Fastener + Fixing Magazine #102

In this issue…

Light duty fixings Fastener Fair Italy report Testing, inspection + packing fastenerandfixing.com | Issue 102 November 2016

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Untitled-1 1

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21-24 NOV 2016

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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

10-40

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

COVER STORY

42-43

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 92-108

Special report: Commission urges support for tougher trade defence policy

JCP: The ‘first name’ for technical knowledge

INSIGHT 44-58 Lederer – powered by efficiency

Hilti: Seventy-five and serious about innovation Light duty fixings

80-90

Testing, inspection + packing

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

110-118

Fit for Industry 4.0 with Bossard Smart Factory Logistics ACTYLUS ™ smart bins – a complete solution to stock-outs

TECHNICAL 120-124 Clever fastening by forming

FASTENER FAIR ITALY REPORT Fastener Fair Italy has international appeal

60-62

EXHIBITIONS 64-78 Fastener Fair Stuttgart: The ‘must attend’ event Vegas Fastener Expo reports strong gains Fastener Fair India: Two shows, two markets

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

126-132

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

134-144

Lightweight technology

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MTP

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MTP-G

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M

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MTA-A2

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M

TH OPTION 7

M

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EDITORIAL Will Lowry, editor, Fastener + Fixing Magazine

It has been a busy 2016 At Fastener + Fixing Magazine our goal is to provide the latest news on what is happening in the industry and 2016 has undoubtedly been an eventful year – with the introduction of regulations, cancellation of duties, and changes in the political landscape all having major impacts.

A

nother topic that could potentially have a significant affect in the future is the European Commission urging support for tougher trade defence policy. We have a ‘Special report’ at the beginning of the News section that takes an in-depth look at the possible implications.

Once again the editorial team has been travelling and immersing itself in the industry. Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge visited Fastener Fair Italy – with both visitors and exhibitors hailing it as a huge success. Not as far, but equally as important, Claire also visited JCS Hi-Torque Ltd in Suffolk, UK, to find out more about the British manufacturer of hose clips and its plans for the future.

I had the pleasure of visiting German-based Lederer GmbH to see first-hand its automated warehouse and how it is enabling the company to meet the ever growing demands of customers for quicker delivery and service. Also, for our Cover Story, I took the short trip to Middlesex, UK, to visit JCP Construction Products Ltd to learn more about the specialist supplier of construction fixings and how its technical knowledge, and Anchor Calculation Program, is enabling it to provide expert advice for critical applications.

Other feature articles include an insight into Barton Cold-Form and how the company has been transformed a year on from its acquisition by Optimas Solutions; NORMA Group celebrates 10 years and looks back at how it has developed and the history behind its creation; and GESIPA® launches its Evotion 2016 Project.

To add to that we also have another excellent technical piece from Peter Standring from Industrial Metalforming Technologies (IMfT) who focuses on ‘Clever fastening by forming’.

There are also articles from 3M on why adhesives are essential for lightweight construction; Nord-Lock concentrates on the challenges of couplings and why they represent one of the most challenging bolted joints to secure; as well as an article that looks at Bossard Group’s Smart Factory Logistics and why it is the solution for Industry 4.0.

Plus we have special features focusing on light duty fixings and testing, inspection and packing equipment. will.lowry@fastenerandfixing.com

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

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Special report Commission urges support for tougher trade defence policy Ahead of the October meeting of the heads of EU member states, the European Commission published a paper calling for “updated, strengthened and more robust trade defence instruments”.

T

he paper: ‘Towards a robust trade policy for the EU in the interests of jobs and growth’, argues that under current conditions, the Commission’s existing trade defence ‘tool box’ is no longer fit for purpose and proposes a series of tough and far-reaching amendments to it.

The last attempt to modernise EU trade defence instruments stalled in 2013. European Parliament amendments transformed a moderate set of Commission proposals to a position that strongly defended EU manufacturing interests. Subsequently the European Council was unable to achieve consensus amongst member states and the initiative was effectively ‘back-boilered’.

The political furore over China’s impact on world steel profitability has been exacerbated

by China’s interpretation of its accession protocol to the World Trade Organisation, expecting that it will automatically be granted market economy status from this December.

Acceptance of that assumption would, under current EU trade defence legislation, neuter the Commission’s ability to apply significant anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese exports.

EU institutions have been presented with a toxic dilemma, between intense demands to protect European manufacturing from Chinese dumping and concern over the potential retaliatory effect on EU exports to China of refusing market economy status.

18%

17.7% 16%

16%

15%

14.2%

13%

14% 12% 10%

7.8%

8%

7%

6% 3.1%

4%

2% 0.72%

2% 0%

USA

India

EU

Share of anti-dumping measures in force

China

Russian Fed.

Share in world imports

Source: WTO, World Trade Report 2015

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

In that context the Commission’s latest proposals have come down decisively on the side of protecting EU industry, particularly steel and energy.

They also attempt to steer a course through the market economy dilemma, by legitimising heavier anti-dumping duties on product sectors where significant State subsidy is evidenced, whichever the country of origin.

Urging Member States to support the modernisation of trade defence instruments, the Commission argues: “Despite… using the available trade defence instruments ‘toolbox’ to its full extent, these have proven insufficient to deal with the huge overcapacities that result in dumped exports on the EU market.”

It goes on: “The EU is, and wants to remain, the biggest trading bloc in the world. But trade must be based on fair conditions. The EU accounts for 15% of world imports (second only to the United States), yet the EU’s trade defence measures correspond to only 7.8% of those in place worldwide and affect a mere 0.21% of the imports. When it comes to implementing measures to defend jobs on its territory, no trade bloc exercises a similar level of self-restraint, due to the limitations imposed by the current legislation.”

The Commission publishes, in an annex, a comparison of the number of anti-dumping measures and share in world imports (graph to the left).

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INDUSTRY NEWS Juncker emphasises urgency

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Trade is essential for our economic growth and jobs creation, but we should not be naïve. Our current rules are proving insufficient to combat the harm from unfair foreign competition. Some EU industries have lost thousands of jobs. We cannot stay idle. The EU’s trade defence rules require an urgent update. The Commission has been doing its part, deploying trade defence instruments to their full force. But we have reached the limit of what is feasible under the existing legislation. We put forward measures that would significantly improve our room for manoeuvre. It’s now high time for Member States to make the necessary decisions and equip the Commission with instruments fit to deal with the current realities of the international trading environment.”

The document outlines how new anti-dumping methodology would be used to address situations where market conditions do not prevail. The Commission says: “The adoption of these changes – while respecting WTO rules – would allow the EU to impose higher anti-dumping duties in some instances, for example where there are massive production overcapacities in exporting countries. Furthermore, the new envisaged anti-dumping methodology would allow the EU to capture market distortions linked to state intervention in third countries that mask the true extent of dumping practices.”

Two pervasive changes are mooted.

Removal of the Lesser Duty Rule

The Commission argues that the so called Lesser Duty Rule (LDR), enshrined in current trade defence legislation, hampers its efforts “to address the challenges facing European industry – such as the steel sector – which are suffering as a result of huge increases in import volumes of dumped products”.

Currently, once it is proven third country dumping causes injury to EU industry, the level of anti-dumping duties is imposed at the level of the dumping margin or the level that removes injury, which is lower. This is the Lesser Duty Rule.

In practical terms, this means that on comparable dumped products originating in China, the level of EU anti-dumping duties is substantially lower than that imposed by the USA. See table for comparison.

EU average duty (in %)

US average duty (in %)

Difference

High fatigue performance steel concrete reinforcement bars / steel concrete reinforcing bars

21.3%

133%

111.7%

Stainless steel cold rolled flat products / certain corrosion resistant products

24.9%

255.8%

230.9%

Cold rolled flat steel products / certain cold rolled flat steel products

21.1%

265.8%

244.7%

EU/US (comparable products)

Our current rules are proving insufficient to combat the harm from unfair foreign competition.”

The Commission intends to draft specific reports for countries or sectors where it identifies distortions. It says: “As is the case today, it will be for the EU industry to file complaints, but they can rely on such reports by the Commission to make their case.” This implies a reduction in the time-consuming and complex obligation on complainants to evidence state influence on export pricing.

The Commission says the implementation of this new methodology would include a transition period during which all existing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures would remain subject to the existing legislation, and ongoing investigations would not be affected. It also plans a further strengthening of EU anti-subsidy legislation so that, in future cases, any new subsidies revealed in the course of an investigation can also be investigated and included in the final duties imposed.

Urgent time frame

New anti-dumping methodology

The Commission proposes the EU should no longer grant ‘market economy status’ to any country. Instead it intends a new method for calculating dumping on imports from countries where there are market distortions, or where the state has a pervasive influence on the economy. The proposed amendment to methodology will be “country neutral and applied equally to all members of the WTO”.

It will involve the removal of the list of non-market economies from EU anti-dumping legislation, bringing it closer to the US and Canadian methodology. The paper states: “Where distortions are found, prices and cost will be disregarded for calculating dumping and the Commission will use other available benchmarks, including costs and prices in other economies.” This clearly envisages a continuation in some form of the analogue country mechanism, which was largely responsible for the initial 85% anti-dumping duties on carbon steel fasteners originating from China in 2009.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

In its conclusion the Commission urges the European Council, at its next meeting in November, to ensure political agreement on trade defence modernisation and to support its approach in relation to the WTO market economy issue.

The full text of ‘Towards a robust trade policy for the EU in the interest of jobs and growth’ is available at: ht tps: //ec .europa .eu /t ransparenc y/ r e g do c /r e p/ 1 / 2 0 1 6/ E N/ 1 -2 0 1 6 - 69 0 EN-F1-1.PDF

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Bossard reports continued growth Bossard Group enjoyed significant growth in the third quarter of 2016. Sales rose year-on-year by 4.8% to CHF 169.7 million (€156.3 million) despite challenging conditions in some markets.

B

usiness in the Americas was particularly dynamic, increasing 13.3%. Europe and Asia also contributed to positive developments in the quarter. Group sales grew by 3% to CHF 513.3 million (€472.9 million) in the first nine months of 2016.

Quarter 3 European sales rose 2.3% to CHF 97.9 million – driven by major markets such as Germany, France and Denmark. For the first nine months European sales climbed 3.7% to CHF 305.6 million. In Switzerland, where the appreciation of the Swiss franc continues to be felt in the industrial sector, demand remained at a low level.

Bossard America’s business is in a sharp upswing even though a major customer remains in a dry spell caused by the economic situation. Third quarter sales rose, primarily due to the increasing production volume of the leading US electric vehicle manufacturer.

Subsequent to publication of its third quarter results, Bossard Group announced that its “close and mutually beneficial cooperation” with this customer has been extended until 2020, successfully continuing a relationship started in 2010. The “intensive cooperation” involves not only logistical supply directly to the production line but also active

collaboration in all aspects of fastening technology, as well as in the development phase of new models. American sales in the first nine months rose by 3.5% to CHF 130.8 million.

Asian business is also showing dynamic growth as a result of structural investments made in these markets in previous years.

Sales in the third quarter rose by 1.1% to CHF 27.4 million. In India and Taiwan Bossard recorded double-digit growth. Activities in Malaysia and Singapore also contributed to this positive business development.

In China, Bossard’s most important market in the region, slight third quarter growth was recorded following two quarters in which sales were below the previous year’s levels.

Bossard believes the business development in several major markets confirms the validity of strategic decisions made in previous years. Demand is expected to remain positive in Europe, and Asia, and Bossard is particularly confident because of the dynamic demand in America – where it expects above average growth in the fourth quarter.

Bossard expects full year sales to reach around CHF 675 million, up from CHF 656 million in 2015.

Bulten Q3 profits improve despite sales fall Bulten reported Quarter 3 2016 sales of SEK 601 million down 2.7% on the same quarter 2015 (SEK 618 million). EBIT was SEK 39 million (Q3 2015: SEK 36 million) corresponding to an operating margin of 6.5% (2015: 5.8%). Earnings after tax were SEK 30 million (Q3 2015: SEK 22 million).

N

et sales for the nine months year to date were SEK 2 billion (2015 nine months: SEK 2.027 billion) down 1.2% year-on-year. EBIT was SEK 148 million (2015: SEK 118 million) corresponding to an operating margin of 7.4% (2015: 5.8%). Nine months earnings after tax were SEK 109 million (2015: SEK 87 million). Nine month order bookings totalled SEK 1.973 billion, down 1.4% on the same period 2015.

President and CEO Tommy Andersson commented: “Bulten is reporting strong results with an operating margin of 6.5% despite a fall in volumes.

The rate of sales was slightly weak, mainly at the start of the quarter, but recovered during September. The results were due to completed optimisation and good flexibility in the business.”

“Volume development and order bookings deteriorated slightly due to model shifts by our customers, lower export volumes to China and heavy vehicle production, and some effects of ‘Brexit’. We still expect 2016 to be a year of growth in-line with expectations for European vehicle production with the exception of export volumes, which are expected to be weaker than last year.”

“Bulten’s prospects for gaining further market share is very good from the second half of 2017, based on signed contracts and also on ongoing discussions with customers. During the quarter there was a breakthrough for our business in Russia when we signed an agreement with a significant vehicle manufacturer.”

“We have taken further steps to becoming the industry’s most cost-efficient producer of fasteners while safeguarding profitable growth through investment in a new surface treatment facility at our plant in Germany. This investment will provide added value and improved competitiveness through greater flexibility and control over our process.”

Currency exchange: At interbank rates 100 SEK = € 10.3

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

ITW reports strong Q3 automotive growth ITW has reported its Automotive OEM segment revenue, which includes fasteners, has grown 25% to US$765 million (€696 million) in the third quarter of 2016, including 6.6% organic growth.

A

utomotive OEM segment revenue for the first nine months grew 9.2% to US$2.09 billion (€1.9 billion), including organic growth at 4.4%. Operating income for the first three quarters was US$512 million, with operating margin at 24.5%.

ITW completed the acquisition of the Engineered Fasteners & Components (EF&C) business from ZF TRW at the beginning of July 2016 for an approximate purchase price of US$450 million. EF&C had operating revenue of US$117 million for the three months to 30 th September 2016.

Third quarter Construction Products revenue, which also includes fasteners, rose 1.6% to US$415 million. Operating income was US$94 million (operating margin 22.6%). Nine month Construction Products revenue grew 1.2% to US$1.22 billion.

Operating income was US$278 million (operating margin 22.7%).

Third quarter overall group revenue increased 4% to US$3.5 billion. Operating income grew 6% to a record US$808 million.

Report courtesy of GlobalFastenerNews.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Hilti acquires PEC Group The Hilti Group is expanding its product portfolio and is gaining access to new markets with the acquisition of PEC Group – headquartered in Duisburg, Germany.

The company expects to close the transaction by the end of 2016.

P

EC Group, founded in 2008, has a headcount of approximately 100 employees at its headquarters, the manufacturing site in Suzhou, China, and its sales locations in Pune, India, and Dubai, UAE. The company develops and produces anchor and installation channels, as well as accessories for fastening solutions for elevators, façades, plus tunnel and bridge construction applications.

“Due to our strong international growth we were looking for a partner to make better use of our market potential. Hilti is extremely well positioned to achieve this,” says Bernd Hebborn, PEC founder and CEO. Mr Hebborn and all other PEC team members will continue to be employed in their present functions.

By combining the product lines of the two companies, Hilti will become a one-stop provider offering a broader scope of fastening

solutions with anchor and installation channels. Furthermore, the manufacturing site in China will provide the company with additional capacities and optimise its access to Asian markets.

“We are convinced that the PEC Group acquisition will not only strengthen our business with anchor channels but also help us to further improve our leading position in the fastening technology sector,” comments Stefan Nöken, executive board member at Hilti.

The Hilti Group supplies the worldwide construction industry with technologically leading products, systems and services that provide construction professionals with innovative solutions and superior added value. The Group employs more than 23,000 people in over 120 countries. Hilti generated annual sales of CHF 4.4 billion (€4.05 billion) in 2015. The headquarters of the Hilti Group is located in Schaan, Liechtenstein.

Bufab third quarter sales increase 16%

Bossard agrees to buy Arnold Industries

Bufab Group reported net sales for 2016 Quarter 3 at SEK 668 million – up 16% on the same quarter 2015 (SEK 577 million).

N

ine month sales were SEK 2.15 billion, similarly 16% higher than the same period in 2015 (SEK 1.85 billion).

Organic sales rose 4%. Year to date operating profit rose to SEK 219 million (2015: SEK 159 million) with an operating margin of 10.2% (2015: 8.6%). Third quarter operating margin fell slightly to 9.8%. Gross margin for the rolling twelve months to end September was 28.6% compared with 27.5% for 2015 full year.

January to September profit after tax was SEK 155 million, 46% up on the same period in 2015 (SEK 106 million).

Commenting on the results, President & CEO Jörgen Rosengren noted: “Organic growth came from increased market share and slightly stronger underlying demand. The stronger gross margin was primarily due to cost savings in sourcing. Acquisitions contributed to the improved operating margin despite Quarter 3 operating expenses being ‘somewhat high’.”

Swedish net sales rose 6% in the quarter driven mainly by organic growth. Gross margin and operating margin both increased.

International sales rose 21% in the quarter as a result of acquisitions and market share growth. At 4%, organic growth was lower than earlier in the year due to weaker, although continuing, market growth.

Concluding, Jörgen Rosengren said: “So far this year, Bufab has performed well with both organic and acquired growth, higher margins, improved earnings and a healthy cash flow. Growing uncertainty in the business environment; a slightly weaker order intake; the prevailing exchange rates; and a risk of rising commodities prices; are challenges that we face towards the end of 2016 and in 2017.”

“Nevertheless, we intend to achieve continued favourable performance by means of increased market share and improved sourcing and logistics efficiency. We also see opportunities to make additional value-creating acquisitions.”

Currency exchange: 100 SEK approximately €10.3 at interbank rate

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Bossard Group has announced it is further expanding its presence into the north-east of the United States by signing an agreement to acquire Arnold Industries.

A

rnold generates US$40 million (€36.4 million) sales annually, supplying customers primarily in electronics, telecoms, medical technology and energy sectors. The company is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, and has subsidiaries in Ireland and China. It employs around 100 people.

Bossard said: “With its outstanding product portfolio of premium fastening solutions, Arnold Industries fits perfectly into Bossard’s corporate strategy.”

Bossard has been pursuing a strategy to consolidate its market position in the USA for several years. The acquisition of Aero-Space Southwest Inc in early 2015 was an important step in this direction; acquiring Arnold Industries extends this strategy.

Bossard already has a presence in a number of locations in North America, particularly in the Midwest (Iowa, Illinois), the south-east (Georgia, Tennessee), the south-west (Texas, Arizona) and on the west coast (California, Washington). Bossard also has subsidiaries in Canada and Mexico.

Since its founding in 1968, Arnold Industries has continually furthered its expertise and services in the fastening technology sector. The acquisition of Arnold Industries is ideal for reinforcing Bossard’s market position in a number of different industries, especially electronics and medical technology, which are well represented in the New York and Boston metropolitan areas.

Arnold Industries is also a well recognised expert in the energy and telecommunications sectors. Its product portfolio includes a number of well known brands, which Bossard also successfully sells in other markets.

Pending completion of the closing conditions, the purchase will be finalised by the end of the year. The parties have agreed not to disclose the sale price.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Insight into reliable bolting At the British & Irish Association of Fastener Distributors’ (BIAFD) autumn meeting, members received an excellent presentation on ‘Reliable bolting’, from Richard Waddington, sales manager at Nord-Lock Ltd.

A

t both its spring and autumn assemblies, the BIAFD always aims to include a thought-provoking keynote presentation on technical, regulatory or market issues relevant to its membership. Richard Waddington’s presentation to around fifty BIAFD members at the Hallmark Welcombe Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, certainly met that standard – generally acknowledged as one of the best recent presentations in terms of both content and delivery.

One of BIAFD’s primary aims is to ensure its members are better informed. As well as authoritative speakers, every meeting also includes detailed briefings on issues affecting member companies, ranging from regulatory updates to reviews of market and supply

Pühl implementing new ERP system Pühl GmbH & Co KG is currently implementing a completely integrated ERP system as part of its mission to provide the best possible service to its customers.

C

EO Hans Führlbeck, who joined Pühl in December 2015, explains: “Previously the company’s ERP system was not fully integrated and it was clear that we needed to update the system to connect the whole order chain from incoming raw materials to after sales service.”

The new ERP system will enable Pühl to provide customers with an even better service; better time to quote; as well as increased on-time deliveries – which will be one of the biggest gains for customers. “This has been much more than just an update, we have looked to integrate everything,” mentions Herr Führlbeck. “Of course when you introduce a new system there are always a few bugs, but we are making progress all the time and we are confident that by the end of the year the process will be complete.”

In addition to the new ERP system, Pühl has also invested in a new storage system, as well as having introduced organisational structural changes in logistics. Plus, the company has recently bought two new 400 tonnes presses.

“Cost wise we currently have a good mass production capability,” points out Herr Führlbeck. “We are therefore looking at combining this experience of standard parts with technology for special parts. Looking forward this will mean we can focus more on drawing parts, and more complex parts, to grow the business.”

Herr Führlbeck concludes: “We are always looking to improve and get better, whilst increasing productivity. We are in a good position going forward and the new ERP system will enable us to set the company base up for the next 10 to 15 years.”

18

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

chain conditions. Between meetings, members are kept up to date with regular email bulletins and briefings, and can contact the association for support and information on pretty much anything affecting the UK and Irish fastener distribution sector.

Member companies also have access to BIAFD’s 150 page ‘Introductory Training Manual’, an invaluable tool for new recruits or to refresh longer serving employees’ knowledge. It is not all serious; every meeting concludes with a relaxed dinner at which members can network or simply enjoy good food and wine.

For more on BIAFD membership visit www.biafd.org or email info@biafd.org.uk

Lueg celebrates 50th anniversary 2016 has been a year of celebration for Lueg-Stanztechnik e.K as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, as well as the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities.

S

econd generation owner Sabine Lueg explains that the 50 th anniversary is a real landmark for the family-based business. Initially founded by Sabine’s parents, the company has grown to manufacture stamped and bent parts and fasteners, such as washers, according to DIN/ISO standard, and customer drawings or samples, at its production plant in Herscheid, Germany.

Sabine works with her sister – based in the office – and her brother – in the tool shop. “We are proud to celebrate our 50 th anniversary and to still be a family-based business that has retained the experience and knowledge from the previous half a century.”

A key development for the company has been the addition of a recently refurbished machine that has enabled Lueg-Stanztechnik to expand its capabilities to washers with a thickness up to 8mm – helping to open up new opportunities and markets.

“Our washers are available in stainless steel, copper, and aluminium, and can be used in a variety of industries including petrochemical, oil, and civil engineering,” points out Sabine.

In addition to the processing of standard materials, Lueg-Stanztechnik is an expert in the processing of materials with special requirements including duplex/super duplex, corrosion resistant steel, heat resistant alloys, and numerous of other materials.

The company also has a website available in English and German, as well as individual landing pages in Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Czech, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish and Hungarian. “Being online is very important to us,” explains Sabine. “It enables us to showcase our wide range of capabilities, as well as reach new customers around the world.”

FA S T E N E R S & F I X I N G T E C H N O L O GY With over 125 years‘ experience, REYHER is one of Europe‘s leading distributors of fasteners and fixing technology supplying customers worldwide.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tentec opens in Aberdeen Atlas Copco Bolt Tightening Solutions has underlined its commitment to the energy sector by opening a new regional office in Aberdeen, UK.

D

ue to the increase in interest from the oil and gas industry in Scotland for the Tentec range of hydraulic bolt tensioners and torque wrenches, Atlas Copco Bolt Tightening Solutions will open a new office in Dyce on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

The new premises will initially be manned by Peter Matthews, the recently appointed regional sales manager for Scotland. There will be a full stock of Atlas Copco’s Tentec range of products available for hire including flange handling equipment and nut splitters, as well as the well known Tentec range of hydraulic bolt tensioners and torque wrenches.

As well as product hire, Peter will be available to provide local support and technical advice to customers within the region.

“The opening of the new office is a further commitment by Atlas Copco Bolt Tightening Solutions to this extremely important marketplace,” says Peter.

“We are committed to helping energy companies enhance their operations through the provision of reliable and accurate products, as well as providing valuable engineering expertise and advice.”

Clevtec unveils efficient new UK warehouse Clevtec’s new 15,000 square foot (approximately 1,393m2) warehouse is now fully operational. The new facility allows the UK manufacturer to streamline processes and enhance service provision to OEM and distributor customers throughout the UK and Europe.

I

deally located in Wednesbury, West Midlands, at the heart of the UK’s motorway system, the new facility incorporates on-site packaging for bulk and small packs, optical sorting machines and extensive stockholding.

Clevtec is a trading arm of Clevedon Fasteners and, together, the companies have built a reputation of excellence in the manufacture of cold forged and threaded fasteners, including self-clinching studs, weld bolts, as well as solid, semi tubular and self-piercing rivets. These fasteners are available in a variety of materials including steel, stainless steel, brass and aluminium.

Clevtec also manufactures the trademarked Bolt Lok™, which is available in truss, brazier and countersunk head styles and includes 12 products covering grip ranges from 1.6mm to 22.2mm.

Clevtec and Clevedon are building a growing reputation for supplying bespoke, cost-effective fastening application solutions and have overcome many technical challenges in terms of product performance and precision engineering.

Clevtec supplies a diverse range of OEM and distributors throughout the UK and Europe. This new investment was prompted by the growing needs of its customer base and comes on the back of earlier investments in additional machinery and testing facilities.

“Customer satisfaction is at the heart of our operation and this new warehouse allows us to improve our service and provide ex-stock delivery on 70% of the products in our range,” commented Managing Director Steve Hardeman. “It is a credit to our dedicated team that we moved 600 pallets, requiring 20 articulated truck deliveries, containing 70 million parts covering over 1,200 product lines, in just three days.”

20 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Francis Kirk Group plans ambitious export drive for Middle East Francis Kirk Group has expanded its geographical reach with the appointment of a distribution partner in the Middle East.

F

rancis Kirk Group expects the move will have a key part to play in the future growth of the fifth generation business and is expected to increase turnover by the end of 2017 from GB£4.75 million to GB£7 million. Francis Kirk is working with The Alipour Company in Tehran, Iran, to capitalise on opportunities in the automotive sector and new markets across the Middle East.

Developments will be mainly driven by exports of the company’s Philidas automotive and industrial fastening products. Philidas is a specialist nut used in the production of Peugeot cars, but it also has wide ranging applications in the oil, mining, rail and earth moving machinery sectors, which are well represented in the region.

Tom Kirk, managing director of Francis Kirk Group, commented: “The Middle East offers us huge potential – in terms of size, scope, wealth, workforce capability and the desire to work with the West. There is also a real kudos that they are buying quality products from a British company and they are very keen to invest in the UK to help promote and develop their own country.”

Francis Kirk Group’s move into the Middle East market follows the highly successful European expansion of Philidas. The company acquired the brand and relaunched it in 2013 and it has since also performed very well in markets in the USA, the Far East and India.

Tom Kirk concludes: “Export has always been key to our business. Only five years ago – before changes to suppliers and their distribution policies resulted in a refocus for us – export accounted for 40% of our turnover.

Then it dipped. We’ve concentrated on redeveloping exports again and are delighted with the progress we’ve made. Today, exports account for 20% of our turnover and we are committed to further increasing it to 50% over the next five years.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

BIAFD visits British Steel Wire Rod Mill In October thirty managers from members of the BIAFD visited the British Steel Wire Rod Mill in Scunthorpe to hear and see first-hand how the main raw material for fastener manufacturing is produced.

T

he visit was part of the British & Irish Association of Fastener Distributors’ ongoing campaign to ensure its members are better informed. This was BIAFD’s first visit to the Scunthorpe mill since Greybull Capital acquired Tata’s Long Products Europe and created the new British Steel.

The BIAFD delegates received informative presentations on the wire rod production process from Sophie Day, British Steel’s product marketing manager for wire rod and semi-finished products, and Paul Cockram, technology manager, wire rod. These were followed by a guided tour of the Wire Rod Mill, allowing the BIAFD visitors to follow the complete process from the emergence of billets from the reheating furnace at up to 1,200ºC, through the series of roughing, intermediate and finishing mills, during which the wire rod accelerates to the pace of a 100 metre sprinter, before being coiled onto Stelmar conveyers for the critical process of controlled cooling. Finally the wire rod is compacted, strapped and stored in British Steel’s automatic coil warehouse.

For most BIAFD visitors it was a rare, first opportunity to see one of the largest scale industrial processes in the UK – a cogent reminder of the massive precision engineering process even before the wire is manufactured into fasteners.

BIAFD vice-chairman and managing director of Bollhoff Fastenings Ltd, Andy Witts, joined the tour. “British Steel’s welcome and organisation was excellent and provided us all with both a clear insight into the wire rod manufacturing process and a rare opportunity to witness its scale and drama. It was a remarkable and unforgettable experience and BIAFD is extremely grateful to British Steel for the substantial investment, not least in time and people, in welcoming and informing our members.”

