – many of the European booths were large and had tables set up for food and drink. There was a lot of social activity, particularly around lunchtime where visitors actually sat and had lunch or a beer with the owners of the exhibiting companies,” Ruetz noted. Ruetz and Queenin went to Fastener Fair Stuttgart for “a wider view of the world supply base as some of our U.S. customers continue to look at or are setting up operations in Eastern Europe and Asia.” They wanted to meet suppliers who may not exhibit in North America. Ruetz estimated he knew about 50 suppliers of the more than 600 exhibiting companies. In the U.S. he usually recognizes 70% or more. Ruetz and Queenin found the average European booth is larger than “we typically would see in the United States at any of the shows.” Ruetz also found that “European booths worked harder to pull individuals into the booth from the aisles” than in North America. “We can’t verify this, but we felt that there were many more executive level people visiting the booths than the buyers themselves.” With Stuttgart Messe located adjacent to the airport rather than downtown it was an all-business location. “There were very

few distractions at this show,” Ruetz said. “I’d say if anything the distraction might have been people having dinner and drinks in the booths themselves, but certainly distractions away from the show didn’t exist.” Exhibitors “were very surprised to see Americans in attendance. We were definitely in the very small minority.” “Considering the exchange rate balance in favor of exporting, we were surprised there weren’t more U.S. companies in attendance.” Queenin attended the 2002 International Hardware Fair in Cologne – where he found fasteners “maybe 10%” of exhibits while they were 95% of Fastener Fair Stuttgart. Fastener booths at Cologne were intermingled with plumbing, electrical and other hardware exhibitors. “Fastener Fair Stuttgart was much more in line with the focus on products and items that we are looking for and comparable to what we see at the U.S. fastener shows,” Queenin noted. “We found a number of new potential sources that we would not have had the opportunity to see in the U.S. shows,” Ruetz said. “Some of the companies are coming from emerging areas and may help us if the anti-dumping legislation gains momentum.” They also learned about European suppliers “should more of our customers look at European operations in the future.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

“…the party was nice and well organised. A moment to meet customers in a relaxed atmosphere without time constraint.” Manassero & C. srl

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

In their own words – exhibitors

“ We’re very satisfied with the results of the Fastener Fair… a trade fair isn’t just a place for answering specific enquires and generating new business, it’s also a sector mood barometer. At this year’s Fastener Fair, there was an evident overall positive trend.” Kohlhage Befestigungstechnik “ Right people but too short time to meet all of them, although we were 9 people, it was not possible to meet everyone for required period of time.” Norm Civata AS “ The fair has become a very important one for fasteners, our visitors were professionals” Klimas Wrekt-met

“ Very effective as the whole industry was represented, if not with a stand, then as a visitor.” OTTO ROTH GmbH & Co KG

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

“ This is the most important international and largest Trade Fair in Europe and has provided us once again with an important platform for the dialogue with customers and with getting in contact with new clients.” WASI GmbH & Co. KG

“ We had a lot of interesting new contacts and had some very important meetings with our clients. For some it was the first personal contact we had and as you know to look in each others eyes is very important for doing business. BD Bulloneria Dadi Srl

“Sehr effektiv”

Adolf Pühl GmbH & Co. KG “ Overall, a great step into better times for 2010. We already have new orders to more than cover the cost of the show.” Clyde Fasteners Ltd

“ I have already told everyone that Fastener Fair Stuttgart is the best one in the world for fasteners.” Bolt Fastener Co. “ Good quantity, very good quality.” BTS GmbH

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

Innovation prize hotly contested Innovative products have always been a significant aspect of the Stuttgart Fastener Fair. This year’s New Product Showcase demonstrated the importance visitors attach to this feature of the show, and the intense competition amongst exhibitors for the coveted Innovative Product of the Year awards. There were twenty four entrants into the showcase, which took pride of place at the back of Hall 4, representing a wide variety of products appealing to a cross section of visitors to the show. The visitors had the unenviable task of voting for the product they believed to be the most innovative. An excellent response of votes was counted on the second day and the prizes were awarded as followed:

First Prize

and Innovative Product of the Year trophy was awarded to EuroTec GmbH and its EiSYS product. Innovation has always been close to the heart of the Hagen-based company, and this year was no exception with the EiSYS, which offers a simple method in façade assembly, picking up the top award. The EiSYS includes a ring marker on the plug to ensure insertion to the correct depth, as well as a threaded sleeve for adjustment to correspond with the wall. The system can be adapted to cladding (for example timber cladding or fibreboards). Also, each fixing point consists of two fasteners placed in a V-shape, following the timber frame principle.

Second Place

in the showcase went to Tite-Fix Ltd. another previous winner with

a strong track record developing high performance screws tightly targeted to specific applications. Adjust-Tite, is a removable, adjustable screw. Tite-Fix’s John Bousfield demonstrated Adjust-Tite and explained, “The reason the Adjust-Tite is idea for door jambs and carcasses is because it offers 15mm of adjustment when fixing two sections of timber or fibre board. A square recess offers the most efficient drive eliminating cam out, even into the hardest of material; while the Tri-Lock TS thread form not only offers reduced insertion torque, meaning once the screw is adjusted to the ideal distance it will not work lose, but unlike other adjustable screws, if you do need to remove it, you can.”

Third Place

went to Ferodom s.r.o and its IstLock innovation. The

IstLock is a patented protection system, which was developed in partnership with the Engineering Faculty of Technical University Žilina, Slovakia. Jozef Dominik who collected the award, explained that the key to the IstLock lies in its effective utilisation of assembling strength for protection by means of flexible angled segment of a plastics material or soft metal, for instance copper. This segment is forced to decrease its diameter during assembly, developing adherence pressure on the screw thread and creating a friction lock between screw and nut.

l-r: Michael Wilkinson (Tite-Fix Ltd), Jerry Ramsdale (organiser), Peter Beckmann (EuroTec), Jozef Dominik (Ferodom)

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

The specialist for fastening technology

Wood Construction Screws

Garden Deck Construction Die innovativen Befestigungssysteme für das Bauen mit Holz im Garten, Park- und Grünanlagen

The specialist for fastening technology

Solar-Fastening System

IdeeFix 30/40/50

Edelstahl-Befestigungen für Photovoltaik- und Brauchwasseranlagen

Z - 9.1 - 713

• unsichtbarer Holzverbinder • hohe Lastaufnahme bei Zug- und Querkraft • nachspannbar / demontierbar • universell einsetzbar • geringe Holzschwächung • schnellere plus leichtere Montage ohne Fräsarbeiten • mit statischem Prüfbericht der HFA (Holzforschung Austria) •Systemschrauben sind immer dabei !

• Holz-/Hartholz-Terrassen • Steinterrassen-Gestaltung • Sichtschutz-Wände • Gartenzäune • Spielanlagen

Für die Anbringung von Kollektoren, ob vollflächig oder teilbestückt. Mit dem Solar-Dachhaken, der Solarschraube (auch vormontiert) und den Paneltwistec Tellerkopfschrauben »INOX« ist die Integration einer Solar-/Brauchwasseranlage auf dem Dach kein Problem.

• Gartenhäuser, Geräteschuppen

Produktinformation für Holz- /Holzbohr-Schrauben

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Technische Informationen

Unter dem Hofe 5 · 58099 Hagen Tel. 0049 (0)2331 62 45-0 · Fax 0049 (0)2331 62 45-200 email: info@e-u-r-o-tec.de · www.e-u-r-o-tec.de

BRUTUS

-Facade Connecting System H\

The Glue Wood NEU Solution

H \ M Z P J O [SP J

EiSYS

Timber Connector System

Zulassungs-Nr.

beantragt

Ein System für alle Verbindungen im Holzbau.

Die Alternative für Querzug- oder Querdruckverstärkung (nach DIN 1052), mit durchgehendem Gewinde DIN 7998

Wie lange können wir uns Wärme noch leisten und was hat ein Heißluftballon mit Wärmedämmung zu tun?

10,0 mm lieferbar.

Konstruktion mit Eurotec Bauschrauben fixieren, FERTIG !

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Fully-threaded screw

einstecken und beigepackte Schrauben einsetzen

E.u.r.o.Tec GmbH

Eurotec GmbH Times Busch 23 58093 Hagen

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Programmerweiterung: KONSTRUX-Vollgewindeschrauben: Ab sofort in Ø 6,3 / Ø 8,0 und Ø

bohren

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Anwendungsbeispiele

Ganz einfach, in beiden Fällen wird warme Luft gespeichert.

die mechanische Verankerung ist sehr Zuverlässig kein Kleben mehr Für Neukonstruktionen plus Altbausanierungen die Lösung schlechthin.

einfach eindrehen und fertig

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für Fassadenhölzer von 57 - 95 mm Profilhöhe nicht sichtbar geschraubte Befestigung perfekter konstruktiver Holzschutz durchlüftetes Fassadensystem mit Abstandsmontage die bewitterte Oberfläche des Fassadenholzes bleibt unbeschädigt

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Stand 10.2009 · Für den Inhalt sind Irrtümer einschließlich technischer Änderungen und Ergänzungen vorbehalten. Nachdruck, (auch auszugsweise) ist nur mit Genehmigung der E.u.r.o.Tec GmbH gestattet. Konzept u. Gestaltung: cd-protype, D-58239 Schwerte, Tel: 0049 (0)2304 / 890113 · email: info@cd-protype.de

Ordnungs-Service

Achtung:

Berechnungs-Service

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

Strength in depth Although there could only be three prize winners, the array of new products on display clearly underlined continued commitment to product innovation across the global fastener industry. Many of the other products entered demonstrated clear merit and met with considerable interest from visitors, who collected the product information available at the New Product Showcase and took the opportunity to visit the entrants’ stands for more detailed explanations and discussions. The TWINNUT from TwinNut GmbH, which is a traditional solid screw nut that has been separated into two parts, received a lot of attention. TWINNUT is the latest in a series of concepts seen at Fastener Fair aimed at avoiding the necessity of spinning a standard nut along long threaded rods, particularly when in situ and subjected to corrosion, as well as assembling or servicing fittings that are difficult to access. The showcase also included Rivit’s latest RIV942, a new hydro-pneumatic tool; PREBENA’s PKT-2-J50SD finish nailer; and Karat Industrial’s KARAT GR-2 heavy duty riveting tool.

Importantly, this year’s Showcase also included, alongside the fasteners, fixing and tools, innovative coating technologies. While unquestionably harder to display in the Showcase environment advances in coatings continue to be fundamentally important to the fastener and fixings industries and were welcome ‘first timers’. Dörken MKS-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG entered its coating system made up of Delta-Protekt® KL 101 zinc flake and water-based Delta-Protekt® VH 331 GZ in¬organic topcoat. Atotech included its Zinni AC AF 210, its newest generation of ammonia-free acid zinc nickel electrolyte. Another distinctive product in the showcase was the RMS 302 rivet station from P3 Automation. The RMS 302 was too large to be placed on the New Product Showcase stand, but visitors were encouraged to visit P3 Automation’s stand for a full demonstration. Look around this page for more of the innovations on display.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Innovation in every issue Fastener + Fixing Magazine always prioritises innovative product developments. Each issue we dedicate dozens of pages to product, market sector and company news. So, if its new and you want the market to hear about it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just tell us. Email editor@fastfair.net with up to 250 words and a high resolution image. Download our Editorial Guide from www.fastenerfair.com for more information or simply call us.

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

“…interesting to see some machine exhibitors joining; forging machines, inspection machines etc ...so the fair is not only a fasteners fair but more a hardware fair and this is good.”

“We think there were mainly professional visitors as enquiries were specific and related to a specific field.” National Machinery Europe GmbH “We met customers who were exhibiting there, plus some old customers and potential ones who were visiting the show.”

Tecno Impianti Srl Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

Other Asia

Germany North America

India

“Stuttgart 2009 affirmed Fastener Fair’s international credentials.

Visitors came looking to do serious business with the most extensive array of short, medium and long range fastener and construction fixings suppliers ever brought together in Europe. They were definitely not disappointed. Visitors and exhibitors alike are telling us Fastener Fair Stuttgart has set new standards as the leading international event for the fastener and fixings industries – standards on which we will, without question, continue to build in 2011.” - Jerry Ramsdale, organiser.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

China

STUTTGART 09 REPORT

Italy

Turkey

Spain Netherlands

2009 exhibitor breakdown by country

Other Europe

Taiwan

Fastener + Fixing Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 60 November 2009

INSIGHT

NORMA: Driving connecting technology for 60 years The world has seen many changes in connecting technology over sixty years, many at the instigation of NORMA. Florent Pellissier, global marketing manager, looks back over the foundations of the Group’s confidence in its continued technology leadership. Founded in 1949 as Rasmussen GmbH, NORMA, now a brand of the NORMA Group, is one of the world’s leading systems manufacturers in engineered joining technology. For six decades NORMA has developed, produced and delivered customer-specific system solutions which have successfully been used to meet various and complex industrial requirements. In 1916, the Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded a factory in Saxony, Germany, to produce steam fittings. In the same year, he attempted to produce a steam-driven car, called the DKW. Although unsuccessful, he did go onto make a two-stroke toy engine in 1919, called Des Knaben Wunsch — “the boy’s desire”. A slightly modified version installed in a motorcycle was called Das Kleine Wunder — “the little marvel”. This was the real beginning of the DKW brand, which by the 1930s, had become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1932, DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer, to form the Auto-Union. DKW cars were made from 1928 until 1966. Using two-stroke engines, the company from 1931 pioneered front-wheel drive and transverse mounting. The best-known cars made before World War II, bearing model names F1 through F8 (F for Front), had front-wheel drive and a transversely mounted two-cylinder engine. These models also featured an innovate generator that doubled as a self-starter, mounted directly on the crankshaft and known as a Dynastart.

When the car boom came, Rassussen Gmbh was able to easily produce clamps at a rapid pace for many large demands. Among others one of the first customers was the VW Group. On the famous original Beetle the S-clamps were used in all fluid circuits in significant numbers. Due to its perfect roundness and fit on the hose it provided a very robust joint with high sealing qualities. In consequence the S-clamp was introduced in a number of other applications, like filter systems, sealing of industrial hoses and in the “SP” version even as a retaining component to fix pipe work securely. Still today the S-clamp is famous for fuel hoses in some industries. Other industries and clients demanded customised clamps, the driving force behind clamp developments in a short period of time. Demand for many different sized clamps resulted in a move from single to multiple diameters.

Driving force in clamp developments…

A less well-known series of rear-wheel drive cars called Schwebeklasse and Sonderklasse used V4 two-stroke engines. These engines had two extra cylinders for forced induction, so they really appeared like V6s but without sparkplugs on the front cylinder pair. In 1939, a three-cylinder prototype with a streamlined body appeared, which could run at 115 km/h. It was put into production only after World War II, first as an IFA F9 (later to become Wartburg) in Zwickau, East Germany, and shortly afterwards in DKW-form from Düsseldorf as the 3=6 or F91. From the foundation of the company it also acted as a trading house. Soon the founders of the company realised, through their market activities with joining components, that there was quite a demand for hose clamps in the market. In consequence they developed, and started to produce in 1955, the NORMACLAMP S, an improved product designed to achieve a lasting, tight connection.

From this point a string of hose clamps, couplings, quick connectors and other joining technologies was developed serving all kind of industries. The definitive break-through came with the invention of the NORMACLAMP TORRO in the early 1980s. This went hand in hand with first foundation of international subsidiaries, in the UK, France and Spain. The first company in North America was established in 1989 followed by Australia in 1992, Singapore 2004, and China 2005. Even before the subsidiaries were founded, NORMA exported its clamps to more than 40 countries in the early 1990s but the establishment of its own subsidiaries drove stronger development in key international markets. Following the S-clamp development in the 1950s, NORMA developed a range of clamp derivatives and couplings. The first worm drive hose clamp was the SGL, which was followed by the patented asymmetric TORRO. In the industrial coupling sector NORMA was very active with the NORMACONNECT CV, introduced for wastewater cast iron pipe connections. In order to make the assembly process easier – at the time all competing products used at least 2 and up to 4 bolts making the installation more time consuming - the NORMACONNECT RAPID was developed and was one of the biggest success stories of the Group. Still today the RAPID is produced in double-digit million volumes per year. Highest product quality paired with the entrepreneurial approach of the stakeholders and management led to the success of the brand and products. Soon NORMA stood for technological leadership in clamping and connecting products, engineering and services – its laboratory

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

INSIGHT

remains unmatched in the industry and serves as a benchmark. The simple reason behind these investments: to drive customer value by creating the most reliable interfaces and joints worldwide.

…and connecting technology The company started in the 1972 with the production of drainage coupling with CV couplings, which are included in the DCS product line. Soon “AKO”, a company producing cast-iron pipes, started to use the CV, primarily because it made the production of the pipework much easier by eliminating the requirement for flaring. The breakthrough in this market segment came with the introduction of the RAPID. Only one bolt needed to be tightened, representing a halving of assembly time – the product was immediately embraced by the installer and the market success was overwhelming. As the DCS systems serve the low pressure-market segment it was a logical step to continue the development into pressurised systems. Flanges with nuts and bolts are rather difficult to install. The FGR programme was developed in the late 1980s with its breakthrough in the early 1990s. In 1996 the plant in Gerbershausen was inaugurated – at the time the sole production centre for FGR. With this investment NORMA launched another successful product in the coupling market. The worldwide first volume-production Quick Connector used in radiator joints was introduced in 1988 with the production rampup of the Peugeot 405 model. It was not possible to use a tool to install a clamp on the lower radiator hoses, so the introduction of “smarter” joining technology was a logical step. NORMA was already the leading clamp supplier to the automotive industry so its development of Quick Connector represented the correct transition as a solution provider wherever joining technology was needed. More and more industrial OEM’s realised the benefits of QC - such as ease of assembly, reliability, error-proof packages and handling of only one component (the hose/tube and the QC are delivered as a system rather than independent components). The magnitude of the assembly timesaving literally meant the assembly lines could be speeded up. Right from the beginning in 1988, NORMA produced all major thermoplastic injection moulding parts for QC as well as carrying out the assembly of the components in-house. In 1995 NORMA built its first extrusion plant. Since then NORMA has

established FLUID system production in all major markets across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

...and now engineered joining technology Development, design and manufacturing of complex tubing systems are today an integral part of the NORMA offer. “Customer value through innovation” is the driver behind the idea to provide the most comprehensive services, product range and expertise about joints to the markets served by the Group. Joining technology demands continue to change on an almost daily basis. Lower emissions bring new requirements such as higher temperatures, pressures and mechanical loads. All of these parameters have an impact on joint integrity. “We know how to prevent leaking joints through innovative offerings in engineering services, laboratories and production,” says Bernd Kleinhens, managing director of NORMA Group. NORMA is constantly striving for the best and most suitable product to meet each of these new challenges. Leaking joints are always leaving dissatisfied end-users. “NORMA Group is ready and prepared to offer its customers solutions for future joining technologies needed. With its worldwide presence and product and service line-up it creates customer value through innovation throughout our segment,” concludes Mr. Kleinhens.

NORMAFLEX®

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

C ATA L O G U E R A C K

November 2009 – Germany Fastener + Fixing Magazine provides a unique reference guide that offers the industry a fast and easy way to source both current and upcoming product Catalogues. Use this convenient service to call, fax or email the companies to request a copy of their latest Catalogue and up to date product information.

Albert Pasvahl GmbH & Co Albert Pasvahl offers you its experience and expertise in special connection elements and accessories resulting from over 70 years in business. In the course of this time, we have become a leading stockist of special standard screws.

Tel: +49 (0) 40 532 852 0 www.pasvahl.de

For example: Direct from stock DIN 609/610, DIN 561/564 DIN 478/479/480 DIN 464/653/466/467 DIN 906/908/910

Bäcker GmbH Since our foundation in 1977 we have been involved in the production of industrial control elements and protective caps and also the standard plastic parts segment. Thanks to a large warehouse capacity, almost all series products can be delivered “Just in time“. Our company is certified according to ISO 9001:2008. Tel: + 49 (0) 2753 5950 0 www.baecker-kunststofftechnik.com

.Disc springs – theory and practice.

B+M Breitbach + Müller GmbH

The product of load and

deflection

0803

We are one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of connecting fittings for several industry branches. Our large warehouses located in Germany enable us to supply customers around the world with large quantities of various articles flexibly and at short notice. Ask for our free catalogue now.

Fax: +49 (0) 27 53 59 56 50 www.bum.de

Dörken Dörken MKS-Systeme has been developing micro layer corrosion protection systems for over 25 years. Under the brand name DELTA-MKS®, Dörken produces and configures extremely effective surface protection mainly for the automotive industry. Our worldwide approved products like DELTA-PROTEKT® are without any heavy metals, such as chrome (VI). Tel: +49 (0) 2330 63243 www.doerken-mks.com

Christian Bauer Gmbh & CO KG World renowned designer and manufacturer of standard (according to Din 2093 & 6796) and custom: disc springs, disc spring stacks, wave springs, slotted disc springs, flat springs and precision parts in a variety of materials from spring steel to titanium for over 30 industries including the nuclear and aerospace.

Tel: +49 (0) 7182 12 0 Email: info@christianbauer.com

Dresselhaus GmbH & Co. KG We are one of the leading European stockists of all types of industrial fasteners. 50,000 pallet locations of stock, along with over 700 employees make Dresselhaus your perfect partner for sourcing standard and specialised parts.

Tel: +49 (0) 52 21 9 32 0 www.dresselhaus.de

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Verbindungselemente Engel GmbH

E.U.R.O. Tec GmbH

We are a successful wholesaler of connecting parts with years of experience in supplying the industry and dealers throughout Europe. Our high rack warehouse in Weingarten (Germany), which houses more than 8,000 pallets, accommodates everything our customers need for their day-to-day business. Tel: +49 (0) 751 407 0 www.schrauben-engel.de

Fastener 2000 GmbH Fastener 2000 is a stockist for long and large diameter screws, for example DIN 912-931-933. Offer screws from M 1,6 to M 64 up to a length of 600mm direct from stock.

Tel: +49 (0) 4106 622 80 Fax: +49 (0) 4106 622 822

Goebel GmbH

Email: info@e-u-r-o-tec.de www.e-u-r-o-tec.de

GEFRA GmbH

Inspection systems for fasteners The world leading inspection systems made by GEFRA for accurate measurements, crack detection, recess inspection and 360° thread inspection provide zero-defect inspection capability. Manufactures can inspect products at speeds up to 1000 parts per minute. All OPTISORT systems and feeding systems are designed for gentle hanling of parts during the inspection process. The OPTISORT line is completed with various models of packaging systems.

Blind Rivet Nuts Ecrous à sertir

5° X1 0.99

B 0 .99 Ø44.80 Ø A 0 .0 Ø98..550 Ø

.990 Ø55.778 Ø E

D ..220 10 9.880 4.00 F. RE

.77 P0 -P M4 F 0 5.7 0 5.3 G

www.blindniete.org Tel: +49 (0) 211 245000-0

Hermann Lohmann HERMANN LOHMANN stands for high quality wire bending and threading technology since 1905. As a manufacturer of hooks and many other wire products we guarantee a fast availability of a broad standard range. Furthermore we provide many other articles made to customer’s individual specifications.

Tel: +49 (0) 2339 1216 0 www.hermann-lohmann.de

Your dealer for used machinery for the wire & the fastener industry from Germany. Speciality: Wafios, Hilgeland, P&E, National and E.W. Menn. Wire nail presses, wire weaving looms, chain link fence machines, screw production machines, headers, chain production machines, crimping machines, mesh welder.

° 15

C 0 1.1 0 0.9

Email: info@gefragmbh.de www.gefragmbh.de

Helmut Steinfels GmbH & Co KG

Blindnietmuttern

Goebel has become one of the important suppliers of blind rivets, blind rivet nuts and setting tools in the European market. New products in high quality i.e. GO-NUT (new blind rivet nuts series), Private-Tool, High strength blind rivets - GO-LOCK, M-LOCK, H-LOCK, GO-INOX and GO-BULB ensure our strategy of growth.

E.u.r.o.Tec – The specialist for fastening technology – offers professional fasteners made of hardened steel, coated steel, stainless A2/A4, hardened stainless for wood constructions, hardwood deckings, glue wood, roofings facades. All approved and in certified quality. The main goal is to create fasteners offering the professional enduser a most possible benefit. For detailed information of the most recent developments, please, refer to the E.u.r.o.Tec homepage.

Tel: +49 (0) 40 522 60 13 www.steinfels.net

Kleinsorge GmbH & Co KG Kleinsorge is the first choice when quality and reliability is the main proposal. We produce special screws like: • stud bolts and threaded rods up to M 100 • anchor bolts up to a length of 12m • extension bolts • special screws according to drawing • CNC turn and mill technology Material for grades 3.6-12.9 and stainless steel is almost on stock. Quality System Certification: ISO 9001:2008, AD2000 WO/TÜV and ÜZ/MPA.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Tel: +49 (0) 2722 6388 0 www.kleinsorge.de

www.schrauben.de

KPO-Schrauben und Normteile GmbH Specialist for automotive fasteners, welding screws, nuts, stampings, rivet systems, Cold formed parts (also with secondary machining process), Zero defect sorting, all coatings. Full documentation, PPAP level 3 or VDA Supply to OEM`s, Tier 1 and 2 suppliers and to related industries. Certified to VDA 6-2, DIN/EN/ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Contact: Klaus Uhlmann

KPO

Lindapter GmbH

Schrauben und Normteile GmbH

Kompetenz in Verbindungstechnik • Automobil Hersteller • Automobil Zulieferer • Komponenten Industrie

Verbindungs- und Klemmsysteme

KPO Schrauben und Normteile GmbH Köbbingser Mühle 10 58640 Iserlohn Tel.: 0 23 71 - 9 46 6 Fax :0 23 71 - 9 46 300 kpo@schrauben.de

seit 1934

Tel: +49 (0) 2371 946 512 www.schrauben.de

MKT - Metall Kunststoff Technik GmbH Are you interested in High Standard Fasteners? Do you know the new MKT Product Range? MKT manufactures European (ETA) approved anchors like Wedge Anchors, Highload Anchors, Dropin Anchors and Chemical Fastening Systems. Products are tested and approved in Europe and many other countries.Technical support including design software is available.

