Fastener + Fixing Magazine #101

In this issue… Made in Italy Fastener Fair Italy preview European Technical Assessments fastenerandfixing.com | Issue 101 September 2016

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what makes us

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T H E

G L O B A L

P A R T N E R

F O R

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

CONTENTS INDUSTRY NEWS

The latest half year company reports

10-40

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS COVER STORY

42-43

MADE IN ITALY

44-87

Ambrovit: Investing in growth

An insight into the vast fastener manufacturing capabilities within Italy

What is EOTA and what does it do?

European Technical Assessments

108-120

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 122-130

Dephosphating of high strength components before heat treatment

FASTENER FAIR ITALY PREVIEW 88-96

A preview of the technologies and products on display at this year's Fastener Fair Italy

EXHIBITIONS 100 Bigger and better NIFMSE Big brands signing up for Totally DIY & Tools

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Efficiency with intelligent e-business solutions

132-138

TECHNICAL 140-142

Why friction in screw connections is crucial for process capability

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

144-146

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

148-160

Automated blind rivet nut solution

FACE2FACE 102-106

Exclusive face-to-face interview with STANLEY Engineered Fastening

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

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EDITORIAL Will Lowry, editor, Fastener + Fixing Magazine

Benvenuti in questa edizione For those of you who, like me, aren’t great with their Italian, the above title welcomes you to this edition of Fastener + Fixing Magazine, which includes special features looking at the Italian market.

F

irstly there is the ‘Made in Italy’ feature, which gives a unique perspective into the vast manufacturing capabilities within Italy. I had the pleasure of visiting numerous businesses across the country and what became clear was the passion and pride every company had in the products and service they provided customers. Every aspect of the Italian fastener and fixing manufacturing sector is included and when combined, gives a fascinating insight into one of the key markets within the industry.

Still focusing on the Italian sector, there is also a special preview of the upcoming Fastener Fair Italy show, which will take place in Milan at the end of September. We have included a selection of the technologies and products exhibitors will have on display, as well as an exhibitor list. We will have a stand at the show (stand 130) so if you are visiting please stop by to say hello.

Our final focus on Italy is the Cover Story, which concentrates on Ambrovit SpA and how the Italian-based enterprise’s commitment to continuous investment has seen it double its storage capacity to 44,000 pallet spaces.

The exclusives don’t stop there! Following on in the series of face-to-face interviews with STANLEY Engineered Fastening, there is an article further exploring the challenges automotive lightweighing, multi-materials, and disruptive technologies, are creating for the fastener industry.

There are also articles from Peter D. Schellinck, EOTA secretary general, (pictured below) who looks at how EOTA supports innovation in the construction market; as well as Martin Ruedy, from Bossard’s expert team, who concentrates on why friction in screw connections is crucial for process capability.

Also, don’t forget about the latest news and developments on acquisitions, mergers, markets and innovations. It really has been a busy summer! will.lowry@fastenerandfixing.com

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Part of the Mack Brooks Group Romeland House, Romeland Hill, St Albans, Herts, AL3 4ET, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1727 814 400 Fax: +44 (0) 1727 831 033 www.fastenerandfixing.com Publishing Director Jamie Mitchell jamie.mitchell@fastenerandfixing.com

Executive Editor Phil Matten phil.matten@fastenerandfixing.com

Editor Will Lowry will.lowry@fastenerandfixing.com

Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge claire.aldridge@fastenerandfixing.com

Advertising Manager Europe Peter Townsend peter.townsend@fastenerandfixing.com

Senior Advertising Executive Mac Rahman mac.rahman@fastenerandfixing.com

Advertising Executive Italy Emiliano Pagliaroli emiliano.pagliaroli@fastenerandfixing.com

Production Manager Andy Clow andy.clow@fastenerandfixing.com

Production Assistant Dreene Khan dreene.khan@fastenerandfixing.com

Fastener + Fixing Magazine is a dedicated, trade–only publication which is circulated freely throughout the European trade.

Disclaimer The Publisher cannot be held responsible or, in any way, liable for errors or omissions, during input or printing of any material supplied or contained herein although the utmost care is taken to ensure that information contained is accurate and up to date. The Publisher also cannot be held liable for any claims made by advertisers or in contributions from individuals or companies submitted for inclusion within this publication. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or Fastener Fairs Ltd. Copyright Entire contents copyright © Fastener Fairs Limited 2016.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.

Annual subscription (6 issues) to non–trade and outside EU is €160.00

Photo © Martin Schönbacher

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

INDUSTRY NEWS

Bossard H1 sales up 2.1% Bossard Group has reported 2016 first half sales at CHF 343.6 million (€315.4 million), up 2.1% on the same period in 2015.

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he semi annual report opens: “In an intractably challenging market environment, the Bossard Group continued to grow during the first half of 2016 and bolstered profitability.”

“Positive growth dynamics were especially evident in the second quarter,” Bossard continued. “During which sales grew by 3.3% compared to a modest 0.9% in the first quarter.”

Group sales growth was mainly driven by Bossard’s European business, in which revenues rose 4.4% to CHF 207.7 million – a 2.3% increase in local currency. Momentum was stronger in the second quarter, during which sales increased 6.3% (+3.4% in local currency).

This was largely due to stronger demand in Bossard’s key markets of Germany, France and Denmark, although business in Switzerland also experienced an upswing.

In contrast American sales fell in the first half of 2016, down 0.9% to CHF 86.4 million (a 4.5% fall in local currency). Bossard says “a major customer in the agricultural technology sector is facing a doggedly challenging market” but the Group did benefit from healthy growth in its business in the electric vehicle sector.

In Asia, demand was uneven. Sluggish demand in China was reflected in a slight fall in sales in the first half of 2016. However, additional revenues from other countries – Bossard reports “encouraging signs” from India, Taiwan and Singapore – more than compensated so that the Group’s net business in Asia grew by 1.6% in

local currency. Currency exchange, however, meant a 1.4% fall in sales when converted to a Swiss franc total of CHF 49.5 million.

Across the Group operating profit (EBIT) rose disproportionately to sales, increasing by 4.3% to CHF 39.4 million for the first six months.

The operating margin was boosted to 11.5%, compared with 11.2% in 2015, although this was affected by the depreciation of the Swiss franc. Net income for H1 2016 rose by 5.6% to CHF 31.3 million (2015 H1: CHF 29.6 million).

Chairman of the board, Dr Thomas Schmuckli, and CEO David Dean, concluded with cautious optimism for the second half of the year, from which they expect positive overall business. That optimism is grounded in the second quarter growth trend in Europe where Bossard generates around 60% of its sales. The outlook for the leading US electric vehicle manufacturer supplied by Bossard also gives reason for optimism. Their main caveat was: “This overall outlook assumes that macroeconomic conditions remain relatively stable.”

Looking longer term Bossard has a growing commitment to the aerospace industry, particularly in the USA and France where it sees a healthy outlook. The Group also believes its Smart Factory Logistics methodology will play a significant role in providing leaner processes, faster throughput times, lower inventory and improved responsiveness as industrial companies adopt Industry 4.0 principles towards a new generation of ‘Smart Factories’.

Solid first half growth for NORMA NORMA Group posted solid growth in the first half of its current fiscal year 2016 as sales rose 1.9% to €462.8 million (H1 2015: €454.3 million).

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rganic growth of 2.8% was achieved while currency effects contributed negatively at minus 0.9%. From January to June 2016, adjusted EBITA increased by 3.1% €83.9 million (H1 2015: 81.4 million).

The adjusted EBITA margin for H1 2016 improved slightly to 18.1% (H1 2015: 17.9%).

“We look back on a good first half of 2016,” said Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. “Earnings and the Group's organic growth were in–line with our expectations. Despite the sluggish macroeconomic environment and negative currency effects, we are satisfied with how the business developed in the first six months of the year. The US market for commercial vehicles is still weak and the business in China has developed slightly weaker than expected.”

In the EMEA region NORMA Group increased first half 2016 sales by 7.1% to €227.3 million (H1 2015: €212.3 million).

This was due, among other factors, to the continued recovery of the overall economic situation and the good

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

order situation, particularly in the western European automotive business.

Sales in the Americas region declined by 3.1% to €198.5 million due to the continued weak environment in the commercial vehicle and agricultural and construction machinery sectors.

In the Asia–Pacific region, NORMA Group recorded a slight 0.4% decline in first half sales to €37 million (H1 2015: €37.2 million), mainly due to negative currency effects.

Including temporary workers, NORMA Group employed a total staff of 6,435 as of 30 th June 2016. This represents an increase of 129 employees compared to the end of the previous year.

NORMA Group confirmed its full year forecast, expecting solid organic sales growth of between 2% and 5% in 2016. The Group will strive to achieve a sustainable adjusted EBITA margin at the same level of previous years of over 17%. www.normagroup.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SFS reports Group H1 sales up 2.7% SFS Group increased its total sales in the first half of 2016 H1 by 2.7% to CHF 688.8 million (€632.3 million).

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owever, the total included a CHF 14.3 million favourable currency effect. When factored out organic sales grew by 0.1% in the half-year. Profitability increased significantly, taking the EBITA margin to 13.6% compared with 10.6% for first half of 2015 – which was impacted by the sudden appreciation of the Swiss franc.

Analysis by segment reveals varying performances. Fastening Systems sales increased 11.9% (10% at constant exchange rates) to CHF 176.7 million. EBITA was CHF 15.9 million, 8.6% to sales. Higher profitability was attributed to productivity enhancement measures, the launch of new products, and the absence of one-off effects that negatively impacted 2015 results. The Construction division achieved good sales growth with North America continuing to show robust demand and improvement in European business. Relocation of finishing operations to the Czech Republic made a significant contribution to the divisional margin in 2016. SFS reported considerable progress in the strategic partnership with HECO following consolidation of production activities.

The Riveting division also delivered solid sales growth in the half-year, driven primarily by industrial applications, solutions for the automotive industry and the retail business. GESIPA® strengthened its market position through the launch of Flow Drilling Rivet® technology and a new generation of Bird Pro battery powered blind rivet setting tools.

The Distribution & Logistics segment, which does almost all its business within Switzerland, saw sales grow 1.3% (0.8% at constant exchange rates) to CHF 156.5 million. EBITA was CHF 12.7 million (8% to sales). While the effects of the Swiss franc appreciation last year still reverberates in the market the ramp up of new customer projects contributed strongly to the segment’s performance.

The Engineered Components segment reported sales at CHF 355.6 million representing a 0.7% decrease (-5.1% at constant exchange rates). Profitability improved significantly, lifting the EBITA margin to 19.9% from 15.4% in the same period 2015. Improvement in EBITA to CHF 72.2million was attributed to the measures taken to counteract the surge in the Swiss franc last year together with productivity gains and economies of scale in the Automotive and Industrial divisions.

In Automotive, SFS reported the successful realisation of new projects, particularly in connection with self-driving cars. Its joint venture in Tianjin, China, "displayed very robust momentum". Unisteel first half sales were depressed by a renewed drop in demand for hard disk drives alongside other factors but SFS says the division defended its market position well. For the Industrial division the ramp-up of Airbus 350 was the greatest contributor to growth. Stamm AG’s competence in micro injection moulding strengthened SFS’ position in the medical components industry.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Bufab reports H1 sales up 17% Bufab Group reported Quarter Two 2016 sales rising 15% to SEK 762 million, taking six months net sales up 17% to SEK 1.48 billion. Organic growth in the first half was 4%.

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perating profit for the half year increased to SEK 153 million from SEK 107 million, with the operating margin increasing to 10.3% from 8.4%.

Bufab says order intake for the half year was in–line with net sales but intake in Q2 was lower than net sales.

Gross margin in the second quarter was 29.3% (27.4% for the same quarter 2015). President and CEO Jörgen Rosengren credits the improvement as the result of systematic effort but acknowledges a “favourable sourcing market” and contribution from acquired businesses.

International operations performed well with a net sales increase of 23% in the quarter. Declines in Norway and China were more than offset by growth across Europe, with the acquisition of Apex Stainless Ltd in the United Kingdon contributing to improved operating margin.

Swedish sales grew 4% with some margin improvement — a combination of organic growth and recent acquisition.

Considering the outcome of the EU referendum Rosengren said Bufab generated around 10% of sales and 15% of operating profit in the United Kingdom.

Should the Pound and demand in the UK weaken for an extended period, it would have a negative effect on Bufab but the Group feels it can compensate higher import costs with higher sales prices. Rosengren notes that, while there is uncertainty, Bufab has not seen any concrete effects of the Brexit decision.

(SEK 100 approximately equal to €10.56 at interbank rate).

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Bulten wins new Russian automotive contract Bulten AB, through its joint venture in Russia, has signed another contract to supply fasteners to a major Russian vehicle manufacturer.

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he annual order value is approximately €700,000 and deliveries will continue over a number of years, starting during the second quarter 2017 and ramping up to full volumes during 2018. Deliveries will continue over a number of years relating to the life span of the vehicle, which is normally between 5 to 10 years, with a gradual slowdown as the contract nears its end.

“With this contract, we have made a significant breakthrough in the Russian market and further strengthened our position as a manufacturer of high-quality fasteners. We see good opportunities to continue to grow the business and increase our market share,” said Tommy Andersson, president and CEO of Bulten.

Separately Bulten had reported its second quarter 2016 sales had slipped by 1.4% year-on-year to SEK 686 million. Operating earnings (EBIT), however, improved to SEK 54 million from SEK 45 million

Würth sales grow 8.6% in H1 2016 Würth Group’s sales volume grew by 8.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2016 to €5.9 billion.

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rowth in local currencies amounted to 10%. Würth reported an operating result at €275 million, which it described as considerably on the positive side. The Group committed €450 million in capital expenditure during the period.

Würth said it experienced very strong growth in southern Europe linking to the positive developments of past quarters.

Its operations in Germany reported 8.1% growth.

“All in all we are satisfied with the development of the Würth Group”, says Robert Friedmann, chairman of the central managing board. “Our multichannel sales concept is bearing fruit: Direct selling, brick and mortar stores, and e-business – Würth customers appreciate our presence.”

“Double-digit growth of the operating result is particularly pleasing. This is thanks to above average growth of 17% compared with sales. The Würth Group also reported an operating result of €275 million in the first half year.”

Würth expects sales to increase to around €11.9 billion for the full year.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

for Q2 2015. Operating margin was 7.8%. Earnings after tax was SEK 39 million (2015 Q2: SEK 35 million). Bulten said that its order books had decreased 2.4% compared with 2015 Q2.

Six month sales were SEK 1,402 million, down 0.5% on H1 2015.

EBIT was SEK 109 million for the half year compared with SEK 82 million in H1 2015.

Tommy Andersson commented: "Sales development in our different markets has been somewhat uneven during the quarter. Deliveries to carmakers with European exposure remained good and were above the level of market growth. Deliveries to China and to heavy vehicle manufacturers were at a lower rate. In total therefore, net sales were marginally lower than the previous year."

Andersson expected 2016 to prove a year of growth in-line with European vehicle production expectations.

(100 SEK is approximately €10.56 at interbank rates).

South African fastener makers try for new anti–dumping duties The South African Fastener Manufacturers Association (SAFMA) has allowed anti–dumping measures on Chinese fasteners, in place since 1999, to expire in order to clear the way for a new anti–dumping complaint aimed at achieving more effective defence from low cost imports.

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n January SAFMA declined to submit evidence to an expiry review of anti–dumping measures on bolts and nuts imported from China, originally put into place in 1999 and subsequently extended in 2004/5 and again in 2010/11. Its reasoning, it has now become clear, was that the measures had proven ineffective at preventing injury to South African manufacturers as they including exemptions, which SAFMA Chairman Rob Pietersma said had made the duties ineffective. One such loophole meant four Chinese set screw manufacturers were exempt from 73% anti–dumping duties. SAFMA says the exemptions had created openings for higher levels of imports, with the overall effect that imports from China had not reduced as a result of the anti–dumping measures.

The South African International Trade Administration Commission terminated the long–standing anti–dumping measures on bolts and nuts imported from China on 5th August.

Now SAFMA has announced it intends to make a new submission to ITAC, seeking maximum tariffs on set screws, bolts and nuts.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Nord-Lock acquires Expander Group Nord-Lock Group has acquired 100% of the Expander Group from owner Roger Svensson.

The Expander Group specialises in the design, manufacturing and sales of the Expander® System – an expandable pivot pin system, for heavy machinery and equipment.

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xpander Group consists of Expander System Sweden AB, and associated subsidiaries in Sweden, the USA and Germany. Expander System Sweden AB was founded in 1986 by Roger Svensson and his father Everth Svensson, based on a product invented when addressing the constant wear and tear of the pivot areas on construction equipment.

In 1987 the Expander® System received the Alfred Nobel Foundation Development Award.

The Expander Group has grown successfully over the years, and the product range has been developed to cover thousands of machine models. The main target markets are applications for pivotal joints within mining, construction, forestry, process industry and oil & gas/marine. Manufacturing facilities are located in Åtvidaberg, Sweden, and DeWitt, Iowa, USA. Sales are conducted through Expander subsidiaries and through a network of distributors. The head office is also located in Åtvidaberg. In 2015, the Expander Group had 45 employees and revenue of SEK 72 million (€7.6 million).

The Nord-Lock Group is specialised in innovative and secure bolting solutions. Technologies include the Nord-Lock wedge-locking

washers, the Superbolt® mechanical tensioning systems, the Boltight hydraulic bolt tensioning systems, and now also the Expander System.

The Nord-Lock Group has sales and manufacturing subsidiaries in more than 20 countries across the globe. The turnover in 2015 was SEK 797 million (€83.9 million).

Roger Svensson, founder of the Expander Group, comments: “I believe the Expander System technology has significant international growth potential. As part of the Nord-Lock Group, with its global footprint and excellence in technical sales, I am confident that the Expander Group has the best possible conditions for continued expansion and success.”

Ola Ringdahl, CEO of the Nord-Lock Group, comments: “We are excited by the acquisition of Expander. The Expander System pivot pin technology fits perfectly in our portfolio of secure bolting solutions. We have many customers in common already today and I see interesting sales synergies. I am very pleased to welcome Expander into the Nord-Lock Group.” www.nord-lock.com

Grainger confirms new CEO The Grainger board nominated Donald G Macpherson, currently chief operating officer, to replace Jim Ryan as chief executive officer from 1st October. Jim Ryan will continue as chairman.

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The announcement confirms the next step in a planned succession, which should mean Macpherson taking on the chairmanship when Ryan retires. Macpherson became chief operating officer in 2015, joining from Boston Consulting Group. Ryan became CEO in 2008 and so far has 36 years service with Grainger.

PennEngineering® to buy Heyco® Products Inc PennEngineering® has agreed to acquire Heyco® Products Inc on undisclosed terms.

No changes are anticipated regarding Heyco’s operations, facilities, and employees.

The acquisition is expected to expand sales growth opportunities for both companies.

H

eyco® Products will continue to operate as a separate company under the PennEngineering® corporate umbrella and its highly regarded brand will remain unaffected. Bill Jemison, president of Heyco, will continue to lead the company with the existing Heyco management team. He will report to Mark Petty, CEO of PennEngineering.

“PennEngineering and Heyco share a common culture of solid brand recognition and quality engineered products, with a strong R&D and customer service focus,” said Petty. “This will allow for a seamless transition. The acquisition will diversify the PennEngineering product portfolio by expanding into engineered plastic fasteners, components and wire protection products. Additionally, Heyco will benefit from the wide range of resources that PennEngineering can provide.”

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Founded in 1926, Heyco Products designs and manufactures moulded wire protection products, plastic fasteners, moulded components and stamped electrical components to meet the needs of industrial, medical, appliance, transportation, alternative energy, lighting, and aerospace companies. With a well known brand name, Heyco also brings with it a modern, globally certified, US-based manufacturing facility with vast expertise in injection moulding, progressive stamping, over moulding, and assembly processes and techniques.

Founded in 1942, PennEngineering is a global leader in the development and manufacture of precision fasteners, components and installation systems, specialising in thin sheet attachment solutions. The company operates fastener manufacturing facilities and key sales offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, and is supported by a worldwide network of authorised engineering representatives and distributors.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Stainless steel fasteners price information update

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Here, Paul Lower, chief executive at Apex Stainless Fasteners Ltd, gives his take on stainless steel prices.

he global supply/demand imbalance for stainless steel fasteners has largely been eliminated in recent weeks with underlying prices moving significantly upwards since the beginning of August, in the face of a number of factors directly impacting unfavourably. Nickel price has risen to in excess of US$10,000 a tonne, while the recent scrap recycling shortage appears ongoing, coupled with increasing container transport costs.

The impact of the latest Section 337 stainless steel case on the USA supply chain has in essence created a knock on effect, resulting in lengthening lead times as alternative supply sources have needed to be

established. This coincides with most major European stainless fastener wholesalers placing significant purchase contracts to achieve deliveries in advance of the GSP changes announced on Indian derived product ahead of the 1 st January 2017 deadline.

Tightening supplies of stainless steel due to mining closures in the Philippines on environmental grounds, together with increasing consumption in China, appear to be driving nickel prices upwards. The effect is global and it is becoming increasingly evident that delivered finished product prices into Europe will continue to move gradually upwards over the next six months.

Certain markets, notably the UK, have been faced with unprecedented movements

in exchange rates in recent weeks, which are significantly compounding the impact on GBP delivered costs – with the consequence that as new stocks arrive the price differentials in the UK appear destined to reflect by the end of 2016 somewhere between 12% and 18% ahead of quarter levels, depending on the product group.

The majority of European stainless fastener wholesalers have already increased prices in August and it is highly probable that further increases will follow during the fourth quarter of 2016. The currency movements with regard to the UK market will almost certainly necessitate further upward movements in GBP wholesale prices early in September 2016. www.apexstainless.com

Atlas Copco to buy Chinese SPR supplier Atlas Copco has agreed to acquire the self–pierce riveting business of Phillip–Tech (Beijing) Co Ltd.

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ased in Beijing, China, with a sales and engineering site in Shanghai, Phillip–Tech has about 45 employees. The company sells self–pierce riveting products and solutions designed by Atlas Copco–owned Henrob, a market leader for this innovative joining technology that the Group acquired in 2014. Phillip–Tech’s customers include several major automotive manufacturers.

“Henrob’s riveting solutions are increasingly in demand by automakers because of their advanced assembly needs, and the strong team at Phillip–Tech plays a crucial role in marketing the technology in China,” said Mats Rahmström, president of Atlas Copco’s Industrial Technique business area. “This assembly solution will keep growing as automakers seek to build lighter vehicles to reduce fuel consumption.”

Self–pierce riveting is a mechanical fastening process for joining sheets of material where welding is difficult, such as aluminum.

Car manufacturers’ use of this technology is increasing as they use new materials to make the vehicles lighter and more energy efficient.

The acquisition is expected to complete in the fourth quarter 2016. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

The acquired business will become part of the Industrial Assembly Solutions division in the Industrial Technique business area.

Agrati acquires ContMid Holdings Monomoy Capital Partners has announced that it has completed the sale of ContMid Holdings Inc (CMG) to Agrati SpA for an undisclosed amount.

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MG designs, manufactures and distributes customised engineered metal fasteners to automotive companies, tier 1 automotive suppliers and industrial manufacturers. Its products include internally and externally threaded nuts and bolts, as well as screws and related products for vehicle systems.

CMG is also described as the leading provider of Taptite® and TORX® products and wheel nuts in North America.

The company is headquartered in Park Forest, Illinois, and has six manufacturing plants in the US MidWest.

Monomoy bought CMG in July 2014, introducing a new management team and rationalising its cost structure. The sale to Agrati is expected to produce a four times return on the investment.

“Monomoy was an invaluable partner throughout the transformation of CMG over the past two years,” explained Phil Johnson, CEO at CMG. “Monomoy has a deep bench of talented investment and operating professionals committed to working with middle market companies. It helped the CMG management team create a dynamic value creation plan for the business and provided CMG with the resources, tools and strategic guidance we needed to execute the plan and emerge as a market leader in every respect.”

Phil Johnson added: “We are excited about the future of CMG, and we are confident that the company is positioned for continued success as a global leader in the fastener industry.”

18

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Baker & Finnemore adds new power press to equipment range Baker & Finnemore Ltd has announced that it has just gained approval to move forward with the largest single piece of capital investment the company has ever seen – GB£660,000 on a brand new power press.

B

olstering its range of equipment the new 110T Minster Press will be delivered early in 2017 and be operational by the end of April 2017. This new machine drastically increases the range of pressing capability by enabling the use of larger, more complicated tooling or even multiple tools at once. The other major benefit of having this equipment is that it will enable Baker & Finnemore to further modernise the production processes for its existing range of Starlock® Push on fasteners.

In July 2012 Baker & Finnemore joined Titgemeyer Group of companies and has since injected over GB£750,000 of other investment into the company. The Minster Press represents a major stepping stone for Baker & Finnemore as it is the first time the company has ever purchased a brand new power press. It represents the intent of Baker & Finnemore and the wider Titgemeyer Group to support all industries with the highest quality Starlock Push on Fasteners, bespoke pressings, and application engineering know-how at competitive prices.

“This investment represents a great stride forward in our capability but also illustrates our recognition for the demands of today’s markets.

These are very exciting times,” commented Paul Watkins-Burke, managing director at Baker & Finnemore.

Ian Styles, sales director, added: “This equipment allows us to pair our reputation for high-quality products with the capability and competitiveness the global markets demand. It will help us strengthen our core Starlock product and give a new lease of life to our bespoke pressings division.” www.bakfin.com

Brazil presents investment opportunities Rodolpho Georg Filho, previously general manager at fastener manufacturer Flecha Indústria e Comércio Ltda, is now an associate partner at RGF & Associados – the first consultancy in Brazil to specialise in restructuring and managing family owned enterprises.

A

t the moment, says Filho, Brazil is facing challenges as a consequence of historic economic policies, as well as political upheaval and a continued fight against corruption. The country has been in recession for the last two years and faces very high unemployment rates. However, with changes in the presidency and an interim government putting more effort into doing the right things, plus a successful Olympics, there are hopes for improvement in Brazil, says Filho. The flip side of Brazil’s challenges is a new openness for its companies to discuss merger and acquisition opportunities, joint ventures and other forms of partnerships – at valuations far more realistic than historically.

With all the downsides, Filho is quick to state that Brazil is the eighth largest economy in the world, as well as also being number eight in the rankings of global vehicle manufacturing. The country has a great technological platform and a dynamic industry, he says, as well as extraordinary natural resources, which will once again become highly relevant to global consumers and industries. All of these conditions, he concludes, make Brazil a remarkably relevant market. The country is undergoing major changes that open up excellent opportunities for investors to find good opportunities in Brazil.

Rodolpho Georg Filho can be contacted at: rodolpho.georg@rgfassociados.com or via LinkedIn: br.linkedin.com/in/rgeorgfilho

20 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

TFC joins BIAFD TFC has recently become a member of the British & Irish Association of Fastener Distributors (BIAFD).

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FC Europe Ltd is one of the leading suppliers of technical fastener components to industry, with an unrivaled reputation for delivering innovative products, supply solutions, and exemplary service, to help customers achieve breakthroughs in product development and new standards of manufacturing efficiency.

As a company that has been in existence for over 50 years and has, within the past 9 years in particular, grown rapidly to become a leading player in the fastener distribution market, TFC recognises the need to remain fully informed about the global market in which it operates.

BIAFD actively works to ensure its membership is better informed and to ensure market stakeholders and governmental organisations understand the key role companies such as TFC play in supporting a huge range of important industries.

Keith Kentish, group commercial director at TFC, says: “Through our membership we will be able to utilise the benefits of worldwide links to the fastener distribution market; receive notification on the latest quality standards affecting the products we handle; keep ahead with our personnel training; and to network with our colleagues working within the same market sector.” www.biafd.org

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Francis Kirk Group moves Philidas brand over to ISO standard Francis Kirk Group has upgraded the manufacturing production of its all-metal self-locking nut brand Philidas, in-line with ISO 2320 and ISO 898-2 standard requirements from BS 4929.

T

he move by the fifth generation independent firm, in support of its automotive and industrial fastening range, will provide customers – especially those in the rail sector – with a more comprehensive specification system.

Unlike BS, ISO deals with different standards for dimensions, mechanical and functional (prevailing torque) properties of products, which are revised from time to time as per demands by related industries.

Managing Director Thomas Kirk said the decision brings Philidas in-line with current industry requirements for superior performance. Nuts will have better mechanical properties in ISO specification, with proof load being around 15% higher than in BS, and improved functional properties by way of higher prevailing torque due to increased hardness range.

Thomas Kirk commented: “We pride ourselves on providing high-quality fastening solutions for a range of industries and a new generation of buyers who are looking for improved standards. By manufacturing as per ISO mechanical and functional properties – coupled with the specialised design feature of the Philidas Industrial and Turret range,

which gives consistent and controlled locking torque – we are confident that our products will have improved vibration resistance to meet industry demands.”

The move keeps the brand in-line with quality expectations outlined in the recent Serco rail report commissioned by Virgin Trains.

Philidas is a hugely versatile all-metal self-locking nut, suitable for use in high or low temperatures with no effect on performance, even from chemicals. It has numerous industrial and domestic applications, including automotive, rail, heavy machinery and equipment, electrical appliances, mining and aerospace.

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PERSPECTIVE

by Phil Matten, executive editor, Fastener + Fixing Magazine

Phil Matten reflects on some of the key topics currently involving the fastener industry Over the last couple of years I have committed to some significant personal lightweighting – and learnt the hard way that it’s not too difficult to eradicate the initial excess but eventually one reaches a phase of rapidly diminishing return on effort.

T

hat paradigm is a very familiar one to vehicle manufacturers the world over. Of course, when designing and manufacturing a super sports car or luxury vehicle there are few financial inhibitions to adopting the most advanced construction materials and techniques – in fact there are positive status advantages in incorporating the exotic. In the mid range market alternatives to steel – be it composites, aluminium or other metal alloys depending on the manufacturer’s preference – are now firmly established.

It’s the high volume day-to-day vehicles that present the biggest challenge given the economics of steel and traditional low cost assembly techniques. While there is little doubt these vehicles will continue to be predominantly steel in construction, the nature of that steel is definitely changing and alternative materials are being inserted wherever it is economic and production efficient to do so.

Each new model at this level must and is achieving significant weight reductions and considerable ingenuity is being deployed.

The lightweighting imperative is driving increasingly rapid and ingenious development in joining technology. In the powertrain the role of high strength mechanical fasteners remains critically important and it is through materials and design development that incremental weight reduction is being delivered. Smaller, lighter, high output, hotter engines also present challenges that present major opportunities for advanced precision forming technology companies in Europe.

A year ago environmental concerns over diesel engines barely seemed to feature. That has very evidently changed now.

The question is to what degree that will accelerate fundamental changes to the powertrain, with consequently very different fastening requirements.

Elsewhere in the vehicle, traditional joining methods face growing challenges whether through evolution to systemised solutions such as self-pierce riveting, or from tape and adhesive technologies. Additive manufacturing, so called 3D printing, is evidently advancing in capability, seemingly at a remarkable rate.

I suspect there is still an element of hype about capabilities, but there are clear and genuine advances in producing not just highly customised but increasingly larger scale components.

Aerospace remains a crucial gestation and proving environment for many of these technologies. Composite and lightweight materials are, however, featuring in an increasing gamut of other applications – be it wind energy, construction or consumer products of all scales, about which one would not automatically think.

We all know fasteners play a vital part in so many products – but also that they are rarely valued. Seems, though, that the modern trend for weight consciousness means they will be more and more in the balance. That surely has to be good for the innovators and performance committed – maybe a little more concerning for those more set in their ways. Feeling lightheaded is not an invocation to ‘hit the bottle’ – think of those calories – so much as an essential fastener business strategy.

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NORTH AMERICAN NEWS

by John Wolz, editor, GlobalFastenerNews.com

ITC bans on Viraj now in force Indian stainless steel manufacturer Viraj Profiles Ltd has been issued a limited exclusion and cease-and-desist order by the US International Trade Commission stemming from a complaint alleging the theft of trade secrets from Valbruna Slater Stainless Inc.

T

he ITC’s final determination in the Section 337 case bans import of stainless steel products from Mumbai-based Viraj for 16.7 years and prohibits all of the company’s activities related to the sale of its stainless steel products in the United States, including marketing, advertising and soliciting distributors for its products. The sixty-day period during which the president could object to the order has expired bringing it into full force.

“We are gratified that the commission has recognized the harm Viraj inflicted on our business and workers in the United States,” Valbruna Managing Director Massimo Amenduni Gresele responded. “Trade secret theft is a serious problem. Bad actors like Viraj cannot be allowed to profit from this kind of behavior. Valbruna is proud of its investment in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, community and its workers, and they deserve to be protected when their competitors violate the law.”

Rockford Products warns of mass layoff “We regret to inform you that circumstances will force Rockford Products LLC to conduct a mass layoff in the coming days,” CEO Dave Richeson informed the state of Illinois. The company plans to lay off 171 people permanently by the end of September 2016 unless a buyer can be found.

T

he cold formed fastener manufacturer was acquired in 2007 by Michigan-based private equity firm, BlackEagle Partners LLC, for US$23.2 million (€20.8 million) in a bankruptcy auction.

Subsequently BlackEagle invested US$30 million “without seeing any return on the investment” and the fastener manufacturer has defaulted on payments.

Rockford Products filed the Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification Act letter with Illinois. Companies with 100 or more employees are required to send WARN letters to affected employees and state and local governments 60 days ahead of plant closures and layoffs.

Richeson told Rockford news site WREX that sales weakened and forced the manufacturer into default. He told the Rockford Register Star there were multiple interested potential buyers evaluating the company.

Richeson said a significant part of Rockford Products business is supplying heavy off-road equipment manufacturers, which is in an extended downturn in North America. Caterpillar has twice this year cut its 2016 sales forecasts due to weak demand from the mining and energy sectors.

BlackEagle was formed in 2005 and is headed by Managing Partner Michael Madden. It considers “well performing companies as well as

26 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

complex situations caused by operational or financial challenges”, according to its website. BlackEagle invests in “lower mid-market companies up to US$15 million EBITDA”. The companies are niche manufacturers or value-added distributors in automotive, general industrial, building products and oil & gas industries.

BlackEagle has not inquired about economic incentives to keep Rockford Products going. Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen, whose grandfather worked for Rockford Screw Products, told WREX it is disappointing to see a local company close “especially a long-standing company… that was part of the whole industrial revolution that made Rockford”.

“I think we do have enough openings in the fastener industry,” Christiansen said of jobs for Rockford Products’ employees.

“We still have 10,000 people working in the fastener industry, which is quite amazing.”

Founded in 1929 as Rockford Screw Products to make fasteners for the then-local furniture industry, today the company operates from a 580,000 square foot (approximately 54,000m2) leased plant, manufacturing cold formed components, engineered fasteners, ball joints and custom formed parts for the automotive, agriculture, industrial, off-highway and commercial vehicle customers.

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NORTH AMERICAN NEWS Japan steelmaker plans US$50 million US wire facility Japan’s largest steel producer plans to open a US$50 million manufacturing facility employing up to 70 workers by the end of 2021, the Indianapolis Business Journal reports.

T

okyo-based Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp (NSSMC) said the new business will be called Nippon Steel & Sumikin Cold Heading Wire Indiana Inc, or NCSI, and will be located in Shelbyville, IN. The new plant will process steel wire used for fastener applications by the automotive parts industry. The 150,000 square foot facility is expected to be fully operational by spring 2017. It will be located adjacent to another NSSMC operation – Indiana Precision Forge, according to the Journal.

NCSI will begin hiring for administrative, customer service and sales positions in January 2017 and for manufacturing positions in late 2017.

“This facility is the first US production plant for the NSSMC Bar & Wire Rod Unit, already operating in Thailand and China, and we are excited to be locating in Indiana,” stated Hideoki Kimura, president at NCSI. “We chose Indiana and the Shelbyville community for this investment because of the central location, established manufacturing industry and the skilled workforce available.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corp reportedly offered NCSI up to US$475,000 in conditional tax credits and up to US$140,000 in training grants based on the job creation plans.

