Torque Magazine – Issue 77 – September-October 2023

Beneke Wire Company is a supplier of aluminium wire and redraw rod to the cold heading fastener industry serving aerospace, automotive, marine, general construction, sporting goods and apparel industries to mention a few.

Beneke Wire Company is a family owned and operated third generation aluminium mill celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2023. Beneke takes pride in delivering a value package to their customers that combines quality, consistency, on-time delivery and unsurpassed customer service. Beneke has an exceptional team of metallurgists and engineers that offer excellent support to their customers.

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Publisher

Jerry Ramsdale jerry@torque-expo.com

Editor Jonathon Harker jonathon@torque-expo.com

Deputy Editor Rachel King rachel@torque-expo.com

Sales Manager – UK

Claire Warman claire@torque-expo.co.uk

Sales Manager – International Harry Whyte harry.whyte@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

Victoria Arellano victoria@torque-expo.com

Head of Marketing Shona Hayes shona@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

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.

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ALL HAIL THE MANUFACTURERS

Manufacturing is one of the big topics we look at in this issue of Torque Magazine and as you might expect there are tales of companies expanding ranges, enhancing their processes and providing their expertise for customers.

One of the big manufacturing-related questions right now is where do you source?

20

Pandemic-related disruption has highlighted the dangers of over reliance on one country. Are candidates like India or Eastern Europe becoming more attractive for your production requirements? We’ve got a lot more detail on manufacturing and shows in the Eastern Europe market starting page 58. And if you are looking at your options when it comes to sourcing product, then you could do a lot worse than start thumbing through our manufacturing special, starting page 20.

There are a few more recurring themes that crop up and are equally relevant to the broader industry; recruitment, sustainability and digitalisation. Getting the right people and retaining them is an enduring challenge and that’s probably why digitalisation is becoming an even bigger deal. Automation and increased efficiency are viable and maybe essential routes for companies.

Likewise, sustainability goes beyond manufacturing too. It’s possible to remember a time when the topic only came up when we remembered to ask about it – now interviewees bring it up without any prompting. As one of this issue’s interviewees puts it – ‘manufacturing businesses may have been guilty of pushing sustainability to the periphery in the past, but those days are gone’.

Jonathon Harker Editor jonathon@torque-expo.com

LATEST WAVE OF REGULATIONS HIT FASTENER AND TOOL INDUSTRIES

Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers – and just about everyone else – have been preparing their businesses to deal with the latest wave of regulations to hit the fastener and tool industries.

CBAM, UKCA, enhanced Russia­related sanctions and other soon­to­arrive or recently introduced regulations have heaped another level of complication on businesses at a time when many markets are sluggish.

While companies appear prepared for this latest wave of new rules – businesses spoken to by Torque Magazine have discussed the topics in detail (see elsewhere in this issue) – the fastener and tool markets are not alone in wishing for greater clarity and decision making that takes them into account.

In August, the UK government announced it would extend recognition of CE marking for most goods on the market in Great Britain indefinitely, effectively negating the need for the UKCA mark (devised due to Brexit) for many industries. Further clarification, however, revealed that rail and construction products would still need UKCA marking by a new deadline of June 2025 – a deadline that leaves “insufficient time” for the industry to comply, said the CPA.

Meanwhile, many nations including the EU group agreed to step up sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The scope of the new measures relates to the import of certain Russian iron or steel products processed in a third country or multiple country. For some time, there was a lack of clarity on what kind of proof would be accepted by customs officials and in the week before this magazine went to press, details finally emerged on what kind of proof would be

acceptable (eg Mill Certificates), less than three weeks before the regulations came into effect (on 30 September 2023).

Amidst these changes, the EU’s landmark Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is being implemented (1 October 2023) where importers of certain carbon­intensive goods will have to pay a levy on their imports. Other laws related to the periphery of the industry could affect the supply chain too, including a Deforestation Regulation from the EU that will affect wood and rubber supplies.

In many cases the principle of the new regulations has not been a point of controversy – condemnation of Russia’s invasion and the need for more sustainable practices have a high level of consensus – but the implementation, clarity and timing of them has.

KELLER & KALMBACH TAKES OVER IEW

Backdated to 1 January 2023, Keller & Kalmbach group has acquired 100% of shares of IEW (Industrial Equipment Westendorff).

IEW, located in Erkrath, has specialised on drawing parts for the industry. As reliable partner for domestic and foreign industry companies, IEW delivers fasteners according to individual orders. Its owner Mr. Ewald Spleiter sold IEW for reasons of age.

Keller & Kalmbach plans to successively integrate the

company into its own group. With this take­over, Keller & Kalmbach said it is emphasising the importance of focussing on industry and drawing parts in the future in combination with the wide range of fastener and fixing technologies as well as industry and C­parts and C­parts logistic systems which are reliable and award­winning for many decades.

www.keller-kalmbach.com

JPB Système unveils three new hires

JPB Système has announced three new management appointments to its team: Christophe Impinna as Purchasing Manager, Frédéric Duwicquet as Key Account Manager and Matthieu Loger as Industrialisation Manager.

Impinna’s role will be in developing the purchasing function and further solidifying partnerships with suppliers to ensure timely product to customers. Duwicquet will be responsible for overseeing contracts, identifying

new business opportunities to drive growth and promoting JPB Système’s products and innovations to enhance its market position. While Loger will lead the industrialisation department, acting as a crucial link between the R&D and production teams. His key objectives include automating inspection processes, optimising manufacturing processes, and successfully industrialising new products to improve productivity and quality.

Arctic Hayes reveals new additions

Plumbing products provider, Arctic Hayes, has announced the addition of two new members to its team: Richard Musgrave joins as Marketing Manager, while Emma Telfer takes on the role of Business Support Manager.

Musgrave’s role will be pivotal in creating innovative marketing campaigns, fortifying the company’s market presence and engaging with plumbing professionals nationwide.

Business Support Manager Emma Telfer’s primary focus will be on improving operations, enhancing customer experiences and streamlining internal processes to support Arctic Hayes’ ongoing growth.

Lee Parsons, CEO at Arctic Hayes, said: “These appointments enable us to better meet the needs of our customers while maintaining our commitment to delivering high­quality products and exceptional service.”

Selected news from the fasteners, fixings and tools industries around the world…

NORTH AMERICA 01

FASTENAL TEAMS WITH TREX >

Fastenal has entered into a scrap supply agreement with Trex Company, Inc., a manufacturer of outdoor building products made from recycled materials. Through the partnership, Fastenal is collecting used PE film and shipping it to Trex to use in the manufacture of its composite decking products.

UNITED KINGDOM 03

JERGENS INC. NEW UK APPOINTMENT >

Spencer Wills has joined Jergens Inc. as the Commercial Business Director for Europe. The move comes as the company, which has headquarters in Ohio, USA, looks to further expand its customer base and support in the UK and Europe.

NORTH AMERICA 02

SUR-SEAL ACQUIRES AMERITAPE >

Custom sealing solutions provider Sur­Seal has acquired Ameritape, a Florida­based company specialising in custom die cutting, slitting, laminating, and CNC cutting. The acquisition expands Sur­Seal's engineering capabilities, including performance materials expertise and enhanced manufacturing techniques.

UNITED KINGDOM 04

BHETA WELCOMES HULTAFORS >

Hand tools supplier, Hultafors has joined BHETA. The company offers a wide selection of professional hand tools for measuring, marking, cutting, striking and levelling. The company which is part of the Hultafors Group is committed to developing additional products such as workwear, scaffolds and ladders, under brands such as Snickers and Wibe.

EUROPE 05

AHLSELL CONTINUES ACQUISITIONS >

Ahlsell, a distributor across the Nordic region of installation products, tools and supplies for installation, construction, real estate management, industrial and power companies and the public sector has entered agreements to acquire three businesses, Proffklær AS, Lindqvist AS and B­Max Svets AB. The acquisitions are intended to broaden Ahlsell’s position in the market.

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ASIA 07

ATLAS COPCO TO EXPAND IN INDIA >

Atlas Copco Group has begun construction of a new manufacturing facility in Talegaon, Pune, India. The new factory is planned to be completed by Q2, 2024 and will manufacture air and gas compressor systems for the local market and for export.

EUROPE 06

FISCHER NAMED GERMAN BRAND ICON >

The fischer Group of Companies has been declared a German Brand Icon by the Plus X Award. The winners are selected by an international and independent panel of expert judges from over 80 industries. fischer was presented with the German Brand Icons award due to the company’s “relentless drive for excellence and its tireless innovative spirit,” the panel stated.

ASIA 08

CONDAT NEW SITE IN CHINA >

Already present in China for over 15 years with a local production unit in Shanghai, Condat is now expanding with a brand­new plant settled in the Shandong province with CONDAT Qingdao. The new facility sits on 33,000 m² of land with the surface area of the industrial buildings covering 12,800 m².

Building a resilient SUPPLY CHAIN

Planning, changing and adjusting – it’s as fluid as the water it sails on. Clive Daley of Daley Hub discusses resilience and supply chains…

your planning talent. Build a behaviour across your business so that both purchasing and sales arms are in harmony. Know exactly what you need, when you need it and in what volume. Critically, deal with the excess and obsolete stock. This frees up cash to spend on the stock that you are selling in volume. Third party businesses can make this easier for you. Engage with them.

GET CLOSER TO YOUR CUSTOMER

Disruptive times may have caused your customer relationships to become strained. Worse than that is when they have dwindled away, and you don’t even realise it.

Pick up the phone. Visit that customer you haven’t seen for a while. Understand their plans. Work together. It takes two to be successful.

Rebuild those relationships with a new energy, collaborate to ensure you help each other.

Recent events have demonstrated to us all that if there was ever a time for a resilient Supply Chain, it is now. If you think the after effects of the past three years are behind us, think again. Some challenges may well be here to stay.

What should we be looking at, or worried about? What should we be planning, changing, or adjusting?

We need to get our predicting heads on to anticipate issues and we must be agile.

Whilst it is tempting to breathe a deep sigh of relief, ensure you have your ducks in a row for a resilient supply chain.

“You can’t judge a good week by having no issues. You judge a good week by how you have dealt with them.”

OVER-RELIANCE

Prior to 2020, those purchasing from China planned for a Chinese New Year (CNY) that disrupted the supply chain for four to five weeks (OK, maybe a little longer with some factories I hear you say).

Some ordered ahead to anticipate it, but then 2020 landed and CNY lasted for nearly 20 weeks.

Those too reliant on China’s low­cost sourcing realised they had to change. When the entire world was engulfed with the pandemic, many forgot their over reliance. Let this be a prompt to remind you.

It is not just about China, though it still remains one of the largest low­cost manufacturing locations for volume, it’s about the learning we need to take from the over­reliance.

Consider the regions that you purchase from and balance the risk. Act now, it can take up to 18 months to even move part of your sourcing to another region.

WORKING CAPITAL RIGHT-SIZED

Many businesses try to have everything available all the time. It can be done, but at what cost?

Cashflow running short has been the deathblow for many a business.

Where is your cash usually stored? A big draw on your funds is your stock. Invest in your planning systems and cultivate

BE AHEAD OF THE GAME

At last year’s Global DIY summit Rik Vera advised us to have a new KPI, the curiosity factor.

We have introduced this with several of our clients with great results. Get a feel for things about to happen. Be curious. Ask why something is happening. Connect the dots. Understand the picture that is being painted and react to it before it becomes a portrait of disaster. Anticipation will get you ahead of the game. If you are speaking to your factories, don’t just ask them about them and their production, ask about the economy, the factory view, their prediction of upcoming issues.

You will learn things that may well give you an edge on the market and propel you beyond your competition.

COST REDUCTION FOCUS

We are at a time of inflation. The cost of living has soared and might go even higher. There is no better time to deliver cost reductions, efficiencies and savings.

Everything from your logistics, to knowing where the main players are and what they should be charging will deliver immediate savings. Implement manufacturing efficiencies to deliver more in the same amount of production hours. Build the leverage you need to extract cost from the supply chain.

Additional costs are coming. Some are already here. Plastic and recycling taxes will only increase. The draw on resource to ensure you are doing the right thing for your eco credentials and CO2 footprint should not be misjudged.

The time to get busy is now. Prepare for the new challenges that will come. To be ready, implement your resilient supply chain.

REACH OUT IF YOU NEED SUPPORT

With so many areas to focus on, you may be overwhelmed and asking yourself where to start.

Daley Hub – supporting leaders, customers and colleagues to drive business forward.

www.daleyhub.com

PGB-POLSKA’S COMPETITIVE EDGE

Investments have come thick and fast for pgb-Polska, including extending its ranges, making packaging more efficient and boosting its warehouse capacity, all aimed at improving the fastener company’s competitive edge…

pgb­Polska is a leading supplier and manufacturer of fixings, anchors and tools. With an assortment of around 5,000 items constantly available from stock, the company offers a solution for almost every fastening challenge.

Since 2020, pgb­Polska has expanded its product range, adding new sizes of frame anchors and insulation plugs according to market needs. The business has also introduced new types of fasteners for gutters and expanded the range for photovoltaic installations. From the foundations to the fastening of the panels; pgb­Polska is continually expanding its offer, while simultaneously gaining new markets. In 2021, the business increased its storage capacity from 10,000 m2 to 14,000 m2 to ensure there’s room for its expanding ranges.

Investment in an automatic packaging line has allowed pgbPolska to increase its distribution capabilities.

The manufacturer is also continuing to expand the range of packaging: “We are able to pack the products in plastic bags, standard boxes and a range of plastic packaging such as boxes or buckets,” says the firm.

The system allows customers to choose the right packaging and labels tailored to their customer's requirements, in any size of package according to customer demands. Private label products and custom, tailored packages are available, suiting a brand’s specific needs.

The complete anchoring programme of pgb­Polska is distributed under the brand name SMART. At the production unit in Zabrze, it produces high­quality and Europeanapproved synthetic anchors such as window plugs, nail plugs, insulation plugs and universal plugs. For (structural) anchors, SMART offers a complete range of mechanical and chemical

ENERGY EFFICIENT: pgb Polska has an extensive photovoltaic panel system (550 of them) helping meet the energy needs of its plant

anchors. More than 25 product families have one or more extensive ETA ratings and offer a guarantee for safe and durable anchoring thanks to excellent technical aspects.

Pgb­Polska strives for high­quality materials through a proper purchasing policy, ensuring compliance with industry standards (DIN, ISO, or customer specifications). It approves, provisionally approves, or rejects suppliers based on their past performance and quality system evaluations.

Random inspections of incoming goods are performed, with measurements taken and a standardised report made, depending on the product type. Pgb­Polska has a formidable arsenal of testing tools such as the Fischerscope, Thermo Scientific X­ray, Pull­out Tester, Go and No­Go gauges, Torque Tester, sliding gauge, micrometer, hardness meter, profile projector, and wire gauge for its inspections.

The firm says: “At pgb­Polska, we keep our promises. ‘Sustainable business’ is not an empty statement. Our commitment to the environment is gradually taking shape. And we can prove it.

“What does sustainable business mean to us in concrete terms? Well, the sun is the basis of every green energy source we know: it makes the wind blow, makes trees and plants grow, keeps the watercourse going, and much more.”

pgb­Polska has 550 photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 250 kW, so the company can run on a high proportion of autonomous energy to keep its carbon footprint as small as possible. The recently integrated installation is working and bringing the first results – hence the motivation to continue this direction in the future and try to reduce energy costs – and thus the final cost of the product, customers will be pleased to hear.

Furthermore, while shipping its goods, pgb­Polska tries to limit packaging material, and in addition, it uses packaging material (cardboard) that is already recycled or can be recycled.

Finally, pgb­Polska also takes into account the different methods of galvanisation. For example, it ensures that its screws are galvanised ChromeVI­free and that they comply with RoHS guidelines.

pgb­Polska is a European player strongly committed to digitisation and comprehensive service to its customers. It foresees that automation and smart manufacturing technologies are likely to play a significant role in fastener production. The implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts, such as IoT devices, robotics, and data analytics, can enhance production efficiency, quality control, and reduce downtime.

Another important element to consider is customisation and personalisation, says the firm: “Customers may increasingly seek customised or personalised fasteners to suit specific applications. Manufacturers that can offer a diverse range of options and quick turnaround times are likely to gain a competitive edge.”

Pgb­Polska concludes: “In today's fast­paced and dynamic business landscape, staying competitive is essential for survival and growth. Investing in new technologies and innovative solutions helps businesses keep up with or surpass their competitors. Innovation often leads to process improvements, automation and the development of more efficient systems. These enhancements can boost productivity, reduce costs and increase overall profitability.”

// In 2021, the business increased its storage capacity from 10,000 m2 to 14,000 m2 to ensure there’s room for its expanding ranges. //

ACHILL ON ITS NEW WAREHOUSE AND WORKFLOW REVAMP

It’s little over a year since Timo Scholle took over sole ownership and management of Achilles Seibert GmbH. In that time, the distribution market has continued to produce new challenges meanwhile Achill itself has seen some sizeable investments. We asked the Managing Director to bring us up to date with the latest at the family company…

You took over sole responsibility for Achilles Seibert with a leadership transition just over a year ago. How’s it been going so far? All relatively stable?

It’s been relatively stable and of course, the first year was quite exciting. Not only as the sole owner, but business had been pretty good for the last couple of years too. On the other hand, in the second half of the year you could see some clouds on the horizon, with prices and inflation.

Nevertheless, we have been happy looking forward and most of the time have struggled to find enough staff to keep up with the work. That’s been one of the biggest points. We changed a lot internally, we brought in a lot of employee benefits and now we have a new warehouse construction.

Achill’s warehousing will be 50% larger by the time the new warehouse is complete, later this year

Can you tell us a bit more about the warehouse in Germany? We are expanding by around 50%. Our warehouse hopefully will be completed in time for Christmas – bad weather here put us behind schedule, but we will have everything finished by year end.

Presumably you’ll need more staff to run that as well, because you've already mentioned the staffing challenges? Those challenge are not because of this warehouse. We have the pallets outside, part of an external warehouse so basically our people are already handling the tonnage, but it will be made easier because they don't need to unload and load from a secondary warehouse. Nevertheless, regarding recruitment, our

growth over the last few years was quite significant and we also increased our product range. So we have more product to move around. Over the last few years, we could basically cover that with existing staff, but everybody was working to the limit. So, to get back to a normal level we are trying to hire more people and use our existing space more efficiently. It has been very difficult to find people, although, recently it has felt that there are more people on the market. Employment agencies are sending through more candidates now.

In India we have finished our warehouse with a partner in India. We also have one staff member in India who is handling the whole Indian operation, purchasing, sourcing, taking care of quality before it leaves the Indian warehouse… it’s working pretty well especially with the political background to China, Taiwan and the European Union. The Indian market is becoming more and more interesting.

The next step is to set up this kind of operation in Vietnam, another big upcoming sourcing market.

We are definitely hearing more industry chatter about India and it’s interesting to hear you mention anti-dumping and other supply chain challenges in that context.

