Torque Magazine Issue 56 by stagpublications

Rapid Industrial Fasteners Ltd Special Fastener Manufacturer

Automotive

Fabrication & Welding

Engineering & Manufacturing

Construction

Offshore

Mechanical & Electrical

Responsive • Honest • Competitive Quality focused • Reliable Deliveries

Rapid Industrial Fasteners Manufacturing Hub 27 Lye Valley Industrial Estate, Stourbridge DY9 8HX Telephone : 0121 501 3903 • Email: manufacturing@rapidfast.co.uk

Thinking FASTeners, think RAPID www.rapidfast.co.uk

• Customer Service Driven • Vertically Integrated • Innovative Products • Global Presence

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Since 1955 ND Industries has specialized in the development of innovative materials and processes which increase the safety and reliability of fastener assemblies. ND serves a global market with divisions across the continental U.S., Taiwan, and licensees around the world. ND’s core business revolves around the application of a wide variety of materials onto fasteners and assemblies to aid in functions such as locking, sealing, masking, lubricating, and noise and vibration dampening. ND also manufactures a line of bottled products under the Vibra-Tite® brand name for MRO and retail use.

From two base products in 1965 to currently over two hundred twenty, ND continues its tradition of cutting edge research and development with the regular introduction of unique materials along with competitive brand offsets.

ELECTROLOC® High strength encapsulated epoxy threadlocker for use in electrical systems where low halogen materials are necessary. Contains small micrometer microcaps which reduce material extrusion on installation.

THERMOSEAL™ A high temperature, high pressure thread sealant which withstands up to 40MPa. Offering thread locking breakaway torques greater than 20Nm and a maximum temperature of 428°F (220°C). Thermoseal is an extremely versatile product for challenging sealing conditions.

THERMOLOC® 1500 ND’s highest temperature chemical threadlocker. Initially performs like a vibration dampening compound. Once temperatures reach 750°F (400°C), a secondary activation begins, causing the fastener to be permanently locked in place. Tested to over 1500°F (850°C).

AUTHORIZED APPLICATOR Did you know that ND is an approved 3M applicator? Further proof why ND should be your one stop shop for pre-applied fasteners.

ND PATCH® HI-TEMP Highest temperature pre-applied nylon threadlocker in the industry. Unlike the competition, ND’s application process requires only 120°C, preventing plating damage. However, once crosslinked, it can withstand temps up to 260°C. Meets MIL-DTL-18240F / QPL-18240.

THREAD ARMOR® GP Prevents galvanic corrosion in assemblies with dissimilar metals, such as aluminum, and steel, by electrically isolating the fastener. Specially bonded to the fastener, ND Galvanic Patch is durable, chemical resistant, and non-conductive.

THREAD ARMOR® VC An advanced anti-galling and lubricating thread coating designed to extend the life of bolts up to 15 times while under intense torque and high friction loads. Helps to ensure consistent clamp load. Works well on stainless steel fasteners.

EPOXY-LOCK® NUTS This pre-applied threadlocker consists of separated epoxy hardener and expoxy resin. Upon fastener installation, the two materials mix and activate. When fully cured, EpoxyLock provides greater breakaway torque than conventional nylon fastener locking devices.

Visit us at IFE, Las Vegas Sept. 22nd & 23rd Booth #2531

EXPAND-A-LOCK® A unique pre-applied microencapsulated expanding threadlocking & sealing compound. Increases in volume 20-50% on installation, penetrating the gaps in fastener threads typically unﬁlled by conventional threadlockers.

EXPAND-A-SLEEVE™ Extruded ND Mastics are pre-applied to fasteners (threaded or non-threaded), bound for e-cote cycles. Heat from the process causes the material to expand, sealing large leak paths between fastener and assembly.

SEALTEK™ An acrylic-based sealing material which is applied to the underhead of the fastener. SealTek’s robust seal replaces the need for O-rings, gaskets, or sealing washers.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

06 NEWS 10 BUSINESS BAROMETER > ARE THE FORTUNES OF THE AEROSPACE FASTENER SECTOR TAKING OFF?

Publisher Jerry Ramsdale jerry@torque-expo.com Editor Jonathon Harker jonathon@torque-expo.com Staff Writer Liberty Sheldon libby@torque-expo.com Sales Manager – UK Claire Warman claire@torque-expo.co.uk Sales Manager – International Harry Whyte harry.whyte@torque-expo.com Sales Manager - USA & International Thomas A. Keenan tom@torque-expo.com Circulation Tracy Howell tracy@torque-expo.com Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@torque-expo.com Designers Dan Bennett dan.bennett@torque-expo.com Tina Ries tina@torque-expo.com Victoria Arellano victoria@torque-expo.com

Published by Stag Publications Ltd 18 Alban Park Hatfield Road St Albans Herts AL4 0JJ tel: +44 (0)1727 739160 fax: +44 (0)1727 739169 Email: info@torque-expo.com Web: www.torque-expo.com

12 RAPID INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS > ADAPTABILITY, RESPONSIVENESS AND INTEGRITY – HOW RAPID’S CORNERSTONES ARE HELPING IT SEE SALES GROWTH 16 WOMEN IN FASTENERS NORTH AMERICA > 3 TOP EXECS FROM THE BUSINESS SHARE THEIR VIEWS 24 ANALYSIS > WIND FARM OPPORTUNITIES IN THE USA 30 TERRITORY FOCUS > BENELUX HONEST APPRAISALS OF THE MARKET FROM LOCAL OPERATORS 44 QC LABORATORIES > OWLETT-JATON, BRIGHTON BEST INTERNATIONAL AND LEDERER TALK QUALITY 48 SPOTLIGHT > CAN GRAPHENE CUT IT IN THE FASTENER BUSINESS? 52 SPOTLIGHT > PREMIUM ‘GRAB-N-GO’ ACTION CAN UNVEILS ITS EXPANDED TWINSPRAY RANGE 56 OPINION > CROSS-SELLING 60 BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION > STRUCTURAL TIMBER FASTENERS & CONNECTORS

Disclaimer

Although the utmost care is taken to ensure that information contained herein is accurate and up to date, 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. 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 of Stag Publications Ltd. Proud member of:

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Entire contents copyright © 2021 Stag Publications. 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.

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THE INCREASING use of timber in construction, the electrification of vehicles, a burgeoning space race between billionaires… the frontier of innovation keeps being pushed forward and fasteners and tools are right at the heart of it. Whether it’s developing more efficient timber connectors, tackling how best to handle the electrical currents inherent in electric vehicles, or even how to keep Jeff Bezos’ rocket parts connected, the humble fastener (and the tools that affix them) continue to enter into exciting new territory. This broad and diverse industry would, I’d wager, rather focus on these engineering challenges than how much those expensive shipping containers are going to bump up prices. But that’s what wholesalers and importers are for, right? Doing the backbreaking background work, filling out the new customs forms, recruiting those elusive HGV drivers and sourcing those M20 bolts quickly so that engineers can break new ground, builders can build and rivets can reach the production line just in time. That background work can be unglamorous and difficult, and perhaps never more so than over the past 18 months. 2021 appears likely to continue along the same lines – continued logistical challenges and sky-high demand. Whatever supply chain challenges are in store, what seems inevitable and exciting is that fasteners, tools and the expertise of the industry will continue to be put to the test in keeping up with new developments on land, sea... and in space.

Jonathon Harker Editor

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THE FASTENER FRONTIER

As part of our commitment to the environment, Torque Magazine is fully recyclable.

WE ALWAYS THINK IN STAINLESS STEEL

Competence in Stainless Steel Visit our shop: shop.schaefer-peters.com

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NEWS News from the distribution industry… www.torque-expo.com

Supply woes fail to hold back record sales

hile the supply chain continues to be strained, many signiﬁcant fastener businesses are enjoying record performances. Now familiar logistical challenges remain at large in mid‐2021 – including spiralling costs for containers, raw mate‐

rial rises, port issues and HGV driver shortages. At time of writing, the European Commission’s anti‐dumping investigation into fasteners from China has yet to come to a conclusion (although provisional measures are not expected to be imple‐ mented) which could further hit fastener costs depending on the outcome. For many, the fastener market continues to grow at pace. Würth Group saw sales hit €8 billion in H1 2021, up 20.9% on H1 2020. April was a historic month for Würth with monthly sales of €1.42 billion, representing year‐on‐year growth of 50.5%. In H1, Bossard sales grew 23.9% to CHF 494.8 million, with an EBIT of around CHF 67 million (margin 13.5%)

– representing the company’s best half year in history. Meanwhile, Bufab’s operating profit and sales hit an all‐time high for a single quarter in Q2 2021. Significant retailer of fasteners and builders merchant Selco saw sales up 74% on H1 2020 and 18% on H1 2019. Whether these gains represent growth of the market or market share gains at the expense of rivals is as yet unclear. Similarly, whether orders are higher due to more infrastructure demand or representing stocking up as firms look to mitigate supply issues, remains to be seen. www.torque-expo.com

Big power tool brands trying to squeeze out independent manufacturers, says FWI

ertain large power tool brands are using their heft to squeeze SME tool accessory manufacturers out of tool shops and distributors, said the Association of German Tool Manufac‐ turers (FWI). Warning against monoculture and dependence in the tool accessory market, FWI said the moves threaten the exis‐ tence of many small tool manufacturers in Germany and Europe, while also risking less innovation and rising prices for retailers and consumers left with fewer choices on what products to stock.

According to a recent survey by FWI, independent manufacturers of acces‐ sories for power tools are increasingly disadvantaged by the business models of some large power tool manufac‐ turers. For example, 67% of the tool manufacturers surveyed report that these machine manufacturers are increasingly offering tool dealers an additional discount on their machines, if they also include their accessories tools exclusively in their range. www.werkzeug.org

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NEWS www.torque-expo.com

News from the distribution industry

PEOPLE NEWS

Bralo brings in Bruno Ribó B RALO has announced that Bruno Ribó has joined as Global Sales Director to further develop the company’s growing position in fastening solutions. Ribó comes with a wealth of industry experience, having spent the last two years at GESCRAP, in North Carolina (USA), where he was Head of American Division in charge of the marketing strategy and the international business development, mainly in the United States

Toolbank’s Simon Bicknell retires after 35 years

fter 35 years of service in various com‐ mercial roles, Simon Bicknell has decided to retire early from his position as Toolbank Marketing Director. Product Director Mark Allen, supported by the Toolbank marketing team and Sales Director Paul Maxwell will take on Bicknell’s previous duties with Mark Allen becoming Product and Marketing Director. Bicknell said: “After thirty‐five years I am looking forward to taking a summer sabbat‐ ical to recharge my batteries with the aim of returning to the industry as an “independent” later this year.”

and Latin America. Prior to this position, Ribó has held positions of both commer‐ cial and general management in various industrial and automotive companies such as GESCRAP, LINPAC ALLIBERT, MANN+HUMMEL and FAGOR. Ribó joins BRALO as the Global Sales Director to continue BRALO´s success providing engineered fastening components to many top companies worldwide.

STAFFAN PEHRSON BECOMES BUFAB BOSS

taffan Pehrson has been named the new Bufab President and CEO, with effect 1 February 2022. Pehrson will leave his role as President and CEO of Nefab Group AB to take on the role. Cur‐ rent President and CEO Jörgen Rosengren will be at the company’s disposal until the end of September 2021 and Johan Lindqvist, segment manager for Segment North, steps in as acting President and CEO from 1 September 2021 until 1 February 2022. The Board made the announcement days after it was revealed Bufab had broken its quarterly record for sales and operating profit.

Stainless steel fasteners. Edelstahl-Verbindungselemente. Eléments d’assemblage en acier inox. Viteria in acciaio inossidabile. Elementos de sujeción de acero inoxidable. Verbindingselementen roestvast staal. Łączniki ze stali nierdzewnej.

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BUSINESS BAROMETER

AEROSPACE TAKING OFF AGAIN? The pandemic prevented many planes from getting off the ground in 2020, but what are the medium-term prospects for air travel – and aerospace fastener and tool suppliers?

ummertime usually brings an explosion of international and national flights for the traditional holiday period, but ‘tradi‐ tional’ business was unceremoniously jettisoned last year with the arrival of Covid. Few industries were hit quite as hard as the travel sector in 2020, with confusion continuing to reign over restrictions (not least in Torque’s home nation), continuing to hamper the industry. Naturally, that lack of demand has impacted production and the supply chain, but aerospace’s recent headaches date back even further than Covid’s arrival, hitting the headlines in 2018/2019 with tragic events around the Boeing 737 Max lead‐ ing to the suspension of production of that aircraft, affecting 680 (largely USA‐based) supply chain partners. October 2019 also saw a spat between Airbus and Boeing come to a head when the WTO authorised the USA to impose tariffs on up to $7.5 billion of imports of EU goods as a result of subsidies granted to Airbus. However, now the 737 Max is no longer grounded and USA‐EU tariffs relating to that row have (at least temporarily) been suspended. Both Boeing and Airbus’ financial statements have seen improvement and defence spending is strong, according to anecdotal reports. GROWTH TAKING OFF FOR THE AEROSPACE FASTENER AND AEROSPACE BAR MARKETS Despite the disruptive and trying period, aerospace remains a highly desirable sector for high end fastener and tool suppliers. The aerospace fastener market is expected to grow at 8.2% (CAGR) in the lead up to 2016, according to ResearchAndMar‐ kets.com. The report picks out the investment by airlines for premium cabin interior products as among the drivers of the aerospace fastener market, as well as more traditional factors

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such as the longer‐term trend of higher disposable incomes. ResearchAndMarkets.com also notes the expansion of 3D print‐ ing and additive manufacturing, as well as the growing use of superalloys, as market drivers. Another market report, this time from Stratview Research, sees promising growth for the aerospace bar market. Aerospace bars, used in applications from engines to landing gear and fasteners, are expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2026. The aerospace bars market was badly hit in 2020 (down 27%) creat‐ ing a 4 to 5 year lag, so says the research firm. Stratview reckons titanium and alloys will remain the domi‐ nant aerospace bar material in the run up to 2026, thanks not least to the low density of titanium, providing a weight advantage and tensile strength combination. Titanium’s high melting point and stiffness have also seen it stay in demand in the sector. There’s plenty of evidence that the market continues to be highly desirable in the fastener world. In June 2021, Böllhoff bolstered its presence in the sector with the acquisition of France’s SNEP SA. A year prior, it acquired shares in French manufacturer Gillis Aerospace. Bossard is another fastener specialist that has made strategic moves relating to the aerospace market in recent years, including buying a 40% stake in aerospace‐related start‐up MultiMaterial‐Welding AG in November 2020. While the world debates to what level air travel will, and indeed should, return while weighing up the environmental costs of the sector, the aerospace supply chain seems set to return to former highs once again. www.torque-expo.com

