Fastener + Fixing Magazine #121

In this issue…

Nord-Lock expands and future-proofs its production Janus Perspective Made in Turkey fastenerandfixing.com ≡ Issue 121: January 2020

MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

BUYING FASTENERS IN THE NEW DECADE

GERMANY | UNITED KINGDOM | PORTUGAL | CHINA www.fastbolt.com

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FIXING EXPERTS

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NEW DESIGN

NEW CHEMICALS ANCHORS

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NEW DESIGN TESTED

BETTER ASSESSED MORE RESISTANT

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

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Since 1955 ND Industries has specialized in the development of innovative materials and processes which increase the safety and reliability of fastener assemblies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPOXY-LOCK® NUTS This pre-applied threadlocker consists of separated epoxy hardener and expoxy resin.

Upon fastener installation, the two materials mix and activate. When fully cured, EpoxyLock provides greater breakaway torque than conventional nylon fastener locking devices.

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.

Scan QR Code for more info.

CONTACT US www.ndindustries.com www.vibra-tite.com info@ndindustries.com

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

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.

CONTENTS NEWS 10-44 Financial reports, acquisitions and trade duty news Raw material analysis

COVER STORY 46-49 JANUS PERSPECTIVE 50-90

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A review and preview of the global fastener market

INSIGHT 92-98 New technical experts at UPIVEB SIPA expands product capabilities The importance of quality

MADE IN TURKEY 99-115 EXHIBITIONS 116-130 CONSTRUCTION 132-144 FIXINGS

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30 years of ETAs, CE Marking and EOTA The benefits of chemical anchors

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MANUFACTURING 146-152 TECHNOLOGY

MANAGEMENT + 154-156 SYSTEMS Go digital to weaponise manufacturing supply chains

TECHNICAL

122 156

158-164

A consideration of zero defects An innovative fastening approach for thin sheet metals and modelling by finite element method

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

166-170

As the automotive revolution gathers pace, new opportunities arise

PRODUCTS + 172-186 TOOLS 6

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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H V B O LT S

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EDITOR’S NOTE Will Lowry, editor, Fastener + Fixing Magazine

Part of the Mack Brooks Group

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20/20 vision

Even with the clarity and sharpness associated with 20/20 vision you would be hard pressed to see what the future will bring for the fastener and fixing industry in 2020. Trade wars, economic slowdown and the dreaded ‘B’ word – BREXIT – have all helped to make the market situation unclear.

H

opefully our special Janus Perspective, which looks back at the challenges of 2019 and the opportunities for 2020, will help make things a bit clearer – with industry leaders from manufacturing, distribution, machine building, and wholesale, giving their thoughts, as well as key associations EIFI (European Industrial Fasteners Institute) and EFDA (European Fastener Distributors Association). With over 25 contributions, it is one of our biggest ever features, and is well worth the read.

Our Cover Story focuses on Nord-Lock and the expansion and future-proofing of its production facility in Mattmar, Sweden – where the company originally started manufacturing its famous wedge-locking washers over 35 years ago.

In preparation for the upcoming Fastener Fair Turkey show at the end of February (27th – 29th) in Istanbul, we also have a Made in Turkey feature that showcases the leading manufacturers within the Turkish market. Firstly there is an insight from Mustafa Tecdelioğlu, chairman of BESIAD (the Turkish Fastener Manufacturers Association), who concentrates on the growth and capabilities of Turkish fastener manufacturers. There are then articles from NORM Cıvata and how it is able to offer ‘global scale’ with ‘personal care’; Cetin Cıvata highlights how it added further manufacturing capabilities, as well as renewing its corporate identity, in 2019; as well as Mr Hasan Şemsi talking about how he has directed and inspired the development of Berdan Cıvata and its capabilities for critical application construction fasteners. Plus there are articles from Teknoform, Birlik Bağlanti and ARMA Fixing Systems.

Other articles include an exclusive interview with Sergio Vazquez Jimenez, secretary general of EOTA, defining how the organisation is still aiding the fastener and fixing industry and what have been the defining moments in EOTA’s 30 year history; Dr Peter Standring, technical secretary at Industrial Metalforming Technologies (IMfT), considers the reality of aiming for ‘zero defects’; and Süleyman Kahraman, M.Sc. mechanical engineer at Fecon R&D and Engineering Service Limited, talks about an innovative fastening approach for thin sheet metals and modelling by finite element method.

Publishing Director Jamie Mitchell jamie.mitchell@fastenerandfixing.com Editor Will Lowry will.lowry@fastenerandfixing.com Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge claire.aldridge@fastenerandfixing.com Editorial Consultant Phil Matten phil.matten@fastenerandfixing.com Sales Manager Mac Rahman mac.rahman@fastenerandfixing.com Business Development Manager – Italy Emiliano Pagliaroli emiliano.pagliaroli@fastenerandfixing.com Business Development Manager – DACH Beata Csano beata.csano@fastenerandfixing.com Production & Design Manager Lee Duskwick lee.duskwick@fastenerandfixing.com Digital Content Assistant Grant Rebecca grant.rebecca@fastenerandfixing.com Find us online: @fastenerfixing FastenerandFixingMagazine fastener---fixing-magazine Fastener and Fixing 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 2020.

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

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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NEWS COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF KEY INDUSTRY NEWS

EU launches anti-dumping investigation into pins and staples from China The European Commission has initiated an anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of pins and staples, originating in the People’s Republic of China.

T

he Commission published Notice of Initiation 2019/c 425/08 in the EU Official Journal on 18 th December 2019.

The notice defines the product subject to investigation as: Staples, whether or not in strips or in coils, hog rings, whether or not in strips, brad nails in strips, and pins in strips; of steel wire, whether or not coated, of aluminium alloy wire, or of stainless steel wire; designed for joining or holding together materials or objects (‘the product under investigation’). Nails in coils are excluded from the product under investigation.

The products fall within a number of CN codes identified by the notice as: ex 7317 00 20, ex 7317 00 60, ex 7317 00 80, ex 7326 20 00, ex 7616 10 00, 8305 20 00, and ex 8308 10 00. ‘ex’ signifies that not all products within the cited code are subject to investigation, so the description is critical for importers and manufacturers to determine the extent to which they are affected.

The deadlines for registration of interest and submission of evidence, which are short, particularly given the timing of the notice just before the winter holiday, are defined in the Notice of Initiation, which can be downloaded in all EU languages from the EU Official Journal here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2019.425.01.0021.01.

ENG&toc=OJ:C:2019:425:TOC The Notice confirms the schedule of investigation as: “The investigation will be concluded, pursuant to Article 6(9) of the basic Regulation within normally 13, but not more than 14 months of the date of the publication of this Notice. In accordance with Article 7(1) of the basic Regulation, provisional measures may be imposed normally not later than 7 months, but in any event not later than 8 months from the publication of this Notice.”

In accordance with Article 19a of the basic Regulation, the Commission will provide information on the planned imposition of provisional duties 3 weeks before the imposition of provisional measures.

Market conditions affect Trifast half year In the face of “the challenging macroeconomic environment” Trifast Plc reported revenues eroded by -2.7%, on a constant exchange rate basis, to GB£102.2 million (€120.4 million).

Underlying operating profit margins held up at 10.6% (CER).

A

t actual exchange rate half year revenues were down -1.8%.

Underlying operating profit margins held in double-digits at 10.6% (CER) – compared with 11.3% in the first half of the previous year. Profit before tax was -1% down at GB£7.9 million.

Trifast says ongoing market share wins restricted Group automotive revenue reduction to -2.5%, against a global production downturn of -7.3%*. The Group spent GB£2.5 million during the half year on Project Atlas, its multi-year investment in systems, policies and procedures, with the project reported as “on track and on budget”.

With a strong balance sheet and around GB£40 million banking facility headroom, Trifast sees itself well positioned to take advantage of increased M&A opportunities resulting from market conditions.

Non-executive chairman, Malcolm Diamond MBE, commented: “Despite the short-term end market weaknesses and macroeconomic uncertainty, we are confident in the strong long-term fundamentals of our business model. The board remains committed to its ongoing investment driven growth strategy and is optimistic for the long-term future.”

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“After ten years of continuous growth and strong cash generation, we have a very solid balance sheet. This coupled with our new banking facilities provides us with significant flexibility and security, to continue to invest and to make sure that when the macroeconomic environment begins to settle, we have the best foundation and are in the best possible position to add further stimulus to our growth ambitions.”

Malcolm Diamond to retire In a separate announcement Trifast said Malcolm Diamond had notified the board of his intention to retire as non-executive chairman and step down as a director with effect from 31st March 2020, the Group’s year end. Trifast announced that current non-executive director, Jonathan Shearman, will take over as non-executive chairman with effect from 1st April 2020. Malcolm Diamond said: “Having overseen the smooth CEO and CFO succession plan at Trifast as well as the adoption of the transformational ‘Project Atlas’, now halfway through its four year implementation, I feel comfortable in retiring as chair knowing that the TR board and the business is in such good shape.” *Source: European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association ACEA.

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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D I S T R I B U T O R S 25.09.19 11:00

NEWS

industry

NORMA YTD sales up but organic growth down NORMA Group has reported sales for the period January to September 2019 increased 2.6% to €838.6 million. However, organic sales declined -1.6% in the same period.

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he Kimplas and Statek acquisitions contributed 1.6% and positive currency effects a further 2.6% to sales growth.

The adjusted EBITA margin was 14.2% for the period (Q1 – Q3 2018: 16%). NORMA attributed the decline in margin to significantly lower production volumes in the automotive industry, increased personnel costs and introducing a new ERP in Latin America.

EMEA region sales for the nine months fell 0.9% to €372.3 million (Q1 – Q3 2018: €375.7 million). Organic sales declined 1.6%, with “ongoing restrained business in the automotive sector” the main issue.

American sales rose 5.4% to €352.2 million in the first nine months of 2019 (Q1 – Q3 2018: €334.3 million). Growth was mainly due to strong water business and positive currency effects, which contributed 6.1% to sales growth. Organic sales declined 0.8% mainly due to the weak business in the Engineered Joining Technology division.

Asia-Pacific sales increased 6.6% to €114.2 million (Q1 – Q3 2018: €107.2 million). An organic sales decline of -4.1% was offset by positive currency effects of +1% and acquisition related sales contributions of +9.6%.

“The tense situation on the global automobile market still poses a challenge for us,” said Dr Michael Schneider, member of the management board of NORMA Group. “The positive development of our water management division, however, underscores the fact that NORMA Group is in a stable and sustainable position, thanks to its broad range of products and services and its strategic focus on the future markets of water management and electromobility.”

In mid-October NORMA revised its full year organic sales forecast to decline between -2% and -4% (previously -1 to +1%), mainly due to the sharp slump in American EJT business – due in part to strikes at car and truck makers. EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions also lagged slightly behind expectations. NORMA expects to achieve an adjusted EBITA margin of more than 13%.

On 5th November NORMA announced its “Get on track” programme, comprising measures to enhance the Group’s flexibility and profitability. Actions include optimisation of locations worldwide and the streamlining and close management of the product portfolio. The programme is expected to deliver sustained cost savings starting in 2020, achieving annual savings of €40 million – €45 million in 2023. Total programme cost through to 2023 is projected at €45 million – €50 million.

Bossard faces challenging environment Bossard Group faced a challenging market environment in the 2019 financial year. Sales of CHF 876.2 million (€810 million) were in the upper range of the previously communicated expectations – corresponding to a slight growth of 0.6% (in local currency: +1.9%).

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hen adjusted for acquisitions, 2019 sales fell by 3.3% (in local currency: -2.1%). In spite of the weaker economy; the trade dispute between the USA and China; and the increasing strength of the Swiss franc; the Bossard Group experienced continued growth in Europe and Asia.

In America, the increasingly difficult economic conditions led to a marked decrease in sales. In Europe, sales in 2019 rose by 3% to CHF 507.7 million although the economic environment became noticeably more challenging.

The appreciation of the Swiss franc also had a negative effect on sales figures, with growth in local currency even amounting to 5.6%.

The acquisition of BRUMA and the takeover of Boysen contributed to this boost in performance. The strategically important acquisition of Boysen decisively solidified the Bossard Group’s position in the aerospace industry. Without acquisitions, in 2019 sales increased slightly by 0.5% in local currency. The more challenging business environment in Europe is also reflected in the sales figures for the fourth quarter. While overall growth in local currency was 2%, adjusted for acquisition sales decreased by -5.8%.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

Challenging business conditions in America In America, business conditions became noticeably more challenging during the course of the year. Sales year-on-year dropped by 9.3% to CHF 218.4 million (in local currency: -10.7%). The fourth quarter saw a decline of 16.1% to CHF 51.2million (in local currency: -15.8%). There are several reasons for this development.

In 2019, Bossard concluded several customer projects, which had stimulated growth in the previous year. Another factor was a slowdown in the industrial sector reflected in the purchasing managers’ indices.

This affected demand from several major customers. In the case of the largest US electric vehicle manufacturer, the product mix changed significantly with the third model series, which had a negative impact on the demand for Bossard products and thus on the development of sales.

Continued growth in Asia In spite of the trade dispute between the USA and China, Bossard continued to show significant growth in Asia. Net sales increased by 9.4% to CHF 150.1 million (in local currency: +11.4%). In the fourth quarter, Bossard recorded an increase of 9.9% to CHF 39.8 million.

Excluding acquisitions, sales for the entire year grew by 3.8% to CHF 142.4 million (in local currency: +5.7%).

Bossard will present the detailed financial statements and the annual report 2019 at the media and analyst conference on 4th March 2020.

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NEWS

industry

Bulten acquires PSM International Bulten has signed an agreement to acquire all shares in PSM International Holdings Limited.

The acquisition strengthens Bulten’s position in the international fasteners market and provides a strong platform for continued growth globally.

The purchase price amounts to US$24.5 million (€22 million) on a cash-free and debt-free basis.