BIAFD organises similar seminars and tours at cold heading and hot forging plants in the UK and is planning a full programme of educational visits for 2017. Members also have the full use of BIAFD’s Introductory Training Manual, which has become an invaluable tool for introducing new recruits to the industry and refreshing the knowledge of longer standing employees.

For more about BIAFD and membership visit www.biafd.org or email info@biafd.org.uk For more about British Steel visit www.britishsteel.co.uk

22 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

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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 Documents published by the European Commission last month make it abundantly clear it is intent on arming itself far more effectively to apply much tougher anti-dumping duties and to ensure they take effect more rapidly.

W

hen a new investigation on carbon steel fasteners from China might be initiated remains far from clear. If the Commission garners support for its plans, however, they will unquestionably have a major impact on the fastener industry – for better or worse depending on

your position in it.

In recent steel anti-dumping judgements, the Commission has sharpened its attack on imports of dumped products. Provisional duties have been applied earlier than the customary nine month period and the Commission has said it aims to get this timing down to seven months from opening an investigation. It has also deployed import registration, in order to subsequently backdate definitive anti-dumping duties to cover goods imported several months before provisional duties were brought into force.

Technically the Commission could backdate definitive duties to the start date of an investigation. This is highly improbable given the imperative of demonstrating to the WTO, if called to do so, that it has carried out a proper investigation.

Nevertheless, even within existing EU trade defence legislation, the relatively ‘safe’ window for importers to bring in goods and not incur retrospective anti-dumping duties is shortening, potentially to no more than four months from when the investigation starts.

The inclusion of fasteners within the prior-surveillance licensing regime has also evidenced that, when it comes to EU trade defence policy, they are inextricably intertwined with the politically far more potent and charged steel sector.

Now the Commission has opened a powerful and urgent initiative to overcome previous reticence in the European Council to ‘modernise’ EU trade defence law. Read the ‘Special report’ on pages 10 – 12 for the full details.

Suffice it to say here that the Commission has concluded it must arm itself to apply much heavier duties whenever it finds evidence of state originated distortion in a particular product sector. That the Commission sees steel and steel products, including fasteners, as one such in China is obvious.

The Commission’s proposals entail legal changes to remove current constraints on imposing higher duties, bringing the EU close to USA and Canadian practice, which has resulted in duties well above 200% in some steel cases.

The Commission has also made it clear that, regardless of the country of origin, if it determines there is significant state induced distortions on export pricing, it wants to continue to apply the so-called analogue country mechanism, which largely drove the initial 85% duty level applied to fasteners in 2009. If successful, this initiative would seem to ‘dodge’ the highly contentious issue of whether China should be granted market economy status and give the Commission wide reaching powers to attack subsidy, wherever it identifies it as existing.

If you believe, as I do, that it is purely a matter of when, not if, the Commission initiates a new carbon steel investigation these are game changing developments for the European fastener industry.

As always, this magazine will follow developments acutely and share its findings at www.fastenerandfixing.com

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NORTH AMERICAN NEWS

by John Wolz, editor, GlobalFastenerNews.com

Pac-West: Nickel, steel and freight rates cause pricing uncertainty Pacific-West Fastener Association panelists Tim Roberto and Simmi Sakhuja offered insights on nickel pricing, steel costs and freight rates which impact fastener prices.

T

im Roberto, president of Star Stainless Screw Company, traced the price of nickel from a peak in September 2015, then plummeting to a low in February 2016. The February nickel price of US$3.77 per pound was even below the US$4.39 low of December 2008. Since February nickel prices have bounced up 26.25%.

Nickel is the leading indicator of stainless pricing, Roberto noted. It is between 30% and 40% of pricing. More than two-thirds of nickel goes into stainless steel production.

A major factor in the price reduction at the start of 2016 was an economic downturn in China. A 51% majority of the world’s nickel consumption is by China, added Roberto.

An uncertain factor in coming months is a possible reduction in nickel production in the Philippines where the new president, Rodrigo Duterte, is focusing on environmental compliance in mining, Roberto said.

Production will continue to lag in 2016 and

the low nickel prices limit investment in new capacity. Economists predict a 1.8% global output increase in 2017 with higher nickel prices and moderate demand increase.

Roberto pointed out that fastener buyers need to be aware of more than current stock costs, such as calculating the replacement cost of inventory with fluctuating prices.

Freight rates are a major concern in the coming year, Stelfast Inc owner Simmi Sakhuja told the Pac-West audience. Among the freight issues are new Verified Weight Requirements as of July, followed by the Hanjin bankruptcy. Then in September APL and US Lines combined operations.

The weight issue involves stacking containers on ships according to weight – with heavier containers lower. For example, there is a weight difference between a container with washers versus Grade 8 fasteners.

The price of steel in China has direct impact on fasteners and by the end of

summer the steel cost was 31% higher than at the end of 2015, Sakhuja pointed out.

There was a surplus of steel and flat pricing at the beginning of 2016, she noted. But in preparation for the G20 meetings held in September, China reduced production plus Europe started buying steel from China.

Importers can provide distributors with information on freight and steel prices so salespeople “have the tools to educate customers”, Sukhuja said.

Steel and freight prices “will continue to be a concern”. The uncertainty forces fastener buyers to “use a dart board” for purchasing decisions and “hope for stability”, Sakhuja observed. A key is distributors creating the “right partnerships” and having the “right conversations with partners”. The supply levels must focus on “what we need for customers, not what we need to fill racks”.

How the Hanjin bankruptcy affected the US fastener industry The bankruptcy of South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping Co – the world’s seventh largest shipper – had limited impact on US fastener companies.

A

t the time of the bankruptcy the Wall Street Journal reported “as much as US$14 billion (€12.8 billion) worth of cargo stranded at sea, sending its owners scurrying to try to recover their goods and get them to customers, according to industry executives, brokers and cargo owners”.

Bruce Wheeler of Star Stainless Screw Company began counting containers on Hanjin ships when the bankruptcy hit the news.

“It turned out we only had 30-some containers on their ships,” Wheeler found. “Some of the containers arrived at the port a day prior to the filing,” Wheeler explained. “Once we agreed to pay all outstanding charges these were immediately released.”

Peggy Hsieh of Brighton-Best International – which does not deal directly with Hanjin and thus does not have fasteners stuck on its ships –

26 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

said ocean freight carriers had pushed prices up 100% to 200% for pre-Christmas shipping. “In the short term, all industries – including the fastener industry – will feel the impact of these higher prices and squeezed supply, which will inevitably delay future shipments.”

Mike Wrenn of Lindstrom Metric LLC said it did not ship with Hanjin but the “longer term impact is harder to gauge”. He added: “Reduced capacity will bring higher costs.” Beyond the fastener industry, Simmi Sakhuja of Stelfast Inc predicted the bankruptcy may “cause issues for any industry that is importing material”.

According to Solon.com, the problem “that imperils the rest of the container industry is that it was too bullish and built too fast. Now it’s at the mercy of a supply and demand imbalance – too many ships, not enough cargo”.

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ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES A family owned business since 1955, ND Industries specializes in the development of innovative materials and processes which increase the safety and reliability of fastener assemblies.

ND serves a global market with 13 divisions in the continental US, facilities in Taiwan, China, and Turkey, and licensees around the world. ND’s core business revolves around the application of a wide variety of materials onto fasteners and assemblies to aid in functions such as locking, sealing, masking, lubricating, and noise and vibration dampening. ND also manufactures a line of bottled products under the Vibra-Tite® brand name for MRO and retail use.

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

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

ECO-LOC™ The consistent performance of a solvent-based epoxy threadlocker, in an environmentally friendly, low VOC water-based formula. Eco-loc can be applied to internal or external threads and remains inert until assembly.

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

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

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

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

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THERMAL DEFENDER®: SPATTERNIX® A weld nozzle and tip coating formulated to be the most durable and effective solution for weld spatter prevention on the market. Spatter-nix is adhered to parts beforehand and can be stored until necessary for use.

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

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MICROBOND® WASHERS Dry to the touch adhesive washers activated by pressure during fastener installation. Locks and seals under the head of the fastener, providing a wide range of benefits when compared to metal lock washers or neoprene.

STAY-PUT® WASHERS Whether you’re looking for pre-assembly of parts, temporary retention, or an alternative to SEM Screws, Stay-Put simplifies the process by making practically any metal washer self-retaining.

NORTH AMERICAN NEWS

Trend Report: North American distributor Q2 sales up 7.5%

Wheeler: Not going to business school helped career

Second quarter 2016 sales rose 7.5% over the same period of 2015 for distributors participating in the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) Trend Report.

Bruce Wheeler, chairman of Star Stainless Screw Company, was inducted into the National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo ‘Hall of Fame’ during the 2016 trade show in Las Vegas, USA.

North-east US distributors reported the biggest gain averaging 10.4%, followed by 10.1% for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Canadian distributors averaged a 31.8% sales increase.

The only US region showing decline was North Central, which averaged a 6.5% decline in sales.

Other regional averages: North-west up 6.5%, Rocky Mountain 6.4%, Pacific 6%, South Central 4.5%, mid-west 3.2%, and south-east 2.6%.

The STAFDA averages were higher than the Dodge Data & Analytics for the first six months of 2016, which showed construction down 11% from the first half of 2015. However, the 2015 numbers were bolstered by thirteen “exceptionally large projects valued at US$1 billion or more”, versus only four such projects this year.

Würth Service Supply building new HQ Würth Service Supply Inc is relocating its Indianapolis headquarters to a larger facility, creating up to 60 warehouse and administrative jobs by 2020.

T

he distribution company broke ground in nearby Greenwood, IN, on the US$11.5 million, 230,000 square foot facility, which will be 82,000 square foot larger than the current headquarters at 4935 West 86th Street.

“This location enhances our logistics network and will enable us to aggressively grow the business,” stated Würth executive VP Marc Strandquist.

Auto Bolt expands capacity Auto Bolt Company has expanded production capacity by adding a M24 National 4-die bolt maker for larger diameter long length fasteners.

F

ounded in 1948, independently owned Auto Bolt manufactures cold headed bolts, pins and rivets for the industrial, military, agricultural, construction and automotive markets. Auto Bolt is located in Cleveland, OH.

30 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

W

heeler said not going to business school may be the key to his success. “I never learned the proper way of doing business,” Wheeler told the induction audience. “That forced me to develop on my own.” He learned to “get creative” instead of following trends.

As he worked with “unconventional” Wayne Golden at Star Stainless they “fed off each other”, Wheeler said. “We don’t conduct business in a perfect world,” Wheeler reflected. That makes projections as taught in business school invalid.

Wheeler started in the warehouse at Star Stainless in 1973 when there were 40 employees at one location. Today there are 400 employees and 14 locations.

He has watched half a dozen stainless fastener suppliers come and go during his Star Stainless career. Noting that Star’s “claim to fame is inventory”. Wheeler added: “You can’t sell from an empty wagon.”

Star Stainless ignores the business school 80/20 rules on inventory.

“Customers want inventory,” he declared.

Star Stainless earned the loyalty of employees in the ‘Great Recession’ which began in 2008. Though sales dropped 35%, “we didn’t layoff employees.” Wheeler noted. Today employee turnover is “low – non-existent” at Star Stainless.

Wheeler cautioned the industry on having company debt. Wheeler also advised the industry to “have fun” and when “the parade goes right, you go left”.

Accurate Screw receives AS9100 certification Accurate Screw Machine, a division of MW Industries Inc, has received aerospace AS9100 Rev C certification for its New Jersey manufacturing plant.

C

hris Thomas, VP and general manager at Accurate Screw, commented: “Certification to the demanding standards required

by AS9100 proves our commitment to the aerospace market.”

“Ultimately, waste is reduced and overall costs are lowered by utilizing suppliers who are AS9100 certified,” Thomas added.

MW Industries CEO John Bagnuolo noted three other MW companies are certified: Atlantic Spring, Capital Spring, and Helical Products Company.

Founded in 1967, and part of MW Industries since 1998, Accurate Screw Machine manufactures fasteners, custom and stock electronic hardware, and precision machined components for industries including aerospace, military, medical, electronics, telecommunications and metal fabricating. Accurate Screw is headquartered in New Jersey.

Illinois headquartered MW Industries supplies highly engineered springs, specialty fasteners, machined parts, and other precision components, to more than 23,000 customers in over 35 countries.

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

Fastener quality and production discussed at conference The fifth regular Wire-Fasteners conference took place in Cherepovets in September.

Key subjects were trends of development for Russian hardware production, current peculiarities of the hardware market, and special features in the work of metal trading companies.

A

mong the reports on fasteners were ‘China – quality or quantity?’ presented by Belsky V.A, the head of the department of foreign economic relations and sales of Rechitza Hardware Plant, and ‘Rational structure of mass production of fasteners’ by Lavrinenko Y.A, the leading researcher of the FSUE NAMI testing centre.

After the conference, participants toured the production facilities of Severstal-Metiz Group.

Official opening ceremony of OBO Bettermann production centre On 29th September 2016 the official opening ceremony of the new plant of OBO Bettermann took place in the Special Economic Zone in Lipetsk, located some 440km south-east of Moscow.

O

BO Bettermann specialises in the production of cable support systems, lightning protection systems and fasteners. The new production centre is one of the biggest and the ninth consecutive production facility established by OBO Betterman.

Investment in the project exceeded two billion rubles (around €30 million).

The production centre occupies a six hectare site with a total plant area of 20,000m2.

The company expects to provide 200 jobs in a high-tech and high efficient production.

Currently the factory employs 100 specialists.

At the opening ceremony, Ulrich Bettermann, president of OBO Bettermann, noted that, in spite of the crisis in the global and Russian economies, as well as stagnation of prices for hydrocarbons, the trend for less Russian dependence on raw material production creates new opportunities for the development of the knowledge economy and the opening of high technology productions. These particular conditions, as well as the growing demand for high-quality goods and equipment for electrical installations, led the management to decide to further extend the business internationally.

“My son is present here, as well as the head of the federal district, region and economic zone,” added Ulrich Bettermann. “We have a very important decision in opening another factory in the Lipetsk Special Economic Zone. It will produce galvanised goods. Originally we intended to open the plant in Romania, but we have moved it to the Russian territory.”

“In the next five years we hope to reach 15% of Group income from Russian companies,” added Andreas Bettermann, fourth generation head of OBO Bettermann.

Taking into account the strategic location of Russia, OBO Bettermann considers exporting from the Lipetsk plant to neighbouring countries including China, as one of the promising areas of the development for its Russian facilities.

32 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Russian Fixings Association founded A new professional community has been founded in the Russian construction market under the name of Association of Manufacturers and Distributors of Fixing Systems. Its founders are Bau-Fix, Vip-systems, fischer, Hilti and Sormat.

T

he association intends to attract new members – participants in the market specialising in the field of anchoring equipment, assembly systems and fasteners – who share the statutory objectives of the association and are interested in establishing fair rules in the market and civilised competition.

The main goal of the association is to increase the level of quality and safety on the market of fixing systems. To reach this, the association plans to actively assist in creation of the normative base in this area. A significant role will be given to the interaction with the regulatory bodies and professional community. The establishment of the Supervisory Council is planned within the framework of the new organisation, its members being representatives of special science and research institutions, laboratories, magazines and government agencies.

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ASIAN NEWS

Raw material review Baosteel and Wuhan will achieve 2016 capacity cuts State run Chinese steel giants Baosteel Group and Wuhan Iron & Steel Group (WISCO) will achieve their targeted cuts in capacity this year according to official news agency Xinhua.

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he combined planned reduction for two of China’s largest steel makers is 7.19 million tonnes. Over three years the two groups intend reducing capacity by 21.4 million tonnes though a combination of merger, restructuring and actual capacity elimination. In June it was announced plans were being developed for Baosteel to fully take over WISCO. Merger plans will require approval from the appropriate authorities.

Asian steel prices increase on higher raw materials Taiwan’s China Steel Corporation (CSC) has announced an average 3.7% (around US$19/tonne) domestic increase for December on plate, hot and cold rolled steel.

A

ccording to the Taipei Times there was no increase on wire rod or bar. The increases reflect a sharp increase in the cost of coking coal, FOB (free on board) prices of which have more than doubled since June to in excess of US$220/tonne. The cost of iron ore has also increased, albeit marginally. CSC says its production costs have increased US$80/tonne but it has absorbed three quarters of the increase at this stage to support downstream, export oriented Taiwan businesses. Asian competitors are also increasing Q4 prices, with increases in Japan of as much as US$100/tonne and China’s Baosteel implementing four consecutive monthly increases.

Overall steel material costs are reckoned to have increased by around 44% but this is relative. In December 2015 costs were close to a ten year low.

34 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Chinese output and exports still growing Xinhua’s report ‘Baosteel and Wuhan will achieve 2016 capacity cuts’ (article on left) does not, however, reference recent World Steel information demonstrating that overall Chinese steel production – distinct from capacity – continues to grow this year, driven by higher steel prices and the return to profitability of regional mills, many of which were technically insolvent previously.

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he World Steel Association reported that, for the first nine months of 2016, Asia produced 825.9 metric tonnes (mt) of crude steel, an increase of 0.6% over the first three quarters of 2015. China’s crude steel production for September 2016 was 68.2mt, an increase of 3.9% compared to September 2015. Japanese output fell in September by 1.5% year-on-year to 8.4mt of crude steel in September 2016. South Korea’s crude steel production was 5.7mt in September 2016, up by 1.1% on September 2015.

China exported 8.8mt of steel in September compared with 9mt in the same month of 2015 – indicative that widespread trade defence measures are taking effect alongside weaker global demand for steel. However, China’s exports in the first nine months of 2016 were 2.4% up year-on-year to 85.1mt.

In contrast the EU produced 121.3mt of crude steel during the first nine months of 2016, down 4.8% compared to the same period in 2015. North America’s crude steel production in the first nine months of 2016 was 83.9mt, a decrease of 1.4%. CIS production was broadly unchanged year-on-year.

Raw material trends Since 2013 when coking coal prices were around US$150/tonne FOB (free on board) there has been a long-term deflationary trend, with prices falling to below US$70/tonne in late 2015.

T

he current rise has been triggered primarily by China’s clamp down on excess coal capacity and air pollution. This has been exacerbated short term by floods in Shanxi province reducing supply. Analysts and miners are, however, cautious about the longer-term sustainability of the prices.

Spot iron ore (62% Fe content) CIF (cost, insurance and freight) prices to Chinese ports have also risen recently but by little more than 5% to approximately US$62/tonne. Futures trading suggests modest further appreciation, possibly to around US$70/tonne. Brazil’s Vale has significantly reduced its 2016 output forecast suggesting a shortfall of more than 40 metric tonnes. Rio Tinto has been affected by logistical bottlenecks but is only forecasting a supply reduction of a few percent.

ASIAN NEWS

Mixed Taiwanese feelings over ‘Brexit’ In a report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan), the fastener industry of Taiwan states that the UK’s exit from the EU will not affect the industry in the short term. The hand tool industry, however, states that the UK’s drop in domestic demand and the change in the exchange rate will pose an impact.

A

utomotive component makers say there will be more trade barriers in the European market and their short term sales will decrease. Machinery makers say ‘Brexit’ does not obviously affect the industry for now, but they are concerned about the possible demand slowdown in the long-term.

After ‘Brexit’ the UK will have to re-negotiate with South Korea on free trade agreement and accordingly Taiwan will have a chance to compete with South Korea fairly. In 2015, Taiwan exported US$3.78 billion (€3.44 billion) worth of goods to the UK, including mobile phones, screws, nuts, bikes, and automotive components. The value accounts for 1.35% of Taiwan’s total export value. The UK is Taiwan’s 3rd largest export destination in Europe.

Cheaper, stronger magnesium alloy for screws Professors at the Toyohashi University of Technology have developed a new technology to enhance magnesium alloy, enabling it to maintain strength without inclusion of the expensive rare metal yttrium.

M

agnesium alloy is highly anticipated for applications in lightweight structural material. The new technology results in a reduction in cost of around 80%. The new magnesium alloy has potential for use in small drones, cars, screws, and phones.

The process involves putting a common magnesium alloy bar into a die and press working it, so the super-micro needle shape structure overlaps and increases strength. In trial manufacture, the adopted maximal tensile strength was as high as 50kg/mm2 and the resulting strength was 20% more than that of alloy mixed with rare metal.

The university will team up with Kawamoto Heavy Industries Co Ltd and deliver rods of 2cm diameters. They will also develop rods of 5cm diameters.

The future target price is to reach as low as one tenth of the original.

Indian fastener manufacturers lobby steel minister A delegation from the Fastener Manufacturers Association of India (FMAI), led by President Narinder Bhamra, met Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, to appraise him of problems faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the procurement of steel.

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he delegation emphasised that domestic steel costs are too high compared with the international market.

Mr Bhamra said: “We informed the steel minister that the absence of government control over prices of steel products and absence of a market regulator is hampering the growth of the MSME industry in India.”

He also added: “We also discussed the issue of anti-dumping duty on steel imports due to which the prices of steel have gone up

by Rs 3,000 (€40) to Rs 5,000 (€67) per tonne, which is impacting the production of fastener manufacturers in Punjab.

“The businessmen also requested the minister to recommend anti-dumping duty on imports of finished products so local manufacturers of engineering products can prosper and develop the industry further.”

Others present in delegation were Gagan Sahni, Sanjeev Batra, Vivek Bohra, Atul Sethi, Vikramjeet Bhamra, Sarabjit Singh and Jasdeep Thukral.

New high strength aluminium tapping screw Yamashina Corporation, the Japanese industrial screw maker, has rolled out a new high strength aluminium tapping screw, which can tap into a wide range of materials including soft resin and engineered plastic with 50% polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or glass fibre.

Y

amashina points out the new screw offers reduced cost and a thermal expansion rate close to iron screws that resists screw fall-out caused by thermal change. It’s aluminium composition also means it is not affected magnetically and it is recyclable.

The screw has an asymmetric, acute-angle thread design to make tapping easier. Threads will not be harmed by the force applied on the flank of the bearing surface.

The screw has applications in the automotive, machinery and medical equipment sectors.

All reports by Fastener World Magazine

36 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

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

Leaving the intensive care unit?

After 21 months Brazilian industrial production has halted a consecutive cycle of contraction.

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lthough still very ‘shy numbers’, the Sondagem Industrial CNI report from the National Confederation of Industry Brazil (CNI), released at the end of September 2016, reported that Brazilian industrial production stopped falling compared with August, as had been the case for 21 consecutive previous month-on-month figures.

However, capacity utilisation remains low (66%) – the same as last month. Looking at the larger industries separately, the data is more favourable with production evolution showing growth in August compared to July, and the utilisation rate of installed capacity among these companies reaching 71% – a full percentage higher than in 2015.

Wind energy new bet for energy sector – and fasteners As Brazil has high-levels of wind as well as sun intensity, energy production companies are expanding their focus on capturing wind energy more and more.

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Robinson Lara, Dörken MKS and Adriana Martins, Zincagem Martins

38 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

his was clear during the trade fair dedicated to the wind power sector, Brazil Windpower 2016, held in Rio de Janeiro, soon after the Olympic Summer Games 2016. Brazil Windpower is the largest conference and exhibition in wind power in Latin America.

The event saw an expansion of exhibitors, especially companies from the fastener sector. These included Brazilian companies, such as Metaltork, Industrial REX, Metalbrax Indústria Metalúrgica, JEA and the debutant Rudloff Wind, as well as Dörken MKS – the global player in surface treatment products.

“Besides our strong activities in the global automotive sector, Dörken MKS has great know-how in wind power, onshore and offshore, which we showed, together with Zincagem Martins, our local partner company in applications services,” explained Robinson Lara, Brazilian sales manager, Dörken MKS. With the new Brazilian republic president, there are good provisions for strategically important sectors, such as oil and gas.

However, some time ago many fasteners manufacturers turned away from this market. This also occurred with companies that provided (or currently provide less) to the automotive market. Some now are obviously adjusting their compasses to new directions; in this case from where the wind is blowing.

BRAZILIAN NEWS

Sale increases for agricultural and road machines According to the Brazilian association of the automotive sector, ANFAVEA, domestic sales of agricultural and road machines rose month-on-month in September.

©AGCO Group

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NFAVEA reports that sales of agricultural and road machines also rose in the same month in 2015.

The total sold in September was 4,800 units, 6.2% more than August (4,500) and 22% more than September 2015 (3,900). The annual forecast indicates 2016 may end with 37,200 units of output in total, still 17% less than the 2015 total. However, the market recovery may accelerate, a scenario expected for 2017 onwards.

A recent interview in Revista do Parafuso with the Brazilian unit of the AGCO Group reported that the manufacturer of agricultural machinery predicted to produce approximately 16,800 engines this year, 17.46% more than the 13,600 produced in 2015.

Max Del wins Volkswagen Formel Q Capability certification

Domingos Spinelli new executive at Coventya Brazil The Brazilian business unit of Coventya started Quarter 3 with important news in the form of the arrival of Domingos Spinelli.

C About to celebrate 40 years in business, Brazilian fastener manufacturer Max Del received the first international audit Formel Q Capability (based on VDA 6.3 – process audit) from Volkswagen this year.

A

ccording to Anderson Biason, Max Del’s CEO, the audit result was a magnificent A-93% for product groups including bolts with low and high resistance, such as Grade 10.9 and 12.9. Now, Max Del is included in the select list of certified companies able to provide high strength bolts for the Volkswagen Group and all supply chain providers around the world.

40 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

oventya is a global specialty chemicals company supplying products for surface treatment, especially additives for electroplating and electroless metal coating.

With a degree in chemistry from Mackenzie University in São Paulo city, and majoring in the chemical technology of petroleum, Spinelli took over the regional oversight of Coventya Brazil. Operations for the south-east unit are headquartered in Diadema, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, a strategic region near the highest concentration of automakers and suppliers in South America.

Mr Spinelli has extensive experience in this sector and is internationally renowned. The most striking career passage in recent years was at SurTec Brazil, where he was partner and director, a role that ended after the sale to the Freudenberg Group in 2011.

COVER STORY

JCP: The ‘first name’ for technical knowledge With construction fixings used in a variety of base materials and connections – including critical applications – it is vital that suppliers provide a reliable service and product. Thanks to the experience and knowledge within the company, as well as its Anchor Calculation Program, JCP Construction Products Ltd is able to expertly supply this service and more.

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ounded in 2001, JCP Construction Products is part of the Hexstone group of companies and is a specialist supplier of construction fixings to distributors. Its in-depth product range varies from lightweight plastic plugs up to heavy-duty seismic anchors, which can be used in earthquake zones and power stations, plus a full range of chemical products.

“As a team we have over 40 years of experience in the fixings market and it is thanks to that knowledge we are able to offer a unbeatable range of products for customers and find the best solution for their fixing needs,” states Nick Beardon, general manager at JCP Construction Products. “All our products are supplied with a full technical specification and in many cases with a European Technical Approval/Assessment. This is imperative in an industry where quality and reliability are of paramount importance.”

42 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Working closely with manufacturers

Although JCP is a wholesaler, it produces its own technical information for products and works closely with manufacturers to guarantee the highest quality. “When you are working on ETAs for products, it is essential that you have a close relationship with your manufacturers,” comments Nick.

“That is the only way you can ensure the products meets the necessary standards.”

Nick adds: “We also develop new product ourselves, which involves going to the factories with our specification and assessing with the manufacturer if they can make it. There are then discussions and possibly modifications before the final product is produced, so it is crucial that you have an open two-way communication with your manufacturers.”

“According to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) – due to the fact we sell the products under our own name we are technically classed as a manufacturer,” points out Brian Deluce, technical manager at JCP Construction Products.

“We therefore make sure we are aware of all the requirements and regulations regarding manufacturing. That is one of the main reasons we joined the European Consortium of Anchor Producers (ECAP) in 2007.”

Brian continues: “ECAP gives us better contact with European regulations as they are being developed and enables us to further understand the changes that are happening. Recent examples include the changeover process to CPR, which made the use of CE marked products mandatory in safety critical applications.

Through ECAP we are also part of the different groups and discuss areas regarding the new European Assessment Documents (EADs). As an SME it gives us a voice and an input into the process, which is very important.”

Guaranteeing correct calculations

The Anchor Calculation Program (ACP), launched by JCP in 2009, has received growing interest over recent years. It provides engineers and specifiers with the ability to enter their criteria for job sites and calculate the correct JCP fixing for the application.

From its solid technical foundation it now includes a plethora of information, including fire data, seismic data, as well as considering anchor spacings, edge distances and a variety of embedment depths. Available as a free download from JCP’s website, users can easily input their information into the program and, using 3D graphics, it will consider all the available data and suggest what anchors are suitable. A large number of standard base plate and anchor configurations are available as well as a ‘custom geometry’ option. This allows for unusual base plate shapes and anchor positions, as well as moving anchors to obtain the optimum results.

“With an ACP it is vital the calculations are accurate and reliable because the anchors may be going into critical applications,” points out Brian. “That is why before any amendments or updates are made to the program, it is tested to the nth degree.”

“The ACP has proven to be a very good tool for us and we make sure it is constantly being developed and updated, as demand requires – such as regulations and processes changing,” comments Brian.