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COVER PROFILE RAPID INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS

ADAPTABILITY, RESPONSIVENESS & INTEGRITY Rapid Industrial Fasteners’ expansion into production has seen it grow its capabilities quickly, so that it can now make virtually any fastener. Torque Magazine speaks with Managing Director Richard White & Operations Director Jason Hayfield – who have close to 50 years’ combined experience in the fastener trade – about growth, expansion and the importance of doing what you say, when you say it…

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t is two and half years since Rapid Industrial Fasteners first set up its manufacturing business, focusing on specials, in addition to its already established distribution arm. Since Torque Magazine last paid Rapid Industrial Fasteners a visit, also in Covid‐19 times, business has been positive, explains Managing Director Richard White: “It’s been excellent, partly due to the expansion of our business and our capacity, but also the climate that we find ourselves in. “Some of our bigger customers have been overbuying to ensure that they have got stocks in place for the coming months. We’ve also seen decent development with new accounts.” RAPID PROGRESS Expansion in capacity has come about with a range of new equip‐ ment installed in the past 12 months, including new thread rolling machines, a 35‐ton broaching machine, CNC machines and a sizeable investment in quality and inspection equipment. In fact, despite the production side being relatively new, the firm is already ahead of longer established manufacturing rivals, it says. Thanks to new machines, the products Rapid can produce is accordingly far broader, now including the likes of 12‐point flange bolts in stainless steel. “We can make virtually any fastener now,” explains Operations Director Jason Hayfield. “Thread rolling has been going well for us, the broaching machine means we can work quicker and more accurately. We are expanding capacity, up to M64 in diameter and 600mm in length – that’s a significant expansion for us.” In addition to regular fastener grades B7, 8.8,10.9,12.9,14.9, the firm has also seen increased work in stainless steel and alloys including Duplex, Super Duplex and Inconel, in products like resin anchors, in standard and bespoke lengths.

// Inspection equipment helps us pick up any problems at an early stage, rather than wait until a job is 95% complete. // “We’ve really invested heavily in expanding our inspection equip‐ ment. We are doing more testing of our own materials and improv‐ ing traceability. Some customers will want 5% hardness on products, for example, this gives us the opportunity to control it. “Inspection equipment helps us pick up any problems at an early stage, rather than wait until a job is 95% complete. We have quality right from the start, all the way through. Nothing will ever go out the door that isn’t right – it will get caught straight away.” The firm has invested in people as well as machines, says Hayfield: “We’ve got new staff in the machine shop, one with 20‐ years’ experience so he’s bringing a lot of knowledge with him.” Having grown capacity so quickly over the past 12 months, Rapid is already looking at expanding its site after just two and a half years, as well as bringing the two sides of its business – manufacturing and distribution – under one roof, albeit sectioned off.

COSTS, CONTAINERS AND HOLDING YOUR NERVE Rapid has not been immune to the current challenges rocking the fastener world. However, it has found ways to mitigate them. White explains: “In terms of raw material, we put a lot of stock into place, both standardised and also some more exotic alloys. In terms of our costings, the manufacturing cost is optimised now so we are stable in those terms. “Throughout last year we increased our purchasing. We really benefited from high stocks of galvanised products, like all‐thread, bolting, nuts, washers… We kept faith, held our nerve and continued to invest in the business.” Hayfield adds: “Obviously material increases are unavoid‐ able. But with specials manufacture, a lot of the proportion of the cost is the actual workmanship. We are in a position where we take on a lot of rush jobs and we are able to get started really quickly. The additional machinery is helping us.” With customers in Northern Ireland and Europe, Rapid has contended with that other significant disruptor of recent years – Brexit. “It did have some initial impact. Like most, we didn’t know exactly how it was going to work, but we backed our customers and some of our European customers have now consolidated business with us because of how quickly we can turn work around.” Rapid has experienced delays on incoming goods, particu‐ larly from Germany and the Netherlands, and those dreaded container prices have impacted too, although Rapid has been better placed than some. “For the ocean crossing alone, depending from where, containers are costing US$12,500, whereas they were less than US$3,000 in October last year. On a standard low value fastener product, that is painful. Where we have been lucky is our business of bringing specials in. This has helped us to absorb some of the increases on the commer‐ cial product. An average fastener container might be US$28,000, well ours are US$50,000. It splits the increase across higher cost product, so that’s been fortunate. It is testa‐ ment to the diversity of business we have.” Shipbuilding and defence are among the sectors that are fill‐ ing the order books of Rapid Industrial Fasteners, with inter‐ esting project work on diverse projects like submarines and the Thames Tideway Tunnel. “We continue to maintain diversity in the client base,” says White. “We’re not reliant on one sector.” FASTER MACHINES AND CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS It’s hard to accurately gauge how much Covid has impacted the manufacturing business. Rapid has picked up some work where other companies have sadly closed down. Being flexible and responsive has been key to thriving during the pandemic, says White: “We’ve adapted quickly to everything that has changed, whether that’s been restrictions or whatever. We continue to have that reliability and integrity to do what we say, when we say it. We work really hard to maintain lead times. Our customers can trust us.” Looking ahead, Rapid plans more investment. This time in machines that are even quicker. Hot forging is an area of inter‐ est and potential expansion too.

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COVER PROFILE RAPID INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS

Rapid Industrial Fastener’s production capabilities continue to expand with the introduction of new machines and expertise

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White says: “That is the next stage now – bringing in machines that are even faster. We have embraced stage one of our development and we are firmly established. We are now looking at developing a good nucleus of customers and adding a few new faces, those who we can develop business with. We are not looking to become a shop where we have 100s of customers who give us one order a year – we look to develop relationships. “As we complete each stage of the business, we look to add something else. Our mentality is for continuous improvement. For customers that work with us, we’d like them to consider us an extension of their facilities.” Two and a half years on, does the duo believe the move to enter specials manufacturing was worthwhile? “It has definitely paid off,” says Hayfield. “It’s given us more control as a company. We’ve increased turnover, it’s added value to the business.” White adds: “In an ever changing world it is important to be diverse. As we’ve seen in the last year, things can change very quickly. That diversity is a strength. It has been a journey… to establish any business it has been a challenge. But we’ve seen everything come together above and beyond what we expected. “It’s a vibrant manufacturing place and a working machine shop. At the end of the day, we are proud of the depth we’ve got in it after just two and a half years.

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// In an ever changing world it is important to be diverse. As we’ve seen in the last year, things can change very quickly. // “Customers are looking for reliability and integrity. We offer a high level of service – we don’t just take the order on and hand you over to an inexperienced office clerk. You have access to us if you are a regular customer. “We’ve been highlighting our training modules for the next six months, to further enhance the skills we have got. If we want to be progressive as a business, we have to have progres‐ sive staff. “Any customers who work with us can come on that journey with us. They can benefit from our progression as a manufacturer.” For enquiries, contact Rapid Industrial Fasteners at... manufacturing@rapidfast.com www.rapidfast.co.uk

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INTERVIEW WOMEN IN FASTENERS NORTH AMERICAN SPECIAL

// The supply chain disruptions in 2020 have had a huge effect on how we see some of our larger customers buying. //

PAM BERRY

ADVANCE COMPONENTS Pam Berry, Co-Owner, VP Advance Components and Founder of the Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI), leads our North American special feature, where she discusses the founding of WIFI and milestones within her career at Advance Components…

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How did you get into the industry? In 2006, my father Doug Berry – who started Advance Compo‐ nents in 1972 – passed away, leaving Advance to my sister Suzy Cravens and I. We had other careers going – Suzy in corporate at Michael’s craft stores, and I as a photojournalist at The Boston Globe. But we accepted the challenge to join the company and are so happy that we did. What does your day-to-day job involve? Keeping up with industry news and trends; working with the sales and marketing teams to implement product and services campaigns on social media platforms and our monthly newsletter;

working with our web and graphics teams on relevant and dynamic content for our website; co‐branding with our suppli‐ ers to promote products to new and existing customers. What are the biggest changes you have seen in the industry and/or the company since you started? The amount of consolidation through acquisition that has taken place in the industry is staggering. Many of our best customers have been acquired by some of our larger customers. While this has been helpful in many circumstances, it’s presented some challenges in others. The speed at which innovation is taking place is very rapid, but we’ve built our company to deal with these changes. By hiring great people, providing lots of hands‐ on training, and investing in state‐of‐the‐art facilities, equip‐ ment and technology, we continue to stay on top of things.

Advance Components recently added IFE and Caillau clamps to its offerings

Can you share some of your career highlights and milestones so far? I’m lucky to have had two distinctly different careers – so far! In my fastener career I’d say collaborating with a team of knowledgeable professionals is a daily highlight. Every day is different and I never stop learning. The connections that I’ve made with the women of WIFI are very rewarding and defi‐ nitely a highlight.

in sales was ready for the challenge of working from home, but the warehouse had to keep moving. Safety measures were put into place to keep our distribution team safe – so we were able to keep our suppliers and customers happy with a continued flow of stock. We are lucky, as most of our inventory is domes‐ tically manufactured, so the supply chain delays on imports has not affected us too much. Having strong strategic partnerships with our suppliers is key to our business and to our customers.

What is your favourite thing about the fastener industry? Hands down – the Advance Team! Being a part of a group that has a passion for doing their best every day makes me proud and happy. Also, the pros in the industry who have always been welcoming and full of great advice. It’s challenging finding ways to sell something as simple, and complicated, as industrial fasteners.

Did the coronavirus pandemic bring about or speed up any infrastructure changes at Advance Components? We were prepared to work remotely, but the pandemic did accelerate everyone working from home.

What do you think needs to be done to encourage more women to get involved in the fastener industry? Women continue to join the industry, but retaining them remains an issue according to a recent study about women in the supply chain field. There needs to be increased opportunities in advance‐ ment and development for women to stay in this industry. What inspired the launch of WIFI? Attending my first fastener Expo in Las Vegas, where I found myself wondering how can I connect to other women here, as we were (and are) clearly the minority in the field. I wanted to have a sisterhood of like‐minded women who I could connect with at other shows, share industry insights and support one another with the constant demands between work and home. What is your ambition for WIFI? That the opportunities for women to advance in the industry will increase through supporting one another, sharing informa‐ tion, promoting scholarships and education, and connecting with one another for the common good of the industry. Can you give us a timeline of Advance Components? Advance was started in 1972, so we will celebrate our 50th anniversary next year! During this time, we’ve relocated twice, added substantially to our product offering of domestically manufactured products, and have hired a lot of great people who are passionate about the industry. How has Advance Components managed through the coronavirus pandemic? We had been preparing for remote work for a while, so everyone

What is the business planning for the next 12 months? We are partnering with manufacturers and distributors who need support with distribution, sales and inventory manage‐ ment. We are working to streamline and improve our fulfilment processes, and focused on adding new products to our inven‐ tory. We recently invested in our pick and pack operation with a new bin system, as well as some new bagging equipment. Are there any new products being launched? We always have new products being launched! We recently added IFE and Caillau clamps to our offerings, and just started stocking Gage Bilt rivet and lockbolt installation tools and components. For next year, we have several exciting product additions in the works. What kind of trends are you seeing in the North America fastener market? The supply chain disruptions in 2020 have had a huge effect on how we see some of our larger customers buying. To prevent line shutdowns and build more resilient operations, customers need to seek out domestic suppliers and secure long‐term contracts. The North America fastener market seems keen to go digital, webshops, online meetings, etc. Do you think that’s fair to say? Yes, the move to digital – whether Zoom meetings or online stores – is here to stay, but nothing beats in‐person meetings. It may change the landscape of the sales model, but I think the regional and national shows will still be popular for the indus‐ try. I do think the market lags behind many others in terms of its digital transformation. There are still quite a few large fastener companies that have no significant web presence. www.advancecomponents.com

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INTERVIEW WOMEN IN FASTENERS NORTH AMERICAN SPECIAL

CHRISTIE JONES

SPIROL

Christie Jones, Director of Marketing & Vice President of SPIROL details her career milestones, her typical day working across several time zones and departments, and the importance of loving what you do…

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How did you get into the industry? I started working for SPIROL right after I graduated from College in 1994, I studied mechanical engineering and I wanted to work for a company that manufactured technical products. SPIROL was looking for engineers at the time, so I applied, and I was lucky enough to be hired by SPIROL and twenty‐seven years later I’m still here. What does your day-to-day job involve? I would say that there is no typical day, I have an agenda that I would like to complete but there are a lot of things that are inter‐ jected during the day. In my role as the Director of Marketing, my

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day could start off in the morning with my colleagues in Europe. I could spend the day working on new initiatives as we’re in the process of expanding our e‐commerce website and creating our new spriol.com corporate website. I could then end my night working with our Asia facility because of the time difference. What are the biggest changes you have seen in the industry and/or the company since you started? So, when I first started working for SPIROL the internet wasn’t really used on a day‐to‐day basis. It was really difficult, and things took a lot longer than they needed to, so I would say that obviously the change in technology has been transformational. The internet being used for marketing our product, for finding suppliers, for people finding us, has been a dramatic change. We went through a phase where we thought that because of the internet, the relationship aspect of the business was going to go away and that is not true, which is good. In terms of the industry, the proliferation of plastics in every single industry and changing from metal to plastics has been huge which has impacted our standard product offering and staying ahead of what the industry needs. I would also say that the world seems to have gotten a lot smaller. Previously, you had a lot of local companies buying from local suppliers, now you’re seeing companies from all over the world buying from each individual SPIROL location. One of the things we talk about to our customers is that although we are a global company, we are a local supplier. For example, in Australia you would think companies would buy from Asia as this is closest to them, but we see them buying from Connecti‐ cut or even the UK.