Nippon Steel has more than 84,000 employees worldwide who operate nine research and development facilities and produce steel in 15 countries.

Align European appointment Align Aerospace Holdings Inc has appointed Marc Invernizzi as general manager of Europe.

I

nvernizzi was director of aerospace business promotion for Nitto EMEA, subsidiary of Nitto – the Japanese polymer technology specialist – where he was responsible for sales, marketing and business development for 11 years.

Align CEO Jérôme de Truchis said Invernizzi “brings a proven aerospace and industry experience to drive profitable growth. I am confident that, under his leadership, Align Europe will continue its dramatic growth in the coming years”.

Invernizzi termed Align “a strong competitor in the aerospace hardware distribution marketplace” and observed that the “opportunities are tremendous”.

Align Aerospace, which has been previously operated under Anixter and Pentagon names, was acquired by AVIC International in 2015. Align Aerospace distributes aerospace fasteners and other hardware totaling 100,000 SKUs – primarily to OEMs and OEM suppliers from distribution centers in the USA, France and China, and forward stocking locations around the world.

Inspection equipment firm faces sentencing for selling to Iranian company A Michigan company that manufactures inspection equipment for fasteners and other parts could face “a US$200,000 fine, five years of federal probation and special compliance measures on charges of illegally selling equipment to Iran,” according to Crain’s Detroit Business.

I

n February Mark Hanna, president of Mectron Engineering Co Inc, agreed to plead guilty to violating the Federal International Emergency Powers Act, for exporting equipment to Iran without a license.

“The plea agreement calls for Mectron to pay US$200,000 and establish a corporate compliance program ‘monitored by an independent entity’ to follow federal law in the future,” Crain reports.

Mectron allegedly sold an MI8500 inspection system to the Iran Tohid Co of Tehran in March 2010 for US$47,500, and once before in late 2008 for US$44,600, according to court documents. Iran Tohid manufactures parts for automotive markets.

Founded in 1968, Mectron Engineering designs and manufactures quality control and handling systems with eddy current and ultrasonic instrumentation, and thread inspection systems, for aerospace, automotive, commercial and medical fasteners; screw machine and precision turned products; nuts and low profile components; and ammunition.

28 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

NORTH AMERICAN NEWS

Groov-Pin turns 90 Groov-Pin Corporation of New Jersey marks its 90th anniversary during 2016. The company was founded in 1926 by E.H. Schniewind in Long Island City, NY, where the patented press-fit fastener called a grooved pin was developed.

I

n the 1950s Groov-Pin added Tap-Lok threaded inserts. In the 1990s it acquired Speedserts threaded inserts from Fairchild Fasteners (now Alcoa) to complement its self-tapping parts. In the late 1990s, the company acquired Precision Turned Components of Rhode Island, a manufacturer of tight-tolerance parts for the telecommunications market.

Since adopting lean manufacturing in 2009, Groov-Pin has “built a tighter team,” CEO Scot Jones said. “There is more sharing of ideas across our business and even other business and that has improved our internal attitude, as well as how our customers view us.” The team of employees “has really turned the company around to be a very different company and well suited for advanced manufacturing”.

Groov-Pin products are used in automotive, aerospace, medical, electrical, gas & energy, firearms and defense markets.

Groov-Pin Corporation and subsidiary Precision Turned Components operate from ISO 9001-2008 certified facilities in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Georgia, plus field offices located around the US.

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by Raytheon bisco industries® was recognized with a four star 2015 Operational Excellence Supplier Award from Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems.

W

inning companies were judged on criteria including quality, on time delivery and commitment to continuous improvement. bisco industries® distributes fasteners and electronic components from 48 sales offices and seven distribution centers in the US and Canada.

The company supplies parts to OEMs in the aerospace, circuit board, communication, computer, fabrication, instrumentation, industrial equipment, and marine industries. It is also planning expansion into Mexico and then Europe.

Sigma Fastener founders retire Sigma Fasteners Inc founders Judy Jandl and Jerry Jandl are retiring and Cris Baker is the new president.

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udy Jandl has been in the fastener industry since starting at Lone Star Screw Company in 1967 – a company she later went on to run and own. At one time she headed LSS Lone Star and Walker Bolt for T-3 Energy Services Inc. Jandl and five other T-3 employees started Sigma in 2004 when T-3 sold Walker and Ameritech. The Houston Business Journal recognized her in 1995 as one of the Top 50 woman owned businesses in Houston.

Jerry Jandl started Jandl Manufacturing in his garage. It later became a Lone Star subsidiary. The Jandl’s teamwork spans decades in the specialty high pressure bolting and coating industries. Today Sigma bolts are in oilfields from the Middle East to South America. Sigma Fasteners is a specialty bolt supplier with API 20E and API Q1 certifications and produces engineered products to custom specifications for the petroleum refining, petrochemical, power generation, and pulp and paper industries.

GlobalFastenerNews launches updated website GlobalFastenerNews.com has announced it is launching an updated website with new functionality.

Among the changes are better and more complete smartphone and tablet access.

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he new website gives Fastener Industry News (FIN) readers the ability to share headlines on multiple platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

A new ‘Related News’ section will provide relevant stories, which may not be directly fastener, but nonetheless are pertinent to the fastener industry. ‘Fastener Machinery News’ is being expanded.

Visibly the ‘FIN Calendar’ will appear more like a traditional print calendar, complete with sponsors’ ads, but will operate as an online calendar making it easier to submit new dates and updates.

Of course the ‘News Briefs’ and ‘Features’ core of the website continues together with ‘Product News’ announcements from fastener companies.

30 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Another continually added to section is the popular ‘Fastener History’ section currently featuring more than 700 stories from the 38 years of FIN. Also continuing is the FIN Fastener Stock Review, summarizing the fastener portion of each publicly held fastener company for each of up to the last eight years.

The website continues to attract a wide industry audience beyond paying subscribers, making it of real interest to advertisers and classified ads.

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RUSSIAN + CIS NEWS Alexander Ostashov, editor, Fastener, Adhesives, Tools and…Magazine www.fastinfo.ru

Regulatory development for anchors intensifies Most anchor fasteners for construction and installation work in Russia are delivered from abroad.

There is virtually no local production of the many species of metal anchors, which explains the gaps in Russian regulatory documentation for anchor fixings and their components.

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ussia's first conference on the subject took place in St. Petersburg this spring. It helped to identify a number of important issues and explored the various points of view of the people involved with anchor techniques. Participating specialists described the current situation as requiring urgent decisions to ensure the safety of structures. The conference introduced the concept of the development of the Russian regulatory framework in the field of anchors.

On the 1 st June this year the standard GOST R 56731-2015 was put into effect – ‘Mechanical anchors for fastening in concrete. Test methods.’

This standard was developed by the specialists of the Science and Research Institute of Reinforced Concrete. Now the specialists are working on the draft national standard ‘Anchor fasteners for construction. Terms and definitions. Classification.’

Abinsky ElectroMallurgical starts own hardware production Abinsky ElectroMallurgical plant has started to implement a project to establish its own hardware production.

A

ccording to the press service of the Krasnodar region administration the investment will total 1.2 billion rubles (approximately €16.5 million). Production is planned to start in 2018 and the plant will have an annual production capacity of 8,400 tonnes in screws, self-tapping screws, bolts and other fasteners.

This year marked ten years since the foundation of the Abinsky ElectroMallurgical plant. Since June 2010 a small section mill with the capacity of 0.5 million tonnes per year has been working in Abinsk. In June 2014 an electric arc furnace, with 130 tonnes capacity, began operating there, which has an annual output capability of 0.95 million tonnes of steel. Secondary steel processing is performed on a ladle furnace and a six stream continuous casting furnace. A new Danieli rebar mill was put into operation at the plant in 2015.

Avtonormal shareholders decide against paying dividends The annual general meeting of the shareholders of Avtonormal Belebeyevski plant decided not to pay dividends for 2015.

2

015 revenues increased by 28.9% to 4.18 billion rubles. Profit before tax increased by 60% over the 2014 total. Net profit for 2015 amounted to 45.69 million rubles (€630,000). 2.28 million rubles of last year’s net profit will be transferred to the reserve fund of the company, 44.9 million rubles is planned for investment. In 2011 the company declared a dividend fund of 48.91 million rubles. For 2012 the figure had fallen to 18.16 million rubles, increasing to 17.87 million rubles for 2013.

32 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

The shareholders also elected seven members of the board of directors, of whom six were already members of the board.

During 2016 Avtonormal has signed more than fifty contracts with traditional consumers of products of BelZAN JSC, its previous trading entity. These included AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ and other enterprises of the automobile components industry. The plant continues to develop new sales markets. Supplies of products to the aviation and defence businesses started in 2015 and have continued to grow in 2016.

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RUSSIAN + CIS NEWS

Izhora supplies automatic driver for nuclear plant in China Izhora plants, part of the OMZ Group, has completed manufacturing and shipment of the screwdriver system for the main connector of the reactor vessel in the third and fourth power units of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant under construction in China.

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he electrohydraulic screwdriver is a co-development between Izhora Plants and the German Siempelkamp Maschinen und Anlagenbau Group. It is designed for the simultaneous hydraulic tightening or loosening of all the studs on the flange of the reactor vessel during refueling, routine inspections and preventative maintenance.

The use of screwdrivers of this type helps to ensure the tightness of the flange connection at all operating conditions and reduces the compression and decompression times of the connector. This significantly reduces the duration of shutdowns and helps gain significant savings due to more rapid achievement of operating power of the nuclear power unit.

The weight of the screwdriver system is 46 tonnes and the outer diameter of the support ring is approximately 5 metres. The maximum effort developed by the screwdriver when removing each stud is 8,000kN. The estimated lifetime of heavy loaded node points and parts of the screwdriver is 50 years.

Izhorskiye Zavody is one of the oldest industrial entities in Russia, founded by decree by Peter the Great in 1722. OMZ Public Joint Stock Company (Uralmash-Izhora Group) is one of the leading heavy industry companies specialising in engineering, production and maintenance of equipment for the nuclear power, oil and gas industries, mining, as well as special steel production and industrial services. Facilities of OMZ divisions are located in Russia and the Czech Republic. The main shareholder and financial partner of OMZ Group is Gazprombank (Joint Stock Company).

Under the contract, signed in 2010, Izhora plants manufacture equipment for reactor plant VVER-1000 for the third and fourth power units of the Tianwan NPP currently under construction. VVER-1000 reactor vessels for the third and fourth nuclear power units have already been shipped to the customer.

Mariya Valiakhmetova, editor in chief, Metiz Magazine, Ukraine

Severstal-Metiz produces rail fastener Severstal-Metiz is now producing the Ss25 sleeper screw with ULs7 washer, part of Vossloh's rail fastening system, widely applied in Europe and CIS countries for construction and repair of all kinds of rail tracks.

B

y using this type of product customers can achieve the correct connection of the rail to the sleeper to ensure reliable fixture of the track elements and their safe operation under any weather conditions with minimum deterioration. “Developments of new articles in cooperation with such leading European companies such as Vossloh allows Severstal-Metiz to take a leading position in the Russian rail industry – offering customers modern, innovative products and also actively developing our production and technological bases,” emphasised Anatoly Frishman, general director of Severstal-Metiz.

Orel plant becomes independent business unit The Orel Steel Rolling Plant is now an independent business unit as a continued part of the Severstal-Metiz Group.

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ased on the existing Orel plant, the new established business is already operational and registered in the Orel region. It will specialise in manufacturing fixing items and low carbon products.

Establishment of the Orel branch as an independent business unit

34 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

will allow enterprise management greater flexibility and operational decision making through a reduction in the layers of management.

The managing director of Orel Steel Rolling Plant LLC is Alexey Erenichev, who managed the Orel plant operation under the previous direct management of Severstal-Metiz.

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ASIAN NEWS

Sundram Fasteners reports Q4 profit leap For its first fiscal quarter ending June 2016 Sundram Fasteners Ltd, part of the TVS Group, reported almost doubled net profit at 755 million rupees – approximately €10.2 million.

E

BITDA increased to 1,399 million rupees (approximately €18.86 million) in Quarter One 2016-17, compared with 947 million rupees in the same quarter 2015-16. The company said the increased profit derived from volume growth due to market buoyancy aided by product mix and cost reduction initiatives.

Revenue from operations increased 13% against 2015-16 Q1 to 7.13 billion rupees (€96.1 million). Domestic sales increased 15.1% to 4.55 billion rupees net of excise duties. Export sales contributed 34.5% of the total at 2.46 billion rupees up from 2.25 billion rupees Q1 2015-16.

The company said the automotive sector and automotive component industry had shown promising growth, expected to continue as a result of the prospect of a good monsoon, robust domestic economic growth and higher disposable income from a recent pay commission increase.

BBI to trade OTC on Taipei Exchange On 11th August, Fastener World Magazine reports, Brighton Best International held an online preliminary business performance report conference before its next move to start trading over the counter on the Taipei Stock Exchange in September.

B

BI is a subsidiary of Ta Chen Stainless Steel Group, headquartered in Southern Taiwan. The company expects to start trading over the counter on the Taipei Stock Exchange on 7 th September. Back in 2008, Ta Chen acquired the Brighton Best Company – headquartered in the United States. Through organic growth and further acquisitions BBI became the world's largest fastener distributor. It offers a product range of more than 50,000 types including stainless steel, low carbon steel, mid/high carbon steel, and alloy steel fasteners.

BBI has subsidiaries in the US, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, with 31 sales offices, 28 warehouses, and a distribution network connecting retailers and wholesalers into a complete global supply chain, overthrowing the convention that American fastener distributors offer only the same type of fasteners.

The best known service offered by BBI is its exclusive 24 hour ‘Online Order Placement & Reception System’, which provides not just customised service but also the accessibility to check online inventory status at any time. The system helps process distribution in digital ways. Orders for standard fasteners of 200,000 tonnes (or US$400 million sales) have been successfully processed through this system.

In 2015 Robert Hsieh, BBI president, even became an inductee of the NIFSME ‘Hall of Fame’. The core business strategy of Ta Chen Stainless Steel Group is to be headquartered in and controlled from Taiwan but to purchase and sell globally.

President Hsieh hopes to shape BBI into a “specialised department store” for industrial products. Recently his ambition has gone further and he is actively tapping into the hand tool industry by creating his ‘Proferred® BBI Tools’ brand, bringing hand tools into his fastener distribution network. He is eyeing a US industrial market reaching the scale of US$2.5 trillion, to which many world famous US hand tool companies (e.g. STANLEY, Snap-on, and Grainger) have been dedicated for years. Fastener World says his move into the hand tool industry is not only a breakthrough in the global fastener distribution, but also the reflection of "Bravery, Breakthrough, and Revolution" in Ta Chen Stainless Steel.

Ta Chen Stainless Steel Group has more than 4,000 employees in the world.

In 2015 it reached TW$50.679 billion (approximately €1.41 billion) in revenue and TW$5.387 billion in operating gross profit. According to its latest financial result, Quarter One 2016 revenue reached TW$12.467 billion, with operating profit TW$1.301 billion.

36 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

China Steel reduces steel prices for September Following a 10.3% average across grades increase for July – August domestic deliveries, Taiwan’s China Steel Corporation said it would lower prices by 4% on average for September shipments, except for steel plates.

I

n a statement to Taiwanese media China Steel said the reduction in prices would improve the competitiveness of downstream companies in the domestic steel industry. Over the first eight months of this year China Steel implemented an average across grade increase of 26.6%. China Steel vice-president for sales, Liu Jih-gang, told the Taipei Times the company had taken into account fluctuations in foreign exchange markets following the UK referendum decision to leave the EU, as well as other ‘market headwinds’ including the uncertain recovery of Eurozone economies and challenges faced

by China in its industrial transformation.

Liu believed steel prices in Asia were stabilising as well as steel inventory in China eroding so prices might begin to rise again in the final quarter of the year.

In this is

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ASIAN NEWS

Chinese daily steel output drops, but July total up China's average crude steel output fell in July to 2.15 million metric tonnes per day following record levels in June (2.32mmt/d), according to government data.

A

seasonal fall off in domestic construction is a key reason for lower domestic steel demand. On the other hand the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported the highest monthly growth in vehicle registrations in more than three years. July sales increased 23% on July 2015 to 1.9 million units. Seven months vehicle registrations are up 9.8% year-on-year.

July crude steel output was 3% lower than June but up 4.9% year-on-year to 95.94 million tonnes. Seven months year-to-date output was up 1.9% to 657 million tonnes.

Chinese steel exports continue to grow despite further trade defence measures from the USA, EU and India. Seven month year-to-date Chinese steel exports increased 8.5% year-on-year to 67.4 million tonnes. July exports totalled 10.3 million tonnes, marginally down on June's 10.9 million tonnes but still up year-on-year.

China reckons to have cut out 45 million tonnes of crude steel capacity in the first half of the year, a third of its stated annual target for 2016. Export growth and improvement in domestic demand have eroded stocks of finished steel by close to 25% by the end of June. July imports of iron ore increased 8%, reflected in the ore price at Qingdao increasing 6.7% in July to above US$60/tonne.

A Forbes analysis quotes research from Renmin University of China, which suggests half of the country's steel mills are still 'zombie' companies. Forbes says profits rose 4.27 times in the Chinese steel industry in the first half 2016 but profit margin remains less than 1%, with mills subsidised through low rate loans and energy charges.

Full article at: www.forbes.com/sites/sarahsu/2016/08/08/ can-chinas-steel-industry-raise-profit-margins/#49ff11431aee

Chin Well Vietnam faces environmental allegations On 28th July the Dông Nai Province (Vietnam) environmental authorities, together with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, are reported to have discovered Chin Well Fasteners Vietnam Co Ltd discharging unprocessed waste water into the environment.

F

astener World Magazine reports disclosure of the charge by the vice-chairman of the southern province People’s Committee, at a press conference on 12th August while reporting on local socio-economic conditions.

A report in VN Express International says the company was using one of two underground pipes to discharge untreated wastewater. Authorities also found a large amount of solid waste buried at the company's site.

According to Fastener World and several Vietnamese media, Chin Well admitted the violations.

In response to complaints from residents, Dông Nai Province has established a programme to monitor groundwater pollution around the Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Park, where Chin Well Vietnam is located. On completion of the investigation authorities will determine what penalties are applied to companies found to have contravened environmental regulations. These are understood to range from administrative fines to possible criminal investigations if discharges are found to be hazardous.

Sterling Tools benefits from adding value India's Economic Times has reported that Delhi-based Sterling Tools Limited increased its operation margin in the last quarter through improving sales of high grade fasteners to automotive engine and transmission applications.

S

terling's EBITDA margin for Fiscal 2017 Quarter One was 20.46% compared with 16.47% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2015. Sterling is reported to have focused on Honda Motorcycles in the two-wheel market, Maruti Suzuki in passenger cars, Ashok Leyland in commercial vehicles, and Mahindra & Mahindra in agricultural equipment.

Full report at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ markets/stocks/news/pricing-power-client-focus-agood-fit-for-sterling-tools/articleshow/53661183.cms

Taiwan has 32% share of US fastener import market According to information from the Kaohsiung based Metal Industries Research and Development Center, quoted to Focus Taiwan by Ta Chen, the United States imported US$5 billion of steel and iron fasteners in 2015.

A

pproximately 32%, around US$1.6 billion (€1.43 billion), emanated from Taiwan compared with US$1.1 billion sourced from Mainland China. MIRDC estimates global fastener industry production at US$73.1 billion in 2014 and projects output to increase to US$93.6 billion by 2018, at an annual compound growth rate of 6.4%.

38 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

BRAZILIAN NEWS Sérgio Milatias, editor, Revista do Parafuso, www.revistadoparafuso.com.br

Vehicle registrations up in July One of the most important business sources for the fastener market anywhere in the world, automotive sales in Brazil expanded during the seventh month of this year. Year to date 2016 registrations still remain well below the same period last year.

A

fter a series of falls in the last two years, this is great news, though still tentative, according to the press release from Fenabrave (Automotive Vehicles Distribution National Federation).

Total vehicle distribution – involving cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, road equipment and others – reached 271,752 units in July, 3.09% higher than June (263,595).

However, the total of vehicle registrations in July 2015 was superior at 22.06% higher at 348,663 units.

Registrations for January to July 2016 totalled 1,864,405 units, still substantially lower than the 2,377,942 registrations in the same seven month period in 2015.

Licensed vehicles: 2015 and 2016 Segments

June 2016

July 2016

Accumulated 2016

July 2015

Accumulated 2015

Passengers cars

139,572

146,590

957,180

186,995

1,262,931

Light commercial vehicles

26,850

28,202

168,725

32,398

226,279

Total

166,422

174,792

1,125,905

219,393

1,489,210

4,188

4,676

30,105

6,515

43,904

Trucks Buses

1,198

1,948

8,916

1,698

13,445

Total

5,386

6,624

39,021

8,213

57,349

Subtotal

171,808

181,416

1,164,926

227,606

1,546,559

Motorcycles

80,962

79,111

626,192

107,754

749,554

Road equipment

2,257

2,087

14,842

3,059

17,852

Others

8,568

9,138

58,445

10,244

63,977

263,595

271,752

1,864,405

348,663

2,377,942

Total

Ivan Reszecki acquires 100% of Tork Group Since 25th April 2016, Blackstone Empreendimentos e Participações EIRELI, chaired by Mr Ivan Reszecki (pictured), became majority owner – having acquired a 50% share – of Metaltork Indústria e Comércio de Auto Peças Ltda, and All Fasteners Indústria e Comércio de Peças Ltda, as well as a 25% holding in General Fix Indústria, Comércio, Importação e Exportação Ltd – where Mr Reszecki was already a co-owner.

A

ccording to the chairman: “This reorganisation is part of a strategic programme adjusting for levels of competitiveness current in the global economy, which makes the Group still the most dynamic and competitive in direction of economic recovery and growth in Brazil.”

In a press release to the market, Reszecki thanked the retiring partners and expressed his highest respect and affection – especially to engineer Paulo Roberto F. Costa – for their collaboration during decades of work. He also extended his thanks for the confidence demonstrated by the remaining members of Grupo Tork Holding S/A – Maria Helena Reszecki and Valeria Reszecki Rigato.

40 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

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COVER STORY

Ambrovit: Investing in growth Ambrovit SpA is an enterprise that’s strength lies in its continuous investment – enabling it to develop product ranges and target markets, whilst always focusing on customers’ requirements. The company’s most recent investment is in the doubling of its automated warehouse – increasing storage capacity to 44,000 pallet locations.

C

reated in 1997 as a small commercial enterprise, Ambrovit has grown to be one of the most significant companies in the sector, thanks to its strategy of investing in growth. The expansion of the automated warehouse, which was carried out between 2015 and 2016, is one of the primary objectives – to continuously automate its production operations – that Ambrovit has set for future growth. The other objectives include to adjust its structure in view of increasing market demand; to offer ever more innovative products; and to provide customers with a very high-quality service.

The expanded warehouse uses the latest cutting edge technology to deliver pallets straight to the picking bays and has enabled the company to continue to enlarge its product offering, as well as provide prompt delivery to customers.

With the doubling of the warehouse, and installation of eight Mlog trasloelevators and a 2,000 pallet mini-load system, Ambrovit can now process 5,000 order lines per day and ship within 24/48 hours.

“It is important as a business you are able to be flexible, so it is easier to follow the needs of the market and customers,” comments Ambrovit. “Doubling the warehouse ensures we are able to satisfy customers’ orders quickly and effectively, as well as giving us the opportunity to further expand our enriched catalogue of products in the future.”

Ambrovit has grown its product range based on the experience within the company, and now offers a catalogue containing a range of over 12,000 products – including hex lag screws, drywall screws, carpentry screws, chipboard screws, self-drilling screws, and concrete screws, as well as a wide range of nuts, washers and bolts. All products are available in various sizes ranging from 2mm to 30mm in diameter and 4mm to 600mm in length. The products are also available in different finishes and galvanic treatments and have CE Marking, with Ambrovit investing in further certifications to guarantee good quality products.

However, the company isn’t stopping there. Whilst it may have established itself within the market, it is always looking to innovate and introduce new products. It does this by using the experience and knowledge within its R&D department to create new solutions for specific applications, as well as by anticipating the requirements of various sectors.

42 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

320

Guaranteed and certified quality

An important factor in all the products Ambrovit is able to supply is that they are of the very highest quality.

From the very beginning, Ambrovit had one mission that maintained its credibility with its customers – product quality. A key part of this was the company’s testing laboratory, which is equipped with the latest generation quality control instruments. In 2001 the company also obtained certification for its quality management system conforming with UNI EN ISO 9001:2008 standard.

Periodic surveillance audits, carried out by TÜV on all manufacturing processes, also guarantees conformity to all of the requisites laid down by international directives.

As part of the quality control procedure that applies to incoming products, Ambrovit also carries out various tests in its laboratory in collaboration with the University of Trento. For the Russian market, Ambrovit also possesses GOST-R conformity certification, which testifies to conformity, safety, and other essential requirements.

Packaging and logistic

For Ambrovit, packaging also plays a fundamental role. The packing of pieces into boxes is carried out in-house to guarantee quality standards also in this area.

All products in the catalogue are packed in micro-corrugated cardboard boxes printed with labels to identify their contents, in conformity with the standards laid down by regulatory norms in force.

Alternatively they are bulk delivered in bigger 20kg cardboard boxes, in polypropylene bags or in recyclable plastic bags up to a maximum of 1kg. Here too, there is no lack of innovation – with a personalised service enabling customised labels including logos, graphical designs, and descriptions, to customers’ specifications.

Targeting the future

The company’s plans for the future are to continue its pattern of growing together with its customers and to develop the company through technical developments in its infrastructure and the quality of the products.

Thanks to its commercial network of distributors and agents, working in a variety of countries, Ambrovit has been able to establish a presence throughout Europe, including eastern Europe, and it is continuing to evaluate the new markets that show interest in the company and products. Its network of efficient international shippers also means that the company is able to cover outside of Europe, with each shipment monitored from dispatch to delivery, ensuring that products reach customers on time.

Entering new markets can sometimes be difficult and requires a large investment in terms of economic and human resources. However, thanks to its vast experience of guaranteeing customers an immediate supply of more than 12,000 items – delivered at the times specified and at competitive prices – Ambrovit has been able to establish itself as a trusted supplier within the fastener and fixing market and will look to continue to become a byword for fastening systems. www.ambrovit.it

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 43

MADE IN ITALY

SACMA: Manufacturing with style

220

Located 15km north of Milan is a stylish, modern and market leading manufacturing operation that contains the technology and experience of SACMA Group – developed over 75 years to provide customers with ‘Winning Technologies®’.

E

stablished by a young engineer by the name of Valerio Rampezzotti, the family owned company has developed by following a clear and focused corporate philosophy: ‘You and us: Together’.

“SACMA is a company made of people that share ideas, values and aspirations,” explains Giancarlo Rampezzotti, president at SACMA Group and son of Valerio. “Without the commitment of our employees, and their loyalty to the company, we would not have achieved these results and we would not be able to unconditionally guarantee the absolute satisfaction of our customers.”

This philosophy is clearly adopted by Valeriano Rampezzotti emphasing the third generation of the family as vice-president.

From the minimalistic reception to the highly systemised and automated modular production area, it is clear from visiting SACMA’s Limbiate headquarters that this is no ordinary machine building company. Instead it is an ultra modern and streamlined operation that has taken fastener machine building to the next level – whilst adding a certain Italian style.

For instance, the company has an ecology project that focuses on the importance of environmental resources. It has an array of solar panels on its factory roof that act as a solar energy system – providing a daily energy output that helps to reduce CO2 emissions. SACMA’s commitment to the environment is also underlined by the construction of a complete recycling system under the factory to ensure the water is constantly cleaned and reused. This helps to keep the machines very clean and also helps extend the tool life.

44 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

A key factor in SACMA’s dominance within the market is that it doesn’t just make one machine at a time; it looks to make up to ten machines over six production lines, all focused on different sized machines and all worked on simultaneously.

To help simplify the production process SACMA uses a modular system for all of its machines.

This means the core and components of every machine are identical – only the size of the frame is different according to the necessary dimensions and the number of heading stations.

SACMA implemented the modular system to make sure it is able to regularly produce the number of machines required and to make the production process as efficient as possible. By having interchangeability of the parts it guarantees easy sourcing and effective production lines, as well as guaranteed quality.

Operators can also work on different machines at the same time, with individual teams focusing on different sections – hydraulic system, electronics or assembly.

SACMA is able to operate the modular system thanks to it keeping 100% of parts available in stock – including large parts and spare parts from all of its suppliers, such as the electronic systems. Existing customers benefit from this spare part availability, although due to the reliability of the machines only 7% of SACMA’s sales are for spare parts, with the remaining 93% coming from new machines.

SACMA puts this small percentage of spare parts sales down to its very conservative and prudent approach to introducing new technology. The company makes sure all new technology/processes are of the very highest quality and reliability. It is not productive to make a prototype and send it to a company for 12 – 18 months to see if it will work. That is why it is essential the machines are reliable and produce high-quality products straight away – something SACMA customers have come to rely on.

To guarantee consistent quality SACMA goes through a constant process of investing in advanced, automated machining – so that it is using the latest technology available and ensuring the most efficient production processes. Another important factor is SACMA’s R&D department, which is continuously looking to innovate and introduce new machinery.

Sacma Group Machines Cold and Warm Formers from mm.4 to mm.33 Wire Diameter Combined headers from M4 to M22 with heading, pointing and threading stations

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Art of Forming and Threading www.sacmagroup.com SACMA LIMBIATE S.p.A.- Limbiate - Milano - ITALY - Tel. +39 02 99 45 21 - Fax +39 02 99 05 01 85 - info@sacmalimbiate.it - www.sacmagroup.com INGRAMATIC S.p.A.- Castelnuovo Scrivia - Alessandria - ITALY - Tel. +39 0131 87 161 - Fax +39 0131 82 30 70 - com@ingramatic.com - www.ingramatic.com

MADE IN ITALY

A key factor in SACMA’s dominance within the market is that it doesn’t just make one machine at a time; it looks to make up to ten machines over six production lines

Recent examples of SACMA’s R&D success include the SP670 – a six die cold former featuring hydraulic unclamping of the individual finger timing cams, which can be adjusted automatically.

There is also the range of warm formers for a variety of industries including aerospace. SACMA originally made warm formers 30 years ago and from this experience it restarted the process 15 years ago. After a lot of research by the experienced R&D team the company created a warm former with a new induction system, which is completely integrated. This technology has become very interesting for the automotive market – especially the tier manufacturers of turbochargers and braking systems.

In addition to new machines, SACMA also works with customers on customising machines to meet specific requirements. At the moment the R&D team is working on machines with a process to refeed parts that have already been formed. The fastener manufacturing sector continues to develop more and more complex and difficult to form parts. That has led to the growth of multi-die station cold formers.

However, after a piece of wire has been formed over six stations the material’s ductility and workability has decreased, but in some cases the part is still not finished. Customers prefer to avoid the additional time and expense of secondary operations, which is why SACMA has introduced a system to refeed the parts after recovery of workability by annealing, so the former can complete production.

Developing and supplying machines that precisely meet the demanding expectations of global customers is the key to SACMA’s success. Customers are no longer investing to increase capacity, but are focusing on forming complex parts that provide stronger profitability and differentiate them from low cost producers of volume standard parts. This means the R&D team is very busy with new projects that are unique and are acting as consultants with the customers to explore what is possible. SACMA also makes sure it is still offering the solutions for its existing customers who are using SACMA machines that are 20 – 30 years old.

SACMA reports European machine demand is softening compared to 2015 – especially in Germany. However, a very positive market at the moment is the USA, where the Group sold 23 machines in 2015 – a credit to the capabilities of SACMA technologies and the company’s highly responsive service and lead time. Another positive market is eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Romania, and Poland, where customers are looking to increase the quality of the

46 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

products they are producing. SACMA has also invested strongly in China and India where its customers are supplying the automotive tier 1 market and therefore need fast, reliable and accurate machines.

Other interesting markets are the Japanese and Canadian markets where the Group is introducing the SACMA brand.

In all these markets SACMA is finding customers demand reliable, efficient machines, which can consistently produce high-quality products. The cold forming manufacturing sector faces a shortage of skilled operators, which means customers need machines that are easy to set-up and operate. That is why SACMA supplies machines that include the latest electronic technology, like servomotors and linear motors, to help set-up and run the machines – meaning less experienced operators can quickly learn the machines and reliably produce high-quality products.

Thanks to its continuous investment; commitment to high technology manufacturing processes; constant advances in machine technology and capability – based on closely understanding the requirements of its customers; and the passion and drive of its employees; SACMA is one of the top companies within the industry and will continue to lead the way whilst introducing new machines and ideas that provide real solutions to customers’ wishes. www.sacmagroup.com

The story of Friulsider It was in 1966 in San Giovanni al Natisone that a group of entrepreneurs founded Friulsider SpA in order to seize the opportunity then offered by the exponential growth in wood processing.

I

nitially Friulsider’s output was dedicated to the manufacture of screws for making furniture in wood – soon becoming a point of reference in the industry. These beginnings shaped the distinctive evolution of Friulsider, but experience in making screws is not the only trait written in the company’s DNA. Friulsider emerged as a manufacturer, proud of its expertise and know-how, capable of sharing objectives and method with its clients, themselves manufacturers. Confident in this industrial approach, at the end of the 1970s Friulsider decided to break into the booming wall plugs market. The huge investments ensured the company continued to grow, building its first automatic assembly plant in 1988 and, two years later, introducing the plastic production division.

Research aimed at ensuring the highest quality in the production processes went hand in hand with the company’s development. Friulsider mentions it was one of the first companies in the sector to attain both the certification of quality ISO 9001 (1998) and the environmental certification ISO 14001 (2002). This determination to offer products of the highest quality led to the construction, in 2001, of its in-house test laboratory – which the company reports is one of the largest and most complete in Europe and where all its new developments are tested. This is how Friulsider obtained its first ETA certification and also why it now boasts European certification for 48 product lines covering a total of more than 1,500 fixings.

Boosted by these successes, the factory expanded rapidly over the years and now covers an overall area of 61,000m2 (23,000m2 under cover), inside which the offices and production lines – recently expanded – are housed.

Since 2008 Friulsider has been part of the ETANCO® International Group, one of the main European manufacturers of fixings and building materials. This helped contribute to its expansion beyond Italy’s borders – with Friulsider now well established in more than 20 European countries and operating in some of the most dynamic markets in the world. It is not by chance that more than 35% of the company's turnover is drawn from abroad. This is indubitably due to the company’s capacity to make all the components internally, in order to ensure a ‘Made in Italy’ product that can rapidly meet all the market requirements, from building to engineering, from the mechanical industry to carpentry.

Through its continual research into technologically innovative solutions, Friulsider is constantly extending its product range, which currently encompasses a total of 10,000 items, including anchors, fixings for roofing and walls, screws and fixings for wood, and screws, nuts and bolts for metal. www.friulsider.com

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MADE IN ITALY

CSF – the expert in special fasteners Here Marco Colombo, CEO at Colombo Special Fasteners, talks about what it takes to be a specialist in producing high-quality special fasteners – to customised drawings – for a variety of industries.

C

olombo Special Fasteners Srl (CSF) was founded in 1955 by Pietro Colombo – my father and an expert press engineer and designer. At great sacrifice, he poured his charisma, passion and dedication into a business producing standard screws of fine quality until 1985, when he decided to break out of this intensely competitive sector and undertake a substantial restructuring of the company, transforming it into what is today – a well respected manufacturer of high-quality special fasteners (produced to the designs and the specific requirements of the client).

Our strength, which is also our day-to-day mission, is to realise the feasibility study, the planning of the work cycle and the stamps needed to produce any particular detail presented to us in a completely independent form. Our ability to produce special components even in small batches and therefore react quickly to special requirements and ‘last minute’ requests is a quality appreciated and recognised by our clients. This is also possible due to our highly qualified and expert staff from production engineers to designers, right through to the salesmen.