To add to the Anchor Calculation Program, JCP also now has a Resin Volume Calculator Program, which has been added to the website as a free download. It enables the user to calculate the approximate number of injection resin cartridges required to fill any number of holes of varying depths.

“The Anchor Calculation Program has proven popular with engineers and builders. We are sure that the Resin Volume Calculator Program will prove just as popular,” states Nick.

The in-house testing facility gives JCP the opportunity to evaluate the products it receives from its manufacturers, as well as carry out tests on new products. “If the initial tests are positive then we send the new product to an outside test house to get it evaluated,” explains Brian. “That way we have the raw data that is independent of ourselves.”

A key service that has received more interest from customers, especially within the last two years, is JCP’s ability to carry out on-site testing to confirm the suitability of the loadings on our anchors. “We can go onto a job site and conduct a product test if we are looking to get products approved for a job,” mentions Nick. “All our sales people are certified under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and we can produce reports for users and distributors on how the product performed. From our point of view, if we are on-site and help give that information it helps build the brand of JCP.”

Part of Hexstone Group

Being part of the Hexstone Group means JCP not only benefits from being an SME – flexibility, responsiveness, tightknit team, offering the personal touch – but also the additional benefits of being part of a bigger organisation.

“The Group has a very large supplier base, as well as customer base, so immediately there are interesting possibilities,” notes Nick.

“Also, having a common sales office means customers can order everything – nuts, bolts, nails, and fixings – in one go. It is a one stop shop.”

Nick continues: “When we first started, it was a case of steering our own ship, but we soon realised being part of Hexstone gave us access to a huge resource that was a leader in the market. We therefore quickly made the most of the opportunities being part of Hexstone provided.”

JCP’s stock is stored at the Group’s main warehouse in Stone, Staffordshire, which means the company is able to offer its customers a service level of the very highest standard, as well as good stock availability.

However, it is not only JCP that benefits from the relationship. “Because we are specialists in what we do, we can provide that knowledge to the other Hexstone group of companies,” mentions Brian. “In fact, we recently worked with Unifix on the ETA certification for its Thunderbolt™ product.”

Providing technical support

Whilst its stock is held in the Group’s main warehouse, JCP has a technical office in Teddington, Middlesex, where it carries out training courses and seminars. There is also a testing facility and a workshop for any tool maintenance.

“The Teddington office means we can run training courses for customers, as well as internal staff,” points out Brian. “Training can be tailored to suit the needs of the individuals and can include everything from basic anchor knowledge and range, right through to understanding ETA documents.”

Opportunities for the future

JCP is clear quality will continue to be a significant factor in the market. “You need to have ETA products in your portfolio if you are going to compete for business,” states Nick. “However, we are still finding some customers aren’t aware of what an ETA certificate actually is, even though they are asking for them.”

“One of the biggest challenges we have as an industry is educating customers on the capabilities of the anchors and the different technical aspects,” adds Brian. “We need to work with customers and explain what CE Marking and ETAs really mean, and why they are significant. It is about getting the knowledge into the market so customers know what products are available and the different options.”

“That is why the Anchor Calculation Program is so important,” says Nick. “It means customers can enter their information and get the correct product for the application.”

JCP’s ability to combine comprehensive technical information with a vast experience has seen it establish itself as an authority within the fixings sector. So what is the next step?

“Our aim for the next 5 years is to start to work with the larger engineers and specifiers and get our products specified for projects,” states Nick. “At the moment we get our products approved to say they are as good as the current products specified, but we want to be the ‘first name’ on the drawing.” www.jcpfixings.co.uk

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 43

INSIGHT

Barton intent on punching above its weight On 1st November 2015 Optimas Solutions acquired Barton Cold-Form; a strategic investment targeted at assuring supply chain security for critical European automotive customers. A year on, Executive Editor Phil Matten revisited the UK precision fastener manufacturer to hear from Managing Director Andrew Nuttall, how a transformed business is already delivering tangible benefits to Optimas and its customer base – with plenty more to come.

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he combination of direct-to-line feed and today’s volatile global socio-economic conditions means there has never been a greater imperative for OEMs, whether in the automotive or many other critical industrial sectors, to assure the security of their supply chain. This was the key context in which global supply chain management experts Optimas Solutions acquired Barton Cold-Form last November.

One of the longer established UK cold forming fastener manufacturers, Barton has for more than eighty years resolved the most complex of fastening challenges for engineers throughout Europe. At the end of 2006, having continuously grown to the extent its previous plant in Droitwich Spa was at bursting point, Barton relocated to a custom-built, 5,100m2 facility on the outskirts of the historic town. That move took an effective but definitely cramped production operation into a modern, efficient environment equal to the best in Europe.

Twelve months on and the transformation in the Barton operation, courtesy of around €2.5 million infrastructure investment from Optimas, is remarkable. Barton has substantially enhanced both cold heading capacity and capability through the acquisition of fifteen carefully selected machines. During the first quarter of 2016 most of the additional equipment was integrated to the existing machine park.

“That meant moving every piece of machinery on the production floor,” explains Andrew Nuttall. “The whole plant now sits in a completely new footprint, from the tool room through to the materials storage – including the logistical offices and inspection operations. The wash plant was swung round 180 degrees to improve production flow. This allowed us to structure the heading section in two banks, ensuring all the machines are serviced by our overhead crane system.”

“Walk round now and it feels right with the efficiency in work flow clear to see. Most importantly,” says Andrew, “we achieved all of that without any customer disruption at all.”

Key acquisitions included two Nedschroef four-die boltmakers, complementing three existing headers from the same maker. Each has been thoroughly overhauled and is already in service, running to optimum capacity. By the time this article is published, a National Machinery five-die parts former will return from Germany, having been completely rebuilt, and will be commissioned for production.

Barton also acquired two SACMA four-die headers, adding to five existing SACMA machines. Potential demand for the new SACMAs is building rapidly, so Andrew Nuttall expects to bring at least one into operation in 2017. Barton has increased from nineteen to thirty-two heading machines and also introduced six additional thread rollers. That enhances annual capacity on the current

44 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Barton Cold-Form, an Optimas company two-shift pattern by around 500 million pieces and radically strengthens the company’s capability to produce complex, quality critical parts.

Achieving such a significant increase in capacity and capability demanded an intensive “due diligence” process to determine which parts Barton should target to achieve the best possible return on investment and deliver maximum benefit to customers. “If you look at our typical parts profile,” Andrew Nuttall says, “they are special, technically challenging, parts which is what Barton has always been about. The new boltmakers, in particular, present opportunities to produce parts we could not previously consider.”

Optimas also invested substantially in upgrading and redesigning Barton’s tool room. “Some of the investment was in replacing equipment but we also acquired additional machinery,” mentions Andrew. “We work in partnership with world class tooling manufacturers worldwide and have been building closer relationships with UK tooling providers. The key focus for the tooling room is to ensure machine downtime is at an absolute minimum.”

Enhanced capability has not just come from additional equipment. Barton has now acquired the licence to produce Taptite® – facilitated by Barton’s sister plant in Chicago already holding a global licence. “We are in the process, now, of making our first Taptite® product,” explains Andrew Nuttall, “having hosted a training event in August, at which eighteen of our experienced engineers and manufacturing personnel were brought right up to speed. Now we are in the position to go out to Optimas customers and demonstrate we are a credible UK manufacturer of these parts.”

The breaking news is that Barton has just formalised an agreement to become the first European plant supplying the automotive sector to hold licences to produce Mortorq® and

BOOKMARK FASTENERANDFIXING.COM FOR MORE… INDUSTRY NEWS, EXHIBITION NEWS, INSIGHT, CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS, MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS, TECHNICAL, PRODUCT NEWS… www.fastenerandfixing.com

INSIGHT Mortorq® Super internal and external drives. “This is a really exciting agreement, for Barton and for Optimas as whole. It means we can offer existing and new customers a significant lightweighting opportunity with absolutely no compromise on product performance and installation reliability. We can combine the Mortorq drive with any thread form, which also gives benefits in confined space applications. We estimate a potential weight saving on the parts as great as 15%. On some of the larger diameter, high volume fasteners we already produce for automotive applications, that equates to a double-digit tonnage reduction on a single part.”

Barton has increased its skilled workforce to eighty to ensure seamless growth in production and a continuation of its high standards of customer service. Conscious of the aging skilled workforce issue that faces fastener production Europe-wide, Barton is also planning a new apprenticeship scheme next year aimed at ensuring essential skills continuity.

“Optimas is primarily a logistics and distribution expert, providing integrated supply management solutions to world-class customers. Integral to that is the ability to deliver highly engineered fasteners,” explains Andrew Nuttall. “Barton is here to support Optimas in ensuring excellence in that provision. We are an expert element in a wide ranging and complex supply chain. Barton is treated in exactly the same way as Optimas supply partners worldwide; subject to rigorous audit and constantly expected to demonstrate both commercial and technical competitiveness.”

“Barton’s major contribution is in introducing the manufacturing knowledge and experience possessed by day-to-day practitioners in those skills. We now support Optimas in developing and refining solutions for customers and in providing a benchmark for its global supply chain. We can respond to technical questions, propose new solutions or simply analyse the commercial breakdown of a part.”

“Where Barton really comes into its own within Optimas is our capability to take on challenging parts. That challenge may be logistical, providing a short-range response where demand fluctuates significantly. It may be technical, providing the benefit of a direct engineering relationship with the parts manufacturer.”

“All of it is backed by our own supply chain management, drawing quality assured materials from European mills and

holding inventory to ensure flexibility to respond to Optimas customer needs. We are closely, both geographically and commercially, linked to the UK’s major external processors for heat treatment, coatings and thread locking. The part we make in Droitwich moves no more than fifty miles for completion of all the processes. Right now, the ‘Brexit’ impact on currency, has further highlighted the value of Barton as a dependable and adaptable close range parts manufacturer.”

2017 will see Barton focus even more strongly on product development. While the business already has a strong track record, a key and very positive development has been the relocation of the Optimas technical laboratory to the Barton site. Completely distinct from Barton’s process control and final inspection resources, the modern, comprehensively equipped laboratory supports the whole of the Optimas European operation. “Previously based at our main logistics centre in Gloucester it was primarily an inspection facility,” says Andrew Nuttall. “Co-location with Barton’s enhanced manufacturing capabilities provides an outstanding resource to explore not just the returns to be derived from Barton’s new licences but also opportunities to develop our skills using more advanced, higher performance but demanding materials.”

Building on that opportunity Andrew Nuttall is keen to see Barton at the heart of a technology council to share best practice and state of the art knowledge throughout the Optimas network.

“Barton has a solid reputation in supplying demanding customers in twenty-one countries; many who deeply value the direct engineering relationship with the fastener manufacturer.

Optimas now possesses an in-house capability that can enhance the potency of its global supply chain management and engineering solutions package. In the last twelve months we have honed that capability, and will continue to do so, particularly in contributing to component lightweighting without sacrifice to engineering integrity. Optimas’ primary goal is to help its customers’ businesses grow, transforming their supply chain so they can transform their business. We’re just 80 amongst a nearly 2,000 strong global team but when it comes to delivering excellence, directly or indirectly to Optimas customers, we are definitely going to punch above our weight.”

46 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

ABA – a NORMA Group brand

™

THE TROUBLE-FREE, HIGH-PROOF, TIME-TESTED ORIGINAL ABA CLAMP. Today, industries of all types use ABA clamping products to connect vital lines of critical applications. Because demanding professionals know that we make no comprises on clamping force, tightening and breaking torque. Ever. Perhaps that’s why our clamps have become 10-2A-6-160301-SE

the industry benchmark. Our clamps with their iconic blue housing are synonymous with quality, reliability and safety the world over.

FROM ANDERSTORP, SWEDEN

INSIGHT

NORMA celebrates 10 years of moving forward This year NORMA Group celebrates its 10th anniversary, after it was formed through the merger of two former competitors – ABA Group and Rasmussen GmbH. Here we look at how NORMA has developed over the last decade, as well as the history that led to its creation. www.normagroup.com

© ABA archive

In 1896, Knut Edwin Bergström develops a hose clamp and founds the Swedish company Allmänna Brandredskapsaffären E. Bergström & Co or ABA for short.

3

© ABA archive

2

1

Among other products, Bergström invents a handheld fire hose with a flexible metal tube, mechanical fire ladders and special rescue ropes.

4 © ABA archive

In the following decades ABA gradually entered worldwide markets and developed semi-automatic machines in an early stage of industrial automatisation.

48 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

6 © Audi AG museum mobile

Already in 1932, DKW had become the second largest carmaker worldwide. Together with the German carmakers Audi, Horch and Wanderer, Rasmussen belonged…

© Audi AG museum mobile

5

In 1916, the German engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded the brand DKW. Rasmussen developed the steam powered car – DKW for short in German.

…to Auto Union AG – the forerunner of today’s Audi AG. The four rings still stand for the brand even today.

8

© Audi AG museum mobile

© Audi AG museum mobile

7

More than ten years later, in 1949, Ove Skafte Rasmussen, Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen’s son, established Rasmussen GmbH together with two business partners.

10

Since 2012, NORMA Group has gradually entered the global markets for irrigation, drainage and rainwater systems.

The increasing scarcity requires responsible use of water.

13

Today, NORMA Group has 22 plants and many distribution centres all over the world, at which 6,500 employees produce and ship products to customers in 100 countries.

Being a global market leader, NORMA Group manufactures and distributes about 35,000 different products, which are used in Formula 1 racing cars as well as…

15

© Trondheim Havn

© Chuljae Lee

14

In 2011, NORMA Group goes public. Listed in the SDAX index of the German stock exchange to start with, the company is included in the MDAX only two years later. © NORMA Group/Mats Samuelsson

© NORMA Group

12

© NORMA Group

In 1973, the product name NORMA, which had already been in use since the company was founded, is registered as a trademark.

11

In 2006, NORMA Group was formed through the merger of the two former competitors: ABA Group and Rasmussen GmbH. The company’s hour of birth was on 6th November 2006.

© NORMA Group

© Audi AG museum mobile

9

Rasmussen Junior laid the foundation in Frankfurt with a craft business for its own production site for hose clamps.

…on the cruise ship Queen Mary 2 and in the highest skyscraper in Europe, the Federation Tower in Moscow.

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 49

INSIGHT

Lederer – powered by efficiency With the ever growing demands of customers for quicker delivery and service, automated warehouses are becoming a vital tool for fastener distributors. Editor Will Lowry visited Lederer GmbH to find out how the recent addition of its automated warehouse has enabled the German-based company to further answer the needs of its customers.

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or almost 50 years Lederer has used its customer orientated philosophy to ensure it is always providing products and service its customers require. Nowhere is this more apparent than its headquarters, which has grown and developed over the years to incorporate six different building extensions into one seamless operation. The most recent addition is an automated warehouse that became fully operational towards the end of 2015.

“The automated warehouse was necessary for efficiency and staying competitive within the market, as well as the simple factor that we needed more space,” explains Markus Gebehenne, marketing manager at Lederer. “Due to the ongoing demands of customers, and projections for the future, it became clear that an automated warehouse was vital if we were to continue to offer customers a complete service.”

The construction of the automated warehouse was particularly challenging because of the substantial differences in ground level compared to the existing buildings. “There is a difference of almost 6m between the existing building and the automated warehouse,” points out Markus. “Therefore at the design stage we had to give a lot of thought and time to the logistics layout to ensure it was practical.”

Now complete and standing at over 14m high, the automated warehouse covers around 1,100m2 (approximately 45m x 25m) and

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has 34,000 storage spaces. In addition to the racking there is also 1.5km of automated conveyors, as well as two escalators that help combat the difference in ground level – moving products up and down between the two different levels automatically. Over 300 boxes can be moved in and out of the automated warehouse within one hour, with four control centres monitoring the weight and dimensions of every box to guarantee they are suitable for storage.

“There are some restrictions regarding the size of products, for instance there are a few unusually shaped products that cannot be stored such as 3m threaded rod,” points out Markus. “Apart from this we can store almost all of our products – with a maximum load of 42kg for each box.”

One of the biggest challenges of introducing the automated warehouse was connecting the logistics software to Lederer’s existing software system. “When you have an automated warehouse it is vital you have a ‘live’ connection that always shows the correct stock and works seamlessly,” mentions Markus. “However, you can’t stop the software and install it, you have to introduce it whilst still reliably supplying your customers. It is like trying to change a tyre on a moving car.”

Lederer knew it was critical that its automated warehouse software was accurate and dependable, which is why it operated both systems in parallel for three months, until it was completely happy the new system was reliable. A key part in ensuring this reliability are two backup mainframes – one in the office and one in the logistics complex – which make sure the system is constantly online, even if one server goes down.

“The warehouse has been operating for a year now and we are really seeing the benefits,” reports Markus. “Speed, efficiency and flexibility have undoubtedly been the big positives. We are now able to store products, pick products, and prepare products for shipping a lot more effectively, which all combines to improving the internal process and getting the product ready quicker for delivery to the customer.

Plus the amount of handling errors made has also reduced. If the product is stored properly then there can be no mistake in the picking process.”

The automated warehouse includes 34,000 storage spaces and 1.5km of automated conveyors

Optimising the production process

The introduction of the automated warehouse also led to the company changing the layout of its incoming and outgoing areas to get a better flow and process throughout the warehouse. Now, all relevant incoming goods are placed into boxes and quickly moved to the automated warehouse.

“With all of the different expansions we have introduced over the years, we cover a large area and it is important the production flow is as efficient as it can be,” adds Markus.

Lederer GmbH Established: 1970 Headquarters: Ennepetal, Germany Employees: 170 This commitment has seen Lederer also improving its manual picking area. This means operators can be given the quickest and most effective route for picking orders – again speeding up the process. “Optimising the commissioning process is vital as a distributor and we are always looking at how we can do things better,” comments Markus. “For instance, other developments we have introduced include 14 new packing stations, which have enabled us to reduce the manual work required by half and also helped our packing be as accurate as possible.”

Lederer has also spent the last year adding another two levels to the top of its office space. “Previously we were very tight for space,” comments Markus. “It has been a noisy process, but it has definitely been worth it.”

Meeting requirements for all products

Lederer has a vast product range that includes over 350 different product groups in normed and standardised fasteners made of stainless steel – including rods, washers, bolts, nuts, chains, sailing equipment (stainless steel), as well as products for the railway and solar industries.

Whilst most of the products are standard parts – DIN, ISO and L-parts (Lederer parts) – the company can also supply special

articles made to drawings or samples. Supplying nearly 1 billion articles to customers last year, Lederer is traditionally known for its stainless capabilities. However, it is also able to offer products in other materials and finishes.

“In total we have around 60,000 – 65,000 different articles, with around 22,000 normed and standardised items made of stainless steel,” mentions Markus. “The remainder is a mix of carbon steel, zinc plating and other materials. This shows we can meet the requirements for all products.”

A key factor for all the products Lederer supplies is the quality, which is guaranteed by the company’s in-house quality department in Ennepetal and its Fastener Quality Centre (FQC) testing facility in Shanghai, China, which is co-owned with Fastbolt GmbH. “The testing centre in Shanghai is very beneficial to us, as it enables us to carry out numerous tests and check the quality of the products at the source,” says Markus. “This ensures we receive the very highest quality products here at Ennepetal.”

In addition to the quality of the products, the service level provided is also important. “In today’s society the speed of business is increasing and customers want everything straight away,” states Markus. “If you cannot provide a quick service then you risk losing the business. Our online shop is very important to us, as it means we are able to be online with our customers and we can offer a quick service whilst providing the products they need.”

To add to the online shop Lederer also offers PDF catalogues that can be downloaded from the website. Registered customers can click on an article or product group in the PDF catalogue and automatically be given the price and availability information.

Showing its capabilities

Introducing an automated warehouse can be a tricky process, but Lederer has done it in a logical and structured manner. When combined with other investments, and process enhancements, the result is a company that is firmly establishing itself as a key player in the fastener distribution market.

“Most customers don’t realise how big our operation now is,” concludes Markus. “That is why we are inviting customers to come and see us – to show off our modern facility and so that they can see the complete capabilities of Lederer.” www.lederer-online.com

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www.nofmetalcoatings.com

INSIGHT

The Evotion Project: GESIPA®’s way into the future 2016 has been a very exciting year for GESIPA®. Not only has the company undergone a period of growth, which involved the recruitment of a large number of new employees, it has also been a year of physical growth – including the recent launch of the Evotion 2016 Project.

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ith a total amount of €15 million the Evotion 2016 Project involves GESIPA® investing the highest amount ever since the company was founded and, at the same time, involves the biggest construction project in the business’ 61 year history.

Evotion – what does this mean?

Evotion combines the terms ‘evolution’ and ‘motion’, which is to be supplemented by a huge portion of ‘emotion’ while the project is being realised. ‘Evolution’ describes GESIPA’s development into a perfectly organised, modern company that focuses on its core competences.

‘Motion’ means the development, the flow the company is currently in – many things have changed, the business has become better, faster, and more organised. Last but not least, ‘emotion’ is always involved when people join their forces to create something new.

Evotion will combine a variety of projects, with the main and core part involving the consolidaton of the entire European blind rivet production at the existing plant in Thal/Thuringia close to Eisenach, Germany. Once construction work is finished, GESIPA states that its plant will be the most modern one in its industry sector. By creating 80 new jobs mainly in the technical area, GESIPA will also remain one of the biggest employers in the Wartburg region.

As a next step, the entire space that will become available in the company’s headquarters in Mörfelden-Walldorf, close to Frankfurt, will be used to extend production capacities for GESIPA tools.

The symbolic turn of the sod in bright sunshine marked the start of a party with food and drinks

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All of GESIPA’s tools, which are used worldwide, have been produced in this plant since the 1960s. However, increasing sales numbers and a wider range of tools offered also meant that the company had reached its space limits in the headquarters. Now GESIPA plans to build a new big canteen and, in addition to the existing Demonstration Centre for setting tools, a new showroom for fasteners.

Plus, the research and development department will also be extended.

In the tool and services sector GESIPA is also putting a special focus on connecting setting tools to the internet, which will help GESIPA customers close the gap between the real and virtual world. In the future, tools will be able to register for maintenance, request service or place an order for new fasteners “totally on their own”. All these project related measures guarantee that GESIPA will develop innovative and market oriented high-quality products also in the future.

Groundbreaking ceremony

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 23rd September 2016 in Thal/Thuringia. Marking the start of the construction work to extend production and warehousing facilities to a total of approximately 15,000m². Construction work will take approximately one year.

The management and all staff were very pleased to welcome Wolfgang Tiefensee, minister of economic affairs of Thuringia, and Landrat Reinhard Krebs, district administrator, to join them for the ceremony. In all speeches it was pointed out unanimously that Thal as a production location provides some valuable advantages.

The most important criteria in favour of Thal were and are the well trained and motivated members of staff, a highly developed infrastructure, as well as efficient concentration of production volumes in the future.

After the speeches, and a lot of praise and recognition for the employees, the symbolic turn of the sod in bright sunshine marked the start of a party with food and drinks. During his stay Minister Tiefensee was also given a deeper insight into the secrets of blind rivet manufacturing.

“With the commitment to this project we are making GESIPA ready for future challenging requirements and to strengthen and extend its competitiveness substainably,” said Thomas Bamberger,

During the speeches praise and recognition was given to the well trained and motivated members of staff

managing director of GESIPA Blindniettechnik GmbH. “Concentrating the entire European blind rivet manufacturing at the Thal site and focusing on tool manfucturing in Mörfelden-Walldorf, as well as expanding R&D, will continue to guarantee decisive advantages in the market in the future.” www.gesipa.com

Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee (left) was given a deeper insight into the secrets of blind rivet manufacturing by Thomas Bamberger, managing director of GESIPA® (right)

GESIPA® Threaded Fasteners

Safe & reliable – GESIPA®‘s complete process control system with blind rivet nuts, rivet nut studs and setting tools GESIPA® blind rivet nuts and blind rivet studs provide solutions to join mixed materials offering light-weighting advantages to body-in-white applications.

This along with our process control tooling, FireFox® C WinTech, also provides a failsafe and a secure joint in serial production of safety critical components.

The experts in riveting technologies GESIPA Blindniettechnik GmbH Nordendstraße 13-39 64546 Mörfelden-Walldorf Germany A company of the

Group

T +49 (0) 6105 962 0 F+49 (0) 6105 962 287 info@gesipa.com www.gesipa.com

INSIGHT

British hose clips engineered to perform Producing 30 million clips annually, JCS Hi-Torque Ltd is an established British manufacturer of high performance hose clips to a variety of industries worldwide. Now in its fifth generation of the Mockridge family and going through a period of investment, Claire Aldridge, deputy editor, visited its manufacturing facility in Suffolk to see what the future holds.

A

lthough known today for its range of hose clips, JCS Hi-Torque (JCS) can trace its roots back to 1768 when – then a London-based iron merchants – the company is thought to have made the railings used on Buckingham Palace. In the early 1970s, Trevor Mockridge and his two sons – Anthony and Francis – moved the company from London to Suffolk, with its machines and workforce in tow.

All JCS products are still manufactured in Suffolk including the Hi-Torque® hose clamps – specifically designed for use with tough, wire reinforced hoses requiring higher sealing pressures. The Hi-Torque is also used for when an extra margin of safety and reliability is required.

“Hi-Torque heavy-duty stainless steel worm drive hose clamps provide an unrivalled level of performance, quality and strength.

The Hi-Torque hose clamps are also quicker to fit, have no loose parts and take up less space than any other heavy-duty hose clamp. We’ve done test after test and we’ve proven that it offers superior clamping force. We trust the Hi-Torque anywhere – if it doesn’t do the job, nothing will,” comments Tom Allen, sales and marketing manager at JCS Hi-Torque Ltd. JCS also hold Lloyd’s Register Type approval for Hi-Torque for use in applications in the marine, offshore and industrial markets. “The Hi-Torque is one of the few clamps in the world to be approved for the critical application of sealing wet diesel exhaust hoses,” explains Tom.

Automated Hi-Torque® assembly machine

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Also manufactured on-site and available in two grades of stainless steel as well as zinc plated – which JCS carries out in-house – is the standard Hi-Grip®, which can be used in a wide variety of domestic, automotive and industrial applications. Hi-Grip has BSI Kitemark and NATO approval and exceeds all operational requirements of the relevant DIN and SAE standards.

Still owned today by the Mockridge family, the ‘next generation’ Tanya and Edward Mockridge took over the management of the company in 2014. “A new management team always offers new perspectives in the operating of the company. However, Tanya and Edward have been active in the company since leaving school and have worked in all areas of the business – from the shop floor to answering the phones in the office. It’s therefore clear we have the right people to enable JCS to grow,” comments Tom. The company now employs 72 people across its sales, manufacturing, quality and engineering departments. “The knowledge and expertise the staff have spans over 50 years in the industry. This skill is reflected in the quality of the final product and is something we’re extremely proud of,” says Tom. Highlighting this commitment to quality is JCS’ promise that every Hi-Grip is manufactured to exceed BS 5315. “The British Standard has the highest requirements of any of the international standards and tests the sealing ability, clamping force and torque. Operationally

British Standard clips are built to far outperform everything else on the market, and our internal levels surpass this,” proudly states Tom. “As a result, Hi-Grip stainless steel worm drive hose clips have become the industry standard for demanding applications throughout the world due to their exceptional quality and performance,” explains Tom. Widely used in marine applications the Hi-Grip is available in A2 and A4 stainless steel with Lloyds Register Approval for marine, offshore and industrial use.

To guarantee the quality of its products JCS has its own in-house design, machining, plating, finishing and testing facilities, as well as an on-site tool room that manufactures bespoke machinery and tooling used in production. This enables total control over every stage of the manufacturing process.

In fact, the latest addition to the factory floor – an automatic Hi-Torque assembly machine – was designed in-house and built by JCS’ on-site tool department. “The Hi-Torque assembly machine is the second of its kind at JCS. All components are fed into the machine – the band, the housing, the saddle and the screws – and it will fully assemble the Hi-Torque clamps. Our ability to fully automate the assembly process of the Hi-Torque highlights the skill and expertise within the company and the commitment to manufacturing in Suffolk,” comments Tom. Also by investing in new machines JCS has been able to reduce the number of changeovers for different sized clips. Due to the complexity of the assembled clips, one machine can now be dedicated to manufacturing just one type of clip.

It’s because of this expertise that JCS has decided to start a dedicated tooling apprenticeship to invest in the company’s future.

“It’s a move by the ‘next generation’ – we’re proud to be a stand-alone British company and we want to continue that determination and passion for many years to come,” says Tom.

OUR TECHNICAL APPROVALS FOR YOUR SAFETY!

Another investment by the new management was a new bespoke production programme with a CRM add-on. Replacing an old system written by the previous generation, the new system will enable the company to access important sales reports and record all relevant information across all departments of the business. The JCS logo has also been rebranded with a new design to represent its core values of a modern, innovative and quality focused organisation, along with a new website to make it easy for users to navigate and find information.