// I think that working with companies to solve problems and help them to succeed and to become more competitive in their marketplace, is super fun. // Can you share some of your career highlights and milestones so far? SPIROL is the only company I have ever worked for in my professional career. I love what we do, I love what the company stands for; we are truly about working and partnering with our customers to help them succeed and it’s not just about selling small parts. It really is about providing a solution, whether that’s a technical or architectural solution. I have been able to have several different careers whilst being at SPIROL, I have worked in Engineering, I have worked in

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Operations Management, I worked in Technical Sales and Sales Management, and now I’m the Director of Marketing for a global company. Technical Sales is still my passion, and I would say marketing is very similar to that. In Technical Sales I have been able to work with leading designers and manufacturers around the world in several different industries. I can say that if you have been in surgery before, I have probably influenced some of the surgical instruments that were used. If you have benefited from the use of the car, I have probably had some impact in these applications as well. It’s not just fun being involved in this kind of thing, but it’s super gratifying! What is your favourite thing about the fastener industry? One of my favourite things about the fastener industry is the diver‐ sity of the different products that involve fasteners. Being able to work with cosmetic companies, medical companies, automotive companies and more. Another thing is that in the fastener industry, you’ll find that if you join some of the organisations that I have, it’s a very close nit industry so getting together annually in some of the things we do across the world is very cool. What do you think needs to be done to encourage more women to get involved in the fastener industry? So, there’s distribution and then there’s manufacturing but at the end of the day it’s still an industrial product. I think that perhaps some women tend to be intimidated by industrial products because it has typically been a male dominated industry. One of the things that we do at a local level and at the headquarters in Connecticut, United States, is that we will bring in high school kids or junior high kids and we give them a tour of our facility and we talk to them about different careers in manufacturing. Manufac‐ turing gets a bad reputation as everyone thinks of it as a job that is oily and dirty, and it really isn’t like that. It is also about getting people excited and showing them that they can have a future in this industry, not just manufacturing but in accounting, purchasing, marketing. In terms of the fastener part of it, if you like to learn, if you like to help people, if you have any type of technical interest – not even at a high level – I encourage you to check it out! Anything else? I think it is really important, no matter what industry that you choose something that you like to do. Ultimately, love what you do. I think that working with companies to solve problems and help them to succeed and to become more competitive in their marketplace, is super fun. If you really embrace that as a concept and embrace the spirit of what we do at SPIROL, you too will love your job. Also, the fastener industry is growing, and we are seeing lots of new technologies that are developing over the next few years. www.spirol.com

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INTERVIEW WOMEN IN FASTENERS NORTH AMERICAN SPECIAL

// We are very involved with women of all ages new to the fastener industry and everyone already working in the industry. //

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JAN MORR

HOUSE OF THREADS Jan Morr, Regional Sales Manager at House of Threads and Vice President of Women in the Fastener Industry discusses her everyday role, changes to the industry, and how young women and men can get involved in fastener associations… How did you get into the industry? I have a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Professional Concentration in Accounting. I was persuaded by the Vice President of a steel distributor to come work for them in the steel distributor industry and the rest is history. That led me to the structural bolt manufacturing industry and now work‐ ing for the largest bolt distributor in the world, Wurth. Most of my career has been focused on the structural steel industry such as bridges, structural buildings. What does your day-to-day job involve? I am responsible for five States, so right now that includes a lot of traveling. I am the Regional Sales Manager at Wurth Construction Services, Midwest Division – Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin & Kentucky. What are the biggest changes you have seen in the industry and/or the company since you started? Raw material price increases are the biggest challenges currently in the fastener industry. In fact, the entire building industry is facing skyrocketing prices. With that comes supply issues in a time where there is a great push for infrastructure. Wurth has some very great vendor partnerships and so far we have been able to weather the storm and still able to provide excellent service and delivery. Can you share some of your career highlights and milestones so far? One of my career highlights would be working for the largest bolt supplier in the world, Wurth Industries. I am also Vice Presi‐ dent of Women in the Fastener Industry. We mentor and educate women through scholarships and training. This is by far the most fulfilling experience of my career‐ seeing these young women thrive in the fastener industry.

you work in the industry, you never leave. I truly believe that the fastener industry is exactly that, a lifetime career. What do you think needs to be done to encourage more women to get involved in the fastener industry? The fastener industry offers many associations for all young men and women to get involved. There is the Young Fasteners Association, and also for women in particular is Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI) which I sit as Vice President on the Board. We are very involved with women of all ages new to the fastener industry and everyone already working in the industry. If you are a woman working in the fastener field, please look us up at www.fastenerwomen.com, and take advantage of all of the free seminars and scholarships for training that we offer. Any final thoughts? My favourite part of my position as Regional Sales Manager at Wurth Construction Services, and any position I have ever held, is business development. I enjoy getting out there, letting the industry know who we are and what we provide. Wurth Industries truly believes in building partnerships in this indus‐ try and providing excellent service, and that is something very unique these days. www.wurthindustry.com/en/wina/industries/construction

The Tappan Zee Bridge is one of the many projects Wurth has been involved with

What is your favourite thing about the fastener industry? My favourite part of the fastener industry is the lasting friendships made in this industry. Someone told me 11 years ago that once

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SPOTLIGHT NORTH AMERICA > WIND ENERGY

“THIS IS A TURNING POINT FOR THE US WIND FARM SECTOR” Torque Magazine analyses the growth of the North American wind energy sector and speaks with Zago and Heico about the challenges this brings to the fastener and fixing industries…

s the North America wind sector continues to develop with the Biden‐Harris administration, Torque magazine recently analysed the exponential growth of the sector as 2020 saw a new record in wind power installations, adding 93 gigawatts of new wind turbines. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, figures collected by the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) revealed that world capacity reached a total of 744 gigawatts‐ enough to generate 7% of the world’s electricity demand. A record number of installations were recorded in the USA despite several coronavirus lockdowns and negatively impacted industry sectors. Earlier this year, the White House convened National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, and Under Secretary for Defence for Policy Dr Colin Kahl to announce an effort to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California – opening up the Pacific Coast to its first commercial scale offshore clean energy projects.

// The Biden-Harris administration set a new goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the US by 2030. //

The Biden‐Harris administration set a new goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the US by 2030. The White House Press Office released a statement stating that these initial areas for offshore wind development in the Pacific Ocean could bring up to 4.6 GW of clean energy to the grid, enough to power 1.6 million American homes.

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Torque Magazine asked fastener and fixing companies Zago and HEICO whether the backing from President Biden could see a dramatic change for the wind energy sector in America. “THESE ARE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH – FOR ALL FASTENER AND FIXING SUPPLIERS” Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich, Co‐Founder and CEO, ZAGO Manu‐ facturing Co, says: “With the possibility of 2,000 turbines in the water over the next eight‐ and one‐half years, this pledge will be a turning point for the US wind farm sector. It also shows just how important eliminating greenhouse gas emis‐ sions to fight climate change is to the Biden administration.” As a further demonstration of the Biden administration’s approach to clean energy development, the Department of Energy, through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and ARPA‐E, has invested more than $100 million in researching, developing, and demonstrating floating offshore wind technology. Luke Reed, Heico North America Sales Manager, says: “We are seeing strong political interest in renewable energy production. President Biden has voiced a number of extremely ambitious goals relating to clean energy. We anticipate the current administration obtaining the needed legislative support to enact a longer‐term stance on regulatory and investment support. The industry demand is there, but the markets need some level of stability to support long term plan‐ ning. Wind energy should certainly see strong growth as a category. Until recently offshore wind production has not

SPOTLIGHT NORTH AMERICA > WIND ENERGY

// We are seeing bolted joints getting larger as the wind tower designs grow in size and output. This trend should benefit fastener suppliers who are up to the task. //

shared the same level of investment as onshore, but President Biden’s administration has made offshore wind a priority.” The growth in this sector prompted us at Torque Magazine to wonder whether the support from the new administration would mean there are big opportunities for fastener and fixing suppliers to the wind energy sector. Friedberg Rottenstrich says: “Offshore wind farm projects are in the pipeline across the eastern seaboard as well as California, presenting new opportunities for growth – for all fastener and fixing suppliers. ZAGO sustainable sealing fasteners & compo‐ nents already play an integral role in sealing, connecting and joining offshore wind farm equipment as well as the hardware protecting sensors and 3‐D cameras capturing, storing and trans‐ mitting critical data. We are ready to meet heightened demand.” Reed explains: “Fasteners are an integral part of any wind tower assembly, especially those deemed critical to the tower’s structural and mechanical integrity. To have a bolted joint fail due to vibration inducing dynamic loads or corrosion can end in tragic results both from an energy production and safety standpoint. I believe those who design wind turbines to fully perform over a decades long lifespan are those that see the most success in the field and this includes bolted joint design and fastener quality considerations. Correcting issues in the field, especially those offshore, are an expensive undertaking and can be avoided when selecting fasteners that meet and exceed design requirements. We are also seeing bolted joints getting larger as the wind tower designs grow in size and output, this trend should benefit fastener suppliers who are up to the task.” “THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO SIT BACK AND PASSIVELY WAIT FOR A MARKET NEED” Due to supply chain, delivery and logistical issues, uncertainty has become the new norm within the fastener industry, there‐ fore, it is important for fastener and fixing companies to plan for the unpredictable. Spikes in demand within ever growing sectors such as wind energy can exacerbate an already tenuous supply chain, prompting slowdowns and even work stoppages.

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HEICO claims that the primary challenge in the fastener industry at the present time is material availability and asso‐ ciated cost pressures. “Fastener manufacturers and suppliers who invested heavily in material and finished product inven‐ tories at the onset of the global pandemic have certainly bene‐ fited their customer while also increasing their market goodwill. However, if these market pressures were to continue well into 2022 then we would anticipate a potentially dramatic impact on the renewables category.” The company tells Torque Magazine that in light of the vari‐ ous influences in the renewable sector that present challenges and opportunities, HEICO has increased its service efforts to its customer and end user chain. “This is not the time to sit back and passively wait for a market need,” says Reed. “Those organisations who are bringing new products and customer specific engineering support to the table will continue to see positive exposure in spite of the challenges. “I would encourage fastener suppliers who support the wind energy market to fully embrace the APQP4Wind initiative. HEICO’s IATF 16949 quality process architecture naturally follows APQP4Wind, but we are encouraged by the common language and processes up and down the wind energy manu‐ facturing chain that will prove to greatly benefit all parties. Most importantly though, the long‐term benefit will be most evident in communities who will depend on wind energy plat‐ forms that are designed, manufactured, delivered and main‐ tained within a unifying quality process like APQP4Wind.” According to the 2021 US Renewable Energy Outlook report from S&P Global Market Intelligence, more than 21GW of wind and around 15GW of solar capacity should come online by the end of 2021. As the industry continues to develop under the current administration, Torque Magazine will continue to anal‐ yse its growth and how it will affect the fastener, fixing and tool related industries. www.zago.com www.heico.com

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SHOW PREVIEW INTERNATIONAL FASTENER EXPO 2021

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As the International Fastener Expo celebrates its 40th anniversary, Torque Magazine speaks with Morgan Wilson, Show Manager, about what attendees can expect and what Covid-19 measures have been put in place…

his year, International Fastener Expo celebrates the 40th year of the show and will boast a variety of events to add to the experience. Attendees will be able to enjoy a reception at Mandalay Bay’s Daylight Pool as well as the annual Hall of Fame and Young Fastener Professional Awards. IFE will also be welcoming a new class on honourees at the 2021 event. Show Manager Morgan Wilson says: “Visitors of the IFE can expect unmatched opportunities to network and connect, world‐class education through a variety of conference sessions, special events and opportunities to connect on and off the show floor. IFE 2021 will feature a robust conference schedule with highlights on new technology, industry trends, technical topics, and more.” A full conference agenda will become available in the coming weeks. Thousands of attendees, buyers, and sellers from across the entire supply chain are present at the IFE each year. VIP atten‐ dees are consistently included in Industrial Distribution’s Big 50 List and exhibitors are among the top international and domestic distributors, manufacturers, material suppliers, tool‐ ing and machinery providers and ancillary services.

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Top confirmed companies that will be in attendance this year include Fastenal, Wurth Industry of North America and Optimas. The 2021 show floor will also give attendees the chance to meet with representatives and explore top products from exhibitors such as Brighton‐Best International, Lind‐ strom, Stelfast, Nucor Fasteners, Star Stainless and Copper State Bolt and Nut. Wilson says: “We currently have almost 400 exhibitors confirmed, and more attendees/vendors are registering every week. With a couple months to go we expect a strong showing! Following COVID it will likely be a little smaller than normal but we are confident it will create for high quality interactions, so you can still expect the same top‐notch networking and education as in the past.” With the pandemic and restrictions on everyone’s mind as the Delta variant causes cases to increase globally, many shows have once again been postponed or cancelled. Wilson tells Torque Magazine that the IFE has developed a comprehensive health and safety plan in conjunction with its parent company, Emerald and the CDC, WHO and state/local authorities, to ensure that the event adheres to the correct guidelines.

// Visitors of the IFE can expect unmatched opportunities to network and connect, world-class education through a variety of conference sessions, special events and opportunities to connect on and off the show floor. //

“Our team is committed to creating an event experience where everyone can safely and effectively conduct business,” says Wilson. SOME SAFETY MEASURES AT IFE 2021 INCLUDE > Per CDC guidelines, attendees who are fully vaccinated are encouraged but not required to wear face masks. Attendees who are not fully vaccinated must always wear a face mask. Daily, heighted cleaning and sanitising of all public spaces. Hand sanitiser stations will be positioned at key locations throughout each facility. Aisle widths on the exhibit floor may be increased to accom‐ modate facility recommendations.