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SM, founded in 1931, develops, manufactures and supplies fasteners to international markets, primarily in the automotive industry. The company has approximately 350 employees, with production units in China, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, as well as distribution centres in 22 countries.

Asia-Pacific is the largest market and accounts for approximately 50% of PSM’s sales, followed by the United States, which accounts for approximately 30%. PSM’s customer base includes a number of large and well-known brands in the automotive, consumer electronics and home appliances industries, among others. During the twelve-month period up to and including August 2019, PSM’s sales amounted to approximately US$42 million with a normalised EBITDA margin of approximately 14%.

“PSM has a strong brand as an innovative supplier of fasteners and I am very pleased to be able to announce this strategically important acquisition. Our operations complement each other well and the acquisition means that we will broaden Bulten’s customer base in our growth markets in Asia and North America as well as strengthening our production capacity and our product offering.

In addition, PSM’s growth potential in Europe is strengthened by Bulten’s strong position in this market. The acquisition is a milestone in Bulten’s development and I look forward to welcoming PSM to the Bulten Group,” says Anders Nyström, president and CEO of Bulten.

Anders Nyström, president and CEO of Bulten The purchase price amounts to US$24.5 million on cash-free and debt-free basis and is financed through a vendor note of US$8.5 million, a transfer of 1,000,000 treasury shares in Bulten of US$8.5 million based on an assumed value of SEK 80 (€7.6) per share and a cash payment of US$7.5 million, which is included in the existing financing agreement. The transfer of treasury shares to current PSM owners, EQT Greater China II, includes a 12-month lock-up.

Following the transfer, Bulten will retain 52,215 treasury shares.

The completion of the acquisition is conditional upon certain actions taken by the seller and the acquisition is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2020. Bulten’s transaction costs in relation to the acquisition is estimated to SEK 12 million (€1.14 million).

Bulten sees potential for synergies in a number of key areas and the transaction is expected to have a positive contribution to Bulten’s development and earnings, as well as a substantial improvement of earnings per share during 2020 and onwards.

New CEO of LISI AEROSPACE LISI Group has announced the appointment of Emmanuel Neildez as chief executive officer of LISI AEROSPACE as of 1st January 2020. He takes over from Jean-Louis Colders to continue LISI AEROSPACE’s growth as a leading supplier of aerospace fasteners and structural components.

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mmanuel Neildez is a graduate of École Polytechnique and École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées. During his ten year period at Faurecia, a French automotive supplier, he held various positions from production, project management to industrial strategic management. He joined LISI AEROSPACE in 2007 and took on several operational management assignments, before becoming chief operating officer in 2017.

Jean-Louis Colders will remain within the LISI Group until June 2020 to support its development initiatives.

Remaining true to its values centred on people, the management team at LISI AEROSPACE has the ambition to pursue the company’s growth in the aeronautical fasteners sector and ensure the transformation of the Structural Components Business Group into a world leader in its markets.

“I have full confidence in LISI AEROSPACE’s teams to further increase our customer proximity and pursue our deployment strategy based on innovation,” commented Emmanuel Neildez.

“Following in the footsteps of Jean-Louis Colders, Emmanuel Neildez, with his industrial experience, his knowledge of the aerospace market, and his presence within the teams for more than ten years, has all the qualities required to lead LISI AEROSPACE,” added Emmanuel Viellard, chief executive officer of LISI Group.

LISI is a global industrial group specialised in the manufacturing of high value-added assembly and components solutions, with divisions including LISI AEROSPACE, LISI AUTOMOTIVE and LISI MEDICAL. Thanks to the commitment of its 12,500 employees in 13 countries over 4 continents, LISI Group generated sales of €1.6 billion in 2018.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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NEWS

industry

Bufab acquires American Bolt & Screw Bufab Group has entered an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares in the US company, American Bolt & Screw Mfg Corp (ABS), with annual sales of approximately US$52 million (€46.7 million).

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BS is a distributor of fasteners and other C-class components in the North American market. It is headquartered in Ontario, California, with branches in Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Oregon and Arizona. ABS was founded in 1946, and since 1982 has been fully owned and run by its current president, Jim Hooper. Under his leadership, ABS has expanded to a nationwide supply chain partner to customers across many industries. In the twelve months ending September 2019, ABS had 96 employees and sales of approximately US$52 million with an 11% normalised operating margin.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that ABS is joining the Bufab Group. Over many meetings in the past two years, we have gotten to know the company well, and see great similarities to Bufab in the solution oriented, entrepreneurial approach to creating customer value. This strategic expansion into the North American market further underlines our commitment to growth, and to our ‘Leadership 2020’ strategy,” says Jörgen Rosengren, Bufab’s president and CEO. “We are confident ABS will continue to grow and thrive as a member of the Bufab Group. The acquisition of ABS also strengthens

Bufab’s offering to global customers and provides us with a stronger base for further expansion in North America,” says Urban Bülow, group director North America at Bufab.

“By joining Bufab, we will be able to continue to improve our customer service, grow our business and strengthen our team in the same way we have for the last decades. It will be business as usual, with the same high ambition level, but now as part of a globally leading organisation. I am pleased to continue as senior advisor to ABS, and together with the whole ABS team I look forward to the cooperation with Bufab,” says Jim Hooper, American Bolt & Screw’s main owner.

The acquisition will be financed within Bufab’s existing credit facilities. The closing purchase price amounts to US$30 million on a cash-free/debt-free basis, with a further deferred purchase price of US$30 million paid in instalments, mainly in 2023 – 2024. A performance-based additional payment may occur in 2023 conditional on a significantly improved operating profit. The transaction was expected to close immediately with ABS reporting within Bufab’s International segment. Transaction costs of approximately SEK 10 million will be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2019.

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•

SFS expands its fastening system business for façades SFS is acquiring Moderne Befestigungselemente GmbH (mbe) – a leading supplier of painted fasteners for high performance façade systems. mbe generated about €10 million in sales with just under 70 employees in 2018.

This acquisition expands SFS’ offering of fastening systems and its market reach in central Europe. The completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.

m

be was established in Menden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in 1979 and it supplies mainly the German speciality retailers with painted fasteners for ventilated façade systems. In addition to its strong, long-standing customer relationships with speciality retailers, mbe has vast expertise in painting technology and differentiates itself on its very quick response and delivery times. Customers can individualise the colour of the fasteners they order and small quantities can be fulfilled within 24 to 48 hours.

Acquiring mbe gives SFS direct access to speciality retailers for premium façade solutions. Customers and distribution partners of mbe will benefit from availability of the broad product range of SFS. mbe will remain based in Menden and it will become part of the Construction division within the Fastening Systems segment of SFS. Its previous management will stay with the company throughout the transition period and thereby ensure the necessary continuity. The completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.

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PennEngineering® acquires Eurotec Ltd

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PennEngineering® has announced that it has acquired Eurotec Ltd, a speciality technical reseller of metal fabrication equipment, fastener installation systems and clinch and sheet metal fasteners, based in Tokyo, Japan.

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he acquisition will provide the Japanese market with permanent access to PennEngineering®’s PEM® and PROFIL® fasteners and installation equipment. “PennEngineering’s acquisition of Eurotec reflects our steadfast commitment to strategic expansion in Japan. Eurotec is an innovative company with highly technical fastener expertise, and true system installation capabilities,” shared Leonard Kiely, CEO of PennEngineering.

Leonard added: “We look forward to partnering with Eurotec and investing in additional resources dedicated to introduce our unique technologies to consumer and automotive electronics, as well as the automotive OEM market.”

Eurotec will maintain operations in Japan and join the existing brands under the PennEngineering corporate umbrella.

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

Jan

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NEWS

British Steel to be sold to Jingye Group The Official Receiver confirmed that a sales contract has been entered into with Jingye Steel (UK) Ltd and Jingye Holding Ltd to acquire the business and assets of British Steel Limited.

T

he sale includes the British Steel steelworks at Scunthorpe, UK mills and shares of FN Steel B.V, British Steel France Rail SAS and TSP Engineering. It also includes shares owned by BSL in Redcar Bulk Terminal Limited.

Completion of the contract is conditional on a number of matters, including gaining the necessary regulatory approvals.

The Official Receiver said the parties are working together to conclude a sale as soon as reasonably practicable. The business will continue to trade as normal during the period between exchange and completion. The statement added that support from employees, suppliers and customers since the liquidation has been a critical factor in achieving this outcome.

The High Court ordered that British Steel enter compulsory liquidation on 22 nd May 2019, after the UK Government declined to extend further financial support to the company, then owned by Greybull Capital.

The statement did not confirm the value of the planned transaction or release any other details.

The Jingye Group is based in China’s Hebei Province, with Group headquarters in Beijing. According to its website, Group turnover in 2019 was around CNY 90.1 billion (around €11.5 billion), which ranked Jingye 217 th in the top 500 Chinese enterprises.

Jingye employs around 23,500 people and as well as steelmaking, is involved in 3D printing, powder metallurgy, tourism, hotels and real estate.

At the time of going to press, Wednesday 15th January, the deal has still not yet been finalised.

Agrati establishes Japanese entity The Agrati Group announced on 18th October that it had established ‘Agrati Japan Limited’, a limited liability company under Japanese law, based in Yokohamashi, Kanagawa. he opening of the new headquarters, where technical and commercial employees will initially work, is aimed at acquiring increased market shares from Japanese car and component manufacturers. Agrati, which is recognised as a leader in the design and production of fastening systems for the automotive sector, says the move continues its strategy of “proximity, support and customer loyalty”.

The Agrati Group was established in 1939 and is controlled by a family holding company, the main shareholder of which is Cesare Agrati. It employs more than 2,500 people in twelve production facilities, twelve sales and application offices, and five logistic centres in Europe, the United States and China.

T

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industry

Dormole takes stake in H&C Dormole Ltd, owners of Forgefix Ltd, has continued its policy of investing in independent suppliers to the tools and fixings trade by taking a majority stake in Harrison & Clough (H&C), the fixings and fasteners wholesaler based in Keighley, UK.

M

ichael Brown, managing director of Forgefix – who also led the discussions with H&C – commented: “We have long been admirers of H&C which has developed several market leading brands such as MetalMate®, MasonMate® and TimberMate®, which all complement our existing ranges. We believe that by combining resources we can greatly improve our offering to customers.”

Mark Hutchinson, H&C managing director, commented: “As an independent, privately run business it has become increasingly difficult for us to maintain the level of investment that is required to develop our ranges and services in the way that we want, and the market demands.

Therefore, the opportunity to join the Dormole Group, which shares our values and ambitions, is ideal.”

He continues: “We have seen the way it has invested in companies such as Forgefix, Olympia, and BIZ, and have been impressed by how it has grown those businesses. We are all really excited by the opportunities this collaboration will bring for all stakeholders – customers, suppliers and colleagues.”

Michael Brown continued: “I am absolutely confident that this investment is an excellent fit for all involved and will enable us to improve our offer to customers whilst at the same time providing a very positive future for the H&C and Forgefix teams.”

He added: “The management team at Keighley will continue to run the business with the additional backing of the resources and support of the Dormole Group.”

NEWS

industry

Rubix Ireland acquires RGR Ltd

Rubix Ireland has acquired RGR Ltd, a specialist supplier of industrial adhesives and abrasives with over 30 years’ experience and reported sales of €4.5 million in 2018, as part of the Group’s network development strategy.

R

GR’s location and expertise make it an excellent fit with the current operations of Rubix Ireland and will further reinforce Rubix as one of Europe’s leading multi-specialist distributors of industrial products and services. The business serves the MedTech, pharmaceutical, printing, filmmaking, metals manufacturing, and construction industries.

Reporting to Ciarán Hallinan, managing director at Rubix Ireland, Yvonne Williams will remain as managing director of RGR, whilst her brother, Brian Rumgay, will take the opportunity to step down from his position as finance director. Both businesses, would like to extend their gratitude and

thanks to Brian and the Rumgay family for their contribution to making RGR the successful business it is today.

RGR will continue to operate independently but will now be ‘Powered by Rubix’, which will be reflected in the brand.

This signifies the strength, expertise and extensive products and services offering that comes with being a part of the Rubix Group.

Mark Dixon, CEO at Rubix UK, Ireland, and Iceland, said: “We are looking forward to working with our new colleagues from RGR. It will allow us to benefit from combining our offer and customer base further extending our offering and increasing our recognition for industrial ancillary products in Ireland.”

“It will also provide us with the opportunity to expand our regional sales capacity in Ireland, and to serve our Irish customers with the leading adhesive, abrasive and tape brands.”

Yvonne Williams, managing director at RGR, said: “I am very excited about this development for RGR. Together with Rubix Ireland we can further support our customers’ needs with an expansive offering of multi-specialist industrial products, services and solutions. Additionally, this acquisition highlights the strong growth potential identified by Rubix in the specialist industrial adhesives, abrasives and tape market in Ireland.”

Hexstone announces consultation on future of Bilston site Hexstone Limited, the UK’s leading wholesaler of fasteners, fixings and associated products, has announced a consultation on the future of its Bilston site, home of Stainless Threaded Fasteners and Icon Fasteners.

The Righton Fasteners division, also based at Bilston, is not affected by the consultation.

H

exstone is proposing the operations are consolidated at its Stone site, home of the Owlett-Jaton division. If, following consultation, no viable alternatives are identified, operations would be transferred to Stone in a phased manner across the rest of the year and would result in the majority of the staff at Bilston being made redundant.

Ian Doherty, CEO of Hexstone, said: “This has been a difficult decision made against the backdrop of a challenging market and prompted by the forthcoming expiry of the lease on the site. The team at Bilston have

worked extremely hard to deliver high-levels of service to our customers, but commercial pressures have led us to form the view that consolidation may be the best route forward for the company. The proposal is subject to the outcome of the current consultation, but whatever the outcome we will do everything to support our team and ensure our customers continue to receive the current high-levels of service they have come to expect.”

The consultation is expected to last until late February at which point a further announcement will be made. Until that time there are no changes to arrangements for ordering or deliveries.