In order to streamline processes, new operating hours have also been implemented across the shop floor, which has enabled a considerable increase in JCS’ manufacturing capacity – from 25 million clips annually to 30 million. “Historically JCS shut down for all British holidays but this year we’ve only had one shut down for general maintenance. It’s the next generation stamp and we’re reaping the benefits already. We’re now able to look at new markets and concentrate on modifying our standard clips to develop innovative solutions,” comments Tom. One example of this is the TamTorque® security installation clamp for the secure and reliable fastening of all types of signs, street furniture and other mountable equipment. JCS points out that the TamTorque offers unrivalled strength compared to other adjustable fixing systems and as such can often be used in place of more expensive and difficult to use bracketry, secured with nuts and bolts.

Also, TamTorque tamper-proof sign clamps can only be tightened or released with a special TamTorque screw bit.

Thanks to its impressive on-site manufacturing facilities JCS will continue to promote quality British manufacturing and research new markets – keeping it at the forefront of the industry. “A JCS hose clip isn’t just a hose clip. It’s a quality engineered product made right here in the UK that is trusted to perform,” concludes Tom. www.jcshi-torque.co.uk

Why take chances?

An uncompromising approach to quality Call us now on 01787 888031 or email sales@jcshi-torque.co.uk for details of your local stockist or specialist distributor.

Further products with our technical approvals: solar fastener, hanger bolts, DIN 931, DIN 933, DIN 934, wedge anchor, bi-metal self-drilling screws, concrete bolts Schäfer + Peters GmbH ● Zeilbaumweg 32 ● DE-74613 Öhringen Tel. +49 (0) 7941 6094-0 ● info@schaefer-peters.com ● www.schaefer-peters.com

www.jcshi-torque.co.uk

INSIGHT

Fixi launches new and improved web presence Fixi Srl – an Italian company specialised in the production and distribution of mechanical fastening systems – has renewed its identity online with a major update of its website.

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ixi’s upgrade is intended to make the website richer in contents and services, to guarantee a more friendly navigation, and to meet its clients’ need of keeping up-to-date and finding more information.

Maurizio Mora, owner of Fixi Srl, explains: “With this new website we want a communications medium for creating and maintaining a direct connection with clients, where a close contact and local exhibitions are missing.”

Key elements of the new online image of Fixi Group includes a new information arrangement, a straightforward navigation, clear

contents, and a linear and intuitive layout. In addition, a specific section for each product and service has been created in order to simplify finding information. Plus, demo videos, a downloadable catalogue and online form that is easy to fill out, offer customers quick ways to get a rapid quotation.

Special attention has also been given to the website’s usability from any mobile device, which is becoming a crucial business communication channel.

Maurizio Mora adds: “In order to expand our business vision, which is always heavily centred on a widespread presence, our new website goes beyond the physical distance and traces a digital bridge for communicating with clients worldwide.”

A wide range of fasteners always in stock

Fixi Srl is able to supply products for sheet metal processing, processing of solid bodies (copper, aluminium, brass, steel), as well as processing of plastics.

For sheet metal Fixi can offer blind rivets, threaded inserts, self-clinching fasteners and welding studs. For solid bodies it produces a line of self-tapping threaded inserts and a line of wire inserts. For the plastic industry it has a wide range of inserts and studs in brass, as well as stainless steel.

“Our sales network is able to offer customised solutions for every working demand,” mentions Maurizio Mora. “We consider not only the commercial presence in a territory essential, but also a store that can quickly supply goods to companies in the area. In the field of small metal parts, in our opinion, the full satisfaction of customers is to be found in localisation.

To this end, we supply the highest level of quality, concerning prompt and proper replies, accuracy, professionalism and the latest technology.” www.fixi.it

EXHIBITIONS

Fastener Fair Italy has international appeal The first edition of Fastener Fair Italy took place from 28th – 29th September at the MiCo – Milano Congressi. Claire Aldridge, deputy editor, visited what was arguably one of the most successful launches of a Fastener Fair to date.

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ver 2,600 managers, engineers and buyers from a wide cross section of industry attended the two day event. While the majority were from Italy, 36% of visitors were from a further 58 countries including France, Germany, Turkey, the UK, and the USA – underlining the international appeal of the event. Of those visiting the show 39% were distributors or suppliers of fastener products to users, 32% were fastener or fixing manufacturers, 25% were wholesalers or suppliers to resellers, and 16% were fastener or fixing users.

Olivia Griscelli, exhibitor director for organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions, said: “Both visitors and exhibitors warmly welcomed this event, confirming its potential for generating new business, highlighting the latest product developments and, most importantly, creating valuable opportunities for face-to-face contact.”

In all, 170 companies from 13 countries such as Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Turkey, and Norway exhibited at the show. Presenting diverse and innovative products aimed at a wide range of sectors, exhibitors included Ambrovit SpA, BRALO S.A, Chavesbao, Defremm SpA, Fastbolt GmbH, Lederer GmbH, Nord-Lock Srl, Vorpa Srl, VIPA SpA, and washer manufacturer Sipa Srl.

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Sipa commented: “There was a lot of uncertainty in the success of this new event, which was held just six months before the historical Fastener Fair Stuttgart. We were, however, pleasantly surprised by the large number of visitors attending the show and also the quality of those who were either buyers or decision makers. As the show was two days it was busy all the time and we were always engaged with customers. We will definitely be part of the next event as we believe this exhibition will have an important role in this specific sector in the Italian market.”

The fair also saw 87 new exhibitors (51%) – some of whom hadn’t exhibited at trade shows before or for a number of years – 74 of these were Italian companies. One such company was Bontempi Vibo SpA – participating in its first trade fair for more than 15 years.

The company was introducing its new sister company FRAM Srl to the fastener market as well as its extensive range of products.

Vittoriano Calomeni, sales manager at Bontempi Vibo SpA, commented: “The quality and volume of visitors was outstanding and perfectly matched our target range. We met many potential customers from central Europe, northern Africa and eastern Europe.

Overall the show was extremely successful for us and we will look forward to the next edition of Fastener Fair Italy.”

Suppliers of fastener manufacturing equipment were also well represented with Dimac Srl, Carlo Salvi SpA, HEROSLAM SAL, Marposs Italia SpA, Regg Inspection Srl, Tecno Impianti Srl, and TesT GmbH. All of these exhibitors reported a successful show, however were disappointed by the limitations of the hall that meant heavy machinery was not able to be brought to the show.

EXHIBITIONS

One exhibitor, SACMA Group, solved this issue by taking advantage of the show’s close proximity to its factories. “For both SACMA and Ingramatic the best place to show their capabilities and technologies in Italy are in their factories. The Group has more than 70/80 machines in its assembly divisions. SACMA was therefore able to invite customers to visit its factories and was able to finalise contracts at its headquarters – just 15km from the show. SACMA will definitely join the next exhibition to highlight the ‘Italian Excellence’ and display its most innovative technology famously named Winning Technologies®. We hope in the future another hall will be used to enable us to bring a machine to the show,” stated Frederic Nathan, sales management at SACMA Group.

Dimac Srl was also exhibiting at the show, attracting visitors to its stand with its latest generation SPC-LAB mobile station for fastener measurements and controls.

The company also encouraged customers to bring their own master parts for a live demonstration. Dimac commented: “We were able to bring the SPC-LAB to the show due to its mobility and quick set-up time. Customers were impressed by its simplicity, accuracy and versatility and we are pleased the first Fastener Fair Italy was a success for Dimac.”

Organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions received very positive feedback from exhibitors, indicating plenty of valuable business leads and expressing strong approval of both the number and quality of visitors attending the show.

This included international stockist and distributor of small diameter industrial threaded fasteners, Lancaster Fastener Co Ltd. Lee Procter, marketing manager, said: “Overall we were very pleased with Fastener Fair Italy and it definitely proved worthwhile. We welcomed visitors from 24 countries to our stand of which 40% were new contacts. Visitors were a healthy mix of long established customers and fastener distributors new to us wanting to know more about what we do. There was certainly a ‘buzz’ throughout the event and we look forward to exhibiting again in 2018.”

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Adding a further important dimension to Fastener Fair Italy was an accompanying programme of free to attend seminars providing insights into issues currently impacting the fastener market. These proved highly popular and attracted approximately 120 delegates overall. These seminars included ‘Distribution of fasteners: Market changes and technological innovation’ presented by Bruno Troiano of Frontline Consulting, and ‘Structural anchors and construction products regulation’, by Barbara Sorgato, General Secretary of the European Consortium of Anchors Producers, examining major changes in the CE marking of European construction products.

Altogether, exhibitors reported a successful show and were pleasantly surprised by the international feel of the show and the quality of visitors. It was certainly clear from walking the aisles and the constantly busy stands that business was taking place. The convenient location of the show proved popular with both visitors and exhibitors – particularly those from Italy – who were unanimous in their excitement and anticipation for the next edition of the fair.

Fastener Fair Italy will return to the MiCo in Milan in September 2018, with dates to be announced. The next edition will also see the show move to the larger South Hall at the MiCo, which will provide space for the event to expand.

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

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ARTICLES OF OUR CATALOGUE PRODUCED IN ITALY

SIPA S.R.L.

VIA DELL’ARTIGIANATO, 16/18/20 - 36027 SAN PIETRO DI ROSA’ (VICENZA) ITALY TEL. (0039) 0424-562044 - FAX (0039) 0424-564055 - E-MAIL: sipa@sipaitalia.it

www.sipaitalia.it

EXHIBITIONS

A focus on the Italian fastener distribution sector A key feature of Fastener Fair Italy was the free seminar programme that provided valuable insights into technical and regulatory issues currently impacting the fastener market. Here Bruno Troiano, from FrontLine Consulting, gives a summary of his presentation, which focused on the market situation and trends that are changing the fastener distribution sector in Italy.

I

taly is one of the six EU founding countries and is the second largest manufacturing country after Germany, in terms of manufacturing levels. In addition, it also ranks sixth among the major exporting countries of fasteners worldwide.

In recent years the Italian fastener distribution market has withstood the 2008 economic crisis, which now appears to be the longest and deepest crisis having exceeded the 1929 one, which lasted four years. The industry mainly consists of Small Medium Enterprises, which include several typical aspects: Organisational and managerial flexibility, ability to operate in niche markets conditions and the continuity of family owned businesses.

These companies have reacted to the economic recession by adjusting costs and increasing efficiency – by adopting streamlined and flexible organisational structures relying on lean management.

A sample survey carried out on distribution companies showed a diverse situation in which, the majority of these companies had suffered in recent years because of poor domestic demand and a decline in profits – in order to maintain market share in presence of fierce competition.

However, the sample showed a number of successful companies were able to seize opportunities brought by the financial crisis and increased sales and consolidated gains.

The future that lies ahead is very challenging; companies now have both a global supply and a global customer market and have to have a solid and dynamic distribution system.”

In most cases, these companies pursued a strategy focused on technology, organisational and managerial innovation. Offering both services and warehouse logistics to customers has the consequence of blurring the boundaries between production departments and distribution warehouses. The distributor becomes part of the client’s supply chain and is integrated into the operational processes. This trend shifts competition in favour of innovation, customer proximity and brand strength.

The future that lies ahead is very challenging; companies now have both a global supply and a global customer market and have to have a solid and dynamic distribution system.

FrontLine Consulting is specialised in business development in the fastener market and family business enterprises. To contact Bruno Troiano email: info@frontlineconsulting.it

Bruno Troiano from FrontLine Consulting

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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

EXHIBITIONS

Fastener Fair Stuttgart: The ‘must attend’ event Fastener Fair Stuttgart has established itself as the leading event in the fastener and fixing industry – bringing together the international market every two years for three days of intense business.

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ith the seventh edition of the show scheduled for 28 th – 30 th March 2017, we spoke to Liljana Goszdziewski, show director of Fastener Fair Stuttgart – on behalf of organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions, to get an insight into what visitors can expect during the show.

Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2015 was a record breaking event.

How will Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2017 raise the bar further?

“Fastener Fair Stuttgart has indeed strongly grown, in particular over the past three events. Of course the increase in floor space and in exhibitor as well as visitor numbers, reflect the economic situation of the industry sector, which has been continuously picking up after the worldwide financial crisis in 2008.

But as the organisers of Fastener Fair Stuttgart we have also implemented some organisational improvements since we acquired the exhibition. We have in particular invested in targeted worldwide marketing and PR campaigns to make fastener and fixing specialists aware about this fantastic trade event. For us it is important to focus on the clear profile of the show that is primarily aimed at manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and suppliers – with a target audience of distributors, suppliers, engineers and other industry professionals who source and trade fasteners and fixings. To deliver a highly valuable event for exhibitors and visitors is, therefore, more important to us than to set targets for record numbers.”

What is the breakdown of exhibitors at the show and do you feel this is a true representation of the industry?

“Half a year ahead of the show we have already registered some 750 exhibitors for Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2017. Major exhibitor countries from Europe have already booked around 79% of stand space at the show. The main countries are Germany, Italy, Turkey, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands and France; with Germany being the biggest exhibitor country. Asian companies, once again, come mainly from China, Taiwan and India.”

With so many exhibitors and only three days of the show, how would you suggest visitors ensure they get the most from their visit?

“We offer a series of valuable tools to plan the visit to Fastener Fair Stuttgart, such as the comprehensive Show Preview and a regularly updated exhibitor list including key information about the exhibitors. One of the most useful tools is our Exhibitor & Product Search, which offers visitors the option to create their personalised Exhibitor List and corresponding floor plan by selecting the product categories they are interested in. With time being a major factor for every business person, nowadays most of the visitors arrange meetings before they travel to Stuttgart and thus use the time at the show in the most efficient way.

Online registration at a reduced price will be available in the run-up to the show to save money and time at the entrance. A big advantage of Fastener Fair Stuttgart is its excellent infrastructure. The exhibition centre is well connected and easy to reach by car and public transport. The international airport is only a five minute walk from the exhibition centre.”

66 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Liljana Goszdziewski, Fastener Fair Stuttgart show director

…face-to-face contact between people and the need to build trustworthy relationships and international networks is crucial.”

7th International Exhibition for the Fastener and Fixing Industry

Visit 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 The show has previously taken place in Halls 4, 6 and 8.

Why was the decision made to move to Halls 1, 3 and 5 on the opposite side of the exhibition centre?

“In the last couple of years Fastener Fair Stuttgart has grown significantly and there was no more stand space available in Halls 4, 6 and 8. Therefore, it was a strategic decision to move to Halls 1, 3 and 5 in order to grow the exhibition further and offer more stand space to exhibitors who would like to take part in the show.

The new layout of the exhibition offers a further advantage with regards to a more efficient visit to the show. Halls 1, 3 and 5 are even closer together than the halls we used in previous years. Although the show will probably, once again, be bigger than the previous event, the coming exhibition has a more compact layout with Hall 1 being directly located at the entrance area and a close connection to Halls 3 and 5.”

With so many different exhibitions now in the industry calendar why should visitors attend Fastener Fair Stuttgart?

“Fastener Fair Stuttgart has established itself as the number one event for the fastener and fixing industry. All key players in the sector as well as major suppliers, distributors and engineers participate at this event. With its location in one of Europe’s key hubs for industry production, such as the engineering industry and the automotive industry and its suppliers, the exhibition serves as a barometer for major trends. Of course there is a wide choice of industry events for the fastener and fixing industry, which is positive as it reflects the importance of the sector. But if someone only wants to visit one event to meet the entire industry in one place, it’s definitely Fastener Fair Stuttgart they must attend.”

Do you think that exhibitions still have a role to play in markets, with demands on businesses becoming greater and time ‘out of the office’ at a premium?

“The growing success of an exhibition such as Fastener Fair Stuttgart shows exhibitions haven’t lost their attraction despite the growth of the internet and time constraints. The reason for this is pretty clear. Especially in an industry sector that is mainly based on trading, face-to-face contact between people and the need to build trustworthy relationships and international networks is crucial. As a leading industry event bringing some 800 exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors together, Fastener Fair Stuttgart offers a key platform for direct business contacts on a global scale.”

For those companies interested, is there still an opportunity to exhibit at Fastener Fair Stuttgart?

“Although we currently have more floor space booked than for the previous event, the new hall layout offers the possibility for additional floor space.

Companies interested in exhibiting at Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2017 can, therefore, still contact us for a stand offer. However, we recommend to reserve quickly, as we have a continued high demand for stand space.” www.fastenerfair.com/stuttgart

…if someone only wants to visit one event to meet the entire industry in one place, it’s definitely Fastener Fair Stuttgart they must attend.”

68 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

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EXHIBITIONS

Who will be Fastener Technology Innovator 2017?

presented by

For the 2017 Fastener Fair Stuttgart show Fastener + Fixing Magazine is pleased to announce that it will, once again, sponsor the Route to Fastener Innovation Competition.

O

ne of the key visitor attractions at Fastener Fair Stuttgart, taking place from 28 th – 30 th March 2017, the Route to Fastener Innovation Competition is an exclusive competition for exhibitors that enables visitors to discover and evaluate what’s new in fastening technologies – putting the spotlight firmly on innovative products and services.

Entering a product not only presents the potential to be heralded as a 2017 Fastener Technology Innovator, it will also provide visitors with a great incentive to visit your stand – to see the product, evaluate it, and to find out more information about it.

Every entrant will be previewed in the March issue of Fastener + Fixing Magazine, and will also be highlighted in certain Fastener Fair Stuttgart visitor information. In addition, every exhibitor that enters will be provided with a special logo for their stand highlighting the company is an entrant.

A panel of experienced industry judges will review all the entrants and will decide on the three most deserving of the accolade of Fastener Technology Innovator 2017. On the final day of the show there will be a special presentation to the winners on the Fastener + Fixing Magazine stand.

Innovations will be accepted on the following criteria:

1. The product must have been introduced to the market for the first time within the last 24 months leading up to the Fastener Fair.

2. The product must demonstrate significant and identifiable technical design, material or performance differences from other products already on the market.

3. The product must provide tangible and identifiable advantages for the end user or consumer – for example in efficiency, productivity, safety, strength, durability, and cost-reduction.

4. The product may be an improvement or upgrade on an existing line but must clearly meet all three of the above conditions.

5. The exhibitor submitting an innovative product for the showcase will need to provide a short explanation about how their product meets the criteria, particularly items 2 and 3.

6. Entries must not infringe the intellectual property rights of any other company.

Enter your product now by sending a 350 word description, in particular highlighting why the product is innovative and how it delivers tangible and new benefits to fastener users, together with a high resolution digital image to editor@fastenerandfixing.com Entries received by Friday 17 th February 2017 are assured inclusion in the March Fastener Technology Innovator Feature. www.fastenerandfixing.com

70 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

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EXHIBITIONS

Vegas Fastener Expo reports strong gains The National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo, held on 25th – 27th October 2016 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, USA, was a success by every measure, reports show management.

T

he 36th annual event featured the latest products and services offered by 758 domestic and international companies filling 100,000 net square feet (9,290m2) of exhibit space, making it by far the largest ever in the Expo’s long, proud history.

Exhibiting companies came from throughout the United States as well as 17 other nations around the world including Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UAE, and the UK. “Our exhibitors were busy and happy as we experienced an 18% gain in buyer attendance,” informs Susan Hurley, show director. “We received many positive testimonials from a sampling of exhibitors.

The Expo also enjoyed a 26% gain in overall attendance, which includes both buyers and exhibitor personnel. This is significant because there is a lot of cross-selling among the exhibitors who do business with each other.”

Expo activities got underway with a fun-filled Welcoming Reception held poolside at the Treasure Island Hotel on Wednesday evening. Unlimited complimentary beverages were served along with a bountiful assortment of tasty appetisers. The party’s nautical theme was enhanced by snappy captain’s hats and lively background music. The free hand rolled cigar and whiskey tasting stations were also a big hit, and everyone enjoyed the additional 30 minutes added to the reception this year.

Other new Expo features included educational sessions and award ceremonies held on the trade show floor. Sessions were well attended and the Hall of Fame ceremony was very successful. A striking ‘Wall of Fame’ honouring all past winners of the award was erected at Sessions Corner and proved to be a popular new addition.

In addition to the time honoured Hall of Fame ceremony, the show also honoured the younger generation of fastener professionals with the first ever annual Young Fastener Professional Awards.

Last but not least, to make it easier for attendees to find exhibitors on the show floor – especially with the newly added international section, SourceGlobal – the Expo featured a Matchmaking Desk at

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

the very entrance of the show. This proved to be a very successful addition as it was kept busy with people looking for specific products or services. The Matchmaking Desk allowed people to connect with new and old exhibitors alike in a very efficient manner.

The ever expanding Expo is moving to more spacious facilities and extending show hours to two full days at the Las Vegas Convention Center next year. Expo dates are 17 th – 19 th October 2017 with the exhibits open on Wednesday and Thursday only.

Support

EXHIBITIONS

Fastener Fair India: Two shows, two markets

W

Fastener Fair India has announced there will be two shows in India for 2017 – with the first show taking place in Mumbai from 28th – 29th April and the second show being held in New Delhi from 11th – 12th August. e spoke to Martin Clarke, show manager of Fastener Fair India – on behalf of organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions, to get an insight into what visitors can expect from the two shows.

Why have you decided to hold two Fastener Fair India shows in 2017?

“India is one of the world’s major economies. The country’s vibrant market is developing in many sectors, including engineering. India is the size of a continent and, therefore, the country is regionalised – with separate distribution networks in its major cities. This is a contributing factor in having Fastener Fair India in two locations in 2017. Mumbai and New Delhi are not the only obvious locations but have established themselves as hubs for the fastener and fixing industry.

Furthermore, annual events for the fastener industry in India, have been something exhibitors have been requesting for many years. They have realised India’s potential in this field and have welcomed the event taking place in different locations within the country.”

How should potential exhibitors differentiate between the Mumbai and Delhi shows? Are there any advantages of companies exhibiting at both?

“Due to the regionalised nature of the country, companies that only operate within Mumbai or New Delhi will only choose to attend one show. Companies looking to enter or grow within either region will benefit from exhibiting at both shows, as two separate highly qualified audiences will attend. Many companies will exhibit in both Mumbai and New Delhi.”

What is the visitor breakdown of the two shows?

How do they differ?

“Fastener Fair India is a very well attended event and in both Mumbai and New Delhi we have seen a positive distribution of visitors from a variety of industries. The specialised exhibitions for the fastener and fixing industry attract distributors, end users, and manufacturers from many key industry sectors, including automotive, mechanical engineering and electrical. Visitors from the automotive industry were prominent at both shows (13% in Mumbai and 14% in New Delhi).

In New Delhi 2016, 92% of the visitors to the exhibition were company owners or had buying and specifying responsibilities.

The high-quality visitors were something exhibitors at both shows in Mumbai and New Delhi commented on greatly.”

What markets do the shows focus on?

Are there any markets unique to each show?

“The Mumbai/Pune car manufacturing cluster contributes to approximately a third of the Indian market. Moreover, New Delhi is realising its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the world and is now known as a trading hub for electronics and white goods.

Fastener Fair India provides a platform to encourage enterprise and promote leading national and international suppliers of fastener and fixing technologies and manufacturers of machines and tools.

The trade shows provide real insight into trends and key information about the latest developments in this international sector.” www.fastenerfair.com

76 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS FOR FASTENER AND FIXING TECHNOLOGY

INDIA MUMBAI

28-29 April 2017

Bombay Exhibition Centre

Two Shows - Hundreds of Opportunities

11-12 August 2017

Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre

www.fastenerfair.com

EVENTS CALENDAR Fastener Fair Stuttgart Stuttgart, Germany 28 Mar – 30 Mar 2017 www.fastenerfair.com The fastener event for europe.

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

Asia-Pacific Sourcing Köln, Germany 7 Mar – 9 Mar 2017 www.asia-pacificsourcing.de A platform for asian companies in import and export.

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

St. Petersburg Technical Fair St. Petersburg, Russia 14 Mar – 16 Mar 2017 www.ptfair.ru Metallurgy, welding, metalworking, tools and instruments, materials and machinery exhibition.

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

ACMA Automechanika New Delhi New Delhi, India 21 Mar – 24 Mar 2017 www.acma-automechanika.in Trade for the automotive industry.

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

FEICON BATIMAT São Paulo, Brazil 4 Apr – 8 Apr 2017 www.feicon.com.br Construction industry fair.

Intertool Kiev Kiev, Ukraine 1 Mar – 3 Mar 2017 www.en.intertool.kiev.ua International exhibition for hardware, tools + DIY.

Vietnam Manufacturing Expo 2017 Hanoi, Vietnam 5 Apr – 7 Apr 2017 www.vietnammanufacturingexpo.com Industrial parts manufacturing.

The Hardware Show Dublin, Ireland 5 Mar – 6 Mar 2017 www.thehardwareshow.ie Irish hardware, DIY and garden show.

CONSTRUMA Budapest, Hungary 5 Apr – 9 Apr 2017 www.construma.hu International building trade exhibition.

78 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Metal Anchors - Throughbolts • Wirehangers • Option 7 & 1 Approved Throughbolts • Ankerbolt • Sleeve Anchors • Drop In Anchors • Setting Punches • Forged Hooks and Eyes • Scaffold Ring Bolts & Retaining Eyes • Shield Anchors • Heavy Duty Anchor Chemical Anchors - Injection Resin • Injection Resin Accessories • Chemical Anchor Accessories • Chemical Anchor • Internal Thread Sockets • J-Bond • Rockite • Kwixset • Twist Nails and Stitching Bars • Expanding Foam • Fire Stop Expanding Foam • Silicone • Instant Grab Adhesive • Fire Stop Sealant Nylon Fixings - Hammer Screws • Flange Head Hammer Screw • Nylon Nail Plugs • Window Frame Anchor • Frame Fixings Light Duty Fixings - Plug Range • Insulation Fixings • Concrete Screws • Cavity Fixings • Nail In Anchor • Aercon Anchor • Plastic Headed Nails • Masonry Nails • Coach Screws and Plugs • Sanitary Fixings PA and Gas - Drivefast Gas Nailer DF90 • Gas & Nails Drivefast • Shot Fired Pins • Cartridge Tool Self Drilling Screws - Self Drill Screws • Bi-Metal Self Drill Screws • Coloured Cover Caps Drill Bits - SDS+ • SDS Max • Masonry Bits • Flat Wood Bits • Centre Spur Wood Bits •HSS • Multidrill & Cobalt Drill Bits

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Unit 14, Teddington Bus. Park, Station Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 9BQ, UK t +44 (0) 208 943 1800 f +44 (0) 208 943 1140 e jcpenquiries@owlett-jaton.com w www.jcpfixings.co.uk JCP Fixings – A division of Hexstone Ltd.

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JCP Fixings is a specialist supplier of construction fixings to distributors, and is a leading force in the UK fixings market. All products are supplied with a full technical specification, and in a number of cases European Technical Approval (ETAG). JCP offers on-site testing of products via an external Technical Sales team, and in-house anchor load calculations. JCP also has the Anchor Calculation Programme which is available as a free download from: www.jcpfixings.co.uk. Products are delivered next day throughout mainland UK.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Hilti: Seventy-five and serious about innovation What began 75 years ago, with production of engine components in Liechtenstein, has become a renowned global corporation with over 23,000 employees in more than 120 countries. Consistently balancing renewal with continuity, above all Hilti demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to innovation.

I

n 1941 in a small workshop in Schaan, Liechtenstein, brothers Martin and Eugene Hilti manufactured engine components, cigarette lighters and kitchen blenders. A move into high velocity fastening tools in 1948 established the basis for today’s extensive Hilti product portfolio. Crucially a commitment to a direct sales approach engendered a proximity to the customer that proved a significant edge in the market. That continues to be a fundamental and decisive success factor. In 1960, Hilti Maschinenbau OHG became a corporation and the famous red tool case started to symbolise excellence in product, innovation and service for construction professionals.

Ever since, the company has focused on its core business – committed to sustainable value creation and financial strength rather than short-term scale or profit goals. Michael Hilti, who became CEO in 1990 and subsequently served as chairman of the board for 13 years, remains a member of the board of directors, and trustee of the Martin Hilti Family Trust. As long ago as 1980 the Hilti family decided to waive its inheritance and founded the family trust with the aim of securing the existence and independence of the company. Today, Michael Hilti looks ahead with positivity: “We are well positioned at all levels to carry our success into the future. We are close to our customers, highly innovative and we have a first class offering. Our strategy focuses on sustainable value generation and we have a sound ownership structure. But most of all, we have a highly professional global team that devotes all its energy to ensure the company’s success.”

Visit Hilti’s headquarters in Schaan and the evidence for the company’s commitment to innovation is visible and compelling. At the end of 2014 a modern innovation centre was completed – the largest single investment in the company’s history and a CHF 120 million (€111.2 million) testament to Hilti’s seriousness about innovative solutions that can deliver superior added value to customers. The centre is home to some 450 researchers, developers

80 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

and colleagues, drawn from across Hilti’s global operations – a cultural and intellectual diversity that provides a potent ‘battery’ to power Hilti’s future development. The 30,000m2 facility shows all the hallmarks of a thorough eight year gestation. The guiding principles were “to create an inspiring space for excellent teams, which can work with passion to develop innovations and enthuse our customers”.