Wilson tells Torque Magazine: “Last year was a trying time for all. Throughout the pandemic, I was consistently inspired by the way the fastener industry navigated unprecedented challenges and quickly adapted to continue to support its customers. Although we can’t deny the value of virtual oppor‐ tunities, the personal connection that exists at in‐person events is difficult to replace and we can’t wait for the industry to come together once again in Las Vegas!”

www.fastenershows.com

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TERRITORY FOCUS

BENELUX

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN A DISTRIBUTOR-ORIENTATED MARKET HEICO Benelux BV is the subsidiary of the HEICO Group, taking care of the Benelux market. With a warehouse located in Groningen, a team of three is responsible for the sales and logistics of the HEICO product portfolio. HEICO Benelux picks up the story… René Smits, Johan Sikkema and Eric Baes were recruited to the HEICO Benelux team last year

e are mainly focused on the HEICO‐LOCK® Wedge Locking Systems and the HEICO‐TEC® Tensioning Systems. Our products are offered by nearly all technical distributors in the Benelux, from the big internationals to the local family businesses. We collabo‐ rate with our dealers on the technical support and offer the services of our in‐ house test lab towards the end‐users of our products. Due to our decentralised warehouse, we can guarantee a delivery within 24 hours to our distributor or in case of emergency, directly to the end‐user. With this collaboration we directly offer our technical expertise to our end‐users. We recognise the Benelux as a distributor‐ orientated market, meaning that end‐users are seeking for one‐stop solutions on their supply chains. As both HEICO‐LOCK and HEICO‐TEC are products where the benefits and application need to be explained, we often consult the end‐users in close coop‐ eration with our distributors. If our system

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appears to be the solution for the fastening challenge of the end‐user, normally the logistics are handled by our dealers. By operating like this, we build up a broad customer base. Both OEM and MRO from offshore to toddler toys and from renew‐ able energy to agricultural machinery take advantage of the benefits of our products. HEICO’S BENELUX TEAM Over the past seven years, HEICO Benelux BV has shown strong and steady growth, after being founded in 2014 and we see this trend continuing today. Despite the current pandemic, 2021 is developing into another successful year. Entering the Benelux market seven years ago, our job was to build our brand awareness and show we are a partner to our distributors and end‐users, passion‐ ately focused on solving the problems they face with their bolted joints. Nowadays, we can claim that we earned our position and we have shown to be a reliable and state‐of‐ the‐art partner to our customers.

To be able to serve our customers in the future with the same high service level we are known for, we expanded our team in the Benelux last year. René Smits is handling internal processes, including order intake, logistics and finance at our Benelux warehouse in Groningen. Johan Sikkema is responsible for the outside sales and technical support in the Nether‐ lands. Eric Baes is responsible for the Belgium and Luxembourg market. Looking to the near future, we are happy to see that exhibitions are opening their doors again so we can meet each other in person. HEICO Benelux BV will be participating at MatExpo in Kortrijk, Euro‐ port in Rotterdam and Recycling in Gorinchem. If you would like to get to know our products and team, we would love to invite you to one of these exhibi‐ tions. Or you can of course contact our office for more info. www.heico-group.com

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TERRITORY FOCUS

BENELUX

MECHANICAL FASTENERS AND THEIR CRUCIAL ROLE WITHIN THE BUILDING ENVELOPE It is often said that fasteners play a crucial role in the overall quality and safety of roof and cladding construction systems, though they only form a relatively small part of the total system. Eurofast says it knows this better than anyone…

urofast started in 1977 with just one man as a specialist in mechani‐ cal fastening flat roofs. Now it has grown as a European organisation in the field of mechanical fastening solutions for the complete building envelope. These days, Eurofast is even more complete as a specialist in fastening solutions for flat roof, cladding and ventilated façade; building envelope. FULL-SERVICE TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY Eurofast always strives to unburden its customers in their search for the most suitable fastening solution for their specific situation. Thanks to its interna‐ tional versatility, experience and exper‐ tise, Eurofast can provide country, customer and project‐specific advice. In addition, Eurofast takes care of, among other things, the calculations, testing, orders and delivery and they profession‐ ally support the customer at every step in the fastening process. So, every building envelope can be fastened to a high quality. The most suitable solution depends on

various factors. Think of the type of surface, type of waterproofing membrane and type of construction. Eurofast is already well known by the roofers in Europe as being a partner that searches for the right solution, which can switch quickly and with a large stock and short delivery times. Just like many construction companies and installers, roofers often have an idea themselves on which solution is best, however they then contact Eurofast to test their theory. CLEAR LANGUAGE IN A TECHNICAL WORLD Eurofast offers a wide range of fastening products for mechanical fastening for engineering firms, constructors and processors/installers of cladding systems. Crucially, that wide range is backed with expertise and advice: “The added value that Eurofast offers makes all the difference. Because a screw is so much more than just a screw,” the firm explains. By using clear (technical) language, Eurofast offers the customer ease of use when ordering and requesting the right

// The added value that Eurofast offers makes all the difference //

products. Research has shown that design‐ ers find it highly preferable to have an overview where it is clear at a glance what is available for each specific application. That is why Eurofast, for example, has made posters with a complete cladding fastening overview. Clear and accessible: exactly what a designer needs to find the right solution for every application. FULLY CERTIFIED CLADDING PROGRAMME Since the acquisition of Baltic Fasteners from Poland in 2019, Eurofast offers a complete cladding fastening programme, including ETA approval. This means it meets the highest international require‐ ments and standards, something that is increasingly demanded in the world of cladding systems. Eurofast flat roof solutions are applica‐ ble for mechanically fastening flexible roof waterproofing systems and insulation, with cladding solutions for mechanically fastening sandwich panel, metal members and sheeting. www.eurofastgroup.com

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TERRITORY FOCUS

BENELUX

STAFA > ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPLIERS OF FASTENERS AND SPECIALS IN BENELUX Headquartered in the Netherlands and exporting to over 45 countries worldwide, Stafa has been undertaking significant infrastructural changes over the past 18 months, all while tackling those familiar and particular challenges of recent times... HOW’S BUSINESS IN THE BENELUX AREA RIGHT NOW? The business in the Benelux area is going very well, also in other parts of Europe. We are very satisfied. WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES ARE YOU SEEING IN THE BENELUX MARKET? IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO THE BENELUX MARKET OR ARE THEY THE KINDS OF CHALLENGES WE’RE SEEING ACROSS EUROPE OR THE GLOBE? Like in the rest of the world, the ocean freight and steel prices are still going up which definitely affects the Benelux market. Delivery times from Asia are increasing, so our purchasing department is continuously working hard to make sure we get the fastest deliveries from our suppliers. Also, the personal face‐to‐face contact with customers has been brought back to a minimum over the last one and a half years, but luckily the measures by the government are changing so we can slowly start visiting customers again. We notice that personal contact is still very important within the fastener industry, especially in times like these.

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FOR THOSE OF OUR READERS WHO DO NOT KNOW, HOW BIG IS THE STAFA OPERATION IN BENELUX? With more than 75,000 products directly available from stock, Stafa is one of the biggest suppliers of fasteners and specials in the Benelux. Starting out in 1977 from the garage of a house, we grew out to become a company with over 130 employees and seven offices worldwide with our headquarters located in Maarheeze, in the Netherlands. Our family‐based company is continuously moving forward and looking for new opportuni‐ ties in the market. Currently we export almost 70% of our orders to more than 45 countries worldwide. HAVE YOU HAD ANY RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS OR INVESTMENTS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT? 2020‐2021 has been a very busy year for us. The implementa‐ tion of our new ERP system, Warehouse Management System and webshop have been big projects we have been working on. The new systems help us to increase our service level towards our customers to an even higher level. These systems have

A great alternative to screws and self-clinching fasteners. In the catalogue you will find a vast assortment of products available in Steel Copper plated, Stainless Steel, Aluminium and Brass. To complete the range, various models of welding machines are also available.

// We have invested in several new logistic improvements like our advanced order picking shuttles. // made our organisation more streamlined than before and made us ready for what the future will bring us. Also, we have invested in several new logistic improvements like our advanced order picking shut‐ tles. These paternoster cabinets enable us to have a very high storage and picking capacity for all our smaller order lines and Kan‐Ban orders. Next to that we have expanded our vehicle fleet to make sure we can deliver our products as quickly as possible to our customers. HOW CAN INTERESTED PARTIES GET IN TOUCH? We are more than happy to see what Stafa can do for your company. Feel free to contact us via info@stafa.nl or go to our website www.stafa.nl and fill in the contact form. One of our account managers will get back to you as soon as possible. www.stafa.nl

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TERRITORY FOCUS

BENELUX

STAINLESS STEEL FASTENER SOLUTIONIST BUMAX STEPS UP INVESTMENT IN BENELUX Premium stainless steel manufacturer BUMAX sees the potential to double turnover in the Benelux region over the coming years, with its sights set on the high-tech manufacturing, marine and offshore sectors

UMAX already benefits from healthy turnover and strong posi‐ tions in certain industries in Benelux, including high‐tech manufacture. However, the company is taking business development to the next level with the aim of capturing market share within other key sectors in the region. “BUMAX has relatively low brand recogni‐ tion in Benelux compared with other parts of Europe where we are more well known for being able to solve the most demanding fastener problems,” says Pim Oome, Busi‐ ness Development Manager for Benelux at BUMAX. “This means that we have signifi‐ cant growth potential and aim to double our sales in the region in the next few years.” Since the start of 2021, BUMAX has strengthened its internal sales and market‐ ing capabilities in Benelux and has also partnered with its first external regional sales partner – Peco Douwes BV, a leading distributor of high‐quality special fasteners with a focus on the marine and offshore segments in the Benelux region. “We see extensive opportunities to proactively target the marine and offshore industries here in Benelux, as we can really

offer customers game‐changing fastener solutions,” says Oome. “We are also inves‐ tigating opportunities within the construc‐ tion, medical and industrial equipment manufacturing, as well as develop further opportunities in the high‐tech industry.” HOW BUMAX CAN “REVOLUTIONISE BENELUX INDUSTRIES” Premium BUMAX stainless steel fasteners go well beyond the standard fasteners that many industries rely on for their critical applications. BUMAX combines excellent levels of corrosion resistance and high strength to offer optimal performance, safety and reliability – while reducing maintenance and total lifecycle costs. “In Benelux, we are already seeing greater interest in new high‐strength stain‐ less steel fastener materials, such as duplex stainless steels, to replace high tensile carbon steel fasteners,” says Oome. “At BUMAX, we offer customers a wide range of stainless steel fastener materials – both as standard and customised products – to fully meet their specific needs for high strength in combination with corrosion resistance or cleanliness requirements.”

// Premium BUMAX stainless steel fasteners go well beyond the standard fasteners that many industries rely on for their critical applications. //

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LOOKING AHEAD IN BENELUX As part of the Bufab Group, BUMAX will leverage its global presence and expertise to expand its markets in the Benelux region. A significant development will be the merging of FLOS B.V. (a leading provider of creative component solutions in the region, acquired by Bufab in 2015) with Bufab Benelux, during early 2022. The merger between Bufab Benelux and Flos will strengthen the company’s position in the Benelux region, as total supply chain partner for technical components for their customers in the manufacturing industry. “We are looking forward to providing innovative fastener solutions to more industries in the region,” Oome tells Torque Magazine. “We will focus on enhancing the recognition of the BUMAX brand and supporting R&D in our targeted industries to increase market share.” ABOUT BUMAX BUMAX is a leading specialist manufacturer of premium high‐strength corrosion‐resis‐ tant stainless steel fasteners. BUMAX provides optimal safety and reliability to fasteners in the most demanding of appli‐ cations. BUMAX fasteners only use the highest quality European stainless steel and are manufactured in Sweden. BUMAX is a Bufab company. www.bumax-fasteners.com

TERRITORY FOCUS

BENELUX

NEDSCHROEF’S TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT A 127-year old fastener business with multiple branches and organisations presents a challenge for its leaders and future. Royal Nedschroef turned to a software company to help it consolidate and future-proof the business for the next century-plus…

astener manufacturer Royal Nedschroef was founded in 1894 and has evolved from a cluster of autonomous organisations to a single entity consisting of different business units. In 2018, the business undertook a huge trans‐ formative project, to consolidate multiple entities and future‐proof the manufacturer. Based in Helmond, the Netherlands, Nedschroef produces high quality fasteners and individual forming technology solu‐ tions are used in the automotive, transport and aviation industries as well as in the machine building industry. It employs 2,300 people at 20 locations in 10 countries. After a lengthy software supplier selec‐ tion process, with analyst firm Gartner, Nedschroef chose Infor CloudSuite Auto‐ motive to underpin its consolidation, save costs, reduce risks and increase productivity. Introducing “one way of working”, supported by a modern and integrated ERP‐system, the entire “ecosystem” is integrated – from internal processes, such as machines, to external processes, such as supply chain systems. Nedschroef needed a technology partner with standardised solutions and knowl‐ edge of the automotive industry. Infor’s automotive industry‐specific knowledge and system clearly showed how it contributed to Nedschroef's operational needs and ambitions.

“The fact that we had previous experi‐ ence with Infor was irrelevant to the selection process, it was by no means a foregone conclusion,” says Joris Te Molder, CIO and IT director at Nedschroef. “We chose them because they came up with the right people and demonstrably appro‐ priate solutions. Ultimately, all multi‐ disciplinary teams unanimously agreed that Infor CloudSuite Automotive was the right solution.” Roll out of the software solution has been implemented and made operational for two Nedschroef sites so far (in Barcelona and Schrozberg, Germany). Rollout for the remaining sites will be completed in 2024.