A very important aspect in all sectors is innovation. Thanks to the arrival of the new generation within the company, we are driving forward with new ideas and made to measure projects, so as to be continuously improving the product we offer our clients. This also provides the basis for continuity in our relations with our clients, enabling us to support them in their new projects as well.

The philosophy of our company is ‘specialisation, quality, service and optimisation’, which is what our daily work is based on. Our efforts, as well as present and future investments, are all planned for continuous improvement of these aspects of the company, with the aim of consolidating our position among the best in the industry, following highly qualified partners in their growth.

Most of our exports are towards the European market, in particular Germany. Producing only special items – often involving delicate and high precision mechanical finishing, heat treatments and ultra high-quality surface coatings (again with the help of a network of highly skilled partners selected by us) – the major outlet countries interested in our services are obviously those that are more technically advanced or highly developed, as well as manufacturers of special products. We are growing in these countries and we are gradually gaining ground in other countries too who are growing in specialisation.

The American market is of great interest to us in future.

The development and the growth of Asian producers in the market is an aspect that cannot be underrated or ignored. However, we are convinced that pursuing our objectives will enable us to stand our ground and grow, carving out new niches for ourselves. We believe strongly in our work and the approach we have taken. Production in small lots, quality, service, and design assistance for clients, are only some of the features that mark us out from the competition – representing what the CSF brand stands for.

48 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

A very important aspect in all sectors is innovation. Thanks to the arrival of the new generation within the company, we are driving forward with new ideas and made to measure projects…”

Without a doubt, over these past 20 years, many things have happened, starting with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the crisis of 2009, globalisation, the single European market, a real epoch-making revolution that has tested even countries with a strong economy. Even the fasteners sector has been severely affected and transformed. I believe that, until the standards of living in the emerging countries are more or less the equivalent of the so-called industrialised nations, the displacement of production volumes to countries where manufacturing costs are lower will continue and therefore even fasteners will suffer in terms of volume from this migration.

The challenge will be precisely that of remaining strong in our countries of origin and this will only be possible with a high-level of specialisation and production capabilities, which will create the conditions for commercial development – even in countries that are industrialising gradually.

Italian manufacturing has always been among the most pioneering markets worldwide, and at CSF we will make sure we continue to be one step ahead of the rest. www.colombofasteners.com

studio247.it

Tr y i f y u ca n o

I TA L I A N C L A M P S P R O D U C E R +39 0522 683743 - info@atlanticgroup.it - clamps.atlanticgroup.it

MADE IN ITALY

Becoming National but staying SMART

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At the beginning of 2016 National Machinery LLC took a controlling interest in SMART Machinery Srl. Will Lowry visited SMART’s headquarters in Tortona, Italy, to speak to Enrico Ghezzi, president at SMART, about how the new partnership is progressing and the opportunities that lie ahead. Alberto Gorreta, commercial director at SMART, also participated in the meeting.

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ffering a modular system with 14 different sizes, SMART has established itself as a leader in technological advancements for thread rolling, including developments such as direct drive and servo technology – as well as 8 active patents.

Since it was formed in 2001 the company’s main focus has been to leverage new technology to provide the marketplace with new solutions.

“When we first set-up the company and introduced our new systems it ‘broke the ice’ for the industry,” states Mr Ghezzi. “We were offering machines that were electrical rather than mechanical, which provided energy efficiency – due to patented solutions – whilst still delivering highly productive products.”

These patented solutions include SMART’s direct drive technology, which can be used on both threaders and pointers. The totally gearless direct drive provides maximum torque at zero speed and requires fewer parts, which in turn means less wear and more space for other machine components. Other benefits included an average 20% higher efficiency, reduced noise and machine vibration, as well as a longer running life due to fewer moving parts.

Another significant component of SMART machines is the patented use of linear motors in the induction system that injects the blanks into the dies.

Linear motors provide precise adjustments of all introduction functions including control of the exact position of the part between the thread rolling dies and precise placement against the dies. Servo technology provides faster changeovers and reduced tooling costs.

A key benefit in today’s market of SMART’s servo technology is that it is easier to set-up the machine and to operate, which is becoming more important due to the shortage of skilled workers within the industry. “As an industry we are losing the knowledge and experience of operators that work on mechanical machinery,” reports Mr Ghezzi. “The new generation of employees do not have the mechanical set-up skills, but they are used to using modern computer-based equipment and software. That is why it is important we offer machines that do not require any previous knowledge to operate. A new employee can learn the system and then immediately set-up the machine or retrieve job set-up parameters from the machine’s job storage function. This functionality helps to ensure precision of the final product.”

In addition to providing great simplicity, SMART’s servo-driven system also provides extremely precise positional control of the blank throughout the entire machine cycle. This consistency provides repeatable results for total control of the production process.

“The new partnership with National Machinery will enable us to continue to focus on machinery and lead the sector in developing innovative solutions for our customers,” explains Mr Ghezzi. “We will also benefit from reaching new markets thanks to National’s global sales and service presence.”

50 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Andrew Kalnow, CEO of National Machinery (left), and Enrico Ghezzi, president of SMART

The new partnership with National Machinery will enable us to continue to focus on machinery and lead the sector in developing innovative solutions for our customers.”

S M A R T M A C H I N E R Y I S N O W O W N E D B Y N AT I O N A L M A C H I N E R Y

ADVANTAGES

• Direct Drive technology • Linear motor blank introduction • Die match settings • “Auto-setup” control screen adjustments • Sales, Service & Parts available from National Machinery global service centers

SMART

M

AC

HIN ER

Y

VISIT US AT

NG Thread Roller www.smartmachinery.com ∙•∙ Tel (+39) 0131 89 4989 www.nationalmachinery.com ∙•∙ Tel (+1) 419 447 5211

BOOTH 610

MADE IN ITALY

Based in Tiffin, Ohio, USA, National Machinery has operations in the United States, Europe, Japan, China and Brazil. The Group operates in three business areas that comprise of cold and warm forming equipment, process technology, and customer products and services.

“There was an immediate attraction from both sides,” mentions Mr Ghezzi with a smile. “From National Machinery’s perspective our thread rolling equipment completes National’s product portfolio. From the SMART perspective, we gain access to the Group’s worldwide operations – enabling us to grow our brand.”

National Machinery has now become the global master sales and service agent of SMART equipment, using select sub-agents in some regions as well as company personnel. It owns 88% of SMART with the remaining 12% owned by Mr Ghezzi.

“At the beginning there was a cultural difference between the two companies,” points out Mr Ghezzi. “For instance, National Machinery has a very long-term vision and strategy while at SMART we were used to having more of a short-term view and were probably too reactive rather than considering the big picture. However, we have now started to leverage the synergies of both companies so that we can work better as a team.”

Using National Machinery’s network of operations, SMART will be looking to continue to introduce new technology to the market. “When we first introduced our servo technology, it took a while for our customers to accept the new technology since it was so much different than what the industry was historically used to. However, once they saw the benefits of the new technology, customers began to purchase SMART machines,” says Mr Ghezzi. “It is important that as a business you are always innovating because if you stop innovating your competitors catch up. That is why we are always working on new possibilities. At SMART we investigate every single detail of the machine and we have some new patented technology that will soon be introduced to the market as well.”

SMART has ambitious plans for the future and is confident that with the partnership with National Machinery it will be able to further grow the SMART brand. “In the next two years we are looking to double our annual turnover,” states Mr Ghezzi. Mr Gorreta added: “For us the top market is the US market, especially as US companies are reshoring along with the potential demand to replace aged equipment. It is a good opportunity for us to change the mentality of the US companies and to underline the benefits of our patented technology.”

Mr Ghezzi continues: “Beyond the US market, the European market is also critical, especially in Germany and Italy. That is why SMART will be exhibiting at Fastener Fair Italy as it is a very important sector for us and at our heart we are an Italian company. Since our foundation we have gained a reputation for quality and reliability that is synomonous with Italian fastener companies, and now we have the added knowledge, reach and service levels that National Machinery is able to offer.” www.smartmachinery.com

52 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

At the beginning there was a cultural difference between the two companies. For instance, National Machinery has a very long-term vision and strategy while at SMART we were used to having more of a short-term view… However, we have now started to leverage the synergies of both companies so that we can work better as a team.”

SMART is always looking to introduce new technology to the market, such as its NG thread roller

MADE IN ITALY

FRAM sets sail

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Named after the Norwegian expedition ship that, between 1893 and 1912, sailed further north and south than any other wooden boat had ever gone, FRAM Srl – part of the Bontempi Group – has set flexibility, adaptability and always moving forward, as some of its key priorities.

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et-up at the beginning of 2016, the Italian company was created to add expertise in hot forged bolt manufacturing to Bontempi Group’s existing wide range of cold forming capabilities – in both stainless and carbon steel.

FRAM was created after a meeting between Raoul Bontempi, CEO at Bontempi VIBO SpA, and Marco Polato, a member of a historical Italian family known as a leader in the hot forged bolt manufacturing market, now CEO at FRAM. “We have known each other for some years,” says Raoul “and we agreed on the opportunity to give birth to this new hot forging company that would be able to fill a gap in the market and become a key part of the Bontempi Group.”

Raoul continues: “VIBO has been enlarging its production range for some years now, but we had reached a limit as we were unwilling to produce hot forged products due to a lack of experience in this technology. However, the desire to expand the range into this selection of products was still there. So when Marco asked me about adding hot forged bigger bolts to our stock, I immediately said ‘yes, let’s start the new company’.”

FRAM has further underlined Bontempi Group’s standing at the forefront of European fastener and parts manufacturing – extending its offering to include a wide selection of cold and hot forged items from M5 up to M64. VIBO will continue to produce cold forged product from M5 up to M36. Larger diameter and longer items will be produced by FRAM, using hot forging technology.

“This means VIBO will be able to provide the same high-quality range it has done for the last 50 years, with the addition of a standard range of hot forged items from FRAM – offering an increased stock availability on the shelves,” points out Raoul.

“For special screws and requests, as well as special deliveries, the products will be managed by FRAM directly,” adds Marco.

“This will enable us to be flexible in the market and to provide a first class service – in terms of time to market – as well as providing customised solutions to customers’ drawings.”

This ability to produce special parts according to customer drawings emanates from the experience and knowledge within the Group of working with customers, discussing which products are feasible and best suited for the application.

“Based on our past experience it happens that sometimes a customer will ask us to produce a certain type of bolt, but this might not be the best solution,” mentions Raoul. “Our customers look to us as the experts in bolts, so they are open to suggestions. When customers are looking for special items with certain coatings, it is really important they use a reliable source.”

54 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Marco Polato (left) and Raoul Bontempi

FRAM has further underlined Bontempi Group’s standing at the forefront of European fastener and parts manufacturing.”

VIBO & FRAM THE ITALIAN EXCELLENCE

FROM M5 TO M64.

ALWAYS THE RIGHT FASTENERS. Via Stacca, 3 Rodengo Saiano (BS) 25050 Italy Tel.+39 030.3503.1 Fax +39 030.348792 info@vibo.com vibo.com

Via del Commercio 32/P Bellusco (MB) 20882 Italy Tel.+39 348.4008896 Tel.+39 347.7063254 info@framfasteners.it

MADE IN ITALY

FRAM will look to be flexible to the demands of its customers and the market to ensure it achieves success. The company has already used VIBO’s brand recognition and history to reach new customers and new markets.”

FRAM will supply end users, wholesalers and small distributors, whilst Bontempi VIBO will continue its mission of supporting the specialised large fastener distributors all over Europe. “Our distributors are very important for us and a key part of our business,” states Raoul emphatically. “That is why FRAM will supply those end user customers who will only purchase directly from the manufacturer.”

Whilst the companies are two different legal entities, they will exchange selling products with each other, and will act on the market as one Group. “A big benefit for customers is they can purchase all their cold and hot forged products – small, large and special – from one source,” states Raoul. “This means that as well as benefitting from the same quality, service, and delivery guarantee our customers expect from Bontempi VIBO, they can also combine shipment and freight costs – helping to reduce overall costs.”

Marco adds: “Whilst the costs in Italy are higher than those manufacturers outside Europe, the customers benefit from the flexibility and the time to market, as they can get the products they want, when they need them most.”

The initial aim for FRAM is to be producing 3,000 tonnes of hot forged parts per annum by the end of 2017. “That is the starting capacity we will be able to achieve with the first step of investment,” points out Marco. “Once we reach this then we will look at the second step of investment.”

FRAM will look to be flexible to the demands of its customers and the market to ensure it achieves success. The company has already used VIBO’s brand recognition and history to reach new customers and new markets.

“As a Group target we are looking to produce one billion pieces for both cold formed and hot forged products,” states Raoul with a smile. “We already produce close to 700 million parts, so the target is not as far away as it may seem. However, for FRAM the tonnage is more important than the number of pieces – due to the speciality and size of the products.”

FRAM will be exhibiting with Bontempi VIBO at the upcoming Fastener Fair Italy show, as well as Fastener Fair Stuttgart in 2017.

“We are a proud Italian company and it is important for us to be at Fastener Fair Italy and exhibiting as a Group. We will be able to show visitors all the capabilities of FRAM, as well as the wide range of products the Group can offer,” says Raoul. “Fastener Fair Stuttgart is more imperative for us. Whilst we currently concentrate on Europe, there are also plans for the future to target other markets.”

Raoul continues: “We want to make sure we can offer customers all of the products they need from one source. Customers are looking to control costs and streamline the number of suppliers.

That is why it is essential you are always developing as a company and providing exactly what the customer needs.” info@framfasteners.it

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Pre-applied coatings for the future For almost 30 years now, TECNOLOGIC 3® has been producing and applying innovative products and systems (adhesive, sealing and self-locking agents) for locking threaded parts, used in a wide range of sectors.

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ECNOLOGIC 3® states that its products significantly increase the quality and functionality of fixings by comparison with ordinary mechanical fixing systems.

The advantage of TECNOLOGIC 3 is that it mixes and produces all the systems that it applies in-house using a unique business model that also requires the use of its own tools and machines. This enables the company to derive the maximum benefit from the product characteristics and guarantee customers an outstanding quality and service.

All TECNOLOGIC 3 products have a special advantage in that they are water-based and contain no solvents. They are also included in the IMDS (International Material Data System), meet the new EC (RoSH) and REACH Directives, and are protected by comprehensive international patents.

The adhesive systems (heavy and medium duty pre-applied locking agents), lock and seal any screwed connection. They can be applied to all types of metal and some plastic materials. During screwing and tightening of the threaded parts, the microcapsules break up and are distributed between the external and internal threads. When polymerisation is complete, the product achieves its maximum locking and sealing action, providing outstanding resistance to loosening, stress and vibration.

TECNOLOGIC 3’s sealants can be applied to any threaded

455

connection (cylindrical/cylindrical and cylindrical/conical), to any types of metal and most plastic materials. While the threaded parts are being coupled together, the sealant is distributed, eliminating inference between the screw threads, guaranteeing a strong seal.

Finally, the pre-applied self-locking product renders any self-locking and sealing threaded connection adjustable and reusable.

While the threaded parts are being screwed together, TECNOFREN® – which exploits the elastic deformation properties of polyamide – is distributed between external and internal threads, eliminated the spaces between the threads, increasing metal-to-metal contact and exerting strong, long-lasting resistance against loosening and vibration.

“The company’s philosophy and strategy is based on excellent service to the client, seeking to limit environmental impact by the production and application of water-based products,” explains TECNOLOGIC 3. “Every production and application process is designed to safeguard the environment.”

Now, having consolidated its presence in Italy, and gained the confidence and loyalty of major local clients, TECNOLOGIC 3 is launching itself on the international market, offering its products and application systems to the world’s major players. This model requires the use of machinery designed and produced by TECNOLOGIC 3 in-house for maximum efficiency and product performance. www.tecnologic3.it

PRE-APPLIED COATINGS

All our products are water-based and solvent free, and are entered in the IMDS (International Material Data System) and comply with the new EU (RoSH), REACH directives and the requirements of the standard ISO 9001:2008.

Adhesive Sealants Finishes Self-locking

®

TECNOLOGIC 3® has been manufacturing and applying adhesive products and sealants since 1987, using patented systems and processes.

The application of our innovative systems for the locking of the threaded parts is used in a wide range of sectors, including the automotive, electronics, electrical appliance and many other industries.

Stand 455 28 - 29 Settembre 2016 MiCo - Milano Congressi

www.tecnologic3.it Phone +39 02 9510014 - Fax +39 02 95300685 e-mail: tecnologic3@tecnologic3.it

MADE IN ITALY

Improving the production process Since 2000 Marposs Group has gone through a sustained period of investment, acquiring well structured companies that supply quality products within individual fields. Here we speak with Mr Corradini, group director sales & marketing at Marposs Group, to find out more about the organisation, and how it has established itself as a worldwide leader in precision equipment for measurement and control in the production environment.

How was Marposs initially established and what have been the key points in the Group’s development?

“Marposs was created on the basis of an innovative idea of its founder, Mr Mario Possati who, in 1952, sensed the potential applications of electronics in the world of production and invented an in process measurement system for grinding machines. The success of the idea among Italian grinding machine manufacturers, who even then were already exporting all over the world, offered the company the opportunity, almost a necessity, to have a presence in the countries where their products were in operation, and to be able to provide the necessary user support. From there, a network was established and we now have a sales and after-sales organisation operating in 24 different countries worldwide with more than 80 of our own offices, as well as a large number of agents and distributors.”

What differentiates Marposs and its products?

What are the main advantages of customers working with the Group?

“In a nutshell, we could say that the great strengths of the Marposs Group are its great attention to client satisfaction; the notable efforts to invest in innovation; always offering sector leading solutions; as well as the increase in product portfolio and solutions offered to existing and new clients. We also have a widespread global market sales and after sales support presence.”

Marposs’ Bentivoglio headquarters on the outskirts of Bologna

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What is the balance between your domestic and overseas sales? Are there any new markets you are looking to enter?

“Marposs exports more than 95% of its annual turnover particularly to higher level technology countries. Germany, Japan, the United States, China and Korea are our main markets. In particular, Germany is the largest market as a source of orders while China has for years been the biggest destination market for our systems, due to significant investments made in this market by the German car manufacturers who are our clients.

As regards to new markets, a few months ago we opened a site in Vietnam to cope with growing demand in that country.

In addition to those already existing in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to cover south-east Asia, which we expect to grow. We are also focusing on the north African and Middle East markets.”

What have been your successes during 2016 and what do you see as the main opportunities for the future?

“Marposs has based its own growth on investments in innovations and new products, which might occur both through organic internal growth and through acquisitions.

During the course of 2016 we benefitted above all from manufacturing investments in China over recent years, which have resulted in us having a factory in Nanjing – built on more than 29,000m2 with more than 450 employees.

This enables us to create competitive solutions for the local market, the volume of which has been one of the main profit drivers we anticipate this year.

For the future our objective certainly remains that of increasing the range of solutions offered to our existing clients, as well as researching new alternative sectors in which to offer our products. With the acquisition of Germanbased Brankamp GmbH, a market leader in the supply of

Marposs Monitoring Solutions for SMART forming 510

monitoring solutions for production machines for fasteners and stamped products, Marposs is targeting a sector that is increasingly feeling the need to optimise production processes in order to avoid waste and improve process quality and efficiency.”

How important is innovation for Marposs?

How do you ensure you are providing the products your customers need?

“As mentioned above innovation is the basis of our growth.

Marposs employs approximately 8% of its staff in research and development of new solutions, which emerge both from participation in projects coordinated by universities – particularly in Italy and Germany – and through input deriving from constant contact between our sales network and the clients who are leaders in their respective fields.”

What differentiates Italian manufacturing companies from their competitors and what are the challenges facing the fastener industry as a whole?

“We are not giving anything away when we say that creativity and the ability to supply clients with ad hoc solutions for their requirements has always been a winning formula in Italian manufacturing. But today there is a risk that this is not enough if it is not accompanied by research on process efficiency, which starts with designing solutions that are as modular as possible and the implementation of production processes that enable overall costs and efficiency to be improved, as well as to bring the modern factory more in-line with the capabilities at work in it.

The challenge is to improve the production processes for components that seem simple, to meet the requirements of a world geared increasingly towards client satisfaction. Nowadays, a single batch of defective bolts fitted to a car can result in recall campaigns for vehicles all over the world – with very high costs, both directly and in terms of image. It is essential to avoid this happening or, in the worst case scenario, to be in a position to identify and trace the batch in order to minimise the effects.

That is just one example, but that is the way to go.

In effect the key to the future is the Industry 4.0 project, which everyone has been talking about recently, often without any real connection with reality. Marposs in this respect works both as a user – implementing in its own production lines control systems that permit process traceability, guaranteeing high-quality products – and as a stakeholder offering its clients monitoring solutions that enable the machine tool to optimise process quality and give quality control the famous big data from which to extract all the information necessary for its efficiency.

All, with man-machine interface software, is based on look and feel typologies in-line with the most used consumer electronic product standards.” www.marposs.com

Tool protection

Quality control

Production management

Set up aide Machine protection Productivity increase

Process optimisation Big Data analysis

Stand

510

MADE IN ITALY

This is our DNA Established in 1953 Colombo Ezio Srl, a manufacturer of special and standard fasteners, is now in its second generation of ownership, but continues to adopt the same motivations and beliefs that have served the company well over the past 60 years.

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r Dino Fasoli, owner of Colombo Ezio, explains: “For us the most important aspect of the business is to ensure that we get the perfect balance between quality, flexibility, service and improvement.

By doing this we can ensure that we offer a high-quality product to the customer at the most effective price.”

Colombo Ezio manufactures a wide range of products including nuts, lock nuts, cage nuts, clamps, fasteners and a selection of components for industries including automotive, agriculture, motor transmissions, marine, textile machinery, and lifting components.

The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified and works towards a zero waste target.

“Our mission is to produce bushes, nuts, fasteners, whether standard or customised, and deliver them to the market in the most flexible and timely fashion,” states Dino Fasoli. “We also guarantee to deliver products of the highest quality, as well as to the specified requirements and design. We are aware that the success and the development of the business depend on our capability to satisfy customers’ needs.”

As a small business, Colombo Ezio likes to have a more direct and personal relationship with its employees to ensure they understand the needs of the business and are able to anticipate and satisfy customers’ requirements. The company also works closely with its customers to understand what they need and how it can provide the perfect service.

“As a business it is important that you have a natural and prompt feedback from both your staff and customers,” says Dino Fasoli.

“It is only by ensuring that feedback reaches directly and immediately the necessary people, that we are able to improve the service and products we supply.”

He continues: “We want to position ourselves as a partner for the customer. We are a company that is ready to discuss and help to find the best solution for both parties – ensuring the highest quality product at the most competitive price. We are able to interact with customers in order to understand their expectations, to evaluate their satisfaction level, and to offer them solutions to their requests.”

It’s by following these guidelines that Colombo Ezio has been able to grow and develop a workforce with an in-depth knowledge throughout the different departments of the company, whether it be turning, press and shears, assembling, quality control, warehouse or packaging.

By creating such an efficient and experienced team the company is able to continuously optimise the manufacturing process and create products for markets around the world – gaining the complete satisfaction of its customers.

Dino Fasoli concludes: “As a company we are proactive in looking forward at what is ahead in relation to the market and the technology that will be available. We are focusing on increasing our business in the long-term and to invest strategically in order to improve our service.” www.colomboezio.it

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the King of the Rings

COLOMBO EZIO s.r.l. via Nazionale, 159 23821 Abbadia Lariana LECCO – ITALY Tel. +39 0341.731.657 Fax +39 0341.733.597 www.colomboezio.it colomboezio@colomboezio.it

MADE IN ITALY

In-line with the market Nestled in the side streets close to the shore of Lake Garlate, 50km north of Milan, is a fastener machine manufacturer that exemplifies the importance of family businesses in the Italian fastener market.

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ounded in 1979, Tecno Impianti Srl is a specialist in the field of wire drawing that has developed its range to cover both in-line and off-line wire drawing needs from 1mm up to 35mm diameter. At the heart of the company is the charismatic owner Roberto Gnecchi, whose drive and experience has seen Tecno Impianti machinery become a vital part of fastener production facilities around the world.

“Since we were born we have sold over 2,700 in-line wire drawers to customers all around the globe,” states Roberto emphatically.

“Throughout this time we have also been able to grow our range to 15 different types of machine – which has enabled us to meet the constantly evolving demands of our customers.”

Roberto is passionate about his business, as well as for the Italian and global fastener market. “The fastener market is a fascinating industry and there are always new challenges from customers. As a business it is important you are able to meet these challenges and provide machines that the industry needs.”

Tecno Impianti has an in-depth range, which includes mono-block, horizontal and vertical wire drawers, horizontal and vertical spoolers, automatic double vertical spoolers, pointing machines, hydraulic pushers and uncoilers.

A key part of its machine range is the in-line wire drawing machine model SKP, which is a horizontal axis mono-block machine used to size wire or rod to the exact diameter needed for the cold heading application. The machines are positioned between the uncoiler and the cold heading machine and different models are available for different wire requirements – from 1mm diameter up to 35mm.

For those customers needing wire drawing not integrated to the production line, the company also offers off-line drawers such as its horizontal bullblock model MO and its vertical bullblock models MV and MVC. The model MO is predominately used for coil-to-coil drawing of cold heading wire and different models are available for diameter 6mm up to 32mm. The MO range is equipped with a short type capstan, with the drawn wire ‘taken up’ by a rotating carousel position inside a hole, in front of the capstan. The drawn wire coils can be ‘taken up’ directly on fixed wire carriers, which are then taken to the cold heading department or extracted with a proper device and then position over a compacting unit for production of bound coils.

“Our machines are a vital part of the fastener manufacturing process for high-end products,” states Roberto. “It is only by using high-quality machinery that customers can ensure they are producing good quality products. This is especially the case for complex special parts, which have to meet strict requirements for diameter and tolerances.”

In addition to its standard range of machinery, Tecno Impianti also works with customers on customising machines to meet the needs and the environment in which they will be used. “Building the best possible machine for the application and customer is very important,” points out Roberto. “No two machines are ever identical. There are always different details and designs unique to each customer. For instance, something as simple as what access door is used for the machine is dependent on the customer.”

Roberto continues: “In today’s market customers are wanting everything quicker – machines, parts, orders – everything. There is also less planning from customers. Previously they would make a schedule for future investment, now it can be based on the sales at the end of the year or new orders that have been received. Those machinery businesses that will do well are the ones able to react quickly to customer demand. It is a challenge, but a positive challenge.”

Our machines are a vital part of the fastener manufacturing process for high-end products.”

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Tecno Impianti supplies all of Europe, as well as Turkey, India, the USA, Russia, Mexico and Brazil. “Italian companies are renowned around the world for quality and competitive prices. We have the knowledge of the industry, and the market, and we take care of all the details to guarantee quality products,” says Roberto proudly. “It can sometimes be difficult to be a business in Italy due to the bureaucracy and the amount of ‘red tape’ involved with certain aspects of business – such as if you need to expand your facility. This can lead to missed opportunities. However, a lot of Italian fastener companies are family businesses and for us it is our life’s work. Therefore we are always prepared to fight for business and making sure we are providing an excellent service to all our customers.”

To stay one step ahead of its competitors, Tecno Impianti is always looking at new technology and investments, as well as potential new markets. “We want to enter exciting markets and we are constantly working on creating machines that are easier to use, require less maintenance and less space. At Tecno Impianti we try not to be just one step ahead of the market, but two steps ahead, even three steps if possible,” laughs Roberto. “If we are to grow as a business we need to continue to increase the percentage of our machines sold around the world. In the last few years eastern Europe has become a very interesting market for us and we will use Fastener Fair Italy and Fastener Fair Stuttgart to help expand our reach even further.”

Through the experience of its staff and the affable nature of Roberto, this proud family business has established itself as a key part of the manufacturing process. However, behind the laughter and smiles there is a strong determination and ambition to continue to grow the business, using its machine range and knowledge to reach new markets and new customers. www.tecnoimpianti-italy.com

Wire drawing bullblock MO26 with Push-pointer T30

IN-LINE WIRE DRAWING MACHINES For calibrating wire from 2,0 to 35,0 m, in-line with cold headers and machines for chains.

HORIZONTAL WIRE DRAWING BULLBLOCKS For coil-to-coil wire drawing of cold heading wire from 5,0 to 32,0 mm.

Our lines are supplied complete with uncoilers, wire pointers, take-up units, coil compactors.

FOR YOUR IN-LINE AND OFF-LINE WIRE DRAWING NEEDS Tel. +39 0341.604801 • Fax +39 0341.604289 www.tecnoimpianti-italy.com • info@tecnoimpianti-italy.com

FASTENER FAIR ITALY

Visit us at STAND 241

MADE IN ITALY

Growermetal: Offering the entire production process in-house Growermetal Srl specialises in the production of security, spring and flat washers, as well as pressed parts according to customers’ specifications.

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ounded in the 1950s by Mr Virginio Cattaneo, Growermetal is a family owned business with Mr Cattaneo’s three sons – Roberto Cattaneo, managing director supervision sales and administration, Ernesto Cattaneo, managing director supervision purchase, logistic and environment, and Paolo Cattaneo, managing director supervision technical management, production and quality – all involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

“The name Growermetal is formed from the commercial name of our spring lock washer – Grower – which was the product our father started the company selling,” explains Paolo Cattaneo. “He even included the spring lock washer shape in the design of our logo. Since then we have added a wide variety of products as a result of customer demand, which has seen us steadily grow year-on-year.”

Growermetal’s products can be used in a variety of applications, which has led to it expanding into markets across Europe and the world. “Nowadays our domestic market is Europe, but we have been expanding more and more into the rest of the world,” mentions Paolo.

Further proof of this was at the beginning of 2014, when Growermetal opened its own North American sales office, G & G Safety Fasteners LLC, located in the state of New Jersey and managed by Bob Bowden. The goal of G & G Safety Fasteners is to further strengthen the presence in the US, Canadian and Mexican markets. Moreover, in 2015 Growermetal do Mercosul Ltda was established in Curitiba (Brazil) – a new Growermetal owned office and warehouse that can offer a full sales service to the South American markets.

Growermetal divides its production into two main families of products – pressed parts and products made of wire. In 2015, the company produced 3.5 billion pressed pieces – approximately 8,300 tonnes – and 320 million wire pieces – approximately 2,100 tonnes.

The product range includes over 1,500 standard washers according to DIN, ANSI, NFE and other international standards. Available products include toothed washers with internal and external teeth, conical washers, contact washers, Sperrkant washers, spring lock washers, spring washers for railway applications, corrugated washers, terminal washers, flat washers and flat ripped washers. All available in steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, bronze, aluminium, copper, brass, inconel and other alloys upon customers’ requests.

A key strength of Growermetal’s production is its ability to manufacture special items – with the company producing more than 1,500 products according to customers’ drawings or specifications.

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“We are experts in the field of specials, thanks to our experience with bespoke washers,” says Paolo. “Everyday we receive drawings from customers to see if we are able to produce a washer to the necessary specifications and standards. We have to study the part, check the feasibility and go back as quickly as possible to the customer with an answer. We need to be certain we will be able to offer a reliable service.”

A key factor in Growermetal’s ability to deliver a reliable, quick and flexible service is that it can offer the entire production process in-house. This includes tooling design and manufacturing, blanking and coining, rolling of metal wire, cleaning and surface finishing, heat treatment, mechanical zinc plating, sorting, packaging and storage, and quality control.

“Having the entire production process in-house means we can also control and guarantee the quality of the products at every stage,” states Paolo.

The production process begins in the tool shop with the design of tooling. The tool shop is equipped with the most advanced machinery and latest technology such as CNC drilling milling machines, EDM machines, grinding machine and CNC lathes.

“Thanks to our tooling department expertise we are able to maximise the precision and productivity of the tooling, with all the tools made on-site and the property of Growermetal,” explains Paolo. “That gives us maximum flexibility when we need to work with customers on special products.”

An important stage of the internal process is that Growermetal can also offer in-house surface treatments. In fact, the mechanical zinc plating process is qualified by MacDermid® and Growermetal has been an accredited licensed plater for ZinKlad 250 M treatment since 2009 – for own products as well as for third parties.

In spring 2016 the plating department was enhanced by the installation of a fully automatic zinc flake coatings line, which was specifically designed and built in order to carry out surface coatings on washers and to achieve the best results both from an aesthetical point of view and in performance. The company uses exclusively original Dörken products, which ensure high-quality and high performance coatings and will be able to provide a choice of different solutions of base coats such as DELTA-PROTEKT® and DELTA-TONE®, as well as a range of top coats including the DELTA-PROTEKT® VH range.

Thanks to this investment, Growermetal is able to offer the proper products with in-house zinc flake coatings to guarantee its customers maximum flexibility and speed of accomplishment. www.growermetal.com

THE SENSE OF SAFETY

18th - 20th October 2016 Wolfsburg, Germany Visit us at Hall 5 Booth 5236

ELECTRIC TERMINAL WASHERS

TOOTH LOCK WASHERS

CONICAL CONTACT WASHERS

FLAT AND CONICAL WASHERS FOR SEMS

RAILWAY SPRING WASHERS

FLAT RIBBED WASHERS

ECCENTRIC WASHERS

CONICAL SPERRKANT WASHERS

WE LOVE SAFETY. Over 60 years of safety and railway spring washers, according to International standards or custom drawings, backed by a Quality System certified to ISO/TS 16949.

We are experts in the manufacture of sems washers for the automotive industry as well as spring washers for railway tracks.

Our quality products are for applications where safety really matters.

Our production is 100% in house, this control allows quality washers for high performance and long service life.

Strong technical ability, a result of our many years of manufacturing experience, yields guaranteed results for safe fastening to the most challenging requirements and environments.

Production plant: GROWERMETAL S.R.L. - VIA NAZIONALE 3 – 23885 CALCO (ITALY) Phone: +39 (039) 953-5300 Fax: +39 (039) 953-5400 E-mail: info@growermetal.it

www.growermetal.com

MADE IN ITALY

Minsavit and Carlo Salvi: Synergic companies ‘Made in Italy’ Founded in 1981 by Ambrogio Sangiorgio, who decided to start working solo after working for decades in the engineering industry, Minsavit Srl is a manufacturer of fasteners and special screws – located in Brianza to the north of Milan.

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family-based business, Minsavit is currently managed by Mrs Enrica Sangiorgio, the founder’s daughter, and her husband Mr Paolo Fumagalli. The company’s production – which has held ISO 9001 certification since 1998 – is ready to satisfy demand from several fields, such as automotive, motorcycle, furniture, building, as well as the household appliances industry. For the future, the company has ambitious growth plans and is focusing on innovation and employment of the most modern technologies, to help dramatically reduce the possibility of human mistakes, such as in precision manual measurement.

Minsavit’s main strong points are the quality of the finished parts, the punctuality in deliveries of orders, and, above of all, the flexibility granted by a family management, light and highly responsive to customers’ requests. It guarantees ‘Made in Italy’ quality with production carried out completely in Italy from raw materials of exclusively European origin.

Minsavit production can be according to customer’s drawing, sample or customised. The main destination country of Minsavit production is Italy. However, during the last three years, thanks to the addition of an export manager, the Fumagalli family has started approaching new markets in Europe and succeeded in entering niche industries where the flexibility of the Italian companies is considered an added value.

Minsavit represents the real excellence of ‘Made in Italy’.

During the last few years important investments have been made. The production site has been expanded and more and more technological and performance machines have been purchased – helping to guarantee even higher quality to customers.

With the addition to the company of the third generation, Matteo Fumagalli – mechanical engineer and nephew of the founder – Minsavit is planning further investments on monitoring equipment, which is even more advanced than current equipment.

The last addition to Minsavit’s machinery range is the Carlo Salvi model 248 E, a 2 die 4 blow header, which epitomises leading Italian entrepreneurship. Despite already having headers of other important producers, Minsavit decided to buy the 248 E model (pictured right) for its advanced technology, which can support and help the operator during tools set-up.

“It is well known that Carlo Salvi machines are ‘operator friendly’. By just entering a command on the control board, it is possible to act on the machine,” points out Minsavit. “Also, jobs that have already been run on the machine can be easily stored and recalled if the need arises, saving precious time.”