Tel: + 49 (0) 0201 214 778 www.lindapter.com

Celebrating 75 years with the launch of their new catalogue, Lindapter provides an exclusive product range of independently approved steelwork connection systems, including steel, cavity, decking, support and floor fixings. Experienced engineers offer unrivalled support, including a free design service and bespoke new product development. Lindapter solutions are utilised in multiple markets such as plant engineering, petro-chemical, offshore, materials handling and structural & civil engineering.

Paal Group The Paal-Group is one of the leading companies for Circlips, Spring Washers and Washers like DIN 988. In the group there are different firms working hand in hand for standard and special articles in standard steel and also in INOX. With over 10,000 pallet positions we have one of the greatest stock for these items.

Tel: +49 (0) 6374 91160 www.mkt-duebel.de

www.paal.de Tel. +49 (0) 2191 906 134

Prelok GmbH

Redimo

PRELOK offers Europe’s widest range of pre-applied locking and sealing solutions, eliminating the need for secondary locking devices, hand-applied liquid adhesives, or sealing tapes. The Tuflok Blue Nylon Patch when applied is permanently fused onto the screw thread of the parent component, and increases the prevailing removal torque, allowing the screw to be locked in any position upon assembly.

Redimo is an international trading & service company for cold and hot forging machines and offers used as well as partially or fully reconditioned machines. Our knowledge and long-term experience are the foundation for individual, customer tailored service & advice. Redimo reconditions all makes, e.g. Hatebur, National, Sakamura, Schuler, Hilgeland, etc.

Email: export@reyher.de www.reyher.de

Tel: +49 (0)221 949 978-0 www.prelok.com

Tel: +49 (0)2154 4903 0 Email: info@redimo.com

Reyher

Schröder Schrauben

Reyher is one of the leading wholesalers for fasteners and fastening technology in Europe. Various services are at customers’ disposal, i.e. the widest and most abundant assortment, quick and reliable delivery, good product quality, many e-business possibilities, i.e. Webshop RIO Reyher internet order.

Over 30 years experience in trading and supplying customers with inch sized fastening items. • Inch sized screws available from stock. • Availability of every current type of screw threads and materials. • Special parts available as well. • Large availability from stock of high quality as per ISO9001-2000 don’t hesitate to talk to us – we will be pleased to help you. Tel: +49 (0) 71 32 99 600 www.schroederschrauben.de

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Sicatech GmbH

For Concrete and Masonry C-SL-2009E

European Technical Approval

Tel: +49 (0) 25 65 40 55 0 www.sicatech.com

Streicher Maschinenbau GmbH Experience and competence in tapping technique. New standards in tapping technology. Automatic nut tapping machine with bent shank. Suitable for all kinds of standard, flange and round nuts as well as special parts. Top-Cut 16 D: Max. output (square/hex nuts) 17.520 pcs/h Tel: +49 (0) 7543 60510 Email: info@streicher-maschinen.de

Simpson Strong-Tie/Liebig Simpson Strong-Tie/Liebig is the leader in high performance undercut anchors: the Ultraplus and the Superplus. To complement the range we have recently introduced VESF resin with ETA Option 7 and BOAXII a new throughbolt with ETA Option 1. See the product catalogue and download the anchor calculation software from the website.

Email: liebig-uk@strongtie.com www.simpson-liebig.com

Tobsteel GmbH Screws and more TOB NEWS from the up and coming STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS from Germany. TOB ASSORTMENT (D / GB / F /E) out now! Here you see the last page of our latest brochure. In the preceeding 77 pages you can find out: WHO and WHERE is TOBSTEEL? WHAT is the TOB ASSORTMENT? WHAT are TOB PRODUCTS? If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. SEPARATES THE SPECIALISTS

TOBSTEEL GmbH Kirschfeldstr. 23 D-74629 Pfedelbach Telefon: +49 (0) 7941 6073-0 Telefax: +49 (0) 7941 6073-50 www.tobsteel.com info@tobsteel.com

SEPARATES THE SPECIALISTS

Sicatech is a quality orientated importer and stockist selling self-tapping screws, self-drilling screws, thread-forming screws, thread-cutting screws, Sica-Plas screws for plastic, brass fasteners and security screws at competitive prices. For many years we have been the partner for fastener distributers in Europe with top service also for smaller quantities and fast deliveries. We stock fasteners with Cr6-free zinc plating too.

Heavy Duty Fixings

Tel: +49 (0) 7941 6073 0 www.tobsteel.com

Vöhrs GmbH & Co. KG

VVG Befestigungstechnik GmbH & Co

One of the leading international manufacturers of nuts and stamping. Whether made out ordinary steel, high-grade steel, bright or standard finish surfaces – we offer the perfect solution for all your requirements. Our progressive and flexible production allows us to manufacture to your exact specification so you get the product you need – with no compromises!

We are the specialists with the experience of almost 80 years in development, production and sale of rivet technology. Enjoy our successful main catalogue including a wide range of blind rivets, blind rivet nuts and -bolts, industrial rivets, axial clamps, tools and a lot of additional technical background information. Tel: +49 (0) 2359 7011 www.voehrs.de

Tel: +49 (0) 4321 96 71 71 www.vvg-befestigungstechnik.de

Catalogue Rack January 2010 Coming up in the next issue...

International Hardware Fair Cologne Exhibitors Contact: Claire Lake Email: claire@fastfair.net • Tel: +44 (0) 1727 739 150 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

FA C E 2 FA C E

David Proctor

General manager, Interfast Europe Ltd In September Torontoheadquartered Interfast Inc announced the launch of a new division operating under the name of Interfast Europe Ltd. Phil Matten caught up with newly appointed general manager, David Proctor, to find out more. David Proctor’s appointment was confirmed the day after Interfast Inc. acquired certain assets of Burwood Fastener Products Limited, based in Surrey, UK. “Interfast had already made initial moves to acquire Burwood,” says David. “However, before an acquisition could be finalised, Burwood was placed into administration and Interfast was able to purchase certain assets from the administrator within 24 hours.” “As a result it was possible to continue to support Burwood customers seamlessly. That process was greatly assisted by Neil Stanbury, who continued in the business as operations and quality director, together with other colleagues from Burwood.” “For Interfast, though, this was a long planned strategic decision, to provide its existing European customer base with local support and service, and to develop a physical presence in Europe on which to substantially grow its market share.” David Proctor acknowledges that the acquisition brings some ‘legacy issues’, not least with previous Burwood suppliers. “We hope those companies will recognise that Interfast played no part in the failure of the Burwood business, but is committed to creating a new business that will develop a distinctive role in the European aerospace supply chain. That means integrating the best of both organisations, to offer a comprehensive range of fastener products as well as engineering product support and extensive supply chain management.” “Interfast is a very credible company, with high ethical as well as commercial standards,” explains David Proctor. “Those standards reflect the unique influence of Doug Woollings.” Douglas Woollings has served as president

and chief executive officer of Interfast Inc, since he founded the business, with just three people, in 1966. He started his career in automotive parts management, later serving as a national sales manager in a UK fastener company, before starting Interfast.

Douglas Woollings founder of Interfast Inc “Doug has succeeded in growing Interfast to the number one market position in Canada and as a top 10 aerospace fastener distribution firm globally, with customers in Asia Pacific, Europe, North and South America,” says David Proctor. “He has built an extraordinarily strong management team, which represents the quite unique blend of experience, business acumen and drive that has contributed so effectively to the company’s prosperity.” “He also remains an avid pilot and is absolutely passionate about the aerospace industry.” David Proctor’s own pedigree in aerospace owes much to thirteen years with Southco. As global general manager he was responsible, following the acquisition of Dzuz in 2004, for integrating the quarter turn fastener program into Southco and for developing the company’s overall strategy towards the aerospace market. “Interfast has a tremendous reputation

as a valued and trusted partner to some of the world’s leading aerospace, airline and industrial companies. We work with both OEM and MRO companies, offering a full range of fastening systems, special and standard hardware, precision hole preparation and production installation tooling. It is the nature of aerospace that to succeed you need to be highly responsive and highly responsible. We have to deliver effective solutions, sometimes at short notice, backed by absolute quality assurance and certification.” “Today the aerospace industry is under unprecedented cost pressures, so Interfast’s proven track record in helping companies optimise their operations, providing opportunities to lower costs and improve efficiencies, without any sacrifice to quality or service, is a key differentiator.” Of course, it is early days for both David Proctor and Interfast Europe. “Right now we are developing the business plan for approval by the Interfast board. Perhaps we should really describe this as a ‘soft launch’. The company identity has been established but, in most respects, we have an almost blank sheet of paper on which to develop something truly world class. We do already have customers in many parts of Europe, including Italy, Switzerland and Germany, with some business in France and the Low Countries, as well as the UK. Now we have to decide our priorities, where we strengthen our sales teams, which language skills we need to introduce, the phasing of our own inventory program and, indeed, where we will warehouse it. Exciting times!” Interfast’s Toronto head office

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

CFA Conference - attention firmly fixed on adding value The second Construction Fixings Association conference, held in September near Birmingham, firmly fixed its attention on the theme of ‘adding value’ – to its members, its customers and fixings users. Len Macknamara, managing director of 2K polymer systems ltd and chairman of the CFA welcomed 29 delegates - including both Approved Distributors and Approved Testers - to the second CFA Conference for Associate Members on 23 September at the National Motor Cycle Museum. In his opening remarks Len paid tribute to the last chairman, Dr Pietro Grandesso, noting that under his guidance the CFA had gone from strength to strength during his years of office.

CFA website. He also launched a range of support to members, including a program of jointly branded promotional leaflets allowing members to educate customers on different aspects of fixings and highlight their membership of the CFA. He announced that a series of free one-day courses for distributor staff would commence at the premises of CFA full (manufacturer) members. Competent installer training, on a charged basis, would also be available to be held at Approved Distributor premises or those of their customers.

of Simpson Strong-Tie Liebig served to further reinforce the role ETAs, would have played in avoiding fixing failures resulting in injury and, in some cases, death. The use of approved anchors in the UK, which is not currently mandatory, has long been at the heart of the CFA’s campaigning agenda and Mark Salmon was able to announce that the British Standards Institute would soon begin work on a project, initiated by the CFA, to introduce its own version of a code of conduct.

Getting the message through

Passion from Dublin

Approve Tester Scheme A full and busy programme started with a comprehensive review of CFA activity and priorities from the association’s director, Mark Salmon. Mark began by reporting on the development of the CFA’s Approved Tester Scheme launched on 1 July. Seventeen companies were already accredited and listed in the CFA website, www.fixingscfa.co.uk, with a further eight companies in the accreditation process.

The Approved Tester Scheme aims to provide specifiers, contractors and site engineers with a network of companies throughout the UK who are capable of testing the majority of construction fixings, and in some cases certain specialist anchor systems, to a high standard and with a knowledge of how fixings work. Approved Testers will have satisfied the CFA that they have the necessary equipment and suitably qualified staff to carry out the tests along with the required internal procedures to report on tests correctly.

Added value for members Turning to delivering added value to CFA members Mark highlighted the success of the Association’s recent awareness campaign using Google Adwords, designed to draw fixings user into exploring the

Bryan Carroll, technical director of Dublin-based, Masonry Fixings Ltd was not short of passion in describing the long awaited ‘Code of Practice for the Design and Installation of Anchors in concrete’, about to be published by the Health & Safety Authority of Ireland. The code owes much to Bryan’s determination, powers of persuasion and encyclopaedic knowledge of fixings. He was involved from its conception and responsible for much of the text and its highly readable and usable presentation. Bryan’s determination to see the Code put into place stemmed from his personal involvement in the investigation of the death of one worker and serious injury of two others on a site in Dublin. Cleared of any ‘guilt by association’ as the supplier of the bolts, Bryan’s ‘from the heart’ presentation left no doubt of the impact of the investigative experience – clearly a prime motivator in his persuading the Irish Health and Safety Authority to implement the code requiring that ETA anchors are used in any safety critical application. Everyone involved in the fixings chain, from specification through supply and installation to commissioning, will know their responsibilities and how to implement them, emphasised Bryan. A separate presentation by Jon Freeman

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Rawlplug technical director, Les Brett turned CFA members’ attention, through an curious combination of packaged biscuits and quotations from John Ruskin, to the crucial role of upselling in combating the constant pressure on sales prices and distributor margins – and ensuring the use of reliable, safe fixings in the UK market. Final word fell to Richard Edwards, managing director of Kem Edwards to ‘throw down the gauntlet’ to CFA members with a series of challenges: • To make contractor and building clients aware of ETAs. • To contribute to improvements in the quality of the finished build. • To increase awareness of labour saving and value-adding solutions.

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

A team for tough cases HECO has followed up the success of the MULTI-MONTI® screw anchor, an innovative anchor system which it says set the standards in fixing technology, by introducing the MULTI-MONTI®-TimberConnect. The MULTI-MONTI®-TimberConnect, a baseplate anchor, combines all of the advantages of the patented MULTI-MONTI® concrete thread with a wood screw, opening up new possibilities in the area of fixing technology. HECO says that when it first launched the MULTI-MONTI screw anchor, it caused a revolution in the area of fixing technology. Without plugs, the screw anchor was driven directly into a pre-drilled hole where it was also immediately loadable. “The MULTI-MONTI was a pioneer in Europe in terms of approvals, quality and safety standards as well as installation safety, whereby installation is not only safer – it is also easy and fast.” Based on the MULTI-MONTI system, the innovative MULTI-MONTI-TimberConnect (MMS-TC) baseplate combines the patented concrete thread with a HECO wood thread. HECO explains that this results in the MMS-TC ensuring the simple and safe fixing of wooden components on solid masonry and concrete, as well as for baseplates on concrete. The baseplate anchor can be installed using tools and offers all of the advantages of the MULTIMONTI concrete thread such as no torque control, no spacing and no cure times. HECO also highlights that another decisive advantage of the MMS-TC is that unlike conventional fixing materials, its approval combines calculations to ETAG (concrete) and DIN 1052 (wood). HECO says that this unique combination of approvals to ETAG and DIN 1052 for the MMS-TC baseplate anchor means significantly higher transmissible tensile and shear loads. What’s more, these transmissible tensile and shear loads are independent of the thickness of the component to be fastened. “The MULTI-MONTI® and MULTI-MONTI®-TimberConnect are particularly user-friendly and time-saving when it comes to installation. Their practical and technical advantages make these screw and baseplate anchors a convincing alternative to previous fixing media such as expansion plugs, glued anchors or grouted threaded rods.” HECO-Schrauben GmbH & Co. KG, based in Schramberg, Germany, is a manufacturer of screw and fixing systems for wood construction, concrete and metal applications as well as for heavy-duty fixings. The company currently employs 160 people and avails of a production area spanning 15,000m2. The total annual production volume at HECO is approximately 1.5 billion screws and fixing systems.

Get set for Metoset fischer invests Chemfix Products has unveiled a newly developed product which is made up from 58% recycled material. Metoset Pourable is a two component polyester pourable resin which is designed to anchor heavy bars, studs and posts into concrete or any other suitable substrate. Chemfix points out that it is particularly useful for bedding in large posts due to its self-levelling properties. It can also be used to repair cracked concrete surfaces and a new styrene free formulation reduces odour levels which benefit the indoor user. “What makes Metoset really special is the single unit package, which contains a pre-mixed hardener and aggregate made up from entirely recycled glass. The user simply adds the resin that is housed in a tin container sitting above a useful dividing card to keep the product completely secure in transit.”

in customer service

fischer fixings UK is increasing its staff levels in a number of key areas in a proactive move to improve customer service. The company is appointing three new members to its sales teams in London and Scotland, and also strengthening its customer sales support and financial teams with three further new appointments. These increases in both sales personnel and head office staff will enable the company to offer customers more support on the ground and also a more rapid and efficient ordering service. When Uwe Seeger joined fischer as managing director, he promised to “develop new sales opportunities even in these tough market conditions”. With this new investment in personnel, the company says it is now preparing to take the brand to the next level of development. “I believe that by strengthening our team at fischer UK we are able offer a full and comprehensive facility not just in areas of technical expertise, but in all departments. Increasing service and communication is a key development from which new and existing customers will ultimately benefit,” says Uwe Seeger.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

S.p.A

Via XXV Aprile 21 20097 San Donato Milanese (MI) Italy Tel. +39 02.515051 Fax +39 02.510660 - 02.55700633 info@ubkunbrako.com - www.ubk.it

THE MOST COMPLETE RANGE OF PRESSURE PLUGS BSPT, NPTF, DIN 906/908/910/7604 AND SEALED PLUGS (ALL SIZES IN STOCK)

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Everbuild’s biggest ever catalogue Everbuild Building Products Ltd has launched its brand new catalogue which features the entire Everbuild range, including the Purimachos and Kwikgrip product ranges, as well as all of the products that have been launched within the last year. Some of the new products featured in the catalogue include the Geo-Fix paving jointing compound, Exact Gap Foam, Firespan Intumescent Pads, Roll & Wrap, Kwikgrip Tape and Draughtproofing products. All of the new products are highlighted with the introductory section of the catalogue, and Everbuild points out that many of them have highlighted features throughout the catalogue. “The new silver covered 232 page catalogue is the biggest we have ever produced, so we made a concerted effort to make it easier to navigate. There is a contents page at the beginning, and handy content lists at the start of each section. It also contains new product interest features which we have designed to be an informative insight into the company and current market trends. These features also highlight the unique features of some of our products.”

Simpson Strong-Tie expands product portfolio Simpson Strong-Tie has continued to expand its product portfolio and is now a distributor of the LIEBIG anchor bolts and anchoring systems. Simpson Strong-Tie acquired the operating assets of German-based LIEBIG last year and holds stocks of the LIEBIG products range at its plant in Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK. The range features undercut anchor systems, expansion anchor systems and adhesive anchor systems, all of which are used in a number of highly demanding applications such as nuclear power plants and off-shore drilling platforms. The range also includes the ‘Ultraplus’ anchor - which is used for high loads in cracked or non-cracked concrete and the ‘Superplus’ anchor which can be used in safety critical application of a lower load. Steve Canty, sales manager for UK North, at Simpson Strong-Tie UK, said “The new Liebig range is a highly specialised group of products which is unrivalled by its competitors. As a distributor, this is another example of how we, at Simpson Strong-Tie, strive to offer even greater choice and service to our customers within the construction market place.” Simpson Strong-Tie LIEBIG has also devised “Safe Fixings: Best Fixings Practice in Construction” a certified Continuing Professional Development (CPD) presentation. The presentation covers the principles of anchoring and anchor installation, with tutorials covering issues such as ‘getting it right’, ‘preventing failure’, ‘selecting the right anchor’ and ‘what can go wrong’. Examples of defective installations, failures and poor anchor selection are also highlighted.

Fixing the energy of the sun The latest introduction to the UK from fischer is an installation system for photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. Called Solar-fix, it provides a timely solution for the fast-growing solar installation market, which is being driven by environmental and energy efficiency concerns, as well as building legislation. fischer explains that Solar-fix is suitable for all types of installations, whether on pitched roofs or flat surfaces. Its components are compatible with fischer’s SaMontec product range, so that it fully integrates with the fixings used in the heating, plumbing and electrical fixing systems. The product comprises a pre-assembled mounting system which can be rapidly and economically installed with just two tools – a 6mm Allen key and a 13mm hexagonal key. The system is sturdy and durable, since it is manufactured from aluminium and stainless steel A2, making it suitable to support heavy loads. “This is an exciting new product range from fischer, which draws on our existing expertise in fixings to offer an excellent solution in this important growth area of the construction market,” says Uwe Seeger, managing director of fischer fixings UK Ltd. “I’m confident that the quality reassurance of the fischer brand and our innovation in this area will make Solar-fix from fischer a popular choice for installers of solar panels.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

STUDIO STAND UP

Specialised in the supply of fixing products, Ambrovit constantly updates its own range of articles to offer products which are always at the cutting edge of technology in a continually evolving market. Apart from supplying high quality products, the company has instituted a personalised service which has had winning results over time, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;READY FOR DELIVERYâ&#x20AC;?. This formula allows us to be closer to the needs and requests of our clients (both of the larger companies and of the small ironmonger), guaranteeing them rapid delivery independently of the quantity of goods and allowing them not to have to address, within their own company, the logistical and financial problems of stocking high levels of goods.

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Lindapter launches Metfloor decking fixing Lindapter, known for manufacturing non-weld steelwork connection systems for over 75 years, has announced the expansion of its decking fixing range with the development of the Type MF, allowing building services to be suspended from Metfloor 60 and 80 profiles produced by CMF. Lindapter highlights that the new fixing creates genuine efficiencies for the contractor as it is installed within seconds and is adjustable onsite without the requirement of specialist labour, expensive tools or power. UK contractors have already placed orders for the £1.45bn Westfield Stratford City development and the new £8.75m accident and emergency unit at Withybush General Hospital. Lindapter explains that its concept delivers an economical connection method suitable for the installation of a variety of HVAC systems, fire protection, pipe work, electrical equipment and lowered ceilings. In contrast to shot firing methods, Lindapter states that the Type MF preserves the strength of the decking profile with no possibility of delamination (separating the steel from the concrete). “As with all Lindapter products, safe working loads are independently approved and rigorous quality procedures ensure a secure connection with a capacity of 1.47kN per fixing, calculated at a safety factor of 3:1.” The Type MF is available in sizes M6, M8 and M10.

Powers Fasteners Europe has announced that the new generation of the Powers PTB option 7 throughbolt, PTB-ETA1-PRO (ETA-09/0317), will be launched in January 2010.

Powers high performance throughbolt

Powers highlights that the European Technical Approval option 1 for cracked concrete and non-cracked concrete is proof of the high quality of this anchor. Powers also points out that the uniqueness of this approval lies in the fact that there are two approved embedment depths, which enables the end user multiple applications with only one anchor. “The PTB-ETA1-PRO is capable of absorbing substantially higher loads than previous anchor bolts. This means fewer fixing points, smaller anchor plates or even a smaller diameter, and therefore savings in time and money. Also, we only give a 15% surcharge for PTB-ETA1-PRO in comparison to PTB-option 7 throughbolt for non-cracked concrete, which underlines our slogan ‘Save on price, safe on quality’.” The Powers PTB-ETA1-PRO throughbolt will be launched in sizes M10 to M16 in zinc plated steel. The range will also contain a large range of fixture thicknesses to give the end user more flexibility.

METRUM receives ETA accreditation METRUM Ltd recently received ETA accreditation (ETA-09/0257) for its chemical anchor Kotvix VSF. Kotvix VSF is a high performance, two-component, styrene-free vinylester injection mortar with a short cure time. It is suitable for use in concrete, stone, perforated bricks and cavity blocks in a wide range of applications. METRUM says that the Kotvix VSF has a two times longer working time at low temperature (from 0 to 5°C) than other bonded anchors based on polyester or epoxy acrylate. It also has a high characteristic value for tensile and shear resistance. The chemical anchor can be used for structural applications with reinforcing bars in new construction work or refurbishment, as well as assembly of dowels or precast concrete elements. “We are a dynamic company which is rapidly spreading across Central and Eastern Europe, thanks to the development of innovative products and our experienced staff. The CE accreditation for Kotvix VSF is the first direct approval we have received and we plan to receive more in the future.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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PROTECTION & FASTENERS *

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Holding Parts Together

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Bossong doubles up Bossong has introduced BCR V-PLUS, a new chemical resin distinguished by having a double CE mark, for threaded bar applications and those with improved adherence bars. Bossong says that, besides carrying the companies normal assurance of high quality standards, BCR V-PLUS’ double European Approval demonstrates that the product is one of the most comprehensive available for sector applications. In the first case, the approval of the product is based on ETAG 001, option 7, (ETA - 09/0140), for M8 to M24 diameters of galvanised steel threaded bar (strength classes from 4.8 to 12.9) and stainless steel (A4/70, A4/80 and high corrosion); in the second case, approval was based on Technical Report TR023, the technical reference document for applications with post-installed improved adherence bars, in compliance with EC2 (EN 1992-1-1:2004) ETAG for diameters from 8 to 32mm. BCR V-PLUS is a bi-component vinylester, styrene-free chemical resin suited for use in concrete and other substrates such as solid brick, hollow brick and wood. The product’s technical information includes load data for the different diameters, the different substrates and different fixing depth values to respond to design needs. Tests carried out at the Building Research Institute ITB, Warsaw, required to obtain European Technical Approval, allowed Bossong to assess how the chemical resin BCR V-PLUS behaves in the different use and application conditions foreseen by the standard. Bossong explains that the BCR V-PLUS has three key advantages over competitive products on the market at present: • It can be used in the presence of water, in flooded hole situations with threaded bars and in wet concrete for improved adherence bars. • Applications at three different anchoring depths are included in the ETA to give a high level of design flexibility. • The resin was certified with high operating temperature tests allowing it to reach maximum short-term temperatures, during anchoring lifespan, of + 80°C /120°C and maximum long-term temperatures of 50°C/ 72°C. BCR V-PLUS comes in 400ml, 345ml, 300ml, and 165ml cartridge sizes suit a variety of applicator pumps and pistols. The product is also available on request in a non-approved 825ml cartridge.