Nedschroef produces high quality fasteners and individual forming technology solutions used in the automotive sector, among others

Kees van den Houten, VP & MD for Infor Benelux, said: “We are very proud to provide an innovative company like Nedschroef with the Infor platform, allow‐ ing the organisation to fully focus on offer‐ ing parts for cars, aircraft, and machines. This is the example of a frontrunner in the industry, that, thanks to the standardisation and modernisation of its processes, takes the entire organisation to a higher level. “Infor CloudSuite Automotive is focused on the automotive industry and designed to optimise operations within this sector. The multi‐tenant cloud solution working on AWS provides an integral link between all systems, which will help increase productivity within Nedschroef whilst reducing the total cost of ownership and help adopt innovations faster. The soft‐ ware package also provides insights into the supply chain and detailed tools for tracking transactions.” Infor CloudSuite Automotive is not only designed for the automotive industry, but it is also suited for globally acting compa‐ nies. The Infor solution offers Nedschroef the opportunity to further develop the areas of IoT (Internet of Things) and machine connectivity as well as to use integrated EDI functions. Another advan‐ tage of the Infor multi‐tenant cloud is the analysis option with Infor’s Business Intelligence (BI). This helps significantly accelerate decision‐making and reporting processes, says Infor. www.nedschroef.com www.infor.com

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TERRITORY FOCUS

BENELUX

100 YEARS BEHIND NEW CORDLESS

SHUT-OFF IMPULSE WRENCHES With over two centuries worth of experienced businesses behind it, YOKOTA’s new cordless shut-off impulse wrenches promise better access to joints, faster speeds, high levels of repeatability and less downtime for maintenance...

erformance tool brand YOKOTA Industrial has a new range of cord‐ less impulse wrenches to add to its air, electric and cordless tool line‐up. The compact design of the YZ‐T range offers great accessibility to the joint. Tight‐ ening bolts M6 up to M10, the YZ‐T boasts torque levels up to 60 Nm with very high speeds and remarkably low reaction forces. The YOKOTA intelligent shut‐off cord‐ less impulse wrench is pitched as an ideal solution for applications where cables or hoses are disruptive or unsafe.

// In terms of ergonomics, there is no kick back while vibration and noise are both very low. //

The YZ‐T range has a programmable shut‐off with IO/NIO judgement: elec‐ tronic, secure and stable shut‐off based on the measured tightening force from the motor. Highly accurate and repeatable, this fast wrench can handles more cycles per minute and per battery charge, due to the 18 Volt, 2 Ah Li‐Ion battery pack. In terms of ergonomics, there is no kick back while vibration and noise are both very low. The wrench’s light weight further reduces the burden on the operator. Saving energy and time – maintenance is easy and low cost at longer intervals, the YZ‐T has a brushless DC drive motor, non‐ contact trigger and reverse switch. Tel. +31 (0)20 5318800 www.rami-yokota.com

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Highly accurate and repeatable, the fast YZ-T wrench is ideal for situations where cables or hoses are disruptive or unsafe

200+ YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE Rami Yokota BV is a Dutch company that distributes air tools mainly through Europe. The company was founded in 1896 and began to focus on air tools from 1963. Target markets range from the servic service ce workshop to car factory but also material terial handling in on-shore as well as offshore applications. To support the biggest markets in Europe, Rami Yokota has opened branch offices in Germany, the UK, France, Scandinavia a and South Africa. The brands distributed include nclude te label YOKOTA, TOKU and its own own private RED ROOSTER. To round out the range, e, Rami Yokota has added impact sockets and d chisels from ACTION to its wide line-up of tools. ols. Another company boasting over a century in business, YOKOTA Industrial Co. Ltd off Japan makes great efforts to provide high quality and performance air tools for all industries. Its modern tech and high quality production system are based ased on 100 years of experience. The company is internationally orientated and active in global sales. With original all and flexible ideas, YOKOTA’s strategy is to contribute to a better environmentt for the operator.

CONNECT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FASTENER AND TOOL INDUSTRY TORQUE T TO ORQUE U MAGA MAGAZINE G ZI ZINE GETS YOU Y U FACE-TO-FACE YO F CE TO FA FA F CE WITH TOP INDUSTRY EXECS THROUGH OUR REGULAR GUEST EDITOR AND WOMEN IN FASTENER FEATURES OPINIONS > PREDICTIONS > EXPERIENCES > INSIGHTS > UNDERSTANDING

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OPINION

FAST FASTENING IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS To ensure they can meet deadlines and deliver products in line with customers’ high expectations, UK manufacturers are looking for ways to increase assembly speed…

here are many ways to speed up industrial assembly, such as investing in automation and robotics, but few options can increase manufacturing speed without capital investment. In these cases, perhaps it is the components and not the equipment that needs changing. Here Justin Lawrence, applications engineer at fastening and supply chain expert TFC, explains how to reliably speed up fluid transfer, a common assembly process in UK manufacturing… Specialist connectors are found in all types of automotive and heavy vehicle connection systems such as fuel lines, cool‐ ing circuits, selective catalytic reduction urea lines, battery cooling, air conditioning, power steering and brake fluid circuits. The most important factor when choosing a connector is that they are matched to the operating conditions, including temperature, pressure, fluid and the environment, but they must also be lightweight and corrosion resistant. But these factors alone will not determine whether the connection is high quality. It must, of course, be correctly assembled, which means the operator needs to be certain it is secure. With most connectors, like jubilee clips or worm

clamps, there is no obvious indicator that the connection is secure. This means there is a risk of quality problems arising later on, such as fluid lines leaking. In addition, attaching the two parts together requires tooling, and importantly, time. Thankfully, there is a simple solution. Opting for a Quick Connector, a component that the operator simply pushes into place and it locks itself, can speed the process up signifi‐ cantly. It also offers a visual or audio confirmation of the connection, which removes the risk of the fluid line not being correctly assembled. The Quick Connector has been a huge success in the auto‐ motive and power generation markets – you’ll probably find them if you look under your car bonnet. However, industrial manufacturers in household appliances, heating and ventila‐ tion and air conditioning are yet to reap the rewards. Avoiding stock outs As well as looking at the components themselves, there may be supply chain issues slowing down an assembly process. Sticking with our earlier example, a Quick Connector could be

A selection of Quick Connectors available via TFC

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Justin Lawrence, applications engineer

// The most important factor when choosing a connector is that they are matched to the operating conditions. // a great way to speed things up – but only if the part is in stock. For manufacturers looking for ways to ensure a steady supply of the fastening components they need, vendor managed inventory (VMI) means parts delivered on time and direct to line. With VMI, all ordering is done through one part‐ ner, which can reduce costs when procuring components, as well as remove the risk of running out of stock and facing long lead times. It is important to note that whilst speed is impor‐ tant, it should not come at the sacrifice of the quality or safety of the application. Checking your supplier’s quality credentials, experience and processes can help ensure that you get the best of both worlds. TFC stocks ARaymond Quick Connectors in a wide range of configurations. Whatever geometry, O‐ring material, locking mechanism, assembly check options, end piece types, diame‐ ters or functions you need, we can assist. All components can be supplied as part of a bespoke VMI solution, so you always have the parts you need at your fingertips. www.tfc.eu.com

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SHOW NEWS

SEEKING TAIWAN SUPPLIERS? While the Taiwan International Fastener Show has been postponed again, there is a new online supplier meet session and options to suit buyers and purchasers…

TOP THE PRESS > As this magazine was being published we received word that this year's Taiwan International Fastener Show has been cancelled. Due to run in 1‐3 September, this was yet another case of Covid‐19 claiming an international‐focused fastener event, with considerably reduced footfall making the show less viable. All is not lost, however. Taiwan International Fastener Show 2022 has now been re‐ scheduled (for 19‐21 April). During this period of disruption, TAITRA has also hosted regular fastener industry procurement meetings and the Taiwan Excellence showcase. For the first time, it will be running a new Trade with Europe 2021 session, where importers can meet Taiwanese Suppliers online.

TRADE WITH EUROPE 2021 Trade with Europe 2021 is an online sourcing event which aims to promote bilateral business cooperation between Taiwan and Europe and enable European businesses to tap into Taiwan’s supply chain. The event will be held on Tuesday 28 September between 8.00 – 11.30 am GMT. During registration, participants will be asked to outline their sourcing requirements. Based on these requirements, suitable Taiwanese suppliers will have the opportunity to register to meet with them. TAITRA will then provide participants with a list of potential suppliers for their consideration and 1‐on‐1 online meetings, each lasting 30 minutes, will be arranged with the suppliers of their choice.

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To avoid undue competition among Taiwanese suppliers, participating buyers who previously procured a certain item from a Taiwanese supplier may not enquire about/procure the same item from another supplier during the event. Participants must join online meetings with at least five Taiwanese companies on the day. To register interest in participating, complete the relevant form, outlining which products you are interested in sourcing, using this URL: https://forms.gle/22QSXG1mzgEqGqp69 You can contact Adèle Sreeves at the Taiwan Trade Centre London (TAITRA’s Northern European Office) with any ques‐ tions you may have about the event: asreeves@taitra.org.tw. www.fastenertaiwan.com.tw

Connecting the fastener industry since 1981 The International Fastener Expo connects vendors and buyers of industrial products, fasteners, machinery, tooling and related product categories, at the region’s largest trade show of its kind. This is the ultimate destination for industry professionals to source the latest products, grow their network and gain insight through sessions with top industry leaders.

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KEY PRODUCT CATEGORIES REPRESENTED

September 21-23, 2021 | Las Vegas, NV USA

2021

TORQUE FOCUS QC LABORATORY & INSPECTION

OWLETT-JATON > READY FOR INSPECTION Quality is king. Torque Magazine speaks with key suppliers about their quality processes, starting with Owlett-Jaton…

new laboratory at Owlett‐Jaton’s Head Office provided an opportunity for the prominent wholesale supplier to improve its existing quality facilities into a single dedicated fit‐for‐purpose department, located within its Stone operation. The significant expansion allowed for the incorporation of two dedicated rooms, one for sample preparation and limited re‐working of products, the other offering a clean environment for performing inspection and conducting investigations on fasteners and fixings. ISO 9001:2015 accredited, its purchasing department carries out rigorous checks on manufacturers before engaging, to ensure products conform to the quality standards required. Regular audits focus on what quality controls and traceability factories have within the production process. Checks include how the raw material is stored, the specific grades of materials they can produce, even what type of housekeeping they have on the production floor. These checks, coupled with assurances from the manufacturers, help to ensure that the products which reach the lab, pass any quality control checks carried out. Owlett‐Jaton’s goods inwards inspection process is rigorous, spot‐checking ~50% of inbound fasteners, ensuring they conform to the relevant national and international manufactur‐ ing standards. A bespoke fastener‐orientated inspection system is employed; the system provides the dedicated goods inwards inspector with all the information he needs to effectively assess

Keyence IM-7000 Image Dimension Measuring System is among OJ’s optical inspection equipment

the products without having to reference the applicable manu‐ facturing standard. The inspection system is integrated with the purchasing supplier approval system, providing the inspector with insight as to which manufacturers or products they should focus on if required. The optical inspection equipment includes both a Keyence IM‐ 7000 Image Dimension Measuring System together with a more traditional Mitutoyo shadowgraph (pictured left), facilitating the inspection of parts to a high level of accuracy. Owlett‐Jaton also carries out on‐site hardness determination to Rockwell B&C scales, and a significant range of the traditional ring, plug, and caliper gauges are still invaluable and enable inspection of a large sample of incoming products. Critical fasteners are sourced from reputable approved manu‐ facturers and are supplied with certification, typically a 3.1 to DIN‐EN‐10204. The quality department is also equipped and have access to NAMAS (The National Measurement Accredita‐ tion Service) approved test facilities which allow more advanced product verification documents to be produced, such as an ISIR (Initial Sample Inspection Report). Customers at enquiry stage can also request a PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) submission from the manufacturer, an essential requirement for the supply of automotive components. www.owlett-jaton.com

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COMING THIS SEPTEMBER

THE FASTENER

MAKERS Bolts, nuts, washers, screws, rivets, specials, bespoke and more...

TORQUE’S SEPTEMBER 2021 SPECIAL focusing on fastener manufacturers from around the world. GET YOUR BUSINESS PROFILED AND INCLUDED IN THIS SPECIAL FEATURE

DON’T MISS OUT – CONTACT US TODAY

EDITORIAL COPY DEADLIN–E–– ––––––––––

Monday 23 August

Contact Harry Whyte for more details > harry.whyte@torque-expo.com or Landline > +49 6073 640201 Mobile > +49 172 6231 429

TORQUE FOCUS QC LABORATORY & INSPECTION

CERTIFIED LABS FOR FASTENER TESTING Brighton-Best International’s quality commitment saw it establish a mechanical testing lab to supplement its quality procedures…

righton‐Best International (BBI) is among the largest master suppliers of fastener products to global distribu‐ tion and naturally understands the critical nature of every joint – and therefore the importance of each and every fastener supplied. Quality is what drives the company, and the industry. Reliability is key and paramount to long‐term success. That is why, BBI aims to lead the supplier market in quality sourcing and in‐house test‐ ing, to guarantee that product supplied through them meets or exceeds all specifications and requirements. In 1994, BBI saw the need to expand beyond ISO Quality Management Systems to include accredited laboratory capabil‐ ities that would make sure its distributors had up‐to‐the‐minute access to address all user questions and be able to verify the voracity of the product backed by government‐certified testing. So, a mechanical testing lab was created in the New Jersey facil‐ ity and certified that same year. As BBI grew and expanded its reach and product lines, new equipment and enhanced testing capabilities were added. The expanded lab, located within the BBI Los Angeles facility, was accredited and became operational to offer even faster service, covering all time zones. Brighton‐Best International strives to lead the fastener market and remains committed to its Tested, Tried and True motto, continuing to operate both A2LA (American Association of Labo‐ ratory Accreditation) certified labs in New Jersey and Los Angeles, with both facilities certified to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.

One bolt undergoes a hardness test...

BBI’s QA Lab in New Jersey was recently approved for contin‐ ued accreditation by the A2LA until July 2023. Since 1925, Brighton‐Best has been committed to providing distributor partners with the highest quality products. Today the business believes that it carries the most complete line of fasteners – including U.S. Anchor and Proferred drywall and self‐ drill screws – Proferred hand tools, and Ironclad Performance Wear’s full line of high performance work gloves. www.brightonbest.com Scaling up: BBI has ramped up its testing capabilities as the company has grown over the years

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LEDERER AND FQC > EXACTING QUALITY STANDARDS In addition to its own QA testing department, Lederer's commitment to quality also includes its own testing laboratory: the joint FQC facility in Shanghai... THE TESTING LABORATORY FQC MEANS LEDERER CAN PERFORM EVEN MORE DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS AND ISSUE CERTIFICATES. THE LAB’S CAPABILITIES INCLUDE >

he FQC – Fastener Quality Centre – is a quality testing facility based in Shanghai, China. Testing industrial fasteners is the specialism of this independently‐run company, which is joint‐owned by Lederer and Fastbolt. Founded almost 15 years ago, FQC not only has an enviably well‐equipped quality facility but it also visits external suppliers to carry out on‐site audits and pre‐shipment inspections. The FQC’s comprehensive facilities allow it to perform tensile tests, impact tests, torsion tests, analytical tests, coating thickness tests, structural examination by microscope, function tests, dimensional and true to gauge inspections, determination of corrosion resistance, head soundness tests… and more besides. Staff take part in ongoing training programmes, while the FQC also undergoes on‐time maintenance and calibration of its inspec‐ tion equipment and the optimisation of its internal processes aiming to always meet customer set completion deadlines. The independent certification authority CNAS (China National Accred‐ itation Service) has approved this competence for FQC by accred‐ iting the laboratory according to ISO 17025:2005.