FEIN strengthens metal working capacity with restructure Power tool manufacturer, FEIN, has restructured its UK operations to offer more support to end users across the country and strengthen its application-based metal working strategy.

A

s part of the restructure, FEIN has split its sales operation into three areas – north, central and south – with multiple managers covering each area. Area sales managers will focus on supporting FEIN dealers, whilst area technical sales managers will provide consultative support to end users.

The move will enable the company to work even closer with those in the metal working sector with expert FEIN representatives presenting targeted solutions to the problems end users are facing in their daily applications. FEIN also now has more capacity to visit workplaces to carry out free demos of its products, helping businesses to ensure they select the best quality and reliable products for their metal working requirements, improving efficiency and safety.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

Andy Mills, national sales manager at FEIN, said: “With over 150 years’ experience of manufacturing power tools, FEIN has a proud history of innovation. The change in structure supports our ongoing strategy to provide high-levels of support to dealers and applicationbased solutions to end users in the metal working sector.”

“Our expert representatives have a huge amount of industry experience themselves and with more representatives spread across the UK, we are now able to visit more end users than ever before and gain a thorough understanding of their applications and the problems they’re facing. It will also provide the opportunity for end users to learn more about the fantastic range of products and solutions that FEIN offers.”

NEWS

industry

REYHER named best supplier The medical and safety technology provider Drägerwerk AG (Dräger) has named REYHER as best supplier in the ‘mechanics’ category in 2018/19. With this award Dräger acknowledged REYHER for its continuous optimisation over the years in comprehensive C-part management and international Kanban supplies.

T

he accolade, awarded every two years, was presented during the ‘Suppliers’ Day’ event in the Drägerwerk future factory in Lübeck. Awarded in five different categories, the prize was handed out by Stefan Dräger, chairman of the Dräger executive board, Kim Sascha Steingrube, head of quality management, and Steffen Michalzik, president global purchasing/supplier quality assurance.

REYHER successfully prevailed against 1,200 other nominated suppliers.

Matthias Kelp, vice-president sales, Udo Strothmann, key account manager, and Thomas Haug, general manager RAP, accepted the Dräger supplier award on behalf of REYHER. “We are very pleased to receive this award. At the same time, we are just a little proud to have won this prize against so many nominated suppliers,” said Klaus-Dieter Schmidt, joint CEO at F.REYHER Nchfg GmbH & Co KG. Dräger and REYHER can look back on decades of good cooperation. Since the early 1990s the Lübeck company has been a REYHER Kanban customer.

With more than 130 years’ experience REYHER is one of the leading trading companies for fasteners and fastening technology in Europe – supplying customers in industry and trade worldwide.

Over 750 employees at a central location in Hamburg ensure individual, flexible solutions for reliable supplies of C-parts, with a delivery rate of over 99%.

In 2018, REYHER achieved a turnover of more than €340 million with over 11,000 customers. www.reyher.de

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PERSPECTIVE

by Phil Matten, editorial consultant, Fastener + Fixing Magazine

For the last time, a personal rather than industry reflection With apologies to T.S. Eliot, I’ve come to the end of my editorship of this magazine with neither a bang nor a whimper.

I

became the editor of Fastener + Fixing Magazine, rather more by accident than design it has to be said, some eighteen years ago. My exit from that role has been rather more considered and hopefully, over the last five years, you have witnessed a seamless transition to Will Lowry’s excellent editorship.

I recruited both Will and Claire and have never had cause to regret either decision as they have taken on the responsibility for the magazine’s editorial content and direction. If I have created any kind of legacy it is unquestionably in safe hands.

When I took on the position with Fastener + Fixing I had no training or real experience in editorship, which meant making up my own rules. The abiding consideration was to ensure the magazine would not be all the things I had railed against in trade media during my previous marketing and senior management career. Yes, we are an industry magazine and, yes, we exist purely from the income we derive from our advertisers.

However, I have always believed that the best return we could provide our advertisers, and best service we could provide our readers, was to ensure the magazine was genuinely worthy of being read, recommended and passed onto colleagues and retained for further reference. That meant an editorial strategy that was as independently minded as possible, critical and on occasions challenging, even if that might ruffle a few feathers. So, for every time

we put a black pen through a cliché or hyperbole in a media release, I make absolutely no apology.

Fundamental to that editorial strategy has also always been the principle of ‘being there’ – of physically visiting companies, events and markets in order to report directly on what we find. That’s not easy, financially for a small business, or personally for those, of whom I am glad to say I shall no longer be one, leaving home at 4am to catch an early morning flight.

Before you get too euphoric, you have not completely gotten rid of me. For the next ten months I will act as a part-time editorial consultant to the magazine – in truth little more than formalisation of a role into which I have evolved, through Will and Claire’s capability, very easily over recent years.

Nor will I be leaving the fastener industry. I continue to be very active in both the UK and European fastener associations and hope to tackle some freelance writing. As anyone who has played with me knows, my golf is beyond redemption, so whatever other time will be dedicating to the development of educational resources to tackle the critical skills gap that exists in the UK fastener manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Right now, that feels like staring at a mountain never climbed before, but the first teetering steps have been taken, the strides are becoming more confident and the pack is settling on my back.

Thank you for your support. I wish you a prosperous, healthy and above all happy 2020.

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NEWS

RAW MATERIALS

Mixed fortunes in 2019 for fastener raw materials Continued global over capacity and depressed demand kept the lid tightly clamped on steel costs in 2019, despite some ructions in the iron ore supply chain.

By contrast, nickel rattled through the year like a roller coaster ride.

W

ord of a, albeit partial, January US-China trade deal offered hope for global demand recovery but, just a few days into the new decade, President Trump once again demonstrated that, under his aegis, all bets are off in relation to global stability and the predictability of raw material trends.

In the first eleven months of 2019 global crude steel output increased by 2.7%. Drill down into the World Steel Association’s regional analysis 1 , however, and it is immediately clear that China was responsible for most of that growth, as its output continued to increase at +7% year-on-year to 904 million tonnes.

Vietnam was the only other Asian economy to show steel output growth and, as the US imposition of anti-dumping tariffs of more than 456% in December demonstrated, that related to US importers switching manufactured goods demand away from tariff-ridden China, most likely exacerbated by Chinese circumvention activity via Vietnam.

United States’ tariffs did result in something of a boost for steel, with output up +1.9% but substantial output declines in Mexico and Canada suggest tariff impacts were short rather than long range. Growth in the Middle East region was primarily attributable to Iran (+5.3% to 23.6 Mt). EU steel output fell -4.2% with only Austria (+10.9%) and Sweden (+2.2%) registering growth. In the rest of Europe, substantial percentage but limited volume growth in Norway and Bosnia and Herzegovina was more than offset by a -10% decline in Turkish output.

As WorldSteel reported in October, other than in China, “steel demand slowed in 2019 as uncertainty, trade tensions and geopolitical issues weighed on investment and trade. Manufacturing, particularly the automotive industry, has performed poorly contracting in many countries, however in construction, despite some slowing, a positive momentum has been maintained”.

Steel production costs, however, were far from flat during 2019. Opening the year at well below US$80/tonne the cost of high grade iron ore to Chinese ports escalated to above US$120/tonne in July. This was in consequence of the Brumadinho mine dam disaster, which killed at least 248 people, and subsequently severely restricted Vale’s iron ore output.

Global supply was further hampered by bad weather restricting Australian ore output. By autumn, ore prices had subsided to a still relatively strong US$80/tonne, rising again in December. As January opens they nudged closer to US$100/tonne as

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Manufacturing PMI

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Sources: J.P.Morgan, IHS Markit, Commonwealth Bank, Unicredit Bank Austria, Caixin, Davivienda, BME, HPI, AIB, Jibun Bank, NEVI, AERCE, Istanbul Chamber of Industry, CIPS

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NEWS

RAW MATERIALS

government environmental control restrictions on Chinese steel mills eased and Chinese New Year approached. That puts current ore cost around +28% compared with the end of 2018.

China’s domestic steel demand appears positive as 2020 is the last year of the current five year plan, placing pressure on the completion of infrastructure projects.

As the Caixin December PMI indicates (previous page), Chinese manufacturing also shows some signs of general recovery. However, recovery in export demand depends on the first phase trade agreement with the United States being confirmed in January, and more critically, a reversal of the economic declines in most of Europe, as well as Japan and Russia. That now looks precarious in the aftermath of the United States fatal drone strike on Iran’s Major-General Qassem Soleimani.

Steel wire costs for the fastener industry remained subdued during 2019, with steel producer margins forced to absorb cost increases in the face of lacklustre demand. December’s Deutscher Schraubenverband raw material analysis 2 shows wire rod costs for fastener manufacturers effectively flat from 2018 into 2019, then notching downwards from mid-year.

In Taiwan, China Steel Corporation held bar and rod prices during the first half 2019, reducing them by around €32/tonne in Quarter 3, then holding in Quarter 4, before announcing a similar reduction for the first quarter 2020. However, Yieh Hsing Enterprise Co Ltd, another Taiwanese wire rod manufacturer, demonstrated that higher raw material costs were biting into margins by announcing an increase of around €16/tonne for January.

Steel might have been flat during 2019 but nickel had a far livelier year. The London Metal Exchange 3-month price opened 2019 at around US$10,500/tonne. By mid-July it stood at around US$14,000/tonne – up a third on the start of the year. It would have been reasonable, given nickel inventories were increasing and US tariffs on China were softening stainless steel demand, to expect the market to have turned bearish in the second half of the year.

However, things started to happen in Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of nickel ore. Concerns over widespread flooding in the Sulawesi mining region offset downward market pressure – although the actual impact on production proved limited. Signs that US-China trade relations might improve boosted market confidence but were short-lived.

Then rumours circulated that Indonesia would bring forward a previously announced deadline to restrict exports of unprocessed nickel ore from 2022.

Indonesia obfuscated but LME prices still drove to around US$15,500/tonne by mid-August. Reported sharp growth in Chinese stainless steel output strengthened market sentiment.

Nickel historical price graph 18K

16K

14K

12K

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Based on London Metal Exchange data www.lme.com

At the beginning of September, Indonesia came clean, confirming it would ban exports of all grades of nickel ore from January 2020 regardless of existing contracts. LME prices spiked to above US$18,000/tonne but President Trump’s announcement of a new round of import tariffs on Chinese manufactured goods soon cast doubts on stainless steel demand. At the end of October, Indonesia briefly suspended all nickel ore exports without notice to fend off a pre-deadline

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

demand rush. The announcement temporarily arrested declining nickel prices, to hold around US$16,500/tonne. By the end of the year LME nickel had subsided to around US$14,000/tonne – still 33% up in the year – and is currently hovering around that level. Short-term stability looks to be founded on a better understanding of what Indonesia is doing in terms of forcing domestic downstream processing of ore and signals from the Philippines, the second largest producer to global nickel supply, that it would increase ore output.

LME nickel inventories have also substantially recovered, having plunged to record lows, apparently as Chinese stainless steel producers stockpiled against the Indonesia ban. The European Union has initiated WTO processes in protest at Indonesia’s actions. However, with the WTO dispute body effectively neutered through the lack of US support this seems unlikely to influence the market.

What the second half of 2019 ably demonstrates is just how reactive the nickel market is to short term factors rather than the fundamental supply and demand curves.

Speculation about the impact of demand for nickel for electric vehicle batteries has also occasionally had some influence. The reality, however, remains that more than 70% of global nickel is consumed by the stainless steel industry, compared with less than 5% currently for batteries.

While it is clear that the nickel content in EV batteries is increasing as manufacturers seek to increase effective vehicle range, and EV sales are increasing, the demand growth curve remains modest. Range and cost clearly remain issues for consumers; more significant as an inhibitor to growth, at least for the present, is the availability of charging points. The European vehicle maker association, ACEA, recently issued a report 3 illustrating the scale of infrastructure challenge in progressing from the present 150,000 charging points in Europe to the 2.8 million it requires by 2030 to meet demanding new emissions standards.

One footnote, particularly in relation to stainless steel fasteners. The economic downturn, particularly in Europe, and the stop-go BREXIT deadline have resulted in high fastener supply chain inventory levels, which mean that the full effect of raw material inflation has not washed through to the market. Even if market uncertainty prevails, as seems probable as this report is written, there is a pent-up material driven inflationary pressure on fastener pricing.

1. https://www.worldsteel.org/en/dam/ jcr:8fa70871-4c62-49f0-a1c9-96b004e02773/ November%25202019%2520Crude% 2520Steel%2520Production%2520Table.pdf 2. https://www.schraubenverband.de 3. https://www.acea.be/publications/article/ making-the-transition-to-zero-emissionmobility-2019-progress-report

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NORTH AMERICA

by John Wolz, editor, GlobalFastenerNews.com

US DoC finds dumping of Asian threaded rod The US Department of Commerce (DoC) has announced affirmative preliminary determinations in the anti-dumping duty investigation imports of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod from China, India, and Taiwan, the American Journal of Transportation reports.

T

he US Department of Commerce found exporters from China, India, and Taiwan, dumped carbon and alloy steel threaded rod at the following rates: China 4.81%; India 2.04%; and Taiwan 32.26%.

The Commerce department will instruct US Customs & Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod from China, India, and Taiwan as applicable.

In 2018, the value of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod imports from China were US$325 million; India US$111 million; and Taiwan US$156 million, according to the American Journal of Transportation.

Since the beginning of the current administration, the US DoC has initiated 182 new anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 231% increase from the comparable period in the

previous administration. There are currently 496 anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders.

The final determination with respect to Taiwan is scheduled to be announced on 4th December 2019, and the decision for China and India by 11th February 2020. If the DoC affirms its determinations, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) will be scheduled to make its final injury determination with respect to Taiwan by 24th January 2020, and with respect to China and India by 26th March 2020.

If the DoC makes affirmative final determinations of dumping, and the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, anti-dumping orders will be issued. If the DoC makes negative final determinations of dumping, or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.