The 248 E model has been specially developed to minimise changeover times. Its technology and speed is such that it can be run profitably for not only large volumes but also small

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Technical data of the header model 248 E Min and max wire diameter

4mm – 12.5mm (steel) 4mm – 10mm (titanium)

Max shank length

82mm

Max head diameter

20mm

Max cutting tonnage

6,500daN

Max heading tonnage

55,000daN

Stroke of P.K.O.s

20mm

batches. Standard features of the header model 248 E include a linear wire feed, without rolls and without wire stop; K.O die side and a punch side; a motorised lifting/lowering of transfer unit; as well as conveyor, bad part divert and transfer fingers.

The Model 248 E header can be enriched further with optional items such as a quick change kit, which includes a punch block unit, transfer unit, cutter holder unit, cutter centring jig, punch centring jig and transfer centring jig.

To handle materials such as titanium and super alloys, which can not be formed with the cold heading system, the header can also be equipped with a pre-heating system. The customer can decide to install the heating system with coil housed on the die holder or have the resin bonded inductor positioned into the bedframe. In the event of special production needs, it is possible to install both types of inductor if required.

To support this technology Carlo Salvi SpA also offers very accurate and affordable tooling and a prompt service from its comprehensively stocked spare parts warehouse, which represents excellent added value for those companies that choose the Carlo Salvi brand. www.carlosalvi.it

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Warm Series

always innovating!

Warm Series

1 die – 2 blow headers 2 die – 4 blow headers Progressive headers

CS 001 WS

CS 003 WS

CS 005 WS

246E WS 663E WS 668E WS 613 WS

248E WS 616 WS

620 WS

Carlo Salvi machines developed to allow the use of materials like titanium and other alloys, which can not be cold formed

Italian Style Carlo Salvi S.p.A.

Via Ponte Rotto, 67 23852 Garlate (LC) - Italy Tel. +39 0341 654 611 Fax +39 0341 682 869 carlosalvi@carlosalvi.it

www.carlosalvi.it

Advanced Forming Technologies Carlo Salvi USA inc. carlosalvi@frontier.com Carlo Salvi (Guangzhou)

Machinery and Equipment Ltd.

gm.china@carlosalvi.com Carlo Salvi UK Ltd. sales.uk@carlosalvi.com

MADE IN ITALY

100 years of technology Mustad SpA is a screw manufacturer that since 1912 has continuously developed its production of quality and technically advanced screws.

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ustad comprises of two manufacturing plants based in the north-west of Italy, close to Turin, with 110 very specialised operators and high-tech machines. Production is performed entirely in-house with strong vertical integration from the wire drawing steps to the case hardening process – with more than ten production steps from the wire coils to the final product.

Specialised departments are dedicated to the machinery maintenance and the production of the forming tools. These form the base for the strong R&D activity that characterises the company.

Mustad’s range of products covers more than 3,000 items with specific and different characteristics in order to maximise the performance in different materials – all kind of woods, PVC, plugs, thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metals, aluminium and alloys.

The company has obtained ISO 9001:2000 and ISO/TS 16949:2002 certifications and supplies customers in the automotive and electrical industries. During 2012 Mustad also received CE Marking for all its screws for timber structures.

“We are a leader in the Italian market and export products in more than 30 countries in the world, with thousands of items available in stock for prompt delivery,” comments Mustad. www.mustad.it

Mecavit sets production target As a manufacturer of steel screws Mecavit Srl has set itself a target of producing 3,600 tonnes of both standard and special parts – made of steel, high strength steel and stainless steel – in 2016.

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he Italian manufacturer is a specialist in high resistance carbon 8.8/10.9/12.9 and stainless steel A2, specialising in metric M3 — M12 socket head screws (DIN 912, DIN 7991, DIN 7984, ISO 7380 with/without flange).

With 16 cold forging machines (including SACMA and Carlo Salvi 6 and 5 step machines), as well as optical sorting and second processing machines, Mecavit can make special items as per customer drawing. Its strength is using special materials and special coatings according to the automotive standard. All surface coating types and quality certificates (e.g, PPAP level 3) are available on request. In addition its quality system is certified to ISO 9001/2008 by TÜV Italia.

For standard items, Mecavit has a very large stock of over 4,000 pallets to satisfy requests fast and flexibly. The company is mostly dedicated to wholesalers of standard products and

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drawing parts. It also supplies customers in the automotive, motorcycle, electrical, electronics, home appliances, and aluminium profile accessory industries, as well as some of the biggest distributors. Europe is its primary target market with other customers located in countries worldwide including the USA, Russia, north Africa and UAE. “It is important to care for the environment with screw production in this Italian area,” explains Mecavit. “For instance, in building the heat treatment facility, the designer focused more on the energy of heat recovery of the oven. In this way we were able to reduce smoke emission into the environment and the residual heat is used for heating of the whole factory. Each production process results from a technological system where environment preservation and worker health have always come first.” www.mecavit.it

100% MADE IN ITALY since 1912 MUSTAD S.p.A. - Via Sant’ Anna 59/21 - 10070 Balangero (Turin) Italy Tel. +39 0123 346625 - Fax. +39 0123 346041 - commercio@mustad.it - www.mustad.it

- Professional screws for all applications - One of the leading case hardened screw manufacturers in Europe - 2 plants with a total covered surface of over 20.000 m2 - More than 100 heading machines, threading machines, point forming machines, packing machines - Controlled atmosphere ovens for case hardening treatments - Millions of pieces made every day - Thousands of items available in stock - Technical-sales customer care - ISO 9001 and ISO TS 16949 certifications issued by LLOYD’S Register

MADE IN ITALY

Specialinsert: Composites are the future

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Specialinsert Srl prides itself on providing innovative fastening systems for every application and in all materials – enabling it to establish itself as a key supplier in niche markets around the world.

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ounded in 1974 the company has three sites in Milan, Venice and Turin – all of which have their own sales office. The production and main warehouse is based in Venice and the headquarters, including the export department, is based in a new site in Turin, which was opened in 2014. The Venice and Turin operations also include testing laboratories.

The factory in Venice has two main production lines for cold forming parts and there are also turning machines, milling stations, CNC machines for special parts, as well as machines for secondary operations and a heat treating station. This enables Specialinsert to produce a wide range of fastening systems for applications in sheet metal, wood, plastics and composites.

“From the beginning it was our founders’ policy to keep the production based in Italy and this will not change for the future,” states Federico Sarti, export manager at Specialinsert. “Of course producing in Italy can be hard, with labour costs being high. This makes it difficult to offer competitive prices against Far Eastern companies producing standard products. That is why we focus on specific applications and newer technology. A big advantage we can offer customers is we have production, technical offices and R&D all based in Italy. This means we can work with customers on products that require a lot of expertise and high technology.”

In the last ten years the strategy of Specialinsert has been to further expand its exports and reach new niche markets, as well as conduct further research and development into innovations. “At Specialinsert we have always been known for our innovations and introducing new products to the market,” points out Federico. “In fact we already have 10 patents registered for specific products – with more planned for the future.”

A significant part of the company’s ability to introduce innovations is its R&D department. “Our concepts come from our R&D team working with both our customers on new solutions to applications, as well as by the internal work we do on particular markets,” explains Roberto Amerio – responsible for R&D.

TC/SC/1 modular system

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…we can work with customers on products that require a lot of expertise and high technology.”

Federico adds: “We are able to collaborate with customers on new products or applications where they are having difficulty. This is part of our 360 degree service – where we work with the customer before, during and after the sale – which is something our customers appreciate a lot.”

An area in which Specialinsert has conducted a lot of research is the composites world, where it has seen a lot of success – especially in carbon fibre. “Carbon fibre is a very popular material for a variety of applications due to the security it offers as it is strong and solid,” points out Roberto. “Only a few years ago using carbon fibre was expensive and complicated. Now the price has reduced a lot, so much it is now used in middle/low level cars, as well as boats and furniture.”

A prime example of Specialinsert’s unique capabilities for composite applications is the TC/SC/1, which is a rivet nut that works both mechanically and chemically in sandwich panels.

“We saw there was a need in the market to have fasteners for sandwich panels that did not rely solely on chemical products and helped to simplify the installation process,” explains Roberto.

“The TC/SC/1 works both mechanically and chemically because it deforms into the skin like a traditional rivet nut, but it also works chemically because the user fills the hole using adhesive before they insert it. Once the adhesive is cured it makes a solid connection with a strong performance in terms of pull-out and torque – more than other fastening solutions.”

We innovate the present.

We fix the future.

METAL SHEETS

FULL PARTS

PLASTIC

COMPOSITES

FASTENING SYSTEMS Specialinsert®, since 1974 in the world of fasteners, thanks to the expertise achieved in the past and to continuous research, today it’s leader in this market.

With three local branches, three warehouses, a production plant in Italy, an R&D department and testing laboratory, Specialinsert® will find the right solution for your fastening problem.

www.specialinsert.it • export@specialinsert.it

MADE IN ITALY

The KEEP-NUT® is fast and easy to use. It offers high tensile strength in most materials

Federico adds: “We introduced this product because we found that on the market there were only solutions using solely adhesive. We wanted to introduce something new. The TC/SC/1 is a modular system that can be used with sandwich panels from 10mm thickness up to whatever size the customer requires. It is also a very flexible system and can be used with different materials, including when the internal core of the panel is honeycomb or foam.”

Another product Specialinsert has introduced for composites is the KEEP-NUT® – a self-locking mechanical anchor that works on any solid surface.

“The KEEP-NUT has one the best growth rates out of all of our products – especially abroad,” points out Roberto. “It is a patented product and has been used for several projects across the world. The system works in a very flat and round hole – there is no need for an undercut, which is a big advantage for the customer. It means the hole can be drilled a lot quicker and the operator can use a standard tool. The KEEP-NUT also has special teeth and washers that anchor the product into the material and it provides the same pull-out strength and requirements as other products.”

Roberto continues: “Another advantage is once it is installed it is flush with the material, so the user can install it and transport it with the panel without any worries regarding storing or stocking the panel.”

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Specialinsert does not just focus on composites, it also develops new products for metal sheet/ plastics, wood and a range of other specialist materials. A recent development is the self-locking DEFORM-NUT®, which is for applications with very high vibration. “We have found customers are talking to each other about our products and their benefits, which is a good thing for us because it shows how well accepted our products have become and the good reputation they have gained in the market. You cannot beat the value of ‘word of mouth’,” says Roberto.

“The strategy of the company from the beginning was not to concentrate on the big fastener markets, but to focus on the specialised markets, on quality, on the needs of niche markets, and the after sales service for the customer,” mentions Federico. “Now that we have the experience, knowledge, and products, we are looking to work with more companies on specific and advanced solutions.”

Specialinsert is able to supply customers around the world and is always looking at new markets to target. “In the last five years we have been more proactive in targeting new markets,” explains Federico. “We are no longer waiting for customers to come to us, we are going after them and we are having a lot of success. We have recently received a a European Technical Assessment for the KEEP-NUT (ETA – 15/0615), which will open up new opportunities and in the next couple of years we will apply for ISO/TS 16949 for the automotive industry, which will enable us to work with automotive suppliers.”

Specialinsert is already experiencing growth with turnover increasing 8% in 2015 and the company reporting that in the first six month of 2016 sales have increased by over 10%, compared to the same period in 2015. “Our export business is growing,” states Federico. “We have entered new markets such as the USA, which is a good market for us. Another market that is of interest for us is the Middle East – especially the United Arab Emirates. At the moment 15% – 20% of our sales is represented by exports. We would like to see this increase to closer to 50% and with the new products we are able to offer – in niche markets – we believe this is definitely achievable.”

The company’s ability to introduce new products and target specific applications and markets puts it in a very strong position to continue to grow. Through its R&D department it will also be able to focus on the fixing materials of the future and ensure it is able to provide the fastening technology to new solutions.

“There are new materials everyday and they can all fit under the umbrella of composites,” concludes Federico. “There is always a new mix of materials that offer different benefits and will be lighter and more resistant. It is important for us that we are at the forefront of this sector and we continue to develop new products and applications.

Composites will be the future and we are ready.” www.specialinsert.it

Regg Inspection has a clear vision for inspection systems

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Thanks to its highly skilled technical staff, Regg Inspection Srl is able to design and manufacture high-quality inspection systems.

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egg Inspection designs and manufactures inspections systems with modular design that can be equipped with vision systems, mechanical recess control, 360 degree profile check, eddy current crack detection, hardness control, and other special applications.

Regg Inspection’s machine range includes the i300 machine series, which has been designed for fast and accurate vision inspection needs. The main features include the latest vision technology, up to five high resolution cameras for the most comprehensive part inspection, as well as patented 360 degree thread integrity control.

The company is also able to offer the i600 machine series. In addition to five high resolution cameras and 360 degree thread integrity control, the series also offers a two tier granite base foundation for strength and stability – which Regg Inspection says makes it the most robust machine in the industry. Other features include a wide rotary table for fast and accurate inspection for up to eight inspection modules, as well as patented mechanical recess control and non-visible crack control with eddy current.

The final series is the i900 linear machine, which has been designed for fast and accurate vision inspection needs of flat or headless parts. This series includes up to four high resolution cameras for the most comprehensive part inspection.

Each series also includes a fully integrated feeding system for smooth and fast inspection, as well as fast and easy set-up and changeover design. An intuitive Man Machine Interface (MMI) also makes it easy for both operators and programmers to use.

The vision system instruments replace several expensive, traditional measuring tools such as callipers and dedicated benches. For instance, Regg Inspection’s i360 is independent from temperature variations. The measuring is reliable and free of potential manual mistakes of operators. Designed and developed by the company in close cooperation with its customers, the i360 is also manufactured to be a reliable and precise measuring instrument, while being designed to be easy to use.

All measurements are taken all at once in less than a second. www.regginspection.com

High precision inspection systems

WE KNOW HOW TO

INSPECT PARTS REGG Inspection S.r.l.

Via Ticino, 30/G • 20064 - Gorgonzola (MI) - Italy Tel. +39 02 9574 6376 • Fax +39 02 9574 4153 info@regginspection.com • www.regginspection.com

MADE IN ITALY

Innovative solutions for 100% inspection and selection

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Dimac Srl states that its innovative machine range is able to respond to new challenges of 100% inspection and sorting of automotive fasteners – offering high value added modular solutions that are reliable, versatile and user-friendly.

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y owning the entire know-how to manufacture its machines, Dimac is specialised in the design and development of innovative solutions for 100% inspection and sorting of automotive fasteners and special parts produced by cold forming, turning or fine banking process.

Dimac machines are used to inspect parts around the world, including some of the most important producers of fasteners and special components for the automotive, aerospace and assembly industries.

Recent technological developments at the Italian company are focused towards the introduction of innovative control functions by using a machine vision system, as well as standardisation of the inspection stations and electrical equipment on the machines.

Thanks to these innovations Dimac can produce a wide range of modular models, which share similar components. Dimac inspection machines also share a unique inspection software platform. This is a great advantage in developing new features as well as for software debugging.

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New inspection features developed for the glass-plate machine MCV5 can be adapted to glass V-track model MCV2 or the rotary table MCV1 without changing software platforms.

These concepts are enabling Dimac to achieve scale economies without jeopardising quality, reliability or versatility of the proposed solutions.

Dimac offers 100% inspection and sorting of automotive fasteners and special parts

Innovations for Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is opening a world of new developments and new perspectives for the manufacturing industry. Dimac is catching the opportunity by introducing innovations such as a special App that allows users to reduce up to 50% – 60% of the machines compressed air consumption, a topic often underestimated. This App would be used to remote monitor and control the machine air consumption, as well as to program blowing nozzles air saving activity while the machine screen will display energy/money saving obtained in real time.

Dimac is also developing another App to improve after sales service reaction times in case of any troubleshooting or spare part

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Industry 4.0 is opening a world of new developments and new perspectives for the manufacturing industry.�

shipment need. This App will enable the machine operator’s smartphone to grab an image of the machine area to troubleshoot or an image of the required spare part. Images can be automatically sent to the Dimac service network, including all information regarding a customer’s company, operator name, machine model and serial number.

Dimac’s after sales service takes on the request, which is then processed within the shortest possible time – sending a message confirmation to the customer. In case of easy troubleshooting problems a related FAQ list will be immediately transmitted to the operator’s smartphone by text or email in order to let them resolve any problem as soon as possible.

Recent innovations that have been introduced by Dimac for the inspection and sorting of automotive fasteners defectiveness, include a new RGB laser optical station to inspect the colour of surface coating. This special sensor can detect small surface coating colour differences on plated parts with output rates up to 400pp/min.

Another innovation regards the use of special pericentric optics that are capable of developing a cylindrical surface view on a

flat layer view, making side cracks and side surface micro defects visible – using Dimac vision inspection software with its enhanced features.

Also, a new generation of eddy current multi frequency devices has been adopted on Dimac machines for high-speed crack detection and heat treatment control. These new devices are providing NDT controls on special materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and special light alloys.

Thanks to cooperation with the manufacturers of NDT devices, Dimac integrated NDT control software inside the machine control platform, simplifying and improving set-up as well as opening the door for remote troubleshooting by Dimac service.

Product and service quality without any compromise

Modularity and standardisation are concepts on which all Dimac projects are based, studied and applied to all machines including previous generations – giving a long life to products.

Dimac puts the same attention in motivating its production team, who are involved in new developments, as well as

after sales service staff, with the department recently reinforced by the recruitment of a young generation of technicians.

The R&D department has seen the introduction of an advanced database of Dimac machines, which provides a portal to access updated data history of each of the 600+ produced machines. This huge database also allows staff to trace all technical information related to each machine produced, including construction detailed images, particular mechanical drawings, testing and acceptance data up to the installation, and after sale service information collected over previous years.

“Each machine produced can be connected to the internet, becoming a part of Dimac’s functional integrated ecosystem where end users are at the ‘centre of the world’,” points out Dimac. “This enables them to share information and benefit from a direct professional advice.”

The automotive industry remains the main reference market for Dimac, with its always more complex and constant challenges, proposals, and demanding solutions, for fastener inspection and sorting. www.dimacsrl.com

MADE IN ITALY

INOX-VITI® – a reliable partner

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Thanks to its technical knowledge and experience of cold forming, INOX-VITI® is able to provide a quality range of special bolts and components that are available in a wide variety of specialist materials.

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stablished in 1964 by Enrico and Bruno Cattinori, INOX-VITI® initially started as a small warehouse producing stainless steel screws and bolts in Grumello del Monte (Bergamo). The family owned Italian company has steadily developed its experience and expertise so that it can now deliver a comprehensive service of technical and commercial support throughout the entire production process – supplying quality products on short lead times.

INOX-VITI has developed a particular competence in producing a selection of screws and bolts, especially special threaded fasteners.

All of which it is able to provide as a high-quality product range that is available in a variety of materials, including AISI 316Ti, stainless steel, steel for use in high temperature environments, alloys with high corrosion resistance properties, as well as duplex.

The company’s production unit, equipped with high precision machines, permits the creation of a wide range of standard and special products – produced quickly and efficiently with comparable lead teams. INOX-VITI produces screws up to a maximum length of 300mm and threaded rods and bars up to 5m.

In addition to its special products and machines, the company also has professional staff that are trained and qualified to offer customers solutions utilising advanced techniques and information – making INOX-VITI a reliable partner.

“We can provide customers with a wide range of specialist materials, for all their product needs, and our excellent customer service department and distribution performance ensures we deliver a first class service,” explains Ivana Cattinori, human resource manager. “At INOX-VITI we have always paid great attention to new technologies and have also equipped ourselves with an efficient laboratory – including equipment for both chemical analysis of raw materials and for the controlled inspection of finished products.”

The company is able to monitor each phase of the production process to ensure complete product traceability by using a variety of machines including a spectrometer, a traction pressure machine, as well as a three dimensional optical measuring machine.

A guarantee that the products meet the reference standards customers require is a vital part of INOX-VITI’s success. Over 85% of its stainless steel screwed products are exported to the main markets in western Europe. “We will continue to look to grow our export and provide quality products that customers can rely on,” comments Ivana. “We are doing this by investing in the company and applying for new certifications that will enable us to gain further business.

The company aspires to a reputation for the highest quality in all parts of the business, obtaining major quality marks and various product certificates.”

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We can provide customers with a wide range of specialist materials, for all their product needs, and our excellent customer service department and distribution performance ensures we deliver a first class service…”

To complete its capabilities the company also offers a pre and post sales service with commercial and technical support.

This technical support includes highly qualified personnel working with customers on meeting the broad array of requirements within the market.

“Our wealth of experience of more than 50 years, our accredited performance, and our numerous achievements, enables us to reach new and exciting goals,” concludes Ivana.

“We will continue to focus on new business opportunities, including in niche markets, and look to succeed in cold stamping new materials.” www.inoxviti.it

SOLUZIONI IN ACCIAIO INOX • STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS

INOX-VITI Via della Molinara,8 - 24064 Grumello del Monte (BG) ITALY Phone +39 035 449 56 11 - Fax +39 035 449 15 84

www.inoxviti.it

info@inoxviti.it

MADE IN ITALY

Ingramatic: Increasing capabilities

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In addition to recently introducing a new machine frame base – which will enable it to continue to provide a first class product – Ingramatic SpA is also looking to increase its in-house manufacturing capabilities to ultimately become a completely autonomous company.

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riginally founded in 1966, Ingramatic was acquired in 2004 by SACMA Group to complete the Group’s range of machinery – adding thread rolling services to the existing cold and warm forming capabilities. The first step the Group took was to move Ingramatic to a newly built assembly facility – located in Castelnuovo Scrivia – which enabled SACMA to focus on Ingramatic’s logistics, organisation, and efficiency of production, with its modular system strategy.

Since then Ingramatic has been constantly working on creating a full range of new machines, offering the latest technology, which can be produced in a streamlined process. The company’s redesigned threading machines focus on high-technology systems rather than the previous mechanical operations.

The machines are higher quality and more reliable, resulting in better quality final products. A big advantage of the redesign is that the components for the machine can all be made within SACMA Group – guaranteeing better quality.

Now Ingramatic is in the perfect position to continue to grow, offering its newly designed frames in a vivid red to signify the Group – replacing the previous green frames.

To improve the efficiency of the assembly division Ingramatic also adopted a similar assemble process to its parent company – using a modular system involving different sized frames. The only difference is the Ingramatic machines are smaller – making it faster to create the machine, meaning more can be produced. At any one time the assembly division can have up to 25 machines being built for customers all around the world – including the USA, Russia, France, Japan, the Czech Republic and Turkey.

Ingramatic is always looking to internalise processes where possible to help improve its assembly division and make the building of its machines as efficient as possible. That is why it has started its own manufacturing division using Mazak machines to produce specific parts. There are also plans for two additional machines by the end of October, which will see the company’s manufacturing capability increase to 25%.

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The aim within the next five years is for Ingramatic to have its own production department producing 100% of parts. For this to happen the company has a future project to expand the facility, and the land for any future extension has already been acquired. The ultimate aim is to make the business a completely autonomous company, with everything done in-house.

An essential part of Ingramatic business is its R&D department, which is able to work on future machines to be introduced – using the latest 3D CAD and FEM softwares – as well as customising machines to customers’ individual demands. For instance, the company is planning on introducing the new RP120 and RP220, which are smaller machines with a new starter unit – with a torque motor.

In addition, the company has already introduced the CNC warm thread rolling machine model RP420-WF30 with its ability to deform exotic materials. There is also the new Waterbury 50 – CNC RP720-R1 with a washer assembly unit and a very large capacity for engine bolts.

An important factor in all this new machinery is for Ingramatic to always be one step ahead of its competitors and to make sure the machines work perfectly – offering a good combination between robustness and very high technology. Being part of the SACMA Group means Ingramatic has also adopted the same rigorous high standards and requirements, which enables it to guarantee quality machinery and service. For instance, it has 100% spare parts available immediately – something the company reports is unique within the industry for making threading rolling machinery.

Ingramatic believes the market for thread rolling machines is very open as customers are now focusing on the importance of threading operations as part of the overall process. For many years the customers concentrated on the headers and the strategic possibilities.

Now customers are looking for new threading machines that are stronger and offer more possibilities.

To meet the needs of the market the aim at Ingramatic is to be present everywhere and to be a leader in the market with the very best technology. Whilst price margins are tight, Ingramatic states that it is a big market and there is demand.

Due to a good organisation and structure to the production process, as well as the investment in time, machinery and materials, the company is confident about the future and the full range of machines it is able to supply. www.sacmagroup.com

SIPA – providing additional services Founded in 1989 for the production of plates and angles for hardware, SIPA Srl has developed its own catalogue of products, which it has recently supplemented by developing cutting iron and plastic moulding services for third parties.

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IPA started the pressing of plastics in 1999 as a complementary service and introduced to its range a variety of plastic products such as adhesive hooks, key ring, duck hooks, as well as under chair caps. In 2001 the company developed its own mechanics shop that helped it deal with both the maintenance of the moulds and their planning and implementation as well.

In 2006, SIPA began its production of washers of various sizes and regulations taking a further step forward in its growth – developing new marketing and also starting to expand abroad thanks to the participation in trade fairs in the European sector.

Today SIPA has a facility of over 9,000m2, which focuses on four distinct areas: Iron cutting department: Includes 30 automatic presses for the cutting of sheet tapes of 50 to 250 tonnes.

Plastic pressing department: Composed of 10 automatic presses for the pressing of plastic material in granules of 50 to 430 tonnes.

There is also a bicoloured 250 tonne press that enables the use of two diverge materials or two diverge colours simultaneously.

Mechanical workshop department: The fleet consists of three work centres, three grinding machines, one lathe, one radial drill, one microdrill, two erosion plunges and two erosion wires.

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Warehouse department: The store spreads over 4,000m2 and its strength is fast delivery, which has always been a characteristic of SIPA’s service.

Within the warehouse SIPA also has various manual packaging machines and three automatic packaging lines for both boxes and bags – to satisfy all the demands of its customers.

“We are able to offer customers a 360 degrees service.

From a simple idea, a sample, or a technical drawing, we are able to develop the design and detail of a mould both for iron as well as plastic articles,” points out SIPA www.sipaitalia.it

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MADE IN ITALY

Tecfi expands site and production processes

With production processes that include metal sheet stamping, plastic material injection, rubber material injection and wire cold forming, Tecfi SpA has further increased its capabilities with the introduction of a 7,000m2 production site.

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he new production site has been developed to enhance Tecfi’s internal production capacity, offering additional space for the technical department – enabling the company to maintain a high-level service that its customers have come to rely on.

Since it was founded, Tecfi has invested in a high-tech laboratory, an advanced quality control system, and a qualified team, which have become the strongholds that enable Tecfi to gain competitive advantages – represented by patents and very strict product certifications.

The advanced assessment laboratory is today equipped with the most important and certified facilities, testing from the raw material to the finished product, through mechanical, metallurgical and corrosion tests, assuring customers a highly qualified product. In the last year the laboratory has been equipped with the very latest facilities for static, dynamic and seismic load tests, for the research and the development of anchors to be used in cracked concrete and seismic zones.

In the direction of providing safer solutions to engineers and craftsman, in fact, Tecfi’s R&D department has been studying a lot on seismic topics. As a result, in April 2015, Tecfi reports it was the first company in the world to get the C2 Performance Category for the installation in high seismic hazard zones for its HXE-CONCRETO® concrete screws.

The C2 Performance Category is available now on diameter 16mm and soon will be extended to diameters 10mm and 12mm.

It comes in addition to other two ranges of anchors that got the C2 Performance Category in 2014 – AJE wedge anchors and SWE dual component epoxy resin. The company also

80 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Cold forming

Stamping

Plastic injection

mentions that its HVE-ROCK® heavy-duty anchors, which already has C1 Performance Category, will soon get the C2 Performance Category.

In addition to fixings for seismic area, Tecfi manufactures a very wide range of sleeve anchors (several shapes and heads), which have received ETA-CE Option 7 for non cracked concrete. In addition to anchors, Tecfi manufactures a lot of other products through the stamping of metal sheet, including wood connectors (with ETA-CE), saddle washers and many other metal accessories.

About 7 years ago, Tecfi started a new manufacturing process – plastic and rubber material injection. Nylon and HDPE plugs and anchors, EPDM umbrella gaskets, as well as plastic and rubber accessories, started to be 100% produced by Tecfi. In particular, VS-Handyplug® nylon façade anchors received a great response from the market, thanks to its outstanding performances and ETA (ETA – 13/0135) values. Moreover, in 2015 Tecfi launched its new ZZE-Handyplug®, the HDPE multi-purpose anchor for ETICS, which received a very high grade ETA (ETA – 15/0641) for a wide spread of base materials (a, b, c, d and e). In the last year, Tecfi has also started to manufacture multi-expansion nylon anchors, which the company has applied for CE Marking.

The final manufacturing process that Tecfi introduced was wire cold forming. The company is now able to produce in-house screws and bolts, through the most technologically advanced Italian multi-station and 1 die 2 blow heading machines and threading machine.

The widening of the production and the implementation of its capacity, together with the big investments in terms of laboratory equipment and staff, are clear evidence that Tecfi is investing more and more capital and energy to bring back to Italy all its strategical functions. www.tecfi.it

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM

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MADE IN ITALY

MITOS is investing for growth

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Originally formed in 2012 as a sales company focused on screws and small metal parts, MITOS Srl is now a manufacturer that is able to offer a supporting role to companies specialising in the production and distribution of fixings.

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ased on the outskirts of Milan is MITOS’ 800m2 facility that houses five presses, five rolling machines, four assembly machines, one hexagonal punching tool, one cleaning machine and, for quality control, one three dimensional optical microscope.

The company offers customers, predominantly producers of screws and bolts, turning shops and major distributors, the opportunity to outsource pressing, thread cutting or assembly and threading processes. MITOS can offer special fasteners to customers’ designs, with its most popular product the captive washer screw.

“One very important aspect that our clients appreciate us for is our availability and ability to keep pace with market requirements,” mentions MITOS. “In the interests of ensuring the most complete service possible, we are even able to supply small batches.”

MITOS currently supplies customers in Italy, Spain, Germany and France, with the intention to consolidate its national network, whilst developing markets abroad.

A key part of this growth is to continue to invest in order to be able to respond to new and ongoing requirements from clients. Indispensable for growth is continuous research on improvements in all the sectors of the company.

Improved production and technology means an increase in production capacities and the product range, as well as reducing consumption and environmental impact. Improving the organisational and staffing structure involves sharing objectives, plus training and professional development courses on the production process, technology and sales.

There is also the constant improvement in product and work quality through investment plans – aimed at the gradual automation of all phases that comprise the production process – in order to permit highly specialised personnel to guarantee high-quality standards.

Consequently, automation – which is one of the main challenges in the fasteners sector – will enable increasing optimisation of processes in order to reduce labour costs, and compete with the low cost countries.

As a result of this level of investment over the past year, MITOS has improved the machine pool with the addition of an assembly machine specialising in the production of double washer screws, automatic loading systems and an automated packaging system.

The company has also introduced an electronic archiving system that is able to provide a product ‘history’ – gathering together in a single management system all the information from simple sales quotations through to final quality and inspection reports.

Finally, MITOS’ investment plan also includes the upgrading of the pressing area, with the arrival of new presses and the improvement of quality controls – with the introduction of avant-garde technology.

This will enable automated control of the product at every stage. www.mitossrl.com

82 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Reliable, quality tooling Established in 1954, A.M.E.A. Srl is a tooling manufacturer that is continuously expanding its range of production and conducting research to offer the best quality tools on the market.

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anufacturing tools for cold and hot forging, punching and trimming – with customers around the world – A.M.E.A. can supply tooling in a wide range of materials and always looks to offer the best solutions concerning anti wear coatings and raw materials, in order to provide customers with long-life products.

In its early years A.M.E.A produced tooling for the bolts and nuts industry. The company then decided to address a wider range of customers, producing almost any kind of tooling from small to medium size according to the customers’ drawings. Whether manufacturing tooling for steel plants, the pharmaceutical industry, plate or plastic moulding, the automotive sector or for carpentry, A.M.E.A. is able to offer a high degree of precision and detailed accuracy. The quality and long life of its products, as well as its dynamic and efficient services, make A.M.E.A a reliable and highly qualified supplier.

“Sixty years of experience in manufacturing tools and the use of the most advanced technologies place us amongst the best producers

Uffici: Via Negroni 30, 20060 Pessano con Bornago (MI) Stabilimento: Via De Amicis 6 20089 Rozzano (MI) Ph. +39 02 9574 9273 - Fax. +39 02 9574 4857 info@pec.mitossrl.com www.mitossrl.com

mitos_sep_V3.indd 1

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of punches, dies and general tooling,” comments A.M.E.A. “Accurate quality control procedures guarantee full satisfaction of customers’ requirements. We are a reliable and quality manufacturer that has been endorsed by many prestigious European companies.” www.ameasrl.it

MADE IN ITALY

G&B Group: Total quality Certified quality, experience, research and innovation. These are the keywords that G&B Group has used as the core of its company philosophy when producing high-quality anchors.

A

strong specialisation in production of nylon plugs, and the increased experience of work carried out in the field over the last 35 years, has enabled G&B Group to have a presence and expand rapidly its penetration within the whole European market – offering products of the highest quality and certified performance.

Thanks to the flexibility of its production programme, today the company is a manufacturer of nylon fixing systems, as well as steel and chemical anchors, producing products for a variety of fields, including ironmongery, hardware, building, industry, electric, thermo-hydraulic and self-service stores.

“In our awareness and experience there is an element that should never be overlooked – the constant communication and dialogue with the customer,” explains Mr Enrico Galeasso, CEO at G&B Group. “Over time, we have realised that listening to the market is the first step to be able to offer effective responses and really adapt to each specific local situation. This is why we constantly invest in training, both with our sales teams and network of our customers, and we offer customer engagement at stages where selection of the new products and market are made.”

For its quality system control of the production process the Italian company has been DNV GL ISO 9001 certified since 2000. The challenges of a growing and highly competitive market such as construction fixings, both the Italian and European markets, have led to a thorough and more responsible use of resources in order to achieve and control the ‘Total Quality’ in every area of the supply chain, from production to sales, to service.

The key factors in guaranteeing ‘Total Quality’ are: Careful selection of raw materials.

Monitoring of suppliers, all with the highest level of accreditation in Europe.

Production processes control, from the semi-finished to final product.

Product testing (mechanical tests for breakage, resistance and traction) performed in laboratories (in-house).

Quality control testing for finished product.

Packaging and logistics processes control.

Advisory services and technical assistance for product selection.

Technical assistance on-site.

Training.

New developments

G&B Group is currently working on improving the packaging of its products including: Quality, clearness, appeal, stronger brand identity and usability. For instance, during the recent restyling of chemical anchor labels, the company chose to give more space to the images and decided to add QR codes to enable an instant connection with the company website to find further information.

“We are always looking to improve communication towards our customers,” explains Enrico Galeasso.

“We want to provide product upgrades and technical assistance both through our website and through our agents and team.”

G&B Group’s recently renovated Italian headquarters

84 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

G&B Group has commercial offices in Germany, the UK, Spain, Belgium and France. The UK warehouse has been open in Sheffield since February 2013, where the company has sales offices and a large storage area with a complete range of products in-line with the Italian headquarters.

“The latest location we have introduced is G&B Fissaggi France, which was initiated at the beginning of 2016, with a commercial office in Paris,” points out Enrico Galeasso. “Due to the long experience and the deep knowledge of the French market, the Paris team has already promised good results.”

G&B Group has also recently expanded its Italian headquarters, with a warehouse increase of 2,500m2 – granting a wide stock of products that is always available. Also, the entire façade of the main buildings has been renovated with a new modern look.

Mr Enrico Galeasso, CEO

Think Fixing

Future plans

The next trade shows for G&B Group will be Torque Expo, 11th – 12 th October 2016, in Silverstone, UK, and the most relevant and consolidated show – Fastener Fair Stuttgart, which will take place on 28 th – 30 th March 2017.