I think mainly it is the price and also China is not so willing anymore to offer a very low price on fastener work. You could argue that the fastener business is not their core interest with the support of the export companies maybe not as high as it used to be. China has its own market, other markets and, frankly speaking, they got punished twice by the European

// Our growth over the last few years was quite significant and we also increased our product range. //

Achill is broadening the scope of its sourcing to new geographical territories

Union over anti­dumping. So, let’s say we shouldn’t be surprised that Europe is not the first choice of business anymore. Also, the German government is pushing more economic connection with the Indian market. There are some difficulties with the time it takes to get visas, but in the longer term, I believe that the Indian market will be, in the next five to 10 years, the same as China was 15 or 20 years ago.

Going back to the new warehouse in Germany, has that been created because holding more and more stock is an increasingly important part of the business? Do you need a bigger range these days to sort of satisfy your customers?

Yes, there are basically two reasons. Of course we increased our product range which leads to a bigger warehouse. There’s also the price advantage you get if you buy in bigger quantities. Increasingly, manufacturers in Asia are more driven now by efficiency. Factories won’t produce a couple of kilos and then ship it to you. They also need to be efficient. It’s also easier for us to buy full pallets instead of mixed pallets because whole pallets can be handled in the warehouse much easier. Mixed pallets have to be completely unpacked and checked. Maybe you end up with a little too much stock, but from the handling side and the price advantage, it makes it up. Those are the two basic reasons.

Have you any insights you can share about which markets are doing well?

We supply only to distributors, so it is difficult for us to say which industry is booming. Country­wise, we see that East Europe, Italy, Spain and France are way more active than traditional business partners in Germany or Scandinavia. So, you listen to the news and see which countries are still growing economically and that’s also where we can see the business goes right now.

We do see that the automotive industry is in transition and undergoing uncertainty. It’s hard for repair shops, say, to know how many spare parts they should buy for traditional fuel cars.

Aside from the new warehouse, Achilles has also been investing in improved workflow? Is that still onging?

We have had a document management system since the middle of the year, which covers the whole workflow. Every document running through this company from customer inquiries, orders or whatever, is processed there. It's 100% traceable, nothing gets lost. So, we can push the workflow from purchasing to sales to the back office to the warehouse and this makes it far more efficient. And it’s easier, you can work basically anywhere now. It's very simple.

There is also continuous investment in new technologies. We're trying to provide our customers with barcodes on all documents, so they don't need to type their numbers when they receive the goods, they can just scan it. The second step

don’t need to scan each item. They just scan that QR code one time. We’re also talking with one or two customers about RFID identification. So, basically in the future our vision with customers is that goods pass the scanner at the entrance door and the system immediately recognises all the items and processes them, much more efficiently.

What else is coming up in the near future?

We invested a lot in the last one and a half years, so the second half of 2023 is about implementing all the investments and letting them run smoothly. So, by the end of the year or beginning of next you’re running with a fully smooth operation.

The

market

is adjusting to a lot of changes

at the

moment.

In the UK we were recently updated on UKCA marking, but it's still causing concern in the industry...

I talked with one UK customer about a similar problem, when from October onwards, if you import goods to the European Union, you need to have CBAM certification. We were aware of what CBAM means for us, but I wasn’t aware that my customer needs to do that when he sells to the European Union as well.

Another area of struggle is with Europe’s sanctions on Russia. We’re not selling to Russia and have no ties to that, but from 30 September we will need to have supporting documentation like Mill Test certificates to prove that our products have not been produced with any steel components made or touched in Russia.

It doesn’t seem to get any less complicated, there’s always something else. So, it’s not just that the UK’s regulations are confusing right now, I think they can be from the European Union too.

The next few months might be challenging, but I have nothing to complain about. It’s certainly not been boring!

www.achill-fasteners.com

// We see that East Europe, Italy, Spain and France are way more active than traditional business partners in Germany or Scandinavia. //

Efficiencies with barcoding, QR codes and RFID are underway with Achill

PIC CREDIT: @cmykstück, by Yvonne Eckert

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

HOW GROWERMETAL AIMS TO CREATE VALUE FOR CUSTOMERS

A long history alone is not enough to guarantee success. That’s why washer manufacturer Growermetal is constantly focused on delivering a wide range of parts, investing in cuttingedge technologies and strategic internal production.

The story of Growermetal began in the north of Italy in 1950, when the founder Virginio Cattaneo established the first settlement of the company in the area of Lecco. During the ‘60s the company moved to its current site in Calco where it lived the first stage of its expansion, paving the way to growth that saw one of its most fortunate phases at the beginning of the new millennium. Counting on its established history and long experience in washer manufacturing, today Growermetal is a reliable partner for some of the most demanding industries of the world, addressing European and international leaders in the automotive, aerospace, railway, power generation, electromechanics, construction and many other sectors.

“We are proud of our well­known reputation in the fastener industry,” says Paolo Cattaneo, Growermetal CEO. “We are also well aware that a long heritage is something yet not enough to guarantee the creation of added value and bring a competitive advantage for our customers. To achieve these goals, we combine several strategic investments and a flexible service, aimed at improving the quality of our washers, creating the certified solutions according to the application needs and making them available to customers, wherever and whenever they need them.”

Among the factors contributing to the progression of the business, Growermetal’s structured portfolio is essential. Offering a range of 4,500 standard washers and more than 2,500 customised projects according to customers’ drawings, Growermetal is able to answer the needs of different markets. Together with the different types of washers, which include external and internal teethed washers, safety washers, flat

washers, conical elastic washers, spring washers, spherical washers, electric terminal washers and many others, the company produces also sealing push­in caps, metallic parts with EPDM inserts and special blanked and bended parts.

That variety is combined with a series of special treatments ranging from surface treatments to zinc flake coating and mechanical zinc plating, in order to make the performance of every piece long­lasting and reliable. “Our completely in­house production is with no doubt one of our most relevant strengths, as it gives us the opportunity to provide a number of coatings and heat treatments directly in our headquarters,” says Cattaneo. “Every department is linked together in a production chain that includes quality controls, research laboratories and a fully automatic warehouse, with the benefit of higher levels of efficiency, versatility and a constant control of the parts.”

PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS

In facing future challenges, the commitment to the innovation of Growermetal is essential and there are several strategies in action, involving internal investments, product development, innovative projects and partnerships, as the recently entrance of Growermetal in the Lombardia Aerospace Cluster.

One of the main results of this approach was Growermetal’s entry into the Joint Research Center MATT – Metal And Transformation Technologies: a project born from the partnership between the Politecnico di Milano and other companies and based on the concept of open innovation, with the objective of developing researches through shared knowledge and tools.

// Offering a range of 4,500 standard washers and more than 2,500 customised projects according to customers’ drawings, Growermetal is able to answer the needs of different markets. //

Growermetal’s production capabilities include a vast range of different types of washers, as well as sealing push-in caps, metallic parts with EPDM inserts and special blanked and bended parts

The evolution of the company's approach is exhibited by the range of products launched by Growermetal in recent years. In addition to the production of standard washers, which still constitute the most important part of its portfolio, the in­house research and development laboratory has contributed to the creation of exclusive projects, such as the flagship products Grower TenKeep and Grower SpheraTech. Products that express a tendency towards expansion, at service of the more and more demanding needs of the industries.

Furthermore, the digitalisation process represents a new opportunity for the brand, with the implementation of cuttingedge systems for data processing and the integration of digital technologies inside the products. An example of this tendency is the new Grower Detecto, a concept design launched in 2023 and characterised by an embedded smart sensor that allows live detection of bolt loosening.

Talking about the process, the necessity to improve the control of the various stages of production has led to the adoption of technologies aimed at the recording of process data. A system that allows Growermetal to monitor and improve the manufacturing stages, tracking each activity within the departments and preventing problems or non­conformities.

“Traceability is a key requirement to improve the performance

R&D investments have seen the firm launch new products like Grower TenKeep and Grower SpheraTech

of our washers and refine their management, maintaining the highest productivity standards,” says Cattaneo. “This is particularly true in demanding applications such as the automotive industry, where effectiveness and safety are crucial. The integration of software for data collection helps us in achieving new levels of efficiency at every stage, from production to storage and transportation. In this way, we are able to ensure the supply of high­performing and safe washers, enabling customers to get the best out of their business.”

These technologies also contributed in making the process more sustainable, both from the economical and environmental point of view, as underlined by Growermetal’s HSE manager Raffaele Motta: “When it comes to sustainability, the digitalization process opens up new opportunities that ranges from a more efficient production model to a remarkable reduction of resource and energy consumption. As a company focused on innovation, we can’t help ourselves but embrace the challenges linked to the use of these technologies, becoming more transparent, efficient and responsible. The results we are having are encouraging and will guide the next steps of our sustainable evolution.”

www.growermetal.com

Growermetal is expanding its project work and partnerships, including its recent entrance to the Lombardia Aerospace Cluster

ROTHOBLAAS: IN STEEL WE (T)RUST

Choosing the right screw to account for weather conditions and corrosion is imperative in construction to ensure reliability and strength. Rothoblaas offers a range of products to meet the most challenging demands includes coated solutions and stainless-steel screws.

The corrosion of steel screws is a common issue in constructions exposed to weather conditions or in specific climatic zones. When screws corrode, they become brittle and lose the characteristics that ensure their effectiveness, leading to the failure of structures in which they are used. For this reason, knowing how to choose the right screws based on the context and the environment in which they will be used is crucial.

Naturally, to ensure proper behaviour and effectiveness of connections, their adequate strength and durability, the choice of screw must not only consider its corrosion resistance. In the case of wood applications, for example, the screw is subject to the impact of wood deformations on its mechanical strength, to its behaviour under fire conditions, and to the substrate on which it is installed.

The application of screws in a complex material like wood should also consider another key factor, the corrosivity class of the wood in which the screw is inserted. This is determined by the combination of several factors: primarily the service class (determined by the relative humidity of the environment in which the wooden element is placed) and the moisture content of the wood itself, the type of wood treatment and the specific acidity of the wood species.

Even in highly corrosive environments, using stainless steel screws is not always the best choice. There are many types of stainless steel, but in general, the higher the corrosion resistance of the alloy, the lower its mechanical strength.

Coated and resistant screws

The use of screws with certified coatings for corrosivity class is an ideal solution in many aspects. These carbon screws have extremely high mechanical strength, while the coating makes them highly resistant to atmospheric corrosion. Moreover, they are more competitively priced compared to equivalent stainless­steel screws and are available in more sizes.

Class C4 screws are useful in constructions exposed to corrosive environments. For instance, they can be used for fastening wooden structures or for installing photovoltaic systems on several types of roofs. Their resistance to atmospheric corrosion makes them suitable for use in coastal or industrial areas as well.

Corrosivity classes and other factors

Atmospheric corrosivity classes represent the most common and standardised method for evaluating the aggressiveness of the environment in which screws are located. For instance, class C1 represents a lightly polluted and dry environment, while class C5 represents a highly corrosive and humid environment, such as coastal or industrial areas or environments highly exposed to chlorides or sulphur dioxide.

Choosing the right screws is essential to ensure the safety of weather­exposed constructions. Rothoblaas screws represent a reliable solution for corrosion in aggressive environments, offering a comprehensive range that includes coated solutions or stainless­steel screws to withstand all types of weather conditions, ensuring long­lasting stability of structures.

www.rothoblaas.com

// Rothoblaas screws represent a reliable solution for corrosion in aggressive environments. //

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

BARTON: BENEFITS OF COLD-FORMING

Optimas’ UK manufacturing division, Barton Cold­Form, holds a rich 90­year legacy of cold­form fastener manufacturing.

Established in 1932 at the Barton Arms public house in Birmingham, Barton Cold­Form has seen incredible technological advancements across industry since its inception. However, although cold­forming is recorded to have been in use as early as the 19th century, the team at Barton have proved its suitability to many modern engineering requirements.

Cold­forming’s production of durable and consistent fasteners on a large­scale allows it to lend itself to many manufacturing applications of today. Cold­form manufacturing is typically used to make fasteners with complex shapes and screw heads, and produces parts by forming metal into different shapes through force, and without heat. This process maximises a part’s metallurgical properties, prioritising strength and durability by ensuring its structural integrity. Working with partners from the EV, defence, power generation, automotive and off­highway industries, amongst many others, Barton’s cold­form process has catered to a range of durable, bespoke fastening solutions.

Across its time, Barton has partnered with manufacturers with an incredibly high product output, but with 29 Nedschroef, Sacma and Nakashimada cold­heading machines running 24 hours a day, Barton is more than well­suited to large­scale production. A single cold­forming machine can produce hundreds of thousands of pieces a day, which is much higher than other forms of manufacturing, like hot forging or bar turning. However, Barton’s capability for large­scale production hasn’t detracted from its environmental consciousness. The plant has recently attracted a wave of new customers with a heightened focus on sustainability. Not only does Barton’s central location in the UK allow for a lowered carbon footprint through onshoring and nearshoring, but its manufacturing process itself is highly reproducible.

Prioritising sustainability from the very beginning of the manufacturing process, Barton sources green steel, which is then formed in its near­net state, ensuring very minimal waste of raw materials. Alongside running on 100% renewable energy, Barton also recycles 89% of its cold­forming waste, with 0% of it sent to landfill.

With sustainability and localisation now key elements in the decision­making process for most manufacturers, Barton has only become a more attractive supply partner. In the face of increasingly advanced manufacturing technologies across industries, Barton is well­suited to cater to even the most complex of fastening requirements.

www.optimas.com

A manufacturing process with plenty of history, cold-forming remains popular and suited to modern engineering requirements… and it has considerable sustainable advantages used in the way Optimas’ UK production unit, Barton Cold-Form, does…

// A single cold-forming machine can produce hundreds of thousands of pieces a day, which is much higher than other forms of manufacturing, like hot forging or bar turning. //

Cold-form manufacturing is typically used to make fasteners with complex shapes and screw heads, producing parts by forming metal into different shapes through force and without heat

MANUFACTURING ROUND-UP

Headlines, diary dates and statistics for the manufacturing sector

UK MANUFACTURING: THE STATISTICS

While the vast majority of fastener manufacturing goes on beyond the shores of Great Britain, with UK producers tending to be focused on special, custom and bespoke fasteners, the UK’s overall manufacturing scene is perhaps more sizeable than it usually gets credit for.

The UK’s fastener producers are part of a broader sector that employs a sizeable 2.6 million people in the UK and contributes a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £224 billion. 41% of all business R&D is via the manufacturing industry.

Where does it rank globally in the manufacturing stakes? Make UK reckons the UK manufacturing industry ranks 8th globally by value of output. Most UK manufacturing exports head to the US (£56.7bn), the Netherlands (£37bn), Germany (£33.3bn) and the Republic of Ireland (£30bn).

(Source: Make UK)

NEW PRESIDENT FOR MTA

NIKKEN CEO and President Tony Bowkett has become the Manufacturing Technologies Association’s (MTA) new President.

Bowkett has more than 30 years of experience as MD and Founder of NIKKEN Kosakusho Europe Ltd – a specialist in high­accuracy CNC Rotary Tables and NE Tooling solutions for manufacturing applications.

He is responsible for the success and triumphs of NIKKEN’s

activities across Europe and beyond, which includes multiple subsidiary companies within the NIKKEN Europe Group, together operating in excess of 23 countries.

NIKKEN, under Bowkett’s leadership, is also a Founding Industrial Partner and Non­Executive Industrial Board member of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and firmly believes in UK manufacturing and knowledge transfer as a vital wealth creator, focusing on developing and training the next generation of engineers. With his experience in similar roles, such as a financial director and Vice president of the MTA, Bowkett is equipped to support the MTA to the highest level and aspires to promote and develop the association to engage and network with its members and associates, ensuring that UK manufacturing technologies are recognised as critical parts of government economic strategy.

DIARY DATE: MACH 2024

Pitched as the national exhibition for inspiring, innovating and connecting engineering­based manufacturing, MACH 2024 will next run over 15­19 April 2024. It expects to attract 26,000 visitors and in excess of 600 exhibitors at the NEC, Birmingham. MACH is owned and organised by the Manufacturing Technologies Association.

www.machexhibition.com

RapidIndustrialIndustrialFastenersareaproudBritishManufacturerof fastenersandturnedparts.

Operatingfromaseparatefacilitylessthan¼mileawayfromourdistribution centre,wemanufactureallstandardthreadedfastenersinawiderangeof steel,stainlesssteel,brassandexoticalloysincludingINCONEL,DUPLEXand SUPERDUPLEX.Additionally,ourfastenerengineersareabletoproduce complexbespokepartstodrawingandcustomerspecification.

Rapidhavebeenabletoapplyahighlyresponsiveandservicedrivenculture toourmanufacturingphilosophythathasbeengainedfromsupplyinghighly demandingendusersforover40years.

Itisoftotalimportancethatwedowhatwesaywhenwesay.Tothatend,we operateaTcardsystemtoplanandmanageourmanufacturingordersso wecanbetransparentwithourcustomersandcommunicateregular progressupdates.

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

UNITED KINGDOM – MIDLANDS

PERFORMANCE FASTENERS –SETTING STANDARDS IN SERVICE

As an industrial hub in the UK, the Midlands has its share of fastener manufacturers. To stand out in the crowd, West Bromwich­based Performance Fasteners doesn’t try to be everything for everybody, instead choosing to focus on a niche area of the supply in the manufacture of specialist high performing fasteners. Believing service is king and manufacturing is the foundation of the supply chain, the team take pride in what they do, working hard to solve problems. “People have to be able to rely on you,” says Director Sally Matthews. “We break backs to get things done.”

Established in 2010, Performance Fasteners work across many sectors including aerospace, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, R&D, motorsport and automotive. Sally and fellow Director, Cliff Roberts, called on their collective many decades in the industry to carve a space for themselves on the market, working on things not everyone else can do. Whether it is prototype work, to enable proof of concept or working with more specialised materials, the team offer peace of mind. “We feel we are proficient with fasteners made from high­grade

performing stainless steel working with proven higher tensile,” explains Sally.

With 99% RFT and on time delivery as just some of the benchmarks the company aims for, it’s no surprise they have won awards for service in the region and from some of their customers. “We’ve achieved consistent Gold Awards for service on RFT (Right first time) OTIG (On time in full) and Response,” says Sally. All of this is in addition to the UKAS and ISO 9001:2015 accreditation you would expect from a manufacturer.

Taking service to the next level, Performance Fasteners also offer a handy Fastener Technical Guide for engineers. “Cliff designed, wrote, and developed the tech guide. It gives not just ISO and Din dimensions for a fastener range that includes hexagon head bolts nuts and sets, comprehensive sockes crew products and plugs. The contents include dimensional comparison tables, raw material weights, conversion charts for tensile strength ranges, fraction to inch and fraction to millimetre and most things you need to know,” adds Sally. Currently on its third edition, the comprehensive booklet has been a hit with customers and is regularly recommended to newcomers in the industry.