Rawlplug shows strong growth Despite the downturn in the UK economy over the previous year, Rawlplug Ltd, suppliers of fixings and fasteners for the last 90 years says it has bucked the trend and is continuing to grow. Rawlplug reports that turnover during Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2009 increased by over 23% in comparison to the same period in 2008. Added to that, turnover increased by 33% on the previous 6 months sales (Q4 2008 and Q1 2009). During the first half of 2009, Rawlplug experienced a large amount of re-structuring including at senior management level. The company says it is starting to see the benefits of this with improved sales figures and greater stability within the company. A Rawlplug spokesman said “we are now ideally poised to continue to grow and improve our sales over the coming months as the UK economy starts to move out of recession.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

The ‘Star’ way to success RapierStar says it has enabled Huws Gray, an independent builders merchants operating in Wales and the North West of England, to achieve a massive 50% increase in turnover of fastener products. RapierStar began supplying Huws Gray with StarTurn woodscrews, StarFix masonry anchors and StarDeck exterior woodscrews in April this year, after securing a deal to supply a major buying group and its members. RapierStar explains that its range of screws feature the unique patented StarForm thread for faster, easier insertion along with specialist head styles and superior corrosion resistant plating. “The product is fantastic and the RapierStar service is excellent. Once customers have bought it, they buy it again and again,” explained John Price, manager of Huws Gray Seacombe in Wallasey, UK. RapierStar sales manager Phil Turner explained “Our branded products are tested to exceed the highest quality standards and suit perfectly a dynamic expanding company like Huws Gray.” He added, “As well as competitive pricing, next day delivery and experienced customer support we have also provided bespoke product sampling, system cases and open day demonstrations”.

Structural adjustments to increase efficiency Sika Group has restructured its manufacturing footprint for sealants and adhesives, as well as for membranes, to reflect new production technologies and continued changes in market conditions. Sika Group explains that the re-organisation ensures it remains competitive in the long term. In recent years Sika has invested substantially in optimising its production processes for polyurethane (PU) adhesives and sealants as well as for membranes. These new technologies and processes provide significant gains in productivity and product quality. Recognising the continued weakness in its markets and the adverse effect of currency exchange rates on its business, Sika is concentrating its manufacturing operations in its most efficient facilities, to create a sustainable lower cost bases. Production of PVC membranes will be consolidated in Düdingen, Switzerland and Troisdorf, Germany. The current PVC production lines in Sarnen, Switzerland, will be shut down in the course of 2010. In return, Sika will concentrate its production of membranes based on thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) in Sarnen. In addition, thirty export and logistics jobs will be relocated from Birr, Switzerland, to Sarnen. Sika is also evaluating the relocation of its Gournay, France, production of PU adhesives and sealants to Bad Urach, Germany. The group witll also evaluate its site in Fredensborg, Denmark. The restructuring will affect about 50 jobs in Switzerland, where a social plan has been set up for employees, which includes redundancy payments, support with career reorientation and early retirement arrangements. In France and Denmark consultation processes with the work councils have been initiated.

Recent European Technical Approvals for fixings Below is a list of recent ETAs granted in the last three months to fixings products, following the agreement with the European Organisation for Technical Approvals. It is important to note that existing ETAs may be amended or withdrawn so this list should not be considered definitive. For further information and a full list of valid ETAs you should visit EOTA’s website, www.eota.be.

ETA NUMBER

TRADE NAME

HOLDER

ETAG 001 Metal Anchors for use in Concrete (all parts) ETA - 09/0124 ETA - 09/0140 ETA - 09/0233 ETA - 09/0257 ETA - 09/0258 ETA - 09/0289

éditherm PPE + BOSSONG BCR V PLUS Powers injection system AC150-PRO (AUS) Kotvix VSF Tox Injection System TVM-STV-K for concrete Injection System ING Résine MP for rebar connection

Peintures Mrius Dufour Bossong spa Powers Fasteners Australasia Ply Ltd Metrum s.r.o. TOX-Dübel-Technik GmbH & Co KG I.N.G. Fixations

ETA - 09/0290

Injection System Berner MCS Premium for rebar connection

Berner

ETAG 014 Plastic Anchors for ETICS ETA - 09/0001 ETA - 09/0171 ETA - 09/0245

WKRET-MET-LTX DIA 8 and WKRET-MET-LMX DIA 8 fischer termoz PN 8 SPIT ISOPLUS

P.P.H.U. WKRET-MET-KLIMAS s.j. fischerwerke GmbH & Co KG Sociéte SPIT

For complete and up to date information visit www.eota.be at which a list of all valid ETAs is maintained.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Delta expands product range

All-in-One inspection head

Delta Engineering Corp, known as a manufacturer of fastener packaging machinery since 1951, recently expanded its product range of fully automatic counting and weighing systems to include a new semi-automatic Short-Run Bag Filling System Model SRP2.

To simplify bolt identification and the measurement of ultrasonic time-of-flight Intellifast has developed an “All-in-One” inspection head. This is the integration of a barcode reader, the temperature probe and the ultrasonic transducer into an inspection head.

Delta Engineering explains that the weigh-count machine is designed to be used in conjunction with a bag printing/ sealing system that uses pre-made bags on a roll and can package fasteners, electrical connectors, and other discretely shaped items when packaging runs are too short for the setup time needed for fully automatic systems or for those who have packaging requirements that do not justify the higher cost of full automation. “Like the Model SRP1 introduced in 2007, this system is designed as a replacement for the traditional bench scale by taking most of the material handling out of the process with the use of a vibratory feeder system. This method eliminates the drudgery of the hand-filling process and makes for a much more pleasant and productive packaging experience.”

“This development is another milestone in the ultrasonic measurement technology”, commented Frank Scheuch, managing director of Intellifast. The integration of the ultrasonic transducer and the PT 100 temperature probe permits simultaneous measurement of temperature and the ultrasonic time-of-flight directly on to the bolt head. Changing the size of the adapter allows the inspection head to measure all bolt sizes. The inspection head has two LED-displays. The left LED processes the correct identification of the Data-Matrix-Code. The right LED shows the correct clamp load. According to the “traffic light principle” the LED displays vary within easily adjustable tolerance limits. Red LED displays clamp load is to low, blue shows clamp load is within in a free adjustable tolerance, green indicates that the clamp load is correct.

Vibratory feeders increase productivity SKAKO COMESSA says that vibratory storage feeders are the best possible solution to make sure sorting and inspection machines run as long as possible, with the right quantity of products, and without needing an operator to check. SKAKO COMESSA offers two possible solutions to feed inspection and packing machines. The first solution is a silo feeder, which is suitable for bulk material e.g. nuts, washers and very small/short screws. The system is set up by positioning a 900 x 900mm container, which has a sliding gate in the bottom, on top of the silo feeder. After opening the gate in the transport box the product flows into the silo and can be feed into the next stage machine. It can be started and stopped with a level detector, which is installed above the vibration bowl of the inspection/packing machine. The second solution for longer, bigger and interlocking products is the FVE storage feeder, which is available in different sizes (70 litres/125kg content up to 2,240 litres/ 4,000kg) To complete the feeding equipment in front of an inspection/packing machine there is the TILDE, a lift and tipping-system which can empty all sizes of transport boxes (10 – 3,150kg per box) into the a.m. feeders.

New rotary inspection machine Regg Inspection Srl, based in Milan, Italy, has introduced the new i-600 inspection machine for 100% non destructive testing. The machine is a rotary type and it can be configured with modular inspection units: vision systems, eddy current, laser, mechanical recess, etc, with productivity up to 600 parts/min. Regg Inspection says that the design and manufacture of the i-600 machine meets or exceeds all industry standards for quality, technical innovation, and productivity. “We are a young and dynamic company which is staffed by engineers with experience and expertise in inspection systems. We design and manufacture 100% non-destructive inspection systems for mechanical parts made from cold forming, hot forming, turned parts and other methods. The inspection controls are based on high resolution vision systems, eddy current systems, mechanical functioning and laser controls.” Regg Inspection serves companies in automotive, aerospace, fastener, medical, military and screw product industries.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

CPA’s new NUT CRYSTAL CPA srl, based in Cona (Venezia), Italy, has used its 25 years experience in the sorting and inspection equipment industry, to help it introduce the new NUT CRYSTAL, a sorting machine for all those parts with a flat side. CPA highlights that the NUT CRYSTAL is equipped with a glass rotary table and permits 100% inspection by optical instruments (cameras, lasers, optical fibres, etc.). The NUT CRYSTAL, along with other CPA equipment, can also be fully customised and is provided with an “open software” (CPA property), which allows a wide variety of measurements. “If your quality problem concerns diameters, heights, thread presence and thread dimension, hole depth and presence or any other optical-detectable measure, we can offer you a sorting solution at 300pcs/min. The NUT CRYSTAL is extremely versatile and is equipped with a new kind of camera that features the newly-released “automatic – regulation” function. This function is extremely useful during set up, which only takes the operator 10 minutes. The NUT CRYSTAL is also equipped with double circular conveyor and can be completed with packaging systems according to customer needs.

Inspecting internal thread integrity Knight Vision Singapore says that it has introduced production-proven automatic inspection for a fastener’s internal thread integrity. Knight Vision explains that by responding to the needs of automotive fastener manufacturers, it has developed and patented the technologies for automatic high-speed inspection and sorting of internal thread integrity. The solution is a combination of custom-designed optics and highly sophisticated software algorithm developed and proven over two years. As a result, fasteners with internal thread defects can be inspected and sorted out automatically and reliably. “Conventionally, the integrity and quality of fasteners with internal thread can only be checked manually using plug gauge and thread gauge. This manual process is not only inefficient but impractical for high volume 100% inspection of fasteners as required by critical endapplication in automotive fastening.” Knight Vision Singapore believes that this innovation enables fastener makers to greatly improve sorting process efficiency and reduce manufacturing cost. Additional benefits include the avoidance of cost associated with return parts and defects liability, which Knight Vision Singapore says provides real quality assurance and peace of mind to fastener makers and end-users. Thread defects that can be sorted out include nut perpendicularity caused by threading process, flat thread, damaged thread, chips/burrs between thread, missing thread and mixed thread (same size fastener with different thread pitch eg. UNC and BSW).

+ Fixing Magazine Coming in + Fastener Wire Dusseldorf Special Supplement March 2010 + Manufacturing Technology Directory 2010 Enter your company into the 2010 Manufacturing Technology Directory and not only will you have an industry profile for 12 months, you will also benefit from a presence at Wire Dusseldorf, and be seen by the 30,000 readers of Fastener + Fixing Magazine. For any further enquiries or to reserve your entry for the Manufacturing Technology Business Directory for 2010, please contact Claire Lake on +44 (0)1727 739 150 or email claire@fastfair.net

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Weighpack packaging technology enhances Goebel customer service During 2008/9 Goebel GmbH developed a new marketing strategy towards private label packaging, as the company explained in the last issue of Fastener + Fixing Magazine. A key element in delivering this strategy has been the installation of a flexible automatic packing line, designed, supplied and installed by Weighpack at Goebel’s head office in Erkrath, Germany. At the heart of Goebel’s strategy was the objective to present to the market fasteners of all types in different quantities or different boxes according to customer requirements. “In combination with this,” says Marcel Goebel, “we wanted to create an own image by supplying quality boxes to our customers and users, instead of supplying in all kind of standard boxes from different product suppliers. We believe the Goebel image will provide assurance of the quality of the fasteners delivered, which in turn assists our business in extending its market share in fastener supply.”

presented as a flat preprinted sheet, erected and glued in the machine, means that Goebel’s purchasing costs for carton packing material has decreased, an economy that provides an immediate payback on its investment in advanced packaging technology. During the discussions with Weighpack about the specification of the packing line, which covered size range, counting range, box quality and label layout, the requirement for a flexible, easy-to-run machine became a clear requirement from Goebel. As a result the installed Weighpack system allows a single operator to control the packing of 8,000 boxes per day in different sizes and with different quantities. A key Weighpack advantage contributing to this high level of productivity is the fact that its machines are designed to achieve very rapid changeover from one size to another. During the project Weighpack also designed a lift and tip unit, which is able to handle three small bins or one bulk container. These new bulk containers were recommended by Weighpack in order to reduce handling as the product flows through the Goebel operation and to deliver a higher output for the packaging line.

To differentiate from the majority of standard fastener packaging, the Goebel range is packed into specially designed boxes that are easy to open and close during use and also have a robust construction to survive being transported and used repeatedly in different locations. A unique online labeling system prints and applies labels on the boxes, with different product information, company or brand logos, sizes and barcodes. The new carton design, which is

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

After a packaging run the warehouse stock administration is automatically updated to show that bulk quantities have been packed into small boxes and are ready to send out to consumers. As well as contributing to Goebel’s commitment to customer service this also ensures greater administrative accuracy with less work. Weighpack managing director, Andries P. Kout said, “The project with Goebel GmbH is an excellent example of how a trader is able, through the use of a flexible packaging line, to add some extra emotion to its fastener program – creating opportunities for a better market share by the professional presentation of brand identity on robust packs that provide genuine benefits to the final user of the fasteners.”

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

OPTISORT - quality control to the highest standards ®

Increasing demands on the quality of screws and small parts require an increasing effort in quality control facilities. The criteria of “absolute accuracy” to ensure 100% defect free screws and small parts is at the top of GEFRA customers’ demand lists for an ever widening range of applications. Nowadays complete accuracy can only be achieved though the use of fully automatic test systems, says GEFRA GmbH, based in Friedewald, Germany. The company is emphatic that its OPTISORT® inspection systems will meet these demands completely, citing as evidence that it now has more than 200 quality control systems installed in many countries across the world including Germany, France, United States of America, Canada, Spain, Turkey, and India. Many renowned manufacturers in the fasteners business can now be found on the reference list of GEFRA GmbH, the company says, and its customers also include leading sorting specialists in the industry. As a result, says GEFRA, OPTISORT inspection systems have for many years proven their effectiveness in the examination of an extensive range of screws, nuts and bolts and also small pressings. A milestone in the company’s development was receiving the coveted Innovations Award from the government of Rheinland-Pfalz in Germany.

OPTISORT® ST – “pure innovation” Through further development of inspection systems in close conjunction with selected users GEFRA has recognised increasing demands to inspect more complex and elaborate parts. GEFRA describes its new, and in key elements specially developed, OPTISORT ST system, as providing a failure-free, smooth and continuous operation, which provides the customer with a much more flexible quality control system. It also allows selection between three different single test systems for the control of screws and small parts. GEFRA has developed these three OPTISORT® systems to ensure that all requirements for a continuous quality control system are fulfilled during the implementation phase. Overall these systems, says GEFRA, lead to practicable and highly flexible solutions delivering high levels of customer satisfaction.

OPTISORT® S linear inspection system Based on its established OPTISORT W and N test systems Gefra developed an innovative inspection system for screws, which enables very flexible control and examination of different parts at higher speed.

The linear control system OPTISORT S can be used universally but permits, in particular, the inspection of top-heavy and shaft-heavy parts up to a total length of 60mm. The outstanding advantage of the new system, says GEFRA, lies in the linear transfer of the parts, which provides a continuous 100% control process. The fully automatically operation can be initiated through a simple but very fast interface, which does not require complex handling or the use of removable parts.

The newest system, OPTISORT® ST, has been optimised on the basis of existing experience and increased customer requirements to provide, in particular, the inspection of more “shaft-heavy“ parts. This is achieved through a simple but efficient parts feed, which does not have any adjustable or error creating feed elements. The feed system uses double castors and a linear guide, with minimum and maximum measurements and an automatic top track. The plate to unhook the parts and screws has been designed as a ring to position the parts precisely, in order that the imaging system can also inspect the inner areas of the parts. This arrangement enables optimal positioning of the cameras and illumination to achieve best possible measurement results. All OPTISORT control systems are exclusively assembled with high quality telecentric camera systems and illumination. They are carefully designed and constructed to inspect an extensive spectrum of parts and to avoid users needing to manually adjust

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

the system for different test processes and operations. The control or test parameters are all stored in the software system allowing much more flexible use for different parts, in a short time frame, without complicated and time-intensive changeovers. Conversion for a different part requires only the replacement of the ring plate followed by an automatic adjustment of the lifting slide. All necessary parameters, including the speed of the plate, speed of feeding parts, adjustment of the feeding castors and the linear feeding system, are fully stored for each part in individual test plans, which can be easily and rapidly accessed through the software interface. A second monitor is fitted on the reverse of the inspection equipment so that the user can control the system and its parameters from either side. The main advantage is in feeding single parts onto the ring plate. Here GEFRA has carried out an extensive development to avoid interference and interruption during the use of the control systems. The new optimised parts feeding systems on all OPTISORT systems are crucial to achieving 100% defect free control – many users, says GEFRA, have confirmed this as a crucial advantage for trouble-free, real-time operation.

AutoControl image processing All OPTISORT systems use the reliable and approved ‘AutoControl’ image processing developed by GEFRA GmbH. AutoControl enables inspection of the screws or parts through parallel checking and additionally provides a comprehensive dimensional check of the whole part to very high levels of accuracy. This means that all parts can be 100% inspected for cracks or damage to any part of the thread.

Flexibility The increasing complexity and variety of screws, nuts and other small parts has led to demands from screw manufacturers and fastener sorters for more individual and differentiated methods for handling and inspection. Earlier, standardised quality control systems are now proving inadequate to meet these requirements, says GEFRA. Through its OPTISORT control systems the company aims to support all its customers with optimum solutions for the inspection of complex and critical parts. Extremely positive results, says GEFRA, have been achieved with top-heavy screws using OPTISORT W. All the parts to be inspected are fed into the system by a specially developed mechanism that ensures optimal image processing, and makes it possible to capture the screw totally during the measurement process. Users of the OPTISORT W system are also able to capture diverse criteria below the head of the screw. A further advantage is in handling parts made from sensitive materials, including aluminium screws, for which GEFRA systems ensure the smooth and damage free transfer through the inspection equipment.

All GEFRA inspection systems can also be installed with a comprehensive 360° inspection system to detect the smallest damage to screw threads, without any negative effect on overall performance. GEFRA systems allow inspection at up to 600 parts per minute with automatic 100% detection of cracks and other damage. Failed parts are automatically rejected and isolated. GEFRA can meet a range of customer requirements to integrate its inspection equipment to packaging systems so that validated parts are delivered directly into carton boxes, plastic bags or plastic containers of varying sizes. This ensures that approved parts cannot be accidentally contaminated with defective parts after inspection.

Summary Easy handling and usability, rapid parts changeover due to complete storage of inspection parameters and criteria, highly reliable and data output, failure free inspection as well as flexible and varied usage have combined to convince users of the unique advantages of its equipment, says GEFRA. Demand for 100% defect free control of screws and small parts has increased and will continue to do so for several years in the future. Such is that trend the company believes efficient and 100% accuracy will become the standard for the future. GEFRA is confident, as one of the leading manufacturers of inspection systems, that it is already prepared for that future and has the OPTISORT solution to meet the needs of all of the fastener industry.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Strategic eastward expansion Hans-Jörg Minas is the new head of product management for central and eastern Europe at Dörken MKS-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG. In his new role he will be responsible for the expansion of business relationships in central and eastern Europe, in Turkey, Israel, Iran and North Africa. Dörken explains that particular emphasis will be placed on the eastern European markets, especially Russia, where many OEMs and their supply firms have already set up new production facilities. Dörken aims to further develop its presence in these growth markets and to offer highly qualified technical advice for the users of micro-layer anti-corrosion protection systems in the automotive industry at the respective production sites. “The challenge here is more than just being able to deliver globally while maintaining a defined standard of quality. Over the medium-term future, environmental standards are also getting harmonised. With constantly increasing pressure on costs this creates a complex task in a difficult market environment.” Dörken is currently represented through licensed coating operators in Poland, Slovakia, Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey and is constantly seeking to expand its market share in these countries. Hans-Jörg Minas’s primary task will therefore be the strategic development of a strong, near-to-market organisational structure in these and other countries in line with the company’s global strategy.

Faster U bolt production Videx Machine Engineering has manufactured machinery for U Bolts and other bent parts since 1973. The U Bolts and other bent parts are produced directly from wire coil and mostly used in the automotive industry. Two years ago Videx introduced a new bending system concept with a slide bending die and an integral stripper mechanism. The range of VAS-DBQ machines meant that Videx customers no longer had to make bending dies for each part. The machines are supplied with a floating bending die that covers the entire range of round and square bottom U Bolts, enabling customers to make new sizes of U bolts in minutes. The VAS-DBQ models are also equipped with a positive stripper system that Videx says allows companies to run the machines at the fastest possible speed without the risk of parts jamming. The VAS range of machines can also perform a range of operations in any sequence, including chamfer cutting (pointing), chamfer rolling, thread and form rolling, knurling, extrusion of the ends prior to thread rolling, collaring, heading, grooving, drilling, bending and flattening.

RAD-CON offers annealing solution RAD-CON Inc, based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, says it has combined 100% Hydrogen Super-High Convection™ bell annealing furnaces with AC/APEx™ atmosphere control to provide wire users with the high quality annealing needed to produce high quality fasteners. End-product fastener quality, downstream machine speed, and drawing die life are all dependent on the uniform properties achieved during annealing. RAD-CON explains that its systems provide the full spheroidization and protection against decarburisation that ferrous CHQ demands. “Our 100% Hydrogen Super-High Convection™ (H2SHC™) belltype annealing furnaces (BAF) offer the highest convection flow in the industry to reduce temperature variations in a minimum amount of cycle time. Quality results are assured through our AC/ APEx™ atmosphere control system, which accounts for incoming wire conditions.” RAD-CON also highlights that its system provides customers with several benefits including consistent mechanical properties on annealed wire and wire rod, anneal for automotive-grade, cold-heading quality (CHQ) products, control of surface quality of batch annealed steel wire and reduced overall per tonne utility costs. Typical products that can be annealed in RAD-CON equipment include cold-heading quality (CHQ) for fastener machines, stainless steel wire, wire for cold-drawing into shapes, bright finish wire, tie wire, non-ferrous wire and hot-rolled wire rod.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Tornos turns out new range Now available from Tornos UK is the new Almac FB1005 horizontal bar milling machine, capable of simultaneous 3, 4, 5 or 6 axis machining. Tornos says that the introduction of the Almac range of machine tools perfectly compliments the current series of Tornos CNC turning centres, and will allow it to deliver unrivalled productivity benefits to manufacturers of high precision components. The Almac FB1005 has been designed to produce high precision parts from either raw material (profile bar) or semi finished components. The highly flexible and modular FB1005 works on X, Z and Y axes, in its standard format for customers that produce only simplistic parts. For end-users with more demanding production environments the FB1005 can be equipped with a C-axis for indexing, a B-axis for tilting and W axis for feeding the workpiece. Tornos highlights that the Almac FB1005 is suited to highly productive environments that demand the utmost in accuracy. With a modular design, user friendly CNC control for user friendliness and a compact ergonomic design, the FB1005 is a flexible machine tool for all machine shops. With an X, Y and Z axis stroke of 280, 230 and 120mm respectively, the compact FB1005 has a 360 degree C-axis and 0 to 20 degree tilt on the B-axis with a pneumatic W-axis feed of 50mm. Within this compact and highly versatile envelope lies a highly productive machine tool with a 5m/min feed capability and 12m/min rapid feed that moves a 12,000rpm spindle with a clamping diameter from 1 to 13mm. “The FB1005 has remarkable flexibility and a diverse range of options with either a NUM or GE Fanuc control and additional options including a high speed spindle, oil/mist extractor, a heating cycle, tool breakage detection, coolant temperature control and even an articulated arm for the removal of parts from the work envelope.”

Rodmatic establishes global supply network Volume subcontract machinist Rodmatic Limited has opened an office in Southern India to provide an international link for medium sized manufacturing companies. As part of the service Rodmatic says that it will ensure complete security of supply enabling the companies taking part to compete on cost with larger OEM type operations. “This is the first stage in Rodmatic’s global sourcing strategy that is structured to support companies that do not have the in-house resource, capability or expertise to properly research, analyse, implement, manage and monitor an offshore sourcing strategy,” said Brian Steatham, MD of Rodmatic. Rodmatic explains that it will draw on its 45 years experience of volume part production in the automotive, fluid power and fastening industries to recommend the most appropriate implementation plan. The team will also vet supplier capability, production standards, monitor supply, perform independent quality assessments and fully co-ordinate projects. Brian Steatham added ”In the UK we will continue to build our volume production of turned parts through Rodmatic Multico and are expanding our CNC division, Rodmatic Hytec for medium and small batchwork. This expertise is being offered as support for production destined for the Asian market.”