Complementing the laboratories and technical development zones are open plan, modular offices designed to promote cooperation and communication and to adapt to the development of individual teams.

There are also, however, libraries and quiet areas as well as creative spaces for interaction and discussion.

If not enough to demonstrate Hilti’s recognition of its people as a crucial resource, the centre also houses sporting facilities, food halls and a kindergarten.

Hilti’s forward strategy is focused on a vision of the intelligent construction site, in which connectivity and automation will play crucial roles in enhancing quality, productivity and safety. It will remain, Hilti believes, an environment in which humans are as important as machines, and where interactivity between efficient machinery and the cognitive ability of humans will be pivotal.

Christoph Loos, Hilti’s fifth chief executive officer appointed in 2014, is clear that the company will contribute decisively to “making buildings safer, speeding up construction and making the company more productive and more digital”.

Iterating the motto of Hilti’s 75 year Jubilee, he concludes: “We are self assured today and ready for the future.” Reflecting on all this business has achieved so far, who would dare contradict him.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Rounding off the year in style… with fischer fixings UK fischer fixings UK Ltd has ensured 2016 will be a year to remember with the launch of a variety of innovative fixing solutions, which have been added to the company’s already extensive product range.

F

urther success has come from an increase in the size of the sales team; record breaking sales months; and the confirmation of major projects. The company shows no signs of slowing down, with Managing Director Justin White also confidently stating that the company has already set solid foundations for 2017 to grow even bigger and better. fischer UK believes the continuous success is a result of listening to customers’ needs, meeting them and then finding ways to exceed them. “Brexit initially caused feelings of uncertainty and fear that it may have a detrimental effect on the construction industry,” explains fischer UK. “However, in recent months this has proved anything but the truth. September marked a record sales month for us, with a massive 16% increase on the previous year’s turnover and nearly 50% growth on all major product groups. These impressive results highlight further why we are the ‘go to’ fixings brand.”

One part of the business that fischer UK has focused on this year is projects. The business has been working closely with major partners on large infrastructure and iconic commercial developments than ever before. This level of exposure has led to increased productivity on city projects, with 2017 shaping up to be a busy year in this area of expertise.

Also in 2016, the company implemented ‘Premier Accounts’, which is a development plan that has seen fischer UK reward loyal customers with a ‘Premier’ status. To guarantee this project was a success, further detailed research was carried out to give the company a better insight to what its customers required.

As a result, all the ‘Premier’ members have achieved 20% revenue growth.

Following the success of the Premier scheme, fischer UK is looking to increase both its technical and customer service department personnel by 20%. The expanding departments will help to maintain and exceed the high-level of service the members receive. Alongside the ‘Premier Accounts’, fischer UK also introduced new merchandising stands into the marketplace with a unique modern design, which were greatly received into building merchants all fischer UK’s new modern over the UK. merchandising stands

82 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

2016 has also seen fischer UK take full advantage of all social media platforms. Using sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram fischer UK is able to promote its wealth of technical knowledge, launch new products and advertise quarterly promotions.

“Overall social media has enabled us to reach out to customers on a more personal level and the increased activity has given more direction to our website,” comments the company.

One product that was greatly received into the market place this year was the new and highly innovative plasterboard fixing DuoTec, which was launched in September. It was designed to reduce installation time compared to similar products on the market without special tools. fischer UK points out that DuoTec very easily overcomes the challenge of fastening relatively high loads in gypsum plasterboard thanks to its glass fibre reinforced materials. One of the most innovative uses of the product is if it hits solid concrete or wood, where it simply acts like an expansion plug. Also, due to the reduced drill hole diameter needed and the innovative design and build of the fixing, fischer UK reports installers can save up to 50% on installation time (versus conventional fixings).

With 2016 coming to a successful close, fischer UK is looking forward to 2017, which will see the launch of lots of new innovative products such as the new nylon dual composite anchor, a 6mm diameter concrete screw, and much more. fischer UK concludes: “If 2016 is anything to go by, there can only be exciting times ahead for us and our customers.” www.fischer.co.uk

The installation-friendly nylon toggle anchor for high loads in gypsum plasterboard.

The new DUOTEC.

Comfortable installation and high loads in board building materials? No problem for the fischer DUOTEC. Because this compact toggle plug can be used simply without special tools. It very easily overcomes the challenge of fastening relatively high loads in gypsum plasterboard thanks to its glass fibre-reinforced materials. And if it hits solid building materials such as concrete or wood, it simply acts like an expansion plug. One of many intelligent fastening solutions from fischer. www.fischer.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Lightweight anchoring In 48 years Mungo Befestigungstechnik AG has gained the experience and technical know-how to develop innovative and technical solutions – whilst guaranteeing Swiss quality. Here the company focuses on the different types of lightweight anchoring and the benefits.

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First approach

he guideline ETAG 001 Part 6 (used as a European Assessment Document – EAD) represents the base for issuing a European Technical Assessment (ETA) for metal anchors for multiple use in non-structural applications in concrete. In this case, non-structural (in the ETAG 001 Part 1 [2], also called light systems) stands for building elements, which do not contribute to the stability against the collapsing of the building.

Examples for such constructions are light suspended ceilings, ductwork as well as façade coverings, and are therefore mostly called lightweight fixings or anchors.

Anchors of lightweight add-on parts such as pictures, lamps, rails, light switches, etc, are called lightweight fixings/anchors.

In this case, the installer can forgo an overdesigned and expensive anchor, because the attached part is rather light and the requirement to the load values are rather low. The installer mostly uses a multifunctional product, which can be applied by means of different connection types. Dependent of the given ground material, they mostly create a friction or a mechanical interlock. The most common product is the conventional nylon plug such as MN, MQ, MU or MNA hammer screws.

Typical products

Typical products of first approach

Second approach

Anchors in building materials such as masonry, gypsum plaster boards, aerated concrete, etc.

More problems arise, when it comes to fixing/anchoring in an unstable underground material. In this case, the use of mid weight or heavy-duty anchors is not possible because of the weakness of the base material. For this application, lightweight anchors with very specific properties have to be applied. Normally, the used anchors work with the mechanical interlock connection type to distribute the loads on as much ground material as possible – to reach the highest possible load. Usually, they are limited by the weakness of the ground material.

Typical products of second approach

MAN ceiling anchors

MN nylon plug

MJP jet plug for plasterboard anchors

ESA drop in anchors

MQ Quattro® nylon plug

MCS concrete screws If a customer enquiries for technical literature or looks at the homepages of diverse producers of fastening technology, this definition gets extended by many more products and the boundaries to middle or heavy-duty fixings/anchors blurr quickly.

In general, you can find two definitions determined by two different approaches:

84 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

MU Multi plug nylon

MNA hammer screw

MHD-S cavity wall anchor

MEF Easy Fix

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Recent ETAs for fixings

ETA NUMBER

TRADE NAME

COMPANY

ETAG 001 Metal Anchors for use in Concrete (all parts) ETA – 06/0138

STEICOjoist and STEICOwall I-joist

STEICO SE

ETA – 08/0276

Simpson Strong-Tie® throughbolt BOAX-II, BOAX-II HDG, BOAX-II A4, and BOAX-II HCR

SIMPSON STRONG-TIE® GmbH

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.

ETA – 08/0295

Thermochip®

THERMOCHIP S.L.

ETA – 10/0280

APOLO MEA QUICK FIX ANCHORS BAZ, BAZ HD, BAZ A4, BAZ HCR

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA – 11/007

TESIT 1C15 Monostrand Post-Tensioning System

Tensacciai Srl

ETA – 11/0110

Pariso LR – M

Société ParexGroup

ETA – 11/0156

DIAGER THROUGH BOLTS S-KA, S-KAK, S-KAH, AND S-KAH HCR

DIAGER

ETA – 11/0181

Gamma Acciaio High Performance Anchor

G&B Fissaggi

ETA – 11/0323

Index SLRT

INDEX Técnicas Expansivas S. L

ETA – 11/0451

Mapei Injection System Mapefix EP for concrete

Mapei SpA

ETA – 11/0458

AESTUVER Fire protective board

Fermacell GmbH

ETA – 12/0259

Chemofast Injection System STVK

CHEMOFAST Anchoring GmbH

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 – 12/0608

KEM UP + Polyester

Friulsider SpA

ETA – 13/0266

HB ER-SF CE for rebar connections

HALFEN SRL

ETA – 15/0404

Falling Rock Protection Kit ISOSTOP – 500 Ev

Pfeifer Isofer AG

ETA – 15/0475

ISOACE

Thomas Lorenz Industrietechnik GmbH – Co. KG

ETA – 15/0522

TURUNCU PAKET SYSTEM-EXTERNAL THERMAL INSULATION COMPOSITE SYSTEM –MINERAL WOOL

Entegre Harç San. ve Tic. A.Ş

ETA – 15/0679

KDX GR VR 15

Kakeldax i Sverige AB

ETA – 15/0758

Dufast DFI-SN

DUFAST International Trading L.L.C.- FZ

ETA – 15/0810

BT2 concrete screw anchor

Powers Fasteners Europe

ETA – 16/0180

Injection system Hilti HIT RE 500 V3

HILTI Corporation

ETA – 16/0192

EPOXIACRILATO SIN ESTIRENO CHEFIX EPO-TECH SF

DAMESA DIFUSORA ARTÍCULOS MECÁNICOS ESPECIALES S.A

ETA – 16/0204

MKT Concrete Screw BSZ

MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co KG

ETA – 16/0358

POLYKRAFT SF & POLYKRAFT SF Winter Edition

TOP KRAFT SK a.s

ETA – 16/0439

Concrete screw BSZ

MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co KG

ETA – 16/0573

CT Bolt 1

Construction Anchors Co Ltd

ETA – 16/0574

Throughbolt TX

Trutek Fasteners Polska Sp. z o.o

ETA – 16/0691

Injection system HB-VMU plus for concrete

Halfen GmbH

ETA – 16/0707

INJECTION RESIN BK190

BLINKER ESPAÑA S.A.U.

ETA – 16/0751

UNIFIX PROFIX HYBRID Bonded anchor for concrete

Unifix SWG Srl

ETA – 16/0799

R-KEV

Rawlplug Limited

ETA – 98/0001

Hilti metal expansion anchor HST, HST-R, HST-HCR, HST3, HST3-R

HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

I

ETAG 014 Plastic Anchors for ETICS ETA – 11/0144

Insulation anchor Koelner TFIX-8S and TFIX-8ST

Rawlplug S.A

ETA – 11/0315

DBM-275TOP-FIS

D.B.M. Srl

ETA – 16/0116

HTR-P

HILTI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

ETA – 16/0509

LTX-8, LMX-8, LGX-8, LTX-10, LMX-10, LGX-10

Klimas Sp. Z.o.o

ETAG 020 Plastic Anchors (all parts) ETA – 11/0523

BTI frame fixing ProCon SXR / ProCon SXRL

BTI Befestigungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

ETA – 13/1066

ELEMATIC T66

ITW Construction Products Italy Srl

ETA – 13/1068

SPIT B-LONG

ITW Construction Products Italy Srl

ETA – 16/0413

FRAMID-PRO HEX and FRAMID-PRO CSK

DEWALT

CAMO Edge Fastening™ from National Nail US-based National Nail Corp states that its CAMO Edge Fastening™ delivers beautiful, fastener-free, Barefoot Approved™ results with virtually any wood, composite or PVC decking.

C

AMO edge fastening guides are part of a system designed to work specifically with CAMO Edge Deck Screws and CAMO Driver Bits. The screws are available in ProTech coated carbon steel and 316 stainless steel – both ACQ compatible. Their reduced trimhead provides a less visible point of entry, and a star drive design offers more points of contact for better performance, while reducing bit slippage and wear.

CAMO Driver Bits have a built-in shoulder that automatically sets the depth of drives to ensure maximum holding power and prevent over-driving. These bits are designed for use with solid, ungrooved deckboards. The CAMO Driver Bits for grooved boards have a higher shoulder for better depth when using grooved deckboards. CAMO does

86 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

not typically require pre-drilling; however pre-drilling with a CAMO Pre-Drill Bit is recommended when installing hardwood with stainless steel fasteners.

With the CAMO® Marksman Pro®, users can quickly and easily deliver CAMO Edge Deck Screws into the edge of solid or grooved deckboards for fast installations. The Marksman Pro offers automatic ³/16 inch spacing. The Marksman PRO®-X1 was designed for installing wood decks and provides minimal 1/16 inch spacing. It can be used on both radiused and square edge boards. Both systems fit any nominal 6 inch deckboard (5¼ inches – 5¾ inches). Designed for narrow boards, the Marksman PRO®-NB is ideal for boards measuring 3¼ inches to 5 inches and provides a ³/16 inch gap.

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.

Wedge Anchor BZ plus the solution for the highest demands

New European Technical Assessment Option 1 for use in cracked and uncracked concrete Standard anchorage depth for highest performance demands; alternative anchorage depth for reduced drilling and installation effort Approved for use in earthquake regions Approved for fire exposure applications

We appreciate your interest www.mkt.de · info@mkt.de

MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co. KG Auf dem Immel 2 · 67685 Weilerbach/Germany Phone +49 63 74/91 16-0 · Fax +49 63 74/91 16-60

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

New ETA for ‘Rock’ concrete screws Eurotec GmbH has announced that its ‘Rock’ concrete screw has recently received a European Technical Assessment (ETA – 15/0886) for fastening in solid subsurfaces without plugs.

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he rock concrete screw is a special screw for anchoring in crack and non-cracked concrete. It can be screwed directly into the drill hole without a plug or other additional components. As it is screwed in, the thread cuts a mating thread into the subsurface.

This type of installation is not only very easy, but also impresses with its minimum assembly time and maximum cost savings. Using high strength steel, an extremely complex annealing process, and a special thread, the rock concrete screw also works reliably in class C50/60 high strength concrete.

Other advantages of the ‘Rock’ concrete anchor include: Installation without plugs.

High extraction resistance values.

No expansion effect, so smaller edge and centre distances are possible.

Broad range of applications thanks to a variety of screw heads and screw diameters.

Cost savings in materials.

Setting and installation process performed in a single step. www.e-u-r-o-tec.de

Screw clips from Tillex Tillex has developed cable clips with screws, requiring no plugs, which make it easier for users to mount flexible/rigid plastic tubes and cables directly into concrete or brick, using a pre-drilled 4mm hole.

M

anufacturing in Denmark since 1954, Tillex philosophy has always been to deliver the best products at the best price, without compromising on quality. The screw clips are made from a high impact elastic polypropylene – halogen free

MULTI-MONTI ®-plus – The new MULTI-MONTI ® with the big Plus

and UV stabilised – plastic. The screw has a corrosion category of Class C4 and C2 with PH2 slot and Torx 20.

Tillex points out that the screw clips can be mounted in double-layer plasterboard, with no plug required. For single-layer plasterboard, up to 13mm, Tillex recommends the yellow plug (KP yellow) unless the single-layer plasterboard is on a metal profile, in which case no plug is required.

For wood, fibreboard and plywood the screw clip can once again be directly screwed into the material. For aerated concrete Tillex recommends using a yellow plug (KP yellow).

The screw clips can be installed both indoors and outdoors and are available in a variety of different sizes and colours. www.tillex.com

FM-X5

MULTI-EXPANSION LONG PLUG

Innovation and multi-expansion!

ULTRA FLEXIBLE High quality nylon

GREATER GRIP Innovative variable geometry multi-expansion

SCREW ALWAYS PREASSEMBLED Ready to use.

Available in versions: - White zinc plated - Nautilus - Stainless steel A4 70

The secure screw-in anchor for fast and solid connections Optimized concrete thread with full threaded variations for highest demands Two embedment depths for more flexibility Settable by means of power-tools and immediately loadbearing

1000 h Special anti-corrosion coating 1000 hours in salt spray test

FRIULSIDER SpA

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.com

Via Trieste, 1 - 33048 San Giovanni al Natisone (UD) Italy tel. +39 0432 747911 - fax +39 0432 747994 info@friulsider.com - www.friulsider.com

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Discover the new Self-Service catalogue from INDEX INDEX Fixing Systems has introduced its new Self-Service catalogue, which includes all self-service formats available for each product – making the choice of the best option, adapted to the needs of each client, easier.

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he products are organised depending on the base material on which it is going to be used, dividing them into: Multi-material, wood, hollow, solid, stainless, sanitary and metal.

Also available in the new Self-Service catalogue is the new blister restyling. These provide the consumer with more than 600 references and the bag content adapted to their needs. The two main advantages are the space profitability and an easier identification thanks to an attractive range of colours. The new packaging includes product photographs, as well as information about base materials.

To make repositioning easier, the blisters are supplied tied together with a cable tie.

In addition, the catalogue includes the launch of the EASYKits – with the concept ‘1 Kit, 1 Solution’ – which help the choice of product at the point of sale. In total, there are 21 different solutions to resolve the most frequent needs of a domestic client. Each kit includes information about the content, usage mode and materials, as well as where to fix it.

All products are available on the company’s web site, where users can also download the PDF version of the new catalogue. www.indexfix.com

CO

NCR

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TURBO SMAR T C

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TURBO SMART CONCRETE SCREW

Revolutionary screw anchor. Fast and always reliable. pgb-Polska Sp. z o.o.

Ul. Jondy 5 | 44-100 Gliwice | Poland T: +48 (32) 330 26 10 | F: +48 (32) 330 26 20 biuro@pgb-polska.com | www.pgb-polska.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Eddy current crack detection technology for fasteners and flanged parts

By Andrew Hanna, director of research and development, Mectron Engineering Co Inc A new rotational crack detection system, RCD-9500, integrates a newly upgraded eddy current instrument with special software for many diverse applications.

M

ectron’s new patent pending RCD-9500 (Rotational Crack Detection) is an eddy current crack detection system designed for a wide variety of fasteners and flanged parts. It is capable of working as either a stand-alone machine or mated with a Mectron Qualifier, LT-series or MI8500 machine. The RCD-9500 includes an array of optical sensors to enable fully automated part separation, feeding, scanning, and acceptance testing. The RCD-9500 utilises a pair of servo driven rollers to rotate the part in place, scanning the area of interest multiple times. This approach leads to greater accuracy and reduced signal noise without sacrificing speed.

The system is integrated with Mectron’s newly upgraded EC600, which is a digital eddy current instrument with specially designed software for many diverse applications.

It has a usable frequency range of 2KHz to 2MHz. It utilises a touch screen (1,280 x 1,024) back-lit display, which allows for complete control of the impedance plane signature.

The displayed eddy current signal can be easily manipulated to alter Patent pending RCD-9500 (rotational frequency, phase, crack detection) eddy current crack horizontal gain and detection system vertical gain. A high and low threshold can be set and altered to determine differences between good and bad parts. Figure 1 displays a bad part with a signal that is above the set threshold, while Figure 2 shows an example of what a good part would look like. All set-ups are easily saved internally to the hard drive and can be recalled at a later date.

92 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Figure 1: An example of a bad part with a signal that is above the set threshold

Figure 2: An example of a good part

The system implements a differential eddy current probe for the inspection, which uses two coils sending separate eddy current signals (Figure 3). The first coil is the test coil and the second is the reference coil. If the part is free of defects, then the eddy current signature of the test coil will always match the signature from the reference coil. When the coils run over a crack or defect, the eddy current signal will register differently (as seen above in Figure 1). This throws the two coils out of phase to each other and this inconsistency will be registered in the EC600 and recorded as a defective part.

Inspection Systems

With over 45 years of proven dimensional and metallurgical inspection systems, Mectron has a powerful new tool.

ROTARY CRACK DETECTION RCD-9500 Mectron EC600 digital eddy current Differential probes to suit application Servo driven Contoured rollers

Q5000 series 360° dimensional laser control Tilt laser array plate Laser thread pitch alignment Metallurgical verification

Stand alone or interfaced with any existing Mectron machine

Mectron Inspection Systems 400 S. Industrial Dr. Saline, MI 48176

(734)944-8777

www.MectronInspectionSystems.com sales@MectronInspectionSystems.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Figure 3: Eddy current inspection probe has two coils. The first coil is a test coil and the second coil is a reference coil

Resistors

The RCD-9500 is fed by a vibratory in-line feed system (Figure 5). When an optical sensor detects a part ready for scanning, a sprocket separator wheel pushes a single part onto the rotating rollers. The part will fall into the centre of the rollers in-line with the eddy current probe. Once the part is spinning, the differential eddy current probe begins to scan, collecting data for several revolutions and monitoring for defects. When the scan is complete, the rollers are driven apart, enabling the part to fall onto the pneumatically operated gate below, where it is either rejected or accepted.

Figure 5: The RCD-9500 is fed by a vibratory in-line feed system

Reference coil

Test coil

This type of probe allows some lift off and increased accuracy for consistently moving parts. The differential probe coupled with Mectron’s proprietary software enables speeds of up to 180 parts per minute, making the RCD-9500 one of the fastest machines on the market.

High resolution camera/proprietary software

The TORX® detection of the part is done using a high resolution CCD camera with Mectron proprietary software. It can check for consistency of the part or wording in the head using a master reference. The camera is triggered by an optic sensor and takes a few pictures for each part to ensure all defects are found. The custom lighting of the part makes little details easy for the camera to spot and the software to pick out (Figure 4). This enables quick and accurate decisions.

Figure 4: Custom lighting of the parts makes little details easy for the camera to spot and the software to pick out

The separator and roller systems are completely modular; rollers and separator wheels can be custom machined to suit unique parts without altering any other tooling. This makes change over quick and easy, allowing for smooth transition between parts. The RCD-9500 is capable of easily inspecting many different types of parts including ball studs, wheel studs and a variety of other fasteners. The rollers can also be contoured to correct for cosine angles of the parts. The unique split gate system enables high-speed actuation when scanning small diameter parts, while remaining robust enough to handle parts up to 10 inches long and over 1.5 inches diameter. The RCD-9500 is also fully compatible with the Mectron Qualifier, for dimensional verification.

The versatility, accuracy and speed of the RCD-9500 make it a unique inspection system that will be very competitive in the industry.

Its versatility is compounded by its ability to be mated with a variety of Mectron’s other systems, and the use of differential eddy current probes mean quick and accurate defect detection. www.mectroninspectionsystems.com

About the author

Andrew Hanna is the third generation of the Hanna family that founded Mectron in 1968. He graduated with an undergraduate from the University of Michigan and got his Masters in business from University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of business. Andrew’s new role as director of research and development includes overseeing product development, researching new inspection techniques and leading Mectron’s development team.

Mectron has released two brand new machines in 2016, which Hanna spearheaded. The new Surface Qualifier uses vision for high-speed surface inspection. Utilising a GPU it can analye over 10 million data points per part. Second, the new rotational crack detection system (RCD) utilises eddy current for high-speed crack detection. The RCD can be stand-alone or interfaced with any existing Mectron machine.

94 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Dimac to prove the quality of automotive fasteners Dimac Srl is a strategic partner for the most important automotive fasteners suppliers worldwide. The company’s mission is to keep its promise of guaranteeing delivery times, performances, reliability and upgradeability.

D

imac has eight automatic 100% inspection and sorting models that showcase the company’s passion for manufacturing high-tech machines. The company points out that each model includes the most advanced innovations for the total control of fasteners inspection – enabling customers to “ride along the path to zero defects”.

Dimac mentions that its model range includes the following machines: 1. MCV0: For micro screws in electric, electronic and optical devices.

It has the highest rate of inspection for optical inspection and sorting.

2. MCV1: Solid as a rock and provides flexible and high performance like no other machine in the market. It is Dimac’s bestseller for the inspection and sorting of high volumes in the range M3 to M12.

3. MCV2: Extremely simple to changeover and reliable – it is suitable for headed and headless fasteners and offers the best approach to the world of 100% inspection and sorting.

4. MCV3: This machine is for high added value to ensure accurate crack detection, heat treatment inspection and 360° bending control, as well as hex heads checking with recess shape and depth.

5. MCV4: The most efficient machine for 360° dimensional inspection combined with crack detection and heat treatment control – including a patented double rate inspection.

6. MCV5: The most versatile glass plate machine available on the market.

Accuracy up to microns and total reliability, with 24/7 unmanned shifts possible.

7. MCVBELT: No more pollutions or mixed batches with accurate optical dimensional inspection.

8. SPC-LAB: In-process measurements and SPC data collection on mobile equipment, which has become a must for any fastener workshop that is interfaced with the company ERP software.

Dimac states that each machine includes eight special controls that are top of the list among the available machines functions. These include: 1. Super gewinde: 360° all around optical inspection of the part’s external threads.

2. High-speed cracks control: Performed by a high-resolution digital camera and special eddy current station.

3. HT control: Detects the heat treatment and sorts parts by classes of hardness.

4. MR-INSP: Enables the inspection of a fastener’s shape and depth.

5. ST CONTROL: Checks the straightness of parts (360°).

6. HS reverse mode: Performs the full dimensional inspection independently from the orientation of parts.

7. Linear factor: Detects small burrs in tolerance and irregular profiles on fastener silhouettes.

8. IN-TH-OK IN-THREAD-OK: Checks in less than a second the presence and the quality of inner threads.

With the eight machine models, and eight special controls, Dimac guarantees a first class service and quality support – always ensuring the best performances together with the lower energy consumption and cost reduction.

Dimac concludes: “For further details on our machines and special controls, as well as to download the company’s machine catalogue visit our website.”

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

96 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

There are thread rolling machine manufacturers And, there is

we have the most modern facilities to build thread rolling machines, we have 100% spare parts, we make all components internally, we supply very high technology with linear motors and servomotors, we have the strongest structures and frames, we lead the quick production changeover, we cover all part size with our single and double starter unit driven by servo drive technologies, we offer a fully integrated warm forming package …. WE ARE INGRAMATIC SPA

www.sacmagroup.com

Member of Sacma Group since 2004 In 2016, the whole range of Ingramatic is available with the highest technologies available on the market from W1015 to W60 : RP120, RP220, RP320, RP420, RP520, RP620, RP720, RP820

Introducing RP120/RP220 (W1015-TR1/W10-TR2) with the new drive unit powered by a high-precision planetary gearbox with clutch brake allowing higher torque and precision. The most innovative feature is the brand new starter unit. The motion of the introducing slide is realized by means of computer control Torque Motor.

Art of Threading… Choose The Best…

Watch our new Sacma Group corporate video in the section NEWS of our website and in our YouTube video channel...

Ingramatic S.p.A. Viale Europa s/n Zona Ind. 15053 Castelnuovo Scrivia (AL) - ITALY Tel+39 0131 87161 - Fax+39 0131 823070 info@ingramatic.com - www.sacmagroup.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Why fastener companies should know about the friction values of their screw connections

By Julia Kiewitter, marketing, TesT GmbH A modern car or aeroplane is composed of many thousands of individual parts.

These parts consist of different materials and have different shapes according to their intended use. Screws and nuts are used to join and fasten these components to each other in such a manner that they are releasable to carry out repairs or to replace parts.

C

ritically, the cohesion of those bolted components must be ensured and maintained when external loads occur.

The four expensive alloy wheels of a passenger car must not be unintentionally released: Whether the car is parked in the garage, is on high-speed roads, during deceleration, during acceleration, or when using assistance systems such as ABS and ESP. It is also important they do not unintentionally release at very different temperatures such as in summer or winter.

Screws and nuts ensure safety and that there is no unintentional release by generating a clamping force during assembly, which holds the components together despite the loads exerted on them in use. Unfortunately, this clamping force cannot be determined on the vehicle assembly line for economic reasons.

This is the point when friction comes into play. From an ecological and economic point of view, friction is usually a disturbing factor – air resistance and bearing friction bring every vehicle to a standstill after a short time. In order to prevent this, drive energy must always be supplied. In the case of screw connections, on the other hand, friction is indispensable. Friction in this context is a reciprocal effect between two contacting surfaces. Without friction in the contact surfaces of screw, nut, and bolted components, the connection would spontaneously and immediately release and the components would fall apart. Friction resists this propensity to self-release. In order to ensure this resistance adequately, friction and the self-releasing behaviour must be measurable and adjustable.

The self-releasing behaviour can be quantitatively determined in a simple manner by using the thread pitch and the nominal diameter of the screw connection. It is understood as a permanently present, internal release torque of the screw connection. In order to prevent unwanted release, friction must therefore be significantly greater than the self-release torque. Thus, there is a self-release torque within the screw connection and a friction torque within the contact surface.

The screw manufacturer must produce the friction properties during the production process and demonstrate them to the customer.

In situations where essential parts of the value added chain are outsourced, for example the screw coating process, the screw coater must also ensure and demonstrate the friction. In the end, the screw supplier and the screw user are both responsible to their customers – a crucial reason for all of these groups to carry out the verification of friction coefficients. Good practice clearly indicates both screw suppliers and screw users should, for this reason, carry out a friction coefficient determination within the scope of incoming goods inspection.

In the context of the product development and product enhancement of screw coatings, the verification of friction coefficients is also essential – much more than that it is a prerequisite. It must be an objective of the development to be able to adjust friction values in production, reproducibly and with a low dispersion of variance.