With a personable approach and attentive problem­solvers, Performance Fasteners are a trusted reliable manufacturer of fasteners, socket screws, turned parts and engineering components for specific requirements.

www.PFLUK.com

The fastener market is a competitive field but Performance Fasteners draw on their decades of experience to provide excellent service and solve problems for their clients.

Director Cliff Roberts

“YOUR NON-STANDARD IS OUR STANDARD”

Pitched as a one stop shop for non-standard and special fasteners, Smith Bullough’s experienced team is hungry to convert more business in the UK and in Europe. Torque Magazine caught up with Director Tim Garton and Manager Richard Garton

IIn the heart of the manufacturing world in Greater Manchester, Smith Bullough is a full­blown fastener manufacturing operation.

With a history that can be traced back to the 19th century, the business knows a thing or two about making bolts. Today, Smith Bullough is fully focused on producing specials and nonstandards, bolts that are specific to customer drawings with a huge variation available.

Buying in steel bar from UK and Europe suppliers, Smith Bullough can forge and CNC machine bolts.

Director Tim Garton explains: “We have all types of material; All standard carbon steels, alloy steels and then a whole range of non­ferrous and exotic materials.

“The majority of the stuff that we make is bespoke to customer drawings. We don’t tend to make much in a standard shape. We do all the thread forms from standard coarse pitch, fine pitches, all the different denominations of threads. You’ve got metric, unified, obsolete thread forms like BSF and BSW… we do the whole gambit.

“We can forge, we can then grind shank and we can get a real close tolerance on the shank if required. We machine threads, we can roll threads… If someone wants, for example, a bolt with flats on shank, we can do that. We’ve got CNC milling. We can also do a lot of drilling, so we can cross drill through threads. We can drill through the heads… we can drill anywhere you like within reason.

“Our standard drilling holes is from about 1.5 millimetre diameter, but we actually can drill holes down to 0.8 millime­

tre, which is quite small. Yeah, but it’s inverse of the smaller the size, the higher the price. When you go below one point, it’s quite a complicated procedure.

“Diameter­wise, we typically can start at about five millimetre, up to 800 millimetre long and if you push it, but to around 100mm diameter, but there isn’t much of a demand for that. Those are our standard working ranges. The machines don’t care what we throw at them!”

“We’ve got spark erosion in­house and we make the majority of the tooling but if somebody wanted their own bespoke logo on the head, and we do a few of those, then we’ll get that contracted out but we basically control the whole operation.”

In addition to what is considered traditional bolt making equipment, the firm has the aforementioned CNC and manual turning machines, capable of sophisticated procedures: “We do manual drilling, CNC drilling, we’ve got quite a range of emi­mec sprints, they tend to be popular for threads. On finishes, we treat any form of heat treatment that’s required. It’s subcontracted. But through approved suppliers. Surface treatments, finishes, plating, all the standard stuff, anything that can be reasonably required, we can get done.”

And while the firm naturally likes to deal with large quantities, more modest amounts are welcome too, Tim Garton says: “Not everything needs to be 10s of 1,000s, hundreds of 1,000s. Sometimes we’ll do 10 bolts or even less. We can cover demand that most people want.”

INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE

“We’ve been investing quite a lot recently in more skilled people and also the upskilling of staff,” Richard Garton explains. “With higher skilled people they can filter down knowledge though training, so we’re bringing existing staff training to a higher level as well. We’ve also employed additional high skilled personnel on the CNC area.”

The firm is also planning a return to apprenticeships, bringing them back after Covid disrupted its training schemes. Smith Bullough has recently signed up with local colleges to bring in fresh new talent.

On­shoring and re­shoring have been recurring themes, particularly since the pandemic disrupted the supply chain. Has Smith Bullough benefitted? “I would say so,” Manager Richard Garton tells Torque Magazine. “We’re growing year­on­year. People haven’t actually said that is why they’re coming to us, but I assume part of that will be from those looking to source in the UK. The business is growing – that is a positive sign.

The firm continues to invest in systems to improve traceability too: “We recently invested in a bespoke temperature readout system for our hot forging facility. So, it won’t only just read out every single bolt, it’s also going to record the temperature of every bolt going through the production. So then, you know, we will have the controls locked. It’s part of our ongoing improvement in systems and procedures. Especially for the more exotic materials, if people are spending a lot of money on their bolt, then you need to ensure that you’ve got all the controls in place. And temperature is a critical function.”

CHALLENGES

Manufacturers are always keenly eyeing raw material prices, which Smith Bullough feels have been stablising over recent months, but other challenges are – as observed elsewhere in this magazine – new regulations regarding imports, particularly those which will prevent Russia origin materials.

Almost coincidentally, Smith Bullough has a solution in the works: “We used to buy quite a lot from distributors, wholesalers, but we’re actually going to buy more from the mills. It will mean we are investing more money, because you have to have tonnes at a time, but it’s an opportune time. It’s going to be far easier for us to get the data of origin and also in terms of going green and the CBAM regulations.”

Sustainability has been, the manufacturer honestly admits, something that many have kept to the sidelines in past years: “It’s been left out on the periphery too much in manufacturing.

That is something we are now paying a lot more attention to, as a producer and also as an SME.”

Exports are also a point of focus: “We’re endeavouring to increase our export sales, yes. We exhibited at Fastener Fair Global and we have had a team out in EU territory this year. We already do a reasonable amount, but we see it is a big opportunity – we believe we can be doing a lot more, especially in bespoke parts.”

THE VALUE OF THE FASTENER ECOSYSTEM

Too often, industries undervalue themselves and their impact on the broader economy and, in the view of Torque Magazine, that sometimes includes the fastener business. Businesses do not work in isolation, and their contribution to local employment and business goes far beyond their own profit and loss sheets, something that governments could well be reminded about. With that in mind, Torque asks Smith Bullough for a ballpark figure on the number of suppliers it uses. Straight off the bat, Richard Garton has the numbers. “It’s just over 300 suppliers, that includes everything from actual materials to things like stationery.”

ONE STOP SHOP FOR NON-STANDARD FASTENERS

“You can sum up our offering up with saying that ‘Your non­standard is our standard’,” explains Richard Garton. “We have the facilities for every single process really within what you could want within the fastener industry. And we have subcontractors for all your plating, heat treatment, patch locking… so anything you can’t get from your standard suppliers, we will be able to help. We have the facilities and the personnel to machine it. We can back it all up with all the quality documentation that’s required.”

Smith Bullough is keen to get across its capabilities: “We’ve got all this specialist equipment and talented people that we employ – we want companies to know what we can do.

“We’re happy for people to turn up and we will be holding open manufacturing days, like we did pre­Covid, where we invited people to come and see what we do and all that happens in fastener manufacturing. With fewer people making bolts, especially in the UK, people don’t really understand everything that’s involved. It’s not just like waving a magic wand and it falls into a box. There’s quite a lot of disciplines and procedures required to get the product to that state.”

“There isn’t much within a bolting range that people can throw at us that we can’t actually come back with.”

www.smithbullough.com

ASK FOR THEM BY NAME...

When choosing industrial fasteners, genuine quality means safety and performance. Billions of installations in millions of applications worldwide are Nord-Lock’s mark of authority, reinforced by meticulous production tolerances, thorough certification, and an industry-first lifetime warranty.

Engineers ask for them by name, and they’re are a standard-bearer for safety in construction and industry.

Choose lasting bolted connections. Choose reduced maintenance, cost-effective solutions and first-class engineering support. Choose reliable worldwide supply.

Ask for Nord-Lock.

NON STANDARD SOCKET SCREW MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE

Non Standard Socket Screw is more than its name implies. The company has grown significantly since it was established over 52 years ago, not only expanding physically on its current site, but also in the products being manufactured and the different markets it works in. The company manufactures goods that are supplied into a vast range of industries including automotive, aerospace, defence, rail, recycling and oil & gas to name just a few. Exports are largely to Europe but stretch as far afield as Australia, South Africa and the USA as well.

While the company name might suggest it only supplies and manufactures socket screws, it’s not the case, as NSSS manufacture all socket screw head types ranging from caps, countersunk, button, flange, shoulder screws but also hexagon heads, flanged hex, ferry & 12 point head, tee bolts and special bespoke items. The team work with a variety of raw materials including Alloys Steel in all tensile grades, Stainless Steel, Duplex and Super Duplex, Ali Bronze and Phos bronze, Aluminium and Titanium, plus Inconels and Hastelloy. A wide range of finishes are available including Zinc, Galvanising, Geomet®, Delta Protekt®, Xylan Coated® and cadmium plating to aerospace standards. There is also a spectrum of locking services on offer such as Patlok® (Blue), Tuflok® (Blue), Precote® (Pink), Eslok® (Red), Anulok® (Yellow), Wedgelok® (Nylon Pellet) and Nylon dog points.

With a range from M1.6 up to M64, and the imperial equivalent diameters, NSSS aim to provide an unparalleled range and service. The production facility is backed by a team of highly skilled staff, many of whom have been with the company for decades. Over a third of the 90­plus members of staff working for the company have been there for over 25 years, and 13 for more than 35 years. “We see the low turnover of staff as a great achievement,” says Mark Wolsey, NSSS senior sales manager. “Most of the team have been home grown within and when looking to recruit we have been very successful internally offering promotion opportunities for further career development.”

Working in manufacturing requires a specific skill set by the employees and NSSS like to develop those skills internally where possible. “Fastener and technical training is given continually onsite. This knowledge is enhanced due to us being a manufacturer here in Birmingham and having that opportunity to visualise the production is a great assistance. This all helps when we are assisting our customers with their special enquiries and technical support,” explains Mark.

NSSS has seen continual investments over the years with new technology. The facility boasts an array of advanced machinery including Double Blow Hot Forging Presses and Multi Axis CNC Turning and Milling apparatus. Complementing this are Centreless Grinding and Thread Rolling machines for a comprehensive manufacturing process. After successfully introducing its first 7 Axis Cincom CNC Automatic Lathe over five years ago, the company now has eight Cincoms at its disposal to offer more capacity than ever. Internal heat treatment facilities further ensure that quality is maintained throughout the production process.

“We are committed to providing products and services of the highest quality, which meet international standards and/or specific customer requirements. It is the company’s aim to enhance customer satisfaction through effective planning and implementation of management system BS EN ISO 9001:2015, including the process for continual improvement and the assurance of compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements,” says Mark. Quality is checked at every stage and the company currently employ four full time inspectors and use specialised tools such as Keyence Optical Measuring equipment.

“As we are the UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke fasteners and wholesaler of standard socket screws including Unbrako, supplying the network of Fastener Distributors throughout the UK and Europe we aim to fulfil your requirements first time every time,” adds Mark. www.nssocketscrews.com

The name Non Standard Socket Screw doesn’t come close to describing the full capabilities of the Birmingham-based manufacturer as the business continues to expand its offerings and expertise.

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

EFFICIENT CONNECTION SOLUTIONS FOR TIMBER CONSTRUCTION

Eurotec has brought more wood screw production to its facility in Hagen, following a sizeable investment in 2022…

Eurotec GmbH has been producing a select part of its wood construction screw range in its own production facility in Hagen, Germany, since 2013. That manufacturing facility underwent a significant revamp last year, enlarged to around 7,000 m² with investments made in the machine part.

The decision to expand its machine shop was to not just create more space, but also to set future­oriented goals –including becoming independent of the world market as a local manufacturer and supplying innovative high­performance connectors for sustainable prefabricated timber construction and timber construction in general. Now, the company can react quickly and flexibly to increasing market requirements and increase production capacity accordingly. More local production also brings big opportunities to effectively reduce CO2 emissions in freight transport and bulk transport from alternative procurement sources.

An ever­increasing proportion of wood construction screws is currently produced and will continue to be primarily produced in the future. The manufacturing processes for wood construction screws range from thread forming to head and tip geometry to screw length. The wide range includes in­house produced screws from 5 x 40 mm to 13 x 1400 mm. The production of full­thread screws reflects Eurotec’s greatest production strength. This know­how forms the basis for further entrepreneurial development. In addition, the company also covers the areas of injection moulding technology, stamping and bending technology and aluminium extrusion technology.

Quality assurance at Eurotec

By subjecting to regular test procedures and monitoring of production steps according to the high quality requirements according to DIN EN ISO 9001, customers can be assured of reliable and durable products. As part of internal quality assurance, the batches produced daily are strictly checked for standards such as conformity to drawings, functionality, appearance and compliance with customer­specific specifications. Eurotec’s ultimate goal is to provide customers with professional products and services and to ensure 100% on­time delivery. A large part of the fasteners in the range, especially in the wood, façade and concrete segments, have an ETA and CE certification and are suitable for load­bearing functions in various construction projects.

Sustainability in manufacturing

The goal of all company processes is a climate and environmentally­friendly way of working: One focus is put on the sustainable production concept. For example, eco­friendly raw materials and auxiliary materials are used for production processes, energy is generated by solar systems and energy consumption is minimised by the use of LED lamps throughout the hall. Green steel is used in cold forming, which can lead to savings of up to 1.5 tons of CO2 per ton of steel.

What’s next?

Eurotec GmbH continues to strive for the development of innovative high­performance fasteners to outperform simple wood construction screws. Climate­friendly building with wood remains an important topic, as wood offers a clear advantage in terms of CO2 reduction compared to cement and concrete. This can be clearly seen in the ever­increasing demand for professional fasteners in order to accomplish large­scale projects. Eurotec works continuously on the development of reliable and innovative fastening technology to meet these requirements.

Eurotec GmbH is an established company that specialises in fastening technology for demanding construction projects in timber as well as in deck and garden construction and has been contributing to quality and innovation for more than 20 years.

www.eurotec.team

Customers can be assured of reliable and durable products and a large part of the range have ETA certifications

FASTENING IS OUR PASSION

TIMBER DECK AND GARDEN ROOF FAÇADE CONCRETE

Whatever your requirements are, we provide you with everything from a single source. We produce in various processes such as stamping and stamping-bending technology, cold forming, injection moulding and extrusion technology.

Production possibilities

• Screws with 40 mm to 3000 mm, with a diameter of 3 – 14 mm are produced on fully automatic machines

• Simple thread

• Double thread

• Reduced thread

• Milling tips

• Different materials

• Different coating

• Different tip geometries

• Individual customer requirements

Surface process

From zinc to blue galvanized for long-term resistance in weathered areas (C4 – C5)

GERMANY – PLETTENBERG

75 YEARS OF EMBRACING CHANGE

The product may not change much but Plettenberg’s Güde takes pride in being ready to adapt its business, whether that’s adding a production site in Poland, adapting to the challenges of finding skilled labour or producing 50% of the energy it needs in-house. Torque Magazine speaks with CEO Lutz Güde about the milestones of Güde’s first 75 years...

How’s business?

I think the atmosphere in the market is worse than the actual situation is. We are hearing from many of our customers that August 2023 was one of the worst months in the last two to three years for them. August usually is a bad month in terms of sales, because all of Europe is on vacation, but this one does seem to be uniquely poor.

But we are doing OK. Business is down around 18%. Some of it is because of price, but of course it’s demand too. If you look at 2021­2022, I doubt that we will see this again. We can’t compare it to other years because it was so unique. There were high prices and high volumes. Now things are normalising. I would rather have had a weaker 2022 and a better 2023, but that’s the way it is, you have to get along with it!

That’s what we are hearing from a lot of the market. Would you define that as something primarily happening in the German market or more broadly?

We operate internationally, but Germany is our biggest market. We export to Europe of course, like Italy, France, Spain, Scandinavia, etc. We’ve been acting in North America for around 10 years now, which gave us a really solid foundation – in the hard times of 2020, the US market helped us out a lot. Now it’s not so strong and I think the US economy has the same problems as the rest of the worldwide economy.

Sometimes we receive these unusually large orders and we don’t know how the people have come to us. We are shipping products to India, we are shipping products in huge volumes to Australia. We just finished a shipment for a very interesting project in Japan… So, we are very internationalised. We believe that somewhere in the world, there’s always an opportunity to increase in business.

Güde has been investing alot lately, including a new logistics building?

We are constantly investing and always invest our money into the company. We keep adapting and investing our headquarters, we keep investing into our branches in Eastern Germany and Poland.

We believe that you don’t need to change every day, but you have to adapt every day. Everything around the product changes, so we have to adapt.

The demand for lockwashers is there and we invest where we see the need. There is a danger in the amount of skilled labour, so we are automating our logistics to keep it lean and less dependent on people. You hear it in every conversation you have, that skilled and unskilled labour is hard to come by. That’s the reason we’re investing huge money in optimisation. This is also the reason why we invested in Poland and the people are doing a great job there.

Güde moved to its current location in 1990 and has since expanded its buildings in 2012, 2017 and now again in 2023

High-quality solutions for fastening technology

Fasteners always comes into its own when it comes to demanding and complex tasks in fastening technology. Fastener engineers and technicians work together with developers on the customer‘s side to develop efficient solutions, particularly in the area of application technology consulting before the actual launch of a series product. The specialists benefit from the fact that they are familiar with all common production processes and can therefore also recommend the most favourable and efficient production variant.

Turned parts

Cold formed parts

Welding nuts/ Welding screws

Stamped parts

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

GERMANY – PLETTENBERG

the company was always one of the first things talked about over dinner. I used part of the yard as my football pitch and was upset whenever there were machines or pallets standing on my soccer pitch!

In 1980, from the Human Resources side, sales manager Mr Rolf Hoyer joined the company, which was a huge step. Because he and my parents formed a very strong team.

In 1990, there was no room for expansion anymore in Plettenberg city centre, so we moved to the industrial area here. This is the year that things dramatically changed, because we had space. In 2006, my father went on to buy the area next to the company which was triple the size of the company itself. At the time it might have seemed crazy, but looking back you’d say he was a very wise guy. We took advantage of this in 2012, constructing a hall, also in 2017 and now again in 2023. Now we are mostly done with the area. We’ve only got a smaller space left to develop now.

Certifications have been important too, achieving DIN EN ISO 9001 in 1996. In 2010, Dennis Zöller joined our company and took over a number of important roles, including in sales and also in terms of process, IT and quality. In a small company, when you’re in the management position, you have to work across departments, so this I would say was a milestone. We’ve gone on to achieve further certifications; In 2018, we were approved by Bosch which is I think the highest certification we ever can achieve because we are not supplying to the automotive industry. We’ve gone on to be certified by various end users in the railway sector.

In 2021 we opened Güde Polska, which was 100% owned by Güde in Plettenberg and fully linked IT­wise.

Can you tell us more about the new building in Poland?

We are renting in Poland around 1,700m²; we are building a new premise here in Plettenberg. We are constructing a new premises of about 1,600 m², it will have an effect on every single department. We will have more stock so we can expand our packing units, so we’ll be able to pull out some machines and have more space for our production to have more machines. So it is not about increasing space for a particular department, like logistics, it will have an impact on every department.