Tensile tests for full-size bolts and screws Tensile tests under wedge loading Proof load test for nuts Breaking torque test Drill speed test for self-drilling screws Hardness test for core and surface hardness Miscellaneous manual tests Salt spray tests Issuing of test certificates 3.1C LEDERER > CONSISTENTLY HIGH QUALITY IS THE PRIORITY In addition to the resources of the FQC, which is accredited as a testing laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025, Lederer also has its own QA testing department. All incoming and outgoing parts undergo a systematic quality analysis and assessment. Physical and chemical properties are examined with modern measuring instruments to ensure they measure up to desired levels and properties. THE CRITERIA THAT CAN BE EXAMINED INCLUDE > Dimensions Coatings Hardness according to Rockwell (HRC) and Vickers (HV) Thread Material types www.lederer-online.com

www.fqc-shanghai.com

The well-equipped FQC lab allows it to perform a comprehensive array of tests

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SPOTLIGHT NEW MATERIALS

COULD GRAPHENE UPGRADE THE FASTENER BUSINESS? When it comes to the applications of wonder material graphene, the surface has only just been scratched. First Graphene is one of those developing the material for industrial uses, with implications for the fastener, tool and related industries…

fter First Graphene Limited pioneered a world‐first process to produce wonder material graphene at high volume and consistent quality, the company has focused on a broad range of industrial applications. Graphene has the potential for use in coatings, composites and concretes and qual‐ ities that are bound to widen the eyes of those in the fastener and fixings business, including corrosion resistance and anti‐vibration properties, as well as considerable advantages in lubrication and the extension of wear life. It seems highly likely graphene will come to play a bigger part in the industry, across many sectors. WHAT IS GRAPHENE? Graphene is the thinnest material ever isolated. It consists of single layers of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal network, and this unique structure gives rise to a range of outstanding physical properties, including: Strength > 200 times stronger than steel at the same thickness Flexibility > Can stretch up to an additional 20 per cent of its length Barrier > Completely impermeable, even to helium gas Electrical conductivity > More than 1 million times more conductive than copper Thermal conductivity > Up to 5,000W/mK (watts per metre‐kelvin) in all directions, compared to around 400W/mK for copper Highly transparent > Due to its single layer properties, graphene only absorbs about 2.3 per cent of visible light With such properties, graphene can be a highly valuable addi‐ tive to enhance a broad range of materials. GRAPHENE BACKGROUND Graphene was first isolated in 2004 by scientists at the Univer‐ sity of Manchester, however production of commercial volumes was hampered for many years due to difficulties in producing consistent size product. That was until First Graphene Limited developed a proprietary process, using high purity graphite, that enabled precise control over production quality. The company markets a range of prod‐ ucts for various applications under the PureGRAPH® brand.

Another key challenge for graphene manufacturers is how to adequately disperse graphene through various materials. First Graphene has carried out extensive research and devel‐ opment to devise various methods and now provide Pure‐ GRAPH® in a range of formats including powders and pastes, as well as a newly released pelletised masterbatch product specifically for use in thermoplastics. The company has the capability to produce 100 tonnes of its graphene products a year from a manufacturing facility in Western Australia, and has the capability to quickly scale up as demand increases. USES Initially, the focus of graphene research was centred on high‐tech applications such as precision electronics and the aerospace industry. However, with the ability to manufacture consistent quality product at volume, First Graphene has shifted its focus to a broad range of industrial applications including > Coatings Anti-corrosion for steel and aluminium Fire retardant coatings Low friction coatings Anti-static and electrical conductive coatings Wear resistant coatings Weathering resistance EMI shielding Elastomers Wear linings in mining Specialist footwear Abrasive resistant PU wear products Rubber mats Conveyor belting Pipe linings Miscellaneous wear components Composites Swimming pools Surfboards Construction parts Automotive parts Aeronautical applications Boats Wind turbines (blades and components) Concrete/Cement Cement production – in particular for lower clinker factor cements and products Concrete Concrete products such as blocks, tiles, pavers Bagged cement products such as grouts, mortars, renders, flooring screeds, repair compounds

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// The benefits of graphene across common industrial applications are only starting to be realised and understood. // ANTI-CORROSION APPLICATIONS Due to its impermeability, graphene offers exceptional benefits for anti‐corrosion and as a general protective barrier. In some cases, graphene enhanced coatings such as paints and lubricants are used, while in others the graphene is dispersed into resins. First Graphene already works with end‐user customers that manufacture a range of fire‐retardant paints, PPE, swimming pools and boats, while advanced R&D is underway to manufac‐ ture wind turbine blades, linings for pipes and a range of other multi‐application paints and similar coatings. ANTI-VIBRATION PROPERTIES To date, First Graphene customers have focused on overcom‐ ing vibration issues by focusing on the tensile and flexural strength of graphene‐enhanced components. WEIGHT REDUCTION Reduction of weight is another key outcome of incorporating graphene into a range of materials, and many of the key bene‐ fits can be realised with very small additions of PureGRAPH®. As an example, swimming pool manufacturer Aqua Leisure Technologies recently released its PureGRAPH® enenhanced range of Graphene Nano‐Tech pools which the company says are 30 per cent lighter, 30% stronger and significantly more resistant to water and chemical permeability.

Graphene is synergistic and can be used to enhance existing fire retardancy packages in coatings, resins and foams. This means that graphene flame retardants can act alone or add further performance to existing materials, including FRP composites.

FIRE RESISTANCE Graphene also has highly effective, non‐toxic fire‐retardant properties, a pertinent topic following tragedies like that of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Efforts to lower risks associated with fire include coating materials with fire‐retardant agents. Unfortunately, the agents available to date have drawbacks:

As an atoms-thick material, graphene enters frictionprone areas easily Due to its thermal conductiveness, graphene is not impacted by temperature variations As a carbon-based material, graphene disperses easily and evenly in oil, grease and similar lubricants

Toxicity to the environment – especially in soil and water Toxicity to people – which may include mutagenic and carcinogenic effects Limited effectiveness First Graphene partnered with a team at the University of Adelaide in South Australia to find an environmentally friendly and more effective fire‐retardant solution. The result was a coating formulation, based on Pure‐ GRAPH® graphene products, which is now branded as FireStop™. This is a graphene paint which was developed specifically for the protection of timber and can be sprayed or brushed on to surfaces. PureGRAPH® can also enhance fire retardant composites when used as an additive. Scientific studies have shown that graphene additives operate in a unique way, acting as an effective gas barrier and transporting heat away from the flame, slowing initial burning and preventing re‐ignition.

LUBRICANTS Considerable research has shown graphene to be an exceptional dry lubricant as well as a highly beneficial additive to oil and grease. There are several reasons for this:

OTHER USES The benefits of graphene across common industrial applications are only starting to be realised and understood, however there is evidence across current uses to indicate a range of potential benefits for the fastener and fixing industries. This includes: Enhanced wear life Increased tensile and flexural strength Reduced weight Superior electrical and thermal conductivity Better performance under temperature variations INDUSTRY INQUIRIES First Graphene welcomes inquiries from industry and investors. In the first instance, anyone interested can check contact details on the website at firstgraphene.net/contact or email via info@firstgraphene.net. www.firstgraphene.net

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SPOTLIGHT ACTION CAN

‘PREMIUM GRAB AND GO PRODUCT’ With an enviable professional engineering heritage behind it, Action Can has introduced its clever TwinSpray valve tech to seven of its core products, creating a ‘toolkit-essential’ line-up for engineers and professionals – as well as distributors and trade counters… ction Can has a professional engineering heritage that spans back to 1965 and over that time has earned a reputation for reliability and performance. Now, Action Can’s handy TwinSpray products, first launched with its popular multi‐purpose lubricant AC‐90, has been introduced to a further six aerosols. Designed as a straightforward range where you don’t have to read a dozen technical data sheets to select the correct product, the 7‐ strong TwinSpray range are true toolkit‐essentials for professionals. “You choose your tools for the job,” Kieran Neale, Action Can Marketing Manager, tells Torque Magazine. “Action Can isn’t a consumer product: it is designed, formulated and made in‐house for professional and mobile engineers. It’s the premium ‘grab‐and‐go’ product. Engineers need something that works and is reliable – they don’t want a call from a job and have to return and sort something out. Our users like the peace of mind and reassurance of our professional engineer‐ ing heritage and in‐house manufacturing.”

Action Can has been developing its Point of Sale (PoS) offer for trade counters focused around its professional‐grade multi‐ purpose oil ‘AC‐90’, and the ‘TwinSpray’ range. “We have the merchandising POS and literature options available for distrib‐ utors to really generate that impulse buy,” enthuses Neale. “These ‘reopening ready’ POS options including a robust metal rack with side panels that feature the twin spray range; it only takes up 1 ft² yet is 6 ft high for big impact”. Another floor‐ standing display unit is specifically for AC‐90 – the best‐selling multi‐purpose lubricant. With full graphic front and sides, its effectiveness was seen in 2019 when it was launched with a big‐name trade distributor, when sales increased 300% over two months. Finally, there is a smaller counter‐top option to be placed near the order point. Likewise, digital POS is available too, says Neale: “We’re seeing greater adoption of digital, you can have the digital equivalent of POS. We have a design team geared up to help maximise our visibility and push sales through our stockists. Distributors should get in touch to talk through the options.”

REOPENING-READY, IMPULSE-BUY POS Action Can has been carefully revamping the look of its prod‐ ucts, perhaps most notably with application images on the cans that highlight what each product is for, at a glance, with the sprays also sporting that familiar chevron logo. The look of a product has of course always been important, and it’s no less the case for online web shops, explains Neale: “If you walk past a shelf of products you still need something to catch your attention. It’s no different online. If you search for ‘lubricating oil with PTFE’ you will see a list of thumbnail images. Action Can products look just as good on the virtual shelf as on the trade counter shelf.

PANDEMIC, PRODUCTION LINES & GLOBAL BACKING While Action Can is resolutely UK and Ireland‐focused, it has a significant following in Europe – Scandinavia & Greece in particular – and even further afield, in New Zealand. Acquired by CRC UK in 2016, Action Can is part of the wider CRC Industries group. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA; global aerosol manufacturing specialist CRC has production sites in the UK, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Being part of a global aerosol manu‐ facturer has had its benefits, particularly through the turbu‐ lence of Covid and Brexit. “When Covid began to impact, we looked back to the

THE CORE ACTION CAN TWIN-SPRAY AC90 – Multi-Purpose Lubricant CT-90 – Cutting & Tapping Lubricant Dry PTFE – Dry Film Lubricant RP-90 – Rapid Penetrating Oil SL-90 – Lubricating Oil with PTFE SP-90 – Silicone Lubricant Spray TF-90 – Fast Drying Cleaning Solvent

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RANGE

There's a range of POS options for the TwinSpray range, from countertops and floor-standers to digital POS financial crash in 2009 to try and understand how indus‐ try may be affected. Back then, we saw people buying more of our products, not less. Production lines had stopped running so engineers embraced the opportunity for large‐ scale repair and maintenance. When stopping your production line costs £16,000 an hour, you only shut it when you have a critical failing or for carefully scheduled and planned maintenance. “That didn’t happen this time; production lines were still affected but with different constraints – for example, reduced numbers of people and social distancing. There were fewer opportunities to get on site and tear things down this time. So, the two events both had a big impact on busi‐ ness but had two remarkably different outcomes based on restrictions and government legislation.” On the topic of returning to normality, Action Can can’t wait for the return of trade shows (“the sales team are champing at the bit!”) and will be at events from September, assuming restrictions don’t drastically change before then. “CROSS SALES ARE VITAL FOR DISTRIBUTORS” The cross‐selling potential of Action Can’s 7‐strong Twin‐ Spray range represents a big opportunity for trade counters and distributors, explains Neale. “Aerosols provide added value to every transaction – people don’t tend to stop just for an aerosol spray yet they are often required to complete the job: whether a solvent degreaser, a lubricant or anti‐corrosion product.” That’s a key message for both trade counters and users ‘Don’t forget the solutions and sprays’.