US fastener demand at 2.7% CAGR through 2023 US demand for industrial fasteners is expected to increase 2.7% per year through to 2023 to US$16.5 billion (€14.83 billion), according to ‘Industrial Fasteners’, a new report by the Freedonia Group.

G

ains will largely stem from pricing growth supported by an expected improvement in durable goods manufacturing.

Competitive pressure from alternative joining technologies, while still a factor in the market, is expected to have only a minimal effect on fastener use going forward.

“Much of the shift toward lightweighting has already occurred in easily adaptable applications, so further technological development will be necessary before fasteners see competition in applications where they are more difficult to replace,” according to Freedonia Group.

Growth will be strongest in aerospace grade fasteners, the report found. Rising production of aircraft, and the widespread use of expensive fasteners in their manufacture for both civilian and military use, will cause demand for associated fastening products to grow. Military aerospace equipment will register particularly strong gains through 2023, the fastest of any major market segment, because of a sharp increase in military spending, which has been a priority of the Trump administration, according to the report.

Increasing demand from end users beyond aerospace equipment for stronger, better performing fasteners will also support rapid gains, Freedonia Group found. Motor vehicles and machinery markets will account for more than 40% of all additional fastener sales through 2023.

Demand for fasteners will also be supported by strong gains in light truck (a by-product of changing consumer preference for SUVs)

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

and medium and heavy vehicle production; as well as a rebound in machinery production following a long period of decline.

Competition from alternative fastening technologies is waning, the report found: “The maturity of the fastener industry makes it susceptible to competition from alternative joining technologies.

In some instances, manufacturers have replaced fasteners with adhesives and welding to shorten assembly time and, in the case of motor vehicles and some machinery, to reduce equipment weight.”

However, “much of this change has already occurred, and while equipment engineers continue to look for additional ways to improve productivity or reduce weight, the further adoption of other fastening systems to achieve these goals is slowing”.

The Industrial Fasteners report from Freedonia analyses the US$14.4 billion US industrial fasteners market, presenting historical demand data (2008, 2013, 2018) and forecasts (2023) by product (standard grade or aerospace grade), physical design (externally threaded, internally threaded, non-threaded), and market (OEM, maintenance and repair operations, construction). The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors, including Agrati, Arconic, Berkshire Hathaway, Hilti, Illinois Tool Works, LISI, Stanley Black & Decker, and TriMas. The 167 page report is available for purchase at US$4,900.

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NEWS

US trims tariffs on Japanese fasteners The USA and Japan have reached a partial trade agreement for certain agricultural and industrial goods, including fasteners manufactured in Japan, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.

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he US will “reduce or eliminate” tariffs on fasteners and other industrial goods, including certain machine tools and steam turbines. Further details on the amount and timetable of tariff reductions or eliminations were not provided. In exchange, Japan will eliminate or reduce tariffs on an additional US$7.2 billion of US food and agricultural products.

The agreement, which must be ratified by Japan’s legislature, also addresses digital trade. “The United States looks forward to further negotiations with Japan for a comprehensive agreement that addresses remaining tariff and non-tariff barriers and achieves fairer, more balanced trade,” the Office of the US Trade Representative added.

FINdex growth slows in Q3 After climbing 13% in the second quarter, the FIN Fastener Stock Index growth slowed to a 5.4% rate of increase in the third quarter of 2019, lower than a 6.8% gain by an index of related industrial stocks during the quarter.

F

or the second consecutive quarter, Arconic achieved the largest percentage gain of the period, rising 54.2% in the third quarter of 2019.

Arconic was looking to separate its portfolio businesses by the fourth quarter of 2019, a move praised by analysts. EP&S (engine components, fastening systems, and engineered structures) and forged aluminum wheels will be named Howmet Aerospace. Global Rolled Products and Construction Systems will operate in a company that retains the Arconic name.

Other FINDEX companies with gains of 10% or more during Q3 included Carpenter Technology Corporation (up 45%); bisco industries (up 52.5%); ITW Inc (up 23.5%); Lawson Products Inc (up 22.5%); Simpson Company (up 28.2%); Stanley Black & Decker Inc (up 20.6%); TriMas Corp (up 12.3%); and Wesco Aircraft (up 39.3%).

In the first nine months of 2019, the FINDEX gained 19.8%, lower than the 23.2% increase by an index of related industrial stocks.

The FINDEX contracted in 2018, hampered by volatility that dominated the markets, making 2018 the worst year for stocks in a decade. The FINdex declined 7.1% during the year, compared to a 7% drop by an index of related industrial stocks. The loss followed two consecutive years of double-digit growth.

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NORTH AMERICA

Agrati completes US$4 million upgrade Global automotive fastener manufacturer Agrati Group has completed a US$4 million investment in industrial machinery and equipment at its facility in Tiffin, OH, according to a press release from the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership.

A

grati worked with National Machinery to purchase a new FORMAX cold former to expand capacity. The company also worked with Arnold Machine Inc to purchase custom assembly machinery.

In 2018, Agrati invested US$1.6 million in industrial machinery, equipment and renovations to its facility, in addition to adding 10 jobs, according to the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership. The company produced more than 177,355,326 fasteners and shipped 10,001 orders to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, and other global customers.

Agrati said it is considering additional investment next year at the plant, which employs 66 people. The facility was last expanded in 2013 with the addition of a 40,000 square foot building.

The Tiffin plant, previously Jacobson Manufacturing, was acquired by the Agrati Group in 2016 as part of the deal to acquire ContMid Holdings Inc (CMG) from equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount.

IL-based CMG is a US$240 million manufacturer of custom engineered metal fasteners, cold formed parts and stampings for car makers, automotive suppliers, and industrial manufacturers. CMG markets its products, which include safety critical seat belt fasteners, automobile door strikers and wheel nuts, under the trade names Continental/Midland, Jacobson, Tiffin, MSD Stamping and Minuteman Distribution.

The Tiffin plant is one of 12 Agrati production facilities worldwide, including two in Ohio. The facility primarily focuses on cold forming, tapping and thread rolling of auto and truck wheel nuts, as well as tubular products and highly engineered safety restraint components – produced through automated welding and assembly.

Founded in 1939, Italian-based Agrati is a privately owned multinational manufacturer of fasteners and assembly components for the automotive and general industrial markets. The company, which employs more than 2,600 workers, acquires about 160,000 tonnes of steel annually to manufacture about 8 billion pieces (bolts, special screws, nuts and advanced form parts).

NEWS

RUSSIA + CIS

by Alexander Ostashov, editor, Fastener, Adhesives, Tools and... Magazine www.fastinfo.ru

Volgograd hardware plant invests in fastener production Volgograd hardware plant has launched an investment project that will include developing and modernising its fastener production – leading to the launch of new products.

T

he investment project by Volgograd will be worth 67.9 million rubles (€999,000) of which 31.9 million will be provided by the Federal Industrial Development Fund in the form of a soft loan, and 13.7 million by the regional fund.

The main buyers of new products of the Volgograd hardware plant will be large manufacturers of agricultural machinery and railway rolling stock, as well as repair companies.

Further development plans include the production of screws and self-tapping screws for the construction industry, as well as fasteners for the automotive industry.

BERVEL plant receives approval from EU auditors

Winter wrench most unusual patent

Following a full audit by notified certification body Dedal-Attestation and Certification Ltd (N1922), BERVEL’s production plant recently received approval to attach CE Marking to its high strength fasteners.

Grigory Ivliev, head of Rospatent, the Federal Service for Intellectual Property – under the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, has stated that the ‘winter wrench’ was the most unusual patent application in 2019.

B

ERVEL points out that the experienced auditors evaluated a well organised production process, professionalism of employees and reliability of raw material suppliers, while the high-quality and safety of products were confirmed by laboratory tests.

As the result of the audit, BERVEL’s plant was issued a certificate confirming the right to apply CE Marking on products manufactured by the plant and supplied to EU countries.

T

he ‘winter wrench’ is red in colour and thanks to a heating element in the handle does not allow hands to freeze.

“Those users who have needed to tighten or unscrew a nut in a -40ºC frost can appreciate the unusual but helpful nature of such a key development,” commented Grigory Ivliev.

Grigory continued: “There are more and more companies in Russia that have created a respected name within the market and value their reputation. That is why they seek to protect their product with a trademark, which is an extremely encouraging trend.”

BelZan reports growth in net profit BelZan has announced RAS financial results for 9 months of 2019 with net profit at 51.7 million rubles (€761,000), nine times more than in the same period in 2018. Net profit margin was +1.5%.

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elebeyevsky Avtonormal Plant (BelZan), managed by RT-Capital, a subsidiary of the State Corporation Rostec, explains the profitability is due to a set of measures implemented by RT-Capital as part of a financial recovery programme, as well as a reduction in the company’s debt burden.

In early 2019, RT-Capital lowered the interest rate on its own debt obligations and introduced a moratorium on interest payments, which allowed BelZan to maintain the necessary level of liquidity.

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Production indicators remained at the same level as the first nine months of 2018. Currently, the company is developing new production technologies, including the application of protective coatings on products, as well as the development of new fastener designs.

BelZan’s revenue in the reporting period decreased by 2.4% compared to the same period last year. The reason for the decrease in revenue was the decision of the Ukrainian government to introduce a trade embargo on the supply of Russian-made fastening tools to Ukraine. However, this decrease in revenue was offset by tight cost control.

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NEWS

RUSSIA + CIS

MMK-Metiz continues to expand fastener production MMK-Metiz continues to invest in its fastener production with three separate projects set to be commissioned in 2020.

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irstly, the company is planning to introduce bell-type furnaces for spheroidising annealing of calibrated rolled products. This will help increase the production of automotive components in the Russian Federation, therefore contributing to import substitution.

MMK-Metiz also plans to install a batch of rewinding machines

for forming wire coils according to customer requirements and a range of cold heading and thread rolling machines for the production of machine building bolts M16 – M24. Another project, scheduled for 2020, is the commissioning of a hot screw machine for the production of railway bolts and track screws, including the Fosslo type for high-speed highways.

Modern Assembly Technologies seminar held in Moscow The 6th scientific and technical seminar ‘Modern Assembly Technologies’ was held at the Moscow Polytechnic University in October. Topics of the seminar traditionally include areas focusing on modern assembly methods, automation of assembly work, quality assurance of assembly, and assembly equipment.

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he seminar was opened by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Vartanov, chairman of the organising committee. His presentation was dedicated to current trends and the results of the development of research in the field of machine assembly. The participants considered issues of increasing the productivity of assembly sites, and the use of modern information technologies in assembly processes.

In addition to scientific reports, a report was made regarding new equipment for industrial production. Mr Chernov introduced the Atlas Copco intelligent assembly tool. All reports were published in the brochure, which was given to seminar participants.

Mariya Valiakhmetova, editor in chief, Metiz Magazine, Ukraine

MMK-Metiz to build new plant PJSC MMK, OJSC MMK-Metiz, LLC MMK-Industrial Park, together with LLC Tervingo, have signed a cooperation agreement to build a plant to produce high strength steel wire for reinforcing tyres and other applications.

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he project is planned to be implemented at the MMK industrial park in Magnitogorsk. The total investment will be around 8 billion rubles.

The synergistic effect of the interaction of the parties, including utilisation of existing assets, will result in a reduction in financial resources. The new production is planned for launch in the fourth quarter of 2020, with an annualised output of up to 35,000 tonnes.

Magnitogorsk Hardware and Sizing plant has expanded its range to include gauges of flux cored wire for surfacing and s2Mo grade steel welding wire.

BMZ signs major agreements in Austria Through the Belarusian-Austrian business forum, BMZ OJSC has signed major agreements with Austrian partners on 2020 export deliveries worth around €100 million.

T 36

he agreements signed between BMZ and the Belmet and Pisec Group companies include the shipment of Belorussian metal products to Austria and other EU countries. The exports will be mainly metal rolled and wire products, and will include high-tech structural rolled products, for automotive and other premium industries. The production and marketing of which BMZ has significantly increased in recent years.

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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NEWS

asia

CSC reduces Q1 2020 domestic prices Taiwan’s China Steel Corporation (CSC) has announced domestic steel prices for the first quarter of 2020 will decrease by an across grades average of 3.03%. Prices for bars and rods will reduce by TW$1,000 per tonne.

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SC says the global steel market atmosphere has turned from cautious to optimistic but emphasises that all steel makers have seen profitability adversely affected by increased costs of ironmaking raw materials and the sharp decline in steel product prices.

China Steel said: “Although the global steel market atmosphere is expected to turn optimistic in the near future, and the recession cycle of the steel industry is anticipated to come to an end,” it had decided that Q1 2020 prices “will be properly adjusted after considering customers’ opinions and

internal evaluation, in order to assist downstream customers to destock and enhance their export competitiveness”.

It added that the price decision would help narrow the price gap between quarterly price announcement and international market prices. China Steel says it will explain a new pricing system ahead of an announcement on price levels for Q2 2020.

“The new system will ensure that both customers and CSC share risks and benefits in a fair and equitable manner, and will be in-line with the international market, balancing the interests of customers, employees and shareholders.”

Bulten inaugurates new Tianjin factory On 22nd November 2019 Bulten inaugurated its new factory in Tianjin to produce high-quality fasteners to the automotive industry in China.

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ulten says the new facility strengthens its position as an international supplier of fastener solutions and creates very good conditions for managing future growth in China.

“Bulten is gradually growing as an international supplier of fasteners. Having well functioning and modern factories with room for further growth is necessary. The inauguration of the new factory in Tianjin is an important milestone for us and strengthens our platform in China, which is the world’s largest car market,” says Anders Nyström, president and CEO of Bulten.

Bulten has manufacturing units in six countries and established its first operation in Beijing in 1996. In October 2018, it was decided to move to newly built premises in Tianjin, about 150km from Beijing, in order to create better conditions for expansion and to meet Bulten’s sustainability goals.

The move involved investments of approximately SEK 25 million and costs of SEK 16 million – SEK 20 million. The new facility provides a modern and fully integrated plant with cold forming, heat treatment and surface treatment. Bulten is one of the few fastener suppliers in China that controls all these steps in the manufacturing process in-house.