It’s not just build it and you’re finished, it’s about the complex process behind it. In management you have to take that helicopter view, of how do you take these bricks and move them around so you have a clear process view? I think that change is very important, this is what we do not just in 2023 but what we did 75 years ago.

You’ve touched on the fact that Güde is celebrating its 75th anniversary. I am sure there are many, but can you identify any specific milestones or landmark moments for the business?

There are many! Seventy­five years ago, the company was founded in the house where I’m now living, which is a very romantic view. In 1973, my father took over the business and his first premises were directly linked to the house. Then my mother joined into the financial sector, so when I was a kid,

These are maybe the main milestones we have made in the past 75 years. Currently we are talking about key words like digitalisation and sustainability. These have long been important for us – we invested in our first solar panels in 2010 and this year we’ll markedly increase that. We started with a 100 kwp, now in 2023 we’re signing the contract on increasing our solar capacity to a further 600 kwp. In 2013, we invested in combined heat and power plants, so we are basically making the energy on our own. We buy gas and fire up our heating system with it and the side product is electricity. This was so successful that we invested in it again. Now we create up to 50% of the energy we use ourselves.

The other key word we are following is digitalisation. There’s that quote from a famous OEM about being an IT company with added production on the side. Of course it’s different with us but I like the thinking. We keep investing in our IT, we now have production data software so we can track everything online. I can check any of our machines on my smartphone, when it’s

Güde generation: Father of current CEO Lutz Güde, Friedrich-Wilhelm Güde, took the business on 50 years ago

running, why it’s not running. We can track down our product and the raw material batch within seconds. You get online access to any information. So, things like mobile working or from the home office or even from your car is perfectly possible. I think everybody’s thinking about digitalisation and sustainability.

There’s been a lot of disruption in terms of manufacturing and the whole supply chain. Do you think of yourselves as local European manufacturer, so you are in a good position to help people who are seeking a reliable supply of products?

We are very reliable supplier. Some of our customers said they were surprised that we didn’t complain much about the disruption of the last few years. Of course, we have had our problems in terms of raw materials, but we tried to forecast the market. We usually never produce something for our customer, we produce it to stock that our customer can then take advantage of.

We are expanding to get even faster in this process. We were one of the only companies who actually raised their capacity at the time with the move into Poland [in 2021], they said we were one of the first European manufacturers investing in new machinery and capacity.

The geopolitical situation with China and Taiwan is something where you cannot forecast what is going to happen. And over the past few years, most of the big companies saw how being over reliant on one country can be a risk. So, there is this de­risking strategy. We see the major players of the US are coming to us and saying, OK, we want you to produce good product for us.

I think as a European production company there is a lot of homework which you have to do with all the regulations which are coming – especially from the EU. But we work to be in the pole position.

There is a lot of talk about shifting supply chains and sourcing product from different territories. India is a name that comes up a lot.

If India is going to be the workbench of the world it will be tough for them because China did a great job in the past 30 years.

Getting back to Güde, what about your future plans for the short and medium term?

We are currently in the process of implementing and putting the new premises into operation. We’re making the process lean again, reorganising things in our company. This will be our main task for the midterm future. For the very near future, it’s about investing into our sustainable efforts and reducing our carbon footprint further.

Two years ago we reviewed where we use the most energy and we managed to reduce our energy usage by 20% but maintaining the same output, which was a great achievement. We will push this even more. We want to have a more or less green footprint, which will be our short term goal. And of course handling the everyday business, talking to the customers, trying to see where the market is going.

I think in 2020, everybody was reading the news and trying to predict when everything would recover again after Covid. You had all these experts saying 2025 or 2026, then came this huge boom that nobody expected. Now, I don’t think anyone expects that there will be a huge boom in 2024, but I do think the market will improve.

www.guede.net

Founder Wilhelm Güde started in 1948 in Plettenberg. Today GÜDE is managed by the 3rd generation. Continuity is the cornerstone for solid development and the guarantee that GÜDE will remain a reliable partner in the future.

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

NORM FASTENERS’ FSP IDENTITY: END-TO-END CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Norm Fasteners began its 50th year as a Full Service Provider (FSP) in addition to its identity as a manufacturer, becoming a ‘single business partner’ for customers with R&D, design, engineering, production, sourcing and supply chain management services…

“ As Norm Fasteners, we are designing the sustainable world of the future with the strength that we have received from our business partners for 50 years and the innovative solutions that we have developed. We continue our journey that started in 1973 with flawless connections that lead to success, and we are growing and developing.

Thanks to our 14 logistics and sales centres located in nine countries of the world and our resident engineers, we have continued to provide uninterrupted service to our business partners despite the global supply chain crisis in 2022. Hence, we achieved remarkable increases in customer satisfaction surveys. In the report in which the Norm Holding Board of Directors was assessed structure and operations in the “Best Practice” category, the Corporate Governance Rating of Norm Holding and all our companies was determined as 9.04 out of 10.

Considering our development and organic growth­oriented strategy, we have managed to double our turnover in the last two years using our own resources. With our production capacity of 200,000 tons, 400 forging machines, 21 heat treatment lines, and the projects that will be initiated, we aim to grow by 20% in 2023. We are progressing with our investments as always to achieve this goal.

Through the Fastener Fair Global 2023, which we attended in March, we had the chance to meet with our customers and examine the market and opportunities together after a fouryear break. With our VR experience corner located at our

stand, our business partners had the opportunity to visit our production facilities virtually with a 360­degree video. Our Full Service Provider identity, global service network, sustainability vision, and competence in manufacturing complex parts have been paid intense attention by visitors and brought new collaboration opportunities.

With successful companies in our industry such as Norm Coating, Norm Tooling, and NRM Engineering, we provide endto­end in­house production support to our customers with our R&D, engineering, surface treatment, cold forming, tooling, machining, heat treatment, machinery and automation, coating, sorting, packaging and logistics services. Having strengthened the production processes with the investments, we work with the goal of providing our business partners with a faster, high­quality, cost­focused and sustainable service.

We offer solutions that meet the needs of our business partners in various sectors such as automotive, white goods, aftermarket, wholesaler and agriculture by improving our expertise in the fasteners industry in different and new product groups such as hot forging, stamping, turning parts and additive manufacturing. With Norm Additive which operates in the additive manufacturing field, we provide services not only to the automotive industry but also to many different sectors such as aviation, white goods, machine manufacturing and medical both domestically and internationally. We provide engineering and manufacturing support for weight reduction and performance improvement in structural parts of our customers by providing cost and supply speed advantages compared to traditional production technologies. We offer prototyping and series production services through our modular production systems.

With our 50 years of experience in cold forging, advanced technology production infrastructure, and expert engineering teams, we continue our activities in the production of complex parts.

In 2022, with our new sales centre in Canada, we added another one to our sales and logistics centres in Germany, Poland, Romania, France and the USA and strengthened our logistics network. We will continue to grow rapidly in the Canadian market in 2023, as we did in other countries.

We always focus on customer satisfaction to better understand the desires and expectations of our customers and offer sectorbased solutions; we prioritise our R&D and innovation activities accordingly. We are proud that our patented products such as HexLight® and NormSelfTM are included in automotive specifications and that we are the preferred fasteners partner of automotive manufacturers as a joint designer consequence of this approach.

In 2023, we incorporated the global production and sales license of TRILOBULAR® and REMFORM® of CONTI Fasteners AG into our company. With these licenses, we also supply fasteners that provide productivity increase and cost advantage

Norm Holding Chairperson Fatih Uysal

FASTENER MANUFACTURING

due to their self­tapping abilities in metal parts such as steel, aluminium and plastic applications.

As Norm Fasteners, we began our 50th year as a Full Service Provider (FSP) identity as well as with our manufacturer identity. We also supply other fasteners that our customers need besides the products we manufacture ourselves. We thereby have succeeded in becoming the “single business partner” for our customers with our R&D, design, engineering, production, sourcing, supply chain management services. We completed the installation of our Gölcük warehouse, where we will manage Europe’s largest commercial vehicle programme, and opened it. With our strengthened team, we are ready to highlight our professional FSP identity in future projects.

We see sustainability as providing for present needs without compromising the needs of the future generations based on issues economic, environmental and social development. Therefore, we strive to create value for our world and community. From installing solar panels in our manufacturing facilities to measuring our corporate carbon footprint, from transitioning to sandblasting technique to our digital transformation, all our actions are thoroughly planned to create for a better future and more sustainable world.

We incorporate digitisation into every process, from production to packaging, and integrate RPA systems into our production lines and offices with our digital colleague Normie. We continue our digital transformation journey to facilitate our business processes without slowing down.

In our development journey towards the future and success, together with all our employees, we aim to spread, sustain and develop the company culture by laying the foundation of Norm Holding values in our Human Resources systems. We were awarded the Silver Award in the “Best Leadership Development Programs” category at the 2022 Brandon Hall Group Human Resources Excellence Awards due to EnLider Sensin Leadership Development Program we launched. With our Reverse Mentoring programme, ReNorm, launched in 2023, we aim to bring young talents in our company together with the senior managers to create synergy.

As Norm Fasteners, our main goals in 2023 are to continuously advance our standards for quality and customer satisfaction and strengthen our steps in the sustainability field. To this aim, while continuing our work toward being a responsive business partner for our customers, we will continue to develop our main strategy including environmental, economic, and social issues.”

normfasteners.com

FAZ II Plus.

The power bolt for highest demands.

The fischer bolt anchor FAZ II Plus is the steel anchor for highest demands with high tensile strengths and a wide range of applications. Heavy loads can be secured in cracked concrete using the steel anchor. Due to the elimination of drill hole cleaning (M8-M24) the FAZ II Plus can be set easier and faster. The tried-and-tested expansion clip safely introduces the loads into the concrete and enables immediate,

high load-bearing capacity even with dynamic applications. The steel anchor is ideal, among other applications, for the anchoring of railings, cable trays, consoles and for dynamic loads such as lifting platforms, conveyor belts and pumps.

www.fischer-international.com

TORQUE TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY & BOLTING

Torquing safe electrical connections

Insulated Tools Ltd has been manufacturing insulated tools in West Sussex since 1965. Over the years the equipment and tooling have changed but the mission remains the same; make the longest lasting, hardest wearing, and safest insulated tools…

Too loose and arcing/sparking/overheating present a fire risk, inviting an explosion in environments susceptible to gas build up. Too tight and the fastener can become deformed, or the thread stripped. Worse, over­torquing can damage the conductor, whether stranded, solid, or metal plate, compromising its capacity to carry current.

An accurate adjustable torque wrench ensures that you twist the connector to the manufacturer’s recommended tightness, and no more.

Why use an ITL insulated torque wrench?

What is it about the Insulated Tools Ltd (ITL) manufacturing process that makes its tools so robust and capable? All tools are manufactured via an injection moulding process using a unique Nylon bioplastic recipe. Each tool has its own mould that is used to encase the metal component with the mix of insulating material. This process sees each side of the mould clamped together with 32 tonnes of holding pressure, or the equivalent of two double decker buses. After this the material is rapidly heated to over 260˚C in order to form a liquid and then injected into the mould under 1,200 bar of pressure. Once the material cools it forms an unbreakable bond with the tool.

“It is this process that makes our tools virtually indestructible,” says ITL Sales and Marketing Manager Chris Pincott, who goes on to explain how the firm has adapted to market requirements:

“The world’s thirst for electricity is growing at a rapid rate. We have taken action by investing in new product development and plant and equipment which allow us to provide the tooling solution for every live electrical job, from offshore oil rigs, electric & hybrid vehicle maintenance and uninterrupted power supplies.

“One of these products is our new range of innovative insulated torque wrenches; designed to ensure that the correct torque is safely applied to live connectors, fixings and fasteners. Each torque wrench is individually tested to 10,000 Volts for three minutes to ensure it exceeds the requirements of the international specification for live line working, IEC 60900, as well as ASTM F1505 and Category ‘C’. When coupled with our injection moulded range of sockets and accessories you’re fully protected up to 1,000 Volts AC and 1,500 Volts DC.”

Why do you need a torque wrench when tightening electrical connectors?

Every DIY enthusiast is familiar with the classic guidance “hand tight plus a quarter turn”. Unfortunately, this can be a recipe for disaster when tightening electrical connectors, says ITL.

Research by the International Association of Electrical Inspectors has shown that when relying on hand feel, experienced electricians are no better at achieving the correct electrical connection than untrained amateurs. For accuracy and safety, you need a torque tool.

Each ITL torque wrench comes with the usual construction features to make the longest lasting, hardest wearing, and safest insulated tools The polycarbonate tube is drop and shock proof meaning your torque wrench can withstand the rigours of everyday life. The insulated drive core is easily removed for safe reversal of the ratcheting direction and our Arc­Stop technology is present in every wrench to ensure maximum personal protection from arcing.

ITL has added a host of features such as its Ovi­Grip handle which provides superior comfort during repetitive use and an increment gauge, meaning each live fixing or fastener can be installed and maintained more accurately than ever.

Each torque wrench is certified to ISO6789 as well as being electrically tested to ensure compliance to IEC60900. Verification of the torque wrench is recommended every 12 months by a certified laboratory to double­check the accuracy and repeatability of the torque setting on a given tool. Studies have shown that roughly 60% of manual torque wrenches will be out of calibration at the end of 12 months. If your torque wrench needs re­calibrating ITL has introduced a new Service exchange program worldwide. ITL will swap your torque wrench for a calibrated one to ensures you always have a working calibrated tool to hand.

To discuss the range in more detail call one of the team on +44 (0) 1342 324 255, email sales@insulatedtools.co.uk or visit: www.insulatedtools.co.uk

TORQUE TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY & BOLTING

Panasonic AccuPulse 4.0 Transducerized HT offers manufacturers high torque and reactionless assembly tools

This next-generation mechanical pulse tool equips assembly lines with the most advanced cordless mechanical pulse tools ever made by Panasonic

One of the leaders in cordless assembly technology, Panasonic, has released its innovative new transducerized mechanical pulse tool – reportedly the first of its kind to offer high torque and advanced technology to maintain accuracy and consistency.

The AccuPulse® 4.0 Transducerized HT is feature­packed for advanced precision fastening with four onboard microcomputers, a built­in transducer and intelligently­managed torque sensing that helps manufacturers improve quality and motor control, accuracy, and data collection on the assembly line. Its reactionless ergonomics provide freedom of movement, error proofing and two­way wireless communication. It also delivers fastening accuracy and quality manufacturing to the next level

while fostering a healthier and safer work environment.

“As manufacturers place greater importance on data to improve efficiencies and quality control, AccuPulse 4.0 Transducerized HT delivers an Industry 4.0­ready pulse tool that meets the engineering requirements of today’s smart factories,” says Aziz Lokhandwala, Senior Product Manager, Assembly Tools at Panasonic Eco Systems North America. “The AccuPulse 4.0 Transducerized HT was specifically designed for higher quality, better plant safety and greater efficiencies at a lower cost of ownership. Our exclusive algorithm enables this smart tool to learn joints and overcome difficult applications to maintain accuracy and consistency.”

na.panasonic.com/us

KEY FEATURES

• 70­220Nm high speed, reactionless torque control range

• Smart technology to maintain accuracy and consistency

• Built­in intelligence with four onboard microcomputers & transducer

• 2­way wireless communication for advanced error proofing

• Ergonomically designed with worker health and safety top of mind

• Lower annual maintenance costs compared to competing oil pulse tools

FEATURES FOR PRECISION & ACCURACY

• Advanced programming with up to 99 parameters using a controller

• Patented drive mechanism with optimized torque calculations

• Designed to work particularly well with M12­ M16

• High speed solution that provides advanced traceability and line control

BENEFITS FOR WORKER SAFETY & LOW COST OF OWNERSHIP

• More versatile and durable vs. oil pulse tools on soft joints

• Reactionless, one­hand cordless operation

• Energy efficient & substantially lower maintenance costs

// The AccuPulse 4.0 Transducerized HT was specifically designed for higher quality, better plant safety and greater efficiencies at a lower cost of ownership. //

MILLIONS OF SCREWS IN STOCK

Fit bolts, plugs, knurled thumb screws, square head bolts, fl at headed screws, hexagon set screws, brass screws and specials .

www.pasvahl.de

Fon +49 (0) 40 532 852-0

E-Mail: info@pasvahl.de

Building the future together

The Berardi Group is a living heritage, an evolving process which we develop day by day, to shape a better future.

Our know-how, innovative spirit, and attention for human relationships combine to create a business model that meets modern needs, without forgetting where it all began.

Our wide assortment and logistics services are our best products!

www.gberardi.com

TORQUE TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY & BOLTING

Flexible nutrunner receives Red Dot Design Award

Atlas Copco has been awarded a Red Dot Design Award for the design of a handheld nutrunner, the ITB-P Tensor Battery Smart Pistol Tool. The device is suited for use in the assembly of electric vehicles and aircraft.

Red Dot Award­winning products need to be aesthetically appealing, functional, smart or innovative and display outstanding design. In the explanatory wording, the Red Dot jury stated that the ITB­P “successfully integrates aesthetic aspects into a tool that is excellently geared to practical requirements.”

“I am very proud that we have once again been awarded this distinguished design recognition,” said Henrik Elmin, Business Area President, Industrial Technique at Atlas Copco. “I would like to thank the entire project, product and R&D team who made this possible. They continue to push the technological limits, whilst managing to keep in mind the operators who will be using our tools around the world.”

The ITB­P was developed and designed for manufacturers of electric vehicles and aircraft needing a nutrunner for their most challenging applications, for example during assembly of car doors or aircraft structures, when there is a need for high accuracy, traceability, and optimum ergonomics to secure a critical joint. With operator safety and user experience in focus, the cordless and lightweight ITB­P is fast, flexible, reliable, accurate and packaged in an ergonomic operator­friendly design.

“This award is an acknowledgment of our commitment to always providing the best possible solutions for our customers through combining design, technology, and function in our tools for industrial manufacturing,” said Elmin. www.atlascopcogroup.com

IN PUNE

Meanwhile, Atlas Copco Group has begun construction of a new manufacturing facility in Talegaon, Pune, India.

The new factory will manufacture air and gas compressor systems for the local market and for export. It encompasses a manufacturing plant and office building of approximately 25,000 m2. Atlas Copco is investing around MINR 1400 (approximately 180 MSEK).

The new facility is planned to be completed by Q2, 2024. It will generate additional employment for over 200 people and add production capacity.

“We invest further in capacity in India to cater to the growing demand of the Indian and export markets,” said Vagner Rego, Business Area President, Compressor Technique. “This expansion project is part of our strategy to remain first in mind, first in choice for our customers. It will enable us to reach new customers and markets and improve lead times.”

At the Talegaon facility, around 80% of the energy will come from solar panels and 75% of the water consumed will be derived from rainwater harvesting. The construction will be in line with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) concept.

ATLAS COPCO TO EXPAND MANUFACTURING IN INDIA WITH NEW FACTORY

// This award is an acknowledgment of our commitment to always providing the best possible solutions for our customers through combining design, technology, and function in our tools for industrial manufacturing. //

MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE?