Diamond and CBN tipped turning tools Rockform Tooling & Machinery, Inc. (aka Gator Die Supplies) has announced a full range of Diamond and CBN tipped turning tools for hard turning sintered carbide and heat treated metals. Over the years, Rockform has developed special grades of polycrystalline and CBN specific for the rigorous demands of hard turning. Rockform explains that with polycrystalline tipped turning tools, customers are able to achieve up to 1.5mm (0.060 inch) depth of cut on 25% cobalt carbide in facing applications, with total stock removal of up to 0.500 inch before the need to re-sharpen. “Our full range of polycrystalline tipped tools, carbide boring bars, and inserts allow customers to save countless hours over conventional grinding and other machining methods for stock removal of carbide. The characteristics of polycrystalline allow for heavier depths of cut and interrupted cuts never seen before in the machining of carbide.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

SmartToolControl® from REC “If you know the accuracy and reliability of your assembly tools, you can optimise your assembly and increase profitability.” So says Martin Spät, chief executive officer of REC Engineering GmbH, Breidenbach, Germany, who explains that REC’s SmartToolControl® test stand for assembly tools allows fast and reliable tool testing. All current fastening tools, from EC-drivers to torque wrenches can be tested for their machine capability. The SmartToolControl® System can be used as a stationary or mobile unit. For mobile use, highpower accumulators ensure the power supply. For the assembly tool capability test the joint hardness is simulated. This can be done singly or repeatedly, according to ISO 5393 or according to the actual hardness of the assembly operation. The joint hardness simulators are maintenance-free and work very homogenously, without any slip stick effects. Measurement and assembly tool data is managed through an integrated PC. Tool classes can be determined and the machine capability regarding the actual joint hardness or hardness according to the norm can be assigned. With a memory function, history and ToDo lists, the software is user-friendly and practical. All of the data relevant for calibration is completely documented and traceable. Customerspecific calibration certificates are created automatically. The wide performance range of the SmartToolControl® keeps the number of required joint hardness simulators low. A modular system, it begins with a “starter kit” - later additions are easily possible. The IPC (Industrial Personal Computer) used conforms to the highest standards and the use of additional input devices, e.g. a scanner, has been taken into account. SmartToolControl® Systems are delivered already calibrated.

New CNC machine for fastener parts Cold Formers USA and Towa have recently introduced the new TOWA CNC machine model TO-5A to the fastener industry. Cold Formers USA explains that the new Towa CNC machine Model TO–5A provides customers with CNC accuracy coupled with high rates of turning, drilling and threading at a faster production speed in secondary machining. The machine features advanced engineering in the areas of part transfer to main spindle which Cold Formers USA says provides extremely fast production speeds for CNC technology. The new model TO-5A CNC machine is controlled by “FANUC” 2- Channel Control. The main spindle drive on the machine is controlled by a servo motor while the loading and unloading sections are still driven by cam shaft for added speed in transfer of the part. “This new CNC machine will allow customers to process longer and heavier traverse cutting of difficult automotive, aerospace and medical applications. In addition customers will also be able to process much larger ball stud type parts.” Cold Formers USA is the sole exclusive distributor for Towa machines, service and spare parts for North America, United Kingdom and France.

The never ending quest Mayes & Warwick says that process improvement is a never ending quest to discover and eliminate the main causes of problems, which is why it has invested significant time and effort in making its processes repeatable and mistake proof. One example is the development of a robust 8D process for reporting quality problems which means that as soon as a quality issue is identified, procedures are established to ensure that it is not repeated. Mayes & Warwick also highlights the investment it has made in 3D CAD CAM software, which it is now helping the company towards achieving its goal of making its CNC programmes repeatable so that the same high quality product is delivered consistently. This investment was in addition to the investment Mayes & Warwick made in 2008, when it invested in ‘Sage 200 for manufacturing’, a production control software package. This software helped Mayes & Warwick tighten its stock, and work in progress with minimal intervention, making it a leaner organisation and able to respond efficiently to market trends. “Understanding our customers’ needs and responding is the key to survival. At Mayes & Warwick, we believe that evolution is the key to progress. Our efforts since the start of the recession have meant that we have become a more competitive organisation with the ability and flexibility to achieve quicker and more reliable deliveries at superior quality and better value for money.”

SMS Meer to supply press to China SMS Meer recently signed an agreement for supply of an open-die forging press during the China/ Jiangsu Forum in Düsseldorf. SMS Meer, based in Mönchengladbach, Germany, signed an agreement for the supply of a 45/50MN open-die forging press to the province of Jiangsu, China. In the presence of the vice-governor of Jiangsu Province, Zhao Kezhi, and of the minister for economic affairs of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Christa Thoben, the corresponding declaration was signed by Zhu Xiao Kun, president of Jiangsu Tiangong AIHE International, and Ulrich Vohskämper, vice-president hydraulic presses division at SMS Meer. Under this agreement, SMS Meer shall supply a 45/50-MN open-die forging press to Tiangong AIHE Co. Ltd. in Danyang City, Jiangsu Province. The press shall be used for the processing of high-quality materials, tool steel, stainless steel and high-alloy materials as semifinished products for various industrial applications. The plant operates with a press force of up to 40MN and an upsetting force of 45MN. The agreement represents a total value of US$20 million.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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29-04-2008

17:22

Pagina 1

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M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

Boric acid-free acid zinc With the introduction of the Zylite® ST 40 to the European market, Atotech says it has released the first ammonium-free acid zinc process which operates without boric acid. Acid zinc processes are widely used in mass plating and up to now they have been operated with boric acid. However, within the framework of the GHS (globally harmonised system for the classification and labeling of chemicals) the classification of hundreds of substances will be revised. Within this process boric acid will be classified toxic latest effective from December 1st, 2010. The threshold for labeling it as toxic is > 5.5% w/w, which is approximately 55 g/l H3BO3. As a result, the electrolyte itself is not classified toxic, but the boric acid material which is stored separately in the warehouse. Furthermore, strict wastewater regulations in some countries such as Spain and Japan require an alternative to boric acid as a stabilizer. In some provinces of Spain the limit is as low as 2ppm. Atotech explains that the new generation acid zinc processes

operate with the liquid Zylite® Stabilizer replacing boric acid. They are operator friendly and ensure safe handling as there is no need to dissolve a rock like substance and at the same time stirring up of toxic dust is avoided. “The transition from the boric acid-containing to the boric acid-free process is very simple. There is no need for a new make-up, but the use of the old process is just discontinued and instead the new Zylite® ST version is easily dosed to the tanks. Extensive field testing has proven that no drawback in performance occurs. Moreover an important benefit of Zylite® ST is the absence of anode polarisation. This ensures smooth operation and reduces the cost of additional anode baskets. Furthermore, there is no issue with boron limits in wastewater streams.”

Dörken opens North American technical centre Dörken Corporation USA, an operating unit of Dörken MKS-Systeme, Herdecke, Germany, recently hosted an open day to unveil its new North American technical centre in Grass Lake, MI, USA. More than 120 invited guests, including personnel from OEMs, tier-one suppliers and licensed applicators attended the event. The guests were provided with a tour of the 24,000 square feet facility, which includes a state-of-the-art research wing for advanced coating testing, application trials, and turnkey system development for OEMs. Among the highlights of the festivities was the formal ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Mr. Karl E. Dörken, board member, Dr. Gerhard Reusmann, CEO of Dörken MKS-Systeme and president of Dörken Corporation USA and Fred Schultz, vice president of Dörken Corporation USA. “The new centre represents a major capital investment of our global finishing strategies, which also included upgrading our technical centre in Herdecke along with adding new centres in South Korea, China and Brazil. These moves will provide the company with global R&D capabilities and collaborative resources. The new facilities empower our team members with the resources and tools to better serve our customers,” explained Mr. Dörken. Dr. Reusmann added, “The North American technical centre is another step in our eventful history, which dates back to 1892, and shows our total commitment to industry and to our customers.”

Solving finishing problems The latest T.L.M creation MacDermid says that its new electroless nickel composite technology solves the problems associated with the choice of surface finish for the electronics industry. Consumer electronics such as desktop computers, cellular phones and satellite dishes contain a variety of fasteners. These provide a low cost, light weight method of securing component assemblies. For design engineers, the choice of surface finish can sometimes be a problem. The surface finish must provide corrosion resistance and the desired coefficient of friction properties, but avoid thread fill even on the smallest (i.e. below M4) of fasteners. Typically finishes based on sacrificial zinc or organic materials are employed, but the thickness of deposit contributes to the engineering issues. MacDermid global product manager explains that “By using an electroless nickel composite coating at very low deposit thicknesses, an engineer can achieve a corrosion resistant, low cost, low friction deposit. Because of the evenness of deposit, this is achieved without any thread fill. The coating retains its electrical conductivity so can be used for earthing applications as well”. Electroless nickel composite coatings are an ‘alloy’ of corrosion resistant nickel, phosphorus, inter-dispersed with discreet particles of PTFE. The resulting coating is very hard (450Hv100 to 1000Hv100) and a Co-Efficient of Friction between 0.01 – 0.2. MacDermid explains that the desired properties are achieved by changing the operating parameters of the electroless nickel system and altering the PTFE content of the deposit. Corrosion resistance can be enhanced by using a duplex coating.

T.L.M srl has recently developed its latest product, the Rp3 micro rolling machine, which produces ‘micro’ screws with a diameter range from 1mm to 3mm for the use in the electronics, jewellery and watch making industries. The Rp3 micro rolling machine has an automatic loading device with interchangeable parts for measurement change. The machine also includes insertion of pre-calibrated parts, semi inverter speed variation, and millesimal adjustment of the tool-holder block advance (the thread step is 0.25). T.L.M also points out several other features such as a new style tool-holder block which has three totally independent advance movements (longitudinal, vertical and transversal). There is an option allowing the comb to be vertically tilted, adjusted and fixed, and the whole block can be adjusted to increase or reduce the pressure as the screw begins rolling. The Rp3 also includes a pre-loaded introducer punch in both movement and thrust to prevent false starts; a guide support connected to the shaker-holder rack, allowing tiny adjustments to optimise the grip point between the guide and the shaker. The mobile comb-holder slide is pre-loaded, so is absolutely free of play, which is an essential condition to ensure all the screws come out identical and within the required tolerance values. T.L.M, describes the Rp3 as “a jewel of a machine in terms of characteristics, quality and size” reflecting the company’s longstanding commitment to ensure the parts produced are of the highest precision and quality.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

M A N U FA C T U R I N G T E C H N O L O G Y

DACRAL exchanges information with RENAULT On the 9th September DACRAL S.A. conducted an information exchange and discussion meeting with RENAULT Group representatives aimed at improving the cost-efficiency and environmental performances of anticorrosion coatings.

The exchange day gathered a hundred people who were mainly DACRAL S.A. licensees (coatings applicators) and European part makers. RENAULT material engineering managers also took part and presented their policy and working directions. At the heart of the discussions was the question, “Why do zinc-flake coatings present major advantages for the automobile of the future?” According to DACRAL “the tone of the day consisted of listening, sharing and stimulating new ideas resulting in an exchange day that, overall, was rich in information.” DACRAL S.A., which has been closely involved for more than 30 years with the constantly evolving and always eager for new ideas automotive sector, gathered major players in the surface treatment industry on the 9th of September 2009: European part makers, licensed applicators of GEOMET® and DACROMET® coatings as well as RENAULT group. RENAULT representatives made clear the Group’s expectations concerning anticorrosion technology but also shared ideas with part makers and applicators. DACRAL S.A. managing director, JeanMarie Poulet, comments, “RENAULT group has always backed us in our strategic choices. Their experience of the behaviour and of the mechanical properties of parts is very precious. They bring us feedback about the performance of parts on vehicles in real conditions. This is very useful for us to improve our coatings and their application technologies”. Attendees were generally very keen to hear RENAULT’s speech, which aroused a lot of interest and questions. After presenting its automotive review, RENAULT introduced its new organisation and the new decision-making process for fasteners, which through new procedures and shared discussions, aims to align with the strategic directions determined by the Group management. RENAULT has already taken some directions, says DACRAL, which show the need to reduce costs by using cost-saving solutions. These include reducing the variation in the coefficients of friction or in reducing the screws diameter, in this way saving considerable material. PLUS® topcoats provided by DACRAL S.A. are currently being used and fit these requirements. Anticorrosion solutions based on zinc-flake technology are widely used by car and truck manufacturers. This technology, invented

and developed by DACRAL S.A., was established in the market in the 1980s, particularly in the form of DACROMET®. Applicators, part makers and DACRAL S.A. wish to state that both quality and the environment are fundamental aspects to be taken into account in establishing a coating in the markets. GEOMET® coatings are made from waterborne and chrome free chemicals containing aluminium and zinc flakes, and are therefore more environmental friendly than solvent-based coatings. During the exchange day, DACRAL says, its motto “Innovating together to progress” was more than ever relevant. This view was shared by with RENAULT group, as well as with the licensees and part makers and will help improve performance, reduce costs and pay best regard to the environment. Loïc Vaissière, from RENAULT’s material engineering department, added: “Shared discussions between the French OEMs are being held to agree on the use of the same coatings in Europe. We should reach agreement by 2012.” This approach, if it can be realised, should be welcomed by the applicators, because the current use of several products induce large investments and high lines operation costs. DACRAL S.A. would like to thank Mr Loïc Vaissière and Mr Tony De Lima from RENAULT material engineering department for their participation and involvement during the exchange day. The company also warmly thanks the part makers and the European licensed applicators of our coatings for their kind presence during the day. With more than 30-year experience, DACRAL S.A. develops, produces and sells, by license agreement, the zinc-flake technologies GEOMET® and DACROMET®. “Our coatings offer a low-thickness and high- performing anticorrosion protection and are the benchmark in the automotive and truck sectors as well as in lots of other industrial sectors such as renewable energies. ” DACRAL is the European subsidiary of NOF METAL COATINGS, the anticorrosion division of the Japanese chemical group NOF CORPORATION, who invented the zinc-flake technology. An international licensees network with more than 350 application lines uses DACRAL coatings worldwide. During the summer DACRAL S.A. was awarded the 2009 Pierre Potier Prize for “chemical innovation favouring sustainable development” for its range of anticorrosion coatings GEOMET® with low solvent content.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

INSIGHT

Blind fastening innovation shines through Bollhoff’s UK managing director tells us about their totally new blind fastening system. Andy Witts says, “RIVTAC is a revolutionary answer to the challenge of presenting a high-speed, totally consistent fastening for two or more layers, where access is limited to only one side of the workpiece. There are no requirements for pre-prepared holes and the architecture of the assembly does not have to take any account of the fastening methodology. It is a real breakthrough in technology, which may have had an initial focus on the requirements of the automotive industry, but has already been enthusiastically adopted by makers of solar panels.” Technology led

High speed blind fastening

RIVTAC® is a pointed ‘tack’, that is driven by the force of high pressure air, through a total joint thickness of up to 6mm. Installed from just one side of the assembly and without the need for pre-prepared holes, the fastener spears through the joint layers at high velocity and causes the localised materials to ‘flow’ within the annular rings of the shaft and up into the underhead void, securing the assembly together as it does so. Innovative research and development programmes were rooted in the theory of ballistics, but soon found a provenance in the more prosaic power-driven nails used in timber-framed buildings, decking and the like. Bollhoff engineers were able to develop the concept so much further, with the all important patented geometry of the tack and the realisation that, with setting force control, can come the ability to join aluminium, steel, plastics, non-ferrous metals, as well as multiple and hybrid joints of these and other materials.

Fed to the pneumatic tool by means of a pre-loaded tape, each tack can only be set when the nosepiece is in contact with the workpiece and downward pressure applied to the tool. A single-shot trigger initiates the setting cycle of less than a second and the tack is propelled at high velocity towards the components to be joined.

The speed of entry is determined by precise regulation of the air pressure between 4.5 and 8 bar, dependent both on the materials to be joined and the overall joint thickness. As the tack surges into the top layer, an opposite reaction causes the surface material around the entry point to rise up. In a fraction of a second, the tack penetrates both layers and the 8mm fastener head bears against the top surface. A brief rise in temperature within the joining

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

zone improves the flow characteristics of the surrounding materials and allows displacement into the annular grooves of the shaft and the uplift of surface material is captured within the underhead cavity of the fastener. From the users point of view, the process is simple to operate, dependable in performance, versatile in application, low in maintenance and requires little in the way of support infrastructure. There is no residue to consider, in terms of waste management. The fastener is universal, and any variables relate to the setting forces required by each specific application.

Optimum settings can be established easily for each application, by sample setting with a gradual increase in air pressure and the use of a five-stage depth adjustment. In many lower volume applications the tool can be taken to the job, rather than

INSIGHT

Section through an aluminium sheet assembled to an aluminium profile.

Section through two layers of steel sheet.

the restriction of moving components to a fixed assembly unit. Joint stability is ensured by adopting ‘thin to thick’ and ‘soft to hard’ assemblies in a total joint thickness of 3mm to 6mm. Blind fastenings can be secured into sheet materials, open or closed profiles and even within a solid parent material. RIVTAC® has already shown its strength and versatility in fastening aluminium, steel, plastics, wood, synthetics, carbon fibre and high performance steels up to 1,600MPa in yield strength. The unique tack, at present in a single length of 3mm and 14mm diameter, also enables multi-layer bonds to be fastened together, with no adverse affect on the adhesive layer held within the joint. Recommended minimum distance to the edge of an assembly is between 8mm and 12mm and the minimum spacing between joint locations is 20mm. RIVTAC® functions with a unique patented geometry and provides a universal fastening solution to rationalise inventories, streamline processes, save manufacturing time and improve materials management.

Innovative assembly This new fastening technique challenges convention and opens up a new vision for design engineering. Once in production, it offers a combination of versatility and economic advantage, creating enormous potential for savings in time and therefore contributing to an overall reduction in manufacturing costs. With the rapidity of cycle times, overall speed of assembly, omission of pre-processing as well as postfinishing, this single-sided, self-piercing fastening has turned science into a reality. Much of the RIVTAC® development has been reinforced by trials and evaluation by many of Europe’s leading car makers and the system is seen as an ideal candidate for

hidden fastenings within the overall vehicle build. The long term programmes for new models, using the latest materials, will see the tack installed by a relatively lightweight (3.5kg), fully automated, blow-fed tool optimised for robot mounting. Without the need for contact with the materials to be joined, the automated system is claimed to deliver tacks ‘on-the-fly’ at speeds of up to 10m/s - a truly unique fastening concept.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Section through two layers of sheet steel with adhesive in between.

A Solid Connection

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TECHNICAL

New ISO standard for stainless fasteners By Dr John Newnham, CBM fastener specialist

A new version of the basic mechanical property standard for stainless steel bolts, ISO 3506-1, was approved after going out for final vote this summer. The standard is entitled “Mechanical properties of corrosionresistant stainless steel fasteners. Part 1: Bolts, screws and studs”, and is referenced in numerous OEM drawings as well as international and national standards. The new standard will replace EN ISO 3506-1:1997, which defines materials and properties for male threaded fasteners in stainless steel. Unlike ISO 898-1 where major changes were incorporated, the new standard for stainless fasteners does not make any changes to the designation system for steel grades and properties. Nor are there major changes to any of the tests required or test methods, and the annexes are largely the same - but there are new mandatory requirements that manufacturers will need to act upon. A significant modification has been made to recognise the fact that some configurations of screws will have head designs that do not allow the full tensile or torsional capability of the material to be developed. This will apply to some designs of countersunk and cheese head screws, where the shear area of the head is less than the stress area in the thread. For such parts, they must now be marked only with the material grade, e.g. A2, C1, etc, and not with the property class, e.g. A2-70, etc. In effect, this is saying that if there is a property class marking on the screw, the user has a right to expect that the screw will achieve all of the properties defined in the standard. A related modification is that any part marked with a property class symbol must also have a manufacturer’s identification marking. Additional traceability for all classes of parts is that the marking or labeling of packages must now include the lot number, as defined in ISO 16426, of the batch being shipped. These modifications may affect stockists more than manufacturers, though there will be some additional cost to provide manufacturer’s identification where previously it was not required. Three more minor changes in the standard say that (1) the hardness test only applies to martensitic or ferritic materials, classes ‘C’ and ‘F’, (2) any embossed marking on the head is not to be included in the head height dimension (unless the product drawing

Image courtesy of PRD Fasteners Ltd

specifies), and (3) any passivated parts may now include the letter ‘P’ in the marking. The UK originally voted against this standard at the ISO meeting in Switzerland last year because Annex B, describing the various stainless grades, still contained the statement “Steel group FA is not included in this standard, but will most probably be included in the future”. This applies to the major class of stainless steels known as ‘duplex steels’ because of their ferritic-austenitic structure. The same statement was in the 1997 version

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

of ISO 3506-1, and because such steels are now used in the manufacture of fasteners, the UK delegation believed this class should have been recognised in this issue. Other delegates accepted the validity of the UK arguments. However, because work on this revision was so far advanced, it was allowed to go forward for the present without further modification. It is hoped that the UK will be able to play a larger part in future modifications to ISO 3506-1, and ensure the required changes are made.

TECHNICAL

The loosening of prevailing torque nuts By Bill Eccles, Bolt Science Bill Eccles has recently carried out new research to validate his suspicions that axial loading in the presence of transverse joint movement could affect the loosening characteristics of prevailing torque nuts. His findings, summarised here, challenge previous assumptions that these types of nuts will act as loss prevention devices. Nuts coming loose and detached from bolts is not a new phenomenon. Patents started to appear in the middle of the nineteenth century proposing improvements in bolt and nut design to prevent them coming loose unintentionally. It has been known for forty years that transverse joint movement can completely loosen non-locked nuts. Once relative motion occurs between the threaded surfaces and other contact surfaces of the clamped parts the bolted connection would become almost completely free of friction in a circumferential direction. The bolt preload acting on the thread, which is sloped, creates a torque in the circumferential direction that results in self-loosening of the nut. The way to stop nuts coming loose is to design the joint so that there is sufficient preload, generated by tightening the nuts, so that joint movement will not occur. That’s the theory, but achieving this is not always feasible in that, in many applications, it is difficult to determine the forces acting on a joint and hence whether slip will or will not occur. In these circumstances some kind of locking device is often employed to guard against the nut self-loosening.

In research published thirty years ago it was shown that: 1. The resistance to loosening depends upon the magnitude of the prevailing torque. The higher the prevailing torque the higher is the resistance to self-loosening. The disadvantage of too high a prevailing torque is that torsional stresses are induced into the thread which results in premature yielding that limits the preload that can be achieved.

Figure 2 – Typical loosening curves for a prevailing torque nut.

Figure 1 – Transverse joint movement. Prevailing torque nuts, often referred to as stiff nuts, are one of the commonest methods of providing resistance to self-loosening. Patents for this type of nut began to appear in the 1860s and many of the principal types can be traced back over 100 years. One advantage of this type of nut is that the locking feature can be checked at the time of assembly by measuring the prevailing torque. The present standard test code (ISO 2230) specifies performance requirements to ensure that nuts meet a certain minimum standard. Key requirements are that the first prevailing torque in the tightening direction must not exceed a maximum value and that the first and fifth prevailing torque in the untightening direction must achieve certain minimum values. There are a variety of prevailing torque nuts, many of them proprietary in design, but in general they can be classified into one of two categories, all-metal and those having a non-metallic insert. Most varieties of non-metallic insert nuts have a polymer ring located on the top face of the nut that generates a prevailing torque when tightened onto a bolt. The all-metal nut achieves a prevailing torque by either distorting the top of the nut by introducing slots, making the top threads elliptical shaped or by the use of spring steel inserts.

2. Under a standard transverse vibration test (DIN 65151), commonly called a Junker test, prevailing torque nuts tend to selfloosen initially but retain a residual amount of preload. That is, such nuts will partially come loose on test but the loosening will stop when a certain level of preload is achieved so that the nut does not become detached from the bolt. The test involves inducing transverse movement into a joint whilst simultaneously measuring the fastener preload. A typical preload decay graph from such a test for a prevailing torque nut is shown in Figure 2. The curves are for an M8 nylon insert nut being subjected to transverse vibration of amplitude +/- 0.65 mm. After an initial stage of self-loosening nut rotation stops leaving a residual preload in the fastener. Under transverse vibration, prevailing torque type nuts are not truly ‘lock nuts’ in that they do not fully prevent rotation i.e. the nut is not locked to the bolt. There have been a number of cases of prevailing torque nuts becoming detached from bolts leading to a catastrophic failure of the joint. The cause of such detachments has not been understood and one reason for this is that such complete loosening has not been able to be reproduced in a DIN 65151 test. Often they have been put down to ‘vibration’ without explaining details of the mechanism involved. Without understanding progress is at best haphazard. Study of incidents in which detachments of prevailing torque nuts have occurred indicate that the joint would be subjected to axial as well as transverse loading. Previous published research had indicated that axial loading alone acting on a joint does not result in any significant self-loosening. Research into the fastener loosening process was conducted in conjunction with the Jost Institute of Tribotechnology at the University of Central Lancashire. It was suspected by the author that axial loading in the presence of transverse joint movement would affect the loosening characteristics of prevailing torque nuts.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

TECHNICAL The preload decreases until the joint separates so that the axial load is sustained entirely by the bolt. As long as the axial load is maintained, the nut continues to rotate until the machine is stopped or the nut becomes detached. 2. If an intermittent axial load were applied, when the load was above a threshold value, nut rotation would occur. The threshold value being equal to the residual preload retained by the bolt under a standard Junker test. If such loading was repeatedly applied to the joint complete loosening of the nut occurred. If such loading was further continued, detachment of the nut from the bolt would occur. This is illustrated in Figure 5. The dotted line shows the loosening curve if no axial load was applied.