Chen Nan Iron Wire listed on emerging stock market Since September 2019, Chen Nan Iron Wire – a steel wire manufacturer and parent company to Ray Fu Enterprise Co Ltd – has been a listed company on the emerging stock market of Taiwan.

A

ccording to the data shown in Chen Nan’s 2018 financial report, the company’s annual combined revenue was TW$1.892 billion (€56 million), earnings before tax was TW$112 million.

Chen Nan Iron Wire has four production plants that have been divided into semi-finished wire, spherodising furnace, finished wire, as well as fastener forming and heat treatment.

In addition, several sets of multi-stroke machines were also introduced into the new plants to correspond with the increasing capacity and demands for wire and special screw exports.

The automated inventory and packaging plants, as well as the new office building (Phase II), is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2021.

Source: Fastener World

Kurali to get first common effluent treatment plant Punjab’s Kurali district has announced its first common effluent treatment plant catering to the electroplating industry for treatment of its effluents – with a daily capacity of 150 kilolitre.

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T

he Fastener Association of India states the land for setting up the treatment plant has been leased for two decades by Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation on a build-on-operate basis. The metal surface finishing industry is expected to benefit from this arrangement.

Some 550 units in the district will benefit from this common effluent treatment plant. Up until now, the comany had to send effluents up to 80km away in Ludhiana for processing.

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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NEWS

asia

Reed Exhibitions announces full ownership of India shows Reed Exhibitions has announced full ownership of three events in India – BLECH India (Mumbai), Fastener Fair India (Mumbai and Delhi) and ExpoRail (Delhi) – previously organised by Inter Ads-Brooks, a 50/50 joint venture in India.

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regory Zaraisky, CEO at Reed Exhibitions India, commented: “We are pleased to have now completed the next step of the Mack Brooks acquisition journey.

I look forward to seeing all events thrive from our team’s accumulated and significant knowledge and expertise within respective industry sectors.”

Rajan Sharma, director at Inter Ads Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, stated: “While we pass on the legacy that we have built over the past decade to Reed Exhibitions, Inter Ads India will continue with its endeavor of bringing focused international exhibitions and conferences to the Indian market.”

High-quality governance needed for economic growth At the summit ‘Rethinking quality for New India’ – organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – the Indian government confirmed it was focusing on implementing its flagship schemes. Adding that the centre was striving hard to improve the economy along with social inclusion and strong governance.

D

.V. Sadananda Gowda, union minister for chemicals and fertilsers in India, commented: “New India at 75, should be different. The government has a sharper focus on implementing flagship schemes that have already been launched. The government is also willing to accept growth proposals from trade bodies like the CII,” he noted.

In his opening address to the summit, Vikram Kirloskar, chairman of CII and vice-president at Toyota Kirloskar Motors, said that quality is not just about following processes. Skill development is also important to ensure and maintain quality.

“Quality has to be looked at from a customer perspective. Our revenue is the sum of each customer’s experience and not an overall number. Quality is all about sustained relationships. The core focus should be on building trust. We have a lot to do in terms of improving relationships between governments, industry, and the society in general,” he added.

Concurring with Kirloskar’s views, Suresh Krishna, chairman at Sundram Fasteners, said that quality must begin from the top management who has a primary responsibility of inculcating quality aspects across the board. “A top down approach is required, then only employees can be motivated to learn and deliver better quality on their own. Upskilling-driven quality enhancement is a must, else robots will take away a lot of our current jobs,” Suresh noted.

Emphasising the correlation between technology and quality, R Mukundan, executive director at Tata Sons, said that quality is not just a destination but a movement and a journey.

Source: The Fastener Association of India

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Sundram Fasteners chairman receives ‘Quality Ratna’ The Fastener Association of India reports Suresh Krishna, chairman at Sundram Fasteners, has been awarded the ‘Quality Ratna’ award by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at its 27th Quality Summit held in Bengaluru, India.

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he CII Institute of Quality commented: “Suresh Krishna has been a role model for the society in embracing the principles of quality, in both his personal and professional life. He pioneered the constitution of the TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) Club of India in collaboration with the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM) in 1998 and was its first chairman. Thanks to his leadership and contribution to the TPM/quality movement, India today has the maximum number of TPM award winners outside Japan.”

NEWS

BRAZIL

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

Brazilian perspective As many know, 2019 started in Brazil with a new president and new government, with a big focus on the Brazilian economy. This has enabled us to end the year in a good position and with a real skyline of optimism for 2020.

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Brazilian GDP performance over the last 10 years

Percentage

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fter the worst economic recession since 1930, there were hopes at the start of 2019 of Brazil getting a fast recovery, by achieving growth around 2% of GDP, but the reality throughout the year was just above 1%. In fact, since 2013, Brazil’s economic performance has been very different than could be expected from a member of the BRICS group.

While truly persecuted by some sectors that have lost several privileges, the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is the equivalent of a hippo in a crystal store, especially in dealing with the subjects involving press, religion, and culture, generating unnecessary attritions and friction.

Thankfully, the most important decision from the Bolsonaro reign was giving full power to Paulo Guedes, the economy minister. This has resulted in the recovery happening, but less rapidly than many imagined at the end of 2018. Under Guedes management, the National Congress recently approved a reform of the pension system. In additional the Country Risk fell to 117-points, the lowest since May 2013, which was before the protests wave that started the political and economic turmoil and generated the recent recession.

Some economists also believe that this new scenario may improve the Brazilian rating by risk agencies. Going back to last January, the predicted growth for GDP was too optimistic and overshadowed the real result achieved. With Q3 2019 over 0.6%, we can be confident that 2019 will have ended with a much bigger growth than 1%, and therefore above 2% in 2020 looks possible.

Reasons to believe in continued stabilisation for 2020 can be found in industrial production, which rose 0.3% in September 2019 compared to August. The IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and

Year Statistics) also had a release in November that showed it was the second consecutive month of industrial growth. In addition, 11 of 26 industry activities indicated growth, such as apparel accessories (6.6%), furniture (9.4%), beverages (3.5%) and metal products (3.7%).

The automotive sector, one of the most important segments for the fastener industry, will also close 2019 having produced more than 4 million motor vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, trucks and buses. At the time of writing (December 2019), the motorcycle sector had produced more than 1.038 million (Abraciclo, Nov 2019). The rest closed November with more than 2.774 million units produced, comprising of 2.64 million passenger cars and light commercials, and 133,981 divided between trucks and buses.

Agricultural and off-highway machines achieved 50,800 between January and November, which is less than the 60,100 in 2018 (source: Anfavea, Nov 2019).

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

With the different political oscillations in 2019, Brazil saw the exchange rate between the Real and the US Dollar go from R$3.6 in January to R$4.2 in November, which saw an increase in domestic production for some sectors (Mdic, Nov 2019), such as fastener manufacturing.

In the last 11 months Brazil imported 106,123 tonnes of screws, bolts, nuts and associated products, a 9.1% decrease on the same period in 2018, worth US$550.57 million.

Brazil is not a big exporter of fasteners, but it sold US$164.84 million in 2019, an increase of 27.2%. In tonnes this was 20,026, a fall of -13,7% during the same period.

Sources: Cars automaker association: www.anfavea.com.br Motorcycle automaker association: www.abraciclo.com.br Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC): www.mdic.gov.br

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NEWS

BRAZIL

39th SENAFOR conference a success The 39th international SENAFOR conference was once again held in Porto Alegre City, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, with topics covering cold and hot forging, research and development, as well as production processes for flat and long metals.

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or nearly 40 years, the SENAFOR conference has included meetings and research lectures by university students, teachers, masters and PhDs, as well as the day-to-day professionals from industries involved in cold or hot forging processes.

Among the speakers was Dr Roberto Garcia, a Brazilian expert on fastener tightening systems, who spoke about the important role of screw, bolts, and nuts in a variety of applications – ranging from trucks and cars to dental fastener systems.

Another speaker was Rodrigo Fantinel, general manager at Suspensys – a member of Brazilian Group Randon and manufacturer of suspensions and axles for trucks, buses and agricultural machines.

Through the theme: ‘Overcoming the crisis during a person’s capacity and appreciation’ he showed examples of how the company avoided having to make employees redundant during the recent recession, by reorganising its production, as well as creating innovations and new products.

The topic of FEM (Finite Element Method) software was also a key talking point at the show due to the local manufacturers using this particular method. Engineers Gilberto Alves (Metalúrgica Fey) and Alexsandro Moraes (AM. Metal Consulting, the Simufact sales agent), showed a successful study using simulation software to find a solution to a problem involving a flanged head Phillips screw produced by Fey. That screw had internal longitudinal discontinuity throughout the body and premature failure of the Phillips recess forming tool. As a result of the FEM software, the transformation sequence design was modified based on the improvements identified using the Simufact Forming software in the simulation. This resulted in a final geometry free of internal discontinuities and an approximately 15-fold increase in tool life.

In another FEM case, Dr Gerhard Arfmann, from the Germany company CPM GmbH – developer of eesy-2-form (2D), eesy-form (3D) and eesy-QT software – showed how the software was used to measure the temperature distribution in the mechanical forming tools.

Dr Roberto Garcia speaking at SENAFOR

Workfastener Fair Brazil to become trade show After two editions as a workshop, Workfastener Fair Brazil has now become a fastener trade show, taking place on 16th – 19th September 2020 at the São Paulo Expo.

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orkfastener Fair Brazil will take place simultaneously with EBRATS, and Fesqua, and will involve technical lectures on fastening systems and production. There has been no fastener trade show in Brazil since the last edition of Fastener Fair Brazil, which was held in 2014.

During the last recession the business of trade fairs in Brazil suffered, resulting in organisers seeking to unite and combine shows to reduce costs. EBRATS – the Brazilian surface treatment show – already attracts global surface treatment companies such as Atotech, Dörken, MacDermid and Zwez. Fesqua – the international trade show for the window and door industry – is an event that also attracts big players from the local fastener production, such as Inox-Par, Jomarca, New-Fix, Walsywa and others.

This means that there is even more reason for ‘parafuseiros’, a Brazilian nickname for players within the fastener sector, to participate.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

COVER STORY

Nord-Lock expands and future-proofs its production

Amongst the Swedish winter landscape – just a stone’s throw from an old red barn with yellow doors where the Nord-Lock story started – a new Nord-Lock high-tech facility is taking shape.

I

t was here over 35 years ago that Nord-Lock started manufacturing wedge-locking washers. Now the company is part of the Nord-Lock Group and is a world leader in wedge-locking washers. By expanding its current building from 5,300m 2 of production facility and offices to 8,700m 2, the company is making a giant leap forwards in its improvement and development work. With the expansion Nord-Lock will create new and more efficient production lines, introduce new machines with more automation, as well as offer better premises for optimised workflows.

“The expansion will also allow us to utilise the heat we produce to heat the building,” reports Daniel Eriksson, product manager at Nord-Lock. “There will be 100% heat recovery from production and all incoming energy is from renewable local sources, such as wind and hydropower.”

The icy water of the Indal River farther down the valley is also put to good use in Nord-Lock’s cooling system. Even in summer, the water temperature in the river never reaches more than 15°C. This is a scenic and clean location for a high-tech industrial company that also sets

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

high standards: The only things to leave Nord-Lock are clean water and carbon dioxide. Not to mention the millions of wedge-locking washers that secure bolted joints in the most exposed applications all over the world. Washers that secure applications in mines, bridges, trains, heavy machinery, wind turbines – from one thousand metres below the ocean surface and all the way up into space, these washers are making sure that at the very least it won’t be screws, bolts or wheel nuts coming loose.

This is a huge responsibility, but Daniel Eriksson calmly notes: “The quality of our products is first class, so I’m not worried that our products will malfunction – what really frightens me is the thought that not everyone is using our products.”

Nord-Lock has great faith in its products that “secure our customers’ investments, people’s lives, and the nuts and bolts of our society” worldwide. This year the Nord-Lock engineering team has perfected the coating process and promises 1,000 hours corrosion resistance on all steel wedge-locking washers. The results of the salt spray tests done every week show that the washers on average endure over twice as long in the salt spray chamber before any signs of corrosion occur.

Daniel Eriksson, product manager, Erika Olsson, production support manager, and Anders Manfred, division director

“The company is certainly different today, compared to when I started 12 years ago,” says Daniel Eriksson. “In 2007, there were 65 of us working here and now we’re 165. Globally, we’ve gone from a workforce of 100 to over 600. Now my workday starts with contacts in Asia, by lunchtime I’m talking to Europe and before I go home, I’m working with the US.” Nord-Lock is part of the Nord-Lock Group, which is owned by Investment AB Latour, an investment company with a turnover of SEK 10 billion (€947 million). A stable and long-term owner who makes sure the investments in Mattmar are both feasible and futureproof.

Anders Manfred, division director at Nord-Lock, comments: “We’re investing for the future, but our journey is about much more than that. This expansion will also enable us to get better at managing our internal flows and ensuring production continuity. It’s now about increasing the quality and precision in our production, as well as orders, sales and logistics.”

Daniel Eriksson notes: “We’re managing margins of thousandths in our production, so of course precision is crucial to the accuracy of the tolerances we have for both cleanliness and tools. The many

years of experience and special skills of our engineers are what set us apart from our competitors. More than anything else, we’re a knowledge company.”

Customer demand for controlled environments, documentation, environmental considerations, reports, and follow-ups, is growing exponentially. Certifications and standards are important, and an integral part of day-to-day life at Nord-Lock. Many customers, from all over the world, choose to come to Mattmar to discuss solutions with engineers, carry out tests in the development lab and see production on-site. Transparency, logistics, checks and tests instill confidence, and are totally crucial for many prospective Nord-Lock customers.

“The pleasant and open atmosphere here is also evident in our lunch room. All the employees eat here together – a perfect illustration of the kind of company we are,” reports Anders Manfred. “We have members of staff who’ve been working with wedge-locking solutions for 30 years, who can come forward to talk about their ideas. We’re constantly developing and have a strong and innovative business culture.”