IT WASN’T that long ago that battery development seemed to be firmly pointed towards higher voltage batteries and indeed, there are some 36V battery packs out there that are used with higher drain tools like mitre saws. Some manufacturers chased the higher voltage by ‘pairing up’ batteries so that some tools run on two 18V packs and others have flexible 18V/36V batteries.

Recently I have noticed that the 18V battery pack is making a resurgence. I wonder if this is because recent R&D work has found that end users don’t like the weight of bigger battery packs. I know I don’t.

PUSHING THE POWER LIMITS

New developments in battery technology have seemed to confirm that it is possible to squeeze a lot more power out of a 5Ah 18V battery pack than five years ago. An example from my own experience: when fitting a kitchen recently I found that I could use my 12V (in reality 10.8V) combi for most jobs including drilling with smaller holesaws, whereas I might have used an 18V tool just a couple of years ago.

DEWALT’s version of this phenomenon is called the Powerstack –and having had a demo of one at a recent Toolfair, I was keen to have a longer test to get to grips with it more fully.

OLD AND NEW BATTERY PACKS

Both packs are 5Ah 18V lithium ion and clearly marked as such, but users will be able to spot the difference between the ‘old’ battery pack and the new Powerstack batteries (apart from the logos on the battery itself) by size. The new Powerstack is a little slimmer, but wider and longer. This is because the battery cells are arranged in flat pouches that stack on top of each other, rather than the cylindricalshaped older style cells. The Powerstack is just a fraction heavier than the standard battery – not enough to make a significant difference in handling. But I did like the fact that the flatter, wider Powerstack is very stable on its base when stood up on a flat surface.

DEWALT sent me an 18V combi drill, an 18V Impact driver and a circular saw, along with a selection of ‘standard’ 18V battery packs and the new Powerstack version so that I could really push the power limits and feel the advantage of Powerstack on higher drain applications like sawing.

Peter Brett examines the performance of DEWALT’s POWERSTACK and how decades of R&D have helped cordless tooling on the jobsite…

GET YOUR PRODUCT REVIEWED BY PETER BRETT

Brands, companies and wholesalers that are interested in getting their products reviewed in Torque Magazine should contact the editor at Jonathon@torque-expo.com

GOING UP A GEAR WHEN THE PRESSURE IS ON

I had made sure that all the batteries were fully charged with battery level indicators showing full three bars before I stated trialling.

When I tested the two battery options on a variety of standard tasks like drilling, driving and sawing, again, I didn’t notice much difference in performance – the Powerstack having a slight advantage when I pushed the saw through the layers of OSB I used for my test. It just seemed to go up a gear when the pressure was on. The performance on drilling and sawing was particularly good I have to say – the quality of the drilling accessories sent with the test tools was very good and the TCT blade in the thin kerf saw leaves a smooth and accurate cut surface.

As for the impact driver – the one much loved by scaffolders and mechanics – I didn’t find a wheelnut or scaffolding bolt that could resist the torque and power of it.

A BIT MORE

I think the advantage of the Powerstack comes into play when the tools have been used hard for extended periods of time. Heat is the enemy of performance in the world of batteries and the extra surface area and arrangement of cells help dissipate heat and improve performance. I would buy the Powerstack cells simply because they give a better balance to the handling of the tools – and probably for most simple jobs I would hardly notice the extra performance I would get. But you do notice the extra oomph when the tool is pushed – like cutting four layers of 18mm thick OSB and using big auger bits and bigger holesaws as used by kitchen fitters and electricians. Small increments are often the way we progress, and when I think of where we started 25 years ago with cordless tools the difference is phenomenal. I think we forget just how much competition and research we have in the market place to give us such good tools. The DEWALT Powerstack is another step on the way – and a very good one too.

www.dewalt.co.uk

FOUNDING FARTHER

Jefferson Tools, a family­owned company with its roots firmly planted in Northern Ireland, celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. The recipe for its success has been providing its 2,000 stockists with access to high quality tools and equipment, wrapped in a brand that end users recognise, trust and depend on. This, combined with keen pricing and a focus on customer service, means merchants and wholesalers across many sectors know and return to the company’s extensive professional tools and equipment portfolio time and time again.

Over the past 20 years, the company has grown its range to include compressors, generators, welders, hand tools, power tools, personal protection equipment, lighting, stepladders, heaters, pressure washers, accessories and much more.

“Every product within our range has been carefully developed to suit the needs and requirements of our stockists, and we provide solutions for customers in light trades through to heavy duty industries, including construction, manufacturing, engineering, industrial, agricultural, trade, automotive, DIY, the public sector and much more,” says Darren Binns, National Sales Manager.

In fact, the range catalogue reads like a professional’s tool bible, featuring over 2,000 product lines. The company adds new products every four months, while always ensuring to stock firm and reliable favourites, such as hand tools and ladders. It also runs promotions, such as the ‘Tool Up’ campaign, supporting stockists and distributors with deals and special offers. These can be seasonal, like a focus on outdoor tools for spring or light and power products when the weather gets colder.

“Our stockists are central to our business and we take the time to get to know their requirements, ensuring their needs, and those of their customers in turn, are consistently met. We are always looking for ways to improve and extend our range. With experienced and dedicated customer service and technical support staff, along with competitive prices, customers can always be sure to get the best deal when purchasing from us,” continues Darren.

The team behind Jefferson Tools has worked hard to ensure the products can be distributed throughout the UK and Ireland, and due to the success of the brand, the company recently relocated their operations to a new office and a 100,000 square foot warehousing unit. The move is a bellwether for its ambition and outlook for more growth in the coming years.

The facility, sited close to Maghera, Northern Ireland, is the hub out of which its customers are serviced. A National Sales Team also regularly communicates with and visits customers to make sure the right product mix and point of sale (POS) is provided to maximise sales and draw the eye of end users.

In­branch point of sale is where the brand really wins; its American theme and imagery has become recognisable and

trusted by tens of thousands of professional end users across the many sectors Jefferson Tools supplies. At the company’s HQ, visiting customers get to see a dedicated and sizeable area fitted out in branded POS which is truly an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of tools and equipment.

“What makes us stand out is the quality of our products –easily comparable with some of the ‘big name’ brands –combined with our focus on supporting independent ‘bricks and mortar’ stockists. We do not supply to online retailers. Our success is built on traditional, but profitable, partnerships that the sector was founded upon. That does not mean we are not a modern business that doesn’t innovate; in fact we have done this consistently to build the brand and produce the products that the trade use again and again,” says Darren.

For more information on Jefferson Tools and to download the latest catalogue visit the website.

www.jeffersontools.com

Now in its 20th year, Jefferson Tools continues to support merchants, wholesalers and distributors with new tools, timely promotions and in-branch point of sale.

JEFFERSON TOOLS

TOBSTEEL timber screws in reinforced version and CRC V –for highest requirements!

ART. 4090-1

1.4529 HCR

CRC V

Application areas

•Ship construction

•Clean room equipment

The following fasteners must be realized in CRC V (1.4529 | HCR) in accordance with DIN EN 1993-1-4:2015-10/Eurocode 3:

• Swimming pool construction For load-bearing components and fasteners in indoor swimming pools

• Tunnels and public parking lots/underground garages

Double head, ribs under the head

Distinctive thread with CUT point, waxed

Stabilised shaft

Our TOBSTEEL countersunk head timber screws ART. 4090-1 with TX-six lobe drive in material 1.4529 HCR have the highest corrosion resistance class rating with CRC V and are available in Ø 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mm.

TOBSTEEL – MORE THAN STANDARD

Knowledge and experience counts, especially when it comes to corrosion resistance and the team at TOBSTEEL are experts in the field

Established in 2004, TOBSTEEL GmbH is a specialist for high corrosion resistant fasteners in Europe, with a high stock of special materials for every corrosion resistance class.

Located in Öhringen, Baden­Württemberg, Germany, TOBSTEEL is not only an important supplier of quality products but also specialises in knowing exactly which materials and corrosion resistance classes (CRC) its customers need. With 12,500m² of storage space and an automatic small parts warehouse – with 15,000 bin locations – fasteners in standard materials A2, A4 and A5 (1.4571), as well as highly corrosion resistant special materials D6 (1.4462 DUPLEX) and A8 (1.4529 HCR) are stored.

1.4410 Super Duplex is also available and can be procured on demand. This also includes DIN 125, 127, 912, 931/933, 934, 976, 980, 985, 1587, 9021, 7991 (ISO 10642), as well as more than 25,000 other standard and special articles, which are shipped directly from stock all over the world.

TOBSTEEL also provides suitable fasteners for each of the five corrosion resistance classes (CRC I to V) – whether for solar thermal systems, wind power plants, water purification plants, pool technologies, tunnel constructions, bridge drainages or ventilation engineering. All articles are checked thoroughly and provide reliable quality. The highly corrosion resistant materials are also checked twice internally.

When it comes to surface finishes, individual machining or drawing parts according to customer requirements, TOBSTEEL also makes this possible.

Thanks to the comprehensive knowledge and experience of employees, TOBSTEEL provide customers with competent advice and support in the implementation of large industrial projects – and offer far more than just the standard.

www.tobsteel.com

PHOTOVOLTAICS, SUPPLY CHAINS AND MORE AT FASTENER POLAND

Identifying key fastener growth sectors and with some big topics to discuss – like CBAM –Fastener Poland’s 2023 show is set to be a worthwhile visit and a chance for a ‘bleisure’ trip...

It’s already the sixth edition of Fastener Poland and this year’s event comes at a time when there’s a plethora of topics for visitors and exhibitors to discuss. In case you’re in need of a reminder, those topics include transformed supply chains, the war in Ukraine, new carbon tariffs (CBAM), increased production costs... and that’s plenty for starters. Some of those topics and more – like sustainability and ecology – will be talked over at EXPO Krakow, 18­19 October.

Post pandemic bounce back

Fastener Poland is back to its prepandemic state, says the organiser. This October, over 150 companies from 15 countries will present their products, services and companies. The product mix will range from modern industrial fasteners and fittings (from screws, through rivets to nuts, pins or wedges) and construction fasteners (anchors, concrete screws, fixing facades and insulation) to advanced assembly and installation systems (with the presentation of the latest riveting devices, screwdrivers and

screw insertion systems or assembly brackets), as well as technologies for the production of fasteners and devices for their storage and distribution. While the show is the best known for fasteners in Central and Eastern Europe, the halls of EXPO Krakow will be expecting buyers from beyond the region’s borders. The organisers have taken the interesting step of identifying the sectors with the greatest demand for all types of fasteners and fixings, pinpointing those as photovoltaics, automotive, aviation and the medical industry.

Poland is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of the size of the photovoltaic market. In Europe, only Germany and Spain are ahead in this respect. The industry records continuous sales increases and is developing dynamically, we hear. Therefore, the demand for components is growing, in particular for specialised and quality fasteners. The fasteners market responds to these needs by designing and delivering the best solutions with enhanced resistance to difficult conditions in which solar systems are used. Several dozen

manufacturers will present their solutions on a special zone dedicated to this industry.

First there was Barbenheimer, now there’s bleisure

It’s been a good year for portmanteau terms (we’re thinking ‘Barbenheimer’) and here’s another for you: “Bleisure.” Blending the terms business and leisure, Fastener Poland is fully behind bleisure and has included it in its strategy, encouraging everyone interested in expanding business contacts to participate in the fair. Organiser Targi w Krakowie Ltd will offer fair participants a map of attractions, which will include recommended accommodation, local restaurants, monuments, climatic places and cultural centres. And since there is no shortage of interesting places in Krakow, the organisers are sure that some customers will extend their stay by additional days. Find a list of exhibitors, trade fair novelties, free registration for guests, hotel offer and a list of recommended restaurants and places worth visiting on the website...

www.fastenerpoland.pl

6th International Trade Fair for Fastener and Fixing Technology

18 th -19 th October 2023, Krakow, Poland

world

EVENT PROGRAM:

● Conference: „Ecology and economy in the fastener industry –challenges and opportunities”

● Zone of products for the power industry, electrical engineering and renewable energy sources

● Meetings with experts

● Technological innovations

Scan the code and get your free ticket or register at:

www.fastenerpoland.pl

We connect buyers from all over the

OPINION: FASTENER PRODUCTION IN POLAND IS BOOMING

Industry in Europe is now on a big collapse. Purchasing Managers’ Indexes (PMI) almost everywhere are on the bottom. Production in Germany is decreasing every month. We are facing a similar situation in Poland, especially if you realise that almost 28% of our export is been sold to Germany (2nd is Czechia – 6.6%). But this situation does not apply to production of fasteners in Poland. That market is on a high increase. And if I am saying high I mean two numbers, not one.

HISTORICAL APPROACH

If you read this in the UK or in other Western European countries, then you have to realise that until the end of 20th century, Poland was a very poor country. World War II ended for us with 5.5 million civilians killed – 16% of the population. The economy was destroyed with a cost (current value) of €1.5 trillion. Unfortunately, because of Roosevelt and Churchill, it was decided that Poland was in the Soviets influence zone and communism is not the best solution to rebuild a country. If you wanted, as a private person, to become a businessman in communist Poland you had only two ways (the rest of the people had to work for state­owned companies): You became a farmer (but not with a big farm, the maximum you could own was 50 ha of land) or a small producer (you could not have more than nine employees). The second solution started in the early eighties of the 20th century when the communist system started to go bankrupt. So 50 years ago, lots of people started small production in their garages. When the communist system collapsed and the country was almost bankrupt, these people saw a big chance for the economy to recover. And these people had experience, many times some money, know­how and contacts. If you look at the list of the richest people in Poland –most of them started business in the ‘80s.

Our GDP still consists of 40% from industry, different to Germany (30%), France, UK (20%) or Italy and Spain (23­24%). The fastest way to get a good salary after graduating is to

become an engineer. You can always find a good job in every city larger than 100,000 population. There are several industries with more than 75% of their production going to export (windows, doors, furnitures, household appliances, automotive – especially engines and parts for cars). Thanks to our own currency (Polish Zloty) the economy in Poland can still be competitive for EU countries. Central Bank (National Bank of Poland) is responsible for monetary policy and currency value, so it can run independent policy in that issue (different to Slovakia, which has EUR and now depends on Frankfurt’s policy). All of these mentioned industries requires lots of fasteners.

Poland’s fastener business consists of 11 big companies (with turnover of more than 100 milllion PLN, 1 EUR = 4,5 PLN), nine of them are Polish family owned. Only two are foreign investment owned. And this is what often surprises foreigners. Those Polish companies were built from nothing, many times without big money, only hard work and time. The main core of the business is production and trading. Big producers also have trading divisions and trading companies also have some small production. Except for those 11 big companies (the biggest with turnover more than 1 bln PLN) there are hundreds of medium and small producers, specialised in only a few products.

And if we are into production than it has to be said. Because we still have a lot of industry in Poland. If you want to have respect from competitors and the market there is no easier way than to become a producer. Poland’s production in fasteners

Dr Marek Langalis, Olfor CEO, gives us a typical pull-no-punches view of the current market and also an essential overview and history of the fastener market in Poland...

// Thanks to our own currency the economy in Poland can still be competitive for EU countries.

//

SOLD PRODUCTION OF FASTENERS FROM POLAND: 2003-2022 (MILLION PLN)

could be impressive, especially its growth. Look at the graph (above). For the last 20 years, production of fasteners in Poland has increased almost sixfold (from 595 million PLN to 3,470 million PLN). If you look at the graph you can see three waves of growth. The first wave was 2004­2006. Poland became a EU member on 1 May 2004. For us the most important thing from that event was open borders for our products, so our producers have easier ways to export. Fastener production from 2003 to 2005 grew 50% in two years. The second wave was the time when the EU put anti­dumping duties on steel fasteners imported from China, in 2009. Polish businessmen started to invest in production more and more. If you can not import from China, then you have to produce in the EU. Poland was that place.

Within two years, production grew 90%. Later growth was very stable, but then in December 2020 the EU started to work on a new project of anti dumping duty on steel fasteners imported from China. Everyone in Europe started to look for local producers. They found them in Turkey and Poland. From 2020 to 2022 production in Poland grew another 68%. Can you believe these numbers?

The success of the fastener market in Poland is well seen in Europe and America. If you think it is a low profit market then you are making a big mistake. Return on sales (net profit to sales revenues) above 20%? In Poland it is still possible. Medium cost market with a profit tax of 19% (could be half if you invest a lot) – can you find a better place for production for export? From 18­19 October in Kracow there will be the 6th exhibition of Fastener Poland. If you want to meet with the fastest growing market of fasteners in Europe it is the best place to start.

Source: Own calcula琀on based on the data of the Central Sta琀s琀cal Office (Sta琀s琀cs Poland)

KLIMAS WKRĘT-MET: WOOD IS THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION

Klimas Wkręt-met sees timber becoming an ever more important material in the construction market…

Polish brand Klimas Wkręt­met is convinced that future years will see a significant return of timber construction, albeit in a modern, prefabricated form. Klimas Wkrętmet sees the future in mass timber technology and is already not only gaining knowledge and educating but also broadening its portfolio to meet the needs of timber construction.

For a company with 33 years of experience, its own research laboratory, a team of experts and nearly 6,500 products in its portfolio, such modifications, in line with the requirements and trends of the modern construction industry, are a natural path.

30 million screws per day

Klimas Wkręt­met is already one of the leaders among European manufacturers of construction fasteners. Two plants, located in the south of Poland (near the city of Czestochowa), with a total area of about 80,000 m² with amongst the most modern machinery on the old continent, allow the company to produce up to 30 million screws a day. All this makes the company a leader in the production of construction fasteners in Central and Eastern Europe.

In Klimas Wkręt­met, however, not only quantity counts but also quality. This is examined and tested both in the production process and by specialists in the Quality Control Department. Visitors to the factory are always surprised by the great order in the production halls, and that helps ensure that the manufacturer’s high standards are maintained. Klimas Wkręt­met products regularly receive ETA certificates, which guarantee the safety of their use.

First of all, respect

The responsibility of a manufacturer of construction fasteners is enormous. The Board of Klimas Wkręt­met and all employees of the company are well aware of this, screws and fasteners are the glue of buildings, and the stability of the structure depends on their parameters. That’s why the quality of products always

comes first in the company. It is thanks to this approach that the brand today sends its fasteners to nearly 70 countries around the world and has companies in several more, including India, which is geographically and culturally distant from Poland.

How is it that Klimas Wkręt­met has achieved such a reputation today? The owners reiterate that it’s a matter of taking the ideas that life brings and being constantly active, willing to act, create and improve. But the strength of the brand lies in something else: Klimas Wkręt­met is a family company, from the beginning run by Wojciech and Joanna Klimas, who have tied their lives inextricably to it. Being a family company, Klimas Wkręt­met follows certain ideas and values, which are adhered to not only by the Board but also by employees at various levels. One of these values is mutual respect – not only within the company but also between customers of business partners, and to the environment. This is how the brand conquers more markets around the world, understanding the business needs of different areas and environments and providing the desired solutions.