“At the shows we will show our new products concerning most of all nylon anchors (G&B Fissaggi patented) and a wide range of steel anchors that have ETA certification for structural fixings,” continues Enrico Galeasso. “Amongst our chemical anchors range we have the tradition polyester resin MA MULTI ANCHOR, which has obtained a European Technical Assessment (ETA – 11/0441) CE Option 7 for non-cracked concrete. This further underlines the steps we take to ensure European quality and safety for a competitive market.”

Enrico Galeasso concludes: “We cannot avoid to remark on the recent earthquake that has devastated wide areas of central Italy at the end of August 2016.

Supplying the whole market of the building sector and offering fixing systems production, G&B Group feels particularly involved in offering new solutions and anchors for structural fixing in seismic areas. We believe that only the constant effort in research and innovation can ensure a greater awareness in thinking about the environment and its security. The drive to build antiseismic buildings should be a global and political choice, within a local issue. We will continue to invest and offer certified anchors to solve different construction problems as a priority.” www.gebfissaggi.com

G&B UK warehouse Quality products with a service to match available for next day delivery direct from our branch in Sheffield (UK mainland only).

Contact our experienced staff to assist you for all you need.

G&B GROUP, the Italian company

2 ING NE W0 16 2 RS T O ILV E T O B E R S E TH 2 OC 11 -1

www.gebfissaggi.com

G&B Fissaggi S.r.l. Italia Corso Savona, 22 10029 Villastellone (TO) tel. +39 011 961 94 33 fax +39 011 961 96 39 info@gebfissaggi.com

G&B Fissaggi UK warehouse Unit 16 Riverside Court Don Road - Sheffield - S9 2TJ (UK) tel. 0114 242 0074 fax 0114 242 0075 uksales@gebfissaggi.com

G&B Fissaggi Vertretung Deutschland johnengebfissaggi@gmail.com G&B Fissaggi Ibérica gbiberica@gebfissaggi.com G&B Fissaggi Benelux info@gebfissaggi.com G&B Fissaggi France p.carlu@gebfissaggi.com

MADE IN ITALY

Delivering creativity and service Founded in 1973 with the intent to commercialise rivets and screws, Rivit Srl has since created production units dedicated to hardware and the design and implementation of tools.

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ivit specialises in rapid fastening systems to join sheet metal in the assembly phase. Its product range includes blind rivets, rivet nuts, welding studs, self-clinching, and blind bolts, as well as the related tools for their installation, such as riveters for blind rivets and rivet nuts, presses for self-clinching, and capacitor discharge stud welders.

In addition to its products, Rivit also offers a complete back office system – providing advanced technical support to customers to find out the best solution to any single application – as well as an after sales service to ensure continuous assistance with any difficulties.

Rivit focuses its business on three main divisions: Metal industry; building, roofing and metal roofing; as well as hardware retailers. Whilst Italy accounts for 60% of the company’s turnover it is still present in more than 55 countries including the whole of Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America and Asia – with particular attention being paid to the Asian market where Rivit India was created in 2011.

Rivit is also considering strategic markets and emerging countries such as India, the Middle East, Africa and the whole of Latin America. “At least for the next two years these areas will need our fastenings due to the increasing use of lightweight materials, like aluminium and carbon, which are allergic to welding but accept riveting,” explains Rivit. “We also want to strengthen our presence in the field of light carpentry, where our products can be used for many applications.”

2016 also saw the company go through a technological renewal, with it introducing a new IT system, new portal and new CRM system. This helps ensure that the company is ready to face further international expansion in the coming years.

Rivit also continually renews its sales programme with new product lines, new solutions and new tools for installation. A complete and updated programme is displayed online, as well as on the company’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

“It is necessary to constantly invest in research and development and present new solutions to the market, to be more and more the reference leader in the fastener market,” comments Rivit. “We are constantly in contact with customers during production, so as to understand what their needs are, and often they are the ones that suggest improvements on existing products or ideas for new products, as a result of changing application requirements.”

Rivit reports that the manufacturing market in the last two years has had a satisfactory recovery and there are many companies that have begun to export again, which is vital as a company in order to grow.

Even with competition from Asian manufacturers there is still an opportunity to grow. “Today Asian manufacturers are becoming less competitive, and there is a tendency in the market for customers to return to buying products in the customer’s country of origin,” points out Rivit. “Plus, China is registering a growth in labour costs, which means an increase in the prices of products.”

For Rivit the key to growth is to continue to offer a service that guarantees both prompt answers and highly specialised professional assistance in the field of mechanical fasteners. “We have more creativity and we are faster (and less bureaucratic) when a customer is in the need to find a solution,” concludes Rivit.

“We work day and night to find a way to please our customers.” www.rivit.it

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Power and process control In the induction heating systems field, CEIA SpA (Costruzioni Elettroniche Industriali Automatismi) has been producing high and medium frequency generators – with very high energetic efficiency and minimum running costs – for more than 30 years.

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hanks to its considerable experience in the field, and continuous and accurate technological research, CEIA provides a very high-quality and safe product, both for power issuing and process control.

The new range of generators – Power Cube SA/80 (from 25kW to 100kW of power) – provide customers' with maximum operation flexibility and high energy efficiency. Thanks to specific microprocessor control software, the generators can immediately adapt to the variations of working load by automatically modifying the coupling internal circuit and maximising the energy transferred to the piece being heated.

In addition to the power, CEIA has also introduced a Master Controller V3+ control unit and the new compact optical SH15/SLE pyrometers. The control unit can be completely programmed by the customer according to operating needs. The SLE pyrometers – calibrated and certified according to the International Standard Reference – can cover a reading range between 80°C and 2,200°C. The control unit is furthermore equipped with a data log and web server integrated system that can store data for an appropriate quality control of the process.

The combination of power and control maximises the usage advantages of a CEIA induction heating system, enabling a close loop management and control of the output power of the generator – with a maximum adjusting time of 0.5 milliseconds. www.ceia.net

ENERGY SAVER

CEIA

INDUCTION HEATING

SYSTEMS

POWER CUBE SA/80 series ∂ 100 kW ∂ 75 kW ∂ 50 kW ∂ 25 kW Green Generators

FEATURES / BENEFITS � High performance level � High efficiency vs minimum operating costs � Constant, repeatable power output � New Data Log System � Field bus ready

847

CEIA heating head

w w w . c e i a . n e t

Photo © Martin Schönbacher

FASTENER FAIR ITALY PREVIEW

Excitement builds for Fastener Fair Italy Around 170 leading suppliers of fastener and fixing products, technologies and services are making their final preparations for this month’s Fastener Fair Italy show in Milan.

Exhibitor list COMPANY NAME 3C Srl Viteria e Bulloneria Speciale A.C.R.A. Srl Acton Afim Srl Ambrovit SpA Giovanni Anceschi Srl ARaymond Arlem Srl Arma Clamps & Clips Arser Srl Art Steel Atlantic Man Srl Atotech Italia Srl Bama Viti Srl Beneri SpA Berardi Bullonerie Srl Gruppo Bontempi – Bontempi VIBO SpA e FRAM Srl Bralo Brankamp GmbH Bulloneria del Toce Srl Bull-Vit Srl BZ Vibratori Snc C.M.M. Srl Carbodies sas Carlo Salvi SpA CEIA – Generatori ad Induzione Chavesbao Chiavette Unificate SpA Clamp Srl CMI Srl Cobalchini Romeo Srl Colombo Giovanni & Figli Srl Condat Lubricants Corbetta & C. Snc D.F. Edizioni Srl Defremm SpA Dell’Era Ermanno & Figlio Srl DFV Automazioni Di Costa Giuseppe Srl Dimac Srl E.CO. Srl Ecozinc Srl Eurofix Polska Sp. Z.o.o.

COUNTRY

STAND

Italy Italy France Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Turkey Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Spain Germany Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Spain Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy France Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Poland

600 650 744 441 320 821 741 705 560 754 148 763 144 855 441 546 726 460 510 863 136 268 128 210 420 847 840 246 546 846 755 740 644 940 544 331 740 341 440 151 354 440 371

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COMPANY NAME Eurofix Srl Europressvit Srl Eurospecial Srl Expometals.net Ezel Fasteners Ltd. Sti. F.L.M.D. Di Crosa Lenz Marco e De Regibus F.R.L. Srl FAR Srl Fastbolt Schraubengroßhandels GmbH Fastdev Srl Fasten.it Srl Fastener + Fixing Magazine Fastener Engineers Fastenex, S.L Feston S.n.C. di Festi Giuseppe & C. Fixi Srl FNG Fasteners Network Group FRAM Srl Gandini Fasteners Srl Gardette Groupe Gel Di Giussani E. & L. SnC di A.P.J. e J.Giussani Trafileria Punteria Ghezzi SAS Giacomo Martinelli Srl Giussani Rapid Srl Haeger Europe Heico Italia Srl Heroslam S.A.L Ingramatic SpA Inovan GmbH & Co. KG Inox Viti Inoxdadi Srl International Industrial Springs Italbolt Inox Service Srl Italvitinox Srl Italy Export – Gidiemme SAS Kaleliler Baglanti Elemanlari Kee Safety Group Ltd Keyence Italia SpA Lancaster Fastener Co Ltd Lederer GmbH l’Industriale Srl LLS Titanium Srl Magni Europe GmbH & Co. KG

COUNTRY

STAND

Italy Italy Italy Italy Turkey Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy Uk Usa Spain Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy France Italy Italy Italy Italy The Netherlands Italy Spain Italy Germany Italy Italy India Italy Italy Italy Turkey Uk Italy Uk Germany Italy Italy Germany

371 310 861 206 447 540 740 826 720 431 465 130 860 767 946 760 846 726 260 727 360 624 701 854 830 924 561 220 704 745 918 347 944 536 370 367 148 120 464 720 471 530 930

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pening its doors at the city’s MiCo – Milano Congressi on 28 th – 29 th September, the event is the latest in a highly successful series of international Fastener Fairs bringing together manufacturers of fasteners and fastener production systems, distributors and end users.

Companies from 12 countries will be exhibiting at the show, including those from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the UK and the USA.

Broad visitor appeal

With Italy ranked as Europe’s second largest manufacturing economy after Germany, the exhibition provides a great opportunity for managers, engineers and buyers from the country’s key industrial sectors – such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, energy generation and distribution, as well as marine and engineering industries – to meet companies at the forefront of fastener technology and discover their latest innovations.

Fastener Fair Italy will also attract visitors from vital consumer oriented industries such as white goods manufacturing and furniture making, plus the important construction fixings market. Distributors and resellers of fasteners and fixings will also form a further significant portion of show visitors.

Olivia Griscelli, exhibition director at organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions, says: “Fasteners and related products have an important role in virtually every area of industry. This is a highly competitive market, and one that sees frequent innovations. By visiting Fastener Fair Italy, managers and engineers have a unique opportunity to engage face-to-face with suppliers to learn what’s new and how they might get the best deals for their organisations.”

COMPANY NAME Marer Srl Marposs Marvit Srl Masidef Srl Mavita Srl MDM Special Tools MEC. P. Snc Mecavit Italy Meccaniche Morandi Srl Mevi Italia Srl Milani Enrico Srl Minsavit Srl Minuterie Eredi Baitelli Srl Mitos Srl Mitter Fasteners MollFAM Srl Mollificio Luigi Codega Srl Mungo Srl National Machinery LLC NeoNickel Italia Srl Nord-Lock Srl Nuova Rivetteria Bolognese Srl Oetiker Deutschland GmbH Officine Riva SpA P Systems Srl Peiner Umformtechnik GmbH Piloni Srl Poggipolini Srl Pressvit Srl Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG PSM Celada Fasteners R.C.Z. Bulloneria Srl Rapitech Srl Regg Inspection Srl RM Distribuzione Industriale Srl Rockford Manufacturing Group – Fastener Engineers Sacma Limbiate SpA Sacto Srl Sala Punzoni Srl Sariv Srl Schnorr Italia Srl Schwer + Kopka GmbH Sipa Srl

COUNTRY

STAND

Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy India Italy Italy Italy Usa Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Usa Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy

550 510 820 230 255 520 821 330 361 430 650 454 922 950 640 846 765 841 610 634 340 914 751 351 365 820 740 620 936 710 830 366 740 711 347 860 220 636 426 240 827 341 346

Free to attend seminars

Visitors to Fastener Fair Italy will also be able to attend free seminars providing valuable insights into technical and regulatory issues currently impacting the fasteners market. Devised by show partner Fasten.it in collaboration with event organiser Mack Brooks Exhibitions, the programme features seminars on both days of the show.

On 28 th September, Bruno Troiano of Frontline Consulting will present: ‘Distribution of fasteners: Market changes and technological innovation.’ On 29 th September, Barbara Sorgato, general secretary of the European Consortium of Anchors Producers (ECAP) will present: ‘Structural anchors and Construction Products Regulation’ and will examine major changes in the CE Marking of European construction products. Also on the same day three speakers, Jean-Paul Amaro of French fasteners and wire manufacturer UGIVIS S.A and Fausto Capelli and Paolo Viganò of Centro Inox SAS, will discuss aspects of the outlook for the stainless steel fasteners sector. The full programme of speakers is available online.

Trade visitors

The show will be open to trade visitors only. Pre-registration via www.fastenerfairitaly.com will remain free of charge until Tuesday 27 th September. An entry fee of €30 will be payable by visitors who register online after that date or on arrival at the venue.

Additional information on Fastener Fair Italy 2016 is available on the show website. www.fastenerfairitaly.com

COMPANY NAME Sjogren Industries, Inc Skako A/S Smart Machinery SO.TEC Srl Southco Manufacturing Ltd SP di Piovan Silvano sas & C. Special Bolt Srl Specialinsert Srl Strubl GmbH & Co KG T.I.T. Europe Srl TDE Srl Technoroll Srl Tecno Impianti Srl Tecnologic 3 Tekelioglu Civata San. Tic. Ltd. Sti. Teknoform Fasteners TesT – Pruftechnik Srl TesT GmbH TIEIG Industrial Products GmbH T-Lock di Carlo Tizzoni Top Kraft SK a.s.

TSP Srl – Tecnomeccanica Saldatura Perni TtapDrive AS UBK SpA UDIB Unione Distributori Italiani Bulloneria Unicom Srl Vilux Viterie SpA VIPA SpA Viral Engineers VISAF Srl VITAL Srl Viteria Fusani Srl Viteria Smel Srl Viterie Libo Srl Viterie Srl Viti Srl Vorpa Srl VVG Befestigungstechnik GmbH & Co Zarri Srl Zetachem

COUNTRY

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Usa Denmark Italy Italy Uk Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Turkey Turkey Italy Germany Germany Italy Slovakia Italy Norway Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy India Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Italy Germany Italy Italy

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Thread rolling in Italy

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Regg Rolling, a division of Regg Inspection Srl, will introduce its all new high-speed 2 die cylindrical thread rolling machines at Fastener Fair Italy.

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egg Rolling’s new high-speed 2 die thread rolling machines can roll threads with diameters ranging from ½ inch to 3 inches. The machines range from 40kN up to 1,000kN in force for the widest range of applications, including the small high precision high-tensile aerospace fastener to the largest threaded bars for the oil and power transmission industry.

On its stand Regg Rolling will introduce the R40 HD ‘High-Speed’, with a production rate of up to 60 parts per min. Regg reports that this machine is four times faster than any other conventional machine, which is a real revolution in cylindrical thread rolling technology.

All machines are designed with the most updated technologies to grant maximum rigidity – enabling them to constantly maintain a high degree of accuracy and uniformity of parts, and to grant longer die life. The new PLC control also reduces set-up and cycle time. www.regginspection.com

VIPA operates worldwide

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Operating since 1970, VIPA SpA has branches in Italy, China, France, Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic, which enables it to quickly satisfy all customer demands with maximum efficiency.

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IPA has recently expanded its product range with the development of its high-tensile strength range, which now includes articles in Class 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9. VIPA’s product range also includes hexagon head bolts, socket head screws, and bolts for heavy carpentry – in stainless material (A2 and A4) as well as other precious materials and ferrous classes of lower resistances.

VIPA has introduced the SB screw according to EN 15048. The SB screw is supplied with CE Marking nuts in accordance with the construction standards 89-106 and 109 EN-1 and 2 – part of the category of high strength bolts.

Headquartered in Rolo, Italy, VIPA covers approximately 130,000m² made up of its main office building and automatic warehouse – capable of storing up to 120,000 pallets.

“We offer a wide range of high-quality products for all our customers’ needs. Qualified sales personnel enable us to satisfy customers’ demands at all levels with the highest rapidity and efficiency,” comments VIPA. www.vipafasteners.com

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Together for the first time

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Carlo Salvi SpA and Hatebur Umformmaschinen AG will exhibit together for the first time at the very first edition of Fastener Fair Italy from 28th — 29th September.

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s an event dedicated to the screw, bolt and fastener industries, Fastener Fair Italy will be a good opportunity for both companies to do business, gather information and feelings from the wire industry, and develop projects and new partnerships.

The merger of Hatebur and Carlo Salvi further strengthens the position of both companies and is the perfect geographical market match, which will enable the companies to promote their extensive know–how and experience in the construction of high–quality technologies and machines dedicated to the production of fasteners.

Thanks to the small overlap between the product ranges, the customers benefit from a wider range of products and in particular from innovative technologies and services in the field of cold, warm and hot forming.

“We welcome all visitors of Fastener Fair Italy to our stand, where they will be able to visit both the Carlo Salvi and Hatebur sales teams at the very same time,” comments Carlo Salvi. www.carlosalvi.it

PERFECTION IN DESIGN AND MECHANICAL PERFECTION

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www.mecavit.it via Fornace 28, 40023 Castel Guelfo (Bo), Italy tel. +39 0542 670560 - fax +39 0542 670561 mecavit@mecavit.it

FASTENER FAIR ITALY PREVIEW

TECNOLOGIC 3® – growth and innovation Innovation and environmental impact have always been at the heart of TECNOLOGIC 3® Srl’s strategy, together with involving the client as a matter of course and an obsessive attention to quality.

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orn in the east of Milan at the end of the 1980s, the company’s growth over the years has been slow but persistent. TECNOLOGIC 3® manufactures and applies innovative systems for the locking of threaded parts.

The company attracts the loyalty of major clients in Italy and the approval of large automotive manufacturers, always offering innovative products with unique characteristics, in terms of output and performance.

Water-based and non-solvent-based solutions have been a key to this success. The special advantage of TECNOLOGIC 3 is that it applies its own products using machines designed and built in-house, which it says is a unique and a winning formula.

“Synergy between the various departments, product mixing and preparation, application, as well as logistics and staff service, is all embracing and supported by a slick and adaptable structure,” explains TECHNOLOGIC 3.

Now, after almost 30 years, the company is still led and managed by siblings Angelo, Nadia, Caterina and Marco with the same passion and attention to its clients and innovative spirit as always. The application

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lines are in continuous development and the market segments are not limited solely to the automotive industry but also extend to other major reference markets.

TECNOLOGIC 3 points out that all its products and application machines are protected by sound national and international patents, and the know-how it has been built up over the years is an important guarantee for clients of the company’s problem solving capabilities, efficiency and ability to deliver on time.

Constant investment over the years has enabled TECNOLOGIC 3 not only to grow and create value for its clients, but also to acquire a strong sensitivity to and awareness of developments in the major markets abroad.

The second chapter of the company’s story is about to start: International development and a business model exclusively dedicated to the markets outside of Italy. This is the new challenge that TECNOLOGIC 3 has set itself with the creation of partnerships and commercial agreements in the major world markets.

Participation in Fastener Fair Italy 2016 shows the company’s new commitment and renewed ambitions for growth. www.tecnologic3.it

Nord–Lock SC–washers at Fastener Fair Nord–Lock Srl, the Italian subsidiary of the Nord–Lock Group — a specialist in bolting solutions, will showcase its new range of wedge–locking washers for the steel construction industry on its stand at Fastener Fair Italy.

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ased on the leading Nord–Lock wedge–locking technology, the Nord–Lock Steel Construction (SC) washers are specially designed for use in structural steel parts and to fit HV sets and HR sets — with bolts and nuts in accordance to the European standard EN 14399–4 and EN 14399–3.

The CE certified SC–washers replace standard chamfered washers according to EN 14399–6 in order to add safety to high strength structural preloaded assemblies encountered in steel construction, when exposed to dynamic loads or vibration. With

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an already proven success in the European and Italian market, SC–washers are the perfect solution to secure HV/HR sets used in structural steel construction applications.

Visitors at Fastener Fair Italy will also be able to see the company’s complete range of innovative products, which includes Nord–Lock’s wedge–locking solutions, Superbolt® multi–jackbolt tensioners, Boltight hydraulic tensioners and the newest member to the group — Expander® system. Bolting experts will also be performing live product demonstrations every day at stand 340. www.nord–lock.com

Atotech: The industry’s approved choice Atotech Italia Srl, the Italian division of the global specialist in the highly complex world of plating chemicals, equipment and services, will be showcasing its wide range of products at this year’s Fastener Fair Italy.

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totech’s general metal finishing division provides cutting edge processes for numerous fields of technology and offers perfectly matched solutions for all market requirements.

“Our technology’s impact is evident in everyday objects all around us. This not only indicates the broad scope of our innovation but also the variety of industries we serve including automotive, consumer electronics, oil and gas, sanitary and construction,” comments Atotech.

The company offers both electroplating processes and zinc flake coatings for corrosion protective finishes. Its product portfolio includes all varieties of zinc plating additives and the most comprehensive range of zinc nickel processes available on the market. To meet increased demand for greater corrosion

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resistance and colour options, this selection also includes a broad spectrum of high performance Cr(VI)-free conversion coatings and sealers. Atotech’s zinc flake systems provide a wide range of base coats and top coats in the colours silver and black, as well as various lubricants.

“We pay special attention to the needs and demands of automotive manufacturers, OEMs and their suppliers.

Many Atotech processes fulfill the requirements of a substantial number of OEM specifications and are approved by automotive manufacturers worldwide. This makes us an ideal partner for the automotive industry,” adds Atotech.

New Extranet Chavesbao 2016

FASTENER FAIR ITALY PREVIEW

SPC-LAB: A new way for fastener inspection

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Dimac Srl will be presenting the new generation of SPC-LAB – a first piece inspection mobile unit suitable for in process and post process measurements and controls directly on the shop floor – at Fastener Fair Italy.

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ith a renewed attention on zero defects – a priority Dimac shares with end users – SPC-LAB can inspect any kind of fasteners or mechanical component produced by cold forming, stamping or turning with accuracy of up to 0.005mm. The SPC-LAB has multiple uses: SPC controls and data collection, PPAP and reporting, direct measuring system, as well as manual sorting of pre-series without human errors.

Based on optical non-contact measurements by a high-resolution digital camera, it provides connectivity for USB gauges or high precision callipers, as well as the inspection by attributes such as surface defects, presence of a thread patch, and surface coatings.

Measuring a piece on a SPC-LAB isle unit on the shop floor is very easy and takes only a few seconds. The user simply takes the sample piece they want to measure to the nearest SPC-LAB isle unit and puts the piece into the unit without any clamping tooling. They then scan the operator badge barcode to log in, and then scan the

ARMA CLAMPS new production facility

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ARMA CLAMPS & CLIPS will be presenting its full product portfolio, including DIN 3016–1 retaining clamps, DIN 3017–2 hose clamps, and pipe clamps — all produced in its new 7,000m2 production facility in Hadimköy, Istanbul — at Fastener Fair Italy.

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lso on display will be its range of cable clamps, exhaust clamps, and special metal clips, screw clips, U clips, caged nuts, U nuts, metal brackets, metal stampings and special metal fasteners. ARMA CLAMPS & CLIPS is an ISO/TS 16949 certified company.

At Fastener Fair Italy a self–locking rubber lined clamp will also be on display to potential customers, as well as a special fixing spring part — manufactured for the home appliance industry — from the company’s metal clip division.

“The show will be a good opportunity for our customers to see the increased capacity and production efficiency our new facility has enabled,” explains ARMA CLAMPS.

article barcode to enable the article inspection plan. The measuring features are accessible by icons on the user-friendly unit. The user then simply presses the ‘measure’ button and all the measurements of the inspection plan will be done in less than a second. SPC data will be collected on the network and will be immediately available to the quality office to be managed by the ERP company process.

The SPC-LAB helps eliminates the need to perform single measurements on a profile projector, and helps to reduce human errors due to the use of manual callipers or micrometers. No skills are required for the operators on SPC-LAB to perform the most complex controls like measuring a radius, checking any thread dimensions, measuring a tapered shape, measuring a length between a given diameter and any shoulder edge on the piece.

SPC-LAB also features a ‘direct measuring’ option that enables it to perform any measurement on a piece without having registered an inspection plan for that part. www.dimacsrl.com

Improving heading processes

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Among a wide range of lubricants dedicated to the requirements of cold heading machinery, CONDAT will present new solutions to provide high duty lubrication with optimum safety at Fastener Fair Italy.

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he weight reduction in automotive and aeronautic markets has pushed the fastening industry to use new materials. Titanium, inconel, stainless and high strength steel are now commonly used but their forming properties are weak. To reach high productivity, it is necessary to warm the wire before the heading process from 250°C up to 900°C. For technical parts, with forming ratio higher than 70% and massive parts with wire diameter bigger than 20mm, the internal temperature can easily reach 250°C due to significant material flow. In both cases, the lubricants must be designed to work at very high temperature. From 250°C to 900°C, CONDAT offers solutions to improve processes: For temperature up to 250°C – EXTRUGLISS warm green oils avoid degreasing issues due to sticky and burned residues which occur at such temperature.

For preheated wire up to 500°C – EXTRUDEX warm forming lubricants benefit from high thermal stability, which enhance lubricity performances. They are safe for the workshop environment as they reduce smokes and mist.

For preheated wire up to 900°C – EXTRUDEX hot forming oils are specifically designed for the aerospace market to work on titanium and nickel alloys.

They allow a homogeneous coating on the parts for optimum surface finish and no deposits on dies and punch. These safe lubricants present a very high flash point to reduce the risk of fire.

For lubrication of the cold forming machinery – GLISS warm green lubricants are specifically formulated to reduce cross contamination issues and keep the long-term performances of CONDAT’s heading oils. Available now from 68cst – 220cst viscosity.

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HECO ®-Schrauben – Innovative and quality products for applications in wood and concrete HECO-Schrauben – Safe and secure

HECO-UNIX

The unique fully threaded screw with contraction effect

HECO-FIX-plus®

The proven multi-material screw

HECO-TOPIX®

The wood screw for the professional

MULTI-MONTI®

The innovative screw anchor for concrete and masonry

HECO-UFIX®

The ideal screw for MDF and HDF

HECO-Schrauben GmbH & Co. KG Dr.-Kurt-Steim-Straße 28, D-78713 Schramberg Tel.: +49 (0)74 22 / 9 89-0, Fax: +49 (0) 74 22 / 9 89-200 E-Mail: info@heco-schrauben.de, Internet: www.heco-schrauben.de

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FASTENER FAIR ITALY PREVIEW

Atlantic Man at you disposal Created in 1982, Atlantic Man Srl is an Italian manufacturer of heavy-duty clamps and fastening solutions, offering high-quality products at competitive prices.

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tlantic Man’s main production is composed entirely of stainless steel products, such as stainless steel 430 – W2, stainless steel 304 – W4 and stainless steel 316 – W5. All its products are ‘Made in Italy’ at its main factory in Castelnovo di Sotto, Reggio Emilia – ensuring the products are the good quality that has become the trademark of Italian manufacturers.

After more than 30 years of production, Atlantic Man’s heavy-duty clamps are today produced in a totally automatic bespoke process production line, which Atlantic Man’s technical department designed.

The company’s product range includes worm drive clamps in 9mm and 12mm band, quick release hose clamps, single and double wire clamps with and without screw, band and locking device for the band, as well as a selection of other products.

Atlantic Man remains at the disposal of customers for all the special requirements in production, such as different materials, special treatments, special diameters, special packages or equipment.

“Thanks to our staff and organisation we are able to supply both the big distributor and the final user of the clamps,” comments Atlantic Man. clamps.atlanticgroup.it

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SACMA to present latest innovations SACMA Group will present all of its latest innovations and machines on its stand at Fastener Fair Italy from 28th — 29th September.

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ACMA will introduce a variety of new models including the combined header models SP48L and SP38SL, as well as the progressive header SP451–EL with extended capabilities. SACMA will also focus on the net shape parts former model SP470–CRM — which makes special parts using new features such as the S–Feed wire feeder driven by servomotor; the new S–Panel with the SC–Matic software; the new quick changeover package; and the fully motorised adjustment of the machine. The SP470–CRM also includes a new soundproof enclosure to help reduce noise and make the machine more ecofriendly.

Also at the show, Ingramatic will be showcasing its complete range of CNC thread rolling machines and will be introducing the RP120 and RP220 — which will be coming soon in 2016.

“Ingramatic is definitively leading the market with a complete new generation of machines with high–tech solutions designed and made following the best industrial rules,” points out SACMA. SACMA and Ingramatic will also have a variety of machines on demonstration in their factories with the latest technologies, providing easier set–up and operation, improved part precision and reduced operation cost.

“SACMA Group personnel will be pleased to welcome visitors at Fastener Fair Italy, stand 220, to show and explain in detail all the characteristics and technicalities of the whole machine range,” explains SACMA. www.sacmagroup.com

Thread rolling dies on display in Italy HEROSLAM S.A.L will present its full range of thread rolling tools, including flat, cylindrical and planetary dies, as well as its special range of thread rolling dies for specific threading applications, at this year’s Fastener Fair Italy.

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n display will be coated thread rolling dies for rolling heat treated parts, special flat and cylindrical thread rolling dies for aerospace fasteners and planetary thread rolling dies for the production of nails and wood screws. HEROSLAM will also be displaying its custom made knurling and grooving dies and its special thread rolling dies for the production of rail fasteners.

Another product on display will be the new generation of GOGOR (GG) coating, which has been developed and made in-house.

HEROSLAM reports that the GG coating increases tool life of an average of at least 30%, reducing machine preparations and changes, and minimising machine down time, which entails a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. With this GG coating, HEROSLAM says it is able to produce tools that provide the best ratio of quality, service life and price on the market.

“As part of our international expansion strategy, during the exhibition, we will also welcome enquiries from international tooling distributors and reps interested in representing HEROSLAM products in their countries,” points out the company.

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INSERTI FILETTATI THREADED INSERTS BLINDNIETMUTTER

SISTEMI DI FISSAGGIO FASTENING SYSTEMS VERBINDUNGSSYSTEME MAIN OFFICE Via Bellardi, 40/A - 10146 Torino - (Italy) Tel. +39 (0) 11 70.72.398 +39 (0) 11 70.70.877 - Fax +39 (0) 11 70.72.521

www.fixi.it - info@fixi.it

EVENTS CALENDAR National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo Las Vegas, USA 25 Oct – 27 Oct 2016 www.fastenershows.com Fasteners, machinery formed parts, tooling and packaging.

AAPEX – Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo Las Vegas, USA 1 Nov – 3 Nov 2016 www.aapexshow.com Automotive aftermarket products exhibition.

Construct Canada Toronto, Canada 30 Nov – 2 Dec 2016 www.constructcanada.com Building and construction exhibition.

PTC – Asia Shanghai, China 1 Nov – 4 Nov 2016 www.ptc-asia.com Trade fair for power transmission and control.

MIDEST Paris, France 6 Dec – 9 Dec 2016 www.midest.com Subcontracting and services for the processing of metals, plastics, electronics and electricity.

STAFDA's 40 th Annual Convention & Trade Show Georgia, USA 6 Nov – 8 Nov 2016 www.stafda.org Speciality tools and fasteners.

BAU 2017 Munich, Germany 16 Jan – 21 Jan 2017 www.bau-muenchen.com German construction industry.

Elmia Subcontractor Jönköping, Sweden 8 Nov – 11 Nov 2016 www.elmia.se/en/subcontractor For subcontractors and suppliers within the engineering industry.

BouwBeurs 2017 Utrecht, Netherlands 6 Feb – 10 Feb 2017 www.bouwbeurs.nl Trade fair for the construction industry.

Intersolar India Mumbai, India 19 Nov – 21 Nov 2016 www.intersolar.in Exhibition for the Indian solar industry.

BUDMA – International Construction Fair Poznań, Poland 7 Feb – 10 Feb 2017 www.budma.pl Building technology, equipment and materials.

The Big 5 Dubai, UAE 21 Nov – 24 Nov 2016 www.thebig5.ae International building and construction show.

Totally DIY: Totally Tools Coventry, UK 14 Feb – 15 Feb 2017 www.totallydiy.co.uk DIY, hardware, tools and security products.

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7th International Exhibition for the Fastener and Fixing Industry

The biggest international marketplace for the fastener and fixing industry Industrial fasteners and fixings

Fastener manufacturing technology

Construction fixings

Storage, distribution, factory equipment

Assembly and installation systems

Information, communication and services

28 – 30 March 2017 | Messe Stuttgart, Germany www.fastenerfair.com/stuttgart

EXHIBITIONS

Bigger and better NIFMSE The National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo (NIFMSE), which will take place from 25th – 27th October 2016, is looking to be the biggest show yet. With some new added features for a better show experience for both buyers and suppliers.

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aking place at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, USA, the show will feature more than 700 top industry suppliers, occupying more than 95,500 net square feet (approximately 8,900m2). Compared to last year, this is a 17% spike in contracted suppliers and a 21% increase in exhibitor floor coverage.

With more product categories than ever, NIFMSE will boast a slew of new additions to the show floor, particularly in the Machinery & Tooling area – which has seen a steady growth since 2011. This area will offer stock from 50 vendors in 9,800 square feet. Among the new and noteworthy vendors in this area are Murata Machinery Ltd, a leader in machine tool technology, automated material handling systems and clean room automation; LinearGS, providing services such as automation, inspection and system integration solutions; and Tsugami/REM Sales LLC, offering state of the art CNC machine tools and applications. Exhibiting manufacturers, suppliers, and attendees are encouraged to attend the welcome reception in this area at 11:00 on Thursday 27 th October.

Educational seminars at NIFMSE

For those interested in educational seminars, NIFMSE has expanded its educational track to include a robust agenda with a full day conference on Tuesday 25th October, as well as free 30 minute sessions on the show floor on day two and three.

Sample free sessions include: ‘Creating change for higher performance’, ‘Sustaining and growing business relationships’ and ‘Fastener technical resources review’.

“Whether your business is in fasteners, technology, machinery, tooling, or other related industry products, the educational track offers many diverse topics to help your business grow and succeed,” mentions NIFMSE. “Learn about trends, maximising sales, sustaining growth, selling, inspections, and much more! For a full seminar list visit NIFMSE’s website.”

Recognition of achievement in the industry

NIFMSE also looks to recognise professionals who have made significant and enduring contributions to the fastener industry. The time-honoured ‘Hall of Fame’ award ceremony and the first ever ‘Young Fastener Professional’ award ceremony will be held on the show floor (sessions’ area) on Wednesday 26th October at 14:30.

NIFMSE will also welcome buyers and vendors to the annual and ever so anticipated Welcome Reception, hosted at the popular Las Vegas Pool & Cabanas at Treasure Island, to mix and mingle with fellow associates over some cocktails on Wednesday 26th October. Doors open at 18:00.

With so much to see, do and experience at the show, NIFMSE will also have a mobile App for buyers and suppliers to download to their mobile devices to look up suppliers and products, and to keep track of their daily schedule and appointments.

Big brands signing up for Totally DIY & Tools Leading brands from across the industry have already signed up for the Totally DIY & Tools 2017 show, which will be taking place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, UK, on 14th — 15th February 2017.

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rands that will be exhibiting their innovations include Burg–Wächter UK, Draper Tools Ltd, Bond It, Gorilla Glue Company, Home Hardware, and AW Tools Europe Ltd, to name but a few.

The 2017 show promises to be a one–stop–show for merchants, wholesalers, DIY and tool retailers, and buyers, to view the latest products as they are introduced to the DIY market.

The Totally DIY & Tools team are working closely with the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA), which will once again sponsor the ‘New Product Innovation Zone’ —

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a central and key area of the exhibition where all exhibitors have the opportunity to enter their new and emerging products.