Nord-Lock solves complicated problems together with the customer on-site, meaning when customers leave Mattmar

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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COVER STORY to head home, they take a solution with them. The designers and engineers in Mattmar possess knowledge that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, and many of the machines have been constructed from scratch by Nord-Lock.

“The people who work here are our most important asset,” says Anders Manfred proudly. “The expansion will also mean further improvements to the workspace of all employees. Clearly, we want everyone to feel they’re coming to a good workplace every day.”

“Concentrating all our specialist expertise on wedge-locking washers here in Mattmar means we get great depth to our competence,” says Daniel Eriksson. “Spreading production across several locations would have diluted that specialist competence. The concentration of expertise under one roof is the whole reason we’ve become what we are today – a world leader in wedge-locking washers.”

Erika Olsson, engineer and production support manager, points out that laser marking with numbers makes every washer traceable down to the steel quality. “Whilst a washer may seem an insignificant product at first glance, it is produced in an extremely high-tech way.

Control and accuracy are the hallmarks of the company and evident in everything it does.”

Erika Olsson continues: “Because of our flexible production, with a strong customer focus, we also need clear internal communication that allows us to accurately predict what a change involves and how it will affect the rest of our production.”

Everything Nord-Lock produces still needs to be of the very highest class and washers from the regular flow still need to be sent to distribution centres in Europe, the USA and Asia – even when a large special order has come in.

“Our logistics are world-class and we’ve been working for some time, for example, to switch deliveries from air freight to ships.

Reducing our emissions is one of many sustainability issues we’re tackling daily,” says Erika Olsson.

Erika Olsson and her team of engineers also need to shift focus on a daily basis between here-and-now assignments and visions for production over the next ten years. “We’re not just developing and improving for today, we need to think ahead and plan for potential needs beyond the horizon,” mentions Erika Olsson. “There’s a great

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deal of work on forecasts and analyses, and naturally we’re affected by global megatrends. We’ve got a fantastic team dedicated to getting the best out of all our new investments. It feels absolutely amazing to be taking this next step.”

Being customer oriented also means the customers’ demands govern production improvements and production development. Of course, it helps that the Nord-Lock Group operates globally, with different sales companies and distribution centres. Global customer contacts provide crucial input for future ventures.

“Needless to say, we want to solve specifications that we can’t solve today; requirements that no one else in the world can deliver,” says Daniel Eriksson.

“We’re creating our own future,” adds Anders Manfred. “The need for secure bolted joints exists worldwide and a lot of our work involves

Everything Nord-Lock produces still needs to be of the very highest class and washers from the regular flow still need to be sent to distribution centres in Europe, the USA and Asia – even when a large special order has come in.”

getting the word out about our products. Simply getting more companies to think about how to secure a bolted joint. We have an alternate – and most importantly safer – solution compared to the way many people seem to think a bolted joint should be secured.”

Guarantees are very important, of course, when it comes to key construction, such as bridges, industrial machines, wind and hydroelectric power plants, which are vital for resilient societies and infrastructure worldwide. Nord-Lock points out that it has carried out several thousand Junker tests and has acquired unparalleled experience in how to secure bolted joints and bolts. When an international customer was unable to find either a lab or an institute anywhere in the world capable of helping them carry out tests on really large dimensions, M39, they turned to Nord-Lock. The engineers accepted the challenge for the customer’s requirements and created the world’s largest Junker machine – Super Junker – capable of testing dimensions of up to M48.

“Our Super Junker is a testament to our experience and quality assurance in terms of engineering expertise,” says Anders Manfred. “It makes us unique in the world. We want to be at the forefront – and even one step ahead of that.”

“But nothing’s so good that it can’t be made even better,” Daniel Eriksson adds. “The level for standards is set according to what is achievable, so the requirements are getting higher and higher. If we can supply a washer that lasts twice as long, less servicing will be required, meaning longer maintenance intervals for our customers.”

With the expansion in Mattmar, Nord-Lock is opening up new possibilities for its improvement work. The extension will be completely finished by October 2020. It will be a building filled with hardware, as well as digital and human software. “Anyone can buy a new machine, but only those with specialist expertise can create the products of tomorrow,” concludes Anders Manfred. “And we’re making them here at Nord-Lock in Mattmar.” www.nord-lock.com

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE A review and preview of the global fastener market Named after the Roman god who is often depicted as having two faces – due to its ability to look to the future and to the past – the Janus Perspective is a unique feature that includes a wide cross section of global fastener business leaders, who have all contributed their retrospective of 2019 and thoughts on prospects and challenges for 2020.

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ontributors have been asked to consider not just economic and financial issues but also technology drivers for the fastener industry and to identify priorities for the upcoming years. We make no claim for how representative these assessments are but the final assembled anthology makes fascinating reading.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine would like to express its gratitude for the time and thought generously invested by so many senior figures. Nobody’s thoughts have been omitted. If ideas are not represented it is simply because they were not provided. Through necessity of space, some contributions have been edited, but we have been meticulous in retaining the core of each contributor’s perspective.

EIFI – European Industrial Fasteners Institute Anders Karlsson, president First of all, it is appropriate to state that the fasteners market is greatly affected by the European and world economy, therefore it is opportune to present a vision of the current economic situation.

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he worldwide economy growth prospects and international trading volumes continue to be negatively influenced by numerous uncertainty factors that are struggling to find solutions despite the expansionary monetary policies implemented, almost simultaneously, both in advanced countries and in emerging economies.

The trade war between the United States and China; the introduction of US tariffs on some European products linked to the Airbus case; the uncertainties on BREXIT times and procedures; as well as the geopolitical tensions in many areas of the world; weigh negatively on global economic trend.

In such an unfavourable context, the International Monetary Fund – in the Economic Outlook presented last October – has revised, for the fourth consecutive time, the growth estimates of the world economy which, for 2019, should be equal to +3%.

In 2019 the increase in GDP for emerging markets and developing economies will be just under 4% while the advanced countries will register a slight increase at 1.7%. The

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Chinese economy, for commercial, political and structural reasons, will close 2019 at 6.1% down from the previous 6.6%, but other economies are also slowing down: India (6.1% in 2019 compared to 6.8% in 2018), Brazil (0.9% down from the 1.1%) and above all in Russia (1.1% compared to 2.3% in 2018).

The United States will close 2019 at 2.4% in comparison with the 2.9% of 2018, due to a slowdown in demand for consumer goods, while the Eurozone GDP is weak and should close 2019 with an increase of 1.2%, down from 1.9% achieved in 2018. Germany, which is paying – like Italy (these two countries are the major fasteners producers in Europe) – for the crisis in the automotive industry, should close 2019 with a 0.5% increase and Italy 0.1%. France will register a 1.2% increase and Spain 2.2%.

I point out that automotive represents the most important sector for EU fastener producers. The highest percentages of EU fastener products (around 28% worldwide and around 22% at European level) is in fact supplied to the automotive sector.

The global production in the European Union countries, in the third quarter of 2019,

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decreased by 0.6% if compared to the second quarter in 2019 and by 1.3% in comparison with the analogous previous year period.

With specific reference to the metalworking sector, in the average of the 28 countries of the European Union, production activity fell by 2.9% compared to the third quarter of 2018, with a more marked decline for Germany (-4.7% ) and more contained for the United Kingdom (-2.4%), Italy (-1%) and France (-1%), while Spain recorded a positive change (0.2%).

Given the above situation, I believe at least that in the first few months of 2020 the situation will certainly not be rosy for our sector. EIFI – European Industrial Fasteners Institute – is constantly monitoring all the fastener markets worldwide and constantly informs its associates about the latest developments and trends of the market.

On an annual basis, we carry out comprehensive surveys with the support of external consultants to develop the major issues and challenges our members are confronted with. The global market requires today high-quality, service and safe products, and these high standards are always granted by our members.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

EFDA – European Fastener Distributors Association Dr Volker Lederer, president We are going through times of great uncertainty regarding the geopolitical shifts in power. World politics is increasingly determined by several major players. The world order is changing, and as it seems not necessarily in the spirit of our industry.

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hina’s political and economic power has grown greatly in importance over the past few years. The US is moving away from the WTO’s rule-based free trade system, which is so important to us traders.

Europe, too, is being put to the test. BREXIT, whatever form it may take, will change the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The internal market, at the heart of the EU, will become poorer losing one of its major economies. Free trade across the Channel will be restricted.

What we have taken for granted in post-war Europe – the achievements of the free movement of goods, people and capital – is no longer guaranteed. Nobody would have believed that only ten years ago.

We must prepare ourselves for such unprecedented changes to the existing order. They affect us fundamentally. Both the European Fasteners Distributors Association (EFDA) and the fastener distributor companies worked on that during 2019. We will also deal with this in 2020, no question about it.

The trade war between the USA and China affects the whole world. European fastener distributors notice that the Chinese are trying to sell a larger part of their production, which they no longer sell in the USA, on the European market. However, demand from European importers is more subdued than before due to the overall deteriorating economic situation.

We sincerely hope that the EU will stick to the rules on free and fair trade established by the WTO and not follow the protectionist and unreliable policy of the US administration.

Fortunately, I can say today that EFDA is prepared to defend free and fair trade against any protectionist measures. We use our good network and import and market data to be prepared for possible scenarios that could lead the European Commission to take protectionist measures. I am thinking, for example, of an anti-dumping case concerning imports of fasteners from China.

Our continuous information helps our member companies to be well prepared in any case.

Recently the Commission reopened the investigation regarding the circumvention of anti-dumping duties on iron and steel fasteners from China through Malaysia. The investigation is the result of a decision by the Court of the European Union saying the Commission had violated some formal provisions in its former investigation in the year 2011 by not taking careful attention of the submission of a Dutch fastener importer.

In its submission to the Commission EFDA made it very clear that it is committed to free and fair trade in the global fastener market, that if the Commission had carefully listened to EFDA and taken the interests of the fastener importers seriously in account, a lot of damage to the industry, but also to the Commission, could have been avoided, and that the Commission would be well advised to actively

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consult with the importing and distribution sectors as legitimate and significant stakeholders and contributors to the EU economy in future anti-dumping proceedings.

Another challenge for EFDA and its members is the increasing regulation of the supply chain as it creates a lot of bureaucracy for fastener distributors. EU legislation such as the regulation on chemicals (REACH) or the EU directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) have a strong impact on the day-to-day business of our companies in all EU member states. We need answers for the problems to be solved. Our companies need more and more experts to cope with these technical issues. To better assist our companies, EFDA started in 2019 to focus its work on these issues through its work in its technical committee and promote the exchange of knowledge.

With regard to our organisation, EFDA will try to further grow and gain more members to support our activities. EFDA was founded in the year 2000. With EFDA, European distributors actually began to fight for their interests at European level. Today, I am proud to say, EFDA is THE voice of European fastener distributors at European and international level. Next year EFDA will have its 20 th anniversary. We are planning to celebrate this event in the European Union’s capital Brussels. This is not only a good occasion for networking but also to promote free and fair trade in a politically uncertain world.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Bufab Group Jörgen Rosengren, CEO After most of our customers had enjoyed very strong growth in 2017 and 2018, 2019 began in the same style. However, once backlogs were filled up and manufacturing plans adjusted, Bufab, like many of our colleagues in the industry, began seeing a weaker demand from June 2019 onwards. This weakness was accompanied by increasing macroscopic uncertainty such as trade conflicts, and BREXIT.

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uch variations however are not new to Bufab. In fact, they are part of our everyday life. In the last 40+ years, we have learned that demand goes up and it goes down. But we also know that in the long run, only three things matter – to put the customer first; to deliver a little better than promised; and to make the team and the company stronger every year. That’s what we set out to do in 2019, and we think we succeeded.

Having delivered well despite tough bottlenecks upstream in 2017 and 2018, we felt that we had built even stronger relations with our customers. This translated into further new projects in 2018 and 2019. We are very grateful for this sign of confidence. As a result, we’ve been able to grow organically even in a weaker market. We are also quite proud of the official recognitions our customers bestow on us, such as technology giant Schneider Electric naming us the most responsive supplier, globally.

We are using this increased market share to invest in the future, under the umbrella of our Leadership 2020 Strategy. This means a massive expansion of our sourcing capabilities worldwide, aiming to build the World’s Best Supplier Base™. We are using our unified global IT platform as a basis for investment in digitalised processes, such as our One-Touch RFQ™ and EasyConnect™ tools. We keep refining our global management system, called the Bufab Best Practice. Most of all, we’re investing in our team – bringing new talented people on board, and developing our experienced experts, some of whom have been with us for decades.

An important strategy in Bufab is to be a safe haven for strong companies facing a generational change.

In 2017, Kian Soon in Singapore joined us, and in 2018 Rudhäll Group in Sweden also joined us. Last year, we made two additional important and strategic acquisitions. In July, we announced that HT BENDIX A/S in Denmark as a new sister company in Bufab, bringing with it decades of expertise in kitchen and furniture fittings. In November, we were proud to welcome American Bolt & Screw Mfg Corp into the family, strengthening our presence in the USA and in Mexico. Both companies were chosen by us (and chose us) because we have the same basic values. Also, both companies see that with Bufab, they will be allowed to continue with ‘business as usual’, while at the same time getting help to grow even faster than before.

Looking ahead at 2020, the uncertainty is not smaller than before. It appears that most industry watchers are expecting lower underlying demand, especially in the automotive industry. Bufab’s focus, however, is on the same things as last year. We are going to put the customer first. We will deliver a little better than expected of us, and thereby strengthen our customer and supplier partnerships. We will also continue to invest in our team and our tools to make our company even stronger for the future. This is the same strategy that has fuelled our decades of growth.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Würth Industrie Service Rainer Bürkert, general manager For the majority of our manufacturing industrial customers, the business year 2019 was characterised by uncertainties in the global economy and an unclear situation with regard to trade and tariff conflicts, but also in the automotive and supplier industries.