Strong for generations

It is no coincidence that the company’s motto is ‘STRONG FOR GENERATIONS’, which is the quintessence of Klimas Wkrętmet’s activities, both at the level of production quality and business management through family succession.

Klimas Wkręt­met, with its huge industrial activity, confirmed by its participation in numerous trade fairs, conferences and industry events at the international, national, regional and local levels, no longer only participates in the market, but also creates this market. It actively observes changes in the global construction industry, dictated, for example, by the need to implement on a larger scale technologies that will save energy, providing a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional construction.

// Experts point out that wood is the most sustainable building material, due in part to its relatively smallest carbon footprint created in the production process.

//

Wood with a future

And the world is clearly beginning to bet on mass timber, i.e. products composed of compressed layers of wood, which ultimately form strong elements, giving the possibility to create panel structures. This interesting and forward­looking technology is not only watched with interest by Klimas Wkręt­met, but it is to this technology that it dedicated an international conference organised less than a month ago under the banner of Mass Timber Meeting. During the meeting, customers, engineers and contractors from different parts of Europe had an excellent opportunity for industry networking.

“Our idea behind the Mass Timber Meeting is to instill Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) Mass Timber construction in Poland,” says Paweł Klimas of the Board of Directors of Klimas Wkrętmet. “The people we have invited to cooperate with us are world pioneers in this field.”

This is the best expression of the fact that the company’s approach to the subject is substantive, and in addition to drawing knowledge from industry authorities themselves, they are willing to share this knowledge while promoting wood construction. Besides, Klimas Wkręt­met specialists have no doubt that wood is the future of construction, which is influenced by at least several important factors, such as the need to take care of the welfare of the planet.

Maciej Strychalski, marketing director at Klimas Wkręt­met, adds: “Wood construction is also influenced by the aspect of ecofriendliness. And with this perspective, we show our partners how Klimas Wkręt­met approaches the subject.”

Why wood?

Experts point out that wood is the most sustainable building material, due in part to its relatively smallest carbon footprint created in the production process. As a good insulator, wood also accounts for a building’s energy efficiency due to its low heat transfer rate and is also a renewable resource.

Klimas Wkręt­met is well aware that the company’s portfolio must keep up with the changing world. Thus, the manufacturer’s offer includes screws, the quality and parameters of which allow them to be used in wood construction in the broadest sense. And so, for example, in the case of connections that require tightening of elements, the WKCP and WKCS screws offer excellent performance, while in the case of structural reinforcement and angled connections, the solution from the portfolio of the Polish brand will be the WKFC and WKFS screws. It is therefore safe to say that the brand, vigilantly monitoring global trends, is already ready for the inevitable changes in the construction industry.

“The most important trend in construction is wood construction, this is the future,” leaves no doubt Wojciech Klimas, CEO of Klimas Wkręt­met. “Our actions, taken over the years, result in the fact that we are now able to incorporate our products into what is required and needed in the market.”

en.klimas.com

// The most important trend in construction is wood construction, this is the future. //

President Wojciech Klimas

ARSER ATTENDING FASTENER POLAND

BEST for Stainless Steel

RANGES AND INCREASED STOCK LEVELS

ARSER is an experienced player in the fastener sector with over 55 years manufacturing socket set screws with unique technology, developed in­house since 1966. Since it first started production right up to, 100% of ARSER output is fully and proudly “made in Italy” and the company is still family owned, under control of the founder’s heirs, in the original plant located in Bologna. The company commitment on quality is certified (ISO9001 and IATF16949) but, most important, it is demonstrated through full control of the manufacturing process from accurate procurement through careful selection of qualified sources to final heat treat managed internally.

Strongly focused on export with 60% of sales outside domestic market, ARSER will be exhibiting again, after some years, at Fastener Poland to consolidate and expand position in Eastern Europe with special attention to the Polish market which is a growing market both in terms of volumes and in terms of increasing demand for specials required with highest quality levels.

After the challenges brought by the pandemic, ARSER will re­confirm its strong position on the market as specialist of ‘socket set screws’ and as a trusted European partner to release customers from uncertainties arising from global procurement.

// Some interesting developments will be presented at Fastener Poland, such as new configurations of socket set screws with security pins, answering increasing interest in antitamper products. //

With the lion’s share of its business through export, Italian fastener manufacturer ARSER is returning to Fastener Poland this year with some brand new products to share…

In recent years, ARSER has gradually changed the production range from 20% specials and 80% standard items to 80% specials and 20% standard items. Specials are ranked into different classes up to the top level of quality required by the automotive industry.

Some interesting developments will be presented at Fastener Poland, such as new configurations of socket set screws with security pins, answering increasing interest in anti­tamper products, which is becoming a notable requirement for some markets, and larger range of socket set screws with end­to­end hole in concentricity suitable for the most demanding applications of the oleo dynamic sector.

www.arser.it

2024 FEATURES

JANUARY- FEBRUARY issue 081

PRINT EDITION

Rivets, rivet tools and rivet technology

Hand tools and consumables

Tools > Made in Germany

IT services, software and e-business

Building & Construction > Wood, chipboard and decking screws

TERRITORY FOCUS > Benelux & France

SHOW PREVIEW > Eisenwarenmesse

Q1 issue 082

ENHANCED DIGITAL

Online catalogues, brochures and webshops

Battery pack technology & smart tools

SHOW PREVIEW > Eisenwarenmesse

SHOW REVIEW > Southern Manufacturing

MARCH-APRIL issue 083

Fastener distribution special

PRINT EDITION

Nylon and plastic fixings and fasteners

Drill & screwdriver bits

Building & Construction > High tensile (HT) and bolt assemblies

Research & Development

SHOW PREVIEW > Torque Expo

SHOW PREVIEW > Taiwan International Fastener Show

SHOW PREVIEW> Wire

TERRITORY FOCUS > UK

TOOLS SUPPLEMENT

Q2 issue 084

Connected & smart tools

ENHANCED DIGITAL

Electric vehicle fasteners and tools, and supply chain

Add-on sales > tapes, sprays, disposable gloves & more

SHOW REVIEW> Wire

MAY-JUNE issue 085

Nuts, washers and locking systems

REGULAR FEATURES

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

WOMEN IN FASTENERS & TOOLS

APPRENTICE Q&A’S

5 MINUTES WITH… VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH THE INDUSTRY

JULY-AUGUST issue 087

PRINT EDITION

Women in fasteners special > North America

QC laboratory focus

Oils, sprays and lubricants

3D printing

Building & Construction > Timber engineering

TERRITORY FOCUS > ASEAN/ASIA/PACIFIC

SHOW PREVIEW > International Fastener Expo

Fastener Training - Academies

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER issue 088 PRINT EDITION

Fastener manufacturing special

Stainless steel fixings and fasteners

Torque tools, technology & bolting

Workwear, PPE and safety

Building & Construction > Anchors

Wire & fastener cold heading

TERRITORY FOCUS > North America

SHOW PREVIEW > Taiwan Hardware Show

SHOW PREVIEW> Euroblech TOOLS SUPPLEMENT

Q4 issue 089 ENHANCED DIGITAL

Rivets, rivet tools and rivet technology

Plugs, plasterboard and cavity fixings

Janitorial supplies > Wipes, cleaners, sprays, etc

IT services, software and e-business

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER issue 090 PRINT EDITION

Production line tools (rivet guns, assembly tools, torque wrenches, etc.)

Battery technology & smart tools

Automotive fasteners & tools

Surface treatment and coatings

PRINT EDITION

Fastener machines, equipment & tooling

Rail fasteners

Building & Construction > ETAs and Accreditations

Renewables > Fasteners and tools

SHOW REVIEW > Torque Expo

SHOW PREVIEW > InnoTrans

TERRITORY FOCUS > Italy

Q3 issue 086 ENHANCED DIGITAL

TERRITORY FOCUS > Nordic countries

Structural engineering & structural fasteners

New materials (graphene, hidrofugo, etc.)

Building & Construction > Adhesives, tapes, sealants and fillers

Industry and Trade Associations Wrap up

TERRITORY FOCUS > Eastern Europe

Torque Rising Stars

SHOW PREVIEW> BAU Jan 2025

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL issue 091 ENHANCED DIGITAL

A special magazine on sustainable practices in the fastener and tool industries, covering company initiatives, ISO 14001 certification, recyclable packaging, end of life & related topics. SUBMIT

Yo ur s kill s ,

Yo ur pa r t n e r fo r all f a ste n e r s and f ixin gs !

Fastene r s and Fixin g s From s m all s c re w s to E TA a pp rove d co nst ruc ti o n bo lts From n y l o n p l ug s to seis m i c teste d an c h or s These a re the v isi b le or in v isi b le co nne c ti o ns tha t kee p bu ildin g p ro je c ts tog ethe r Th ey a re indis p ensa b le links

For pgb - Eu rop e and pgb - Po lska it is our dail y ai m to p rov id e our cu s tom e r s w ith qu alit y p ro d uc ts and a m at c hin g se r v i c e

We h ave b een an esta b lished s upp lie r and m an uf a c t u re r o f f astene r s and f ixin g s for mo re than 60 yea r s

We b reathe f ixing s ®

More information: www.pgb-international.com

STAFDA

SPUR TO ACTION IN SAN ANTONIO

The Texas city is the site of STAFDA’s 2023 Convention. We look at some of the show highlights this November…

Those familiar with the fastener and tool event will know the show tours North America and this year will be stopping at San Antonio, Texas at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Centre.

Like the rest of the world, the US has been dealing with a whole range of headwinds, whiplash effects and general disruption, so there will be a lot for STAFDA members to shoot the breeze over.

Leading this year’s industry conversation will be Russell Kohl, President and CEO of Diablo/Freud Tools. Kohl will deliver the Associate State­of­the­Industry address during STAFDA’s General Session on Monday 6 November.

Founded in 1960, Diablo and Freud supply a full line of highquality power tool accessories that includes saw blades, router bits, recip blades, shaper cutters, SDS­Plus and SDS­Max hammer drill bits, bonded abrasives, and more. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the corporation owns, operates, and manufacturers in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, China, and the US.

Since joining Diablo/Freud Tools in 2000, Kohl has engineered the company’s North America (NA) strategic direction, operational performance, brand recognition, and rise in stakeholder value. This period has been marked by unprecedented growth resulting in a 60x increase in business. In addition to his NA responsibilities, Kohl also assists in Diablo/Freud’s overall global strategy and manufacturing direction.

His extensive background in sales, finance, marketing, operations, and product development has resulted in the successful introduction of new brands and divisions for the company. Under Kohl’s leadership, Diablo/Freud Tools launched its premium line of construction cutting tools and its most successful brand, Diablo.

As you read this, the team at STAFDA, The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association, are putting the finishing touches to the 47th annual convention, this year running 5­7 November.

At the beginning of his career, Kohl held successful positions in sales, marketing, and product development with the DeWalt division of Black & Decker for 10 years. While working primarily on the company’s profitable launch of its “yellow tool” line,

Russell Kohl, President and CEO of Diablo/Freud Tools

Keeping business afloat: A show-related student competition sees college teams figure out solutions to save a struggling hypothetical manufacturer

BEST for Stainless Steel

NEW RANGES AND INCREASED STOCK LEVELS

this brand became one of the most thriving in the industry at the time, growing into a billion­dollar product line.

The Diablo and Freud Tools boss can expect to address a decent sized audience. A whopping 2,800 visitors attended last year’s show, which also saw circa 440 exhibitor booths to peruse.

Outreach to next generation

STAFDA has been welcoming select college and university students to become active participants in its Convention since 2017 and has gradually developed this offer over the years. The students – upper classmen with industrial distribution, supply chain, or related majors – are involved in the educational programmes, a NextGen Panel and a Speed Interviewing Session. Last year, the STAFDA Supply Chain Competition was introduced to the group as an added creative challenge.

The University of Nebraska­Lincoln (UN­L) suggested the student competition in 2022 where the attending universities/colleges form teams to rescue a struggling hypothetical manufacturer from bankruptcy. The students had to put their education to the test by figuring out solutions to save the company in terms of distribution, operations, sales, financial, and other key business areas. The participating students had a great time competing with other teams from across the US and sharing their experience with STAFDA members.

For 2023 the competition has been kicked up a notch: UN­L has now connected STAFDA to Inchainge, an organisation based in the Netherlands that offers this competition globally. Students attending this year’s San Antonio Convention & Trade Show will focus on a “Working Capital” Management scenario. The top three teams from STAFDA/San Antonio will automatically qualify to participate in the Global Student Challenge.

The winning teams will be announced at STAFDA’s General Session on Monday 6 November. STAFDA’s 47th Annual Convention & Trade Show is open to members only. You must be a member to attend or exhibit.

www.stafda.org

WIRE & COLD HEADING

GWI – A cold and hot forging partner

The

Experience and consistency are two pillars GWI is proud of, and traits that customers can benefit from. Founded in 1995, the family­owned company has based its operations across two divisions since 2008, the tool and wire trading division and the service and machine repair division.

The tool and wire trading division works with longstanding partners and a wide pool of European and international suppliers. GWI offers a wide range of tools for cold and hot forging consisting of thread rolling dies, hard metal and PM tools such as stamps and dies but also steel parts, both symmetric rotation and CNC machined in up to five axes. The tooling­portfolio is handled in a large workshop that enables greater flexibility to meet customer needs whenever lead times need to be shortened or reworking has to be done quickly. Access to the skills and machinery used in the tool shop is possible due the synergy created by the business’ servicing and machine overhauling division.

The other side of GWI’s operations is supplying wire for cold heading in stainless steel and carbon steel quality as well as special wire and profile wires, which is deliverable in less than four weeks. This stock availability ensures a great fit for justin­time fastener production. With a large consignment of cold heading wire stock from business partner FNSteel from Alblasserdam in the Netherlands, GWI is an expert in safe and organised storage. The same can be said for tooling. Right from the beginning GWI understood that one part of being a valuable partner is to keep as much work as possible away from the customer. To achieve this goal, GWI carry tool stock of up to 6,000 units for existing customers but also plenty of space for standard parts such as knock­out pins, grippers, punches for PZ, PH, TORX, Six Lobe and many more.

www.gwi-iserlohn.de

two arms of GWI’s operations work in synergy to help foster partnerships with customers for quality products and service.

// The tool and wire trading division works with longstanding partners and a wide pool of European and international suppliers. //

National Machinery keeps it lean

We hear the word “lean” quite often in manufacturing. Lean is typically considered the way to eliminate waste and increase value in production. That is the concept behind the machine lines built by National Machinery at their wholly owned facility in Suzhou. The LEAN family of machines includes the LeanFX, which has been produced for nearly 15 years and shipped worldwide, and now the new Lean Header & Threader. This machine was introduced last year and is a “header and threader in one” that delivers an economical solution to producing complete small screws for today’s market needs.

The Lean Header & Threader machines are double­stroke, single­die headers with an integrated threader – designed to make a complete small­diameter screw quickly and efficiently, all within a small compact footprint.

The recent interest in re­shoring or making parts in the local region has made this equipment key to production. Recognising this trend, National Machinery collaborated with a key European customer to complete the Lean Header & Threader and introduced it at the 2022 WIRE show in Dusseldorf. This machine makes complete small screws up to all M6 varieties and some M7 applications.

The Lean Header & Threader uses the FORMAX precision linear feed system. This system is so exact that there is no need for a stock gauge or added parts to change the full wire range of the machine. The feed grips eliminate over­feeding and feed roll slippage, which can damage the wire and affect part quality. Feed length and kick­out adjustments are automated and easy, making it a much better solution than simply adding servo motors to existing traditional mechanisms with inherent design flaws.

The punch holders are individually adjustable to ensure a good fit between the die and punch while delivering excellent tooling life. Punch knockout is in both the cone and finish blows, and the blank wiper ensures the part is removed safely from the die area.

The formed blanks are taken by an elevator to a roll feeder and separator to ensure the parts are oriented correctly and

then fed into the threader tracks. The roll feeder and separator have individual drives to eliminate jams and improve the consistency of the feed, which is a key feature for handling the blanks properly and keeping up with the speed of the header and threader. The blanks then move down the tracks until they are efficiently injected into the die pocket, which can manage die sizes up to TR2.

The compact design of this machine not only reduces the layout space needed to produce small screws, but it also yields a more efficient flow through production, reducing the inventory and time required to produce a complete screw. Since the machine and sound enclosure are integrated, installation of the machine is a straightforward process with minimal effort.

LeanFX is a multi­station FORMAX® machine with all the precision FORMAX features that users trust and count on for great performance. The FORMAX linear feed system accurately handles the wire, and it is then cutoff and transferred with a precision straight­across transfer. The same systems that are in every FORMAX help maximise production speed and increase tool life and part tolerances. The zero­clearance heading slide is the key feature. The heading slide liners are completely covered, and pressure lubricated, so the clearances can be eliminated in the vertical and horizontal planes during the work stroke.

The LeanFX has simplified electrics and manual adjustments to the kickout and feed mechanisms, which helps to keep the machine economically priced. Using a system of “setup by numbers,” changeovers can be accomplished within an hour, which is a significant improvement compared to traditional machines. The machine is available in different sized diameter ranges with up to 6 dies to form everything from simple to more complex parts.

These Lean machine products are efficient and economical solutions to various forming needs. They are serviced locally by highly qualified service teams throughout North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

www.nationalmachinery.com

Jerry Bupp, VP Sales & Marketing at National Machinery talks to Torque Magazine about the company’s new lean products and processes.

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION ANCHORS

JCP FIXINGS COLLABORATION PRODUCES SOLUTION

In conjunction with the government, a British company has embarked on an ambitious project to enhance the energy efficiency in council houses. To ensure that the project was a success, JCP Fixings was selected as a partner in helping to formulate a sustainable solution.

The main objective of the project was to create a solution that could transform the energy efficiency of council houses across the country. Traditional council houses, often characterised by outdated designs and poor insulation properties, are recognised as being notorious energy wasters.

The solution was to add an extra external layer to the existing property, using innovative fixing techniques; this is where JCP Fixings stepped in. The heart of the innovation lay in the creation of ready­made frames, specifically crafted to tailor­fit each building. The frames were engineered to cover all sides of the buildings – as well as the roofs, offering a comprehensive solution. Their primary goal was to minimise energy wastage by acting as a thermal barrier. Furthermore, these frames were equipped with integrated solar panels on the roof, contributing to the generation of green electricity.

However, the seamless integration of these modern frames with existing, often aged, structures presented a substantial challenge. The success of the project hinged on the ability to securely connect the frames to the diverse range of base materials found in the council houses. This is where the expertise of JCP Fixings came to the fore.

JCP’s involvement was instrumental in overcoming these challenges. By accurately analysing survey reports and maintaining open lines of communication with the engineering teams, JCP played a pivotal role in guiding the selection of appropriate fixings for the project. Their assistance did not stop there, though; they also provided onsite training, which

ensured that the integrity of installation quality adhered to the highest standards, whilst complying with the specified installation instructions.