If a screw supplier dispenses with friction coefficient determination, it cannot guarantee its screw connections fasten components as

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they should. That can have very serious consequences for users of motor vehicles, aircraft and railways, as well as for users in the wind industry, and in bridge and steel construction. Without knowledge of its friction coefficients the screw supplier cannot provide customers with instructions for tightening of the screw connections.

The clamping force to be applied, which is necessary to fasten a screw connection between components securely, is therefore of great importance for practical purposes. Just think of the everyday example of changing a wheel on a passenger car, and ensuring it will not come loose catastrophically when driving at speed. Since the clamping force cannot be determined during the tightening process of screw connections – for the reasons already mentioned – the only remaining possibility is to utilise the mathematical relationship between clamping force, friction coefficient and tightening torque.

The tightening torque can easily be determined by means of a simple torque wrench. It is therefore elementary and of vital interest to determine the friction coefficients of screw connections.

Friction not only clamps the wheels to a car and a cylinder head to the block. The knowledge of the friction allows the designer to use smaller and lighter fasteners. Thus it becomes possible to reduce the fastener’s contribution to weight and the product life costs of the final product. Accurately, repeatedly determining the friction coefficient is not just a critical safety requirement, it is also an economic one.

With a wide range of friction testing machines and multi-component sensors for the determination of friction coefficients TesT GmbH, located in Erkrath, Germany, provides complete solutions for screw and bolt testing. It is the market leader in the field of friction coefficient analysis on screw connections up to the size of M80. TesT also supplies vibration testing machines for the dynamic lateral loading on fasteners and universal testing machines for tensile testing on screws with forces of up to 600kN. www.test-gmbh.com

Friction Coefficient Testing Machines for Screws, Bolts and Nuts March 28-30, 2017 Hall 1, Stand 1388

Friction Testing • Vibration Testing • Torsion Testing • Tension Testing

• • • •

For fasteners from M2 up to M80 Patented transducers Integrated heating-solutions Extensometers optional Conform to standards: ISO 14399, ISO 16047, company standards from FIAT, GM, Hyundai, PSA, Renault, VW and many more

TesT GmbH • Helena-Rubinstein-Strasse 4 • D 40699 Erkrath • +49 211 209903-0 • test@test-gmbh.com • www.test-gmbh.com TesT AG • Bösch 63 • CH 6331 Hünenberg • +41 41 785601-0 • test@test-ag.ch • www.test-ag.ch

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

BRANKAMP-MARPOSS ensures process quality BRANKAMP GmbH, part of the MARPOSS Group, is a manufacturer of systems for the process monitoring of a wide range of applications including metal cutting machines, presses, as well as stamping and forming processes. Here we speak to Gianluca Elmo, managing director at BRANKAMP, about the company and how it helps customers increase productivity, whilst reducing total life cycle costs of machine tools.

What are the benefits for customers using BRANKAMP-MARPOSS products?

“BRANKAMP systems are especially used as a means of measurement in forming and stamping production processes. They prevent process errors, provide support for quicker machine set-up and when there are malfunctions they switch off the system in time to prevent or limit costly damages.

An operator can never react as quickly as such a system operating with pressure and acoustic sensors or light barriers, etc.

Through the use of BRANKAMP-MARPOSS monitoring systems, the costly consequences of spontaneous shutdowns are limited or prevented. If valuable tools installed in the machine are exposed to intense loading then there is the possibility that they may get damaged and need replacing. Damage in the region of thousands of Euros, even up in the six-figure range, can ensue rapidly because common automatic industrial systems work at stroke rates from several hundred to thousands of cycles per minute. Only a switch off system that can respond within milliseconds of a malfunction and shutdown the machine accordingly offers a suitable remedy.

Experience shows the continued operation of a defective machine will result in higher costs than the actual first defect.

Other plus points for BRANKAMP systems include economic efficiency, and thus the operation, resulting from process observation. From accelerated familiarisation periods during commissioning of new machines, to higher machine utilisation rates due to reductions in downtimes, repair times and conversion times, as well as the reduction in repair and tool costs.

The optimisation of process parameters leads to more stable processes, while more stable processes enable multi-machine operations and run time extensions through further production.

The concrete benefits for the operator through BRANKAMPs’ systems and the visualisation of the process are:

Machine protection due to permanently programmed safety limits (consequential damage prevention).

Tool protection through adjustable warning and shut-off limits (consequential damage prevention).

Economic efficiency due to pause throughput and additional shifts with thinned down personnel (ghost shift).

Quality assurance through process controls during the manufacture of each part.

Monitoring is worth actual money in the area of machine efficiency. Because the production process is monitored, it can be more efficiently designed. For example, because of fear for the damage referred to above, many companies produce with only half power. The use of BRANKAMP-MARPOSS monitoring systems enables the running of the production lines at higher speeds. The use of such systems therefore can give companies a competitive edge.

It is also a prerequisite for ‘condition-oriented maintenance’.

This helps to prevent downtimes, a concept which is missing in classic ‘reactive’ maintenance. In this form of maintenance, as with a car inspection, the machine is taken down at regular intervals and thoroughly checked. Monitoring tools, on the other hand, enable specific problem identification during ongoing operations. Occasionally, a shutdown can be avoided because a problem can possibly be solved while the machine is running; at the least, idle times are shortened.

MARPOSS Group is commited to supplying a wide range of monitoring solutions for machining centres, as well as grinding and forming machines. The Group understands the importance of these applications and is investing in these areas to offer new and innovative solutions to the market.”

How many BRANKAMP-MARPOSS systems are deployed around the world and in which countries?

“Close to its 40 th anniversary, 50,000 BRANKAMP applications are in use in manufacturing facilities all over the globe. The systems are especially prevalent in the automotive industry, but also in many other metal processing industries. In principle, many different applications are conceivable. Anywhere where the production process needs to be optimised and downtimes prevented. Our systems can be installed as individual modules, but can also take on the networking and monitoring of overall locations. Being part of the MARPOSS Group means that BRANKAMP is the ideal partner to support and serve fastener industries everywhere in the world.

MARPOSS Group is present in 24 countries with 80 offices in the world, and offers specialised competence in stamping and forming manufacturing processes.”

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Marposs Monitoring Solutions for SMART forming What applications can BRANKAMP-MARPOSS systems be used in?

“The forming process monitoring is based on the regular and permanent acquisition of the machine status in the form of measurements and analysis of significant physical parameters (such as vibration, strain, loads, acoustic emissions, etc). Machine and tool loading on the production line is measured by means of various sensor systems and compared with predefined reference measurement curves.

The operator can rely on their own senses, but they haven’t got X-ray vision (in many processes, one can hardly see what is happening inside the machine) and, in a loud production hall, it is also a challenge to hear whether the tool in the sound insulated machine has malfunctioned or not. The operator, thus, cannot see, hear or measure everything. This results in the need for special measuring equipment.

BRANKAMP-MARPOSS offers such solutions. Sensors mounted close to the process records all process relevant parameters. If the sensor data analysed in real time indicates the critical values have been exceeded, the monitoring system shuts down the machine in a fraction of a second (emergency switch off, or ‘trip’).

Comparable systems such as simple vibration sensors in so-called ‘earthquake’ switches are usually not precise enough and do not compile data sets, from which subsequent conclusions may be drawn as to the cause of the problem. The economic advantages for the production process are preventing expensive machine collisions and when problems do arise, the disruption factors can be subsequently analysed.

The most important parameter for this is process quality (PQ).

This PQ factor is displayed on the monitoring unit to enable operators to draw conclusions of process progression. Through visualisation of the process the operator can respond quickly in the event of undesired process changes.”

What are the main products used in the fastener industry and what are their main benefits?

“High-quality fasteners are an absolute must, particularly in the electronics and automotive fields. There are no compromises for customer satisfaction and quality and supply delay aren’t acceptable. Everything in the fastener production process must fit perfectly, no matter whether MARPOSS customers deal with standard screws or special cuts. Their process must run at top quality and efficiency.

For this reason many fastener industries use BRANKAMP-MARPOSS systems on thread rolling machines and multi-station machines. Without monitoring systems, typical errors due to quality problems with the parts would occur, such as improperly rolled threads or deficient thread geometry, as well as machine problems, for example due to tool wearing or misaligned tracks. With our monitoring systems these problems can be drastically reduced. The production becomes more reliable with consistently high-quality. That is an important prerequisite for our users to remain competitive. They can reduce downtimes and rejects – that not only saves time but, above all, saves costs as well. Machine operators have absolutely no problems handling the BRANKAMP-MARPOSS monitoring systems thanks to their simple operation.” www.marposs.com

Tool protection

Quality control

Production management

Set up aide Machine protection Productivity increase

Process optimisation Big Data analysis

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Pre-heating stainless steel wire

GWI to represent RTM Products in Germany

Primarily focused on the ceramic industry since 1976, Italian-based Tecnopress Srl is currently concentrating on its wire Heather SCF unit, which is designed to pre-heat stainless steel wire of 3mm to 16mm diameter before cold heading.

T

ecnopress explains that the wire Heather SCF unit carries out the pre-heating, up to 300°C, by converting the electric power into heat onto the wire only, thus providing a uniform distribution of the temperature and improving the material plasticity.

The unit is also fixed on wheels, which means that it is very handy and can be adapted to different heights.

“Since we launched the wire Heather SCF unit a few years ago we have sold 200+ units,” explains Tecnopress. “We are present in markets all over the world and have distinguished ourselves through the quality of our products and service.” www.tecnopressitaly.it

TECNOPRESS manufactures products of new generation: • Servo straightener and uncoiler feeders • Stainless steel wire heating systems TECNOPRESS is the reliable partner for: • Modifications and customizations of special components made by the internal technical office • Analysis and innovations to fulfill CE regulations • Refurbishing and full rebuilding of header and thread rolling machines • Production on customer’s drawings of mechanical parts in small and big quantities with a wide shop floor equipped with old and new technology machines • Sales of used and rebuilt cold headers with 24 months guarantee

www.tecnopressitaly.it Tecnopress S.r.l. via Trebbia, 7 – 23868 Valmadrera (LC) ITALY Phone +39 0341 211065 – Fax +39 0341 219777 Rotary threading machine

Mobile welding unit

Straightening welding unit

Wire heater SCF

Uncoiler

Turning device

Refurbishing Rebuilding

Part manufacture

GWI GmbH is the new exclusive German sales agent for RTM Products Inc – an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of steel and carbide recess heading tools and gauges for the worldwide fastener and cold forming industries.

R

TM Products’ tools and gauges are used to produce fasteners and cold form parts for the automotive, aircraft, defence, high-tech, construction and general industrial industries.

Additionally, RTM Products is in a strong position to manufacture special tooling, according to drawing, in a very short delivery time. It is also a licensed producer of TORX® and TORX® Plus tooling.

“Nowadays, delivery times are very important,” comments GWI. “To support this need, both RTM and GWI stock a wide variety of standard recess tools for immediate delivery.”

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Visit WWW.NAKASHIMADA.CO.JP to find an agent near you.

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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

SACMA shows its ‘Italian Excellence’ At Fastener Fair Italy SACMA Group focused on its ‘Italian Excellence’ and why it is leading the market with its machines and unique process, to produce very high-quality products.

A

lso at the show, Ingramatic – with its innovative and intelligent technologies – took the opportunity to introduce its new CNC thread rolling machine with a single starter unit driven by a torque motor, which is able to run up to 600rpm. This technology has also been applied on the new RP120 and RP220, which will be coming out by the end of 2016.

With headquarters located close to the MiCo – Milano Congressi where Fastener Fair Italy took place, SACMA and Ingramatic used the opportunity to invite visitors to their individual factories, to show their capacities and technologies. “Despite the exhibition being relatively small, and only two days, sales management were surprised at the number of visitors and the fact people came from everywhere, including delegations,” explains SACMA Group. “We were able to meet customers at the show and then take them to visit our factories and we even finalised some contracts.”

SACMA Group’s sales department team welcomed customers from many countries including China, the USA, eastern Europe, France, India, Turkey, the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

New corporate video

During Fastener Fair Italy SACMA Group also introduced a new corporate video that showcases the capacity of the Group to design and manufacture its machines according to its unique ‘modular system’ concept. The official video is already online on the Group website – under the ‘News’ section – as well as on its YouTube channel.

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To know more about SACMA and Ingramatic machines, customers are invited to visit the company website, where they can find some demonstrative videos of the headers and threaders during the production process, as well as the presentation of the trademark Winning Technologies®.

The constant aim of SACMA Group is to guarantee production, which is why its own production units are fully integrated with the machine manufacturing. This is done through the concept of common platforms and the ability to ensure a unique reliability level, plus the immediate spare parts availability for every machine.

SACMA has also introduced the new ‘Guide to the system’, which is now available online in the ‘Products’ section. It contains the general features of the machines and introduces new headers and threaders, such as SP451-EL – a long stroke progressive header with 300mm dko, 22mm wire diameter and 220 tonnes heading load. It also includes Ingramatic’s RP120 (W1015/TR1) and RP220 (W10/TR2) with the new starter unit driven by a drive motor.

“At SACMA we constantly have more than 40 machines present on our assembly lines, and Ingramatic more than 25,” explains the Group. “The factories are the most prestigious show rooms worldwide and constitute an authentic inspiration source for the study and the evaluation of all our cusotmers projects. We therefore invite everyone to personally come and visit the operative units or to send their technical staff to study the technologies of tomorrow.” www.sacmagroup.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

New oriented anchor and nail bag-making machine To respond to the demand for more flexible and cost-effective packaging for hardware sustainable products, Weighpack International (WPI Services B.V) has designed a flexible bag-making machine, WPSF280, to pack oriented steel fasteners up to 150mm – such as anchors and nails.

W

eighpack’s bag-making machine is equipped with a special forming shoulder that can be used with flat biodegradable film bags of 100mm – 250mm wide with an easy adjustable length up to 230mm.

During the filling operation the longer products are lined out horizontally, resulting in a solid and compact pack without any unnecessary additional foil length.

The product lining is achieved by a newly designed oscillating electro magnet, which will line up the product during the filling process. Weighpack points out that this new automatic principle could save up to 35% packing material, when packing longer items.

The bag-maker can be equipped with different dosing applications such as high-speed product counters, multi-head weighing machines or linear feeders.

The bags can also be produced with a euro-lock or pickup hole – giving possibilities to be well presented in hardware stores. www.weighpack.nl

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

FOR YOUR IN-LINE AND OFF-LINE WIRE DRAWING NEEDS

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.

Tel. +39 0341.604801 Fax +39 0341.604289 www.tecnoimpianti-italy.com info@tecnoimpianti-italy.com

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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Using vibration in the sorting and inspection process Sorting and inspection machines need a steady and reliable flow of material, in order to secure long-term running without stops or need for manual handling by an operator.

This is where SKAKO Vibration AS says vibrator technology offers the best possible solutions.

F

or small and easy flowing products, such as nuts, washers and short screws, the SKAKO Vibration CCE feeder, equipped with a silo, offers a simple and flexible solution that has a very small footprint. By using transport containers with sliding gates at the bottom, discharge into the silo can be handled with minimum involvement from an operator. The silo can be configured to fit the dimensions of the customer’s containers.

A mechanical or optical level detector, installed above the bowl feeder, also ensures a steady flow of products into the sorting and inspection machine.

For larger and interlocking products, SKAKO offers a solution with a FVE (storage) feeder, which is available in different sizes (70 litres/125kg up to 2,240 litres/4,000kg). The storage feeder gently loosens and separates the

products and feeds them in a steady flow into the bowl feeder. For automatic and safe discharge into the feeder, the set-up can be completed with a lift tipper. If choosing to invest in a lift tipper, driven on rails, several stations can be supported simultaneously with only one lift tipper and with minimum operator involvement.

“Both solutions provide continuous flow without interruptions,” points out SKAKO. “Using vibration technology in combination with suitable liners, ensures gentle and reliable handling with minimum product damages.”

SKAKO has been manufacturing medium and heavy-duty vibratory feeders and screens since 1963. The hardware industry is a significant and growing part of SKAKO’s business – especially feeding, weighing and dosing equipment for heat treatment lines. www.skako.com

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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Fit for Industry 4.0 with Bossard Smart Factory Logistics While many still discuss the term and meaning of Industry 4.0, Bossard Group has launched a concrete methodology that prepares manufacturers for change – Smart Factory Logistics.

This typical Industry 4.0 technology enables the customer to optimise the supply chain and to improve planning.”

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I

ncreased economic demands are forcing companies towards leaner, faster, and better production. This has resulted in manufacturers focusing on customised mass production, real time automation and gap-free process transparency.

“A new type of factories, so called Smart Factories, are emerging worldwide,” explains Urs Güttinger, head of Smart Factory Logistics at Bossard. “Manufacturers require flexible production lines and sites. Smart technologies enable this agile production at a fraction of the cost and time.”

Bossard helps shape the future

This is where Bossard’s new Smart Factory Logistics methodology comes in. The holistic approach supports companies worldwide in further developing a lean and error free implementation. Bossard prepares companies for the next steps with the following three specific and field tested solutions: Intelligent systems communicate along the supply chain: Highly developed technical systems, such as SmartBin or SmartLabel, link the production and supply chain. Containers with integrated weight sensors continuously communicate the current demand at a customer’s production or in the warehouse. Bossard receives this data and delivers the respective replenishment automatically, even directly to the point of use. The customer only notices the consistent stock of B- and C-parts.

Customer specific solutions for all needs: Bossard seeks to make the customer faster, better, and more productive on a daily basis. This does not only amount to the delivery of B- and C-parts. The Smart Factory Logistics approach includes a comprehensive logistics management analysis of delivery, supplier consolidation, operation

and maintenance, and even encompasses strategic customer consultation.

Bossard Smart Factory Logistics delivers full production control.”

Big data software creates transparency: Bossard’s very own supply chain collaborative software, ARIMS, collects, processes and delivers big data on a large-scale. This core element of Smart Factory Logistics creates transparency and brings the customer closer to processes. Thanks to the latest ARIMS release, customers receive real time information online and can complete modifications, such as demand adjustments or container rearrangements, interactively. This typical Industry 4.0 technology enables the customer to optimise the supply chain and to improve planning.

“With these three core competencies, Bossard offers customers a complete package for tackling the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution,” states Urs Güttinger.

Bossard supplements these services with a comprehensive product portfolio of mechanical and electrical fasteners, along with engineering and consulting services for sustainable production and manufacturing process optimisation. Thanks to its global presence, Bossard can fully support internationally operating customers locally and globally at a consistently high-level of quality.

Interactive visualisations show how Bossard Smart Factory Logistics makes customers faster, better, and more productive

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM

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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

ACTYLUS™ smart bins – a complete solution to stock-outs

By Julian Adams, managing director at Apex Supply Chain Technologies® Ltd In some environments, stock-outs caused by inefficient third party inventory management can be more than a headache – they can lead to significant contractual penalties for distributors.

E

ven without this prospect, unavailability of a key fastener is, at best, a major irritant. At worst, fastener stock-outs make it even tougher to adhere to already pressured production schedules – placing further pressure on distributors to find ways to guarantee stock availability.

Traditional bins: Stuck in the past

Often a traditional ‘dumb’ bin arrangement holds fasteners and similar products – small parts and supplies – which keep the business moving. When compared with the rest of the facility, however, this approach feels out of place and dated, while offering little visibility into the flow of materials. This can lead to multiple issues that can severely impact the bottom line.

Employees know the bin system does not work well, so they take more items than they need so they do not run out. However, this compounds the original problem, creating stock-outs for others, impacting overall productivity.

Typically, distributors make two visits for what is effectively a single task – one to count what is in each bin and another, several days later, to restock.

Meanwhile on-site management deals with stock-outs by placing costly emergency orders or buying from a local supplier – probably paying a price premium. Many managers also have to overspend on inventory to keep a backup supply of stock on hand.

One company’s approach

Assembly Fasteners Inc (AFI), a US-based global distributor of products and services to industrial customers, was operating with many of these problems with its bin systems, located at customer

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facilities. AFI specialises in vendor managed inventory programmes, within which it manages its customers’ project inventory levels.

For AFI and its customers, the old method of restocking bins was time-consuming and did not represent best practice. For example, to service one account with 200 part numbers, an AFI technician would visit the customer to check each bin with a scanner to determine restocking needs. The information would then be uploaded to the customer’s internal systems to generate an order. AFI would then have to return to restock.

AFI investigated automated bin systems, but ruled most of them out for being cumbersome or difficult to use – until it saw ACTYLUS ™ smart bins from Apex Supply Chain Technologies®. AFI deployed ACTYLUS smart bins with two contract manufacturing customers, operating from facilities exceeding 9,000m2.

Able to detect stock levels by weight of product in each compartment, ACTYLUS automatically sends current inventory levels for each bin to the Apex Trajectory Cloud™ platform.

Trajectory alerts AFI and its customers when those levels drop to pre-set minimums.

Trajectory reports are viewable anytime and anywhere on smartphones, tablets and computers. This real time visibility immediately eliminated the need for counting trips, safety stock and emergency restocking. Multiple configurations in bin size and number of rows are available, making ACTYLUS customisable for any setting.

After installing ACTYLUS, AFI realised immediate time and cost savings. Technicians who previously spent so much time on manual counts immediately regained a full day each week because ACTYLUS checks each bin for them.

With Trajectory Cloud automatically notifying AFI to reorder when inventory levels reach pre-set minimums, there is no concern about stock-outs, making safety stock unnecessary. AFI pulled back on the levels of inventory that it placed in the bins on consignment – returning more than €10,000 of inventory in one location and nearly €4,000 in another.

“Apex is providing a solution that really has strong visual appeal.

It replaces dirty, mismatched old steel shelves with a clean, well-lit system. When people see it, they talk about how they want to move more of our products into the ACTYLUS smart bins, which helps us expand our partnership with those customers,” commented Hugh Watson, president at AFI. “The ACTYLUS system gives us a different look and appeal. People stop to look at this when it’s installed and it helps us to separate ourselves from competitors that are often right next to us on the shop floor,” concluded Hugh. www.apexsupplychain.com/actylusuk

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Overcoming technophobia:

Three ways to switch your sales team on and improve business performance

By Paul Black, CEO, sales-i The global manufacturing industry is home to hundreds and thousands of veteran salespeople. Their years of experience and solid track record make for an impressive combination that goes a long way to maintaining business success and winning new customers – not to mention contributing to the world economy. In fact, according to data1 from the World Bank, manufacturing accounts for approximately 15% of global GDP.

The only way to successfully implement a new software system is to involve salespeople at every stage of the adoption process.”

T

here’s only one caveat in the success story of manufacturing sales.

A lot of experienced salespeople are still reluctant to adopt new technology – and it’s not always easy to understand why. Perhaps it’s the rising threat of cybercrime (a valid cause for concern), a fear of the unknown, or quite simply the philosophy that there’s no need to fix “what ain’t broke”. Whatever the reason, it’s undermining the speed and efficiency of companies operating in manufacturing sectors like fastening, and many risk losing out to their tech-savvy millennial competition.

This is particularly apparent in smaller companies that rely too heavily on traditional sales tactics. Unless they overcome their reluctance, these suppliers will increasingly battle to compete with their larger rivals that are far quicker at investing in new technologies to empower their sales teams.

But regardless of actual size, a business needs to encourage its salespeople to adopt these innovative tools and systems sooner rather than later. The correct use of technology will give a company a clear competitive edge in this very busy market – and turn a good salesperson into a great one. Here are three ways to get a sales team using, rather than fearing, technology.

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1. Highlight the benefits

Most of us have a mobile phone and depend on it to keep in touch with not just friends and family, but colleagues and customers too. This convenient tool has revolutionised our lives and is a prime example of the benefits of technology.

Business Intelligence (BI) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems may come with daunting titles, but this shouldn’t put off first time users. These technologies are powerful professional aids that can achieve great results across many different departments, including marketing, sales, business development and finance.

How? These systems use data to track, store and analyse customer buying patterns. While your sales teams are busy actually selling, smart sales tools are able to accurately forecast new, up and cross-sell opportunities to take advantage of. In the fastener and fixing sector, for example, a bulk purchase of bolts will naturally require some nuts – a timely alert from your sales intelligence tools will

WHEN ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL INVENTED THE TELEPHONE, HE HAD A MISSED CALL FROM A SALES-I USER

35-50% of sales go to the vendor that gets in touch first.

Ring 0800 012 4669 or visit www.sales-i.com to learn how our sales software finds opportunities before your competitors.

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS enable you to undercut your competition with a well priced deal. Plus, these tools can flag any decline in sales that need to be immediately addressed, as well as automate certain administrative (and very time-consuming) tasks, such as creating reports.

The ultimate benefit is without doubt speed and agility; all these tools are easily accessible on the go via any mobile device. Rather than trawling through data manually, or having to rely exclusively on their gut instincts, a sales team is only a click away from tapping into important customer information that could save a deal, make a good impression, and improve the overall customer experience.

2. Track use, measure results, and encourage feedback

The only way to successfully implement a new software system is to involve salespeople at every stage of the adoption process. A sales team needs to feel like the technology is working for them – not making them work harder or, even worse, replacing them. Establish a forum that enables employees to air their views on how well the software is working, highlight any potential problems, and ask pressing questions. Management then needs to respond to and solve any issues as quickly as possible.

Show a sales teams how much the technology is benefitting business by measuring progress from the beginning. When they see how their sales performance is improving, they’ll feel more encouraged to continue using the new systems.

Always manage a sales team’s expectations and clearly communicate that the new software systems won’t do their job for them – but when used correctly, they can help them do a far better job. The fundamentals of the job remain: Seeing to customers’ needs, perfecting sales pitches, and ensuring an excellent customer experience. At the end of the day, technology is the enabler – not the endpoint.

3. Provide the right (and regular) training

Successful adoption of new technologies doesn’t happen overnight. so don’t dump the sales team in at the deep end and then leave them to drown. Even those who are relatively tech-savvy will need some ongoing guidance to get them up to speed as quickly as possible.

Regular training sessions are a must-do. If a team doesn’t know how to use their new tools, the investment will crash and burn. No technology can improve overall business performance without first giving some instruction to users, so draw up a training schedule and make it compulsory. The training sessions can be in-house or outsourced, and tailored to groups or individuals – whatever the most efficient method might be.

Of course practice makes perfect, and over time a sales team can work its way towards more advanced training sessions to increase its proficiency. When your salespeople feel confident about their ability to use technology, they’ll be able to help train and guide colleagues in the future to do faster, better business – and show any rival upstarts that they’re still the boss. www.sales-i.com

References

1. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.ZS

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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

Marcopol launches new logistic system Marcopol Sp z.o.o is now capable of fulfilling higher levels of orders in a timely manner thanks to its new logistic system.

A

s a manufacturer and distributor of fasteners, Marcopol supplies its products to more than 30 countries worldwide including Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the Nordic countries.

The company offers more than 20,000 products and supplies multidimensional orders based on individual customer projects, adjusting solutions to individual customer needs.

Due to the new storage system, pallet and package deliveries are carried out using two independent transit routes, which significantly accelerates the picking process. Also, thanks to employing a consolidation buffer in the form of two carousels, it is now also possible for Marcopol to pick a client’s order in many corridors simultaneously.

“We have completed a difficult period of implementation and the new system will open up new opportunities in terms of efficiency and timeliness,” says Karolina Trzęsicka-Cyman, head of logistics at Marcopol Sp z.o.o.

Nedschroef selects Axios™ Systems Netherlands-based Koninklijke Nedschroef Holding B.V has selected assist® – an IT service management solution from Axios™ Systems – to help consolidate its service management.

P

reviously Nedschroef had used independent service management processes – ticketing systems – across each of its offices. However, it found in order to achieve its aims of centralising efforts, facilitating the concepts of self-service, and continual service improvement, a new solution was required.

The supplier of automotive fasteners decided to purchase assist® as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform – including password reset and mobile functionality – as part of a two-phase implementation process completed in August.

“The implementation of assyst has enabled us to consolidate

118 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

service management into a centralised tool that will be accessible to all appropriate staff, which improves the provisioning of services to our customer base. assyst enables us to measure performance with its reporting functionality and we can also send surveys on a regular basis,” says Hans Smits, group IT project leader at Koninklijke Nedschroef Holding B.V. “We are delighted that Nedschroef has chosen our ITSM solution, assyst, to further the centralisation of its IT operations.

I am confident assyst will deliver a more efficient and consolidated service desk,” comments Tasos Symeonides, CEO of Axios™ Systems.

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TECHNICAL

Clever fastening by forming Dr Peter Standring, Industrial Metalforming Technologies (IMfT) That we live in a digital age is apparent by the sight of so many of our fellow humans being glued to their smartphones. Yet it is barely half a century since metalforming was supplanted by electronics after at least three millennium of maintaining its strategic position in both expressions of wealth and weapons of warfare.

F

actories employing just a few to many thousand of workers, all bent on transforming metal into a myriad of similar products, have all but disappeared from the developed world. A tiny proportion of modern, super efficient manufacturing sites now exist producing countless times more output than those belonging to previous generations.