This area is at the heart of the show and offers visitors a chance to view everything that is being launched to the market.

This area is always well attended and provides exhibitors with an opportunity to win the coveted ‘Best New Product’ in show.

BHETA will also be supporting the ‘Start Up Zone’, which is designed for new companies who are looking to launch their breakthrough products to the DIY market. This area along with the ‘New Product Innovation Zone’ are at the heart of the show.

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FACE2FACE

Automotive lightweighting, multi-materials and disruptive technologies “Lightweighting presented, and continues to present, a huge challenge for the automotive industry,” assessed Thomas Ehrhardt in last issue’s Face2Face interview. This follow up further explores the implications for STANLEY Engineered Fastening, for which he is the president of its Global Automotive segment, before teasing out some speculation on future disruptive technology changes.

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volution in vehicle construction materials is hardly a new phenomenon. One hundred years ago wood was rapidly displaced by low carbon steel until, by the 1980s, it represented at least 80% of the vehicle. Twenty years on and high strength steel became a significant constituent. On some vehicle marques, aluminium was adopted as the primary body material. The use of polymers expanded and previously exotic materials, such as magnesium, began to play a role on mainstream vehicles.

The mix of body materials will continue to vary depending on the vehicle class. In mainstream, high volume production cars steel will continue to represent a high proportion of body content – albeit with advanced high strength steels substituting low carbon steels. Where they can be cost-effectively integrated to the production process, aluminium and composite materials will contribute to weight reduction. Depending on the preference of individual marques, steel is playing a lesser role in premium cars, with aluminium and/or composite growing rapidly in significance. Only, though, in more specialist sports, luxury or electric vehicles does steel play a minority role, with bodies dominantly composed of aluminium and/or composite materials.

For the vehicle maker, the transition from low carbon to advanced high strength steels is broadly a matter of process adaptation.

Aluminium has its own challenges but could still be viewed as evolutionary in design and process terms. Composite materials, however, represent a technology breakthrough, demanding significant manufacturing process change, with different production rates and costs as well as implications for aftermarket reparability and recycling. These differences explain the correlation between vehicle class and the rate and level of adoption of advanced materials.

Many of the challenges of multi-material bodies relate to the joining process. At the nexus of differing materials, the risk of galvanic corrosion must be effectively managed. Composites often possess different physical properties depending on direction of stress. Thermal expansion characteristics are distinct from those of metals. Composites also have substantially lower tolerance to surface pressure and there risks of delamination or weakness through severed fibres.

It is all about, says Thomas Ehrhardt, “deploying the right material in the right place.” The selection of joining technologies used to be straightforward. “Traditionally, the industry comes from steel car bodies and spot welding. Everybody was happy with a robust, cheap process – except the cars were too heavy. The trend towards full aluminium car bodies raised another set of challenges for joining.

Now it is the hybrid, mixed material construction of car bodies.”

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Pop® Avdel® blind rivet Vgrip ZRE (Zero Radial Extension)

“We support all the major automotive OEMs in reducing weight, no matter their philosophy. We are strongly involved in the most innovative users of carbon fibre: Look at the new BMW 7 series and you will find some STANLEY Engineered Fastening product like the Vgrip ZRE joining part of its body structures.”

“When it comes to the standard process in steel body cars, a stud cannot be welded onto a carbon fibre structure. So, in conjunction with an external laboratory, we developed a stud with a pre-applied adhesive.”

“Applied to a carbon fibre monocoque, it enables the car maker to retain the benefit of components used on its steel body vehicles.

Complexity, one of the carmaker’s biggest enemies, is not increased.

It provides a similar, robust process, which does not require the application of adhesive in the factory.”

Special Screws

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info@pasvahl.de www.pasvahl.de

24.12.15 09:30

FACE2FACE

Aluminium weld studs can be used on aluminium base material

“Instead it is pre-applied at the Tucker factory and the stud is supplied ready to be applied. We supply a manual or automatic system that activates the adhesive using inductive heating at the point of installation, which means we also monitor the setting performance.”

“Other market segments, building medium or lower budget volume cars, also need to reduce weight. Many customers are really successful working only with steel. They improve the body design but also adopt a mixture of high strength steel and very thin mild steel.

That presents specific joining challenges, because a spot weld or a traditional drawn arc stud may not be appropriate.”

“For these thin materials, we developed a new design for the stud, which together with our latest generation stud welding system, controls the energy that goes into the sheet metal versus the stud. It has just recently been launched but is already in use by a significant number of our customers.”

The major differentiator for STANLEY Engineered Fastening is that we are not obliged to sell a single solution because it is the only thing we do.”

104 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

“We also recently launched a new stud welding product for the emerging markets so that they can benefit from automating stud welding rather than manual assembly. Labour costs are rising everywhere so improved automation is increasingly important. It also delivers improved accuracy with the more critical materials now being used to build vehicles.”

STANLEY Engineered Fastening Employees: 5,000+ Global locations: 28 manufacturing and technical locations

30 customer service facilities “Every potential material combination is out there. Traditional steel car bodies in the small car sector may well be the right answer well into the future. Aluminium door skins are relatively easy compared with a full aluminium car body: Similarly thermoplastics in the lift gate. Magnesium components are used in the crossbeam and the mixture of higher strength and thinner sheet steels is increasingly prevalent.”

“The major differentiator for STANLEY Engineered Fastening is that we are not obliged to sell a single solution because it is the only thing we do. If the best answer is a self-piercing rivet, that’s fine. If stud welding works best, we’re happy. If not, we can talk about stud gluing or a pure plastic solution. At the end of the day, the best solution for that particular customer wins. We have the breadth of product portfolio of a distributor but we have the depth of manufacturing expertise to develop a unique solution.”

“There is an ideal process with each material, but the car maker cannot afford a proliferation of processes in the body shop.

Investment, training of people, spare parts, technical availability, the number of partners involved all make this very difficult.”

“We see a trend towards using more universal technology – stud welding together with stud gluing is definitely one. Self-piercing riveting (SPR) for us is one of the biggest potentials the automotive industry has. With recent developments, we can now join carbon fibre using SPR – even carbon fibre to carbon fibre joints – which was not possible before. We can solve the challenges with high strength steels, even with self-piercing riveting. Even with thin sheet mild steel SPR has its position because spot welding has some limitations.”

“These developments mean the automotive company can have a universal technology, one investment, that is safe for the future.

Typically that investment is now for two, not just one, generation of car.

FACE2FACE

Whatever is put in place the carmaker needs to know, as the technology road map further develops, that investment is safe. Using the same C-frame we provide system flexibility i.e. with different dies and die changers. That capability has been one of our major growth drivers in recent years.”

Have lightweighting and multimaterial challenges changed the automotive perspective of fastening technologies?

“As a fastener company we’d like to believe the joining process is the centre of attention for our customers. However, the automotive industry is still wasting millions, perhaps billions, of euros by picking the wrong fastener solution because, in reality, it is not at the centre of their attention.”

“That said, is fastening more visibly important now – definitely yes. We have seen a closer relationship. We are an integral partner in the simultaneous engineering phase of our customers, working on both the fastener and the system. There is a lot of attention now on ensuring the right fastening technology is in place. But there is still more potential.”

What, then, does STANLEY Engineered Fastening see as the disruptive technology changes in the future?

We see a trend towards using more universal technology – stud welding together with stud gluing is definitely one. Self-piercing riveting for us is one of the biggest potentials the automotive industry has.”

“Lightweighting and especially the mixed materials trends will be there. Looking beyond the current horizon we are investing in an international team, based in Germany, dedicated to working on the next generation of joining technology. We aim to be ready with the next breakthrough technology. Maybe that will disrupt our competitors’ technologies; maybe it will disrupt our own. That is OK. In our highly competitive industry the best technology will win and we are genuinely committed to delivering the best technology to our customer. That means solving the customer’s issue today and with the materials they are going to use in the future.”

“In our plastics portfolio we achieved the same performance with a new generation of product at half the price of its predecessor. So we disrupted ourselves but we truly believed it was the better solution for our customer. Going forward we will do the same. We want our customers to have complete confidence in STANLEY Engineered Fastening so it is not about a short-term sales cycle; it is about a long-term, strategic relationship – and how we invest in.”

Aside from lightweighting, there are other trends that STANLEY Engineered Fastening believes will prove influential in vehicle joining technologies.

“The two most significant trends we see right now relate to the powertrain and connectivity. The balance between traditional internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles is very important although it will not change the imperative to achieve lighter weight vehicle bodies – in fact increased use of batteries will increase that emphasis.”

“In car communications, car-to-car communications, the general acceleration in automotive electronics will continue to have a significant effect on the body and interior structure. Our plastics factory has seen significant growth as a result and we have already made decisions to focus more on the implications of enhanced vehicle electronics.”

“Drive by wire, brake by wire – these too have a significant influence on body design. Look further in the future to perfect car-to-car communication and the question becomes whether vehicle bodies will still need to provide the current level of crash protection.”

“This is why we carry out trend scouting, not just in the cars themselves but the wider factors influencing them. Car usage versus car ownership is another potential significant trend. It will influence how cars are designed and sold, and determine which features people are prepared to pay for.”

“It may seem a bit strange as a fastener manufacturer to invest in considering these trends but, while it is too early to tell how, they will definitely affect our business.”

Acknowledgement

STANLEY Engineered Fastening (SEF) is a division of STANLEY Black & Decker that has been revolutionising complete engineered fastening solutions for a wide variety of industries, including the global automotive, electronics and industrial markets.

106 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Welcome to visit us in Fastener Fair Italy 2016, Milan, 28–29 September.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

EOTA supports innovation in the construction market

By Peter D. Schellinck, EOTA secretary general So, who is EOTA and what do we do? We are the ‘European Organisation for Technical Assessment’.

We coordinate the application of the procedures set out when a manufacturer makes a request for a European Technical Assessment (ETA) to a Technical Assessment Body (TAB) and the development of a European Assessment Documents (EADs) is necessary.

W

hereas the issuance of the ETA is the responsibility of a TAB, designated by a European Member State, we use the scientific and technological expertise of our members – the Technical Assessment Bodies (TABs) – to document the assessment methods and criteria used and mutually recognised amongst our members and ensure publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), as well as make the EAD publicly available.

ETAs are needed, alongside the Document of Performance (DoP), for the CE Marking of a construction product not or not fully covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN). As such, we work in close cooperation with the European Commission, the various Member States, EFTA, European standardisation organisations, stakeholders and research bodies.

EOTA is now structured to face the challenges defined by the Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, CPR, which fully entered into force on 1 st July 2013. EOTA had to turn a new page and re-establish itself accordingly, but goes on supporting innovation in construction. In this new context, EOTA prepared several guideline documents to facilitate and ensure consistency in the activities of its members. The biggest challenge was the mind switch from a directive to a regulation and no longer issuing Approvals but developing European Assessment Documents as a basis for ETAs. The manufacturer is now responsible for which characteristics it wants to declare for the free circulation if its product is available in Europe.

ETAs are needed, alongside the Document of Performance (DoP), for the CE Marking of a construction product not or not fully covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN).”

The ETA concentrates on the performances of the product, of those essential characteristics agreed by the manufacturer and the TAB, for the declared intended use. It also includes the technical details necessary for the implementation of the system of assessment and verification of constancy of performance. It is like a technical file synthesis supporting

108 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

the declaration of performance (DoP) of the product. Where the EAD explains the ‘how to’, the ETA is about the results: What is the performance of the product? What has the manufacturer done to ensure consistent performance and conformity in performance and in the manufacturing process? Also, an EAD may concern several products from different manufacturers, while the ETA is awarded to a single product from one single manufacturer.

Also set out in the CPR is the issue of timings. Manufacturers had been looking for a fast track assessment of their products. Through the EOTA/ETA route it can be completed in a matter of a couple of months, with a maximum delay of nine months. The streamlining and designing of an efficient procedure caused some implementation

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS delays during the start up phase of the CPR. These are now out of the way thanks to a better understanding between the Commission and EOTA on how to address and interpret some specifics within the new regulation. This debate will remain alive as long as all articles within the CPR are not mutually understood amongst ALL stakeholders. Fortunately the issuing time is now under control and manufacturers can expect effective, in time, results for the issuing of their ETA based on the EOTA adopted EADs. The citation of the EADs in the OJEU is within the remit of the Commission. The EAD is a legal document, owned by EOTA, developed by the TABs, free of charge, for the benefit of the construction industry (especially SMEs) and the free internal market.

listed in an Annex of the product standard and where there are inconsistencies, the DoP should perhaps state whether the design standard/specification or the product standard has priority. There are bound to be teething problems! But clearly the designer must be able to determine how the product has been designed and how it’s being used, resulting in a performance way of thinking to the benefit of society as a whole.

Many designers and suppliers are happy for products to be supplied and used as long as they conform to the technical information the manufacturer provided and upon which the specification or design had been based – it would be the manufacturer’s responsibility if the product did not perform.

Product liability rules will always apply.

No one would want that situation to change.

The CPR affects the whole supply chain – manufacturers, importers, distributors, suppliers and users. National manufacturers and suppliers will pay heed and will go through the pain and expense of acceding to the CPR and CE Marking. It appears that no one can be really certain of their position until the situation is tested in the courts. In the meantime manufacturers, as well as EOTA and its members, are aiming towards industry best practice.

For any area that needs improvement, the first step is to replace commodity based standards with performance based standards. ‘Performance’ in the construction sector always relates to ‘total building performance,’ so that, even though you can talk about the performance of a component part or sub-system, it must be measured in relation to the performance of the total building system or the whole construction works. The purpose of CE Marking for construction products is the same as for any other product with CE Marking. It is to demonstrate that the product is safe for its intended purpose, and that the manufacturing methods can be trusted. The CPR seeks to clarify the affixing of CE Marking and introduce simplified procedures enabling costs borne by business, especially SMEs, to be reduced and to impose stricter designation for organisations responsible for assessing the performance of construction products and the verification of the products’ constancy.

Every industry has standards and measures, and every industry organises itself around its basic units of measure. In the industrial paradigm, the unit is cost of parts and services (which, in the end, is only one aspect of true value, which includes qualities like sustainability, functionality, efficiency, etc). As long as buildings are planned and built according to cost units, they will function at the lowest value within a specification. Within the CPR, the EOTA organisation is aiming to develop tools and methodologies allowing for performance to become the fundamental unit of building and enhance the safety, health and sustainability aspects of construction works at the same time. By doing this all planning and construction will reorganise itself to produce the highest building performance for the lowest cost.

Experience demonstrates that ETAs support building up confidence in the fitness for use of construction products on the European market.”

As a consequence the added value to the industry is that the ETA is a document providing information on the assessment of the performance of a construction product, in relation to its essential characteristics, and is a way for manufacturers to affix CE Marking to a product. An ETA can be issued if the product is not fully covered by a technical specification such as EADs or harmonised European Standards (hENs) and is valid indefinitely. It is being observed that the ETAs create confidence in the performance of the essential characteristics of a construction product for its intended use, which contributes to the free movement of construction products and thus the Single European market. Beyond Europe, we know that CE Marking is well recognised in countries and regions where they have no national system, such as countries in the north of Africa and South America. For example, the ETAG for anchors is widely referred to around the world from Japan, China, Australia, and the USA and beyond.

Under the CPD the Approval Bodies issued more than 4,000 European Technical Approvals (ETAs) from 1998 til 2013.

The ETApprovals will disappear from the market throughout 2018 as their validity expires. The interest of manufacturers in obtaining ETAs increased significantly since the last seven years and even more so since the CPR came into force. As from that date, 1 st July 2013, already over 2,200 ETAs have been issued of which half are related to fasteners.

Experience demonstrates that ETAs support building up confidence in the fitness for use of construction products on the European market. By serving the interests of manufacturers, mostly SMEs, of construction products not covered or not fully covered by harmonised European standards, EOTA will continue adding value by enhancing best practices and developing Technical Reports. For instance, the CPR doesn’t provide for the ETA to ensure the installation of the product concerned. It’s up to the manufacturer to make sure the adequate procedure is being recommended. This is where both the CPR, and as a consequence EOTA, invites for a performance based paradigm where all involved take up their responsibility.

However, there are many instances where design rules occur in product standards and CE Marking relates to the relevant product standard or ETA. Pragmatically some design issues are very specialist and would sit uncomfortably in the main standard. The compromise being debated is that the design clauses in a product standard should be

110 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

The introduction of the CPR invites the industry to produce innovative, cost-effective, and high performance buildings using innovative products with CE Marking within the period of nine months following the ETA route. Once performance measures and standards are operating, the industry will reorganise itself to meet performance objectives. Like other high performing industries, construction will integrate and consolidate, and will be able to pursue the capacity development and application necessary to support premium research and development. The meaning of CE Marking could become a driver.

When production and procurement revolve around total building performance (instead of component commodities), all purchases, designs, contracts, etc, are chosen for how well they contribute to the overall performance of the building system.

The benefits of this practice are twofold: 1 Over time, exclusive focus on performance leads to increased quality, which leads to increased productivity, value and reduced costs.

2 Working within a performance based specification means innovative alternatives are encouraged because whatever system or combinations of systems best perform that function wins.

Innovation in construction will continue to be severely hampered until the industry makes the performance paradigm shift.”

Innovation in construction will continue to be severely hampered until the industry makes the performance paradigm shift. With the focus on outcomes rather than specifications, performance based regulations are better equipped to take advantage of market capabilities to quickly and appropriately respond to changes, pressures and threats impacting the built environment – without compromising core objectives of health, safety and welfare. This includes adapting to such factors as changing demographics (aging population, percentage of persons with disabilities – permanent or temporary), sustainability (energy performance, materials usage, carbon footprint), resilience to extreme events (driven by climate change, acts of malice or other), and rapid changes in technology and practice, which could result in defective design or construction (inadequate ventilation, plumbing cross-connections, leakages, lose anchors, etc). www.eota.eu

In this way, performance based value, embraced by the EAD and its extensions, opens up procurement and production to all sorts of innovations that commodity based procurement discourages.

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The Automotive Spring Pin is a simple and low cost alternative to solid pins, coil pins and solid alignment dowels. It sets completely new standards in performance at much lower cost.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Recent European Technical Assessments for fixings Following an agreement with the European Organisation of Technical Assessments, here is a list of recent ETAs published in the last two months on the EOTA website.

I

t is important to note that existing ETAs may be amended or withdrawn so this list should not be considered definitive.

Since 1 st July 2013, as a result of the Construction Products Regulation, new ETAs are known as European Technical Assessments. European Technical Approvals published before 1 st July 2013 will act as the new assessment until their expiry date.

For further information and a full list of valid ETAs visit EOTA’s website. www.eota.eu

ETA NUMBER

TRADE NAME

COMPANY

ETAG 001 Metal Anchors for use in Concrete (all parts) ETA – 11/0405

STAHL SVA-VE

STAHL GmbH

ETA – 12/0084

Injection system Hilti HIT-HY 200-R

HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

ETA – 15/0784

MULTI-MONTI Concrete Screw MMS-plus

HECO-Schrauben GmbH & Co KG

ETA – 16/0177

BETOFAST evo

LR ETANCO

ETA – 16/0259

Drill Fix Pro 1

Tox-Dübel-Technik GmbH

ETA – 16/0308

Concrete screw TURBO SMART

pgb-Polska S. z.o.o

ETA – 16/0353

TECNOL Injection system TQ TACOFIX 300 PLUS or TQ TACOFIX QUICK for concrete

TQ Technol, SA

ETA – 16/0371

Injection system TCM385RE, TCM585RE, TCM100RE, TCM1400RE

TRUTEK Fasteners Polska Sp z.o.o

ETA – 16/0386

m1t / m1t-C

Walraven Installation Systems (Shanghai) Co Ltd

ETA – 16/0403

Expandet C-Bolt

Expandet Screw Anchors A/S

ETA – 16/0458

WPER500 Walraven Injection system for concrete

J. van Walraven B.V

ETA – 16/0461

WPER500 Walraven Injection system for concrete

J. van Walraven B.V

ETA – 16/0498

TER LAARE CONCRETE SCREW ANCHOR THEDX

TER LAARE VERANKERINGSTECHNIEKEN B.V

ETA – 16/0608

ARVEX CV

ARVEX GROBELNY Sp z.o.o

ETA – 16/0619

R&H Verbundmörtel

Riemer und Hoyer GbR

ETA – 16/0621

Worldfix500,Worldfix500 hot,Worldfix500 cold

FERRUXE ZELTIA SL

ETA – 16/0622

JCP J-Fix Polyester Styrene Free

Hexstone Ltd. JCP Construction Products

ETA – 16/0623

Interfixings Easy-FIX,Interfixings Easy-FIX Pro 300 VE-SF Polar

Interfixings NV – Easy-Fix

ETA – 16/0674

DAMESA EPOXIACRILATO SIN ESTIRENO CHEFIX EPO-TECH SF, DAMESA EPOXIACRILATO SIN ESTIRENO CHEFIX EPO-TECH SF RADICAL +45, DAMESA EPOXIACRILATO SIN ESTIRENO CHEFIX EPO-TECH SF RADICAL -10

DAMESA DIFUSORA ARTÍCULOS MECÁNICOS ESPECIALES S.A

ETA – 16/0676

ESSVE ECM

ESSVE Produkter AB

ETAG 014 Plastic Anchors for ETICS ETA – 16/0135

BAU-FIX TD10, BAU-FIX TDZ10 – Anchors for ETICS

BAU-FIX Ltd

ETAG 020 Plastic Anchors (all parts) ETA – 11/0008

Mungo MQL Universal frame plug

MUNGO Befestigungstechnik AG

LIGHT DUTY ANCHORS

HEAVY DUTY ANCHORS

CHEMICAL ANCHORS

pgb-Polska Sp. z o.o.

Ul. Jondy 5 | 44-100 Gliwice | Poland Tel.: +48 (32) 330 26 10 | Fax: +48 (32) 330 26 20 biuro@pgb-polska.com | www.pgb-polska.com

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Vortex™ screws ‘going down a storm’ The Vortex™ screw from Hexstone Group is recognised in the industry for its premium quality and tailored product features, giving customers the versatility and assurance when using the solution in projects.

M

artin Rundle, Hexstone’s marketing manager, comments: “Vortex™ is a high-quality, multipurpose screw, which has been consistently popular with our customers since its launch approximately two years ago. In an exciting move, we are offering a prize worth GB£500 for the winner of our ‘Word Search’ competition, which appears in the Vortex advert on the opposite side of the page.

It’s fun, free to participate, and should only take a few minutes to complete. All that needs to be done is to find and highlight the words that are associated with the Vortex screw, fill in the form, and send back to us. You know what they say: ‘You have to be in it, to win it!’

All the details are given in the advert.”

The recessed double countersunk head on the Vortex product range reduces the likelihood of shearing the head of the screw, whilst assisting the completion of countersinking – making it a more reliable product for users. The sharp, wide and deep thread on the products feature ‘Saw Fix’ serrated thread technology, enabling the product to quickly and easily power through surfaces. It can be used on a range of materials including hardwood, decking, MDF, plastic and sheet metal.

Available in diameters from 3.5mm to 6mm, and lengths ranging from 12mm to 200mm, all Vortex products have an oblique angle sharp gash point – making initial penetration into materials easier.

A number of sizes are also fully threaded. The high-quality zinc and yellow waxed finish on the screws prevents corrosion, increasing the lifetime of the product, and Vortex screws are fully CE compliant to EN 14592:2008 and A1:2012.

Vortex screws are available in a variety of packaging options including single size boxes, assortment boxes, clam packs, tubs, and assortment cases. Free sample bags for trial purposes are also available – for further details, just contact one of Hexstone’s sales offices.

Martin continues: “Vortex screws, along with all products from Hexstone businesses, can be ordered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Next day delivery is available and products can be ordered through the network of sales offices or online.” www.hexstone.co.uk

Bossong leads from the front Thanks to continuous investment and the experience it has gained in the field of fastening systems since 1962, Bossong SpA says that today it is a key player in the market of bonded anchors.

B

ossong’s bonded anchor product range is completely ETA certified, with each type of bonded anchor solution — polyester, epoxy acrylate, vinylester and pure epoxy — offering the best technical performance in order to make strong and safe connections.

The company’s bonded anchor range includes the BCR Poly SF, a polyester styrene free resin that has an ETA for non–cracked (ETA — 15/0560) and masonry (ETA — 11/0396) for six types of bricks. There is also the BCR VINIL, a epoxy acrylate resin styrene free, that has an ETA for non–cracked concrete (ETA — 15/0708) for threaded rod and rebar used as anchor according to EOTA TR029.

Bossong can also supply the BCR V PLUS, vinylester resin styrene free, which has an ETA for cracked and non–cracked concrete (ETA — 09/0140) for threaded rod and for post installed rebar connection according to EOTA TR023 (ETA — 09/0246). The product is suitable for flooded holes and has even been tested in submarine condition (INPP report). The product is qualified also for seismic application with rebar according to the French regulations (Document Technique d’Application 3/16–857). It is available in three certified versions: Winter, Tropical and Standard.

114 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Finally there is BCR EPOXY 21, a pure epoxy resin styrene free, that has an ETA for cracked, non–cracked concrete and seismic condition category C2 (ETA — 11/0344) as well as for threaded rod and for post installed rebar connection according to EOTA TR023 (ETA — 11/0345). The product is suitable for diamond drilling holes for applications with rebar. The product is also suitable for flooded holes and has been tested in submarine condition (INPP report).

The complete range of Bossong chemical anchors is also COV French law approved and LEED tested. www.bossong.com

THE MULTI-PURPOSE POWER SCREW R

A B

C

C N I O F J U W B N Y B T L G E X V R I O S F R U W T N A E K S X Y N U A M W N O U P E L

B S D Y M O H S U K C T Z N U O M U L T O Y L L N L P G Q G O R Y U E N N M A B I R L L E I E I Q I O C L P W E A N O I

P R D D E Z M A E W I D D W L V I L L A A C I N P T N C R B G E O E Z D H T C R N C P E I O E P S T R T N L Y X S S E F

R X P W N G L E E I O R E R X C L C H S H C E T P N L S A P Q S U S H E H A R R R E Y R S T Q A E S B T J U E E O R P D

FIND THE WORDS BELOW IN THE WORDSEARCH Vortex

Double

Technology

Technically

Professional

Countersunk

Wide

Advanced

Multi

Sharp

Deep

Premium

Purpose

Milling

Thread

Quality

Power

Nibs

Oblique

Sheet

Screw

Sawfix

Angle

Recessed

Serrated

Point

Job Title: ................................................................................................

Contact Number: ...............................................................................

Email:......................................................................................................

Hexstone Ltd may contact you with news and information.

If you would prefer not to receive further information please tick

D

• CE compliant to EN 14592:2008 & A1:2012 • Zinc & Yellow Waxed • Compatible with impact and non-impact drills • Diameters: 3.5mm - 6.0mm • Lengths: 12mm - 200mm

E

F

G

A

A B C D E F G

B

C

D

E

F

G

Recessed countersunk Sharp milling nibs Double countersunk head Sharp, wide and deep thread Sawfix serrated thread Oblique angle gash point Sharp gash point

WIN £500

*

Name: ....................................................................................................

Company: .............................................................................................

Vortex™ – the multi-purpose power screw is technicallyadvanced, including ‘Sawfix’ technology, which quickly and easily powers through a wide range of materials, including hardwood, decking, MDF, plastic, and sheet metal, and many other applications.

*

If the winner is a Hexstone customer, you will receive a £500 credit note.

If the winner is not a Hexstone customer, you will receive £500 of ‘Love2shop’ vouchers.

Simply find and highlight the missing words, complete your details in the form, scan and email to market@hexstone.co.uk. Alternatively send in the post to: Marketing Department, Hexstone Ltd, Opal Way, Stone Business Park, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0SW to be in with a chance of winning.

Closing Date: 31st October 2016. The prize is as stated and is non-transferable.

Entrants must be aged 18 and over.

The competition is not open to Hexstone Ltd and its employees.

The winner will be notified by phone.

Hexstone - Making a world of difference

hexstone.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

EJOT Building Fasteners Division reorganised At the beginning of the new business year the EJOT Group restructured its Building Fasteners Division. In addition to renaming the division and the business units, a new management team from within the company has been installed.

T

he building division has grown rapidly in recent years in the international markets. To reflect this international development EJOT has renamed the division as the Construction Division with the business units Building Fasteners (formerly Dach & Wand) and ETICS Fasteners (formerly WDVS).

The new head of the Building Fasteners business unit is Dr Jens Weber.

The 38 year old mechanical and industrial engineer has been working at EJOT since 2010 and is an expert in the fields of material and fastening technology. He started off as head of the design engineering and development department at Building Fasteners.

After that, he served as technical director, responsible for product management and application technology. He replaced Michael Hofmann who will concentrate on developing new markets in North, Central and South America.

The new technical director of the Construction Division is Christian Dreher.

Like his predecessor, Mr Dreher is responsible for product management, application engineering, design engineering and development.

The new sales manager for Germany is Stefan Schnaus. The 47 year old began his career at EJOT in 1998 and was most recently responsible for the south-east sales region of Germany.

New anchor for hollow ceilings INDEX Fixing Systems has launched into the market a new anchor for hollow ceilings — HC — which has obtained a European Technical Assessment (ETA – 15/0912) from EOTA (European Organisation for Technical Assessment).

I

NDEX points out that the HC anchor is particularly suited for installation in cavities or solid materials — facilitating and enabling installation with short distances. In addition, it is suitable for the use of screws and threaded rods with metric thread.

The HC features a collar that prevents it being fully inserted into the hole, thus avoiding problems and making the installation easier.

The anchor is approved in the CE framework and has an ETA for use in structural applications in concrete hollow interior. Additionally, it has the approval of fire resistance. www.indexfix.com

POWER AND VERSATILITY THE VINYLESTER MORTAR VI III DEVELOPED TO WORK.

tion:

More informa

1 709 90 Phone: +49 602

INJECTION SYSTEM VI III

ADVANTAGES

Vinylester - 10:1 styrene-free | The reliable two-component reaction resin mortar on the basis of styrene-free vinylester resin.

• Low in odour

Guarantees high performance for a multitude of applications in uncracked concrete.

• Applicable in wet and water-filled boreholes

Now with C1 SEISMIC testcertificate.

NEW C1 SEISMIC

ETA

OPTION 1

ETA

REBAR

LEED TESTED

• Suitable for overhead installation • Expansion-free anchoring allows for low edge distance and spacing • Reusable through exchange of nozzles • Tested for seismic action

APPLICATIONS Steel and wooden constructions, façades and canopies, handrails, cable trays, machines, high level racks, gates, noise barriers UIP GmbH & Co KG Industriestrasse 5 | D-63814 Mainaschaff Fon +49 (0)6021 709-90 | Fax +49 (0)6021 709-84 info@uip-systems.com | www.uip-systems.com

mission to mars info@blumorgana.it

EXTREME FIXINGS

Annex E - C2 ETA

ETAG 001 Annex E SEISMIC

FLOODED HOLE

T

P U R E E P O X Y

FLOODED HOLE

T

VINYLESTER RESIN

PNEUMATIC DRILLING

EPOXY21

V-PLUS

ETA

ETA

ETAG 001 TR023

ETA-11/0345

Rebar

ETAG 001 Part 5 OPTION 1

ETA-11/0344

Option 7

Option 1

ETA

ETA

ETAG 001 Annex E SEISMIC

Annex E-C2

ETAG 001 TR023

ETA-09/0246 Rebar

ETA

ETA - 09/0140

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Option 7

Option 1

1962 fastening systems

FLOODED HOLE

ETAG 001 Part 5 OPTION 1

VINYLESTER RESI

2012

BOSSONG S.p.A. Fastening Systems Zona Industriale 2 - Via E. Fermi, 49/51 24050 GRASSOBBIO (Bergamo) Italy Tel +39 035 3846 011 - Fax +39 035 3846 012 info@bossong.com

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

SMART® fixings from pgb-Polska pgb-Polska sp z.o.o is a manufacturer of high-quality nylon, steel and chemical anchors, developed under the brand name SMART®. The high performance fixing systems, and a full range of packing possibilities, combine to provide fastening solutions for every branch of the construction industry.

P

gb-Polska is constantly developing its product range to offer customers the best products and technical assessments, with the company reporting that its has more than 600 SKUs covered by comprehensive ETAs. pgb-Polska’s first range is its nylon anchor series, which includes the nylon frame fixings RP, RPT, RPF and RPC – available with different screws in both carbon steel (zinc plated, hot dip galvanised) and stainless steel (A2). The products are covered for use in all categories and offer excellent hold in all substrates. pgb-Polska reports that it is the only company that has an ETA for multifunctional nylon plugs with different screws – such as its plug type LBP and BP (ETA – 10/0392). These plugs provide safe and secure solutions for lighter applications. The hammer nail plugs PKK and SP are also certified (ETA – 12/0572).

The mechanical anchors in the SMART® range include drop-in anchors (types IA, IAL and IAD), which are covered for multiple use for non-structural applications (part 6) as well as for structural applications in concrete (Option 7). pgb-Polska also recently introduced a completely renewed concrete screw range – the TURBOSMART. The anchor is available with different head styles and also has two assessments: Non-structural and Option 1 with Seismic C1 (ETA – 16/0308).

For ceiling and fireboard applications the company has launched a special hammer nail anchor (S-NA), with Part 6 assessment. Torque controlled through bolt anchors, Option 7 (SMK) and Option 1 (SKA)

and metal shield expansion anchors (type T, K, H) complete the range of mechanical anchors.

In addition to the nylon and mechanical anchors pgb-Polska also offers chemical anchors – supported by extensive European Technical Assessments and other test reports. These products include polyester S-IRP (ETA – 13/0750) for Option 7, epoxy acrylate S-RVE and S-SVE (ETA – 15/0871 and ETA – 16/0019) for Option 7, and the vinylester glass capsule anchor S-SCV (ETA – 14/0308) for Option 1 and Option 7 as well as Seismic C1. www.pgb-polska.com

New HECO product catalogue As its existing product range is being continuously adapted and expanded, screw manufacturer HECO Schrauben GmbH & Co KG has arranged for its product catalogue to be reissued.

O

ver the course of 230 pages, the reference work created in four languages (German, English, French and Dutch) presents the entire world of screws and fastening technology from the German innovation pioneer.

Since the last edition of the catalogue was printed a year and a half ago, the company’s portfolio has been overhauled and its product range expanded. The latest new development is the MULTI–MONTI®–plus generation of screw anchors, which offers even more application options in concrete and masonry with its optimised concrete thread and new function tip.

As soon as the reader views the table of contents in the new catalgue they can clearly identify which products have recently been added through a corresponding ‘New’ icon.

The HECO product catalogue is a useful tool for specialist dealers and professional users alike when choosing the ideal fastening. Clear and well structured, the catalogue shows the entire range of available dimensions and provides numerous illustrated examples of different applications for the screws available.

118 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

The seven product groups have been colour–coded to make it easier for readers to find products within the catalogue. The colour coding system, the code designations, and illustrations of the relevant screws, all ensure greater clarity and help readers to find the products they’re after quicker. More space than before is provided for the European Technical Assessments (ETAs) and other approval relevant information that documents the screws’ technical performance reliability and their high–quality and safety standards.

In addition to the classic print edition, which can now be requested free of charge, the new product catalogue is also available in digital format in all four languages. The advantage of the online PDF version is that HECO can make any necessary changes immediately, meaning the catalogue’s entire contents is updated on a regular basis. Also, bookmarks placed within the document provide a quick overview and ensure a convenient product search process. www.heco–schrauben.com

www.don-quichotte.com

Don Quichotte

Fixpin

Speedplug/Total-Fixx

The professional brand for fixings and fasteners Fastening technology for everyday use. High-quality, time-saving application in construction and installation. That is what the products of the Don Quichotte brand stand for.

