INSIDE THIS ISSUE EDITOR’S COMMENT

04 Product news

COVER PROFILE

08 Rapid Industrial Fasteners –Comb-ining distribution and manufacturing for a unique advantage in the UK fastener supply market

TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

12 Lightweighting – How is growing demand for lighter products affecting fastener materials and designs?

36 CPG – The basics of fire protection testing and certification

40 Bumax – The specialist fasteners being used to secure a new payload for the ISS

IN-DEPTH – RENEWABLE ENERGY

16 Analysis – What new opportunities beckon for the fastener industry?

18 Hague Fasteners – Demonstrating social and economic responsibility with sustainability

20 Nord-Lock – Eliminating costly repairs for wind turbine MRO

22 EJOT UK – Supporting greater PV adoption without compromising flat roof performance

24 Dörken – Enhancing the protection of bolted connections with zinc flake coatings

27 Fluke – User-friendly tools for solar power installation

28 Gala Precision Engineering –Protecting the integrity and durability of fasteners in wind energy

PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

30 Clips & clamping – Superior clamping technology for operational continuity

34 Torque tools – A round up of the latest innovations in torque tools

INDUSTRY EVENTS

32 +Industry – Showcasing the latest products across hardware & industrial supplies

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Renewed Hope

EVENTS of past year have exposed significant vulnerabilities in the supply and demand of electricity around the world. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated the need for greater energy independency amongst countries who do not wish to be held for ransom over their energy supply, while extreme weather events have shown just how easily current supply can be interrupted and jeopardised. As the climate crisis intensifies, the supply and demand of energy will be increasingly affected, prompting the need for action sooner rather than later.

However, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) recently forecasting that renewable energy will meet over a third of global power generation by 2025, the future for renewable energy at least looks bright. With this, comes new opportunities for the fastener, tool and coatings industries. In this issue’s InDepth focus, we look at the companies already innovating in the renewable energy space, from the construction of wind turbine towers and blades to the installation of solar panel arrays, and much more in between.

Also under the spotlight in this issue is the topic of lightweighting, specifically how increasing demand for lighter products is affecting fastener materials and design. The latest product innovations in clips and clamping technologies and torque tools are also in focus, alongside technical insights into fire protection testing and certification and the space-faring fasteners chosen to secure a new payload to the International Space Station (ISS). The upcoming international trade show for hardware and industrial supplies, +Industry, is also previewed.

As always, if you have news or insights to share from your corner of the fastener, tool, coating and adhesive industries, then get in touch.

Hayley Everett Editor Hayley@torque-direct.com