Figure 3 – Test arrangement. In order to investigate the causes of such nut detachments, a Junker machine was modified to allow axial as well as transverse loading to be introduced into a joint. Details of the modified machine are shown in Figure 3. Miniature hydraulic jacks were used to allow axial loads to be imposed upon the joint whilst transverse movement is occurring. The arrangement allows axial loading alone, transverse displacement or a combination of both to be imposed on the joint. The experiments conducted using the modified Junkers machine have demonstrated that the combination of axial and transverse load have a profound effect on the loosening of prevailing torque nuts.

Figure 4 – Loosening of a prevailing torque nut under a constant axial loading as well as transverse joint movement. The test programme indicated that: 1. If the axial load exceeded the preload retained by the nut on a standard Junker test, continued rotation of the nut occurred until it became detached from the bolt. Under such circumstances, the axial load causes joint separation i.e. a gap would occur between the joint plates resulting in the bolt sustaining all of the axial loading. The axial loading would result in a loosening torque being generated under transverse movement which continues the rotation of the nut until it detaches from the bolt. This is illustrated in Figure 4. The nut is initially tightened and then an axial load is applied. The bolt, at this stage, only sustains a small proportion of the load due to the joint and bolt forming a system of balanced springs. The bolt acts as a tension spring and the joint a compression spring, the tensile and compressive loads balancing each other. The bolt is stretched by only a small additional amount, and hence only sustains a small proportion of the axial load. At this stage, the majority of the axial load is sustained by reducing the amount of compression sustained by the joint. When the machine is started and the joint experiences transverse movement, rapid loosening of the nut can be observed.

Figure 5 – Loosening of a prevailing torque nut under an intermittent axial loading as well as transverse joint movement. The research is also relevant to plain non-locking nuts as well as prevailing torque nuts. In the presence of axial loading, plain nuts can become readily detached from bolts. Even a very small axial load in the presence of transverse joint movement will lead to detachment. The loosening torque generated when transverse movement occurs depends upon the magnitude of the bolt preload. The higher the preload, the higher is the loosening torque. With prevailing torque nuts, loosening under transverse vibration occurs until the loosening torque is resisted by a prevailing torque equal in magnitude. Once sufficient self loosening occurs so that the axial load is greater than the remaining preload, it is the axial loading that generates the loosening torque and it is this that rotates the nut so that it becomes detached from the bolt. This study does not mean that prevailing torque nuts are now obsolete or cannot perform a useful function but it does point towards caution when used in applications in which transverse joint slip can occur and axial loading is also sustained. Based upon the experiments completed and the measurements made, the effect of applying an axial load when transverse joint movement is occurring is to aid the self loosening tendency of prevailing torque nuts. Whether or not complete loosening of this type of nut will occur under transverse joint movement depends upon the magnitude of the applied axial load. DIN, the German standards body, has previously classified such fasteners as loss prevention devices. That is, although they may loosen they will not become detached from nuts when tested on a Junker machine. This may need revision in the light of this work.

The author would like to acknowledge the help and assistance of Professor Ian Sherrington and Professor Derek Arnell of the Jost Institute of Tribotechnology at the University of Central Lancashire. Further details of this research are available in the Proceedings of Mechanical Engineers, volume 223, part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science. Visit www.boltscience.com for extensive information on bolted joints as well as how to contact Bill Eccles.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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Developments in measuring clamp load

By Ron Baker, consultant, Intellifast GmbH

The demand for reduced weight and improved security with new coatings is increasing the need for better knowledge of the clamp load. Intellifast GmbH has been supplying equipment using ultrasonic technology for measurement of bolt tension to the aeronautical and automobile industry for many years. A recent development comes from an agreement with Schrauben Betzer GmbH to use its digifast© patent for bolt identification based on a 20 digit data matrix code applied with a laser to the head of a fastener or actuator.

Bolt M42 with DataMatrix Code The data matrix code identifies the bolt and enables Intellifast to include the base time of flight (BTOF – “ultrasonic length”) information on the head of any bolt or actuator for which a previous calibration has been determined. An operator can now approach the loaded fastening and with a single touch of a simple sensor measure the clamp load within a couple of seconds to an accuracy of +3% at a cost much less than the traditional strain gauge.

Example-exported-LP3000B-project-table The Intellifast process measures and displays the digital processing of a returning echo in the fastener usually working in the range of 6 to 25MHz. The result of the subsequent analysis is displayed on the screen for the operator to check. The clamp load is given on the screen. For use on production lines where speed and accuracy are essential Intellifast have developed a handheld probe which gives the operator a simple traffic light signal Green OK Red NOT OK.

Echo on the LP3000B screen This development is particularly applicable to wind turbines where for each of the flanges in the tower there can be about a hundred M64 bolts, several hundred rotor studs in the hub, or a hundred slewing ring bolts. An operator has to check these bolts, which normally would mean unloading the nut hydraulically with a wrench. Intellifast avoids this and an operator only needs to touch the sensor on the bolt with a small probe.

This Intellifast development progresses in two directions. Firstly it leads to major cost savings as a tool for condition monitoring, since all readings are available as a download in a Windows Excel spreadsheet format. Secondly, the Intellifast system enables the erection team to work faster with hydraulic wrenches as the Intellifast control box type LP3000B controls the pump motor, ensuring tightening is always exactly to the set load.

Alkatronic system linked to LP3000B The scope of application of the Intellifast system has been interesting. It has enabled engineers to measure critical loads in car developments where the changed frictional characteristics of new coatings to components has meant changed production data sheets. In the aircraft industry the introduction of composites and light weight titanium alloys requires a new approach to tightening otherwise structures can be easily damaged and where special titanium alloys are being used the high friction issues overcome. In these cases precise measurement and documentation is an absolute necessity.

Bolt with Inspection probe The ability to produce documented records of all critical fastenings on foundation bolts, tower structures, and helicopter components within a few minutes compared to the major efforts required to unload the fastener and retighten using traditional torque and angle techniques - will make significant cost reductions possible in the future. Strain gauges and retightening techniques do not produce documented records of tightening procedures that can be easily verified or transmitted electronically.

JSF F-35B STOVL_Landing

Inspection probe with integrated bar code reader

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Intellifast technology is also being used in the space industry where light weight and small fasteners are normal. Tightening has to be correct as failures cannot be easily rectified.

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Smart inventory management SmartBin means that C-parts can almost manage themselves, says global fastener, engineering and logistics group, Bossard, describing the innovation as creating new standards inventory management. The cost of fasteners makes up only 15% of total costs with the outlay on logistics and engineering responsible for the remaining 85%. This is the 15/85 rule, according to Bossard, which reckons its experience in the industry has shown that cost savings of 50% and more can be achieved in the areas of logistics and engineering, with a lasting effect on the total costs of the end product. This is why, Bosssard says, it offers its customers the most modern technology and logistics systems to do this. The innovative logistic system called SmartBin is aimed at increasing process reliability, reducing inventory holding, lowering process cost and increasing productivity. Articles are held in special containers, which constantly monitor the weight held by means of sensor-steered weight cells positioned under the bin. Data from these cells is transmitted via modem to Bossard on a daily basis. When the inventory for each part falls below a minimum stock level a pre-defined order quantity is automatically triggered into the Bossard replenishment system and supplied to the customer’s site. “Weighing up all the factors it is really smart way to manage inventory.”

OGL launches prof.ITplus SBE OGL Computer, authors of the prof.ITplus enterprise software for stockists and distributors in the fastener and fixing industry, has now launched prof.ITplus SBE, designed specifically for smaller distributors with up to five users. Hosting the same management facilities as the flagship prof.ITplus enterprise software, including sales order and sales enquiries, counter sales, accounts, stock, purchase orders and returns, and with all of the enterprise suite’s functionality and performance, prof.ITplus SBE is focussed around the smaller distributor and is more cost efficient for companies with fewer users. Also compatible with the existing prof.ITplus optional extra modules, the SBE suite integrates with CRM (Customer Relationship Management), the eShop e-commerce facility, prof.ITmail email management and the POD (Proof of Delivery) document scanning module, giving SBE users all of the upgradeable freedom enjoyed by prof.ITplus enterprise software users. prof.ITplus SBE fully installed includes HP server, project management and training, and as an introductory offer the package is currently being offered with the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) facility. “prof.ITplus SBE answers the need in the market for a specialist fastener and fixing distributors’ software suite specifically for fewer users,” says Simon McGuire, OGL Computer’s software sales manager. “prof.ITplus SBE, open for companies with up to five users, has the combined benefit of being a reduced-cost option yet its development has ensured that the system has lost none of the functionality or efficiency of the prof.ITplus enterprise software.”

Solarsoft releases new Tropos ERP system Solarsoft has announced the latest release of its Tropos ERP system for medium-sized process oriented manufacturing businesses. Solarsoft highlights that the new ERP version provides enhanced Shop-Floor Data Capture (SFDC) functionality which can work throughout the entire manufacturing process, from initial goods receipt all the way through to customer despatch. Solarsoft explains that by running on industry-standard servers and using a modern web-based user interface, Tropos SFDC allows business-critical information to be pushed quickly and easily to shop-floor users, whilst also providing visibility of relevant supporting information, such as material inventory levels through quick and simple stock enquiries. Andy Brown, MD of Solarsoft’s process manufacturing division, comments, “The benefits of implementing a Tropos SFDC solution can be felt across the organisation. On the shop floor, paperwork can be reduced through the use of online, continually updated work-to-lists, along with the removal of hand-written log sheets. Furthermore, efficiency and data accuracy are improved through data being recorded just once, entered data being validated immediately and keying errors being eliminated where barcodes or RFID tags are scanned.” Solarsoft has also developed two SFDC applications in Tropos Mobile and Tropos Touch-Screen Data Capture. Tropos Mobile is designed to run on touch-screen devices such as handheld PCs or truckmounted terminals, with screens re-sizing automatically to fit to the device’s screensize. The Tropos Touch-Screen Data Capture application provides shop-floor users with information about what needs to be made, as well as screens that enable order progress to be recorded, as it happens. The application is designed to run on touch-screen PCs. Both devices are designed to require minimal input, with scanning from barcodes or RFID tags and selection from drop-down lists being used wherever possible. Solarsoft says that it is able to provide a complete SFDC solution to process manufacturers, which includes hardware, software, infrastructure, implementation services and round-the-clock, post implementation support.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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Understanding Lean logistics Susanna Patton is a Lean logistics specialist at UK-based supply chain consultants, The Consultancy Company. Drawing on the experience of her colleagues, Fraser Geekie, director of industry & supply, and rapid improvements expert Ian Page, Susanna looks into the issues of applying Lean thinking to logistics. Lean is a practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful. In a nutshell; Lean equals more value less waste. In our current economic reality, this is surely a custom made tonic for our suffering businesses. But take care, says Fraser Geekie, “Problems can arise. Not from Lean itself, but from the sloppy implementation of Lean tools and a lack of company commitment to long term change.” Research by the Henley Management College a few years ago revealed a shocking 75% of 250 businesses interviewed felt that their Lean initiatives had failed to deliver sustainable improvements. “In our experience the seeds of failure are often sown from day one, with focus placed on the tools and techniques. Lean must be lived day in day out and it requires long-term commitment.” Fraser Geekie explains. “We often go into companies where Lean programmes are seen by staff as separate initiatives within the organisation. It will never work that way. Companies that successfully implement Lean are those who recognise that the process is not a competing priority amongst other initiatives but complements and supports other initiatives to achieve sustainable change that dovetails into continuous improvement activities.”

But what does this have to do with logistics? The short answer is “everything”. Once grounded in Lean principles, the logistician will realise that logistics and Lean form a natural union. This union leverages the strengths and weaknesses of each discipline to create a cultural and operational model that will aid the logistician to solve age-old issues while improving operations at all levels.

In its purest form Lean is about the elimination of waste from all processes and the increase of speed and flow. At the top of the list of known wastes, according to Lean theory is the elimination of inventory. In simple terms, any inventory should be eliminated that is not required to support operations and the immediate needs of the customer. This will in turn decrease work in process inventories, in conjunction with process and cycle times, ultimately increasing supply chain velocity and flow. Lean also has a vital cultural element to it that is crucial to the logistician. This is the concept of “Total Cost”. The Lean logistician does not focus on individual cost factors such as transportation or warehousing, but rather focuses on “total cost of ownership”. With inventory carrying costs representing 15-40% of total logistics costs for many industries, making decisions based on total cost has dramatic implications for the logistician. Kwik-Fit has recently achieved this ‘total cost wedding’, with its new National Distribution Centre. “It’s resulted in a remarkable reduction in waste.” says Fraser Geekie who worked on the project. “They achieved impressive time and cost savings, improved customer service and reduced their annual CO2 emissions by 3,000 tonnes.” Unfortunately though, many organisations never fully embrace total cost concepts and poor decisions are continually made based on traditionally visible cost drivers like transportation, warehousing and ill-fated sourcing practices. As a result rather than using the same old approach and trying to “sweat out” improvements, taking the “Total Cost” approach allows new opportunities to be identified and tackled. This frequently leads to the adoption of completely different logistics solutions that better meet the needs of the situation and provide

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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improvement opportunities. As logistics and supply chain management is designed to remove waste from supply chains, waste being excess or slack inventory, time and cost; Lean supply chains are meant to pull, not push, inventory through the supply chain and this is exactly what Lean logistics (kanban) is intended to achieve. It is about satisfying customer demand ‘On-Time- and In-Full’ (OTIF), not solely working to manufacturing Operational Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), rather creating a culture of delivering true customer service. In addition to meeting the needs of the customer, a key principle is the pursuit of perfection and getting consistency and reducing variation - getting it right first time, every time. Essentially the theory is that if we can understand and reduce variation in our processes, then we can implement improvement initiatives that will centre the process and ensure accuracy and reliability of the process around customer expectations. A logistics director may think he is doing fine if he has a sixtyday purchase order-delivery cycle for a supplier in China and he’s averaging sixty days but this isn’t the full picture. Some orders may arrive within forty-five days and others are delivered in seventy-five days. It is this variation that results in expedited transportation, out of stocks and all the evils of non-confidence result, the worst of which is inventory build up. The concept of variation reduction is paramount to the logistician, and managing inventory is about managing variation, a driver in both the amount of inventory carried and in stock-out potential. For example, safety and buffer stock are inventories needed to hedge against unknowns, where these unknowns actually represent variation. Safety stocks are maintained because of variation with supplier quality, transportation reliability, internal operations process capability and customer demand patterns. If variation from supplier to customer can be understood and controlled, with the root causes to problems being solved, then firms will be able to dramatically reduce reliance on safety and buffer stocks. Implicit in this is the addiction that business seems to have to inventory. In a Lean logistics world, excess inventory is a liability not an asset. To underpin a Lean logistics operation and sustain continuous improvement, the organisation needs to develop a Lean culture where groups and individuals are

involved. Coalescing detailed knowledge of how it really happens with the authority to sanction change, leads to understanding and the development of effective solutions that tackle the root causes of problems. “Lean empowers people at all levels,” enthuses Ian Page, a rapid improvement events expert. “I have run events where over the course of a week, a quiet, junior member of staff will emerge as a thoughtleader with incredibly effective solutions for tackling old problems. Through leadership development and coaching of emerging champions, the capabilities grow in-house to provide a bed rock to sustain change and then lead continuous improvement.” Therefore Lean logistics can be defined as: The elimination of unnecessary inventories through disciplined efforts to understand and reduce variation, while increasing speed and flow in the supply chain.

Is it really as simple as it sounds? As consumer demand pushes organisations towards global supply chains, the associated risks in relation to international transport and logistics have increased in tandem. In the current economic climate the contradictory pressures of value priced goods sourced globally, against an increasing trend for “insourcing” to protect the supply chain has created an interesting challenge for many firms. This has lead to increasing pressure on exporters and importers to set up formal risk management procedures. In a recession the probability of company failures among transport and logistics vendors is heightened as customers seek to make immediate reductions in their inventory. This is coupled with twin threat of increased cargo rates and increased probability of cargo theft while moving products from offshore locations to final markets, which continues to create specific business risks according to the recentlypublished report; “Risk Management in International Transport and Logistics Key Issues and Best Practices for Senior Management and Logistics Service Buyers.” The risk of systemic failure of international shipping and multi-modal logistics providers, and the consequence of goods seized by creditors while in transit should be heeded. The strategic and operational risks related to the supply chain are many and varied; and the current recession has done nothing to mitigate these pressures.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

The language of Lean Lean production has its own unique vocabulary. Here are a few commonly used terms. Continuous Flow - Producing and moving one item (or a small, consistent batch of items) at a time, through a series of processing steps as continuously as possible, with each step doing only what is requested by the next step. Cross Dock - A facility that sorts and recombines inbound items from many suppliers for shipment to many customers, such as assembly plants, distributors, or retailers. Five Ss - Five Japanese terms (each starting with an S) that describe practices that are conducive to Lean production and visual control (the placement in plain view of everything needed to understand the system status at a glance). For example, seiri (say-ree) means to separate needed from unneeded items and discard the unneeded. Five Whys - The practice of repeatedly asking why whenever a problem is encountered in order to get beyond the obvious symptoms to discover the root cause. The number five is not the point. Rather, it is to keep asking until the root cause has been identified and eliminated. Gemba (ghem-bah) - In Japanese, the “actual place,” referring to the location where value-creating work occurs. The term stresses that real improvement can only take place based on direct observation of current conditions where work is done. Jidoka (jee-doh-kah) - Providing machines and operators the ability to detect when an abnormal condition has occurred and immediately stop work. This prevents machines and operators from producing substandard product. Kaizen (kigh-zen) - Continuous improvement of an individual process or an entire value stream to create more value with less waste. Kanban (kahn-bahn) - A signaling device that gives authorisation and instructions for the production or withdrawal of items in a pull system (see definition, on next page).

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Typical transport and logistics risks include: • • • • • • •

Carrier delays and non-performance. Transport and logistics cost volatility. Lack of inventory. Cargo theft. Liability for loss or delays. Bankruptcy of transport provider. Fines for non-compliance, sometimes running into millions of pounds. • Mergers and acquisitions among service providers. Logisticians and procurement specialists managing the transport and distribution functions of their organisations have a functional responsibility to reconcile the competing demands of service and risk within their departments and their area of specialisation. They also operate within the framework of higher-level risks (corporate governance, compliance with regulations) within their organisations where responsibility for risks is mandated at senior board level. Although larger organisations have formal procedures to manage some of these risks, many other risks have not been fully analysed and are not part of any formal risk management policy. The threat to SMEs is even more pronounced as they frequently (and sometimes unknowingly) utilise the infrastructure of the larger firms as they must outsource their non-core requirements. It has been argued that international sourcing in global business has introduced increased risks related to transport and logistics, (both in severity and number), and that these risks are often more complex and more significant than in the past but are still misunderstood. In consequence, the Drewry Report (2009) advocates a systematic methodology to identifying and assessing the many, varied and growing number of risks that could affect the supply chain and potentially bring a business to the point of collapse.

The risk categories ranging from business process to terrorism and climate change embrace every aspect of the supply chain from procurement and sourcing of raw materials, through to the management of international logistics and availability and control of inventory. As observed by a major aerospace shipper who attended the Shippers’ Voice round-table on risk management said: “The leaner you are, the bigger the inventory risk.” The dilemma with Lean international supply chains coupled to Lean manufacturing is that they can become more vulnerable to risk factors. If the supply chain becomes longer due to outsourcing the supply or manufacture this vulnerability can increase due to the increasing complexity of the chain and external pressures beyond even the control of the logistics providers. Vulnerabilities commonly include stockouts when lead times become extended to such a degree that variations in the supply and demand become unpredictable. This is perhaps due to deficiencies in the demand and supply forecasts, which cannot be accommodated without building into the supply chain some slack – or buffer inventory – in itself an anathema to the “Lean” ethos. Further criticisms of Lean supply chains note that a Global Lean supply chain is something of a paradox as the Lean paradigm focuses (among other things) on shortening lead time which doesn’t result from internationalising the supply chain. Moreover practitioners of Lean will be quick to point out that Lean recognises two types of waste, removable and non-removable and that the concept of Lean logistics should take account of both rather than making generalisations about removal of all waste – such are the challenges which face the Lean logistician.

For more about The Consultancy Company visit www.the-consultancy.co.uk

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Milk Run - A delivery route that includes frequent pick-ups and drop-offs of small lots of materials at multiple manufacturing facilities. This method reduces inventories while speeding the flow of materials between facilities. On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) - The principle and measure of delivery performance against customer demand. Deliveries should be on time, neither early nor late and consist of the exact quantity. Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) - An improvement cycle based on the scientific method of proposing a change in a process, implementing the change, measuring the results, and then taking appropriate action. Pull Production - A method of production control in which a downstream operation provides information to an upstream operation about which part or material is needed, the quantity needed, and where and when it is needed. Nothing is produced by the upstream process until the downstream process signals a need. RIE - Rapid Improvement Event. An intense period of improvement activity, typically centred around one week involving a cross-section of staff to map their current processes and take actions to improve flow and reduce waste. Value Stream - All of the actions, including those that create value and those that do not create value, required to bring a product from concept to launch and from order to delivery. Value-Stream Mapping (VSM) - A diagram of every step in the material and information flows needed to bring a product from order to delivery.

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Keep talking… by Andrew Ross The importance of effective communication escalates in inverse proportion to the scale of an economic downturn. When an industry is booming, customers are more likely to come to you for products and services. When things are more difficult you have to seek out each sale. So you need to communicate – otherwise you will go unnoticed. Public Relations is a crucial part of your communication armoury during a recession. Of course, advertising makes a strong, direct statement, and you have complete control over the message being delivered. The very fact you are seen to be spending money in a marketplace will also give confidence to potential customers as to your intent and commitment to them and to the product or service you are hoping to sell. However, when confidence is low and cynicism is high, we look for sources we can trust. In the aftermath of greedy bankers and sleazy politicians, we’re maybe not in the mood to place vast amounts of trust in anyone, but readers are more likely to respect the credibility and impartiality of their favourite trade magazines, and their editors. That’s why PR is so important – it means the magazine is telling the world about your new products, not you. Skilfully written PR is persuasive and powerful in its ability to deliver a far more nuanced insight into what differentiates you from your competitors. Trouble is of course, when times are tough, corporate communication is one area that is all too easy to chop. ‘How does that contribute to profitability? I need sales, not press releases!’ it is said. This position is not really coherent. Most companies are happy to pay for sales people, recognising them as an essential investment which contributes directly to the bottom line. Quite right too – your sales guys are likely to be the people with whom customers have most frequent contact. In many ways they are the public face of your business. And their sales “patter” is a vital part of

“So you need to communicate otherwise you will go unnoticed.”

the sales process – a press release to a trade magazine or the local papers, or wherever it is that you find your target audience, should simply be that same communication carried on by different means. A brief trawl through any issue of Fastener + Fixing Magazine reveals that this industry benefits from a wealth of suppliers and distributors who have products they wish to promote to potential customers. In fact for those who wish to stand out from the crowd, it may all look rather daunting. “How do I get my head above this lot?” you’re thinking. The quality of what you’re selling has something to do with it. Although a good product will not exactly sell itself, it will certainly help. But the quality of the communication also has a role. Is it relevant? Is it clear? Does it contain all the information that the journalist needs to write the story? A certain editor of a leading Fastener magazine tells me that he sometimes receives press releases that do none of these things. Shocking! This unhappy situation may be the result of one of two things. Either companies which know their business and their products inside out are trying to do it themselves, and with the best will in the world, they may not have suitable skills and knowledge when it comes to putting together a media campaign which is going to hit the spot with the journalist. Or, alternatively, they have been seduced by the dulcet tones of a (probably) over-priced agency who think they know every trick in the book about ‘schmoozing’ the journalists, but unfortunately would not know a drop-in anchor from an epoxy resin, a shear load from an axial spacing, or - in short anything else about this wonderful industry of ours. Of course the printed media is far from the end of the story nowadays. As well as broadcast, there is the whole growing area of ‘social media’ – online social networking sites, blogs, and the like. Most of us are now subject to these techniques when used by others, but perhaps few in the fastener and fixing business have developed ways to use them for their own businesses. While viral marketing is likely to remain the preserve of large fmcg brands, celebrity promotion and the like, there is certainly more that can be done, including those of us in the business of fixings and fastenings, to exploit new media. Nothing is constant except change, and the most important lesson is that we should keep talking by whatever means is appropriate to the moment. With a background in trade journalism, Andrew Ross was PR consultant to fischer fixings UK Ltd for nearly 13 years. His client lists also includes the Construction Fixings Association, adhesive brands such as Loctite, Evo-Stik, BAL and Dunlop, as well as other trade accounts in the construction, DIY and housewares fields. He is based in Scotland and Oxfordshire and is well-placed to serve the PR or copywriting requirements of the trade on either a project or retainer basis. Andrew Ross Media Services andrew@mediaservices.eu.com Tel: +44 (0)1876 540209 or +44 (0)7515 563357

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

S N IS O s, M TI file s. T EC Pro tion N’ R S ws, ova DO LA t Ne d Inn GU ates an R E e l c ts Th odu Pr

2010 Features Calendar JANUARY – 61 COVER Transtechnology

FEATURE FEATURE EVENTS

FOCUS ON CATALOGUE RACK

+ JANUARY MARCH – 62 COVER Rawl

ANNUAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY FEATURE EVENTS

FOCUS ON CATALOGUE RACK

+ MARCH MAY – 63 COVER Brighton Best

JULY – 64 COVER

WIRE SUPPLEMENT MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY – Heading technology Manufacturing Technology Business Directory 2010 Preview – Wire Düsseldorf

FEATURE FEATURE EVENTS

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY – Threading rolling and secondary operations CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS – Structural fixings Report – Hannover Report – wire 2010 Italy Stainless steel & Non Ferrous Italy

SHOW ISSUE: – FASTENER FAIR BUDAPEST FEATURE FEATURE EVENTS FOCUS ON CATALOGUE RACK

SEPTEMBER – 65 COVER

FEATURE FEATURE EVENTS

COUNTRY REPORT FOCUS ON CATALOGUE RACK NOVEMBER – 66 COVER

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS – Heavy duty anchors Report – London DIY Show/Totally Tools Report – Cologne Hardware Fair Preview – Fasttec 2010 Preview – Hannover Decking, wood & collated screws/nail systems UK & Ireland

FEATURE

COUNTRY REPORT FOCUS ON CATALOGUE RACK

+ JULY

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY – Raw materials CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS – Chemical anchors and resins Report – NIFS/West Las Vegas Report – STAFDA Report – MidEst Preview – Cologne Hardware Fair Preview – Totally DIY/Totally Tools India Cologne Hardware Fair

FEATURE FEATURE EVENTS

FOCUS ON CATALOGUE RACK

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY – Tooling, dies and punches CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS – Foams and sealants Report – Chinese Fastener Shows Report – US shows Turkey Budapest exhibitors For information on the topics covered please contact the editor to receive a regular email alert giving more details and the deadline for each issue. We welcome all editorial contributions.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY – Plating & Coating CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS – Light duty fixings Preview – EuroBLECH Preview – STAFDA Preview – NIFS/West Spain/Portugal Socket & Hexagon bolts Spain/Portugal

For consideration in the News or Products section email a maximum of 250 words and a high-resolution image of 300 dpi to editor@fastfair.net

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY – Inspection & Packing CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS – European Technical Approvals Report – Fastener Fair Budapest Report – EuroBLECH Report – Fastener Trade Show, China Preview – BAU Nuts, washers & locking systems Germany

Our advertising packages can be designed to meet your requirements.