// Action Can isn’t a consumer product: it is designed, formulated and made in-house for professional and mobile engineers. // “Remind customers when they come in for drill bits that they are probably going to want a cutting oil. Or if they come in for a power tool, they are probably going to want AC‐90 spray as well. Not only does this ensure the customer gets everything they need in one visit; the average transaction value for the distributor is lifted. If you can add it for 50, 60 or 100 customers, there is a significant turnover contribution that was not there before: with reduced footfall, distributors should maximise every sale, including PPE. It just makes sense.” Action Can’s slogan summarises its products and approach to market perfectly: “In the right hands, Action Can is a power tool. If you think of high spec tools for the serious professional and engineer, think Action Can.” It’s an easy to identify, easy to select, high confidence product range that meets all their requirements for any given job. www.actioncan.com sales.uk@crcind.com 01278 727272

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NO-SLIP Ridged button

RECESSED BUTTON Prevents accidental spraying STRAW-STOP Prevents over extension & accidental discharge

EXTRA TOUGH fessional grade actuator Professional

ON LOCKED-ON TwinSprayy actuator won’t get knocked off

TWINSPRAY DUAL POSITION STRAW Up = Precision jet Down = Standard spray

FIXED-IN STRAW Neve lose it again! Never

By CRC Industries Introducing the extended TwinSpray range from Action Can, six additional products join the best-selling multi-purpose lubricant AC-90 with the professional TwinSpray actuator. AC-90: Multi-Purpose Lubricant (33179)

SL-90: Lubricating Oil + PTFE (33321)

CT-90: Cutting & Tapping Fluid (33324)

SP-90: Silicone Lubricant Spray (33319)

DRY PTFE: Lubricant & Release Agent (33323)

So TF-90: Fast Drying Cleaning Solvent (33322)

RP-90: R apid Penetrating Penetrating Oil (33320) ((333 ) Rapid

WATCH THE TWINSPRAY VIDEO HERE https://bit.ly/3u1s3SL

01278 727272

TORQUE FOCUS OILS, SPRAYS & LUBRICATION

Friction adjusters and cutting fluids Torque Magazine rounds up the latest news from the oils, sprays and lubricants sector with releases from microGLEIT and ROCOL…

microGLEIT DF 921N – The Product for More Performance microGLEIT® is a leading supplier of dry film lubricants for fasteners. Intensive development work and the experience of many years of practice with products and processes result in a wide range of reliable “friction adjusters.” Lubricants are indispensable for adjusting the coefficient of friction to desired values and narrowing down the standard deviation of the friction values of modern connection elements. microGLEIT® DF dry films are mostly water‐based lubricant systems containing contain PE (polyethylene) and partly addi‐ tives such as PTFE or wax. microGLEIT DF 921 is a water based suspension of microWHITE solid lubricants – no hazard labelling required. The transparent, semi‐matt dry film provides good lubrica‐ tion properties. Additionally, the microGLEIT DF 921 features high abrasion resistance, no impact on the substrate material, high adhesion on a wide variety of materials. It is also environmentally friendly and suitable for automatic parts feeding and auto‐ matic bolting. The field of application for microGLEIT DF 921 are bulk‐ parts, which have to be coated economically for defined fric‐ tion values. The coating is used to achieve a defined, predictable frictional behaviour, thus enabling easy and faster assembly. The dry lubricant replaces oil or grease lubrication.

TYPICALLY DF 921 IS APPLIED ON > Chipboard and wood screws Facade screws Electroplated bolts and nuts Stainless steel bolts and nuts Pinched nuts Aluminium nuts Bulk parts with inorganic metal coatings Self‐tapping and thread forming screws Rivets, Dowels www.microgleit.de/en/

ROCOL revamps ULTRAGUARD SC range The ROCOL ULTRAGUARD range has long been popular with regular customers as the partner to its range of cutting fluids and has recently undergone a revamp. Using the bactericide cutting fluid additive, ULTRAGUARD BX as a trial, the company changed the pack size from one litre to five litres, upped the dilution to 2,000 to 1, and added a fill indicator, making it easy to see how much is left in a pack. These changes were well received by customers, with the brand being informed that the new pack size is easier to store and the change in dilution means that customers do not need to order the product as regularly, thus making it more cost effective. After the initial one‐year trial, the entire ULTRAGUARD range has now moved over to the new five‐litre pack size, enabling all ULTRAGUARD customers to benefit from the changes, regardless of which product they use. www.rocol.com/

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SPOTLIGHT RIVIT SRL

TIME-SAVING RIVET CARTRIDGES When it comes to fast and repeatable riviting, Rivit has a cartridge-based offering ready for a multitude of industries, inuding automotive, electronic, furnishing and others…

ivit Srl is a specialist in the production and distribution of fasteners, fastening systems, tools and machines for sheet metal assembly. Rivit’s Speedriv rivets in cartridges are ideal for quick and repeated riveting and are ideal for light fastenings. They come in a cartridge which can hold 24 to 58 pieces, according to rivet diameter and length, and are strung on a proper rod ready to be used. Rivets in cartridge are available in stainless steel, steel and aluminum, with dome or countersunk head, 3.2, 4.0, 4.8 and 6.0 mm diameters, and in several lengths. Rivets in cartridge provide a dras‐ tic time saving during assembling, says Rivit. Speedrivs ensure good flexibility in processes and can be easily included in automatic assem‐ bly lines. Rivets in cartridge are mostly used in automotive, electron‐ ics, electro mechanics, furnishing and general light fabrication. The new hydropneumatic tool RIV300, featuring a built‐in booster, was specifically designed for the application of cartridge rivets. Depending on the diameter of the rivet, the RIV303 is equipped with special spare parts: head, mandrel and relative spring are selected according to the diameter of the rivet.

RIV303 TECHNICAL DATA Air pressure > 5 – 7 bar Air volume required (5,1bar) > 4.35 lt Stroke > 30mm Pull force > 3890N Cycle time > 1 second Weight > 1.92Kg Total length (without head) > 475 mm

www.rivit.it

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

Tel: +44 (0) 117 - 972 8560 Fax: +44 (0) 117 - 972 8570 Email: sales@avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

Online Product Guide: www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk Unit 10, Riverside Business Park, St Anne’s, Bristol, BS4 4ED, UK.

OPINION HOW TO CROSS-SELL ONLINE

How to cross-sell high margin products via ecommerce sites If footfall is down in your trade counter, with more of your customers buying from you online, there’s a danger you will miss out on your traditional cross-sale opportunities to shift high margin product. So can you replicate cross-sales online? Carl Hillier, Account Manager at OGL Computer provides his tips…

raditionally, businesses chose to place high margin products close to tills to encourage shoppers to pick them up and purchase before going through the check‐ out. Items such as maintenance sprays and disposable gloves are the kind of products that merchants, retailers and trade counters stocked near the till as high margin impulse buys. Today, however, due to Covid‐19, more transactions are now taking place online. To ensure they are not missing out on prof‐ its from high margin purchases, successful merchants have recognised the need to start cross selling those very same products through ecommerce sites. Here are key questions to ask and answer, to ensure your business maintains profitability via cross‐selling online: WHAT ARE YOUR HIGH MARGIN PRODUCTS? Being able to report on sales and product history will provide a clear indication of what core products and services sell well along with what complementary products and services can be cross sold to new and existing customers. This in‐depth knowl‐ edge collected from sales and marketing data will enable cross‐selling with confidence and ease. WHERE SHOULD YOU DISPLAY RELEVANT RELATED PRODUCTS? Studies show that products pages and my basket pages are the best options, as it is at this stage that customers make quick decisions. So, plan the journey a customer will take from land‐ ing on the website to checkout, to identify the optimum place to view and interact with cross‐selling suggestions. Think about highlighting related and relevant items below the price point that makes a transaction eligible for free shipping. Ecommerce customers that click on product recommenda‐ tions are 4.5 times more likely to add featured products to their basket, so by keeping the process simple, informative and easy, merchants can increase average order values. WHAT ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS’ BUYING HABITS? Use tools like Google Analytics to reveal where customers are landing on a website, how long they spend on a page, the most popular products being viewed and at what point customers leave a website, with or without purchasing. Knowing and tracking a customer's buying habits and behaviours can also be done via an online marketing specialist

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but Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions are a more cost‐effective method for merchants. HOW ARE COMPANIES USING ERP TO CROSS-SELL? OGL Computer’s Profit4 ERP is a simple and easy to use inte‐ gration tool for merchants to work alongside existing IT infras‐ tructure. For example, with the help of OGL Computer, cutting tools distributor, TBS Oxford, migrated existing business processes onto Profit4’s centralised platform, thereby elimi‐ nating the need for excess time spent duplicating tasks or searching for information on disparate systems. The ERP system affords TBS Oxford the necessary tool to increase visi‐ bility, gain control and drive the business to the next level. Profit4 has seen TBS Oxford transform its daily operations, achieving unprecedented time and cost savings, during its busiest periods and, being cloud‐based, businesses like TBS Oxford can manage the system from a tablet as no data is stored on‐site. With Profit4 in place, TBS Oxford was able to achieve its peak period to date, when it turned over 20% against its target, showcasing the benefits of ERP. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER AVERAGE ORDER VALUE? There are a number of steps to increase AOV: Keep products relevant, from having the latest version or changing what you recommend based on seasonal trends Aftersales – within the order confirmation email offer a link to related and relevant products, why not offer a discount code when they next buy from you? Speak to current customers, research what they think and what works for them, this feedback can be invaluable Keep trying different products if the first ones do not work or sell as much as expected try something else, do not give up Visualise a customer’s journey through the website from land‐ ing to checkout Highlight if the customer is under the free shipping threshold near related and relevant products Keep it simple and easy to add these cross‐sell products to the basket www.ogl.co.uk

STRONG FOR GENERATIONS

NEW WEDGE ANCHORS

HIGHEST STRENGTH PARAMETERS

ANTI-CORROSION PROTECTION Zn WHITE

SUPER

QUALITY SQ CERAMIC

A4 INOX

White Zinc - Thickness of zinc coating min. 12 μm, guarantee of quality and high level of anti-corrosion protection. SQ Ceramic - Very high level of anti-corrosion protection (several times higher than the traditional galvanization). Stainless Steel A4 - Highest level of anti-corrosion protection.

LE-ZN - Wedge anchors (Galvanized steel - BOLT + CLIP)

LE-ZNA4 - Wedge anchors (Galvanized - BOLT + Stainless steel A4 - CLIP)

LE-DA4 - Wedge anchors (SQ Ceramic - BOLT + Stainless steel A4 - CLIP)

LE-A4 - Wedge anchors (Stainless steel A4 - BOLT + CLIP)

LE-A4

Choosing correct Klimas Wkręt-met chemical anchor and mechanical anchor system is very simple now!

WKRĘT-MET DESIGNFIX IS FAST AND INTUITIVE This application is free for our customers and designers!

more at: www.klimas.com | contact us: export@wkret-met.com

European Technical Assessment: ETA 20/0640 (LE-ZN), ETA 20/0641 (LE-ZNA4, LE-DA4, LE-A4)

POLISH PRODUCER OF FASTENER TECHNOLOGIES

BOLTED SAFETY In association with BOLTED Magazine, about bolting technologies. Read and subscribe at www.bolted.com

BRIDGE REPAIR IS LIKE OPEN-HEART SURGERY Repairing a busy bridge without disrupting the infrastructure can be problematic. At the same time, you must ensure safety, both during the work process and for the long term. As such, maintaining the Emmerich Rhine Bridge while keeping it open to traffic proved a challenge… ondly nicknamed the ‘Golden Gate of the Rhine,’ the Emmerich Rhine Bridge crosses the river Rhine just a few kilometres from the Dutch border. The bridge is not only a national cultural protection site and the longest suspen‐ sion bridge in Germany, but “it’s also one of its most beautiful bridges,” says Henning Uphoff, a design engineer with the tech‐ nical consultancy Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner. Connecting the cities of Emmerich am Rhein and Kleve, the bridge is a main crossing over the river, saving a detour of at least 50 kilometres. So, when a regular safety inspection in 2014 found that, among other things, bolts had come loose and the bridge had to be repaired, the top priority was to ensure that traffic could continue to flow.

Uphoff, who studied Structural Engineering at the Ruhr University in Bochum and describes himself as an avid bridge‐ lover, says: “It was almost like open‐heart surgery.” One major challenge was to replace the cable clamp bolts. Due to the enormous load, there was no way to loosen the bolts with the suspenders attached to the main cables. But how can you take down up to 100‐metre long suspenders weighing up to one ton without jeopardising safety? The original solution was to use a helicopter. “It’s definitely possible. But I could not envision myself high up on the bridge with the helicopter arriving with these long and heavy suspenders,” says Marcel Vecchi, General Manager with the building company R. Lange GmbH.

BALANCING CRITICAL MAINTAINANCE WITH UPTIME OF KEY INFRASTRUCTURE “This was the clear message from the regional road authority Landesbetrieb Strassenbau NRW,” remembers Uphoff. Accordingly, everything about the planning was based upon the requirement that one road lane in each direction should remain open. At the same time, the 200 vertical suspenders attached to the suspension cables with cable clamps made of cast iron should progressively be taken down.

ENGINEERING A SAFER SOLUTION Another potential problem, Vecchi says, was that strong winds and bad weather could cause delays of several weeks, with substantial financial implications. Instead, Vecchi came up with an alternative solution. The company designed and built a roller conveyor adapted to the specifics of the bridge. With a diameter of 2.5 metres and a 180‐degree bend, it was placed at the upper part of the suspension cable. These main cables, which are attached to

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY R. Lange Gmbh TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS Leonhardt, Andrä Und Partner CLIENT Federal State Nordrhein-Westfalen CHALLENGE Replacing Loose Bolts on The Cable Clamps APPLICATION Cable Clamps SOLUTION Nord-Lock Sc Washers BENEFITS Secure Bolted Connections Despite Vibrations from Strong Winds and Traffic

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// Nord-Lock has been approved for structural applications for almost 15 years. //

two 77‐metre high pylons, carry the whole bridge. Each cable consists of 61 separate cables, each with a diameter of five centimetres, which are forced together to form a hexagon. The big challenge was to avoid damaging the suspenders by overbending, so a minimum bending radius had to be observed. The existing suspenders were taken down and replaced with new suspenders using the roller conveyor and several winches. The bolts had to be substituted on the ground due to the weight of the clamps. Some of the original bolts were slightly bent, others were corroded, and many had come loose. These non‐galvanized HV sets were replaced with new bolts and Nord‐Lock Steel Construction washers, as prescribed in the tender. “Safety was a priority, so we went with Nord‐Lock washers,” says Uphoff. Vecchi adds that: “This is a huge bridge with vibrations due to strong winds and traffic. So, there was really no alternative to Nord‐Lock’s Steel Construction (SC) washers.” ENSURING SAFE AND EQUAL CLAMPING In contrast to traditional bolted connections — where there is contact between the parts that are connected — there needed to be a distance between the two halves of the cable clamps. This was necessary to ensure that the preload was applied to the cables and cable clamps. Each clamp was tightened with 12 to 28 bolts. Only half of the bolts were allowed to be removed at the same time to ensure that the clamps remained safely on the cable. “To guarantee safe and equal clamping, we made a plan for what bolt to be replaced in which order and how to preload them,” explains Vecchi. “We started with the even bolts, removed them, renewed corrosion protection, replaced them with new bolts and the new washers and then we continued in the same way with the

odd ones,” he says. “In the first step, the bolts were tightened manually. Then they were preloaded to 100%, with more preload on the inner bolts than on the outer ones.” COMPLETING A SUCCESSFUL BRIDGE REPAIR FOR THE LONG-TERM Frank Götz, Manager for Buildings and Infrastructure with Nord‐Lock Group, says: “Nord‐Lock has been approved for structural applications for almost 15 years. It all started with national technical approvals in Germany. In construction, everything takes time, especially innovations. It is therefore great to see that we have optimised our approvals bit by bit and extended the scope of applications. The good thing is that we are not at the end yet. We continue to improve our approvals to meet growing customer demands and provide more safety.” In the meantime, Nord‐Lock has two European Technical Assessments (ETA‐19/0813 and ETA‐20/0010) that cover both preloaded and non‐preloaded structural bolted connections. Götz adds: “It is always important to take a look at the approvals as these specify decisive criteria for assembly, such as an appropriate torque.” All in all, 2,200 bolts were replaced on the Emmerich Rhine Bridge, with Nord‐Lock SC washers guaranteeing the highest standards of safety. “Now we are safe for the next half‐century, at least,” says Uphoff. This article is taken from Nord-Lock Group’s white paper Bridge Design, Construction & Maintenance: Insights and Best Practices for a Rapidly Changing Sector (2021) To read and download the 70-page white paper, go to nordlock.com/bridge-construction www.nord-lock.com