Snap-on Pipe Clip OPDZ

The short-term delivery of our products and the direct, uncomplicated processing of orders make Don Quichotte a strong and reliable brand for users in the trade.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Samac is the Champion for collated nails

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Suitable for all main brands of nailer, Champion collated nails from distributor Samac Fixings Ltd are ideal for a wide variety of roofing, structural and second fix tasks around job sites.

he Champion range from Samac is extremely comprehensive and includes galvanised, bright, stainless steel nails and brads in a wide variety of sizes from 51mm – 90mm for first fix and 19mm – 64mm for second. Brads are available in 32mm – 64mm sizes. The most popular sizes are available in sturdy handy packs that come complete with a fuel cell sufficient to drive all the nails in the pack.

Perfect for a wide variety of fixings tasks – from roofing and framing to cladding, shuttering, and decking – Champion paper collated nails from Samac can be used in the most popular brands of nailer including Paslode, Hilti and DeWALT. “Since their launch, powered nailers have revolutionised the way in which many building trades work on-site. Instead of laborious and time consuming drilling and fixing, cordless nailers allow builders, dryliners, carpenters, joiners, roofers and many more to fix quickly and efficiently,” reports Samac.

Samac is a specialist nails, screws and fixings distributor based in Essex with one of the widest ranges of products in the trade.

Established since 2004, Samac supplies builders, timber, roofing and fencing merchants with a comprehensive range of products that is now so much more than the nails for which the company first became known.

New generation of Mungo concrete screws Mungo Befestigungstechnik AG has introduced a new and innovative generation of concrete screws. Meeting the ETA requirements for cracked concrete and multiple fixing for setting depths beneath 40mm, the screw can be used in a variety of applications in a diverse range of industries.

T

he newly authorised adjustability, as well as the three different setting depths for each concrete screw dimension, provides a flexible and fast assembly also for uneven surfaces and tight edge and spacing distances. The concrete screw resists at the highest load effects, which results in a massive reduction of the necessary fixing points. Quick and easy setting also enables the user to save time and energy at a single stage of work, which enables a more efficient and cost saving installation.

Specifically for the purpose of exterior applications, a concrete screw made completely from stainless material (A4) has been added to the product range. This innovation, as well as the variety of head geometries, provides the widest range of applications, such as assembly of railings, façades, consoles, steel profiles, cranes, machineries and much more. A European Technical Assessment (ETA – 16/0296) Option 1 ensures that the concrete screws are suited for overhead installation and fulfill fire protection requirements, which greatly increases their possible application areas.

“Whether a customer needs anchor calculations for a complex project or on-site recommendations including pull out tests – we work with them to define and optimise fixing solutions,” comments Mungo.

120 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Beech joiner biscuits Marcopol Sp z.o.o has recently added high–quality beech joiner biscuits, or lamello biscuits, to its range — enabling it to create precise and durable joints between wooden and wood–like pieces.

M

arcopol’s joiner biscuits are high–quality products manufactured from solid beech wood. Precise manufacturing, and the quality of the used wood, helps guarantee stronger, more durable jointing.

Slanted grain makes the joint harder to break, and the pressed and furrowed surface enables even glue spreading. Such jointing is created in a faster and more durable manner than in standard butt mounting. Wooden biscuits are chosen most frequently in the production of high calibre wooden articles or in interior finishing.

The beech joiner biscuits are available in four different sizes, are fully ecological and have received an FSC certificate.

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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Dephosphating of high strength components before heat treatment

By Stefan Lenzer, global product manager metallurgy, MacDermid GmbH High strength fasteners must be dephosphated before heat treatment to prevent phosphate residues having a negative influence on the performance of the heat treatment process.

This article looks at plant engineering and process description, application and quality control.

Phosphating and cold forming

In order to carry out the cold forming of steel, components such as fasteners, wire and pipes are usually phosphated and coated with lubricants. The phosphate layer serves as a lubricant carrier and as a barrier between the workpiece and the tool.

The principle is based on the formation of phosphate layers that are anchored firmly in the metal surface and provided with special lubricants. Through the combination of the adherence and separation effects of the carrier layers on the one hand, and the separation and gliding effects of the special lubricants on the other hand, high degrees of metal forming can be attained with excellent surface quality, long tool service life and moderate press capacities.

After forming the cold formed components will have a ‘phosphate pressing pattern’ on their surface. This consists of zinc or the zinc calcium phosphate coating and a lubricant (e.g. metal soaps, polymers, molybdenum disulphide, graphite).

After cold forming, fasteners are heat treated. This process can be negatively affected by the phosphate pressing pattern. This causes an increased sensitivity to cracking and intergranular corrosion.

Additionally any phosphate residue present on the surface during the non-oxidising annealing treatment also leads to a diffusion of phosphorus into the marginal zone. This contributes to the sensitivity of the components, to stress corrosion cracking, and the probability of failure increases. This is especially true with high-tensile fasteners, for example Class 12.9 and higher.

Dephosphating

To avoid these problems this residual phosphate/lubricant layer must be removed before the heat treatment is commenced. According to DIN EN ISO 898-1 a detectable, ascertainable white zone, enriched with phosphorus is not permitted. Additionally the Volkswagen specification of VW 60250 high strength bolts states bolts of strength Class 10.9 and higher must be dephosphated before heat treatment.

The phosphate pressing pattern can be mechanically removed by blasting or by chemical means such as acid or alkaline stripping treatments. Due to the risk of hydrogen induced brittle fracture, acid processes are often prohibited. Therefore alkaline processes are preferred.

Processes

The simplest alkaline dephosphating systems are based on mixtures of strong alkalis (i.e. sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) in combination with a complexing agent. The effectiveness of these simple solutions is quickly reduced by contamination. Very quickly the application time and the bath concentration must be increased in order to achieve a consistently good result. Also these solutions tend to produce foam, which then solidifies and is dragged through the entire system. Conventional alkaline cleaning solutions are not the answer either. Since substantial amounts of lubricants build up in the bath and tend to solidify or turn to a gel when cooled below 65°C.

124 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Modern dephosphating, such as KeyKote CL 400, is formulated so that these undesirable effects do not readily occur. KeyKote CL 400 can also cope with the build-up of forming lubricants and soaps without creating excessive foam. Additionally this alkaline system cleans components in this same process step.

Plant engineering

Dephosphating is usually carried out in barrel immersion plants, dip spin systems or Archimedes screw systems operating at more than 65°C. The type of equipment is highly dependent on the required throughput and the part geometry. In barrel immersion plants the application time is generally more than 10 minutes, whereas in dip spin systems it is 3 – 6 minutes (see table one) and in screw 3 – 10 minutes application times are the norm. Dip spin systems are highly effective, but require a high performing dephosphating product like KeyKote CL 400, which can dephosphate in the short application time, has a low tendency to foam and has a low impact on the waste water.

Table one: Example of process flow Pos

Process

Parameter

Time

1

Degreasing

>65°C

4 minutes

2

Dephosphating

>65°C

4 minutes

3

Rinsing

*AT-65°C

2 minutes

4

Rinsing

*AT-65°C

2 minutes

5

Hot rinse

>65°C

2 minutes

6

Drying, hot air

120°C

2 minutes

*AT – ambient temperature The dosage of the chemical concentrates can be carried out remotely via metering pumps. The adjustment of the pump can be based on the production rate, average product usage and analysis of the solution concentration. This means that plant operators have limited contact with the concentrates, increasing worker safety and improving process control.

Floating oil can be removed from the process solution. The classic oil separator configuration has proven to be very effective but even a simple oil skimmer mounted directly in the process bath also works well. A common dip-spin procedure is as follows:

Application

The product KeyKote CL 400 offered by MacDermid is a liquid concentrate based on a special blend of potassium hydroxide and soft complexing agents, which can be treated in the usual wet chemical wastewater treatment plant.

Depending on the requirements, the product is combined with a surfactant such as KeyKote CL ADD 501 (see table two) to give increased emulsifying power.

group

PEERLESS MACHINED and TURNED PARTS With CNC sawing and cutting, 4 axis Haas CNC machines, Fanuc CNCs, two with twin pallets and star sliding head CNC lathes Peerless produce and supply over 250,000 machined and turned parts a month at their ISO9001 2008 certified factory. Peerless also hold GAD (Gas Appliance Directive) approval enabling them to supply safety critical high precision parts to the gas and oil industry with total traceability and full raw material certification.

PEERLESS BRITISH ENGINEERING WITHOUT EQUAL www.peerlesscontrols.com

telephone: 0844 800 00 52

fax: 0844 800 00 53

THINKING AHEAD Product inspection and packaging with over 40 years of specialised experience

Design and manufacturing of inspection and packaging systems

www.weighpack.nl

info@weighpack.nl Tel +31 70 3067100 Fax +31 70 3549081

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Used at extremely low concentration KeyKote CL 400 has an excellent absorption capacity for oils, fats and soaps and has an extremely long bath life. KeyKote CL 400 also avoids the solidification (jellifying) of a soap lubricant ‘contaminated’ working bath at a lowered temperature (during down times).

Due to its special formulation KeyKote CL 400 is ideally suited for the use in drum, dip spin and even screw systems without creating problematic excess foam. The working parameters and system settings depend on the respective plant and the components that are being dephosphated.

Table two: Application parameters of KeyKote CL 400 Working concentration KeyKote CL 400 Operating temperature

Degreasing

Dephosphating

30ml/l – 100ml/l

100ml/l – 150ml/l

35°C – 80°C

60°C – 80°C

Optional: KeyKote CL ADD 501 Surfactant addition depending on the requirements

Quality control

2ml/l – 20ml/l

The dephosphating bath is usually analysed by a simple acid/base titration. The proportion of soaps and oils can be determined by an ‘acid splitting’ reaction. A bath sample is mixed with mineral acid and after reaction the floating oily substance is measured and recorded as percentage by volume. This gives the concentration for the contaminant. Furthermore, the zinc and complexing agent concentrations can be analysed and if necessary additions made separately in order to increase the bath life.

The dephosphating performance is determined colourimetrically by the so called ‘blue test’. A defined surface of the component is immersed in a chemical solution, which will react with any residual phosphate present to form a blue colour. The intensity of the colour is proportional to the amount of phosphate present.

Summary

The effective removal of the phosphate layer prior to the heat treatment is of critical importance for the quality of the parts produced. Modern equipment and increased quality levels require powerful dephosphating products. KeyKote CL 400 from MacDermid is a tried and tested modern dephosphating product and satisfies the criteria outlined in this article.

By using KeyKote CL 400 the quality of the dephosphating process can be improved. In particular users of KeyKote CL 400 report improved consistency through factors such as longer/more predictable bath life and automation in maintaining solution concentration.

Sources

Deutscher Schraubenverband e.v. (German Screw association) Jonck, R.: Unbeabsichtigte Einflusse der Fertigung auf das Werkstoff- und Bauteilverhalten; VDI- Berichte Nr. 214 (1974), 97 – 106 (Unintended effects of production on the material and component behavior) Hollrigl-Rosta, F.; Just, E.; Melzer, H.-J.; Seck, E.: Einfluss einer Phosphordiffusion auf die Spannungsrisskorrosionsempfindlichkeit hochfester Stahle; ZwF 70(1975)9,482 – 485 (Effect of phosphorus diffusion on the stress corrosion cracking sensitivity of high strength steels) Jonck, R.: Ursache, Auswirkung und Vermeidung von Warmebehandlungs – und Fertigungsfehlern; ZwF 80(1985)5, 228 – 232 (Impact and prevention of heat treatment and manufacturing defects) Jonck, R.: Einfluss von Fertigungsverfahren auf das Bauteil-Randschichtgefuge; HTM 42 (1987) 1, 5-15 (Influence of manufacturing processes on the component surface layer structure) Jonck, R.: Einfluss der Werkstucke vor- und Fertigbearbeitung auf das Warmebehandlungsergebnis; 5. Jahrestagung Schadensanalyse der VDI- Gesellschaft Werkstofftechnik, Wurzburg 1993 (Present influence of workpieces and finishing on the heat treatment result) DIN EN ISO 898-1

WAFIOS UMFORMTECHNIK OPEN HOUSE USA

AF61 AF61 Thread Rolling Machine 8 mm / WFF #10 Centralized height adjustment of feeder console and rails Lubrication by a self-regulating oil automatic machine shutdown in the case of lubrication failure Frequency controlled drive Renowned EWMenn spare parts and after sale service

WAFIOS Umformtechnik

Open House

USA

HC8F HC8F Cold Former (2-die-3-blow) High output of max. 400 pcs./min Production of short and intricate parts Long lasting tool life due to the precise bedding of the rotor and its secure lock in the working position

Made in Germany

From 20th – 22nd Sept. 2016 at WAFIOS Midwest Technical Center 9830 W. 190th St., Unit D Mokena, IL 60448 USA Precision Parts Forming Machinery

www.wafios-umformtechnik.com Registration: sales@wafios.us

WAFIOS Machinery Corporation 27 NE Industrial Road, Branford, CT 06405 USA Mr. Andreas Klutki Phone (203) 481-5555 Fax (203) 481-9854 A Subsidiary of WAFIOS AG

HILGELAND  KIESERLING  EWMENN  NUTAP

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

AICHELIN Group acquires AFC-Holcroft The Austrian AICHELIN Group has acquired US-based Atmosphere Group, holding company of AFC-Holcroft. The two Groups are leading market players with a long-standing history and state of the art technologies and services in the industrial area of heat treatment solutions.

A

ICHELIN Group – with its manufacturing companies AICHELIN, EMA Indutec, SAFED, BOSIO and Noxmat – is a provider of high-quality plants and systems.

AFC-Holcroft is the US market leader in the production of industrial furnace equipment for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Other main companies of Atmosphere Group are Atmosphere Heat Treating and Austemper Inc. Until now, Atmosphere Group was privately held. The parties agreed not to disclose details and the price of the transaction.

The acquisition complements the geographic presence of AICHELIN Group and strengthens the Group’s overall market position.

With a strong presence in Europe, North America and Asia, the joint annual turnover generated by 1,100 employees amounts to over €195 million (2015). The Group operates a network in 32 countries.

“This is a major step in AICHELIN Group’s strategy of building a global, dynamic group of companies specialising in heat treatment solutions,” says AICHELIN Group’s CEO Peter Schobesberger.

“With AFC- Holcroft as a member of our Group, we further evolve into a truly global company with strong local roots in the most important markets. We have an excellent, complementary geographical footprint and will further strengthen our leading positions.”

Bill Disler, CEO of AFC-Holcroft, adds: “AFC-Holcroft celebrates its 100 th anniversary this year. With AICHELIN Group as our new owner, we are sure to combine our long-standing traditions with an innovative future. AFC-Holcroft will benefit from being embedded into a family of strong global companies and brands.”

Extended product portfolio and services for customers

AICHELIN Group’s business model covers all stages of the lifecycle – from design, engineering, manufacturing and installation at customer sites to comprehensive maintenance and spare part services.

By combining the networks of AICHELIN Group and AFC-Holcroft, customers will get the best of two worlds. An enlarged, high-quality product portfolio as well as a process innovative, worldwide service network. “Together, we have an ideal position to service our customers in the best possible way. They can benefit from our extended project capabilities and the most reliable technology of three continents.

Additionally, we will continue to focus on innovation and exploit all our joint possibilities,” says Schobesberger.

As the next step, a process will start to integrate AFC-Holcroft and its sister companies into AICHELIN Group’s network in the coming months. AFC-Holcroft’s headquarters will remain in Wixom, Michigan.

The current top management stays in place and most customers will keep their key account managers.

“We want to play an active role in the consolidation of the heat treatment market. We aim at joint growth and a sustainable profitability, for the benefit of our customers, stakeholders and employees,” closes Schobesberger.

Tectorius® introduces speciality coating US–based Tectorius® has announced the Tec–Kote™ 7000 Series of speciality coatings – a family of coating products that have been formulated with engineers in mind to include performance refinements and qualities needed when extreme reduction in friction in a hostile environment is required.

T

he Tec–Kote™ Series is perfect for when machine components such as hinges, strikers, bolts, studs, pivots, springs, shafts, and adjusting wedges need durable low or fixed coefficients of friction.

Unlike most coatings, the Tec–Kote 7000 Series can withstand exposure to solvents and elevated temperatures for extended periods of time.

Grades are available with various hardness, durability and flexibility. Corrosion protection is an added benefit to Tec–Kote products and is available in various degrees to suit customers’ applications.

Tectorius® comments: “As a leader in the field of pre–applied sealants, adhesives, lubricants and other performance–enhancing products, we serve a variety of sectors including the automotive, aerospace, and electronic industries. We continually strive to bring the latest innovations to the fastener market.”

128 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Premium quality convinces premium manufacturers Wire solutions for the automotive industry.

Whether engines, gears, suspension, brake or restraint systems - wire solutions by voestalpine Wire Technology have convinced renowned automotive suppliers and manufacturers worldwide. n n

Wire rod Drawn wire

n n

Prestressing steel Flat and shaped wire

voestalpine Wire Technology www.voestalpine.com/wire

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Saw wire

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

High-speed packing from Weighpack Weighpack International (WPI Services B.V), a specialist in fastener inspection and packaging equipment, is currently finishing two high-speed multi-head packing lines for the Dutch nail manufacturer De WIT B.V.

R

ecognised for its famous brand name Don Quichotte, De WIT contacted Weighpack as it wanted to renew its packaging department and increase its capacity.

The result was the commissioning of three high-speed packing lines, with the first machine delivered earlier

this year.

Although De WIT is famous for its hardened nails, the machines are designed for the packaging of a large variety of fasteners such as nails, screws, clamps, raw plugs and hammer plugs.

The packing line configuration incorporates a lift & tip unit to empty the internal bin at higher level, 14 head multi-head weigher, automatic box forming for autolock boxes, magnetic orientator to align (carbon steel) fasteners in boxes, check weigher, camera box filling height detection, box closer, three label applicators for different private label applications, and bundle shrink wrapper for multi-pack formation in poly film.

The Weighpack high-speed packing lines are supplied with a Central Control Unit via PC using Overall Management System (OMS) software that enables the customer to obtain all relevant article and production data. This also ensures the shortest possible changeover times – for instance using the OMS system, in combination with a servomotor, to adjust side guides for 27 different box sizes.

HILGELAND Thread Rolling Dies WAFIOS Umformtechnik

Open House

USA

From 20th – 22nd Sept. 2016 at WAFIOS Midwest Technical Center 9830 W. 190th St., Unit D Mokena, IL 60448 USA

www.wafios-umformtechnik.com Registration: sales@wafios.us

Thread rolling dies designed for complex and special threads with variable shape of pins, milled with high quality

WAFIOS Umformtechnik GmbH Im Rehsiepen 35 42369 Wuppertal · Germany Phone +49 (202) 46 68-0 www.wafios-umformtechnik.com

HILGELANDKIESERLINGEWMENNNUTAP

Made in Germany

The boxes can also be labelled on several positions, following customers’ wishes, with up to date barcoded content on the label to obtain a high standard of quality.

The packing lines have a capacity of 1kg – 30kg boxes per minute, meaning customers can pack up to 14 tonnes/shift in small boxes. www.weighpack.nl

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Efficiency with intelligent e-business solutions Fasteners, including screws, nuts and washers, as well as fixing technology, are all C-parts. In industry they represent a very low proportion – an average of 20% – of the total purchasing volume. Sourcing them is all the more complex due to the high number of small orders for low priced items from numerous suppliers.

In comparison to the value, the sourcing effort at 80% of the processing cost is very high.

B

y offering intelligent e-business solutions to trade and industry customers, F REYHER Nchfg GmbH & Co KG is able to optimise these sourcing processes. The company works with customers to produce an optimal ordering process that can be individualised and tailor-made to each customer’s situation and needs.

REYHER’s solutions include electronic ordering in the user-friendly web shop RIO (REYHER Internet Order), electronic transmissions of orders or Kanban triggered ordering, as well as electronic catalogues, which could be used in e-procurement systems. Moreover, OCI – Open Catalogue Interface – enables collecting items into shopping carts and transferring this information to procurement systems.

EDI – Electronic Data Interchange

The first solution that REYHER is able to provide is using EDI – Electronic Data Interchange. This reduces the number of manual work steps necessary to place an order by using a paperless, automatic exchange that delivers a fast and secure service.

EDI enables electronic transfer of all standard purchasing documents. Orders or delivery forecasts can be created at a click and automatically exchanged between business partners. Also, order confirmation, dispatch notification and invoices can be exchanged electronically, considerably reducing manual effort. This paperless processing saves time and reduces possible sources of error.

As a result checks can be carried out directly in the customers’ system and identification features such as item number and order numbers can be stored.

To keep set-up time for customers to a minimum, electronic message format standards such as EDIFACT, openTRANS and Idoc-XML can be used, as well as customer specific formats.

132 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

ROM – REYHER Order Management

With ROM – REYHER Order Management the focus is on the secure and reliable supply of materials. E-business comes into play as soon as barcode and scanner technology are implemented to simplify C-part sourcing. Kanban supply systems can be combined with electronic documents to improve data quality. Processing effort for each ordering procedure is reduced, while reliability of supply is simultaneously improved. Order triggering via the REYHER scanner system is transmitted or is carried out directly from the customer’s Kanban system.

By using RFID technology REYHER is able to offer three customer orientated solutions including: ROM | RFID-BOX ID: A ‘postbox’ solution with unique optional multiple ordering.

ROM | RFID-RACK ID: An RFID solution for Kanban racks where an empty container is placed on an ‘intelligent shelf’ that automatically triggers an order.

ROM | RFID-FLOOR ID and RFID-CASE ID: A solution that uses pallets as returnable collection containers. An empty box is placed on the pallet and an order is triggered.

RIO – REYHER Internet Order

The webshop RIO – Reyher Internet Order provides round the clock access to every item in the current REYHER catalogue. Varied search criteria are available to locate items – using special characteristics, free text search or goods groups structure. After the search process the user can easily carry out a range of article related actions, above and below the hit list, using the multifunction menu.

With very few clicks, users can customise the webshop with favourite lists, their own item numbers and several shopping carts, and edit the data for their own goods recipient. All customer-specific data is stored in the menu under ‘My Account’. At the same time the REYHER contact person’s details are always visible.

Availability and price for items required can be checked online immediately. Customers can also place orders easily and quickly and always have an overview of previous orders in the order history or can activate authorisation procedures if required.

Easy barcode supported ordering with RIO|SCAN

REYHER can make ordering in the webshop RIO even easier with RIO|SCAN. Customers choose an item from the webshop that must be ordered regularly. Using the ‘print barcodes’ button, a PDF document is created that can be printed on a standard A4 printer and then used for shelf labelling. There is also an option to print individual labels using a label printer.

Ordering the item is then easily done when required using a

handheld scanner. The customer scans the barcode and transfers the data from the scanner into the webshop. The barcodes are recognised and the items are placed in the shopping cart.

Additional label designer tool

The flexible and intuitive to use ‘label designer’ provides an alternative to the labels provided in the webshop. This additional tool makes designing individual labels possible. With the single or label sheet option, it is possible to freely define and position the boxes, giving greater design freedom. The boxes can include texts of items and product illustrations that are already stored in the system.

Free text can also be used on the labels. The label information created can be stored in a customer’s account and be used by RIO|SCAN for printing labels.

Electronic catalogues for customer systems

REYHER also offers electronic catalogues that are adaptable to each customer – meaning that the REYHER item data can be transferred into every procurement system. Information on supply range and the sourcing price are always available. Implementing a product data management system can improve data quality and ensure greater flexibility.

The company provides the catalogue in many common formats such as Excel, CSV, BMEcat and DATANORM. Several classification systems, for example eCl@ss® or UNSPSC®, make searching for items even faster and easier.

Barcode delivery notes for incoming goods

Finally, REYHER is able to offer customers barcoded delivery notes, which simplify and speed up incoming goods procedures for REYHER items. Barcodes can be added to the classic REYHER delivery notes, with the customers then using their own scanners. The barcode can include data from the top of the delivery note (e.g. PO number) as well as data from positions (e.g item number). As soon as the delivery and positions are identified, the booking follows automatically. This solution replaces manual effort removing a possible source of error. www.reyher.de

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 133

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Apex Supply Chain Technologies® launches new smart replenishment solution Apex Supply Chain Technologies® Ltd, a provider of intelligent, automated dispensing solutions, has launched a new smart Kanban/VMI system to manage stock and replace the need for manual counting, flags, labels and cards.

T

he smart bin technology has been designed to provide a solution to stock replenishment issues, sending automated alerts and reorder notifications to suppliers to eliminate the need for counting trips, safety stock and emergency orders. It aims to keep lines up and running, boost supply chain productivity and grow bottom line revenues.

Powered by Trajectory Cloud™, a secure business intelligence platform that integrates and connects customer's existing systems, the Actylus™ smart bin system improves productivity, visibility, reliability and accessibility throughout a business operation. The Trajectory Cloud is able to monitor the Actylus system to see when items need restocking, simultaneously tracking usage patterns and trends through a reporting system. Stock levels can even be checked via phone or email anytime and anywhere.

The Actylus automated replenishment system is available in a range of bin and shelf configurations, and is capable of storing and monitoring any item traditionally stored in bins – from electrical components to healthcare supplies. It is fast and easy to set-up, and interior lights keep bin contents visible to ensure swift selection.

Kent Savage, CEO at Apex Supply Chain Technologies®, commented: “We have launched the new Actylus smart replenishment solution to resolve the common issue of inefficiency across several industries and applications. Automated low supply alerts will reduce the cost and time to stock customers' bins by 30% or more, significantly improving productivity and efficiency in a business.”

Worcester-based Apex Supply Chain Technologies Ltd is the European headquarters and subsidiary of Apex Industrial Technologies LLC. Apex has offices in Australia, Columbia, Germany and the United Kingdom and is headquartered in the United States. www.apexsupplychain.com/actylus

Call us on 01246 457150

www.merlinbusinesssoftware.com Fully integrated ERP software specifically designed for Stockists, Distributors, Wholesalers, Merchants and Manufacturers “Using the Android App has saved us over forty hours per week” Read the full article here:

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Why is mobile technology an important sales tool?

Here Paul Black, CEO at sales-i – a specialist in sales performance software, discusses the benefits of mobile technology and how it can help fastener manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers boost sales and scale business.

T

he fastener industry is no stranger to technology; the manufacturing and industrial world it operates in is testament to the genius of technological advancement – think automobiles, aviation and construction. And yet it has been slow, if not wary, when it comes to embracing the digital age – namely mobile technology.

The wider world, however, is responding to the mobile age with enthusiasm, taking full advantage of its business benefits, all of which are changing how people engage with each other – and their service providers. Thanks to Uber we no longer need to wait in taxi queues or walk the streets looking for an empty cab. Airbnb™ offers its users quick access to affordable accommodation in almost any country, and Skype enables us to call friends, family and colleagues anywhere in the world, for free.

Technology is transforming almost every industry and traditional fastener manufacturers and distributors need to keep up in order to stay relevant and competitive. The bottom line is that Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Intelligence (BI) tools can increase company profits. These cloud-based, mobile friendly solutions can help organisations improve their productivity, identify new opportunities, enhance the customer experience, decrease costs, and streamline operational processes.

If that isn’t enough, the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) pricing model enables businesses to only pay for the technology they use, rather than paying upfront for the whole product. In other words, whether your company is just starting out or is well established, it can afford the benefits of the latest business software anywhere in the world via any mobile device.

If your business is still relying on manual data entry and disparate communications to manage customer relations and business operations, chances are it’s not performing as well as it could. It may be time to consider implementing off-site mobile software solutions.

Choose SaaS over SaaP

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions are more cost-effective and potentially less of a headache than Software-as-a-Product (SaaP) solutions. SaaP requires you to invest in physical, on-site hardware in order to run your software, including set-up, installation, and maintenance fees. With SaaS your provider’s off-site data centre

136 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

takes care of that, while you still get to enjoy all the resources and functionality. Cloud-based tools are more reliable than the alternative, with most of the top cloud computing platforms experiencing minimal (<1%) downtime annually. The SaaS structure offers flexible pricing models for smaller businesses with stricter budgets, but it’s easily scalable; as your business grows, or the technology improves, you can adjust your solution to suit your needs.

Build better relationships

Any good salesperson knows how important relationships are to business success. What they might not be aware of is how much technology can enhance them. Put your employees’ smartphones to better use and install mobile friendly business software tools that will help your sales people boost their performance. With the right App they will be able to quickly access all customer interactions for instant insights, review or update customer information in

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sales-i monitors your customer base and alerts a salesperson whenever an account’s spend changes, drops or halts altogether.

This makes it easy to spot competitor threats immediately and save a customer as soon as they think about leaving.

Keep your customers out of the hands of competitors with sales-i.

For more about our customer-saving, money-making software, call us on 0800 012 4669 or visit www.sales-i.com

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS real time (whether on the road or in the office), and receive alerts for business opportunities or issues that need immediate attention. This increased agility means that your customers’ ever changing needs will be met swiftly, leaving no room for your competitors to muscle in.

Close more sales

Our sales performance software solution, sales-i, is mobile technology specifically designed to support the needs of the fastener industry. It will give your team the information it needs at their fingertips to close sales anywhere – either down the road or across the ocean. sales-i can track and pre-empt your customers’ buying patterns and behaviour. It analyses data to deliver actionable insights straight to your mobile phone. If, for example, customer X likes to buy nuts and bolts at the same time as oils and lubricants, you’ll be alerted to this trend and can approach them with a tailored offer before the competition does. Or they may buy in bulk during a particular time of year, enabling you to strengthen your relationship by proactively offering them a special discount.

Designed to make every sales call more personal and profitable, sales-i enables professionals to clearly identify and target high-quality sales opportunities within their current customer base. Equipped with customer buying behaviour alerts, sales people can make insightful, personalised, and quick business decisions, realising repeat sales, reduced customer attrition and maximised profit margins as a result.

Mobile technology is not only the future; it is very much the present.

Those companies that are able to realise the benefits it has to offer will win out in the end. www.sales-i.com

28 - 29 April 2017 Bombay Exhibition Centre

www.fastenerfair.com

TECHNICAL

Why friction in screw connections is crucial for process capability

By Martin Rüedy, Bossard expert team Lean production is the current trend and represents even leaner and more target oriented processes.

Solutions for higher efficiency, lower consumption and longer service lives are being researched worldwide. When assessing new materials or processes for surface treatment or finishing, tribological properties such as friction, lubrication and wear are almost always a factor.

Challenges in screw technology

The market demands reliable end products with a high-level of availability and longer maintenance cycles. In order to be able to fulfil these requirements, while taking the functional safety of the screw connections into account, suitable surface technologies are required. The material pairing and suitable corrosion protection must be sufficient for the external influences and stresses. They should, for instance, ensure the security of the connection even at higher operating temperatures such as at the attachment point for the exhaust duct on combustion motors.

However, in addition to the protective function, the technical surfaces must also fulfil the tribological requirements on the assembly line.

Classically, screws are assembled with the existing friction influences between the surfaces moving relative to one another with which the effective screw pre-load is decisively influenced by the applied assembly torque.

A process capable screw assembly demands a constant and low friction dispersion on the threading and screw head contact surface.

Lubricating the connection elements is, therefore, a basic requirement for the reliable quality of the connection.

As a result of the statutory constraints for environmentally and health friendly use of industrial products, more focus is also being placed on the financial aspects.

Fluid lubricants are being increasingly taken into account by means of lubricant additives in the functional dry coats on the screw connections (top coats) and applied on the base coats. A wide range of new surface protection systems with good corrosion protection properties have established themselves on the market, which are similar or even superior to the chromate coatings containing Cr(VI) that they replace. The standardisation of surface technologies is, however, limping behind industrial coating technology. The standardisation for calibrated friction value and corrosion protection data is becoming more and more difficult due to the wide range of Cr(VI)-free surface coatings combined with top coats.

Process capability

For safety-related screw connections in which the right pre-load force must be ensured, manual assembly without a controlled tightening process is not suitable. Detecting all relevant influence variables for process reliability is necessary so, in particular, the consideration of the friction value dispersion and the successful selection of the right screw can be taken into account.

In accordance with a rational approach, a practical procedure can be derived from the automotive industry based on the risk analysis on the screwing process. VDI 2862 is a potential basis for the classification of screw connections and a guideline for the selection and use of corresponding screw systems.

This guideline divides the screw connections into three risk classes in the automotive industry. Reliable assembly processes are thus connected to the right use of tools, etc.

Risk Class A – direct or indirect risk to life and limb:

This applies when the failure of the screw point may, with high probability, result in safety-related failures or the destruction of the machine/device/vehicle. Therefore posing a direct or indirect risk to life and limb.

Risk Class B – functional stoppers: This applies when the failure of the screw point leads to a functional fault in the vehicle.

Risk Class C – customer annoyance: This applies when the failure of the screw points leads to customer annoyance.

Probability of occurance

I

n industrial production, removable screw connections continue to be an important component while taking new designs and materials into account. With regard to material exploitation and process capability, ever increasing requirements are demanded of the assembly processes.

Conclusion

The automotive industry is actually a technology driver with regard to the specifications for corrosion protection and the friction value ranges for reliable factory assembly processes – covering all of the requirements for safe operation. The companies in the international field are under growing pressure to find even better solutions that support more efficient assembly conditions and longer operating cycles.

140 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Extent of damage H = Urgently necessary measures M = Clarify measures, improvement?

G = Organisational or staff-related measures

Process reliability in assembly

Assembly reliability: Influence of the friction value

Reliability is determined largely by the assembly pre-load. Assembly is performed based on assembly specifications and the tribological boundary conditions. The assembly pre-load force is severely influenced during the assembly process by the friction on the threading pair and contact surfaces (connection element – component). The degree of effectiveness of the assembly when assembling screws is only at approximately 10% to 20%.

Coating

Tool insert Fu n Assembly safety

ce

ion ens

C on

D im

li t y a bi

it y

Dur

nal

ou t

ess

L ay

ghn

c t io

R ou Screw assembly

r fa

Surface

t su

The higher this value is, the more reliable the entire measurement series is within the specification.

The C p value is defined as:

deviations or even screw breaks often lead to unscheduled shutdowns in assembly operations. This must be prevented by the right framework conditions for screwing and the corresponding assembly specifications.

A high-level of process reliability therefore means, being able to properly implement the pre-load in accordance with the expectations.

t ac

The process capability indices C p and C pK are key indicators in the statistical evaluation of a process characteristic. You specify the compliance reliability with the target window in accordance with the specification. Thus, the friction value, the specified torque, and the target pre-load on the component, can be defined as a test characteristic.

The C pK value is defined as follows, based on the average value µ, the corresponding standard deviation Ϭ and the upper (UST) or lower (LST) specification threshold:

The C p value can only be calculated if both an upper and a lower specification threshold have been defined.

While the C p value only indicates the ratio between the specified tolerance and the process dispersion, the C pK value also includes the location of the average value with regard to the specified tolerance mean. In the best case scenario (process average is exactly in the middle of the tolerance range), C pK = C p; otherwise, C pK < C p .

Normal distribution

Base material

Screw threading

Component

Tribological boundary conditions in the screw connection

This makes it clear that the target pre-load in accordance with the design calculation can only be achieved with clearly defined tribological boundary conditions. Reliable assembly processes also requires minimal dispersion of the friction. For safety-related connections, practical application requires defined lubrication.

Much along the lines of lean production for shorter throughput times and cost reduction, the flow of all activities from requirements reporting to the acceptance of the product must be optimally organised.

Activities in production, such as preparatory measures, do not actually create value and should therefore be avoided.

Tribological dry coatings directly on the connection elements improve the required assembly reliability with defined friction value ranges for the target pre-load (Bossard coatings such as ecosyn®-lubric).

In order to ensure assembly reliability when installing replacement components, new coated screw elements with integrated lubrication should be used.

Conclusion

Normal or Gauss distribution (according to Carl Friederich Gauss)

Conclusion

Assembly process capability is, accordingly, an important requirement for keeping assembly throughput times low. Friction

Economical assembly is based on simple assembly processes using the right assembly tools. The screw elements with their tribological characteristics are crucial for achieving the required assembly pre-load.

Safety-related connections must therefore be equipped with new screw elements and, if necessary, documented with their label assignment (manufacturing batch).