Published November 2009

For more information about reaching over 30,000 prospective customers please contact Jamie Mitchell on +44 (0) 1727 739 150 or email: jamie@fastfair.net

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Makita adds new products to range Makita continues to expand the comprehensive range of power tools featuring the values of lithium-ion battery cell technology. The latest tools to be added to the 50+ range includes a lightweight 14.4v impact wrench that delivers a 165Nm of torque and two straight cut metal shears that will cut 1.6mm mild steel or 1.2mm in stainless, which Makita says is equal capacities to mains electric powered shears. Makita highlights that the new Makita 14.4v li-ion BTW152 impact driver is a ½ inch square drive machine that will run up to 2,400rpm and delivers up to 3,200 impacts per minute. Powered by a 3.0Ah lithium-ion battery, and weighing just 1.5kg, the BTW152 is a powerful, compact assembly tool suitable for many types of installation and assembly operations. Available in 14.4v and 18v versions the new Makita BJS160 and BJS161 straight cut metal shears extend the cutting capacity of the BJS130 model. The two new shears can cut up to 1.6mm in mild steel, 1.2mm in stainless steel and 2.5mm in aluminium. The 18v model, BJS161, weighs just 2kgs with the 14.4v model 1kg less. The shears operate at up to 4,300 strokes per minute and have a minimum cutting radius of 250mm. The shear anvil blade is fully adjustable and both machines have a battery capacity warning light. A safety function, similar to that found on the li-ion cordless grinder, which protects the operator and machine from restarting if a replacement battery is installed without the machine being formally switched off. In this condition, the shear will not start until it has been switched off and then switched to restart. The Makita li-Ion cells take just 22 minutes to recharge.

JCP KA-08 gas nailing tool JCP Construction Products has extended its range of fixings and powder actuated tools with the launch of a new gas nailing tool. The new tool is aimed at the dry wall and partitioning industry as well as being suitable for a large number of other trades and applications. The narrow nosepiece allows access to confined spaces. As a full service is only required every 30,000 to 50,000 fixings downtime and maintenance costs are kept to a minimum. The KA-08 tool has a capacity of 40 nails and can achieve a fixing rate of 1,000 nails per hour with a battery capacity of up to 3,000 nails. The tool is supplied with two nickel metal hydride batteries with a charging time of 2 - 3 hours and comes in a sturdy box complete with charger, safety glasses and instruction manual. The large capacity fuel cell can supply sufficient gas for up to 1,200 fixings and the gas metering system ensures the right amount of fuel is supplied to the tool for each fixing. The nails are supplied in strips of 10 for ease of handling and range from 16mm to 43mm. “The CE marked KA-08 tool offers a portable and versatile fixing method where speed and reliability are important.”

Goebel GmbH reveals new Airpower 3 tool Goebel GmbH has reported that its new Airpower 3 tool, which sets high strength blind rivets, received universal approval from visitors at the Fastener Fair in Stuttgart, with it being touted as a new option in the market in comparison to similar products. With a weight of 2kg a stroke of 28mm and the power of 16.5kn (6.0 bar) the tool is made for high performance. The tool will be sold with additional nosepieces Ø 4.8 and Ø 6.4mm, for GO-LOCK and also with special ‘collar’ for M-LOCK high strength blind rivets. Goebel has also announced that it will soon be introducing a new generation of Blue Line Tools (hand tools) which will enlarge its wide range of products. The two hand operating tools will be for blind rivets and blind rivets nuts GO-50, GO-6-SK and GO-6-SP. “These hand tools are a real alternative to the one hand operating tools. They are light, powerful and easily to handle and furthermore the setting process is more efficient as well as guaranteed fatigue-proof working.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

make

ends

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limited made in the U.K

MEMFast (Make Ends Meet Limited) is a major supplier of fasteners for sheet metal, plastics, GPR and composites offering high quality ISO 9002 products together with excellent technical advice and service. Our range includes rivet nuts & studs, rubber nuts, nylon nuts, threaded inserts, screw anchors, plastic rivets and installation tooling. Our “star” is our own unique, robust rivet nut & stud hand tool which installs M3 to M10 nuts using a simple spin action - and has a LIFETIME GUARANTEE. Please contact us on:

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frEE to visit and frEE parking Now running alongside Spring Fair International

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TOOLS

Dormer adds new products to tooling list Dormer Tools has officially unveiled its second biannual products launch of the year with several high performance and solid carbide ranges added to the company’s growing list. The cutting tools are the second batch to be released by Dormer since the company moved to its facilities at South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Park in December 2008. Highlights include universal solid carbide end mills, cutters for steels and aluminium and HSCo drills for deep hole applications. The universal solid carbide cutters have been designed by Dormer to offer high productivity and affordability across a wide range of materials and applications. These are available in two flute (S922), three flute (S933) and four flute (S944) geometry with TiAlN coating. Dormer’s solid carbide cutters for steels include both medium (S250, S252) and long-length (S254, S255) end mills, designed for high metal removal operations, semi-roughing, semi-finishing and finishing. The solid carbide cutters for aluminium include the S143, S145 and S149, which feature extra long effective length for contouring operations involving thin or high walls. The S144 (with corner radius) can also be used for roughing, while the S540 (ball nosed) is designed for 3D forming, profiling and several kinds of finishing operations. “All our product launches are supported by comprehensive literature which includes full range details, dimensional data and optimum operating conditions.”

FEIN presents new Dustex vacuum cleaners FEIN, presents the new FEIN Dustex 25 and Dustex 40 wet and dry vacuum cleaners. The two new models feature electronic speed regulation with an LED display, soft start function and bypass cooling. FEIN says that the new Dustex vacuum cleaner is optimised for continuous use in industry and manual trades. It has a high suction power that remains constant even in continuous use and in applications that produce a lot of dust, thanks to the unusually large filter. If the filter becomes clogged, the bypass cooling ensures that the motor is still supplied with cool air. FEIN explains that this prevents overheating and significantly extends the lifetime of the motor. “FEIN Dustex vacuum cleaner can be used as a standalone appliance or as a dust suction accessory for power tools. It is ideal for use with the FEIN MultiMaster, the FEIN construction cutter, the WPO 14 rotary polisher and FEIN eccentric sanders. The soft start function reduces start-up peaks when the device is switched on to avoid tripping lower-rated fuses. Swarf, chips and other debris are extracted safely and comfortably. The appropriate accessories are included in the scope of supply. The 5m suction hose and 6m connection cable also give the Dustex 25 and Dustex 40 an unusually large working radius.” The FEIN Dustex 25 has a power consumption of 1,300W, a vacuum of 230 mbar and a maximum air throughput of 3,300 litres per minute. The FEIN Dustex 40 has a volume of 35 litres. The electric motor has a power of 1,500 W, enabling it to provide powerful suction action. The air throughput is 3,600 litres per minute and the maximum vacuum is 270 mbar.

Complete PC/laptop hosted torque calibration analyser The PETA 4 USB has been designed to interface with a users PC/laptop via a USB connector. PETA 4 (Personal Electronic Torque Analysers) can collect data, perform SPC analysis and display results directly into Microsoft Excel. Automatic reminders are sent via Microsoft Excel which helps with re-calibration planning for torque tools. Also, calibration certificates to ISO 6789:2003 are sent directly to MS word. The operating modes include ‘Track’, ‘Peak’, ‘First Peak’ and power tools testing modes. The Primary test function offers a quick ‘go’ or ‘no go’ test for hand or power tools. “The PETA 4 USB has virtually an unlimited memory storage capacity for torque tools and transducers with password protection. It is also compatible with most industry standard mV/V transducers.” Torqueleader manufacture torque wrenches, screwdrivers, accessories and calibration equipment with an UKAS Accredited Calibration Laboratory (No: 0632).

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

...and now from Arpel more quality fasteners. The range of high strength structural threaded inserts maximising grip range are now available in stainless steel and hexagon body in steel. Other types of standard inserts, rivets, pin and collars and all associated tooling boringly available from stock at quality prices with Live Chat Entertainment!

Tel: 01384 296 660 Fax: 01384 280 320 Email: sales@arpelchilterns.co.uk

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Rivco produces new blind fastener tools Rivco says it has introduced a new range of light weight, professional and ground-breaking blind fastener tools. The range currently consists of three tools, two riveters and one rivet nut tool. The Airpower1 and Airpower2 models cover a range of 2.4 to 6.4 blind rivets in all materials. Rivco explains that a major benefit of these models is the weight of the tools which is 1.2kg and 1.6kg, respectively. New innovations include a multifunctional trigger which controls the vacuum collection system. When the trigger is depressed and pushed upwards the vacuum is activated and when pushed downwards the vacuum is de-activated. The mandrel collector bottle can also be used to activate the vacuum system and has multiple settings for on/off and emptying. Another innovation is the connection of the air to the tool. Rivco explains that the hose can be revolved around the tool to any position so there is never any obstruction for the operator. The Airpower4 is a rivet nut tool, weighing 1.6kg with a capacity of M4 to M10 and also has the revolving air supply system. “In the near future a riveting tool that will be suitable for structural rivets will be added to the range with all of the above benefits.”

Sealey’s new Integrated bolted joint lithium-ion tension control system power tools

Hytorc and James Walker RotaBolt, have launched a fully integrated tension control system for assuring bolted joints – Integrity.

To celebrate the launch of Sealey’s new range of Lithium-ion power tools the company has featured the range in its Christmas promotion, valid from 1st October to 31st December 2009. Sealey says that the one-battery-fits-all range utilises lithium-ion technology which is lightweight, has no memory effect, performs better for longer and, weight for weight, gives an all-round better performance than standard Ni-Cd/Ni-MH cells. The CP4001 12V cordless drill/driver has 24 torque settings and a responsive variable speed trigger for higher control. The lithium-ion battery can be used across all five items in the CP4000 range. “Users can either build their own power tool combination or benefit from the 9-piece kit. The kit includes a drill/driver, reciprocating saw, angle grinder, die grinder, polisher, mains charger, two lithium-ion batteries and a storage bag.” The Tools section for this month was edited and laid out with the help of Cameron Epstein, who had a quick taste of what the fastener and fixing industry is like during a days work experience. Cameron, who is currently studying for his A-Levels, was quick to adapt to the office environment and proved himself to be a hard worker. We wish him all the best in his studies and hope we haven’t scared him off journalism completely.

Described as fool-proof, the companies say that the new system quickly and easily installs its fasteners at the correct design tension without even having to remove the tool from the bolt during the process. “Together the tool and fastener ensure that the correct tension is achieved every time and then fully maintained throughout the life of the bolted joint.” The two companies have developed Integrity as an integrated system with the science of tension control at its heart. It features a tightening tool that incorporates the technology used during the production of RotaBolt tension control fasteners within its specially developed checking device. The tool automatically senses when the special cap has locked on top of the fastener and then immediately cuts off the hydraulic tightening power. “The new tool with its accuracy and capability, coupled with RotaBolt’s tension control and 100% load test calibration delivers the speed and flexibility of fully integrated hydraulic torque tightening, combined with tension control accuracy to +/- 5%. As a complete system, it quickly and simply installs to the correct design tension and then monitors and maintains that tension throughout the life of the bolted joint through the control technology incorporated in each RotaBolt.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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Camlock on the right track When FAUN UK won a large order recently from a Southern European defence ministry for its TRACKWAY portable roadway products, it specified that heavy duty hinges from Camlock Systems should be used on the TRACKWAY tool lockers. TRACKWAY portable roadway products are aluminium, rapidly deployable and used in defence applications for temporary airfields, helipads, tank tracks, rapid runway repairs, amphibious and beach landings, etc. Commercial uses for TRACKWAY include temporary access to areas without roads. The TRACKWAY products are mounted onto a dispenser vehicle, which can deploy 32m of portable roadway in just six minutes. The tools used in these operations are stored in lockers, fitted with Camlock’s heavy duty hinges. “Our products have to deliver excellent functionality, quality and durability and we look for the same attributes in the components we specify. Camlock Systems met these requirements and submitted a highly competitive quotation,” commented Gareth Williams, engineering coordinator at FAUN UK. TRACKWAY is manufactured by FAUN UK at its factory based in Anglesey, UK, and is used by over thirty armed forces worldwide. FAUN UK has been manufacturing military products for over 60 years and is part of the Kirchhoff Group, which has vehicle manufacturing plants in twelve countries.

Plain sailing for FDB FDB Panel Fittings recently rose to the challenge of supplying a zone based wing lock system for the new T45 warships.

Like any large single community the T45s face security issues for their personnel, in this case the requirement for a zone based wing lock system to cover personal lockers, wardrobes and other storage areas. With an average of 2,000 locks on each ship, a project based master key system was specified for crew cabins and furniture or lockers in communal areas. This suited FDB Panel Fittings who was able to carry out planning, supply, specialist project packaging, administration of coding/delivery and long-term backup support. “Not only was it important to have a zoned security with key operated wing locks offering a very high number of “differs” – up to 5,000 different combinations with master keys – it was also important that the locks and keys were separately labelled for specific locations and delivered at a very early stage so that they could be brought together later during final fit out,” explained MD Terry Cantle. He added “We were delighted that our experience and systems enabled us to meet the needs of this project in a similar fashion to the way we would approach similar industrial applications such as zoned equipment control systems.”

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Over 8,000 lines

Hand picked for quality... Fasteners and Components for a vast range of Industries. • automotive • furniture & toys • marine • clothing & fabric • engineering • composites

Call or email for details and a comprehensive catalogue.

01623 655265 • sales@sdproducts.co.uk

www.sdproducts.co.uk

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A P P L I C AT I O N T E C H N O L O G Y

Solomon eliminates rivets

Solomon Commercials says that it has eliminated the use of mechanical fixings from the design of its refrigerated trucks, giving them a better aesthetic bodywork styling at a lower cost.

In order to achieve this, Solomon Commercials, a UK manufacturer of refrigerated vehicle conversions, invited personnel from ITW Plexus structural adhesives to convince them of the benefits of switching from mechanical fastenings to a process of structural bonding. MA320 White structural adhesive was found to give all-round performance on each of the customer’s painted metal substrates. Its special gap-filling properties and colour enabled it to double up as a sealant, further reducing cost. To begin with Solomon used MA320 to bond cappings to the vehicle boxes but now they use it to bond other structural components including GRP to itself and GRP to aluminium, as well as to produce door assemblies. Mark Solomon, MD of Solomon Commercials commented “We needed a lot of convincing that we should move away from using mechanical fastenings. ITW Plexus was very professional in the way it went about discussing our requirements and testing adhesives with our substrates. The new process which replaced the conventional riveting of the cappings with MA320 structural adhesive increased our production speed, gave better flush appearance to the vehicle, and reduced cost too. Our team here at Solomon is very happy with the results.”

Coiled spring pins solve automotive problem When a manufacturer of an automotive valve body assembly wished to locate the upper and lower valve bodies during sub-assembly, Spirol Industries was approached to help. The assembly consisted of two die cast aluminium valve bodies that needed to be ‘pinned’ in two places 180 degrees from each other. The manufacture also wanted to utilise locating pins during final assembly to locate the transmission case. The process also had to reduce hole preparation time, reduce the weight of assembly, lower installation forces, and simplify the assembly/part feeding process within the plant. “Initially, machined solid pins and slotted spring pins were trialled, but could not provide the lowest installed total cost and were also difficult to install. Spirol Industries’ light duty coiled spring pins offered the optimum balance of strength and flexibility that exceeded all of the performance requirements for this particular application at the lowest installed cost.” “The combination of the coiled pin’s straightness, its square ends, concentric chamfers and gap-free configuration makes it ideal for automatic feeding and assembly. Finally, its lightweight construction achieved the weight reduction goal, as well as lower installation forces.”

Southco launches AV-D30 Southco has launched the AV-D30 mounting arm which it says allows users to achieve precise over arm operating efforts whilst securing ‘no drift’ positioning even in applications with dynamic loading. Offered in a range of standard configurations, the new modular designed AV series provides swing out extension and tilt and swivel monitor positioning largely for imaging equipment, incorporating most flat panel displays. “The growing medical sector is making major advances in areas such as screening and early diagnosis and there is an increasing need for accurate positioning technology for a wide range of specialist equipment,” explains Southco’s Ulrike Sturman. Ulrike adds “by integrating its positioning control technology into the AV-D30, Southco brings the ability to precisely regulate the force required to move the arm. This precise control ensures that the arm will hold its position, even when subject to braking loads in transportation applications, or bumping into mobile cart applications.” Other key features, says Southco include ease of customisation and, because it folds to within 50mm of the wall, there is minimal protrusion within the stowed position. In addition, snap-open wire channels eliminate the need to ‘thread’ wiring and the arm is available in a range of motion stops to limit travel where needed.

RSD self piercing nuts Pierce and rivet fastening specialist Profil (UK) Ltd has launched its new RSD series of self piercing nuts for sheet metal applications. The new RSD fasteners are available with M6 or M8 threads, capable of piercing up to 1.6mm and 2mm steel panels respectively. They incorporate a large flange for extremely high pull through resistance and typically achieve 16Nm - 20Nm torque performance under production conditions, making them suitable for automotive, electrical equipment, white goods and enclosure applications. The new fasteners are 30% lighter than Profil’s popular RND series nuts and provide a flush finish on the exterior of the panel, optimising the contact area between assembled parts and minimising the risk of handling damage. Profil also highlights that with a shorter installed length than competitive products, the new anchors offer additional cost benefits through the use of shorter screws in like-for-like assembly applications and reduced storage space requirements for stacked components. ”In common with other Profil fasteners, RSD nuts offer substantial piece part and installation speed advantages over alternative assembly methods, such as riveted or captive nuts and welded anchors, to provide vibration-resistant and watertight fixings with an absolute positional accuracy of +0.2mm in a wide variety of coated or uncoated materials. They also deliver inherent energy cost, quality and safety benefits over unsightly welded fasteners and can be installed automatically in pressed components as part of their manufacturing process. In addition, RSD nuts are equally suitable for manual or ‘C’ frame press installation for lower volume production applications.”

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Abbott Fasteners Ltd

Aerotight

ARE YOUR NUTS COMING LOOSE?

Aerotight® all-metal self locking nuts

Abbott Fasteners are a specialist stockist of self-locking nuts that deal with anti-vibration problems.

Aerotight Manufacturing offers the time-proven solution to vibration problems. The Aerotight nut has built a reputation for quality and reliability over many years, with a well-proven design that has become established throughout industry. It is the leading allmetal stainless steel self-locking nut and is also available in brass, aluminium or steel. There are no vulnerable inserts to be affected by heat or oil and it is re-useable, with the self-locking function remaining effective. In both its steel and stainless forms it can be used up to 300°C. The Aerotight nut will remain in position whether tightened down or not, providing the locking element is engaged, and does not have to achieve recommended torque to be effective. No additional parts are required for the Aerotight to function so no special tools are needed. All stainless steel bar used in the manufacture of the M5 to M20 range achieves an ultimate tensile strength of 700N/mm2. The nut is available in most thread forms, including Metric, UNC, UNF, BA, BSW and BSF. Customer specials - for example thin types – are available to order. Aerotight Manufacturing is part of the Apex Stainless Fasteners Organisation.

The following brands are stocked here at Abbott Fasteners: Vargal – Sole UK appointed distributor. Philidas – Turret, Industrial and Mark V type. Aerotight Binx Stover Type Nylon Insert Type Our strengths are that we hold vast stocks of all of the above in all grades i.e. class 8, 10 and 12. We don’t only just stock metric! Abbott Fasteners probably have the largest stocks of imperial stocks in sizes UNF/UNC, BSF/BSW and B.A in Europe. Our experienced and knowledgeable sales team can be reached on the below numbers to quote on any requirements.

Tel: +44 (0) 1268 532434

www.abbottfasteners.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1788 537 979

www.apexstainless.com

Allbolts

Bülte

For several years we have manufactured self locking nuts of many kinds including nylon insert. A lot of the allmetal self locking nuts are now obsolete but we still are asked to produce a wide variety for many applications. We are also asked to make nuts in a wide variety of materials such as high tensile steel, titanium, bronze hastelloy etc.

Self-locking Nylon Nuts

We hold a stock of stainless locking nuts but most other materials are made to order. Two to three weeks is a normal delivery time providing material is available. Our range of sizes starts about M3 and we have made as large as M52. Small quanities are also catered for providing a comprehensive service to the fastener industry.

Self-locking nuts are being used as a secure fastening nut for joining many kinds of parts. They are manufactured from natural Polyamide 6.6 that, when combined with steel screws, provides low drag torque and smooth operation throughout the life of the assembly (preferably not reusable).

The self-locking nuts are suitable for applications that require extra security as they eliminate backlash without sacriﬁcing efﬁciency. This type of nut is more effective than standard hex nuts because it includes a no threaded part which closes around the thread creating a lock between the two threads.

The cost effective plastic nuts are widely used in a variety of industrial applications (electronic and electrical equipment, construction, furniture and medical industries) requiring such properties as strength, corrosion resistance, oil resistance, low weight alternatives and low thermal conductivity. Metric sizes include M5, M6, M8, M10 and M12.

Tel: +44 (0) 1379 872 910

Fax: +44 (0) 1379 872 915

Email: bulte@bulte.com

www.bulte.com

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F O C U S O N Nuts, Washers & Locking Systems

Crest Industrial

DS Fasteners

Crest Industrial Ltd is a leading supplier of all types of All Metal Self Locking Nuts based in the East Midlands. We offer a wide range of sizes, strength grades and finishes available from stock. Stock sizes range from M4 – M36 and ¼” to 1” Strength grades Metric Class 8 and 10 and SAE grade B and C In hexagon and hexagon flange types. All our Zinc plated stock complies with RoHS and ELVD requirements. In addition we are able to offer a wide range of specialist finishes to meet your specific needs. We also supply a wide range of associated fastener products including hexagon flange bolts in 10.9ht, hexagon and Serrated hexagon flange nuts, toothed washers and cage nuts.

Stover Nuts • Nylon Insert Nuts • Cleveloc Nuts • Castle Nuts • Phillidas • Vargal • HDG • Stainless Steel

With a large information database we can identify, locate and supply fastener parts which meet or exceed the original equipment manufacturers speciﬁcations particularly within the automotive sectors. We believe customer satisfaction is paramount and we are prepared to do whatever is necessary to achieve this. For more information, enquiries or to receive a catalogue please contact us.

Tel: +44 (0) 115 965 4100

Email: sales@crestindustrial.com

DS Fasteners Products Ltd was established in 1976 as a specialist self locking nut supplier. We set out to stock a large range of the more unusual sizes and pitches with the emphasis on higher grades also. This allows us to reduce lead times and get orders delivered quicker. Our main stock items are the Stover nut (DIN 980V), Nylocs (DIN 985/982) and also Flange nuts (plain & serrated) and Stover Flange (DIN 6927) Nyloc Flange (DIN 6926) These are available in most ﬁnishes and in Grades 8, 10, 12. (Metric & imperial) To further compliment the range we also stock Serrated Flange Bolts (DIN 6921) in a range of sizes. We are also increasing our stock of Stainless Steel (A2 & A4) parts again in the ﬁne pitch and the more unusual sizes. Recently added to the stock is a range of Philidas nuts. We have also added Hot Dipped Galvanized Nylocs to our range. If it’s a locking nut you require, with our knowledge and stock we are sure to be able to help.