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espite difficult market conditions and the resulting investment backlog in various industrial customer segments, Würth Industrie Service Germany recorded a positive growth rate of 3.5% in 2019. This positive development is also evident in the industrial companies in Central Europe with a sales growth of 3% to 5% compared to the previous year.

One reason for this, and an essential element of the corporate strategy of Würth Industrie Service, is the direct supply of all customers in Europe through a central logistics concept – a clear commitment to Europe. Through this strategy, customers can achieve the greatest possible supplier consolidation and reduce the flow of goods by bundling C-parts from one single source, as well as avoiding freight intensive small consignments.

In total, customers at more than 20,000 locations, in more than 25 countries, receive their production materials and operational equipment directly to the point of use with maximum supply security.

This makes it possible to implement a Europe-wide unique quality level of services, sustainable investments in process technology, as well as long-term logistics concepts and the qualification of specialists.

From 2018 to 2020, a total of €160 million will be invested in the Würth Industrial Park, buildings such as high rack warehouses, OSR shuttle warehouses, and technologies such as open shuttles as autonomous transport systems, as well as picking and palletising robots. An increase in storage capacity to more than 1,000,000 storage locations is expected by the end of 2020. In addition to logistics, other functions such as purchasing are managed centrally and a comprehensive, uniform IT landscape, as well as uniform C-parts systems, and a uniform service level for customers, have been created.

In 2020, the focus will also continue to be on personal customer support through investments in market development and thus strengthening sales in all markets. The signals from our customers in form of projects and the order situation is positive, production levels are stabilising and the forecast for 2020 is therefore cautious but nevertheless optimistic.

The pure supply of fastener and fixing technology and DIN and standard parts is no longer sufficient in economically uncertain times.

Industrial customers need much more. C-parts management is successful when procurement processes and intralogistics on the customer side are not only managed and optimised reliably, but also networked. To this end, the aim is to simplify processes and exploit synergies in order to offer a fast, smooth flow of information and a uniformly high-quality standard for products and networked system solutions at European level. This frees up capacities for core processes and reduces process costs and complexity in the customer’s factory, resulting in higher productivity.

This means concrete approaches to bundling suppliers for direct and indirect materials, reducing the variety of parts; providing design support for special and drawing parts; simplifying processes through fully automated procurement and logistics systems; and providing a holistic supply of a concept and a partner for production materials and auxiliary and operating materials. For this reason, the strategic and customer-oriented further development of the system landscape continued to be at the forefront in 2019.

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The stocking and reordering of Würth products for the producing customer should be even more system-based, digital and fully automated. An important focus here remains maximum security in the supply of parts directly at the point of consumption, in intralogistics and at the workplace. In future, processes will be so simple and streamlined through solutions such as vending machines, weighing systems, RFID Kanban or the complete integration of a large number of suppliers for other product groups, as well as A/B parts, that customers or production employees no longer have to order themselves. Rather, the intelligent systems independently know the exact material needs and report these fully automatically to the partner for C-parts management. In future, the entire supply chain will be largely self-controlled.

In 2019, we also noticed an increasing trend towards individualisation. This can be seen in particular in inquiries for initial samples, prototypes, certified series parts, spare parts and tools from batch size 1. No matter whether large or small. No matter if a single part, small series or real series production. No matter whether construction drawing or full 3D model. Würth Industrie Service has positioned itself for the future and offers a wide range of different technologies, as well as additive manufacturing processes, and thus an efficient network of partners.

With additive manufacturing, customers can not only reduce lead times, development cycles and total costs for complex components, but also improve their performance, weight, and functionality, and rethink the geometries of developments and components. In meeting all technical requirements, the highest quality standards and a continuous, efficient process are the keys to success. To ensure the quality of the components, Würth Industrie Service has a fully equipped test laboratory with accreditation for currently 50 test procedures according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. This remains an elementary component.

The future will also bring numerous innovations through automation and autonomy.

For us, the expansion of technical possibilities and the optimal use of data streams are at the top of our future strategy when it comes to the optimal supply of C-parts. Collaboration is a central element here. Development is moving away from the pure supplier customer constellation to collaboration and cooperation among each other, resulting in a holistic partner that is integrated into the process landscape. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is still in its infancy. This makes it all the more important for industrial companies to play an active role in shaping this development now in order to be prepared for the innovation push. It remains exciting.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Rawlplug Radosław Koelner, CEO It is obvious for everyone that 2019 has been a great challenge for the entire industry. I am certain that both Rawlplug and the other key manufacturers in the fixings and fasteners sector, were excellently prepared for the constraints and risks predicted in the previous year – related to the unstable political and economic situation in the individual markets.

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owever, although we were aware of the consequences of phenomena that were dangerous to us, such as the unclear steel price policy, the disrupted seasonality of sales, the unpredictable BREXIT process, the deepening conflicts in the Gulf, and the spectre of the trade war between the USA and China, we all had serious doubts as to how stable the achievement of sales forecasts would be in 2019.

Therefore, we are definitely satisfied to sum it up now, thanking ourselves for the steadfastness and consistency of Rawlplug’s strategy – focusing on internal performance, maintaining the pace of innovation, and sales expansion.

We entered 2019 equipped with solutions and tools that allowed us not only to overcome the obstacles appearing on the way to achieving our goals, but above all to further improve brand awareness and our image as an expert, as well as to increase even more the competitiveness of our offering in the individual markets, and consequently to grow our business among both existing and new customers in Rawlplug’s portfolio.

All this was based, among other things, on a restructured trade offering, focusing on the one hand on reducing the share of imported products and the so-called ‘price driven products’, and on the other hand in investing in the development of existing products, as well as in launching new, high-quality and technologically advanced ones.

We also supplemented our portfolio of professional products with constantly developed specialised technical services and with the innovative Rawlplug Academy® educational programme. This helped us respond to the actual needs of the market, which was expecting a comprehensive offer from a reliable, tried and tested partner.

We combined this with the effects of our huge investments in marketing activities – ranging from distinctive advertising campaigns in traditional and online media, to the RawlTruck mobile training centre, revolutionary in its form, and the Rawlplug Academy Training Centre in Reading.

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We also participated at business events important for the sector, such as the French Batimat, Construction Week in the UK and the Big 5 in Dubai. We have been able to capitalise on the optimum efficiency and on the maximum utilisation of the whole Group’s potential, which we have achieved.

This is all the more important for Rawlplug since this year has been very special due to the celebrations of our brand’s 100 th anniversary, which ended with the Grand Gala for all our employees in the National Music Forum in Wrocław, Poland, a building of great architectural and cultural significance, in which our fixings were also used. It was a moving experience, full of amazing emotions that complemented our achievements of the last 12 months in a beautiful manner.

We will certainly need the motivation and mobilisation resulting from the activities undertaken in 2019 to be able to approach the challenges of 2020 in a methodical and prudent way, but also with panache. What has been mentioned at the start continues to be important for the condition of the whole industry, but on top of that, there are the increasing labour costs and, especially in Europe, there is the growing need to improve service quality even further and to offer innovative solutions with regard to products and services, as well as to look after sustainable development of the business, inextricably linked with environmental protection and social commitment.

This is why our priority will consist primarily in increasing sales intensively on selected markets, instead of pursuing the extensive growth that could be seen in our strategy in the previous years.

Although cost optimisation seems to be a prerequisite for this, we intend to continue to invest in the automation of manufacturing and logistics processes in our plants and distribution centres around the world; in technical and technological solutions to support sales and manage relationships with our customers; as well as in further product and technical consultancy innovation.

In the coming year, we intend to hand over to our customers about a dozen new products in several categories of key importance for the industry, as well as to make available solutions that the market desires within the EasyFix and BIM Rawlplug applications, and invite customers to join a partnership programme that is unique on the market.

Our flagship project in 2020 will involve implementing the Rawlplug Academy® programme among our customers. Its four pillars: The e-learning platform, the mobile and ‘brick and mortar’ educational and training centres, the theoretical and practical training, and the extensive knowledge base. This will provide a solid foundation for further development of the entire sector, as well as an integral element of the process of consolidating Rawlplug’s position as an expert in the field of fixings, fasteners and tools. We are certain that education, and thus industry awareness, is essential for developing our business in a sustainable manner and for influencing the environment in which we operate and which it is our duty and responsibility to support.

In 2020, I wish all our employees, customers, stakeholders and competitors optimism and enthusiasm for the upcoming challenges, perseverance in the pursuit of their goals, as well as respectful and cordial business relationships.

...our priority will consist primarily in increasing sales...”

Fabory Group Ronald Baarslag, general manager 2019 has been a great year for Fabory in which we have taken several important steps to further strengthen our market position and secure our growth for the upcoming years.

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e have invested and extended our warehouse facilities in Tilburg (the Netherlands), Brno (Czech Republic), and Shanghai (China), to be able to store our full range of more than 120,000 fasteners.

Our China warehouse allows us to ship directly to customers from Asia.

We’ve also further grown our digital capabilities to attract new customers and ensure an effortless experience to our existing customers.

We’ve also done extensive work to improve our offering of fastener related products like power, hand and machine tools, abrasives, safety and chemicals.

During the year we’ve increasingly experienced the impact of the slow down in automotive, BREXIT, and the trade war that is going on between the USA and China. We expect car manufacturing to struggle throughout 2020, but BREXIT seems to have come to a solution and we have good hopes for some sort of deal between China and the US. If 2 out of these 3 uncertainties come to conclusion, we expect a better economic climate and a positive outlook for 2020. If the uncertainty nonetheless continues, we may see a year of economic slowdown.

So, in conclusion, we see different scenario’s on the revenue side, but this is part of being in this industry. In all scenarios, we will be working on expanding our capabilities and improving our service to customers in order to expand our market share.

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

National Machinery LLC Andrew H. Kalnow, owner & CEO Last year National Machinery crossed another milestone, celebrating its 145-year anniversary.

We take pride that our company is not only the oldest machinery maker in the cold forming industry, but also a strong continuing leader in both high performance equipment and process technology. With the resources and activity of our process technology division, called Met-MAX Innovations™, National is dedicated to and highly accomplished in the field of net shape cold forming.

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ational began holding tooling seminars over 50 years ago to help teach customers both the basics and advanced techniques of cold forming manufacturing technology. Today we continue this technical industry leadership by holding these seminars in various languages around the world to approximately 200 participants each year. Then, fifteen years ago, we built upon this technical prowess by forming a bold and dedicated in-house division, called Met-MAX Innovations™.

Met-MAX stands for ‘Pushing Metal to the Maximum’. The Met-MAX Innovations division at National Machinery is strategically positioned to develop innovative net shape metal forming processes. It provides solutions to metal forming processes by utilising expert staff and a state of the art facility with advanced and even one of a kind development equipment.

We are able to provide customers with net shape metal process development that yields new and higher value part applications and a competitive advantage.

Our Met-MAX engineering team consists of over a dozen design and development engineers. This includes design engineers in both Europe and Asia, as well as at our company headquarters in Tiffin, Ohio, in the United States. Over time our people have produced more than 800 patents, with additional patents currently pending. The combination of hands on technical expertise, and a unique set of R&D equipment in our working laboratory, create an unequaled capability for significant solutions in parts forming. Our focus is to develop new process technology for new or existing part shapes.

The ‘tools’ available to us for this creative process include DEFORM simulation software, measurement instruments, and numerous part progressions examples – from decades of work in the field. Importantly, and uniquely in the industry, this also includes special and dedicated

cold forming equipment that is used for both development and temporary production purposes. Met-MAX’s capabilities include a full in-house tool manufacturing department with over 15 tool makers – who can quickly make detailed tooling components to support development on any of our multiple production machines.

PPAP (pre-production approval parts) runs can be made to prove the part dimensions and manufacturing process. These sample part runs are proof of the improved metal forming process development. Production can also be extended to validate tool life and even make longer batch runs as required. Furthermore, Met-MAX can satisfy confidentiality requirements by offering temporary proprietary production.

At National, the future is now. Our Met-MAX technology division excels in helping customers develop new net shape applications in cold forming.

We have a worldwide team of over 30 highly skilled technicians to assist customers, and also a working laboratory of special R&D machines.”

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A note regarding Industry 4.0

National Machinery and its wholly owned subsidiary, SMART Machinery Srl, are active with ‘best in class’ cold forming manufacturers that are interested in leveraging technology advances driven by Industry 4.0. These initiatives with Industry 4.0 link data exchange with manufacturing equipment and processes. This linkage includes two way communication between operating systems and plant equipment that facilitates a range of value added functions; such as, proactive maintenance, advanced tooling systems, and self-adjusting machine features that optimise the manufacturing process.

An example of this technology is the ‘Die Match Adjusting’ system available on SMART Machinery’s full suite of thread rolling equipment. When coupled with industry leading process monitoring equipment, the thread roller has the capability to self-adjust itself without operator intervention to maintain perfect thread form. This closed loop technology enables the machine to automatically tune itself – reducing the dependency of a skilled machine operator to make manual adjustments.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

WASI GmbH Daniel Gellert, managing director 2019 was a challenging year in many ways, but also a year full of opportunities and ideas. I became managing director in May 2018 and thanks to my time as an apprentice I have gained background knowledge and experience of the company, my colleagues, as well as our customers and suppliers. This will help to ensure WASI remains a modern big player in the market that stands out from the rest of the conservative stainless steel trade in a special way.

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ne of the challenges in 2019 has been the difficult situation in the nickel market, which is an important raw material in our stainless steel products. We were forced to experience the full range of highs and lows that one can imagine as a stainless steel trader. The decline in the price of nickel, which began in September 2018, lasted until May 2019. As a result, the capacity utilisation of suppliers in the Far East was very low and led to a chain of consequences.

Dealers were slow to place orders and manufacturers’ delivery times were shortened. Capacities at the larger dealers were underutilised. The Indonesian export ban on nickel and the Tesla effect certainly played their part in the tense situation. The trade conflict between the USA and China also had a negative impact on nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange. Like other commodities, the price of nickel was extremely sensitive to the statements of various politicians and to general and political developments.