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 141

TECHNICAL

Tribology as a challenge

Even around 1880 B.C, the Egyptians were able to transport the alabaster Colossus by implementing measures for reducing friction. An actual lubrication concept with clear responsibilities for controlling the tribological conditions can be derived from the traditional records.

In accordance with DIN 51834-2, tribology is described as follows: “Tribology is the science and technology of surfaces affecting each other in relative motion.” It covers the entire subject of friction and wear, including lubrication and includes corresponding boundary surface interactions between both solid bodies, as well as fluids and gases.

Friction in the screw connection and separating joins and their influence variables

Friction is an interaction between the contact surfaces of two bodies.

It counteracts relative motion and is the loss of mechanical energy when processing, stopping motion or concluding a relative motion of two contacted surfaces. Friction can also be defined as an irreversible thermodynamic process.

A potential assignment of friction classes with reference values for different materials/surfaces and lubrication statuses for screw connections can be found in VDE 2230.

The published data usually only applies under laboratory conditions and room temperatures and must therefore be continuously reassessed for the respective application and specific usage conditions. The friction values, μ tot , μ th , μ b indicate dispersions as they are dependent upon several factors, e.g. material pairings, surface quality (roughness), surface treatment (bare, galvanised, zinc flake coating, sealed, etc) and the type of lubrication (with/without oil, molybdenum sulphide, graphite paste, PTFE lubricant, etc).

Defined friction ratios are important for both the head contact surface and the thread with regard to design and assembly reliability.

Wear is defined as progressive material loss of the surface of a solid body, resulting from mechanical causes, i.e. contact and relative motion of a solid, liquid or gaseous counter-body. It is expressed by the occurrence of particles (wear particles) dissolving and material and form changes of the tribologically affected surfaces.

Lubrication

The total friction value μ tot for a lubricant is crucial for determining the torque on a screw connection and the resulting assembly pre-load force.

Safety-related screw connections must be lubricated, in particular, bare, galvanised surface coatings or zinc flake coatings as well as rust resistant screws. The potential operating temperature for the screw connections is generally between -50°C to a maximum +80°C. The conventional friction value ranges for reliable assembly processes are usually based on a friction value μ tot from 0.1 (dispersion range μ tot = 0.1 – 0.14).

If another lubricant with a dispersion range greater than μ tot = 0.1 – 0.14 is used, further clarification and adjustments are recommended or even necessary.

The real friction values should be checked, if necessary, by means of corresponding tests.

The lubrication status ‘dry’ requires special consideration and cannot cover the requirements of controlled tightening (friction values are undefined).

Instead of the fluid lubricants, tribological dry coatings, so-called ‘anti-friction coatings’ are being used more and more, as they offer clearer benefits for more economical assembly, including.

Defined lubrication ratios with higher assembly reliability in factory assembly and maintenance.

Lubrication must not be forgotten.

Economical assembly, disassembly without additional work preparation.

Reduction of the assembly costs due to an efficient working method.

The tribological dry coatings are system solutions for mechanically stressed mounting elements (screws, nuts, washers).

The coatings usually consist of non-electrolytically applied thin coats with integrated lubrication properties. The so-called top coats (e.g. Bossard ecosyn-lubric) create a smooth film that evens out all of the irregularities on the surface and thus optimises the friction conditions, even under extreme stresses and working conditions.

Conclusion

The friction value μ, is largely dependent upon the: Material pairing, surface quality, surface treatment, lubrication.

MA = FM [

d2 2

Dkm tan (p + pa) + tan pk] 2

142 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

Tribology can be described as a separate, interdisciplinary subject for optimising mechanical technologies by reducing friction and wear-related energy and material losses. Since the surface coatings in use are subject to functional erosion, the colour, surface condition and, depending on the screw material used, the residual risk of failure is a reason to replace them. A planned observation and recurring inspection (assessment) for safety-related screw connections is recommended.

M(§)KRS

> A wide range of fastening materials and anchoring technologies > Over 50 000 articles stocked > 20 years of experience in the market > Quality guaranteed > Fast delivery > Premium business services

Your lasting connection Regnerova 1101 542 32 Ă&#x161;pice CZECH REPUBLIC Phone: +420 499 300 161 Mobil: +420 739 618 994 E-mail: obchod@mekrs.cz

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

NORMA goes rallying NORMA Group recently supplied its V-Profile clamps for the exhaust systems of the MAZ-Sport Auto team’s race trucks, which were included in the trucks category for the 2016 Dakar Rally in Argentina.

W

erner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group, commented: “In the Dakar Rally both the drivers and the vehicles face the harshest conditions. The vehicles must therefore be equipped with only the best components. Our high performance joining products are not only completely reliable, but can also be removed very quickly and installed again easily to perform maintenance.

This is a decisive advantage.”

The MAZ-Sport Auto team’s two race trucks are based on the Belarusian commercial vehicle manufacturer’s series truck model MAZ-5309. The trucks were equipped with output of about 800hp for the 2016 Dakar Rally, an improved brake system, a central tyre inflation control system and all wheel drive.

The V-Profile clamp is designed for space-saving installation in exhaust and cooling systems, as well as turbochargers. It has an integrated retaining clip, which enables the prefixing of the clamp during assembly. This significantly shortens the installation time. The lightweight design of the clamp also reduces the total weight of the systems. www.normagroup.com

GESIPA® for ‘body in white’ applications Advancements in materials and Industry 4.0 are challenging the joining technology of the automotive industry. Requirements include the control of the setting processes and the fully automation and integration of the technology in OEM operations. The purpose of these new requirements is to ensure high–quality of all joints, as well as fast and economic processes.

W

ith the focus on new materials in ‘body in white’ applications and the lightweighting advantages of using different materials together, GESIPA® blind riveting technology provides many solutions for the joining of these different materials — including a material mix of high strength steel, light metal, as well as carbon fibre materials.

The rivet nut and rivet nut stud technology offers easier, neater and quicker installation process by one way access to the riveting position. They can be fit at any stage of the build i.e. in ‘body in white’ or as a secondary operation after the base material has been

144 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

coated or treated. With high load bearing capacity they provide guaranteed and secure joint creating high class threads in thin and soft materials. No thermal emissions during the setting process provide a much cleaner application causing no deformation of the base material.

For example, GESIPA recently developed an aluminium blind rivet stud as a repair solution in an aluminium body, because the welding of aluminium in downstream processes is very difficult.

The aluminium blind rivet studs offer a fast, easy and safe process for creating a fixing point in a thin material. www.gesipa.com

Bolts • Nuts • Studs Sockets • Bent Bolts Machined Parts

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TECHNICALLY PERFECT Fastening elements from Bäcker.

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Your Specials are our Standards

Over 150 Material Grades 10,000 Ton Inventory Over 250 Machines We Service All Quantities Quick Global Delivery www.GoASF.com

CONTROL ELEMENTS

STANDARD ELEMENTS

US VISFIT ROM Bäcker GmbH & Co. KG Jägersgrund 8 57339 Erndtebrück, Germany T +49 2753 5950-0 I F +49 2753 5950-44 www.baecker.eu | info@baecker.eu

28.-30

7 .03.201

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Automated blind rivet nut solution It is one thing to solve a fastening problem and another to enable the use of up to two million fasteners per year into a demanding application, as Andy Witts, managing director at Bollhoff Fastenings Ltd, explains.

E

ngineering applications that require screwed fixings into thin walled components pose a problem that international fastenings specialist Böllhoff solved with the development of its range of RIVNUT® blind rivet nuts and RIVSTUD® blind rivet studs. These clever devices enable strong thread fixings where traditional threading techniques are impossible. Moreover, because the fasteners are mounted without counter pressure (fixed blind) they can also be used in hollow sections.

RIVNUT blind rivet nuts and RIVSTUD blind rivet studs are available in many variations and sizes and therefore offer numerous fastening solutions with additional functions. The nature of the components make them suitable for a broad range of adaptations and flexible usages. One such example was designed for a major international supplier of automotive ‘body in white’ products, aluminium and steel stampings, assemblies, and facilities design. The application was for a ‘body in white’ rear corner panel for a prestige British car.

The fastener selected for the task was a RIVNUT M6 closed end, knurled and with an under head seal. The RIVNUT selected has a flat head round body and is fully cold formed. It also has a knurled body for increased spin out resistance. The flat head and tapered shank makes automation and insertion easy. Internal rolled threads give increased thread strength.

The volumes of fasteners to be fitted was significant – anything from 1.4 – 2 million pieces per annum – so manual insertion was out of the question from productivity, health and safety, and quality perspectives.

The solution was Böllhoff’s development of an automatic hydraulic setting equipment – designated HSA. This equipment proffered a number of advantages for the customer. The HSA automatic setting tool enables the fasteners to be set continuously thanks to its automatic loading system, which delivers the RIVNUT directly onto the mandrel of the HSA machine.

The fasteners are delivered onto the mandrel, inserted, and retracted to deform the fastening against the rear side of the component wall at break neck speed, every cycle, without fail.

The hydraulic setting equipment has been well tried and tested by Böllhoff in other applications of RIVNUT, while the automated feeding and setting eliminates operator error. The equipment also checks the fastener dimensions before blow feeding to the setting head, thereby

The HSA automatic setting tool enables the fasteners to be set continuously thanks to its automatic loading system, which delivers the RIVNUT® directly onto the mandrel of the HSA machine.”

146 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

ensuring no quality problems or machine jams. Thereafter, the RIVNUT insertion is monitored, the stroke and pressure is checked with the outcome that both the equipment and the fastenings are failsafe.

The HSA has been designed with system integration in mind. The use of a single external PLC enables standard protocols to be deployed to communicate between the hydraulic setting equipment and other machine tools or robots.

The electrical supply can be configured to suit the user’s needs. The setting force is 26kN for M4 to M10 fasteners. Setting stroke is 15mm and the weight loading time is just 3.5 seconds. Spin on and spin off time is a rapid 2 seconds (movement of the robot and movement of the workpiece not included).

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

New line of pneumatic riveters from BRALO BRALO S.A has designed a complete range of five simple, durable and robust BNT riveters, which it states are a first class solution to customers in a variety of industries.

E

ach BNT riveter is manufactured with heavy-duty and extremely reliable parts, with all body castings made of high-quality forged tempered aluminium – giving the tools excellent strength and durability. Each tool also has a highly resistant rubber base enabling stability after

every use.

The BNT riveters feature an ergonomic grip, which provides operators with more comfort during use. Materials and design also reduce the level of tool vibration giving greater comfort and avoiding potential operator injury.

New transparent mandrel collectors have also been designed to allow timely emptying and avoid jamming, which is one of the most commonly encountered problems among users.

The range of BNT riveters covers a wide variety of riveting requirements including the BNT-1 for standard aluminium or steel rivets from 3mm – 3.2mm – 4mm; BNT-2 for long stem S-trebol and peeled rivets; BNT-3 for 4.8mm stainless steel and structural rivets; BNT-4 for 6.4mm Hard Lock, 6mm Hard Grip, 6.4mm steel and 4.8mm structural rivets; and the BNT-5 for 6.5mm structural and 7.7mm S-trebol rivets.

BRALO BNT riveters also include an adjustable suction valve which, depending on the application, can be activated or not thus achieving energy savings – improving tool down time and speeding up production.

The weight of every riveter has been reduced due to improvements in the materials to satisfy the requirements of automotive and

148 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

assembly line customers. “Our R&D department continuously strives to provide each riveter with an optimised travel distance and ideal drive force for every use of these hydro-pneumatic tools,” explains BRALO. BNT riveters are approved for the most demanding industries – automotive, construction, infrastructure, electronics, appliances, and solar panels, and offer high performance where professional and quality riveting is essential.

BRALO, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is known for its dedication to technological innovation and personalised service, designing together with its customers special stamping parts in different materials, sizes and finishes.

With three production plants located in Spain, Mexico and China, the company has an extensive sales network comprising nine delegations in Germany, the UK, Italy, Portugal, France, Turkey and the Czech Republic, with a production of over 3.6 billion pieces per year. BRALO offers twelve categories of rivets, among which are standard, multigrip, peeled, trebol, structural, cylindrical, grooved, hexagonal and half hexagonal insert nuts, as well as manual, pneumatic and battery operated riveters.

The company supplies customers in more than 60 countries worldwide, with BRALO acting as a point of reference for professional quality and service. The company’s quality management standards are ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949. www.bralo.com

For limiting the load on plastics.

Compression Limiter®

Compression Limiters protect plastic components from damage by absorbing the normal force of bolt heads thus limiting the permissible load on plastic components, preventing over torque cracking.

Compression Limiters can be developed to suit specific requirements. Costs for special dies are minimal. These can be overmoulded or subsequently pressed in.

Jörg Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG

Vogelsang Fastener Solutions

Spannstiftstraße 2 58119 Hagen

1790 Swarthmore Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701, USA

Phone: +49 2334 957-0 Fax: +49 2334 957-269

Phone: +1 800 526-2376 Fax: +1 732 364-8111

info@jvu.de www.jvu.de

sales@vogelsangfastener.com www.vogelsangfastener.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Fast, accurate and safe fastening The ETW-Series electric torque wrenches from Enerpac have been designed to combine simplicity with smart bolting technology – delivering fast, accurate and safe fastening for controlled bolting applications.

E

TW tools are operated with an interactive 7 inch touch screen, which combines superior functionality with enhanced simplicity and ease of use. This user-friendly interface helps operators simplify complex jobs by creating automatic presets – a sequence of torque and angle steps – which are inputted using the touchscreen, and may then be saved and applied on the jobsite.

For simpler jobs, torque values may be inputted directly into the rear control panel on the wrench, allowing operators to monitor and manage the fastening process without returning to the control box.

A pass/fail indicator on the rear control panel verifies each fastening is made according to the specified input. Fastening records for each job can be viewed on the touchscreen or exported to a computer, providing a data record and traceability for all fastenings made.

“The ETW-Series torque wrenches are unique in that they are not only smart, but are also so intuitive and simple to use, that even operators who are unfamiliar with controlled bolting tools can begin using them minutes after opening the box, with only minimal training,” said Kurt Huber, global product manager bolting at Enerpac.

To accommodate diverse application requirements, the ETW-Series tools are available with a wide assortment of custom arms and accessories, including nose extensions for wheel bolts on off-road

vehicles; reaction arms for deep sockets; and sliding arms for variable bolt pitches.

All ETW-Series electric torque wrenches comply with regulations for electronic handheld tools, are CSA certified, CE declared, and are shipped complete with a unique calibration certificate – helping to ensure that each fastening is made accurately.

Safer bolting with reduced risk of pinch points Hydratight Limited has launched a new accessory for its RSL torque wrench product line to increase safety and minimise the possibility of pinching during bolting operations.

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afe T ™ is designed to enable a single person to operate the wrench and its hydraulic pump simultaneously thanks to its lightweight, durable aluminium housing and large diameter buttons.

The tool houses a control panel with the two main operational buttons, which must be pressed at the same time, ensuring safe operation. If the operator’s hands are released, the torque wrench and hydraulic pump will cease to operate immediately.

Typically, one technician would operate the torque wrench and another would control the hydraulic pump. With the Safe T, any chance of miscommunication in a noisy environment is eliminated improving the safety of the operation.

Chad Brooks, product market leader at Hydratight, commented: “Our customers identified pinch points in their work processes and we’re pleased that this tool addresses these important safety concerns. We’ve designed versions for use with electric and air pumps, and the low profile design option will work with hex wrenches in tight spots.”

Accurate tensioning with Laser Tools To enable accurate tensioning of difficult to access fasteners, UK-based Laser Tools has introduced a mechanical torque wrench – part number 6167 – supplied with a ¼ inch drive ratchet head.

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his mechanical torque wrench is particularly suitable in automotive applications such as changing the cambelt, and for critical items like idler pulleys, tensioner pulleys, balance shafts, etc – where access at the front or side of the engine is often tight. Torque setting can be locked for continuous accurate work. In addition a sealed neck keeps dust and grit away from the torque mechanism for longer tool life.

The torque wrench features a display range of 10Nm – 50Nm (7.4 ft/lb – 36.9 ft/lb) with an accuracy of ±4% – with right hand thread torque measurement only. Included in the set is a reversible ¼ inch drive ratchet head, plus 8 open ended spanner heads – 7mm – 14mm. It is supplied with a calibration certificate and the set comes in a fitted plastic blow mould case for security.

150 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

High quality disc springs from the world market leader Lightweight construction technology by new processing methods for smart machine elements.

Innovation: ▪ The Mubea Generation II Disc Springs

▪ Significantly higher stresses allowable and high potential for space reduction Advantages: ▪ Multiplied lifetime (by factor 10 possible, depending on application) ▪ Reduction of outer diameter up to 10 % ▪ Optimization of travel up to 40 %

▪ Reduction of spring stack installation length up to 20 %

Supplier to the OEM and automotive industry An “ISO 9001 Approved Supplier” Unit 21, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham, LL14 6HA, UK t: +44 (0) 1978 823 900 e: sales@aslgroup.uk.com

www.advancerivets.co.uk

Your benefit: ▪ Reduction of system size and weight ▪ Decrease of system costs

▪ Reduction of maintenance rate Mubea Tellerfedern GmbH P.O. Box 120 57564 Daaden, Germany

Tel.: +49 2743 806 0 E-Mail: info@mubea-tellerfedern.de

www.mubea-disc-springs.com www.mubea.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Illuminating innovation from Carl Kammerling Carl Kammerling International has further enhanced its C.K tools dextro screwdriver range with the introduction of a glow in the dark, professional screwdriver set featuring new C.K dextro GLO VDE insulated screwdrivers.

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xclusively designed for electricians working in low light conditions when isolating electrical supplies, the C.K dextro GLO VDE range is available in a six piece set of slotted and Pozidrive screwdrivers. They feature a unique phosphorescent handle that gives off a strong, highly visible glow when working in dark or low light conditions.

By exposing the screwdriver to natural light, the phosphorescent material handle will charge enough to provide 20 minutes glow. Exposure to stronger, artificial lights, such as a site lamp or head torch, will provide up to 30 minutes glow, making it easier than ever to find tools in the dark.

The dextro GLO VDE screwdrivers also feature an ergonomically shaped dual component handle injection moulded directly to the blade, giving the ultimate bond for increased reliability and durability. Ridges along the head also give extra power in the last quarter turn.

VDE approved to offer electricians maximum safety, the C.K dextro GLO VDE range also features an improved tip capable of withstanding over 20Nm of torque.

LOCTITE® 577 reformulated To strengthen its commitment to continuous product improvement, Henkel has reformulated one of its most popular thread sealants – LOCTITE® 577.

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he latest generation of LOCTITE® 577 is designed to be used in common production and maintenance conditions to provide a consistent cure, even on oil contaminated surfaces. The new formulation also provides improved curing on passive metals with an activator. This simplifies the application process and supports the use of corrosion resistant pipes and fittings.

Higher service temperature is another benefit of the new LOCTITE 577. Its range is now –55°C to +180°C, which is 30°C higher than its forerunner. This product remains well suited to overhead applications, as its viscosity prevents dripping.

As before, this popular sealant meets P1 NSF, DVGW and WRAS approvals.

As well as being more tolerant of oil, this medium strength, anaerobic sealant for all coarse threads also has greater temperature resistance and improved curing on passive metals such as stainless steel. The sealant is part of a family of products providing a reliable alternative to tapes and pastes, as well as preventing leakage of gasses and liquids. It is clean and easy to apply and can be used on any size pipe fitting. The resultant seal resists vibrational loosening and other stresses and will not creep or shrink.

It also prevents galling and corrosion in the thread and eliminates seizure.

Rivit’s riveters Rivit Srl is known in Italy and abroad as a leader in the production and distribution of fastening systems and assembly tools for sheet metal working.

F

ounded in 1973, the company has developed an impressive range of products for the industry including blind rivets, rivet nuts, self-clinching, welding studs, blind bolts, latches, cage nuts, hose clips, and screws – in steel, stainless steel and nylon.

All lines of fasteners come with dedicated tools for their proper installation – tools for blind rivets and tools for rivet nuts, presses, studwelding units, as well as tools for eyelets. The company also offers riveters for the installation of blind rivets in various sizes and materials, including standard, structural or special type. Riveters for rivet nuts are also designed for the application of rivet nuts in various sizes and materials – both standard and special types.

Riveters are available as hand riveters, which are easy to use and ideal for non-continuous works; pneumatic or hydropneumatic riveters specifically for all professional and continous installation works; battery cordless riveters, which are much easier to handle and easily transportable; and automatic riveters designed for a fast working cycle offering high safety and reliability. Control systems are also available to pre-set precise working conditions on specific lots of work. Rivit also offers an automation division, dedicated to industry lines. www.rivit.it

152 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

FASCO® air driven tools So far 2016 has been a great year for tool manufacturer FASCO® Srl in Bologna, Italy. It has seen an unprecedented number of FASCO® innovations introduced to the market, including five new tools.

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hese tools include the new pallet coil nailer F48AC CN15W-57A that drives 15° wire collated nails with an increased diameter range from 2.1mm – 2.5mm, and the new FASCO® fence stapler F46A FENCE 40-315 which, compared to its predecessor, appears with more power, a new depth control, a reinforced pusher and an extra magazine cover.

Also new are the FASCO F20A 18 gauge bradder (F20A GN-50) and F20A 90-40 narrow crown stapler, which replaces the FASCO F2B line.

These new models have more power and are also suitable for hardwood applications.

The last of the new innovations is the FASCO F60A CN15W-PS90 SCR coil nailer – a tool able to drive 15° wire collated and plastic collated nails and also SCRAIL® nail screw fasteners.

Alongside the expansion of the pneumatic tool sector,

FASCO has also increased its efforts in the field of gas driven tools, and is planning to release a brand new gas fencing tool in the beginning of 2017.

With more than 200 different tools, FASCO offers one of the largest portfolios of pneumatic nailers, bradders and staplers worldwide and can therefore meet requirements ranging from the upholstery and construction business right up to stationary tools. Also this year the company, which is a 100% subsidiary of the BECK Fastener Group®, made large investments to make its tools even more robust and user-friendly.

“Registered users of our FASCO newsletter can receive first-hand information about new products and valuable applications tips, and they can also benefit from exclusive offers and promotions. You can register online now,” comments FASCO. www.fasco-tools.com

Technifast non–standard dowel pin service Technifast Ltd is able to offer customers a specialist dowel pin service that includes dowels with longer lengths up to 120mm on diameters below 5mm, and the production of dowels up to 25.4mm, giving the option to add features such as flats and circlip grooves, or internal/external threads.

N

ot all standard dowel pins are appropriate for demanding applications or specialist projects, and it can be difficult to source the exact dowel for specific applications.

Technifast recognises this and its custom–made dowels have already formed an integral part of diverse products from toy trains and surgical instruments, through to audio visual technology and marine leisure appliances.

“The ability to provide our customers with a custom–made dowel pin solution is one of the reasons we consider ourselves to be at the forefront of this specialist service,” comments Louis Speed, managing director at Technifast. “There is no ‘fit–all’ solution for fasteners, so it is important we are able to offer our customers a product tailored to their unique requirements.

The continued investment in our machining capabilities is enabling us to produce a greater field of dowel pin solutions.”

Technifast is an ISO 9001 registered company, underpinning its reliability to monitor and manage quality across all its operations.

BECK Fastener Group® and FASCO® are registered trademarks of the BECK Fastener Group.

AIR DRIVEN TOOLS A marvel of continual refinement and evolution, the high performance range of FASCO® brand staplers, nailers and specialty tools combine distinctive style with speed, agility and endurance.

www.fasco-tools.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Working in tandem for a successful product development Although generally small in size and individual cost, the unheralded 'fastener' can cause manufacturers a lot of problems including inefficiency, underproduction, lost component availability, downtime and ‘no build’ condition, which all threaten revenue and profits.

T

his is especially true at the starting point of design when important decisions on the correct type of fastener selection are made. Quite often, the manufacturer focuses on the functional aspects of their product without consideration being given to the type of fastener that will provide the best opportunity to optimise the assembly process when full production commences.

TFC Europe Ltd is a supplier of technical fastener components to industry and delivers innovative products and supply solutions to help customers achieve breakthroughs in product development and new standards of manufacturing efficiency. As a company that has been in existence for over 50 years it recognises early consultation at the design stage enables significant benefits including: Increased option availability – the later the assembly method is selected, the fewer options the manufacturer will have leading to more limited, expensive, solutions that may include additional tooling.

Standard solution selection – the earlier the collaboration, the greater the chance guidance can be offered towards a standard solution and avoid the need to supply a bespoke part.

Optimised assembly – determines if a better alternative solution can be found. Although a manufacturer's design engineers may be experienced in assessing the project from a fastener perspective, they may overlook specific requirements that can impact on the assembly and production.

Joint consultation – working in tandem enables both companies to share relevant information about their respective industries.

Ongoing improvement – by being given first-hand access to the production line, manufacturers benefit from being advised on the latest fastening solutions available and how these can be integrated into the production process.

Best practices – identifying which products work best for the manufacturer's assembly requirements. These can then be made standard for future designs and in return assembly costs can be lowered, assembly time cut and inventories reduced.

Nord–Lock Group adds Expander® System to solutions The Expander® System offers a modern cost–effective solution that stops pivot wear.

Founded in 1986, Expander System Sweden AB was recently acquired by the Nord–Lock Group, a world leader in bolting solutions.

I

The Expander® System offers an advanced and cost–effective solution that prevents pivot wear, once and for all

156 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 101 SEPTEMBER 2016

t was back in the 1950s when twin brothers Everth and Gerhard Svensson built roads across the Swedish countryside. They were frustrated with the constant recurring problem of wear in the machinery pivots and could not afford all the expensive repairs and downtime. One day when a pivot pin was coming loose, Everth tried fixing the pin in the lughole using a rusty nail. The solution worked. Only temporary of course, but the idea was born and soon turned into a practical reality.

Founded by Everth and his son, Roger, Expander has been developing permanent solutions for pivot wear for 30 years and today the company has manufacturing units in Sweden and the USA. To date there are over 50,000 different Expander® applications for 10,000 different types, makes and models of machinery and equipment — even for the most extreme needs. The solution is known as the most reliable, durable and cost–efficient option to eliminate pivot wear and to eliminate the need for line boring.

Expander pivot technology comes with a 10 year or 10,000 hours functional warranty. Market segments include construction, agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas and the process industry. www.nord–lock.com

What is

Johan Smit Fasteners?

Inventory

Metric and Imperial ASTM A194 - Full Range

Quality

140 Years of Expertise ISO 9001:2008 PED 97/EC/23

Traceability

“From the melt to the joint, nuts that are always traceable”

Johan Smit Fasteners www.johsmit.com - info@johsmit.com

JS

FH

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Hook and loop from SD Products SD Products Ltd has added a large range of VELCRO® Brand hook and loop fasteners to its catalogue for use in a variety of applications including cable management, numerous domestic applications, and the automotive sector.

H

ook and loop fasteners naturally consist of two components – one fabric strip fitted with tiny polyester hooks and another fitted with tiny loops.

When both fabric strips are pressed together they form a temporary but secure bond, which can vary in strength depending on material and application. The bond can be easily separated by hand when peeling the strips apart.

However, when the force is applied equally across the surface of the fabric strip, hook and loop fasteners can hold considerable weight without compromising the bond.

Hook and loop fasteners are easy to use and extremely versatile, as well as being safe, reliable and low maintenance.

They are particularly popular in clothing and fabric manufacture, ranging from adaptive clothing for people with physical disabilities to combat uniforms for the army.

“SD Products is proud to be a distributor for Velcro Industries, we supply numerous lines of VELCRO® Brand hook and loop fasteners and we can always guarantee the quality of our products.

Our range includes heavy-duty stick on tape, reusable ties, adjustable straps, plant ties and more,” comments SD Products.

Although these fasteners can be produced by many different manufacturers VELCRO Brand is very much synonymous with hook and loop. It’s not uncommon for people to refer to hook and loop simply as ‘Velcro’.

Velcro Industries is a worldwide corporation with over 60 years of experience in the market. Iwt still holds a patent on hook and loop technology.

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PUT SIMPLY, NO-ONE DELIVERS MORE

hexstone.co.uk

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Quality specialised fasteners Since 1984 Frigerio Ettore SpA has been specialising in cold metal sheet stamping combined with welding, assembly, and industrial washing, to produce complex finished parts to customers’ drawings.

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ased in Lecco, Italy, the family run company also specialises in thread rolling – both working under contract and internally on its own standard products including metal parts, fasteners and toggle latches. Frigerio Ettore also develops and distributes its own line of products consisting of fastening systems and small ironware articles, as well as a wide range of toggle latches in different finishes.

The company designs and manufactures all its machines in order to supply a complete product even to the most demanding customer. Its machinery range includes mechanical and electronic tapping machines for removal and thread rolling.

Frigerio Ettore’s engineering department develops innovative production systems – supported by a workshop devoted to the design and in-house production of dies. The workshop features a workstation network with an up to date CAD/CAM system to implement CNC machines programming.

The company has a corporate vision and mission to generate value for its customers across a wide variety of industries including automotive, motorcycles, hobbies, electro mechanics, electronics, textiles and heating equipment.

European patent granted for multi–function tapes tremco illbruck has obtained a European patent for multi–function tapes TP321 illmod trioplex eco and TP652 Compriband Trio Plus, giving it the sole right to manufacture and market multi–function tapes with the unique illbruck ‘step’ technology.

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rio Plus offers a multifunctional area of application with 30 different options — six different frame widths each with five different areas of use. Ideally suited to passive houses, new buildings, renovations and also merely as thermal insulation. illbruck TP321 illmod trioplex eco is suitable for concealed joints and with two areas of application it will fit all standard building depths from 58mm to 88mm. It meets the required characteristics for resistance to driving rain (BG2), airtightness (BGR) and thermal insulation.

Ten years ago tremco illbruck introduced the first illbruck multi–function tapes, which made it possible to seal all three

sealing levels in window joints (inner, central, outer) in a single step — whilst still meeting the latest engineering standards and RAL fitting guidelines.

With new ‘step’ technology the two new tapes — now patented — represent a further improvement in terms of air sealing, energy saving, healthy living and ease of fitting. The uniqueness of the tapes is the inside of the tape, which is doubled to create a ‘step’.

This extra material leads to strong compression of the foam, which makes the tape particularly easy to fit; gives it excellent insulating properties; and keeps the joints free of mould.

The patent (European patent EP 1 811 111) runs for ten years up to 2026.

Standard Listed – you know who’s best!

But contact us for all the rest . . .

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

Tel:

+44 (0) 117 – 972 8560

Fax:

+44 (0) 117 – 972 8570

Email:

sales@avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk Online Product Guide: www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

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

ADVERTISERS INDEX A.M.E.A............................................................83 Abbey Clamps................................................15 Achilles Seibert GmbH................................. 5 Acton.................................................................95 Advance Spares Ltd..................................151 Albert Pasvahl GmbH & Co.................. 103 Alca Fasteners...............................................37 Alloy & Stainless.........................................145 Ambrovit SpA............................................1, 13 Apex Industrial Technologies LLC......135 Apex Stainless.............................................101 Astrotech Steels Private Limited........112 Atlantic Man..................................................49 Avon Stainless Fasteners Ltd.............. 160 Bäcker GmbH & Co. KG............................145 Baker + Finnemore....................................161 Bendfast.........................................................155 Berardi Bullonerie ......................................97 Berdan Bolt & Nut Co Ltd.......................162 Birlik Baglanti...............................................37 Bossong.......................................................... 117 Bralo.................................................................. 11 Bülte GmbH....................................................39 C.E.I.A. SpA.....................................................87 Carlo Salvi ......................................................67 Chaves Bilbao S.A........................................93 Ching Chan Optical Technology Co Ltd...131 Colombo Ezio.................................................. 61 Colombo Special Fasteners (CSF).........49 Dega Demir.................................................. 138 Dimac................................................................75

Don Quichotte B.V......................................119 DS Fasteners Ltd..........................................35 Eurotec GmbH.............................................119 Fastbolt.............................................................. 2 Fastener + Fixing Magazine....................37 Fastener Fair India.................................. 139 Fastener Fair Stuttgart............................ 99 Fixi Srl...............................................................97 Fram..................................................................55 FRIULSIDER SpA..........................................47 G & B Fisaggi..................................................85 GESIPA Blindniettechnik GmbH............23 Graewe GmbH & Co KG..............................35 Growermetal..................................................65 Hafren Fasteners Ltd................................. 41 HECO-Schrauben GmbH & Co KG.........95 HEICO Befestigungstechnik GmbH........4 Hexstone...............................................115, 159 Hugo Benzing GmbH & Co KG................. 41 Index – Técnicas Expansivas S.L............. 3 Inox Viti ...........................................................77 Italbolt Inox Service....................................95 Johan Smit....................................................157 Kingwin Precision Co Ltd...................... 125 Lederer......................................................22, 24 Linear GS.......................................................147 Magni Group Inc........................................ 123 Marposs SpA..................................................59 Mecavit Srl......................................................91 MEKR’S s.r.o..................................................143 Merlin Business Software..................... 134

Mitos..................................................................83 Mubea Tellerfedern GmbH.....................151 Mustad............................................................. 69 Nakashimada Engineering Works Ltd... 122 National Machinery...................................27 ND Industries................................................29 Ningbo Londex Industrials Co Ltd........19 Nord Lock..................................................... 164 Norm Civata AS..............................................9 NORMA............................................................. 17 Oetiker............................................................107 omniTechnik Mikroverkapselungs GmbH...25 Orbit International Corporation Limited...39 Peerless Group........................................... 125 Peter Schröder GmbH................................35 pgb Europe....................................................113 Pinstructure Ltd..........................................15 Precision Technology Supplies Ltd.....143 R+FK Schulte KG...........................................21 Raimund Beck KG Wire-Staples-Company...155 Ray Fu.............................................................158 Regg Inspection............................................73 Rexlen Corp..................................................161 Reyher............................................................... 31 Rivelit ................................................................. 7 Rivit Srl...........................................................163 Rotorclip Ltd................................................105 Sacma Group.................................................45 Saima Corporation.................................. 154 Sales I..............................................................137 Schäfer + Peters GmbH.......................... 109

Schnorr GmbH..............................................33 Shanghai Fast-Fix Rivet Corporation...149 Sipa....................................................................79 Smart Machinery Srl ................................. 51 Smith & Bullough......................................... 41 Specialinsert Srl........................................... 71 Tecno Impianti..............................................63 Tecnologic 3....................................................57 Tefci SpA........................................................121 Test GmbH.................................................... 126 Tillex..................................................................15 Titibi..................................................................49 Top Screw Metal Corp Ltd......................157 Topkraft.........................................................107 Trojan..............................................................155 Ttap..................................................................107 UBK.....................................................................53 UIP GmbH & Co KG....................................116 Valenta.............................................................33 Vipa SpA...........................................................97 voestalpine Austria Draht GmbH...... 129 Vogelsang GmbH & Co KG............. 111, 149 Volt Industrial Plastics Inc....................153 Vorpa.................................................................53 Wafios Umformtechnik GmbH....127, 130 Wan Iuan Ent Co Ltd................................ 130 Wilh. Lüsebrink GmbH.............................145 Win Fasteners Manufactory (Thailand) Co Ltd...39 WPI Services B.V........................................ 125

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SINCE 1973 IS THE ITALIAN LEADING COMPANY FOR THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FASTENERS AND TOOLS FOR SHEET METAL WORKING

INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES

RIVIT srl / Via Marconi 20 / Ozzano dellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Emilia / Bologna / Italy T. +39 051 41 71 111 / F. +39 051 41 711 19 / rivit@rivit.it / www.rivit.it

rivit.it

Unmatched technologies and bolting expertise from your Number 1 trusted partner

Leading technology joins the Nord-Lock Group The Nord-Lock Group is a world leader in secure bolting solutions.

We are pleased to welcome Expander System into our wide range of innovative technologies, which includes Nord-Lock wedgelocking solutions, Superbolt multijackbolt tensioning and Boltight hydraulic tensioning.

Visit www.nord-lock.com for the complete range of solutions by the Nord-Lock Group