Central to the project was the selection of anchoring solutions that guaranteed stability, coupled with durability. This also involved the use of both chemical and mechanical fixings, strategically chosen to address the wide range of base materials. For applications with weaker base materials, the JCP Vinylester resin, paired with the new masonry ETA accreditation proved to be a successful solution. This combination offered exceptional anchoring strength – even in challenging circumstances. Conversely, for substrates demonstrating greater strength, such as brickwork, stainless­steel sleeve anchors were selected.

Throughout the project, all fixings were validated through rigorous onsite testing. These tests served to confirm that the chosen anchoring solutions provided adequate strengths to withstand the intended design actions; they also demonstrated the careful planning and strategic execution achieved through close, clear communication from all parties involved with the project.

Detailed planning and strategic thinking are essential in such multi­disciplinary projects, and JCP has shown that it can integrate seamlessly within. Their involvement in this project has demonstrated their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and a greener future.

As the project continues to unfold, it is a great example to the construction industry at large as to what is achievable through collaboration; that we can collectively strive to build a more energy­efficient and sustainable future for generations to come.

www.jcpfixings.co.uk

JCP Fixings are helping to improve the energy efficiency of council housing across the UK as they collaborate on a project to fit external layers to existing properties to minimise energy wastage and create a thermal barrier. The new frames are fixed using a range of anchoring solutions including chemical and mechanical fixings as well as stainless steel anchors.

A wide range of anchoring solutions from JCP have been used in the project

FASTEN YOUR WORK

New Battery tools

For blind rivets and rivet nuts

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RIVIT.IT

TH/TF ANCHOR, THE CONCRETE SCREW BY INDEX® A PERFECT FIXING

Index offers a range of concrete screws for all types of installation including the new TXE anchor which has high resistance to corrosion and wear.

INDEX® A Perfect Fixing, industrial manufacturer and supplier of fixing systems with more than 30 years’ experience, offers a complete range of concrete screws. The range comprises nine different models of head and a wide range of metrics, diameters and lengths in three different types of coating: Zinc­plated, A4 stainless steel and Atlantis C3­H. The latter offers the best protection against corrosion in category C3 atmospheres in accordance with the ISO 9223 standard.

The range offers solutions for all types of installation.

APPLICATIONS FOR ETA 20/0046 VERSION (installations in cracked and uncracked concrete)

• Structural applications

• Awnings or temporary signage

• Stadium seats

• Wood to concrete structures

• Railings and fences

• Shelves and racks

• Structural beams and pillars

APPLICATIONS FOR VERSIONS OF NON-STRUCTURAL INSTALLATIONS (ETA 20/0494)

• Fastening of tubes

• Air conditioning conduits

• Electrical trays or wiring systems

• Installations in hollow concrete ceilings

• Installations in hollow­core slab ceilings

The range has recently been expanded with the TXE anchor. The new anchor is manufactured using BIMETAL technology, which offers high resistance both to corrosion and wear during installation.

The body of the fixing is made from A4 stainless steel, giving it anti­corrosive properties, up to C5 levels of corrosion. Meanwhile, the tip of the fixing is manufactured in hardened carbon steel, with greater hardness and facilitating the installation in and grip on the base material. The production process allows the friction welding of the two materials.

Reinforcing Index’s commitment to offering quality products, this range is approved under the strictest quality standards: – Approved (ETA 20/0046) in option 1 for installation in cracked and non­cracked concrete (C20/25­C50/60).

– Approved (ETA 20/0494) for non­structural redundant systems in concrete (C20/25) and hollow­core slabs (≥ C30/37).

Approved for fire resistance R30­R120 in concrete.

Seismic approval C1&C2 for structural installation when there is a risk of some type of seismic movement.

The anchor can be installed with reduced distances between anchors and at the edge of the concrete element, because it uses mechanical interference between the thread and the base material to generate a smaller load on the concrete.

The anchor can be installed with just a drill and an impact driver, significantly reducing and simplifying installation time. It is not necessary to clean the holes in vertical installations and in roofs and/or floors. It can also be unscrewed for correct adjustment and up to three approved screw­in depths.

Once installed it is easily removable, making it a good solution for temporary installations.

www.indexfix.com

The new anchor is manufactured using BIMETAL technology

The demands of fixing into uncracked and cracked concrete are wide and varied. Which is why EJOT’s range of solutions are equally varied, from the temporary fastening of facade scaffolding and cladding to the anchoring of structural elements such as railings, steel stairs, facade components.

The high quality of EJOT and LIEBIG anchoring products ensures safety and high load-bearing capacity values – promoting confidence in design and specification.

AS SYSTEMS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

As AS Systems celebrates its 30th anniversary, founder Ales Seidl discusses the company’s investment in production and manufacturing as part of plans to expand product offerings and improve service.

Tell us the history of AS Systems and its development?

AS Systems celebrates 30 years of operation this year. We started as a wholesaler of screw goods and fastening techniques, and since 2013 we have also been a manufacturer of steel anchors and screws according to the wishes of customers, such as non­standard screws.

What investments have you made in recent years and why did you make them?

We’ve invested €5.4 million in a variety of machinery and improvements to our production processes including:

• Production of cold forging anchors

• Automatic assembly and packaging lines for steel anchors

• Screw production lines

• Plastic injection molding machines

These investments allow us to further develop the company and the possibility of offering a larger selection of items to our customers and, of course, shorter delivery times.

What are the benefits of these investments for the company and customers?

We are able to provide faster deliveries, greater flexibility and a greater selection of items. There is also greater competitiveness in prices too.

How important are these investments and innovations for you as a company?

It was very important for the growth of the company as well as for the growth of employees and allow greater possibilities of acquiring larger customers and hopefully become even more recognisable in the market.

What types of products do you offer? How do you ensure the quality of your products?

We offer steel anchors, inserts, impact screws and screws made according to our customers’ specifications. We guarantee quality thanks to our experienced technical team and our modern machines which are designed for quality control.

What products do you make in-house and do you have plans to further increase your production capacity in the future?

We manufacture steel anchors, inserts, impact screws and screws made to customers’ design specifications and requirements.

For the moment we are looking to optimise the use of the new lines and achieve quantities that will fill our capacities. Once we’ve reached those targets, then we will think about new investments. We definitely have a plan of what we would like to do regarding expansion and growth for the future.

What additional services can you offer to customers?

In addition to our manufacturing capabilities, we can also manage the production and packaging options according to the customer’s needs such as Private Label.

You recently attended ta number of fastener exhibitions, how were they for your company? What kind of visitors did you get at your stand and have you acquired any new business?

The fairs were very successful for us. We did not get any new orders at the fair itself, but we are now in talks with several potential buyers for cooperation. When it comes to trade shows and exhibitions, we are not looking for orders as such, but rather for potential customers with whom we can cooper

ate in the long term.

What general trends do you see in the fastener industry in the future?

We’ve noticed that recently the demand for production in Europe is increasing for a variety of reasons, which is good for us as we are based in Slovenia.

What are AS Systems’ plans for the future? Where do you see opportunities?

We still see many possibilities for the future, but as I already mentioned, we must first take care of production for our existing customers and maximise our production capabilities, for which we allocated the recent €5.4 million investment. Then we can look further ahead.

www.as-system.si

CELO FIXINGS BAZ PLUS – SAFETY FOR BIG PROJECTS

Why BAZ Plus is the solution for demanding projects?

Through­bolt anchors are a construction site standard fastener in concrete construction and for fixing façade substructures. In keeping with its philosophy “Small Things Matter”, CELO Fixings takes the standard product to the next level and presents the high­performance fastening solution BAZ Plus with Option 1 for maximum security.

Secure anchorage even under seismic action

The BAZ Plus quick­fix anchor bolt convinces with high loads even in demanding base­materials. Its suitability for cracked concrete in the tension zone of ceilings and balconies as well as non­cracked concrete is visible in the ETA­assessment and approval Option 1 ­ a widely accepted confirmation of technical suitability of a building product in member states in the EU and often worldwide.

This includes the suitability for usage under seismic action (C2) and for sprinkler systems as well as resistance R 120 in case of fire.

High-performance design

Very high load values even with small edge and axial distances make the BAZ Plus a must for difficult installation situations. The perfect adjustment between cone and clip ensures reliable expansion and consistent high pull­out loads. Distinctive knurls ensure a good grip and quick tightening of the anchor, while the bolt and thread is cold­forged, giving the BAZ Plus high precision and making it very strong.

Versatile for all kinds of applications

The BAZ Plus is available in a galvanized as well as a stainless steel A4 version. Meaning the anchor can be used from dry interior rooms and wet rooms to outdoor applications, industrial areas as well as in a maritime climate.

Easy handling and fast mounting

Two different setting depths for the dimensions M10 and M12 offer a higher application flexibility. The length marking on top of the BAZ Plus makes the right length easy to find on the construction site. Plus, the setting depth marking ring enables a quick installation.

www.celofixings.de

Celo Fixings presents the BAZ Plus, the high-performance anchor for maximum security for each project. The BAZ Plus is available in galvanized and stainless steel options.

Below: The BAZ Plus can be used across multiple applications in construction and development

SUNCO will run a booth at

JIS U N O

OPTIMISING INVENTORY MANAGEMENT: OLYMPIC FIXINGS’ SUCCESS WITH EAZYSTOCK

Managing stock is one of the biggest challenges facing wholesalers, suppliers, distributors and importers and it’s a task that has become even more difficult in recent years, with disruption coming from seemingly endless sources. EazyStock has a tailor made solution to help deal with the enduring challenge...

In the complex distribution and supply chain management landscape, Olympic Fixings, a leading supplier with centres in England and Ireland, offers 3,500 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) to electrical wholesalers, builders, plumbers and more.

THE CHALLENGE: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

The demand for more advanced forecasting information led Olympic Fixings to explore solutions that could easily integrate with their existing ERP. Their objective was to gain access to trend data and insights to make informed purchasing decisions and empower their procurement strategy.

THE SOLUTION: EAZYSTOCK’S SEAMLESS INTEGRATION AND ROBUST FUNCTIONALITY

EazyStock’s functionality and price model made it a winner for Finance Director, Gareth Williams: “EazyStock provides all the features we need in a transparent pricing structure. There aren’t any hidden costs.”

Williams also highlighted EazyStock’s Customer Success team’s valuable role throughout the implementation and onboarding process.

“Mark and Cristina would quickly come back with a solution. Their in­depth understanding of the product and the time they spent getting to know our business meant that nothing was impossible.”

Paul Gordon, Managing Director, echoed the customer success team’s unwavering support: “Mark and Cristina were true partners in getting us set up; they felt like an extension of our business.”

This partnership facilitated a smooth transition to the new system, even during one of the most volatile times for supply chains.

DRIVING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: EAZYSTOCK’S IMPACT

Olympic Fixings swiftly adapted to the new system. The software’s capabilities provided remarkable insights that transformed their inventory management practices.

“The amount of information we can get from EazyStock is amazing. We have visibility of our stock in gross terms, which we check daily. We’re also big fans of the risk of run out report, which uses our current stock information and historical sales to forecast upcoming demand and lets us know whether we have enough stock or need to order more,” explains Williams.

The speed at which EazyStock identified exceptions and demand patterns surpassed previous methods, allowing them to take control of their inventory levels. As a result, stock availability surged to an impressive average of 99.8%, all while reducing overall stock levels.

EMPOWERING SMARTER DECISION-MAKING: RESULTS AND REFLECTIONS

EazyStock not only streamlined Olympic Fixings’ purchasing process but has revolutionised the management of its Northern Ireland warehouse. Challenging stock­level issues have now become a seamless, efficient operation. How has EazyStock removed this headache? EazyStock sends recommended orders from Northern Ireland to the UK every morning, providing supplementary orders depending on demand.

Paul Gordon offered valuable advice for businesses embarking on similar journeys: “Someone who can lead the process will really help you get the system up and running as quickly as possible so that you can start to see some return on investment.

“Embrace the system and ensure you have quality data going in so that you get quality information that you can use to enhance your purchasing.”

Read the full case study and begin your inventory optimisation journey here:

www.eazystock.com/uk/olympicfixings

22 YEARS OF THE TAIWAN HARDWARE SHOW

Taiwan Hardware Show might be at a new venue this year, but the show has been delivering exhibition goodness for over two decades…

Few would argue with the contention that Taiwan has developed into a global powerhouse in the hardware production market, and naturally the organisers behind the Taiwan Hardware Show (THS), 22 years old in 2023, would agree.

The organiser, Kaigo Co, said it was therefore timely for the show to relocate to a venue in Taiwan’s capital – the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre. This year, the show runs over 18­20 October and plots to bring global hardware professionals even closer and with easier access to their Taiwanese business partners.

Since its inception, the Taiwan Hardware Show has been well worth attending, says Kaigo, putting the spotlight on the unique capabilities of Taiwan’s hardware industry. Year after year, this industry­recognised event has showcased the craftsmanship, cutting­edge technologies and resilient commitment to excellence and quality that have propelled Taiwan to the premier league of the global hardware landscape. The Taiwan Hardware Show proudly contributes towards the kickstart of any global hardware entrepreneurial journey, by finding the right suppliers and trusted business partners in the country and transporting the expertise back home in Southeast Asia, the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, even to neighbouring North Asian countries.

“Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all exhibitors, visitors, partners and supporting organisations who have contributed to the resounding success of the Taiwan Hardware Show throughout the years,” says Gerd Keim, President of Kaigo. “The unwavering commitment has played a pivotal role in making this event an unrivalled platform for the exchange of

expertise, knowledge, and opportunities – all key factors that make Taiwan a conducive business hub for the global hardware manufacturing and suppliers’ community.”

Taiwan’s hardware players head to Taipei

Gerd Keim added: “From the first THS edition, we have observed the innovation sprint of Taiwan’s competitive hardware suppliers from around the country, crossing several industrial counties and manufacturing sites. Gathering the best of Taiwan at the most travel­convenient location for international visitors in central Taipei is the right move to facilitate real business.”

Over the past 22 years, the Taiwan Hardware Show has provided a platform for industry professionals and innovators from around the world to connect, collaborate and witness first­hand the potential in the Taiwan hardware sector. Kaigo says that THS’ continued success is testament to the tireless efforts and collective brilliance of local industry movers, in partnership with international supporters that have shaped the industry’s trajectory and elevated it to newer heights with each THS edition.

From fast­moving DIY hardware and off­the­shelf hand tools, THS’ exhibiting companies are among those steering the industry’s next­generation manufacturing trend with scale­up solutions towards professional hardware technology that are in high­demand by skilled professionals in the ship building, marine engineering, aerospace, fabrication for heavy industries manufacturing and other smart machinery driven sectors. This progressive effort will push Taiwan’s hardware producers to augment other industries’ manufacturing transformation and in

TAIWAN HARDWARE SHOW

tandem expand THS’ niche showcase covering; power or hand tools, building supplies, machine and plant equipment, automotive supplies plus other hardware­related parts, fastener, fittings or accessories.

At the heart of preserving the business continuity of the country’s hardware industry workforce, the Taiwan Hardware Show will introduce T+SAFE, Taiwan’s First Trade Fair Dedicated to Safety and Health at Work as an offshoot show from its safety equipment and supplies segment. With T+SAFE renewed positioning, the plumbing and lock exhibit segments will also be spotlighted for its synergy on environmental technologies and safe work spaces with secured applications

With the longstanding support from EDRA (European DIY & Retailers Association), GHIN (Global Home Improvement Network), TAMI (Taiwan Association of Machinery Manufacturers), IHA (International Federation of Hardware & Housewares Association), Japan DIY. Home Centre Association, Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association and other partner organisations, THS 2023 will forge more new partnerships, foster collaborations, and aim to inspire a future where Taiwan leads the world in hardware production, innovation, and sustainable growth. Some of these esteemed industries thought leaders will be sharing their market insights at dedicated seminar sessions onsite.

driven by tech­driven hardware gears and wearables.

The intriguing possibilities that emerge from the convergence of technology and creativity from leading exhibitors such as Lancer (Yih Cheng Factory Co., Ltd.), E­Make Co., Ltd., Gong Fong Enterprise Co., Ltd, KST Terminals, Matatakitoyo Tool Co., Ltd. Kheiron Corp. and others provide strong draw for corporate buyers and professional visitors comprising distributors, brand owners from various industries such as FMCG, electronics, household and lifestyle goods to visit THS. THS is set to welcome some 300 exhibiting companies and 10,000 attendees.

// Taiwan Hardware Show will introduce T+SAFE, Taiwan’s First Trade Fair Dedicated to Safety and Health at Work. //

This year’s show will broaden into the sizeable health and safety market

BRIGHTON-BEST INTERNATIONAL

BEST for Stainless Steel

NEW RANGES AND INCREASED STOCK LEVELS

T: +44

TAIWAN HARDWARE SHOW

(0)1384 568144

Visitor registration has opened online with subsidies for qualified international buyers. Aspiring hardware industry professionals and business start­ups are also invited to engage in meaningful dialogues with prospective OEMs, contract manufacturers and suppliers. The Taiwan Hardware Show will be co­located with the International Metal Technology Taiwan (IMT Taiwan) to deliver a one­stop sourcing and procurement experience for metal manufacturing and hardware businesses. For more information on THS participation opportunities and show programmes, visit the website.

www.hardwareshow.com.tw

IN BRIEF

WHAT: TAIWAN HARDWARE SHOW

WHERE: TAIPEI NANGANG EXHIBITION CENTRE, TAIPEI

Product showcase: Taiwan’s manufacturing prowess will be on display in the halls of the Nangang exhibition centre

WHEN: 18-20 OCTOBER 2023

ORGANISER: KAIGO

DIRECTORY

YOUR

HANDY GUIDE TO DISTRIBUTORS, SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS IN THE INDUSTRY

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS TO OVER 10,000 INDUSTRY DECISION MAKERS

Torque Directory offers a cost-effective platform to promote your business all year round in both print and digital issues of Torque Magazine (published 10 times a year, reaching an audience of over 10,000 international decision makers), as well as online at torque-expo.com.

Special print editorial exposure (Profile) included as part of the Directory package.