The reason and probably the primary driver of ‘globalisation’ is the concept of ‘standardisation of products’ based on classification and rationalisation. Previously, everyone and their dog had their own brand of ‘widget’ but today, all ‘widgets’ are the same. Hence, output goes through the roof and the costs of production tumble. Exactly the same principle can be seen in the current online market where increasingly sophisticated software uses real time data to identify current trends in demand and use this to influence output.

So, if all ‘widgets’ are both cheap and plentiful, what additional criteria can be used to make them worth manufacturing? At present, environmental issues (energy, lightweighting, waste, end of life) can be factored into the manufacturing equation. With these issues in mind, the type of ‘widget’ used in an assembly of multiple widgets becomes a complex task, which should, if it is carried out correctly, involve a multifunctional design/manufacturing team. Getting the product right and fit for its functional life is crucial. Getting it wrong can be exceedingly costly (e.g automotive vehicle recalls).

Standard widgets, knocked out at superfast speeds, will always be cost-effective but instead of having one ‘widget’, could a number be assembled together to provide the customer with much more value? In metalforming terms, the basic processes of rolling, forging, hollow extrusion, etc, produce standard products and parts in huge quantities. Because they work over a large cross sectional area, they naturally require very large forces to accomplish the desired deformation. Other more sophisticated metalforming processes – such as spinning, roll forming, swaging, profile rolling and rotary forging – all use much smaller contact zones between the forming tool(s) and the workpiece. Therefore because the force required to achieve deformation is directly proportional to the yield stress of the material being shaped, it follows that these ‘incremental’ forming processes use much smaller forces. This means machine sizes can be proportionally smaller than their conventional counterpoints.

It has long been recognised that incremental deformation processes (IDP) can play a significant roll in fasteners and fixings.

Thread rolling of course in its many guises is an incremental process, but that produces an independent fastening item. The role of IDP referred to here, is one in which a finished product is deformed and by doing so, also simultaneously fastens.

120 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Perhaps the most common and widespread fastener of this type is the humble, yet significant, rivet which is almost always deformed incrementally (self-piercing and pop rivets may be exceptions).

Mechanical devices to aid the riveting process have long been produced but one of the most successful, with a pedigree going back over 100 years, are those termed as rotary riveting machines.

Rotary riveting machines

The concept of rotary riveting basically replicates the action of using a hammer to ‘peen’ the head of a rivet. However, instead of using multiple individual blows, such as in rotary riveting, a tool is placed with its axis inclined in a spinning head. The simple principle – shown in Figure 1 – can have a number of variations, which have been classified by using the Euler Angles of nutation, precession and spin.

Figure 2 shows how these angles are used to describe the ‘tilt’ of the Earth’s axis (nutation); the ‘precession’ of the Earth’s axis and the ‘spin’ of the Earth about its own axis.

Figure 1: Principle of rotary riveting ϴ

Pivot point

Initial contact area

Final contact area

Table 1: Rotary riveting machine patents

Figure 2: Tilt of the Earth’s axis (nutation angle)

Precession of axis Earth’s axis Nutation angle

Designer

Country Patent No.

Date

Briede

Germany 31944

1908

Snodgrass

USA 1089281

1913

Deshon

USA 2185939

1939

Bregen

USA 2739726

1954

Bodmer

USA 3173281

1962

Friedrich

USA 3440850

1967

Mink

USA 3618352

1969

Berndt

UK 1276827

1969

USA 3620006

1970

Ramseier

Mink Yoshikowa Dragoun

Equator

Earth’s spin

Figure 3 identifies the complete family of rotary riveting machine designs and Table 1 illustrates various examples of these embodiments as they were developed. It should be noted that where multi axis motions are involved, the designs shown in Table 1 are achieved by mechanically driven movements either directly or as a result of tool/work interaction (Figure 1).

Figure 3: Classification of all rotary riveting machine motions based on the Euler Angles of nutation, precession and spin N

NP

NS

PS

1970 1971

USA 3779059

1971

UK 1434573

1973

UK 1490539

1973

UK 1509779

1975

N

P

S

NP

NS

PS NPS

It should also be noted that all rotary riveting machines have their tool axis inclined to the machine/workpiece axis. This is the ‘nutation’ angle but a nutation (N) machine motion only occurs when the N angle is changed during the riveting operation.

The usefulness of rotary riveting is significantly enhanced by the way in which the incremental nature of the process can dramatically reduce the forming force required to achieve rivet closure. In this way very precise fits can be obtained for joining moving elements such as medical instruments and scissors. These can also be successfully used to capture brittle materials like ceramics. Figure 4 shows examples of the range of riveting operations that can be obtained using single or multiple rotary riveting heads.

Figure 4: Examples of rotary riveting operations (courtesy of Bracker Corp) N = Nutation P = Precession S = Spin

NPS P

USA 3653243 USA 3768289

Kinematic Type

S

In all rotary riveting machines the key element is the position of the intersection of the spinning head and tool axes. This is generally termed the ‘pivot point’ of the design and for sound kinematic reasons, must lie on the tool/workpiece interacting surface. As will be appreciated, the geometry of the riveting tool and the movement of its axis will determine the shape of the formed rivet surface.

A ‘gull winged’ tool would be required to produce a hemispherical rivet head and to reduce surface scuffing during deformation a sensible machine design would enable the riveting tool to freely rotate about its own axis. Such a machine would have a fixed axis of nutation, a precession motion of the tool axis and spin of the tool about its own axis. Hence (as shown in Figure 1) be a precession spin (PS) machine.

Flat

Conical

Crown

Eyelet flare

Flat flare

Outward swaging

Shouldering

Captured flat

Swage

Inward swaging

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 121

TECHNICAL Rotary forging machines

Despite the human capacity to engage in intellectual self aggrandisement, no matter what physicists may say, the real world remains three dimensional. It is perhaps our greatest attribute that significant numbers of us see the same thing in different ways. So it is unsurprising that the simple notion of rotary riveting was also independently invented by others seeking to use the same incremental process but, in this case, on components three orders of magnitude bigger. Step forward, Edwin Elmer Slick (1868 – 1952) one of America’s true (but largely unknown) technological giants. As vice-president of the Midvale Steel Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania – in a series of US patents dated 1907 to 1922 – he designed and then built four hot forging wheel mills capable of forging, from a 15 inch billet, a railway wheel in just 55 seconds as shown in Figure 5. The last of Slick’s mills was mothballed by Bethlehem Steel in 1982 and scrapped in 1988 having, with one major refurbishment in the 1950s, run continuously – producing wheel blanks, gears, sheeves and tyre moulds for over 60 years.

Figure 5: Slick mill spin machine (1907 – 1982)

…selling extremely high-tech safety critical and precision made multi ‘component’ elements to a vehicle OEM for the price of a hamburger, hurt.”

It is also interesting that in 2011, Standard Steel was bought by Sumitomo Heavy Industries with the stated intention of introducing their ‘proprietary’ SIRD technology for the production of high speed rail wheels into North America. SIRD stands for Sumitomo Inclined Rotary Dishing and is based on the Slick wheel mill concept.

Clever fastening

Table 2 shows the development of a number of rotary forging machine designs based on their kinematic motions (a comparison with Table 1 is interesting).

Table 2: Rotary forging machine kinematc designs Designer

Country

Date

Slick

USA

Massey HF

UK

Silichev

USSR

Marciniak

Poland

1967

Massey (B&S)

UK

1969

Qingjieng

China

1975

Wagner (SMS)

Germany

1980

Grzeskowiak

Poland

1981

Standring

UK

1982

Dyna East

USA

1983

Standring

UK

1988

Sumitomo

Japan

1988

MJC

USA

2013

Kinematic Type N

P

S

NP

NS

PS NPS

1906-1922 1928 1962-1974

122 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

The manufacturing ‘road map’ that Japanese industries created in the latter part of the 20 th Century is one which all developing nations have sought to copy. Massive inbalance in trade goods led to the introduction of ‘transplants’. These brought in the idea of ‘local’ supply and the adaption (upgrading) of the transplant hosts, to improvements demanded by the Japanese OEMs. The reality behind the Japanese myth of manufacturing ‘master class’ was simplicity and common sense. Efficiency is achieved by minimising all effort whilst maximising output and to do this requires the integration of design for function, manufacture and assembly.

A classic example where the concepts of integrated design is made possible through the use of clever fastening is in the ubiquitous automotive wheel bearing. Those readers old enough to have run and maintained 20 th Century vehicles, will well remember the time spent cleaning, regreasing and adjusting the wheel bearings every few thousand miles. Once completed, the wheel nut had to be tightened to apply a preload and then backed off before being locked in position.

For wheel bearing manufacturers, selling extremely high-tech safety critical and precision made multi ‘component’ elements to a vehicle OEM for the price of a hamburger, hurt. For the OEM faced with the inventory and costs of assembly, this was something they could well do without. Bring on the Wheel Hub Assembled Unit where a sealed for life integral assembly – consisting of hub, bearings and sensors – could all be captured at a set preload and rolling torque by a rotary forming process, which operated fully automatically, 24/7.

Figure 6: Rotary forming of wheel hub – item 19 using inclined tool 22.

US Patent 6524011, 25th February 2003

doubly unfortunate that those working in the area don’t have the breadth of experience to call upon to find a ‘solution’ – so circumvention is employed to get around it.

Problems and solutions

Bearing manufacturers could now sell a pre assembled, warranty free unit for significantly more than a simple bearing. Doing this could also improve the assembly line efficiency and reduce inventory/ handling. Figure 6 shows one example of an assembled hub concept for which all automotive bearing manufacturers worldwide have their own designs. If a conventional forming operation were used to capture the bearing assembly, the force required would destroy the precision of the bearing elements. However, using an incremental rotary forming method reduces the force required by perhaps 30 times thus maintaining the integrity of the bearing elements.

A conservative estimate of the number of such wheel hub units produced each year must be around 200 million, which at between US$50 to US$100 for each unit will make the business worth between US$10 billion – US$20 billion (€9 billion – €18 billion). Not bad for what is in effect a big hollow rivet.

There are many similar examples where ‘smart’ forming methods can and are used extensively to make and/or capture other elements.

The tabs on computer boxes and the balls on minimum friction tables are two. As any patent agent will report, there are always two elements to any patents. One is the ‘problem’ the other its ‘solution’.

Unfortunately most ‘problems’ that occur in manufacturing remain known only to the people who experience them. It is often

About the author

Peter Standring has spent many years working on rotary forging technology and in 1985 was awarded the UK Patent GB2104813B – titled ‘Rotary forging or riveting pub’ – on 30 th May 1985. The concept of this invention was to have a machine in which the nutation (tilt) of the forging/riveting tool could be constantly changed under microprocessor control during a deformation cycle. Until that time, although many rotary forging machines had been designed and built around the world, none had the capability to vary the nutation axis in this way.

A 50 tonne capacity machine was built to this design having a nutation capability of varying the axis from 0 to 45 degrees. It should be noted that until this time all commercial rotary forging machines operated with nutation angles between 0 and 5 degrees. In 2012 MJC Engineering, a specialist designer/builder of incremental metalforming machines, won an order from the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) –

OK, manufacturing companies won’t share their problems. But, where countries have followed the Japanese manufacturing route map, they have invariably done it with expertise based on sometimes very clever counterfeiting of first world products. This has been achieved through rapid uptake (JIT), the flexibility of output (batch size production) and skill of the counterfeiters (although not necessarily in the ‘fit for service’ quality of the products). It has also proved to be the ‘practical’ base on which the national balance of payments surpluses have been generated when legitimate businesses emerge. This ‘copying culture’ is often second nature and why wouldn’t it be in some overpopulated, generally agriculturally dependent area, where little secrecy can be maintained.

Of perhaps greater importance is the fact that such ‘hotbeds’ of industry in their programme of absorbing knowledge, also share it and in this way they ‘discover,’ ‘expose’ and often ‘reveal’ the problems that mainstream OEM and tier 1 companies circumvent. Solve these and you move the goal posts, which means you can then bring your own product brands to the market.

There are of course ‘opportunities’ rather than ‘problems’ that are self evident to all in manufacturing. Lightweighting in transport is one. A reflection on what transport was like in 1906, 1916 and 1926

As any patent agent will report, there are always two elements to any patents. One is the ‘problem’ the other its ‘solution’.”

a national Catapult Centre based in Glasgow, Scotland – to design and build a 200 tonne Nutation/Spin rotary forging machine using Peter’s concepts. This was successfully completed and installed in 2014 and is being used for R&D on high added value products [Ref 1, 2].

“MJC Engineering has a proven track record for conjuring quite remarkable complex shapes using novel IDP equipment it has designed and built,” explains Peter Standring. “Call MJC with a problem and it just might be able to provide a solution.”

References

1. ‘The Shaping of Things to Come. Rotary forging emerges from the past with new capabilities for product design, process control, and material savings.’, 16th December 2013, Published in Forging Magazine www.forgingmagazine.com/forming/shaping-thingscome?page=1 2. ‘Rotary Forging Celebrates a Century’, Carl Lorentzen, President, MJC Engineering, Published in Forge Magazine, 30 th June 2014, www.forgemag.com/articles/84222-rotaryforging-celebrates-a-century?v=preview

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 123

TECHNICAL will give some interesting consideration to our own time – in 2006 and 2016 – as to what 2026 could be like.

One of the major lightweighting technologies the automotive industry took on board two decades ago, and which has brought about a step change in engineering design, has been the Tube Hydroforming Process (THP). As all engineers know, weight for weight, all tubes are stronger than the same mass of solid metal. The reason is because the axis down the centre of a bar or tube is not stressed when loaded and is therefore termed the ‘neutral’ axis. The further away from the ‘neutral’ axis the material can be distributed, the more efficient its use. This distribution of material away from the ‘neutral’ axis in the USA is termed ‘the moment of inertia’ and in the UK ‘the second moment of area’.

For a circular section tube of uniform wall thickness (I), as it is often denoted, it is the same in any plane. For a square shaped tube, the two planes across the corners are stronger than across the flat surfaces. In the case of a rectangular tube, just like a long plastic rule loaded at each end, it will buckle across its shortest dimension.

Tubular constructions are often used in the design of automotive engine cradles, rear axles and space frames. CAE analysis of the in service application of such parts have revealed a requirement to have highly complex tube geometries, which can maximise the load bearing conditions of such structures. Hence the automotive industry’s significant interest in the THP and their own in-house investment in making it work. It is not overstating the case to say that TH has introduced a step change into automotive structural design.

A major ‘problem’ that TH introduced was how to fix/fasten often very irregular shaped tubes to a basically flat surface, say a bulkhead?

A simple solution was to have separately cast ‘nodal’ elements of the tube geometry and simply to rivet/bond these to the ends of the TH parts.

Like most automotive solutions, this was expedient and although it will increase the vehicle mass, inventory, and the assembly time, it does provide an easy, ‘bolt-on’ solution.

The process of TH is simply that of blowing up a balloon inside a die cavity. The tube, sometimes in the case of a complex part, can be preformed (bent) to fit inside the die. The tube ends must be long enough so they can be fixed to a high pressure fluid source.

When activated, the fluid fills the tube and as the internal pressure is increased, the tube expands to fill the cavity. The material is trimmed and the part finished off.

The high performance requirements of TH products naturally mean they are made from special purpose materials. Where complex shapes are produced, the sections of the tube will undergo Figure 7: The flanging of non circular hydroformed tubes by incremental deformation

124 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

A major ‘problem’ that TH introduced was how to fix/fasten often very irregular shaped tubes to a basically flat surface…” different strains giving rise to the product having a range of different properties.

Figure 7 shows a section of one end of a well known SUV front engine beam into which a cast node is fixed prior to assembly in the car.

The other end has a square section and the distance between them of ~1.1m follows a stretched and shallow ‘S’ form with the usual shape contours including ‘crumple’ zones. The part is hydroformed from a 108mm drawn tube of 2mm wall thickness. It is bent to its approximate ‘S’ form prior to being normalised and then hydroformed. Analysis of the formed part in eight regions have revealed variations, including in wall thickness due to processing of -6% to +22%, tensile strength from ~350 MPa to ~430 MPa and elongation from ~0% to ~23%. If a flange could be formed on the ends of the beam this could provide an integral bonded/riveted or spot welded solution giving rise to a simpler, lower cost joining solution.

Figure 7 also shows how it is possible to form a flange on the hydroformed tube end achieved in the ‘as received’ condition. The process used was a rotary forming/riveting approach using a forming force of under 5 tonnes. Despite the variation in material properties in the ‘as received’ hydroformed tube, no evidence of surface failure was found. This simple example demonstrates the significant advantages that an (IDP) approach to metalforming can have.

Further information on any of the aspects raised in the article can be obtained by contacting Industrial Metalforming Technologies (IMfT). events@imft.co.uk www.imft.co.uk

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Adhesives are essential for lightweight construction Lightweight construction is the future. Hardly any market segment is developing as dynamically as industrial lightweight construction and hardly any topic plays a similarly important role when it comes to innovations. Here Rüdiger Frisch, technical manager, vehicle lightweight solutions, west Europe at 3M, explains the significance of adhesives for lightweight construction and points out the challenges, as well as the solutions available for this sector.

W

hether for aviation, rail transportation or elevators – wherever moving loads are involved – weight reduction plays a major role. More and more companies are therefore focusing on light materials and not just to strengthen their competitive position. Every gram counts – especially in the transportation industry. After all, car manufacturers throughout the world are under increasing pressure to produce vehicles that are kinder to the environment.

The less a vehicle weighs the less carbon dioxide it emits. Today we know that 10g of CO2 per kilometre is saved for every 100kg of reduced weight. This figure adds up to several tonnes over the entire lifespan of a vehicle, thus making a major contribution towards climate protection.

Adhesives key for lightweight construction

This is why the demand for lightweight material is steadily increasing in the industry. Lightweight components are manufactured from materials such as carbon fibres, high strength steels or innovative aluminium and magnesium alloys.

Manufacturers face the challenge that conventional joining techniques such as welding or riveting are often no longer possible in such cases. This applies all the more if the materials are used in so-called sandwich constructions. The solution is adhesives. They are able to connect the new materials, even if mixed.

That is why new types of adhesive technology are becoming more important due to this increasing lightweight trend. Lightweight constructions would not be possible without them. What many people don’t know – even now an automobile contains up to 15 litres of adhesive… and counting.

Choosing the right adhesive

One of the major challenges for the industry is bonding materials durably without weakening the mating parts. The latter case occurs above all with mechanical fastenings such as rivets or bolts and with thermal fastenings by welding. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that, of all fastening techniques, adhesives have developed most rapidly in the last few decades. Nowadays there is a huge selection of different adhesives, but not all adhesives are the same.

A good understanding of materials and processes is important in order to choose the right adhesive. The known types of adhesives can be classified according to their curing mechanism and/or according to the chemical basis (for example epoxy, polyurethane and acrylic adhesives). For instance helicopter rotor blades are bonded with epoxy resin. These adhesives are highly chemically resistant while featuring a very long and solid durability. When it comes to bonding plastic material to metal, you should however opt for acrylic systems. And if, for example, glass is to be bonded in an automobile, then polyurethane systems are the preferred choice.

The important thing is using the right adhesive for the right application.

Good solutions for many challenges

As a general rule, the fastening technique to be used should already be taken into account in the design. Adhesives can provide very solid and stable bonds in many areas. The use of adhesives, however, frequently requires a modification of

126 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

production processes and poses substantial challenges for manufacturers as they have to gradually adapt their processes. Intelligent adhesive systems are able to optimise production processes and there are already many very good options for many of the challenges.

For instance, most sheet metals used in the automotive industry are slightly oily to enable forming processes.

These oils generally have to be removed before adhesives are applied, which constitutes additional work. Now, a two part adhesive is available that can be applied directly to the oily substrate without the need for prior cleaning. Due to its special formulation, this adhesive absorbs the oil so that the degreasing process can be dispensed with. Moreover, the new adhesive also has a positive effect on workplace protection as many degreasing processes involve solvents.

Adhesive films

Most adhesives are pasteous or liquid. Particularly interesting for lightweight construction are new types of adhesive films that enable fast and automated application. They can, for example, be used for flanged seams of doors, hoods and trunks of automobiles.

Their advantage is that virtually no reworking is required, which makes their application very efficient.

Moreover the film has a precisely defined thickness or strength. That is particularly important when bonding different materials. For this application, it is crucial the materials are galvanically separated in order to prevent corrosion. Due to its defined thickness, the adhesive film ensures the materials do not come into contact with one another and isolation is provided.

Apart from bonding, the use of adhesive technology therefore offers further positive properties for the components, including protection against corrosion, isolation, vibration absorption or the compensation of different bonding part dynamics.

Bonding of mounts

Already today, thousands of mounts in an aircraft are bonded with adhesives, including cables, conduits or insulation elements. This is due to the fact adhesives are the only possible solution for bonding composite components. The use of screws and rivets can lead to structural damage, which may put the entire mechanical stability of the component at risk.

However, one of the major disadvantages when using adhesives for bonding mounts is that the bonding

process is very time-consuming. Each mount has to be attached in several steps – from applying the adhesive and positioning the mount, to attaching and removing the fixing device. A new instant, two part adhesive provides the solution to this problem as it removes the need for additional fixation. Most of all, this helps to save valuable time – sometimes up to several days for a single aircraft. It also helps to reduce waste because many of the fixing devices are not reusable.

This means that adhesives contribute to saving time and money and also the environment. In addition, the new two part adhesive is very versatile and can also be used in a variety of applications in other sectors, such as the automotive, marine or electric industries.

The importance of adhesive solutions will increase even further in the future as lightweight construction will continue to remain in trend. One major reason for this is that the regulations for CO2 reduction will become even more stringent in the future. This means it will not be possible to meet these requirements without innovative adhesive systems.

About the author

Rüdiger Frisch has been working for 3M for many years. He is technical manager for vehicle lightweight solutions, west Europe and an expert for adhesive technologies.

The demand for lightweight materials and innovative adhesive solutions is steadily rising. Every gram counts – particularly in the transportation industry

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Coupling challenges and the evolution Couplings can be found in many critical applications and represent one of the most challenging bolted joints to secure. As machines continue to become bigger and more powerful, the demands on couplings also become even greater.

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ouplings are as old as industrialisation itself with even early simple machines, such as cotton mills and windmills, needing some way of connecting shafts. However, ever since the invention of the steam turbine back in 1884, shaft couplings have become essential in the power generation and shipping industries. As both turbines and shipping vessels have increased in size, so too has the amount of power and torque that needs to be transmitted. This in turn has greatly increased the demands on shafts and couplings, and in the case of bolted couplings, on the bolts themselves.

“In the power generation and marine industries, couplings have always been there and they really haven’t evolved much,” says Martin Walsh, an engineer with over 30 years of experience working with large-scale bolted couplings. “If you look at a coupling from 60 – 70 years ago, it is pretty much the same design and concept as today. However, the engineering behind them has evolved a lot. Bolts in particular are an area where couplings have become a lot more sophisticated and this has allowed smaller couplings to transmit more torque.”

One of the most important functions of a bolted coupling is to maintain shaft alignment. In marine applications, where shafts typically turn at low speed, any misalignment will cause vibration, which in turn puts unnecessary loading on the bearings. In power generation applications, where rotation can be as high as 3,600rpm, even the slightest vibration or uneven loading is unacceptable and would severely limit the turbine’s ability to run at full power. For this reason, a lot of time and resources are invested in optimising shaft alignment.

128 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

“Once you’ve achieved the alignment, the bolts need to hold the shaft as it was set and maintain that alignment in service,” says Walsh. “At some point in the future, you will take those bolts out and disconnect the shaft. When you put it back together, you want it back to exactly where it was before because you’ve already invested a lot in getting the alignment right.”

For many years the most common bolting solution was standard throughbolts, which are relatively cheap and readily available. A bolt is simply inserted through the bore and tightened with nuts on either end to create a friction connection.

But the amount of torque that can be transmitted through friction is severely limited and excessive torque can lead to slippage and misalignment. The resulting micro movements and uneven loading can then lead to damaged bolts and bores. The coupling therefore needs to be rebuilt and shaft alignment re-established.

In theory, fitted bolts, which fill the bore, can offer greater torque capacity, since torque is then driven through direct shear across the cross section of the bolt.

In practice it is difficult to achieve a truly fitted bolt, since the bolt’s diameter will reduce as it is tightened. This creates a gap between the bolt and the bore, leading to the same problems of slippage and bolt failure.

Expanding sleeve bolts ensure a truly fitted bolt

This need to establish and maintain shaft alignment, even after a coupling has been dissembled and reassembled again, has led to the increased use of expanding sleeve bolts. Since expanding sleeve bolts expand into the bore, they can ensure a truly fitted bolt and a far more even load distribution.

This eliminates movement and slippage, so that shaft alignment should automatically be re-established once the expanding sleeve bolts are reinstalled.

Superbolt expansion bolts

“The expanding sleeve bolt has probably been the biggest single advance in accuracy over the past 30 years,” says Steve Brown, global product manager – Expansion bolts, Nord-Lock. “They offer many pros and little in the way of cons – ease of installation, accuracy of fit, ease of removal, regaining of alignment and with correctly prepared holes, regaining of concentricity and reusability.”

A key factor driving the development of bolted couplings has been the evolution in engineering analysis. “70 – 80 years ago, couplings and bolts were over-engineered and bigger than they needed to be, as engineers erred on the side of caution,” says Walsh. “It was a situation that existed in many industries because the ability to do sophisticated calculations and simulations was not available.”

Now many OEMs have the ability to test the impacts of temperature, different materials, and operation conditions using computer modelling and simulations.

Due to the complexity of rotating couplings, the finite element method (FEM) is becoming increasingly common for identifying weak points and torque tolerance of specific installations. Shear tests have also been used successfully to demonstrate the physical limitations of different bolting solutions.

“There is still scope for further analysis and it would be helpful to see exactly how the newer design of bolts with expanding sleeves compare to the older bolts when it comes to transmitting higher torque,” adds Walsh. “Having a full FE analysis could be a significant advantage since it shows the potential for reducing the number of bolts and size of the coupling, particularly in industries such as wind turbines, where they tend to avoid bolted couplings due to space restrictions.”

The need to design smarter and smaller couplings will continue to be important as turbines and shipping vessels keep on growing in size and output, and need to transmit even more torque.

Reprinted from Nord-Lock Group's Bolted Magazine www.nord-lock.com

Launching the Nord-Lock Group logotype The Nord-Lock Group has been evolving rapidly over the past years.

Recent acquisitions have added new technologies to the Group’s offering, further enhancing Nord-Lock’s ability to meet the needs of the industry.

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he extensive product portfolio now includes Nord-Lock wedge-locking technology, Superbolt® multi-jackbolt tensioners, Superbolt Expansion bolts, Boltight™ hydraulic tensioning system and Expander® pivot technology.

“We are developing into a multi-technology organisation and we now feel that the Group deserves its own identity,” says Ola Ringdahl, CEO of the Nord-Lock Group. “Nord-Lock’s branding has been undergoing changes in the past few months and the company is now proud to introduce the new Group logotype (pictured right) as a natural next step in this development.”

“The new logotype shows our customers they are dealing with one company, no matter what bolting challenges they are facing and which technologies in our product portfolio best suit their needs,” adds Ola Ringdahl.

With specialist knowledge in the field of bolting and four strong product divisions that include Nord-Lock, Superbolt, Boltight and Expander, the Nord-Lock Group is on a mission to create a safer world.

FASTENERANDFIXING.COM 129

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Lesjöfors manufacturer springs into action on the London Stadium

The Lesjöfors AB company European Springs & Pressings Ltd recently took on a project that ‘hammered’ home the technological expertise of its workforce when the company formed part of a design solution to West Ham United’s new 60,000 capacity football ground.

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he London Stadium, the new home of West Ham United Football Club and formerly the Olympic Stadium, recently underwent an impressive renovation under the guidance of Fabric Architecture – an international tensile fabric structure specialist.

Tasked with designing, engineering and installing large-scale fabric canopies over the retractable seating voids inside the new stadium, Fabric Architecture looked to European Springs & Pressings to develop a spring solution that aligned with its engineering requirements.

Recent investment in a new Fortuna coiling machine enabled European Springs & Pressings to design and deliver to specification. The new machine has expanded the Cornish company’s wire coiling capabilities to include wire from 0.3mm – 26mm, consequently opening up new markets across multi-industries.

Michael Gibbs, managing director of European Springs & Pressings Ltd, said: “Engineering solutions is key to our business. Investing in skills training and machinery is part of an ongoing growth strategy for the organisation that has seen us grow from an GB£800,000 operation to a turnover of GB£7.5 million over the last 15 years.”

Customised and efficient cooperation

Nigel Browne, director of design and engineering at Fabric Architecture, commented: “European Springs & Pressings were fast, efficient and very knowledgeable in assisting us to design a system that helped dissipate the loads from the canopies.”

Gibbs concluded: “Working with an icon in the sporting arena and with such a highly regarded construction and architectural design firm, has been really exciting for the team. In particular, our production manager’s love of West Ham, and subsequent suggestion that the springs were powder coated in the club’s famous claret colour, has added a personal touch that has truly made the team feel part of sporting history.”