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BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

HITTING THE WOODWORK For many, the goal is to increase timber construction to boost sustainability. So, now’s a good time to look at some of the structural timber fasteners and connectors available to the market…

IN-HOUSE WOOD CONSTRUCTION SCREWS BY EUROTEC For more than 20 years, German company Eurotec GmbH has been known as a specialist for fastening technology and has since offered a multifaceted product range. This includes fastening systems for wood, façade and concrete construction as well as for deck constructions. Driven by dedication and passion, in‐house screw production enables the optimal imple‐ mentation and monitoring of the highest quality customer requirements. Depending on the application, Eurotec supplies screws made of different materials and coatings. High corrosion resistance, applicability in service classes 1 to 3 and good resistance to mechanical loading are, for example, properties of wood construction screws on which Eurotec focuses its attention. The wide range of wood construction screws can be used, for example, for load‐bearing timber frame joints, timber engi‐ neering, multiple hall constructions or renovation of ceilings. The screws can also be utilised for carpentry work. The advan‐ tages of using Eurotec screws are the high extraction resistance and that extremely strong joints are created. Products with the highest quality standard are fundamental. Thus, compliance with legal and official requirements within an economic framework while promoting environmentally conscious trade is a top priority for Eurotec. Accordingly, a large number of Eurotech’s wood construction screws are identified with an ETA certification. In addition to the numerous screws that the company has to offer for its customers, there are wood constructions screws that stand out

due to innovative qualities, accreditations and are also considered top products, the manufacturer says. These include the Paneltwistec which is the all‐rounder among the screws and available in different steel grades, head shapes and screw tips. Each screw has special properties that are suitable and necessary according to the application. The screws are available in a wide selection of dimensions. The Topduo roofing screw is used for fastening all kinds of above‐rafter insulation systems. In load‐bearing timber constructions for connecting timber wood or steel wood joints, the company offers its KonstruX screws. They are characterised by a full thread that increases the thread extraction resistance in the components. Products with the highest quality standard are fundamental. Thus, compliance with legal and official requirements within an economic framework while promoting environmentally conscious trade is a top priority for Eurotec. Accordingly, a large number of the wood construction screws are identified with an ETA certification. In 2021, Eurotec is still committed to continue working in innovations and high‐quality standards to provide its customers with new products. For more information and technical details about the wood construction screws, visit the official site: www.eurotec.team/en/products/

// In load-bearing timber constructions for connecting timber wood or steel wood joints, Eurotec offers its KonstruX screws. //

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STRUCTURAL TIMBER FASTENERS AND CONNECTORS

OWLETT-JATON STRUCTURAL TIMBER FASTENERS AND CONNECTORS – ALL UNDER ONE ROOF TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) refers to two fundamental types of mechanical fasteners for structural timber, depending on how they transfer the forces between the connected members, namely ‘dowel‐type fasteners’ and ‘metal connectors’. The strength and stability of any structure – irrespective of material, depends largely on the fasteners used within. Owlett‐ Jaton offers a wide range of products designed for structural timber application, including roof trusses, stud walls, rafters, staircases and floor joists. Nails are by far the most common mechanical fastener used in wood construction generally and can be found within structural timber, such as roof trusses. Owlett‐Jaton offers a plethora of nails covering types, sizes (diameters and lengths), materials, finishes and packaging options. Hexagon coach screws and cup square bolts have been used extensively in such timber applications for decades. Their perfor‐ mance, universal usage, as well as being economically viable, make them an ideal choice for a variety of applications. Owlett‐ Jaton’s range of hexagon coach screws conform to DIN 571 and are available in steel with a bright zinc plated finish, and grades A2 and A4 stainless steel. The stainless steel screws are ideal for external use. Cup square hexagon (also known as ‘coach bolts’ and ‘carriage bolts’) conform to DIN 603/555. Owlett‐Jaton offers them in grade 4.8 mild steel in a bright zinc plated finish, or galvanised or grade A2 stainless steel (bolt only ‐ to DIN 603). The square under the head pulls into the surface, effectively acting as a brake; the nut can then be tightened without the bolt slipping. As market demands and regulations change, new ways are continually sought to improve construction methods. An increase in the use of heavy‐duty fasteners, for structural timber applica‐ tions is one of those trends. Providing fastening solutions that save time, ultimately reduce costs, too. Timberdrive screws are a CE approved heavy‐duty fixing for timber applications. The hexagon head has been specially

designed to be used in conjunction with a power tool. Designed for maximum pull out strength, Timberdrive screws are ideal for external, as well as internal applications. Alternatively, Twistec screws from Owlett‐Jaton are CE approved and available in either countersunk or flange head; both types have a TX drive and a zinc and yellow finish.

Owlett-Jaton’s vast range includes Hexagon coach screws BZP DIN 571 (pictured above) and cup square hexagon bolts DIN 603 555 BZP (pictured top) In addition, Owlett‐Jaton offers a range of Teco branded builder’s metalwork designed for the structural timber sector, manufactured in the UK, including restraint straps, joist hangers, single and double‐sided timber connectors, angle brackets, truss clips, nail plates, fixing bands and timber frame ties. Many of these products are CE approved and certified for Factory Production Control by BM TRADA. www.owlett-jaton.com

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BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

REISSER’S HIGH-PERFORMANCE TIMBER-TO-TIMBER FASTENERS Reisser timber connector screws are build on the proven technical performance of the bestselling Cutter range of screws and designed to offer an ideal solution for connecting timber‐ to‐timber. Suitable for use in a variety of internal or external applica‐ tions, the sharp 25º point drives in fast whilst the two Cutter slots allow for screwing close to the edge without splitting. The addition of a ‘rollet’ on the shaft is a feature of the longer sizes to reduce drag and torsion forces on insertion, resulting in an efficient and faster fixing. A TXD star drive provides maximum torque transfer and reduces “cam‐out” whilst the large flat washer allows for tiles or other materials to be placed easily on top. Its design offers greater tightening force (even in warped boards) and increased pull through resistance than a countersunk or small hex head fixing. Manufactured to exceed all industry standards, the bronze Nano KTCO coating has been tested to a min 2,000hrs Salt Spray resistance, is Cr‐6 free and resists peel off in timber giving long lasting protection from wear and tear. Performance is also maximised by the specially hardened steel that provides supreme tensile and torsional strength whilst allowing for a minimum 30º bending angle. Available in an extensive range of sizes and supplied in attractive, informative packaging, the timber connector screws offer the same consistency of quality and performance of all Reisser products. Those seeking to become a Reisser distributor should call the sales team on 0161 483 5557. Further details available online... www.reisser.co.uk

// Reisser timber connector screws are build on the proven technical performance of the bestselling Cutter range of screws and designed to offer an ideal solution for connecting timber to timber. //

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The bronze Nano KTCO coating has been tested to a minimum 2,000 hours in salt spray

OPINION

The BS Fixings Test >

T-STAR VS THE REST Stockist BS Fixings examines why SPAX’s T-STAR Plus head is gaining fans…

s a part of its commitment to offering not only supe‐ rior products, but superior advice, the online fixings, fasteners and DIY store BS Fixings took it upon itself to check and test each and every product that it stocks. That means that everything from its drill bits and screwdrivers to its wall plugs and ring nails are tested, giving them what it hopes is the upper hand when it comes to customer service and product knowledge. Last month, in its quest to offer an outstanding range of DIY and construction products, BS Fixings began stocking a wide variety of SPAX screws, leading it to begin testing the products, including the world‐renowned “A2 Stainless Steel Timber Construction Screw.” SPAX screws are famous for their German quality, and in recent years, the SPAX T‐STAR plus head, and through testing, BS Fixings found exactly why this head has become so popular with the most premium screw manufacturers. The first benefit is the amount of torque that can be generated, compared with other heads, and certainly compared to slotted head screws. The six‐point star head not only increases torque, but also decreases the likelihood of the stripping of the screw head, along with slippage, or cam‐outs, as the driver bits have tight, specific fits. This leads on to the next benefit that BS Fixings found. Tamper resistance. As the screw heads and drivers are less readily avail‐ able than other more common screws and drivers, T‐Star heads are viewed as harder to tamper with and have been found useful in both the electronics and automotive industries, for both hard drives and brake systems respectively. In recent years, of‐course, the T‐Star has become increasingly more common, and it’s no wonder when companies held in such

high esteem as SPAX are manufacturing them. Through its rigorous testing, BS Fixings found that SPAX screws also outper‐ formed several leading brands in several departments, including rust and corrosion resistance and reduced splitting. Aside from SPAX products, BS Fixings is a well known stockist of a wide variety of fixings, fasteners and DIY and construction products, including wall ties, stainless steel banding, tying and sculpting wire, +DART drill bits, annular ring nails, and much more. BS Fixings also prides itself on its service, product knowledge and next day and Saturday delivery across the UK, earning it the rating of “Excellent” on TrustPilot. www.bsfixings.uk

// The six-point star head not only increases torque, but also decreases the likelihood of the stripping of the screw head, along with slippage, or cam-outs. //

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market

A BRICKS & MORTAR REVIVAL? Online boomed in the lockdown, but how does that impact on the fixings and tool markets in the short to medium term? Will Jones, Chief Operating Officer of the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA), provides his view…

CBI survey, conducted between 26 May and 16 June, saw UK retailers reporting their strongest seasonal sales in more than four years in June, with online sales slowing as consumers rush back to the High Street. Alongside supermarkets, DIY shops, furniture, carpet and hardware stores led the way as the home improvement boom continues. The easing of lockdown restrictions on shops, coupled with growing confidence in going out as the vaccination programme continues, fuelled the strongest sales since November 2016, with the rate of internet sales slowing to their weakest since last April. Since re‐opening in April 2021 total retail sales (including online) have boomed with April and May retail sales volumes combined 7.7% higher than in March, and 9.1% higher than in February 2020 before the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic yet footfall remains distinctly below the pre‐pandemic levels. So, going forward, what does this mean in terms of the retail channels to back? There is no doubt that UK online retail sales volumes have

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maintained pace since bricks and mortar shops re‐opened on 12 April. Online retail sales reached a record proportion of total retail in January 2021 at 35.2% and dropped to 28.5% in May when shops reopened, but BHETA expects online to stay between 25‐30% in 2021 and to slowly increase going forward. Prior to 12 April, shop footfall in the UK in 2021 was around ‐60% down year‐on‐year versus 2019. Since shops have re‐opened footfall been around a third down. Looking at the latest available High Street footfall in the week commencing 26 June, there were 60% more shoppers visiting physical stores than in 2020, but 35% fewer than ‘normal’ in 2019, according to Springboard. The CBI survey also revealed that while sales are expected to remain solid going forward, recovery remains “patchy” with city shopping not as strong as retail parks. SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TOOLS AND FIXINGS? There are still many cautious customers out there who are still avoiding indoor venues so there is potential for shop footfall to increase as confidence returns, but that is unlikely to happen in large numbers through the summer and autumn as cases of the virus are expected to dramatically increase. BHETA expects online to stay between 25‐30% in 2021, maybe decreasing slightly when Covid‐19 cases drop significantly and / or is not seen as a threat by the older, more‐traditional shopper. We do have to remember that physical shops are still the domi‐ nant channel for retail sales overall, outstripping online by two to one in pounds terms, and remain vital. Particularly in categories where products have an aesthetic appeal, or are part of an assem‐ bly, where people prefer to see and touch the product before purchasing. Good news for bricks and mortar tools and fixings.

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In relevant markets, online shopping will never fully replace the experience of going into stores, browsing and seeking advice. It all depends on the category. Online sales are falling back – but only in some sectors. Figures from ecommerce specialist Salesfire, which collects data from 3,000 online retailers reflect the drop in online sales in some areas ‐ but not others. Tools and fixings suppliers and retailers need to understand how the tools and fixings end user shops the category. Looking at the market data and sector research has never been more important to understand which channels, retailers and online players are growing or shrinking. How is ‘direct to consumer’ received as a channel in this category? Which online marketplaces are performing well in tools and fixings and why? What is the demo‐ graphic for bricks and mortar purchases? The end user market is out there. House moves are still happen‐ ing in good numbers ‐ 87,000 in April ‐ and house price growth was 8.9% over the last year, driving more home‐related projects. The lesson is to relearn where sales are to be had. Demand is there, omnichannel is likely to be a good shout, but do not neglect any kind of outlet because we are in a unique period of flux. The convenience of online shopping will continue and may outweigh the experiential aspect, particularly for everyday items that do not need to be seen in person. The volume of delivery choices from same day to next day delivery means customers can get products quickly whilst still avoiding crowds. But there are many products and components best seen and experienced in person. Ultimately, it is too soon to say how shopping patterns will change long‐term because of Covid‐19. It is likely that customers may well be more willing to buy online than they were before the pandemic, but technical products like tools and fixings need hands on understanding. Online may be a significant part of the future but bricks and mortar will always remain crucial.

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For more information about BHETA and its market data, lobbying, networking, and business support opportunities, contact Helen Farnell in BHETA Member Services at hf@bheta.co.uk or 0121 237 1130.

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2021 FEATURES SEPTEMBER (print)

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Fastener manufacturing special

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Torque Magazine Issue 56

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