COST: Only £750 / €850 for the year

CALL +44 (0) 1727 739 160 FOR MORE DETAILS

Abbott Fasteners Ltd

n Stocked Imperial & Metric

n All metal locking nuts including Vargal Philidas Stover

n Largest stock of Genuine Helicoils in the UK

T +44 (0) 1268 532 434

E sales@abbottfasteners.co.uk

W www.abbottfasteners.co.uk

Achilles Seibert

n Torx screws/bolts

n Hexagon socket screws/bolts

n Hexagon head screws/bolts

n Special/drawing parts

T +49 4193 8955

E sales@achill-fasteners.com

W www.achill-fasteners.com

ADI Supply Ltd

n Resin anchors

n Shield anchors

n Through bolts

n Window frame screws

n CFA approved tester

E sales@adisupply.co.uk

W www.adisupply.co.uk

Albert Pasvahl

n Fit Bolts

n Plugs

n Brass

n Knurled thumb screws

n Special scews

T +49 [0] 40-532852-0

E info@pasvahl.de

W www.pasvahl.de

Alloy & Stainless Fasteners

n Bolts / Nuts / Studs

n Sockets

n Washers

n Bent Bolts

n Specials

T +1 713 929 0480

E info@GoASF.com

W www.GoASF.com

Ambrovit Bolts + Screws

n Carpentry wood screws

n Carpentry wood spacer screws

n Carpentry wood terrace screws

T + 39 (0)382 810280

E sales@ambrovit.it

W www.ambrovit.com

Apex Stainless Fasteners Ltd

n Stainless steel fasteners

& fixings

n Aerotight nut

n Stainless steel screws/nuts

n Stainless steel washers

T +44 (0) 1788 537979

E sales@apexstainless.com

W www.apexstainless.com

Avon Stainless Fasteners

n Marine products

n Stainless fasteners

n Stainless steel semi-standard

T +44 (0) 117 972 8560

E sales@avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

W www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

DIRECTORY

YOUR HANDY GUIDE TO DISTRIBUTORS, SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS IN THE INDUSTRY

BÄCKER GmbH & Co. KG

n Standard elements

n Control elements

n Connecting elements

n fixing elements

n Screws & nuts made of plastic

T +49 2753 5950-0

E info@baecker.eu

W www.baecker.eu

TECHNIK FÜR GEWINDE

BASS GmbH

n Nut taps

n Cutting taps

n Roll taps

n Thread milling cutters

n Tap holders

T +49 7932 892-0

E info@bass-tools.com

W www.bass-tools.com

Bodegraven Metaal N.V. S.A.

n Threaded rods

n Threaded studs

n Studding

n Allthread studs

T +32 11 55 91 10

W www.bomet.com

Boltfast

n 10.9 hex bolts/set

n 10.9 allthread

n Class 10 full nuts

n Grade 10 nylocs

n Thru hardened washers Din6916

T +44 (0) 1922 749 357

E info@boltfast.co.uk

W www.boltfast.co.uk

CALL+44 (0) 1727 739160 FOR

Brighton Best International

n Hex Head Bolts/Sets 931/933

n Socket Screws

n Dowel Pins

n Stainless Fasteners

n Washers/Nuts

T +44 (0) 1384 568 144

E sales@brightonbest.org

W www.brightonbest.co.uk

CRC Industries UK Ltd.

n Lubricants

n Anti-Corrosion & Paints

n Degreasers & Cleaners

n Metal Working

n Made in the UK

T +44 (0)1278 727272

E sales.uk@crcind.com

W www.actioncan.com

Chin Tai Sing Precision Manufactory

n Brass Insert

n Clinching Metal Fasteners

n CNC Components

n Automotive Components

n Electronic Components

T 886-4-26367001

E inquiry@ctsp-insert.com.tw

W www.ctsp-insert.com.tw

Deligo

n Wedge nuts

n Channel nuts

n Wire suspension systems

n Heavy and light duty fixings

n Electrical accessories

T +44 (0) 1384 824100

E sales@deligo.co.uk

W www.deligo.co.uk

DS Fasteners Ltd

n All metal self locking nuts

n Fine pitch nuts

n High grade nylocs

n Serrated flange bolts

n Stover nuts

T +44 (0) 1842 763 000

E nuts@dsfasteners.co.uk

W www.dsfasteners.co.uk

EJOT UK Ltd

n Advanced Industrial Fastening

n Advanced Automotive Screws

n Construction Concrete Anchoring

n Liebig Heavy Duty Anchors

n Rainscreen Fastening Systems

T +44 (0) 1977 687 040

E info@ejot.co.uk

W www.ejot.co.uk

Eurotec GmbH

n Deck construction and landscaping

n Timber engineering

n Wood construction screws

n Wood connectors

n System connections for cross laminated timber structures

T +49 2331 6245-0

E info@eurotec.team

W www.eurotec.team

FIXI Srl

n Threaded Inserts

n Blind Rivets

n Self-Clinching Fasteners

n Welding Studs

n Brass Inserts

T +39 011.7072398

E info@fixi.it

W www.fixi.it

Gesipa Blindniettechnik GmbH

n Blind rivets

n Blind rivet nuts

n Automatic riveting

n Blind rivet tools

n Setting process control

T +49 (0) 6105 962 0

E info@gesipa.com

W www.gesipa.com

Global Fasteners Limited

n Bolts & nuts

n Security screws

n Woodscrews

n Machine screws

n PPE

T +44 (0) 1384 480793

E sales@global-fasteners.co.uk

W www.globalfasteners.co.uk

Goebel Group

n Blind Rivets

n Blind Rivet Nuts

n Rivet Setting Tools

n 18V Cordless Riveting Tools

n Lockbolts

T +49211-245000-0

E info@goebel-group.com

W www.goebel-group.com

Torque Directory offers a cost-effective platform to promote your business all year round in both print and digital issues of Torque Magazine (published 10 times a year, reaching an audience of over 10,000 international decision makers), as well as online at torque-expo.com.

COST: Only

SPECIAL PRINT EDITORIAL EXPOSURE (PROFILE) £750 / €850 INCLUDED AS PART OF THE DIRECTORY PACKAGE. for the year

Hafren Fasteners

Grand Metal Manufacturing GMM

n Clinch & sheet metal fasteners

n Self-clinching nuts, standoff, studs

n Welding studs & standoff

n Cage nut, rivet bushes, rivet nuts

n Brass inserts for plastic

T +86-139-2920-4841

E enquiry@grandametal.com

W www.grandametal.com

Güde GmbH

n Spring lock washers

n Sperrkant washers

n Sperrkant spring washers

n Contact washers

n Conical washers

T 0049 2391 9190-0

E info@guede.net

W www.guede.net

n Security fasteners & fixings

n Bespoke special security fasteners

n Security fastener tooling & accessories

n Security fencing bolts

T +44 (0)1686 621 300

E info@hafrenfasteners.com

W www.hafrenfasteners.com

Harrison & Clough Ltd

n Fasteners & Fixings

n Hand Tools

n Power Tool Accessories

n Industrial Consumables

T 0844 571 22 22

E sales@harclo.com

W www.harclo.com

Helmut Steinfels GmbH & Co. KG

n Used machines for the fastener industry

n Used machines for the wire industry

n 2nd hand machinery for wire and fastener

n Fastener production machines

T 0049 40 522 60 13

E steinfels@steinfels-kg.de

W www.steinfels-kg.de

INDEX A Perfect Fixing (Técnicas Expansivas S.L.)

n Fixings (metal, chemical, plastic, ETICS…)

n Screws, fasteners + accessories

n Clamps (metallic and plastic)

n Installation systems (Profiles, supports, accessories…)

n Fixings for photovoltaic panels

T +34 941.272.131

E info@indexfix.com

W www.indexfix.com/en

Intact Software

T +44 (0)1442 878879

E info@intactsoftware.com

W www.intactsoftware.com

JET FAST COMPANY LIMITED

n Rubber Nut-Insert

n Metal Rivet Nut

n Nylon Nut-Insert

T +886-7-3740160

E jetfast@ms34.hinet.net

W www.jetfast.com.tw

Jiaxing Goodway Hardware

n Cold forming parts

n Hot forging parts

n CNC machining parts

n Stamping parts & Casting parts

n Metal injection moulding parts

T +86-573-82765508

E jackchang@goodway-fastener.com

W www.goodway-fastener.com

K-Engineering

n Allthread 1Mtr/3Mtr/3Ft

n Washers

n Nuts

n Cup square

n Roofing bolts

T +44 (0) 1922 749 350

E info@k-engineering.co.uk

W www.k-engineering.co.uk

KARAT INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION

n Hand Rivet Tools

n Hand Rivet Nut Tools

n Air-Hydraulic Rivet Tools

n Air-Hydraulic Rivet Nut Tools

n Rivet Nuts and Blind Rivets

T +886 – 2 – 8990 1800

E Sales@KaratTool.com

W www.KaratTool.com

Kebrell

n Commercial fasteners & fixings

n Automotive fasteners

n Flange joint sets

n Specials to drawing

n 20,000 tonnes of stock

T +44 (0) 121 526 6049

E kebrell@kebrell.co.uk

W www.kebrell.co.uk

KRONUS

n Wooden packaging

n Pallet collars

n Pallets

n Wooden packaging accessories

n Delivery solutions

T +371 67515952

E info@kronus.eu

W www.kronus.eu

Lederer GmbH

n Stainless steel fasteners

n Special parts by drawing

n C-parts management

T +49/2333/8309-0

E info@lederer-online.com

W www.lederer-online.com

Martyn Price Fasteners Ltd

n Bolts

n Nuts

n Washers

n Allthreads

n Specials

T 01384 424767

E sales@martynprice.co.uk

W www.martynprice.co.uk

MATATAKITOYO TOOL CO., LTD.

n Torque Tester

n Digital Torque Wrench

n Torque Wrench

n Torque Screwdriver

n Torque Multiplier

T +886-4-2533-5893

E matatakitoyo@gmail.com

W www.matatakitoyo.com

DIRECTORY

YOUR HANDY GUIDE TO DISTRIBUTORS, SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS IN THE

INDUSTRY

Metabo (UK) Ltd

n 12 Volt cordless tools

n 18 Volt cordless tools

n 18V Garden tools

n Building trade and renovation

n Metal craft and industry

T +44 (0) 2380 732000

E info@metabo.co.uk

W www.metabo.co.uk

ND Industries, Inc.

n Self-Locking & Sealing Fasteners

n Adhesives & Sealants

n Thread-Locking & Patch Products

n NAS Fasteners

T +1 248 288 0000

E info@ndindustries.com

W www.ndindustries.com

NE Fasteners Ltd

n Furniture Fasteners

n Woodscrews

n Kitting

n Decking Screws

n Drywall Screws

T +44 (0)121 559 8866

E nefasteners@aol.com

W www.nefasteners.co.uk

SCHRODER

Peter Schröder GmbH

n Inch Sized Fasteners

OGL Software

n Fully Integrated ERP Software

n Cloud ERP Software

n eCommerce Integration

T +44 (0) 1299 873873

E software@ogl.co.uk

W www.ogl.co.uk

Rapid Industrial Fasteners

n Special fasteners and turned parts manufacturer

n Duplex fasteners

n Rapid manufacturing lead-times

n Galvanised Threaded Bar

n Galvanised Nuts, Bolts and Washers

T +44 (0) 121 501 3903

E manufacturing@rapidfast.co.uk

W www.rapidfast.co.uk

n USA Fastener

n MS – AN – Na

n ASTM Standards

n Special Screws and Parts

T +49 713299600

E info@schroederschrauben.de

W www.schroederschrauben.de

pgb-Europe nv

n Bolts & Nuts

n Wood, chipboard and decking screws

n Light duty anchors

n Heavy duty anchors

n Chemical anchors

T +32 9 272 70 70

E info@pgb-europe.com

W www.pgb-europe.com

n Extensive standard socket screw range ex-stock

n Master distributor for Unbrako products

n Manufacturer of specials to drawing

n All thread locking + finishes inc Zinc, Geomet, Delta etc...

T +44 (0) 121 515 0121

E sales@nssocketscrews.com

W www.nssocketscrews.com

Schäfer + Peters GmbH

n Screws

n Nuts

n Washers

n Bolts

n Stainless steel

T +49(0)7941 6094-0

E info@schaefer-peters.com

W www.schaefer-peters.com

F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG

n Automotive Fasteners

n DIN/EN/ISO Standard Articles

n Galvanised Fasteners & Fixings

n Stainless Steel Fasteners & Fixing

n Wood & Construction screws

T +49 40 853 630

E mail@reyher.de

W www.reyher.de

Smith

Bullough

Smith Bullough

n Blanks and finished stock

n Metric and inch in all grades

n Non standard bolting

n Special forgings

n Stainless and special alloys

T +44 (0)1942 520250

E sales@smithbullough.com

W www.smithbullough.com

S&P

n Design software for anchoring

n Structural timbers

n Installation systems

n Reinforced concrete

T +49 341 4424610

E info@sup-scs.de

W www.sup-scs.de

Precision Technology Supplies

n Stainless steel fasteners and fixings

T +44 (0)1342 410758

E info@pts-uk.com

W www.pts-uk.com

Scell-it Ltd

n Heavy Duty Anchors

n Chemical Anchors

n Concrete Anchors

n Rivets

n Rivet Installation Tools

T +44 (0) 1785 246539

E sales@scellit.co.uk

W www.scellit.co.uk

Socketfast

n Socket caps

n Socket countersunks

n Socket buttons

n Socket shoulder screws

n Socket flange buttons

T +44 (0) 1922 749 363

E info@socketfast.co.uk

W www.socketfast.co.uk

SPIROL Industries Ltd

n Coiled Spring Pins

n Inserts for Plastic

n Compression Limiters

n Disc Springs

n Shims

T +44 (0) 1536 444 800

F +44 (0) 1536 203 415

E info-uk@spirol.com

W www.spirol.com

Torque Directory offers a cost-effective platform to promote your business all year round in both print and digital issues of Torque Magazine (published 10 times a year, reaching an audience of over 10,000 international decision makers), as well as online at torque-expo.com.

COST: Only

SPECIAL PRINT EDITORIAL EXPOSURE (PROFILE) £750 / €850 INCLUDED AS PART OF THE DIRECTORY PACKAGE. for the year

Star Fasteners

n Huck® Lockbolts & Blind Structural Fasteners

n Associated Tool Hire, Service & Repair

n VVG / Rivdom Tool Distributor

n Fasteners & Fixings

n Sealants & Adhesives

T +44 (0) 115 932 4939

E sales@starfasteners.co.uk

W www.starfasteners.co.uk

SUNCO INDUSTRIES JAPAN

n Metric fasteners

n Many kinds of rare-size fasteners

n Many kinds of SEMS screws

n Hexagon socket head cap screws

n Many kinds of materials screws

T +81 6-6539-3560

E export@sunco.co.jp

W www.sunco.co.jp

Taiwan Precision Fastener Co., Ltd.

n Patented Wood Screw

n Wood Screw

n Mill Point Self-Drilling Screw

n Self-Drilling Screw

n Self-Tapping Screw

T +886-7-616-2089

E sales@taiwan-precisionfastener.com

W taiwan-precision-fastener.com

TesT GmbH Testing Machines

Testing machines and measuring devices for:

n Bolts and fastening elements

n Components

n Materials

n Custom applications

T +49 211 209903-0

E test@test-gmbh.com

W test-gmbh.com

TOBSTEEL GmbH

The Insert Company (UK) Limited

n Zinc alloy inserts

n Steel inserts

n Brass threaded inserts

n Furniture connectors

n Special turned parts

T +44 (0) 121 4397329

E sales@theinsertcompany.com

W www.theinsertcompany.com

Tite-Fix Ltd

n Construction & Engineering

Screws

n Decking Screws

n Screw-Tite Multi-Purpose

Screws

n Specialist & Bespoke Screws

T +44 (0) 1756 699 996

E sales@tite-fix.co.uk

W www.tite-fix.co.uk

n High corrosion resistant fasteners & fixings

n Stainless steel A2, A4, 1.4571, 1.4462, 1.4529

n 1.4462 (DUPLEX), 1.4529 (HCR)

n DIN 125, 127, 439, 912, 931, 933, 934, 976, 980, 985, 1587, 6334, 7991

T +49 (0) 7941 6073-0

E info@tobsteel.com

W www.tobsteel.com

TOGE Duebel GmbH & Co. KG

n Concrete Screws

n Insulating Panel Fasteners

n Heavy Duty Fasteners & Fixings

n Adhesive Screw Anchors

n Bridge Cap & Parapet Anchors

T +49 (0)911 659 68-0

E sales@toge.de

W www.toge.de

TR Fastenings

n Sheet Metal Fasteners

n Enclosure Hardware

n Plastic Hardware

n Fasteners for Plastic

n General Fasteners

T +44 (0) 8454 811 800

E sales@trfastenings.com

W www.trfastenings.com

Trutek Fastening Systems UK

n ETA approved products

n Direct fastening

n Chemical resins

n Lightweight fixings

n Carbide drilling

T 0800 0129030

E info@trutekfixings.co.uk

W www.trutekfixings.co.uk www.trutekfasteners.eu

Ttapdrive AS

n Wood and construction screws

n Wood screws

n Construction screws

n Drilling screws

n Decking screws

T +47 38 07 01 00

E info@ttapdrive.com

W www.ttapdrive.com

Universal Precision Screws (UPS Lakshmi)

n Shoulder Screw

n Pins

n Cylinder head bolts

n High temp application fasteners

n Piston pins

T +91 1262 205110

E amit@upsind.com

W www.upsind.com

Valenta ZT s.r.o.

n Threaded rods

n Nuts and screws

n Washers

n Trapezoidal thread

n Timber connectors

T +420 315 698 020

E sales@valentazt.cz

W www.valentazt.com

Victory Fasteners Limited

n Un threaded blanks

n 10.9/12.9 Hex Bolt/Set

n Din 6921 / ISO 4162 Hex Flge

n Hardened Washers

Din 6916/F436

n B7/L7 European Bolting

T +44 (0)1902 544 480

E sales@victoryfasteners.com

W www.victoryfasteners.com

Volt Industrial Plastics

n Nylon products

n Plastic fasteners

n Plastic nuts

n Plastic washers

n Plastic spacers

T +1 (870) 449-8027

W www.voltplastics.com

ZAGO Manufacturing Co.

n Sealing Screws

n Sealing Nuts

n Sealing Washers

n Security/Tamper-Proof Seal

Screws

n Switch Boots

T +1 (973) 643-6700

E info@zago.com

W www.zago.com

The best value to secure and tighten bolted joints

Slap it on, pass it on

While some of us are stuck in the warehouse or office come rain or shine, those of us that do get to go outside to top up their vitamin D will have spotted a few heatwaves this summer. Builders merchant chain Jewson has teamed up with Melanoma UK again to remind us all about the importance of slapping on sun protection to protect ourselves. Using the power of social media influencers in the trades, this campaign focuses particularly on builders and tradespeople, reminded them to slap on the suncream and pass it on to colleagues.

TALON HOPES FOR A GRIPPING GAME

HEICO-LOCK®

Wedge Locking Systems

HEICO-TEC®

Tensioning Systems

Easy, fast and reliable assembly of large bolted joints

Pipe clip and cover manufacturer Talon has got to grips with Gillingham FC through an Associate Partnership.

No doubt hoping there will be a few wins in the pipeline for the League Two club, Talon’s striking new adverts will run on the pitch side hoarding at the Priestfield Stadium, offering fans a glimpse of the company’s innovative plumbing products and solutions. It will also be seen by thousands of fans on TV as the club push for promotion to League One.

www.talon.co.uk