SD Products’ fixing solution for Jaguar Land Rover SD Products Ltd is a third generation family owned business with over 40 years of experience as a stockist distributor of specialist fasteners. With each year, as the business continues to grow, it aims to raise the bar and further expand its extensive product catalogue.

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ne of the areas SD Products has focused on during 2016 is its automotive range, which already includes over 900 unique fasteners and fixings. In addition to the company’s standard stock it also often creates unique solutions to suit its customers’ precise requirements.

The company recently received an enquiry from a tier 1 Jaguar Land Rover supplier for a fixing that would hold a seal to a ‘body in white’ section of a vehicle. The brief was to design a low profile fastener for both A and B surfaces that would also have to prevent lateral movement.

SD Products explains: “We visited the customer, assessed the application and found none of the available fixings would completely prevent a possibility of clashing with supporting ‘body in white’. We came up with a design for a brand new solution that consisted of a two piece snap fastener and raised the initial drawing.”

The first 3D printed prototypes of the design revealed some excess material needed to be removed from the fastener head.

130 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

After all necessary amendments were completed the updated version of the design was submitted for a second round of prototyping. The part was subsequently deemed fit for purpose and taken to the tooling stage. The final batch of samples was tested and approved by the tier 1 supplier as well as Jaguar Land Rover, and the part is now in full production.

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Mobile welding without high power current The newly developed SRM® stud welding inverter BMK-8i – with 230V single phase input power – is extremely lightweight, powerful, and suitable for steel and stainless steel studs up to 8mm in diameter (or up to M10 when using Soyer HZ-1R weld studs).

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eighing just 9.5kg, BMK-8i does not need high voltage current and was developed to be mobile. Heinz Soyer Bolzenschweißtechnik GmbH points out that thanks to the integrated and patented SRM Technology® (Pat. No: DE 10 2004 051389), this innovative stud welding equipment enables the energy efficient, safe and clean welding of weld studs using a maximum welding current of 300 amps only.

The new PH-9 SRM12+G welding gun, with integrated ground contact, perfectly complements the BMK-8i stud welder. Equipped with a new generation of SRM coil, gas consumption can now be reduced by up to 90%. There is no need for separate earth clamps when welding as mass transmission now takes place via a contact ring, which is spring mounted onto the support tube.

This compact and user-friendly welding gun has been specifically developed for weld studs up to M12 and is suitable for narrow and difficult to access places.

Riveting technology for carbon fibre and composite material EFC International offers cost savings through assembly solutions for interior, exterior, body, panel, seating, trim, routing, fluid transfer and other applications in the automotive industry.

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anufactured by Italian-based BBA Srl – and available now from EFC – is a high performance and versatile solution with safe and secure riveting technology in carbon fibre and composite material structures – the BCT® composite series. BCT (bulge control technology) is a unique fastening method and has been adopted as the system of choice by leading automotive manufacturers using carbon fibre materials.

132 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

The BCT fastener has the same grip range capability of up to three standard rivet nuts and can be placed near to the edge of the sheet without fear of inducing a crack in the sheet. Available in hexagon body for the ultimate in joint performance BCT produces an oversized bulge and can be used where the hole in the workpiece is up to 0.5mm greater than the rivet nut external size.

This provides greater manufacturing tolerances and reduces the risk of the rivet nut hitting the material.

BCT can be installed in areas with limited rear side clearance.

An M6 rivet nut needs only 8mm of rear side clearance prior to installation and only 5mm after installation – perfect for use in thinner versions of sandwich materials, avoiding the need for a through hole.

EFC is a certified tier supplier providing engineered components to the tiers for Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW, Hyundai and Toyota.

The widest, most complete range of security fasteners, available from stock.

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Individual services for kitting and packaging Through its RKP – REYHER Kitting and Packaging service – REYHER says it is able to meet customers needs for the kitting and packaging of customised fasteners and fixing technology – providing C-parts as a tailor-made solution.

F

Sets

Assembly kits

or production, assembly or maintenance F. REYHER Nchfg GmbH & Co KG is able to compile sets or assembly kits of all individual components required. This can include individually compiling a small set to a complex assembly kit, as well as packaging services for trade and spare parts management for industrial customers.

The kitting service REYHER provides not only saves picking efforts, avoiding mistakes and remaining quantities, but also helps optimise processes, for example by predetermined packing sequences. Item compilation is generally based on part lists. The items can include catalogue articles as well as engineered parts. In addition, REYHER offers the pre-assembly of components into sets and, if required, can also add packing lists, assembly instructions and even tools for the sets.

The benefits of using REYHER’s kitting service are that customers can combine a variety of different products into one compilation; labelling can be included according to customers’ requirements; packages can be sequenced for use; customer specific delivery documents can be created; as well as serial number management and batch tracing.

Application-based packaging is available for both sets and assembly kits. The sets are available in cardboard boxes, press seal bags, vacuum pack bags, corrosion inhibition film (VCI), small load carriers, buckets and assortment boxes. The assembly kits are available in cardboard boxes, poly bags, small load carriers, wooden boxes, weather-proof packaging and disposable pallets (also IPPC).

Individual packaging for resellers

For every trade assortment and all spare parts, REYHER is also able to offer the right packaging including customer specific labelling. Customers can choose the products and the services they require – from neutral to individualised packaging. REYHER then supports the customer with the optimal brand presentation.

134 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Packaging for resellers

REYHER supplies a stable packaging range, which can be made of coated, corrugated paper for cartons with a width of 9cm. Customers can also choose a packaging range with or without pouring lip, with seven sizes available.

The company also provides customer specific packaging especially for resellers. The form and design of the packaging can be matched directly to the needs and image of the individual customer companies.

Customer specific labels

REYHER is able to offer design labels according to each customer’s individual needs and requirements. Customers can decide what information is placed on the label, including customer logo, customer material numbers, customer GTIN numbers (EAN), pictograms, barcodes, as well as any extra labelling.

Through REYHER’s webshop RIO – REYHER Internet Order customers can even design and print their own labelling.

Additional services

Finally, REYHER is also able to offer a variety of additional flexible solutions including: Warehousing: Storing customised goods, including complete assembly kits.

Delivery documentation: Alongside the regular REYHER delivery notes the company offers customer specific options.

Barcode delivery notes: The barcodes on the delivery notes can be read by the customer’s own scanner, saving time compared to manual reading.

Delivery modes: On-the-spot delivery ensures an efficient workflow process. The different methods include small load carriers in accordance with VDA guidelines directly to the production; delivery and supply of containers/swap trailers for construction sites or factory premises; as well as direct delivery to the final customer. www.reyher.de

Fixes anchors up to 200mm Easy maintenance Three models to suit different applications Nail depth in concrete up to 17mm, for better grip Tool-free removable barrel Up to twelve times faster than traditional fixing systems

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

60 years of plastic fasteners In 1956 Mr Norbert Bülte decided to establish his own company in Lüdinghausen, Germany, developing the polyamide Bülte locking and sealing washer. This year, Bülte is celebrating its 60th anniversary and now offers more than 25,000 references in plastic hardware.

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fter extending its product range to include screws and spacers back in 1979, the company opened a French office and UK subsidiary to increase its presence in other European markets.

A purpose built warehouse and office complex was later built in France (pictured), and Groupe Bülte was formed in 1997. Bülte now supplies 120 countries worldwide.

The company prides itself on quality, reliability and service – delivered to its customers through an international sales network with significant knowledge and dynamism. “Bülte offers personalised advice

and support from our team of experts who are here to guide customers through their projects from inception to completion. We specialise on going beyond our borders with a multilingual sales team to adopt the best production methods to suit the technical and financial requirements,” explains Marina Badel, service communication at Bülte.

Bülte specialises in plastic protection, nylon and plasto-metallic fasteners. Its large range includes washers, bushings, nuts, screws, screw caps, protection caps, plugs, cable clips, cables ties, and threaded rods – making the company a key partner in all sectors of industry. The company ensures the

quality and reliability of its products with an ISO 9001 certification.

In order to provide the products and service customers require Bülte works with the customer step-by-step. “Establishing and assessing the customer’s needs and offering advice and guidance is crucial to a quick turnaround and good service,” explains Marina.

Marina concludes: “For the next 60 years Bülte will continue to invest and innovate to always answer customers’ needs – making sure the right solution is found.” www.bulte.com

Cotswold achieves ISO certification Cotswold Fasteners Limited has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification assuring the quality, professionalism and reliability of its service, products and company.

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upplying fasteners to merchants since 1985, the family owned company has a product range covering approximately 40 different products in over 1,500 different sizes with bright zinc plating, galvanising and in brass. The company is also currently expanding its range to satisfy more customer demands.

“Achieving this accreditation is another great step in fulfilling our mission to be a necessity to every fastener merchant,” says Cotswold. “With increasing demand on the fastener and fixing supply chain, we would encourage customers to contact the Cotswold team. We are here for our valued clients and strive to provide a top class service.”

136 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

®

BÜLTE GmbH - Kunststofferzeugnisse D 59348 Lüdinghausen - Germany Te l : ( + 4 9 ) 0 2 5 9 1 / 9 1 9 4 - 0 Fax : (+ 49) 02591 / 5977 bulte@bulte.com - www.bulte.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Reduce riveting time with Rivit automatic feeders Rivit Srl has introduced the RIV606 and RIV616 automatic feeders, which it says help to double productivity and half installation time for blind rivets and rivet nuts.

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ivit explains that the reduction in riveting time is an essential goal for industrial applications, particularly for the automotive industry. This is why Rivit developed its RIV606 and RIV616 pneumatic/electric units, which load the rivet or the rivet nut directly on the head of the riveting tool. Using these units, Rivit points out, eliminates the contact between the operator’s hand and the body of the fasteners in the loading phase, assuring more productivity and higher safety.

RIV606 is an automatic feeder for standard blind rivets from 2.4mm to 6.4mm in diameter and can be used with tools with mandrel suction such as models RIV502, RIV503 or RIV505.

RIV616 is an automatic feeder for rivet nuts from M3 to M8 with cylindrical or hexagonal shank, with dome, reduced or countersunk head and can be used with tools such as RIV938, RIV912 and RIV942. www.rivit.it

RIV606 technical data Dimensions (W x D x H): Voltage: Installed power: Air pressure: Weight:

340mm x 530mm – 630mm x 300mm 220V 50Hz 100W 2/4 bar 34kg

RIV616 technical data Dimensions (W x D x H): Voltage: Installed power: Air pressure: Weight:

340mm x 530mm x 300mm 220V 50Hz 100W 2/4 bar 32kg

RIV 606

138 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE // ISSUE 102 NOVEMBER 2016

Master Bond solvent resistant adhesives

Formulated for bonding, sealing, coating and encapsulation applications, Master Bond EP41S-5 is a room temperature curing epoxy that combines a high strength profile, higher electrical insulation values and chemical resistance.

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uitable for use in the aerospace, electronic, power, chemical processing, specialty OEM and other industries, EP41S-5 is able to deliver long-term protection against a wide array of chemicals including acids, bases, alcohols, fuels and many solvents. Most noteworthy is its resistance to methylene chloride, a common stripping agent. This makes EP41S-5 ideal for tamper proofing applications in the electronics industry.

EP41S-5 also offers convenient handling with a 100 to 25 mix ratio by weight. The mixed epoxy has good flow properties with a moderate viscosity of 25,000cps – 30,000cps. It bonds well to a wide variety of substrates including metals, composites, glass, ceramics, as well as many rubbers and plastics.

EP41S-5 will cure at room temperature or more rapidly at elevated temperatures. Upon curing, this system is rigid, with a hardness of 85-95 Shore D. It has a tensile strength of 10,000psi – 12,000psi at room temperature.

Additionally, EP41S-5 features reliable electrical insulation characteristics with a dielectric constant of 3.5Hz at 60Hz and a volume resistivity greater than 1,014 ohm-cm.

EP41S-5 is serviceable over the wide temperature range of -80°F to +300°F (-62°C to +149°C). Its natural colour is black, but can be formulated in additional colours. This solvent free system is available for use in ½ pint, pint, quart, gallon and 5 gallon container kits as well as double barrel cartridges that can be dispensed in gun applicators.

GAGE BILT’s GB735 installation tool Constructed from aircraft quality materials to provide years of service, GAGE BILT Inc has introduced the GB735 – a pneumatic hydraulic tool designed specifically for the efficient installation of Huck® BobTail® fasteners.

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eighing just 2.43kg, the tool can be operated in any position with one hand. It has a 28.83mm rivet setting stroke and a rated pull load of 10.23kN. The GB735 riveter operates on 90psi – 100psi (6.2 bar – 6.9 bar), with 90psi (6.2 bar) providing maximum efficiency. At 90psi air pressure, the GB735 does not exceed 81.5 dB(A) and consumes 3.9cfm at 20 cycles per minute.

Available across Europe, the GB735 can also be used with both GAGE BILT and Huck® BobTail® nose assemblies and is for installing 3/16 inch or 1/4 inch BobTail fasteners.

US manufacturer of fastener installation tools, GAGE BILT manufactures more than 70 different models of riveting and fastener tools and owns several patents for innovative and ergonomic systems.

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Self-cutting thread inserts from Technifast Technifast Ltd has expanded its specialist fastener portfolio with a range of self-cutting thread inserts, designed to provide a high strength thread in plastics, wood and soft metals.

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he self-cutting inserts have an internal and external thread and are supplied in a choice of steel, stainless steel 303 or stainless steel 316, with a range of thread sizes.

Design of the inserts began after the firm was approached by a professional diver who needed a secure means to bolt down equipment, which included gas bottles and diving gear in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). The diver initially enquired about Technifast’s 300 series inserts in marine grade stainless steel, but after discussing the customer’s needs, Technifast’s production team soon established the grip of these would not be sufficient for the chaotic environment of a fast RIB in a choppy sea. The risk of a pressurised gas bottle breaking loose within the confines of a fast moving boat was something to be avoided.

The production team identified that a blind insert would be a better solution as it would prevent any water ingression into the hull cavity and wood sandwich layered within the fibreglass, so as not to drastically reduce the grip of the insert, cause wood rot and compromise the integrity and strength of the fibreglass.

“We identified a design that incorporated a deep and coarse self-tapping thread to provide sufficient grip; a minimum of 15mm usable internal thread; a shoulder at the top to enable a good watertight seal; and 3 interruptions in the thread to remove the host material cleanly on insertion,” explains John Garner, senior engineer at Technifast.

John continues: “We manufactured a prototype batch with an M10 internal thread and sent the diver some samples to test. He reported back to us that they functioned perfectly and placed an order. We then manufactured a longer M12 version that he also tested successfully for us. Having a customer you can liaise with over design and function, who can then help test and develop products, is invaluable. This is something we try hard to cultivate in our manufacturing department as it’s the best way to learn what our customers need, and most importantly, where we can improve on our product range for them.”

Tappex celebrates 60th anniversary In September Tappex Thread Inserts Ltd celebrated its 60 year anniversary and says it is proud to have remained a robustly independent family owned manufacturer.

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till managed by its current Chairman Tim Barnsdale – son of Tappex’s original founder – the company is still developing and manufacturing Tappex® own branded threaded inserts – for plastics, woods, metal alloys and composite material applications – at its original site in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK. Progressively expanded and developed over the past 60 years – now to include multi-spindle and CNC machine investments – Tappex’s headquarters has seen new factory buildings to house new component wash facilities and most importantly new product developments.

These product developments include the SplayMould® male steel insert extending its range of male inserts for moulding. “Often customers expect to be able to apply standard tightening torques at the point of assembly and in application,” explains Tappex. “This enables existing equipment and set-ups to be utilised. The Tappex SplayMould offers a high strength solution.”

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Apex μ-Guard fastener drive tools Apex Tool Group GmbH & Co OHG states it is revolutionising the market for covered assembly drive tools with its μ-Guard line of premium safety and anti-mar fastener drive tools.

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pex μ-Guard covered tools improve operator safety when using fastener tools by significantly reducing or eliminating pinch points during glove use, and providing a robust cushion against costly incidental side impacts, in-system damage, and marring.

For improved ergonomics and safety the μ-Guard fastener tools also feature a free spinning design, and help to lower the cost of ownership through durability.

Apex Tool Group is a worldwide producer of industrial hand and power tools, tool storage, drill chucks, chain, and electronic soldering products. Its products serve several different markets including aerospace, automotive, energy, and other product assembly industries. From fastening, assembly, and material removal tools, to sophisticated drilling equipment, its products are used in quality and safety critical applications around the world.

Custom fasteners from Blue Diamond Blue Diamond Technologies, a UK-based designer and manufacturer of bespoke mechanical parts, is building on its experience supplying fasteners for the automotive aftermarket to provide customers with bespoke industrial fasteners for any market sector.

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ith more than 40 years experience, Blue Diamond offers a global procurement of special parts and is widening this service to supply custom fasteners with complex or unusual geometries in low batch quantities – typically 500 upwards.

Custom fasteners are manufactured using hot and cold forging techniques at a fraction of the cost normally incurred to machine them from scratch. This includes fasteners with eccentric heads, unusual head forms or recesses and captive washers, as well as with fasteners featuring thread locking compounds and nylon inserts. Where required further details can also be added using secondary machining processes.

Examples of components already supplied by Blue Diamond include bolts and fixings with hexagonal sockets, flanged, triple square, double hex, and hexalobular head forms. Nuts can incorporate flanges, castellations, self-locking features and captive washers.

Parts can be supplied in a wide range of materials including carbon and alloy steels, stainless steels and non-ferrous metals.

Heat treatment is also available to achieve enhanced mechanical properties as needed.

"For companies who are currently incurring high costs to obtain complex fasteners manufactured using conventional machining techniques, we can offer a highly attractive low cost alternative," comments Blue Diamond Technologies.

Standard Listed – you know who’s best!

But contact us for all the rest . . .

Tel:

+44 (0) 117 – 972 8560

Fax:

+44 (0) 117 – 972 8570

Email:

sales@avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

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

Online Product Guide: www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk

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

New compact, lightweight staplers from Makita Makita’s two new 10mm battery powered staplers, DST111 and DST112, offer a host of advanced technical features including single shot or bump fire operation, adjustable driving depth and an anti-dry-fire safety system.

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e plac ing e x i s t i n g models, the new Makita DST112 is powered by a Makita 18V lithium-ion battery whilst the DST111 model is a 14.4V version, which will deliver 5,000 shots from the 3.0Ah battery. Both new staplers have magazine capacity for 150 staples of 10mm width, either 7mm or 10mm depth and 0.5mm x 0.7mm wire size.

These new compact, lightweight Makita cordless staplers have selectable firing modes that offer the choice between bump firing and trigger sequential control. The anti-dry-fire safety mechanism requires the nose tip to be pressured against the material for firing to take place when the trigger is pressed. A trigger lock must always be applied when the machine is put down.

The magazine has also been moulded from plastic to reduce the overall machine weight and has a viewing window to check remaining staple stock.

The staplers also have an LED job light, belt hook and soft grip ergonomically designed handle.

DST112 battery powered stapler

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Military precision from ZaGO

ZaGO Manufacturing Co Inc is committed to providing the highest quality ‘Made in America’ sealing solutions for a variety of industries, including all branches of the military – army, navy and air force.

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S-based ZaGO’s military standard parts meet the strict specifications of both the MS and the NASM standards.

“Our parts are time tested and pressure tested. In fact, ZaGO is the only manufacturer with the capability of performing NASM specified pressure testing within a reasonable time and for a reasonable cost,” comments ZaGO. ZaGO specialises in designing practical, economical, environmentally responsible sealing solutions that will ensure the long-lasting and dependable operation of critical equipment. Its sealing products can be found in sophisticated machinery and devices manufactured both in the US and abroad. ZaGO’s technical group is also able to work alongside its customers’ engineers to create a unique design to fit their specifications and ensure the highest quality product.

“Because of our highly experienced technical staff, exacting quality control and outstanding customer service team, ZaGO has what it takes to lead the sealing fastener industry and will continue to strive for success as it looks towards the future and its next 20 years in business,” explains ZaGO.

Smith

Your Non-Standard is our Standard!

Bullough

METRIC & IMPERIAL

SPECIAL FASTENERS Huge Range of Metric & Imperial Blanks Grades 4.6, 8.8, 10.9, 12.9; R, S, T, V, SAE8 UK’s largest stocks of BSF & BSW Special Head Shapes Most Materials including Exotics Excellent Prices & Delivery We only sell to Distributors

Over 150 years’ experience in

UK Manufacturing

Tel: 01942 520250 sales@smithbullough.com www.smithbullough.com

New grades of pre-applied fastener sealants Tectorius® has introduced five new grades to its long-standing Tec-U-Seal™ line of pre-applied fastener sealants.

V

arying in softness, elasticity and self-adhesion, for ‘stay in place’ easy assembly, the five new grades are available in different colours to offer custom, signature product identification for customers.

Tec-U-Seal ™ pre-applied fastener sealants are a unique resin matrix sealing and seating material for under head encapsulation. Specifically designed to flow and adhere to most metals and smooth surfaces, Tec-U-Seal is a low cost and effective alternative to O-ring seals, injection moulded seals, and die cut gaskets. Self-adhering grades permit fasteners to be pre-assembled and retained in position until final attachment is complete.

Tec-U-Seal works by compression seating. The material absorbs shock, prevents movement and fills gaps created by thermal expansion. Its elastomeric nature minimises movement and resists loss of seating and sealing ability in stressed situations.

Tec-U-Seal grades are also thermosetting, non-plastisol polymers that are solvent resistant and thermally stable.

Advanced formulations offer multiple options for application and curing, demanding low energy processes making them friendly to most plantings and non-metal applications.

ADVERTISERS INDEX Abbey Clamps................................................15

Eurotec GmbH...............................................88

Magni Group Inc...........................................95

Sales I..............................................................115

Achilles Seibert GmbH................................. 5

Fareast Metal International Co Ltd....119

Marposs SpA................................................101

Saspi Talleres.............................................. 108

Acton................................................................ 69

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

Mectron Engineering Co., Inc.................93

Schnorr GmbH............................................. 69

Advance Spares Ltd................................. 125

Fastener + Fixing Magazine...........45, 116

MEKR’S s.r.o.................................................... 81

Schäfer + Peters GmbH.............................57

Albert Pasvahl GmbH & Co.......................9

Fastener + Fixing Search...................72-73

Merlin Business Software......................119

SG Fasteners System................................135

Alca Fasteners.............................................131

Fastener + Fixing Technology..............127

Mitos..................................................................63

Shanghai Fast-Fix Rivet Corporation...141

Alloy & Stainless........................................ 125

Fastener Fair India.....................................77

MKT Metall-Kunstoff-Technik................87

Shin Chun Enterprise...............................145

Ambrovit SpA................................................13

Fastener Fair Stuttgart.............................67

Mubea Tellerfedern GmbH.......................27

Sipa....................................................................63

Apex Industrial Technologies LLC......113

Fischer UK.......................................................83

Mustad..............................................................65

Skako.............................................................. 109

Astrotech Steels Private Limited....... 139

Fixi Srl...............................................................58

Nakashimada Engineering Works Ltd... 103

Smith Bullough.......................................... 144

Atcon International..................................131

Fong Prean Industrial Co Ltd.................39

National Machinery...................................75

Spirol Industries Ltd................................ 146

Avon Stainless Fasteners Ltd...............142

Lichthart.........................................................33

ND Industries......................................... 28-29

Tecfi SpA...........................................................85

Bendfast Ltd.................................................131

FRIULSIDER SpA..........................................89

NOF Metal Coatings Europe............. 50-51

Tecno Impianti........................................... 106

Berardi Bullonerie.......................................63

G & B Fissaggi............................................... 69

Nord Lock..................................................... 148

Tecnopress................................................... 102

Berdan Bolt & Nut Co Ltd......................... 41

GESIPA Blindniettechnik GmbH............55

NORMA Group...............................................47

Test GmbH...................................................... 99

Birlik Baglanti.............................................137

Graewe GmbH & Co KG..............................27

NORM Civata AS..........................................35

Tillex..................................................................15

Bodegraven Metaal NV.............................33

Hafren Fasteners Ltd...............................133

omniTechnik Mikroverkapselungs GmbH...21

Titibi............................................................... 125

Bossong............................................................ 81

HECO Schrauben GmbH & Co KG..........89

Peter Schröder GmbH................................ 81

Totally Tools...................................................37

Bralo.................................................................. 11

HEICO Befestigungstechnik GmbH........4

pgb Europe......................................................91

Trojan Special Fasteners..........................33

Bülte GmbH..................................................137

Hexstone Group............................................79

Pinstructure Ltd..........................................15

Top Screw Metal Corp Ltd......................141

C.E.I.A. SpA.................................................. 109

Hugo Benzing GmbH & Co KG.................37

Precision Technology Supplies Ltd.......25

UBK................................................................... 117

Carlo Salvi....................................................... 61

Index – Técnicas Expansivas S.L............. 7

R+FK Schulte KG...........................................23

Vipa SpA.........................................................135

Chaves Bilbao S.A.......................................... 3

JCP Construction Products.............. 1, 146

Rotor Clip Ltd................................................. 71

voestalpine Austria Draht GmbH.......107

Ching Chan Optical Technology Co Ltd...105

JCS Hi-Torque................................................57

Rexlen Corp..................................................133

Volt Industrial Plastics Inc...................... 31

Colombo Special Fasteners (CSF).......137

Johan Smit.................................................... 117

Reyher...............................................................19

Vorpa................................................................ 90

Construction Anchors...............................59

Kingwin Precision Co Ltd...................... 102

Rivit Srl...........................................................147

Wan Iuan Ent Co Ltd................................ 109

Don Quichotte B.V........................................87

K&H Auto Parts..........................................143

Sacma Group.................................................97

Win Fasteners Manufactory (Thailand) Co., Ltd...37

DS Fasteners Ltd....................................... 144

Lederer.......................................................17, 24

Saima Corporation.................................. 140

WPI Services B.V.......................................... 99

JCP Construction Products are the specialist fixing division within the Hexstone group of companies.

The Quality Pin Manufacturer Coiled Spring Pins

Due to future planned retirement plans we are looking to recruit a Technical Manager to work in our offices in Teddington.

The successful candidate should have the following abilities: • Working knowledge of anchor loading calculations.

• An awareness of the regulations surrounding the European Technical Assessments.

• The ability to promote the JCP range of products to structural engineers and specifiers.

• Maintain the data base of the JCP Anchor Calculation Programme.

• Deal with telephone queries from engineers and end users.

• Provide technical support and product training for sales personnel and customers.

• Maintain and update technical data sheets on the JCP web site.

• On site product testing.

To apply candidates should send their C.V. and a covering letter to: Nick Beardon General Manager JCP Construction Products Unit 14 Teddington Business Park Station Road Teddingtom Middlesex TW11 9BQ Email: nick.beardon@hexstone.co.uk

A wide range of SPIROL® Coiled Spring Pins to ISO 8748, 8750, 8751, DIN 7343, ASME B18.8.2 and other standards available in heavy, standard, and light duties, in various materials and finishes.

Slotted Spring Pins

ISO 8752, non interlocking ASME 18.8.4M Type B and Inch ASME B18.8.2 Slotted Pins available in steel and stainless steel. ISO 13337 light duty Slotted Pins are available to order.

Solid Pins

Straight Pins, Headed Pins, Knurled Pins, and Headed Knurled Pins in steel and stainless steel. Other materials available to order.

Samples available upon request.

Providing manufacturing and application engineering expertise since 1948.

SPIROL INDUSTRIES LTD.

17 Princewood Road, Corby, Northants NN17 4ET Tel. +44 (0) 1536 444800 • Fax. +44 (0) 1536 203415

www.jcpfixings.co.uk

www.SPIROL.co.uk/s/ff-pin/

SPIROL_F+F_All_Pins_qtr_pg_2016.indd 1

SPIROL.co.uk 4/29/16 4:47 PM

Rivit introduces the

COMPLETE SYSTEM TO ASSEMBLY SHEET METAL

TOOLS FOR BLIND RIVETS AND RIVET NUTS

BLIND RIVETS COLOURED STRUCTURAL SEALED PEEL

RIVET NUTS SMOOTH KNURLED HEXAGONAL CLOSED END

BLIND BOLTS

SELFCLINCHING STUDS NUTS STANDOFFS PRESSES

TOOLS FOR RIVBOLTS COLLARS WELDING STUDS THREADED SMOOTH BUSHES FASTONS

TOOLS PRODUCTION

SHOWROOM

FASTENERS PRODUCTION

STORE

QUALITY CONTROL

HOSE CLIPS

LATCHES

STEEL STAINLESS/ST. NYLON

HINGES HANDLES 1/4 TURN SCREWS

AFTER SALES SERVICE

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

RIVIT

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 dell’Emilia / Bologna / Italy T. +39 051 41 71 111 / F. +39 051 41 711 19 / rivit@rivit.it / www.rivit.it

rivit.it

Creating a safer world with secure and innovative bolting solutions

Superbolt Expansion bolt replaces large fitted or interference fit bolts. Its outer diameter can be expanded, which ensures a truly fitted bolt along with more even load distribution.

It also simplifies installation, removal and retrofitting. www.superbolt.com/expansionbolt

Visit www.nord-lock.com for the complete range of solutions by the Nord-Lock Group