Tel: +44 (0) 1842 763 000

www.dsfasteners.co.uk

Faster SRL

Icon Fasteners

FASTER S.R.L. ETC.

Icon are proud to be associated with Philidas Limited in stocking their range of self locking nuts, Philidas Industrials, Turrets and MKV’s are all available on a next day delivery service. We can reserve stock for a call off or work to your schedules. This coupled with Icons extensive range of Grd 8 Grd 10 and Grd 12 din 934 in self-colour, bright zinc plated and galvanised make us unrivalled in locking and standard nuts. Not forgetting our range of din 985 course and ﬁne pitch and din 982 nylon insert nuts.

Italian’s leading manufacturer of: • CAGE NUTS FOR ANY PANEL HOLES AND THICKNESSES • CAGE NUTS FOR MASS CONTINUITY • IN CARBON STEEL ZINC PLATED CHROME FREE, RoHS COMPLIANT • IN TOTAL STAINLESS STEEL, A2 AND A4 • CAGE SCREWS • DEEP THREADED U-NUTS FOR HEAVY DUTY APPLICATIONS • U-NUTS AND CLIPS • SPRING LATCHES WITH RETAINERS AND STUDS Established for over 30 years, we manufacture specials to customer drawings, including cage nuts in most thread forms such as metric, UNC, UNF, BA, BSW and BSF. All cage nuts, both zinc plated or ALL STAINLESS STEEL, are usually available and exported to any European or worldwide destination, because we have: • excellent quality • competitive prices • no minimum order charge • sameday despatch of exstock items • certiﬁcates of conformity if requested • technical help for individual projects and furthermore, we can supply all our products with special protective coatings (GEOMET and its various versions), 1000 hours salt spray, in a very short time.

To complement our Range of 10.9 and 12.9 bolting we offer din 6916 C45 through hardened washers, again in self colour and bright zinc plated. To complete our extensive stocks of din 931/933 galvanised bolting, we offer a complete range of din 125 form A washers.

Our most important customers are the Automotive and Domestic Appliance Industries, electrical cabs industries, etc. For any enquiries please contact email: fasterviti@libero.itMrs. Caterina Monopoli Email: fasterviti@libero.it

www.fasterviti.com

Tel: +44 (0) 1902 491122

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Email: icon@icon-fasteners.co.uk

F O C U S O N Nuts, Washers & Locking Systems INOXDADI S.R.L.

J Cooke Engineering

INOXDADI S.R.L. is one of the most important producers of stainless steel and brass nuts, washers and fasteners certiﬁed ISO 9001.

Bar Turned Nut Manufacturer

For the great experience developed on the field of nuts for over 30 years, INOXDADI S.R.L. can boast a wide range of items produced in various grades of stainless steel such as: AISI 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 316Ti, 321, 309, 310, 314, 904L, Duplex – W. 1.4462 – W. 1.4529, W. 1.4923, Monel 400, Hastelloy, Titanium besides aluminium, brass, steel and zinc plated. Upon request, all the items produced can be provided with certificate of chemical test. “INOXDADI S.R.L.” is specialist in production of: • shear nuts • cage nuts • hex nuts • pressed insert nuts • weld nuts • flange nuts • square nuts • lock insert nuts • domed cap nuts • wing nuts • castellated nuts • flat washers • spring washers • special nuts and washers Tel: +39 (0) 363 914959 56

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J.Cooke Eng Ltd is the leading UK bar turned nut manufacturer established for over 30 years. We manufacture specials to customer drawings and in most materials including, brass, steel, stainless steel, aluminium, phosphor bronze and aluminium bronze. With two manufacturing sites, one in Hertfordshire the other in the West Midlands, we are also capable of producing turned spacers and washers. Parts can be delivered on our own transport, carriers or exported to any European or worldwide destination. The following give a brief example of the parts we manufacture/ stock. For further details contact our sales team. HEX NUTS SQUARE NUTS SHEAR NUTS SLOTTED NUTS CASTLE NUTS WASHERS - TURNED SPACERS RIVET BUSHES MANIFOLD NUTS

www.inoxdadi.com

Tel: +44 (0) 1462 742 888

Email: sales@jcooke.co.uk

Martyn Price

Navgrah Fastners Pvt. Ltd.

Not many other fastener stockists can boast that they have M1 to M110 DIN 934 full nuts on the shelf. West Midland’s fastener specialist Martyn Price can.

We are premier manufacturer of Washers made from Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper or any other stampable material from India. We are manufacturer of Stainless Steel Hooks (Haken) (Fix & Vario) various types, Adapter blech, Winkels, Connectors and other solar panel mounting parts as per customer requirements and drawings.

For over 35 years Martyn Price have built a solid reputation as a first tear supplier of nut products, these obviously include the standard sizes but they are arguably better known for their incredible range of non standard full and locking nut parts. All of which are marketed under their well known Allgrip brand. Based in Stourbridge they are well placed to offer any surface finish or secondary operation, with a rapid turnaround. These parts are available in grade 8, 10 and 12 along with both fine pitch and left hand thread.

Our production team is rich with experience of washer and solar items manufacturing work hard to meet any urgencies. In house tool room facilities help us to produce tools faster to respond to our customers quickly. Our extensive Tool Stock and skilled work force help us to supply at committed time. Our rigorous quality testing do not allow any discrepancy to pass through and this leads to full customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, Martyn Price Fasteners distribute arguably the largest range of washers in the UK; these are also available in both metric and imperial. The foundation of this extensive range includes those hard to source parts including double coil and load indicating washers. Martyn Price Ltd FASTENER PEOPLE who have the stock and knowledge to solve every requirement NO MATTER HOW UNUSUAL.

Our product range includes, Flat washers according to DIN 125 -433 -9021 -440 -1440 -7349 -436 -93 -463, Conical Washers 2093-6096, NFE 25 513-514, BS 4320 -3410, Penny washers, MS 15795, NAS 620C, AN960C, Commercial washers and any other special washers as per drawing.

Tel: +44 (0) 1384 424767

Tel: + 91 (0) 260 2370700

Email: sales@martynprice.co.uk

Our main aim is to supply quality products with timely delivery at competitive prices. Email: dakshesh@navgrahfastners.com

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F O C U S O N Nuts, Washers & Locking Systems

Owlett- Jaton

Philidas Ltd

Owlett-Jaton is the UK’s largest supplier of fasteners, ironmongery and hardware to the distributor and merchant trade. Our central 130,000 sq ft hub warehouse is the largest single site distribution centre in the industry, together with a fleet of over 90 vehicles, we provide an unparalleled exstock, nationwide daily delivery service. Our range of nuts include DIN 934 Full Nuts, Lock Nuts, DIN 982 and 985 Nylon Insert Nuts and are available in Self Colour, Bright Zinc Plated, Zinc and Yellow, Galvanized and, to comply with recently introduced EU directives, Hexavalent Chrome Free (CR3). We also offer Full Nuts, Lock Nuts and Nylon Insert Nuts in A2 and A4 Stainless Steel. DIN 934 are also available from stock in guaranteed Grade 8 and Grade 10, standard and fine pitch. To compliment our range of nuts, Flange Nuts, Weld Nuts, Pronged Tee Nuts, Wing Nuts, Dome Nuts and Self Locking Nuts are also available. A comprehensive range of imported and British manufactured washers are available from stock in Self Colour, Bright Zinc Plated, Galvanized and Hexavalent Chrome Free finishes. Washers in A2 and A4 Stainless Steel are available. Just one call gives you immediate access to a wealth of experience and our complete product range – it’s the ultimate one-stop-shop.

Philidas Ltd launches new Product. The Philidas Comby-Lock Nut (Patent Application 0919327.7) is a versatile product which can be manufactured in a choice of materials, thread types and plating ﬁnishes and is a one piece assembly made up of two nut elements. The two nut portions are designed with a unique device on each part which, when assembled, automatically ﬁxes the two pieces together and allows them to spin independently without becoming detached from each other. The Comby-Lock can be put onto the thread either way up and can be tightened up to a face or tightened up part-way down a thread depending on the chosen application. As there is no prevailing torque feature, therefore no friction between the threads, the products will not damage the male thread as can be typical when using integral torque features seen on other products. Paul Taylor (Philidas Technical Manager) says “The locking method used for the Comby-Lock will ensure multiple re-use without the loss of locking performance”. For further information please contact Clark Hodges (Sales Director).

Tel: +44 (0) 1785 811 300

Fax: +44 (0) 1785 819 699

Tel: + 44 (0) 1977 704 141

Email: chodges@philidas.com

Prelok

Premier Washers Ltd

With almost 50 years experience in the ﬁeld Prelok is the European market leader for pre-applied locking, sealing and dry ﬁlm lubricant solutions for fasteners and threaded components. We have strategic global alliances and are constantly working in partnership with material manufacturers to develop new products and processes, which offer innovative jointing solutions to meet the ever changing industry demands.

Premier Quality and Service @ Premier Washers Ltd

The primary advantages of these technologies include the elimination of any secondary locking and sealing systems such as lock nuts or washers; the replacement of hand applied tapes or gaskets and controlled patch positioning instead of difﬁcult to target liquid adhesives or sealants.

An extensive range of machines including CNC and high speed coil fed presses enable us to supply high and low volumes with production capabilities from outside diameter of 6mm up to 150mm, in thickness from 0.2mm up to 10mm.

Our ﬂexible and high technological processing capabilities ensure we offer a complete service, exceeding the high quality expectations of our customers. • From miniature items for mobile communication to M30 bolts for bridge construction, we have the ability to process a vast range of components • Ability to work with a wide range of materials including stainless steel and non-ferrous materials • Approved by a majority of OEM’s and have been recognised with a number of industry approvals and standards • Complete fastener ﬁnishing service including a comprehensive range of corrosion resistant surface treatments Tel: + 44 (0) 1902 600 000

www.prelok.com

A Midlands based manufacturer, with comprehensive industry knowledge, supplying washers and pressings to the automotive, construction, white goods and other industries.

We can supply our products in a large range of materials including mild steel, carbon, brass, stainless steel, copper and other exotic metals and in a wide variety of ﬁnishes including heat treatment, grinding, machining and surface treatments. In house toolroom facilities enable us to produce tools quickly in response to customers ever-changing needs. An excellent service and competitive prices, supported by our registration to BS EN ISO 9001:2008 places Premier Washers in a position to fully satisfy the requirements of all of our customers.

Tel: +44 (0) 1902 307 121

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Email: sales@premierwashers.co.uk

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Staytite Hardlock Nuts

Threadrive Components

Hardlock nuts resist loosening in all environments where vibration occurs.

Threadrive Components hold the UK’s largest stocks of Nord-Lock bolt securing system.

Hardlock has been used successful, in many applications worldwide, for more than a decade, and across many industries, including: railways, civil engineering, telephone, radar and power masts, towers and pylons, wind turbine towers and masts.

By using Hardlock nuts engineers can be safe in the knowledge they are protecting expensive machinery and structures from the effects of vibration loosening threaded joints, the Hardlock nut can also reduce subsequent maintenance and inspection costs. Staytite have conducted extensive vibration tests to demonstrate how the Hardlock nut compares to other nuts in the market place. All tests were conducted to DIN 65151 - the dynamic test of the locking characteristics of fasteners under transverse loading conditions. To learn more or to see the results of these tests please contact Staytite on 01494 462322

Threadrive provide a dedicated stockholding of Nord-Lock for your requirements here in the UK. Nord-Lock is a bolt securing system that does not use traditional techniques to secure the fastener, and yet is a safe locking system. Nord-Lock’s proven wedge-locking method meeting DIN25201 utilises tension instead of friction to secure bolted joints, making it superior to traditional methods. Nord-Lock provides maximum security and many other beneﬁts include: • Prevents loosening caused by vibration and dynamic loads • Reduces assembly time and maintenance costs • Reusable For further technical Nord-Lock product details, pricing and samples please contact Marco Pillow at Threadrive Components on the below details. We are also a ‘Specialist in the supply of screwdriver tooling’ for the aviation and aerospace MRO and general industry. Please visit www. threadrive.co.uk or contact Marco for further details.

Tel: + 44 (0) 1494 462 322

Tel: +44 (0) 1268 288 880

They are a secure fastening solution - the nuts do not come loose, even in the most severe vibration.

www.staytite.com

www.threadrive.co.uk

TR Fastenings Ltd

Vöhrs GmbH & Co. KG

The Binx® all metal thread-locking Nut is a unique TR Fastenings product which has developed into the industry standard in applications where vibration or stress would otherwise promote problems.

Innovative, ﬂexible, competent words which will lead you to our company!

Strong - The Binx® locking mechanism acts on both the effective diameter and the pitch of the thread, countering the threat posed by vibration and stress. Compact - The Binx® locking mechanism is incorporated into a nut head of no greater height than that of a standard nut and is ideal for use in restricted places. Versatile - The Binx® is all metal and can be conﬁdently used in environments containing oil, grease and other contaminants. Reuseable - The Binx® torque resistance is maintained after many applications. Convenient - The Binx® is readily available in a wide range of sizes and in a variety of materials, ranging from mild steel to stainless steel. As well as the Binx® nut, TR expertise can provide other thread-locking solutions from simple lock washers through to specially developed thread-locking products. For detailed dimensional technical information on the Binx® Nut and 1000’s of other fasteners and components, please contact us. Tel: +44 (0) 1825 766 676

www.trdistributors.co.uk

With 50 years experience, quality products, and professional service, we have become one of the leading international manufacturers of nuts and stampings. Whether made out of ordinary steel, high-grade steel, bright or standard finish surfaces – we offer the perfect solution for all your requirements. Our progressive and flexible production allows us to manufacture exactly to your specifications so you get the product you need - with no compromises! Nuts and Stampings Forms: square nuts and rhombic nuts (in flat or profiled versions), hexagonal nuts, rectangular nuts (thread in centre or one-sided, one or more threads), special parts (diverse special shapes, f. ex. contact nuts for the electrical industry with riffle, waffle-type and/ or lifted edges. Also oval nuts and pointed nuts for different areas of application). Materials: steel, high-grade steel, brass, aluminium, in flat or profiled versions. Surfaces: bright/blank, any kinds of electroplated coatings, thermally zinc-coated (TZN), Geomet, Dacromet, other finishes on demand. Material Thickness: 5mm x 1.3mm – 40mm x 8mm, length 6mm over 200mm. Threads: M2.5 - M12, 1/8”-5/16”, thread in center or one-sided. Tel: +49 (0) 2359 7011

www.voehrs.de

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PRODUCTS

Threadlocking trends Colin Chapman of Henkel, maker of Loctite brand products, reviews some of the developments affecting threadlocking adhesives. It was in 1953 that the world first saw a threadlocking adhesive at work. Well, maybe not the world at large – but a select few in a laboratory in the United States. The challenge had been to find a way of successfully locking a screw in a vibrating automotive carburettor to prevent it working loose. In a facility in Connecticut, Dr Vernon Krieble developed a ‘magic goo’ (as he described it) that would revolutionise the way nuts, bolts and other fasteners could be protected from loosening under shock or vibration conditions. During the intervening half century, there has been a programme of continuing development to meet the ongoing challenges presented by engineers and their quest to ensure fasteners remain, well, fastened.

From strength to strength One of the earliest moves centred on the need for adhesives of differing strengths - low, medium or high. After all, different applications demand varying solutions. In a nutshell, low and medium strength products are employed on applications that require regular disassembly for servicing, while situations that demand more permanent solutions call for high strength adhesives. That said, it is wrong to assume that a lower strength adhesive will not protect against vibration. When an anaerobic threadlocker cures it creates a powerful plastic film that, in effect, merges the male and female elements of the threads into one strong united part. This means the threads cannot move - even under the most relentless vibration. Nevertheless, the threads can be released with standard hand tools. To cope with varying temperatures that are encountered in a variety of industrial situations, threadlockers have been formulated that are effective within the range of -55°C and +200°C. It is also worth noting that an added advantage of using threadlocking adhesives is that they also seal the joint to prevent the ingress of moisture or contaminants or leakage of fluids.

Talking dirty

Threadlocking Adhesive 243 - a medium strength adhesive that has oil-tolerant properties - is being used to ensure a fixing remains secure under all kinds of adverse operating conditions.

Oil, grease and other contaminants are a fact of life for engineers – and under normal circumstances such dirty surfaces do not bode well for adhesives. Yet because it is not always easy to use fasteners that are completely clean, it has been a priority to create adhesives that are oil tolerant. Recent advancements have seen the combination of high strength, high temperature and oil tolerant properties formulated into a number of Loctite’s front line threadlocking products. These include Loctite 243, 270 and a new product 278. As a bonus, the front line products are also now effective on a number of substrates that previously proved difficult for anaerobic adhesives. Fixture time for M10 nuts and bolts is normally accomplished within 10 to 15 minutes, with full cure depending on the bond gap and the substrates involved.

Giving it stick About six years ago a range of adhesives was introduced based on the popular glue stick principle. This was a welcome innovation for maintenance engineers who are required to move from one location to another – and whose toolboxes are often full to bursting. The small containers fit the tiniest of spaces – and can even be carried in an overall pocket. They are simple to use - twist the base of the container and the adhesive appears at the other end, ready to apply. And their strength matches that of the more traditional bottle-based threadlockers. These adhesives can be applied to threads just before use and, because of the thick consistency, will stay in place until the components to be joined are brought together. One immediate benefit for an engineer who needs to work on a ladder for a maintenance task is that he or she can confidently apply the semisolid stick adhesive at ground level – yet still mate the threads with an effective threadlocker at a higher elevation.

A Loctite threadlocking ‘stick’ is as strong and versatile as traditional liquid adhesives and is ideal for maintenance applications.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

If you have a problem finding specialist screws, if you can’t find them, if no one else can help, maybe you should hire . . .

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Stainless Steel Fasteners (304/316/410 & Other Non Ferrous Metals – CE certified goods by DNV.)-TS-16949 certified by DNV –ISO 9002. RANGE: Din:84/85/95+ISR/96+ISR/123/124/127/186/188/261/302/439/555/557/562/ 571/603/660/661/662/674/912/920/928/929/931/933/934/963/964/965/ 966/967/968/Hammer Drive Screw 6900/6901/6921/6923/6928/7513/7516/ 7971/7972/7973/7976/7981/7982/7983/7984 +ISR/7985/7995/7996/7997/ Shear Nuts/Theft resistance – one way Screws.

Speciality: Single Sleeve +Double Sleeve Wedge Anchors/Studs/Chemical Anchors (Studs Nuts only) Hanger Bolts/T-Bolts/Hammer Head Bolts.

*Coating Specialty – Molykote/Gletimo/Wax/Special patented coating *Available with PPAP documents

*(Eco Friendly &ROHS/WEEE compliance as per European Norms.) *(Third Party inspection possible on request at extracost.)

Address: Office: Kundan House, Datta Pada Road, Above HDFC Bank, Borivli (East), Mumbai – 400 066 Tel: 0091-22-61521234 Fax: 0091-22-61521359 Works: Kundan House, Harrisiddhi Industrial Estate, Gorai Pada, Vasai (E), Dist Thane,India. Tel: 0091-0250-2455394-95-96-97-98 Fax: 0091-0250-2455830

email: fasteners@kundan.com www.kundan.com VISIT US AT: THE BIG 5 SHOW, DUBAI, 23-27 NOV ’09 - STALL NO - 11 A 140

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Recent developments Health and Safety laws introduced over the recent past have seen the restriction or elimination of certain substrates. In particular, as far as coatings are concerned, these regulations have seen the replacement of hexavalent chromium with trivalent chrome. It was immediately obvious that traditional anaerobic adhesives did not work as efficiently on the new coating material. That’s because ‘active’ substrates, such as copper alloys, are very good when it comes to initiating the rapid cure process of anaerobic products, yet, conversely, materials like nickel or chrome plated parts, are ‘passive’ – which results in a much slower reaction. This situation has created a new generation of anaerobic products that are specially formulated to reduce this passive effect, resulting in a smaller cure speed envelope when assembling a wide range of different substrates. As mentioned earlier, two of the most popular products in the threadlocking range have been reformulated to allow their use on a wider range of ‘difficult’ substrates. In addition, a new high strength threadlocker (known as Loctite 276) has been introduced that achieves fast fixture on all metal substrates, including nickel and other plated surfaces. Yet it retains the qualities of the more traditional products by combining good sealing performance with thermal and shock resistance. The product cures reliably at low temperatures, and can withstand up to +150°C.

In addition to its uses within general industry, Loctite 276 has European gas approval (EN-751-1) making it ideal for gas pipes, valves and connectors.

Continuing development With an increasing emphasis on environmentally-friendly products, two new threadlocking adhesives have been introduced that qualify for a “white” Material Safety Data Sheet. This means that according to EC Regulations neither adhesive carries any hazard symbols, risk or safety phrases. When Dr Krieble demonstrated his first threadlocker he may not have perceived of just where the development would lead. Maybe it was sufficient to solve an immediate pressing need - a task in which he was singularly successful. Yet the fact remains that engineers for over half a century have benefitted from his labours. Future challenges will come along. And adhesives specialists will find the solutions – whether that involves strength of the product, temperature considerations or different materials that needed to be bonded. Or even factors that are yet unknown. But whatever comes along, users of fasteners owe a considerable vote of appreciation to Dr Vernon Krieble and his pioneering work in a small laboratory in Connecticut.

Shallow groove TFC Europe Ltd has announced an addition to its Smalley® retaining ring range with the arrival of the ‘Hoopster™, which it says is the ideal retaining ring for applications where the depth of the groove is critical, since it only requires a shallow groove depth in order to successfully perform. TFC highlights that unlike a conventional retaining ring or Circlip, the retained component in a Hoopster™ retaining ring assembly may have a corner break. Thrust load is not sacrificed when the retained component has a broken corner because the moment arm (Moment arm is a quantity used when calculating torque. Definition: The perpendicular distance from an axis to the line of action of a force) is negligible. The shallow groove associated with the Hoopster™, in combination with the groove material, are the controlling factors in determining thrust capacity. Also, the Hoopster™ does not twist when loaded, so pure thrust load based on shear strength of the material maximises the Hoopster™’s load carrying capacity. “The shallow groove specification of a Hoopster™ makes the groove wall a critical specification, to ensure the function of the ring. To obtain maximum load capacity from a Hoopster™ retaining ring it is essential to have sharp corners on the groove. The maximum radius on the groove bottom should be no greater than 10% of the rings radius wall. Maintaining a sharp corner on the top of the groove is just as critical.” The Hoopster™ is suitable for medium or light loads and available as standard in carbon and 302 stainless steel, in a variety of sizes, and can be offered in bespoke sizes with no extra tooling charges.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

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Ultra LED range of work lights Sykes-Pickavant has launched its very own range of work lights for the professional technician. Sykes-Pickavant says that its new range of work lights feature a new generation of ULTRA high-powered LED lights. Sykes Pickavant explains that the ULTRA LED’s diffuse a more natural white light over an 80° arc, where traditional LED’s diffuse blue light over typically a 20° arc. “Our new high powered LED lights are therefore illuminating an area four times wider than traditional LED’s due to the 80° arc, and are up to three times brighter.” The range includes an ultra LED re-chargeable hand lamp which features an adjustable and retractable suspension hook, and comes supplied with a wall-mountable charging unit. There is also the ultra LED re-chargeable bonnet light which is cordless and comes with an adjustable spring loaded telescopic holder, ranging from 1.2m – 1.7m, which allows easy and flexible positioning of the bonnet light during work. Finally there is the ultra LED work light with a 5 meter cable. The work light also includes an integrated spot light function, allowing the user to toggle between main light and spot light. The work light also has an ergonomic and user friendly rubber handle.

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MORTORQ takes to the wing SPS Technologies, a licensee of the MORTORQ® Drive System developed by the Phillips™ Screw Company, offers a range of aerospace fasteners featuring the unique drive system. SPS Technologies explains that the MORTORQ drive system is engineered to deliver a solution to the problem of poor torque transfer and that its proprietary shape provides full contact of the driver to the entire recess in the screw or bolt, resulting in high torque capability while minimising the risk of damage to the fastener. “MORTORQ fasteners offer a labour saving, lighter weight alternative to using easily damaged shallow head fasteners with poor torque transfer and robust drives that require thicker material and added weight. The shallow counter bore required with MORTORQ fasteners’ lower profile head can reduce material thickness, and thus weight, in many joint designs.” According to SPS, the depth of the fastener recess is reduced, allowing increased torque transfer in 100° and 130° flush head fasteners, as well as other MORTORQ bolts and screws offered by SPS for shear and other applications. SPS also highlights that the open recess concept allows the driver to recess misalignment and compensates for paint buildup without degrading torque performance. “The MORTORQ system’s larger driver cross-sections and curved surfaces provide extended tool life and resistance to tensile fatigue fracture when used with automated equipment. In aerospace applications, acoustic and radar return is minimised by the unique recess profile.”

Machine Screws Limited Stockist & Distributor of Rolled Thread Machine Screws Complete Range of Metric Threads in All Heads Zinc Plated Offered Ex-Stock with Next Day Delivery Within UK Imperial Threads & Non-Standards also within the Range can be Manufactured Specially.

THS G N LE LITY R E G IA LON SPEC A

Tel: +44 (0)1527 516528 Fax: +44 (0)1527 516492

bigHead supplies global LNG storage market bigHead Bonding Fasteners is continuing to meet the global LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) industry’s need for high quality steel fasteners to secure insulation in bulk storage facilities. bigHead explains that the continuous technical developments in the extraction, transportation and storage of Natural Gas, has led to an increase in the demand for bigHead’s unique Shell Set Fasteners, which fix the resilient thermal blankets in LNG bulk storage tanks. In the last year, bigHead was specified on two major joint venture contracts between Punji Lloyd Ltd in India and Isoliertechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. It has also supplied its unique designs to other companies in Europe and Asia. “The key to the success of such complex multinational projects is our ability to meet stringent product specifications and project deadlines, as well as providing expert technical support.”

I N T E R N AT I O N A L E N Q U I R I E S W E L C O M E Machine Screws Limited Unit 5, Kingfisher Business Park, Arthur Street, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 8LG

Email: adrian-morris@blueyonder.co.uk

Dustbubble exhibiting at Totally DIY Dustbubble has announced that it will be exhibiting at TotallyDIY at the NEC, Birmingham, UK, on the 7th – 9th February and looks forward to welcoming both existing and prospective customers to its stand. Dustbubble is a patented product, aimed at the DIY and professional trade sectors, suitable for collecting dust and debris and reducing airborne particles when drilling. The product was first introduced in 2005 and, following extensive development to the production process, Dustbubble Trading Ltd has now been set-up to manufacture, market and supply chain manage the range of products. Dustbubble is packed in four variants for the trade/DIY market: DB01 (wallpaper & painted walls), DB02 (wood, plaster & untreated surfaces), DB03 (Tile) and DB04 a multipack of the three versions. Dustbubble is also available in tubes of 500 for the professional user and other pack sizes are available as required. Also, Dustbubble can offer customers an HSE approved asbestos anti-contamination kit. “With the recent HSE focus on asbestos and airborne dust particles safety awareness, the product range is well placed to meet DIY and trade requirements in this specific area. The product is approved for use in several hospital, educational and food preparation environments to help reduce the instance of airborne particles when maintenance and improvement work is being carried out in critical areas.”

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Hooked on steel Hook and loop fasteners have become commonplace features of both industry and households. However, they have one snag: they are too weak for many applications. Hook and loop fasteners made of spring steel have now been developed at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen that are resistant to chemicals and can withstand a tensile load of up to 35 tonnes per square meter at temperatures as high as 800°C. Over 60 years ago, while painstakingly removing burrs from his dog’s coat, Swiss engineer and inventor George de Mestral had an ingenious idea. Based on what he had observed in nature, he constructed a fastener from numerous small hooks and loops, which he later named ‘velcro’. “The unbeatable advantage of a hook and loop fastener is that it is easy to close and open again,” explains Josef Mair, a scientist from the Institute of Metal Forming and Casting (UTG) at the TU Muenchen. Because of this, the hook and loop principle is put to a very wide range of uses, replacing shoe laces, securing medical bandages and prostheses, and for the cable boots used in automotive and aviation electronics. Unfortunately, standard synthetic hook and loop fasteners are not very resistant to heat and aggressive chemicals. “Things can get very hot in the automotive sector. A car parked in direct sunlight can reach temperatures of 80°C, and temperatures of several hundred degrees centigrade can arise around the exhaust manifold. Aggressive disinfectants are used for cleaning hospitals, and traditional hook, and loop fasteners are too weak for use in the construction of building façades,” explains Mair. Under the leadership of professor Hartmut Hoffmann and as part of a joint project launched in 2005 with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and in close cooperation with partners from the industry, the UTG developed a solution to this problem: the result is Metaklett, the hook and loop fastener made of steel. Temperatures in excess of 800°C and aggressive chemical solutions pose no problem for Metaklett, which also offers adhesive strength of up to 35 tonnes per square meter when tensile force is applied parallel to the fastener surface. When it is applied perpendicular to the fastener surface, Metaklett can still withstand a force of 7 tonnes per square meter. Moreover, like a standard Velcro® fastener on a child’s shoe, it can be opened and closed again without the help of any tools. The researchers opted to use spring

steel, which unites high ductility with high strength, as the material for their fastener. They created various three-dimensional computer models for the optimum interlocking of the fastener elements. They then built the most promising candidates as prototypes and subjected them to comprehensive tests. Around 40 variations of the geometry referred to as “Flamingo” alone were tested on the computer. The researchers studied its adhesive strength

elements that snap into the openings in a perforated tape. They are bent in such a way that they deform elastically under light pressure and glide into the holes like the synthetic buckles on backpack straps. Once inserted, they return immediately to their original form and, thanks to their sprung splaying arms, they resist back pull like an expanding rivet. In order for the hooks to be able to snap into place, they must first, however,

and reaction to extreme temperatures to establish the limits of its resilience. Two of the tested models ultimately made the grade: a spring lock, the Flamingo, and a hook and loop system known as the “Entenknopf” (“duck’s head”). Both consisted of 0.2-mm-thick hook tape and loop or perforated tape of the same thickness. The Entenknopf model was based on the traditional synthetic hook and loop system. Numerous delicate steel hooks can attach at any angle to the loops in the perforated metal loop tape. The second variant, the Flamingo, was even more stable. It consisted of wider hook

be positioned at the correct angle, that is parallel or perpendicular to the perforated tape. Depending on the direction of the applied force, this fastener can withstand a load of 7 to 35 Newtons per square meter. Following an initial loss of around 20 percent during the first ten tests, the adhesive strength remained constant after numerous repetitions. The scientists have also come up with a third alternative, the “hybrid” model which combines a steel hook tape with a synthetic loop tape and is suitable for the secure and reversible fastening of textiles.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Use NORD-LOCK bolt securing system for your most demanding applications. Our wedge-locking washers, meeting DIN 25201, utilise tension instead of friction making them superior to traditional methods.

Cuts COsts WHILst INCREAsING sAFEtY Prevents loosening caused by vibration and dynamic loads Locking function not affected by lubrication Reduces assembly time and maintenance costs

NORD-LOCK Ltd Tel +44 (0) 1980 847129 Fax +44 (0)1980 847674 enquiries@nord-lock.co.uk www.nord-lock.co.uk

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AFS launches Captivating nuts BobTail® fastener

Unifast srl highlights that its product range includes the KAPti-nut, a high strength, captive threaded fastening system for sheet metal suited to multiple and automated insertion into thin gauge steel, aluminium and pre-finished materials.

Alcoa Fastening Systems Ltd (AFS) says that its BobTail® lockbolt fastener was designed to overcome inherent weaknesses with standard lockbolts. The BobTail® has no pin-tail and as a result of this zero pinbreak, no waste material to collect and dispose of or potential corrosion issues post installation. AFS highlights that the lightweight, low-noise, low-maintenance tooling, which can be used for both installing and removing fasteners, provides a smooth, shock-free, speedy installation sequence i.e. two seconds for a 16mm diameter fastener. As a result, no torque or impact is transferred to the operator. BobTail is currently available in steel as 4, 6.4, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 20mm diameters, with new materials and sizes planned for 2010. Commenting on the benefits and potential success of the new product, Jay Sahadew, marketing manager at AFS, said “This fastening system has already proved very popular with US truck and commercial vehicle manufacturers such as PACCAR and Great Dane. Although there is specific tooling, existing Huck systems may be adapted and utilised to accommodate BobTail nose assemblies, reducing the cost of conversion for our current customers. BobTail’s speedy installation reduces wear and tear on tools and parts and the zero waste material eliminates extra time and effort required to collect and dispose of pin-tails.” He added, “This new fastener has the potential to appeal to a wider customer base, no matter what size the business. Although it is presently being used in the traditional Huck market of commercial transportation, we believe it will open up the market for lockbolt specified applications.”

Chemique offers an alternative Chemique Adhesives and Sealants Ltd says that manufacturing businesses seeking to reduce costs and improve product designs and performances are choosing its Axil product portfolio of adhesive bondings as an alternative to conventional methods.

Designed in the UK, Unifast says that its KAPti-nut is capable of delivering significantly better results in terms of cost effectiveness, performance, and, now increasingly important, reduced environmental impact over traditional weld nuts or blind rivet nuts. Unifast explains that the inherent simplicity of the KAPti-nut system with its single stroke pressing operation, manual or auto feed capabilities, which installs fasteners at the same time as manufacturing components, produces none of the quality problems found in traditional weld nut processes. “KAPti-nut overcomes many troubles occurring with other fasteners, for example high cost of tools and equipment, long installation times, welding problems on pre-finished materials and low torque resistance.” KAPti-nut and all Unifast’s products are manufactured in accordance with ISO/TS 16949:2002 and Unifast is certified to UNI EN ISO 9001:2008.

The Axil product portfolio consists of an Instant Bonding range, a Pipe Sealing and Gasketing range, a Threadlocking range and a Retaining range. The Instant Bonding range of cyanoacrylates is for general purpose bonding, metal bonding and difficult to bond substrates. The Pipe Sealing and Gasketing range of adhesives can be used as alternatives to PTFE tapes and standard moulded gaskets. The Threadlocking range of anaerobic adhesives can be used for securing nuts and bolts together, and the Retaining range of adhesives is for retaining loose fit sleeves and bearings. “Our Axil range of adhesives is quite comprehensive and covers all engineering requirement applications. Our recent online website ordering system will enable customers to experience increased levels of customer service,” commented Darren Lambert, marketing manager.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Elesa addresses machinery directive Elesa says that its CFS hinge offers a solution to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC which becomes effective on 29th December this year. Section 1.4.2.2 of the Machinery Directive covers movable guards which must be associated with an interlocking device that prevents the start of hazardous machinery functions until they are closed by giving a command whenever they are no longer closed. Elesa says that its CFS hinge’s specifications cover use in hazardous area to Cat 1 and works by switching off equipment when a door or panel is opened. Alternatively the CFS may be used to remotely indicate status, e.g. for access monitoring. The construction of a CFS hinge is an integral glass reinforced technopolymer unit ensuring a tamper-proof installation and easy assembly. Two variants are available, the CFS-SH with countersunk screw fixings for optimum strength and security, and the CVS-CH with slotted fixing for easy adjustment. Each one is offered with either top mount cable connection or rear mounting connector and appropriate leads to suit either the machine control or status indication role. The CFS switching hinge, normally paired with the standard CFM hinge, provides 180° opening with switching operation over the range 4° to 15°. It meets EN60204-1, EN6097-5-1, EN60529 and GS-ET15 with the switch and contacts sealed to IP65 – for indoor use.

tesa® introduces ecoLogo Six environmentally friendly products have recently been added to the tesa® consumer product range under the new ecoLogo sub-brand. tesa® highlights that these products consist of recycled or biologically based raw materials, are free of solvents, and are packaged in renewable or recycled materials. The new tesa® ecoLogo products will be available at specialised retail stores starting in January 2010. The sub-brand is being rolled out with six items, including the tesa® ecoLogo EASY CUT hand dispenser. This ergonomically shaped green dispenser is refillable and made from 100% recycled materials. The same is true of the tesa® Stick glue stick and triangular tesa® Easy Stick. In addition, the adhesive masses used for these products do not contain any organic solvents, which tesa explains means that they are particularly environmentally friendly to produce. The tesa® ecoLogo symbol also appears on the refillable tesa® adhesive and correction tape dispensers, which are made from 81% recycled materials, and tesapack® Paper, a packing tape produced from 61% renewable raw materials. tesa® points out that all the ecoLogo products meet the same high quality criteria as the conventional tesa® product range, while also fulfilling the requirements of the DIN EN ISO 14021 standards for ecological products. “At tesa SE, we believe that economics and ecology are objectives of equal value. tesa® ecoLogo puts us at the cutting edge and meets our customers’ growing demand for ‘green’ office products,” commented Heiko Jendralski, product manager for the new tesa® ecoLogo products.

AUTOMOTIVE SPRING PIN速 The logical solution.

100% control plus+. Optimal chamfer angle. Easily Installed. Greater Fastening Security. Reduces Fastener Costs.

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Spannstiftstrasse 2 D-58119 Hagen T. + 49 (0) 23 34.957-215 spannstifte@jvu.de

For more Information please contact our sales department

07.01.2008 10:02:45 Uhr

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Adhesives keep water ﬂowing Plant maintenance in the water industry is crucial and to help engineers to rebuild, service and protect equipment, Henkel has created a new brochure showing the range of Loctite adhesives, sealants, Magna Crete concrete repair and other products that it has to offer. As well as listing the products, typical applications are shown together with the Loctite solution to illustrate the successful use of the various technologies. The brochure also reveals Henkel’s commitment to the water industry through a dedicated waste water maintenance programme, ‘hands-on’ product applications advice and technical support, on-site training seminars, an MRO solution guide and a national distributor network.

Trust your CADDY®

ERICO says that the CADDY® LINIAN Clip is a time-saving alternative for installing fire-resistant cables on brickwork, concrete, masonry, wood studs and wood beams. ERICO explains that the conventional method for securing cable is often very time consuming. However, it highlights that the CADDY LINIAN Clip dramatically reduces the installation time when compared to traditional methods and it installs up to 70% faster than saddle clips. Simply fix the cable by drilling a hole, position the clip around the cable, compress the clip’s legs and push the clip into the hole. After the hole is drilled, no tools are needed for installation. It also eliminates the need for a plastic plug and screw. The CADDY LINIAN Clip features spring steel construction with a corrosion-resistant coating that can withstand temperatures up to 510°C (950°F).

ks for your great interest n a h t y Man and your visit to our stand.

We look forward to receiving your enquiries.

THE STOCK SUPPLIER â&#x20AC;˘ 24 - 48 HOURS SHIPMENT

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New moisture-resistant gasketing resin Intertronics has announced a new moisture-resistant gasketing resin from DYMAX for sealing electrical conduit boxes, appliance housings, and critical electronic assemblies and devices. Intertronics explains that the Ultra Light-Weld® GA-111 is a UV/Visible light-curable form-in-place (FIP) gasket developed for applications requiring low compression set, tack-free surface, and durable, reliable sealing. It is a soft gasket material with high adhesion to metals while providing a barrier to prevent absorption or penetration of air, dust, moisture, liquids and gaseous substances. Peter Swanson, MD of Intertronics, advises that “this new gasketing material can be dispensed into intricate and complex configurations with the benefit of in-line curing which allows for increased production speed, greater output, lower processing costs, and reduced inventories. DYMAX GA-111 is a one-part resin, requiring no mixing.

It is low out-gassing, cures in seconds, and its viscosity allows for varying bead heights which will make it an exceptional advantage in so many of the UK’s technologically advanced manufacturing industries.” Intertronics also highlights that the DYMAX FIP gaskets cure completely in seconds even in 6mm thick beads. This removes the need for racking, stacking, waiting, and un-racking as required with traditional FIP gaskets. Light-curing FIP gaskets offer gasket design flexibility. Designed for flat flanges or wide shallow grooves, permanent FIP gaskets can eliminate the delay experienced with slow-curing resins as well as the design, inventory, and labour expense associated with pre-cut gaskets.

Standard Listed – you know who’s best! But contact us for all the rest . . .

Tel:

+44 (0) 117 – 972 8560

Fax:

+44 (0) 117 – 972 8570

Email:

sales@avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

Non-preferred Metrics – Intermediate Sizes Short and Long Lengths – Slotted Grub Screws A4/80 Bolts & Socket Caps – 6 Lobe (TX) Drive Screws All Metal Self-Locking Nuts – Studding Connectors And many more . . .

Online Product Guide: www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

Unit 10, Riverside Business Park, St Anne’s, Bristol, BS4 4ED, UK

D I S T R I B U T I O N

For Further Information: TEL: FAX:

+ 44 (0) 1384 424767 + 44 (0) 1384 424833

sales@martynprice.co.uk www.allgrip.eu

PO Box 48, Stourvale Road Lye, Stourbridge DY9 8QF

WASHERS Photography & Design by Neil Terry Printing, Rugby 568000.

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bigHead notches up its 5,000th custom design In September 2009 bigHead designed its 5000th customer fastener for a client’s specific application. “Since 1966, when bigHead was founded on an original design to meet a customer’s need, we have been committed to innovation. Driven by a long-serving team working closely with customers, we can now draw on an unrivalled reservoir of expertise and knowledge in both product design and production technology,” explains bigHead’s MD, Matthew Stevens. “Reaching this milestone of 5,000 shows that our commitment to customers and UK manufacturing remains strong. Because bigHeads are designed and manufactured in the UK, and not sub-contracted to Asia, we have total control and can respond very quickly, often producing drawings and prototypes within days. We are also able to test and optimise our products’ design and performance to meet specific customer requirements. In addition the typical minimum order quantity for custom bigHeads is set very low at just 500 fasteners.”

Permatex keeps Total support on twisting from Jubilee® Permatex Europe says that it has improved threadlocker application control with its patented new Gel Twist™ Threadlockers.

Permatex Gel Twist™ uses a special gel formulation and a pinpoint applicator to eliminate messy liquids, while reducing wastage and clean up. Permatex Europe explains that with Gel Twist™, operators and technicians can put the threadlocker exactly where they want, especially in vertical applications and hard to reach places. “Gel Twist™ will flow into threads more easily than solid stick formulations, but will not spill like liquid threadlockers.” Permatex Europe also highlights that Gel Twist™ Threadlockers are more effective than conventional lock washers, nylon inserts and other mechanical devices because it secures the entire fastener assembly against loosening from shock and vibration. Permatex says that this means the fastener clamping forces are maintained, as well as the threads being protected from corrosion too. “Gel Twist™ Threadlockers are simple to use: just remove cap; turn dial to expose from 3mm to 6mm of material; apply to fastener; and close cap. Gel Twist™ makes threadlocking quick and easy, providing total control on exactly how much and where the threadlocker is applied.” The new Permatex Gel Twist™ Threadlockers come in two popular grades: medium strength, Threadlocker Blue Gel (10g – Part No. 24010), and high strength, Threadlocker Red Gel (10g – Part No. 27010). Permatex explains that the Blue gel is used where hand tool disassembly is required, and that the higher strength Red Gel will require special tools or heat to enable disassembly.

Jubilee® clip manufacturer, L Robinson & Co (Gillingham) Ltd has over recent years, invested heavily in providing strong customer support for its brand of worm drive hose clips. As a result of this investment L Robinson & Co (Gillingham) Ltd says that distributors have benefited from a plethora of trade counter point-of-sale accessories whilst busy hands-on engineering personnel have access to a wide choice of Jubilee® workshop packs and kits. A varied selection of Jubilee® clip dispenser display units allows the company to cater for wholesalers and distributors with large trade counters, as well as those with more modest requirements. Flexibility of design enables distributors to choose from either a Handy Pack point-of-sale display box holding a selection of 10 different clip sizes or the largest Jubilee® Smart Dispenser, holding up to 540 clips. All dispenser units, depending on the size, also include one or two Flexidriver tools, designed to access those awkwardly positioned Jubilee® clips. For the workshop, Jubilee® clips are supplied in a selection of re-usable containers, packs or kits depending on requirement. These include the popular Workshop Pack containing 143 clips, the Junior Assortment Box holding 165 nut and bolt clips, the ‘O’ Clip Kit, which houses 175 assorted 2-ear clamps and the recently introduced smaller, Pocket Pack supplied strapped in packs of 10 for wholesalers and distributors.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009

Starlock Push-on Fasteners

Precision Pressings

www.bakfin.com Baker & Finnemore Limited, 199 Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 1SN, UK Tel: +44 (0) 121 236 2347 Fax: +44 (0) 121 236 7224 e-mail: sales@bakfin.com

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FDB introduces stainless steel range FDB Panel Fittings has announced a comprehensive range of stainless steel locks, hinges and handles that it says are suited to petrochemical plants, hospitals, food processing establishments, medical environments, outdoor installations, marine and offshore industries. The range includes piano hinges, integral recessed lock/handles, weld-on hinges, bolt-on hinges, grab handles, spanner locks, rod locks, concealed hinges, lever and T handles. Importantly for marine/offshore installation many are available in stainless grade 316 as well as the more common 303 and 304 with satin and electro polished finishes. “Stainless steel panel fittings are suited for control cabinets, electrical equipment and instrument housings, especially where exposed to the elements or frequent wash down processes. This stainless range is designed to complement the standard range of die-cast and mid steel fittings and in many cases is interchangeable with them.“

ACT Fasteners & Components ..... 127

KOS Limited .................................. 77

Action Can .................................. 115

Krumm & Andre ......................... 115

Adolf Pühl GmbH & Co. KG ............ 31

Kundan ...................................... 127

Advance Spares .......................... 109

Lederer......................................... 16

Albert Pasvahl GmbH & Co ........... 15

London Screw Company Ltd ....... 138

Alca Fasteners ............................ 135

Lusavouga .................................... 67

Alexander Paal GmbH .................. 85

M&W Fastener Co.,Ltd................... 25

Alfran Fasteners Ltd ..................... 79

Machine Screws ......................... 132

All American Fastener Show......... 33

Martyn Price ( Bolts & Nuts ) Ltd 143

Allbolts ....................................... 109

Masons Fasteners Ltd. ................ 145

Alloy & Stainless .................. 21, 101

MEMFast ..................................... 130

Ambrovit ...................................... 63

Multiple Overseas Exports .............. 7

An Chiao Molds Co Ltd .................. 83

Nakashimada Engineering ........... 81

Arpel Chilterns ........................... 115

National Machinery ...................... 47

Ashish International ..................... 91

Norma .......................................... 51

ATC Metal Industrial Sdn.Bhd. ...... 27

Norm Civata ................................... 1

Autonic engineering..................... 93

Nord Lock Ltd ............................. 135

Avon Stainless Fasteners ............ 142 Baker & Finnamore .................... 145 Bendfast .................................... 137 Berdan Bolt & Nut Co.Ltd.............. 97 Birlik Baglanti .............................. 99 Birmingham Coldform ................ 105 Blakeacre ..................................... 11 Bossong ....................................... 69 Bralo ............................................ 95

No shrinking from the task

Brighton Best ................. 6, 8, 10, 12

Master Bond’s newly developed EP30LV-1 is a low viscosity, optically clear epoxy for general purpose bonding, coating, sealing and casting.

Cetin Civata ................................ 137

According to Master Bond the linear shrinkage after cure on the EP30LV-1 is exceptionally low at 0.0003 inches/in, and its dimensional stability and low shrinkage make it an ideal optical epoxy. Master Bond also points out that the EP30LV-1 forms powerful bonds with both similar and dissimilar materials including metals, glass, ceramics, wood, vulcanised rubbers and many plastics. These high strength and rigid bonds are remarkably resistant to chemicals including oil, water and most organic solvents, as well as cold sterilants, ETO and gamma radiation. The two part epoxy compound is formulated to cure at room temperatures. Master Bond explains that the EP30LV-1 offers easy application as the adhesive spreads readily, only contact pressure is required for cure and that the hardened adhesive is an electrical insulator. “Master Bond Polymer System EP30LV-1 is widely used in optical, electronic, electrical, computer, metalworking, appliance, automotive and chemical industries. It is especially recommended where low viscosity is required for ease of application and bonded assemblies must exhibit superior dimensional stability.”

Dacral ........................................... 89

Bülte Plastiques SA ...................... 65 Chatsworth Computers ............... 103 Ching Chan Machinery.................. 71 Deepak......................................... 19 DIV D.O.O. ..................................... 93 DS Fasteners Ltd ........................... 83 Dörken MKS-Systeme GmbH....... 148 EDP (BML Office Computers Ltd) . 103 EFC International ........................ 113 Electra Engineering Services ........ 99 Euro tec ........................................ 43

Nordic Metalblok Srl................... 130 Orbit International ..................... 142 Pinstructure ................................. 11 Prelok .......................................... 83 Precision Technology supplies.... 105 Protex ........................................ 139 Rawlplug Ltd ................................ 59 Ray Fu ........................................ 140 Reyher ......................................... 65 Rivit ........................................... 147 Sanhuan Fastener Co., Ltd ............ 79 Schnorr Adolf GmbH & Co. KG ....... 17 Schröder Schrauben ................... 145 SD Products ................................ 119 Shanghai Fast-Fix Rivet ................ 87 Shin Chun Enterprise Co Ltd........ 117 Sipa Srl ......................................... 75 Smith-Bullough Ltd .................... 132 Spirol.......................................... 143 Srubena-Unia S.A. ..................... 138 Stafa Holland BV ........................ 107 Star Fasteners ............................ 119

Fastbolt .......................................... 2

Steven Walker & Sons Ltd ........... 109

Ferodom, s.r.o. ............................. 45

Tecfi S.p.A..................................... 35

Fixi Srl .......................................... 65

Tecno Impianti SRL ....................... 85

Forward .................................. 5, 131

Test GmbH .................................... 73

Fwu Kuang Enterprises Co. Ltd ... 119

Tite-Fix ......................................... 45

G & B Fissaggi Srl ......................... 61

Titibi ........................................... 143

Goebel GmbH ............................. 141

Top Screw Metal Corp. Ltd ............ 69

Hafren ........................................ 127

Totally Tools/DIY/Secure ............ 113

HAPARE GmbH ............................ 105

TransTechnology Brasil ................. 13

Heco ............................................. 61

Tridon ........................................... 23

Heinz Soyer .................................. 93

Vipa SPA ..................................... 101

Hugo Benzing GmbH & Co KG ....... 85

Vogelsang ...................... 15, 79, 139

International Hardware Show ...... 15

Vorpa Officine Meccaniche snc ... 133

ITW Fastex France ......................... 99

Weighpack ................................... 75

Knight Vision Pte Ltd .................... 73

UBK S.p.A. .................................... 61

Kohlhage.................... 135, 137, 139

Zero Clips ..................................... 69

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 60 November 2009