The nickel market is very competitive due to a large number of resellers in Europe. With the USA as the monopoly, there is an enormous contrast. As a result of current purchasing behaviour, and full stocks among market participants, business with stainless steel fasteners has become more capital-intensive.

For 2020 and the years to come, I expect this situation to intensify even further and that there will be a concentration in the number of dealers. Smaller traders will no longer be able to survive on the market in the future.

A few importers will ultimately win this battle. WASI is definitely one of them. I am convinced that we are more than well positioned in the market due to our financial strength, our company size and with almost 60 years of accumulated know-how. We will continue to expand our market size and significance as a distributor for fasteners in the future.

We will achieve this through various steps, including, among other things, fully meeting the requirements and wishes of our customers. I am sure that success will depend on good relationship management with our customers, which the WASI team maintains every day. In addition, there are our stable processes, which can meet all market requirements. With our on-time delivery and our highly modern logistics centre, we are perfectly positioned for this.

We have adapted our product range to customer specifications and are more than proud that innovations from our company, such as the 3D height adjustment element, have been patented.

We will also continue to expand our range in other areas, such as maritime. In the future, we will not only focus on classic fasteners, but will also enter new market fields or technologies together with our customers. We will continue to inspire and retain our current as well as new customers. Together with our committed WASI team, we will achieve this.

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≥ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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WASI GmbH is an internationally operating company with headquarters in Wuppertal and sales offices in Belgium, Denmark and Spain. Already for over 55 years as a wholesaler on the market, we have the widest range of stainless steel fasteners available.

With our clever IT and logistics services, we have transformed ourselves in recent years from a pure distributor of stainless steel connections to a solution provider. In addition to procurement security, we also offer you procurement simplification. These include ordering systems such as WASI SC@N, EDI, the WASI ordering system, the WASI Webshop and the WASI App. www.wasi.de/en

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Fastbolt Group Ekkehard Beermann, managing director As an import and wholesale specialist selling exclusively to distributors all over Europe, we already noticed in Fall 2018 that the market was about to change compared to previous years.

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hile 2017 and 2018 were dominated by globally strong demand; price increases mainly due to the price rally of raw material; as well as long production lead times; the period of ‘high pressure buying’ started to come to an end towards the last quarter of 2018.

The stock level in European warehouses had then recovered after two years of extremely long replenishment delivery times, of up to nine months, and subsequently rose to a very high-level at the beginning of 2019. When the market realised the significance of this high stock level, European purchase order volumes to the Far East dropped significantly, which resulted in open production capacities in Asia and falling prices for both Chinese wire rod and finished goods.

Apart from fastener specific reasons, it is important to also mention the direct impact the trade war between the United States and PR China had on our industry, with US purchasing volumes being shifted from China to other Asian countries and the Chinese steel market overall reducing their price level due to low market demand.

High fastener stock levels in Europe and decreasing buying prices in Asia led almost instantly to the first price reductions in the European market, which intensified over the course of the year.

Meanwhile the ongoing controversial issue of BREXIT has created a massive amount of uncertainty in the market and created almost a deadlock situation, especially in the UK with many customers reporting that various new projects had been put on hold until plannability had returned in one way or another.

2019 has been another year that proves how fast situations can change from one direction to another in today’s globalised and digitised world and how instant market mechanisms react on any change of policy and setting. It sharpened our senses and certainly improved our ability to handle transition periods.

At Fastbolt we were able to successfully navigate through these complex market conditions and managed to develop our business in many areas. While our stock range – which we keep in our three warehouses in Germany, the UK and Portugal – for distributors all over Europe – went through various steps of extensions, our in-house team of digital application engineers helped us to follow our path of digitisation and process optimisation.

We added many new and value adding functionalities within our well-known e-commerce platform FBonline, which further increases the advantages and possibilities our customers have when using our online system.

Supplying the European distribution market with a specialised range of mostly standard fasteners requires a high-level of quality consistence, process efficiency and logistical excellence. While customer requirements are growing, I am convinced that we can only ensure this in the future through the application of modern technology in all areas of our business.

Therefore, our strategy for the upcoming year has a strong focus on developing and applying technology that helps us to create sustainable and recognisable advantages to our customers.

As our first development milestone of the new year, we will launch FBonline2020 in the first quarter – offering completely new technological and commercial opportunities to fastener distributors in Europe. In addition, we have already taken the next decisions on product range extensions, which are planned to be made public and to become available in our warehouses towards the second quarter of 2020.

The markets overall have been in better condition and it might take time until a more positive trend throughout many fastener applying industries becomes visible again, but at Fastbolt we still prefer to act and progress than to sit and wait for better times. We look forward to 2020!

2019 has been another year that proves how fast situations can change...”

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E H T S I Y T I L A U Q R U O L L A F O S I S BA ACTIVITIES

Environmental consciousness Compliance with legal and official requirements within an economic framework and the promotion of environmentally conscious action is an obligation for us.

Punctuality Our primary goal is to offer our customers flawless products and services and to guarantee 100% adherence to deliver dates.

Certification

Quality

We are proud of the fact that almost all our products in the timber, façade and concrete segments are ETA-certified.

We expect an unrestricted commitment to quality from every one of our employees.

The training and further development of a customer- and quality-oriented mindset and acting have always been a priority.

E.u.r.o.Tec GmbH • Unter dem Hofe 5 • D-58099 Hagen Tel. 0049 (0) 2331 62 45-0 • Fax 0049 (0) 2331 62 45-200 • email: info@eurotec.team

www.eurotec.team/en

JANUS PERSPECTIVE

MacDermid Alpha Automotive Alan Gardner, global marketing manager At the end of 2018, global automotive production was forecast at 94.5 million units for the full year of 2019. By Q4 2019, that full year forecast had dropped by some 5% to 89.7 million, not far off 2015 vehicle output. Whereas all regions have seen decline, the largest drop in production was in Asia, with China and India being the most effected.

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oth macro and micro factors have influenced this decline in the last 12 months. At the geopolitical level, trade tensions and global uncertainty have reduced global GDP growth forecast to 2.6% in the last year (against a proceeding five year average of 3%). This along with the WTLP (Europe) and Level VI emissions standards (China) has affected consumer confidence and purchasing of new vehicles.

What has this meant for coaters of fasteners? Well, a decline in direct volume from the reduced automotive production and an indirect reduction as automotive is the second largest consumer of business products (i.e. new machinery). Moving forward, 2020 looks again to be a very tough year. Global GDP growth is forecast at 2.7% and manufacturing output at 2%. This drives the automotive industry to predict just a 1.6% production increase next year to some 91.5 million units (still below 2016 full year numbers).

Whereas the fastener coating industry can do little to change those factors, one area that it can make changes is to take advantage of the steady move from ICE (internal combustion engines) to NEV (new [or full] electric vehicles). For example, according to Prismark: “More than 10% of global vehicle shipments will be electric before 2025, with a strong shift to purely battery electric vehicles (BEVs).” Fastening for these vehicles has unique opportunities, which applicators can adopt to supply a new range of finishes to meet forecast demand.

Applications such as battery electronics, body parts, and electric motors, are exposed to the vehicle’s external environment. In the case of electrical components, they are carrying more current than in a typical ICE based vehicle. For the fastener to remain conductive, the coating must provide exceptional corrosion resistance, inhibit the formation of ‘insulating’ white rust deposits and be resilient to thermal shock. Additionally, factors such as the potential for galvanic corrosion to occur (if dissimilar metals like hardened steel fasteners are used to join aluminium sheet) and the continued need for consistent coefficient of friction are also considerations.

New electric vehicles need new coatings

Specifying the optimum coatings

In today’s ICE powered vehicles, steel fasteners are extensively used in powertrain applications. But in an NEV, will these fasteners still be required? According to major tier 1 fastener manufacturers including TR Fastenings Ltd and STANLEY Engineered Fastening ‘yes’; with vehicle lightweighting and the need for improved electrical grounding being critical factors for fasteners in NEVs. Chris Klok, director for MacDermid Alpha Automotive Electric Vehicle applications, describes battery pack electronics

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(and housing), body parts (including suspension and braking), electric motors, and power electronics, as being key components that require advanced fastener coatings. Crucial factors for all these applications are higher current carrying capacity and reliable electrical grounding. As new electric vehicles contain more electrical components, there is also more insulation needed between components and the chassis. Additionally, bodies are made of a combination of conductive, poorly conductive, and nonconductive materials. These changes make removing excess heat (from electrical components) and grounding both more challenging and, in many cases, far more important.

Why is removing excess heat and grounding more important in a NEV?

In summary, economic and vehicle emission technology are having a both indirect and direct effect on fastener coatings.

Indirectly in reducing demand due to lower vehicle production output and directly due to the need for advanced coatings compared to finishes typically available today. The three critical factors that fastener manufacturers will consider for coatings are consistency in conductivity, resistance to galvanic corrosion and coefficient of friction.

INDEX Fixing Systems Óscar Cañas, export manager In a context where economic trends have been marked by the global trade wars and the still unresolved terms of BREXIT, ‘caution’ has been the word that best describes markets and investments all along 2019.

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s a result, at INDEX Fixing Systems, as well as in the industry in general, we were confronted with the need to explore new markets and sales channels, but also to rely on products with an added value; and, above all, to focus on meeting customer needs with innovation, more complex products and an overall service.

It is no secret that shifting markets pose challenges to all industries, which have to satisfy customer demands that are increasingly complex and more global every day. As a result, fixing producers and distributors need to invest in skills and creativity, which allow them to rapidly meet customers’ ever-changing demands.

Industry seeks today, more than ever, partners who can supply excellent products that come along with a warranted global service.

This need can only be met with high-quality standards, a wide range of products, and an excellent service in all senses. That is why, as producers and in our search for excellence, at INDEX Fixing Systems we have long been betting on quality products, as certified by worldwide prestigious institutions that guarantee the very highest-quality standards.

New players in the market, and new sales channels opened by technology and digital innovations, are a constant in today’s economy. This means

that, in order to keep up and to stand out in the manufacturing context, a very strict production management is needed. These high requirements need to be combined, at the same time, with enough flexibility so as to be able to quickly adapt to emerging needs that are posed by clients, channels and markets.

As a result, the fixing industry will have to work with a greater amount of creativity and will have to do so hand in hand with clients.

At INDEX Fixing Systems we are convinced that customised products and services will be key in the near future, and they can only be developed if fixing systems suppliers are able to build a close and clear customer relationship. To do this you not only need highly developed tools and technology, but also a team that is highly prepared and committed to meeting customer needs. In a changing context, clients must be placed at the centre of all production processes. It is the only possible way to keep up to date with industry demands.

I am confident about the market’s performance in 2020. As a European company, BREXIT and trade tensions with the US will very likely continue to be big themes in the global economy, and their impact on industries is very hard to foresee. However, at INDEX Fixing Systems we are sure that flexibility, investments and hard work will, as ever, be a good asset to deal with whatever uncertainty the future will bring.

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Brighton–Best International Inc Jun Xu, president When asked to contribute to this article, I first had my reservations. Over the past several entries, I’ve basically only talked about diversification, and I did not want to sound like a broken record. But the opportunity came, and so this will be a continuation of that broken record. However, my conviction for why diversification is so important has never been stronger. Here, I hope to explain that conviction.

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rom a traditional role as a fastener wholesaler, I believe today Brighton Best International (BBI) has a good handle on what drives our business and what risks to manage or stay clear from.

From 2008 to 2019, our sales and tonnage has increased more than 10 times in the USA and more than 8 times globally.

As we grow, we continue to drive efficiencies, by becoming even more lean and efficient. I’ve often told our team that the only way to guarantee survival as a wholesaler is to be the lowest cost operating wholesaler in the industry. To that end, I believe we have achieved it and continued to gain on this goal each year. 2019 continued our growth from 2018, which itself was a record year from 2017. But what about 2020 and beyond? What are the drivers and risks we see in the next several years?

Tariffs and government intervention

There are many layers to this very broad and complicated topic. Tariffs are part of international trade. They have always been.

However, tariffs have never been used as a weapon as much as they are today. The issue is not just the tariffs, but the speed in which they change. Businesses can adapt to almost any scenario, but when tariffs change suddenly, it can have a devastating effect on confidence. This reduced confidence almost always leads to a lack of investments. Business and politics must co-exist. One cannot survive without the other being stable. But politics changes much faster than business, and I would caution any businesses from making long-term investment bets on short-term politics. Although it may seem advantageous today, it is easy to get caught on the other side.

changes in technology may be much faster than anyone imagined.

If we look at one of the fastest consolidating industries today, it would be the media industry. In the past, content producers could be stand-alone and profitable, distributing their content to separate and independent distribution channels.

Today, because of digitisation and the internet, all of this is consolidating. The future media company is one that produces their own content and owns the technology platform to distribute that content. That’s why we see a mash up of companies that seemingly are in unrelated fields, because content is being commoditsed.

In the fastener industry, we typically only focus on content.

Meaning products we sell, whether it is fasteners or fittings or gloves. But the future distributor/wholesaler of tomorrow must also focus on technology as its second leg. Technology to improve integration and efficiencies across channels and companies. I do not believe we can live in our catalogue books forever.

We may not be able to see the future, but diversification buys us time to understand it.”

Technology

For the most part, the world of fasteners has been isolated from technology. This may continue, but my concern is that the future

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Electric cars – how will this change our industries?

Electric cars uses 1 /3 of the components of a gas powered car. There is no transmission, no engine block, no axle or exhaust system. There is nothing but a battery and a motor. How will this change our industry when there are 66% less components being used but 3 times more of the 33% of the components being used? From my experience, when there is a higher volume but lower SKU count, it means margin shrinkage and consolidation.

So this again brings my focus to diversification. Today, BBI is not just a fastener wholesaler. We are a safety glove company with Ironclad Performance Wear. We are a hand tool company through Proferred Tools. We continue to invest into product categories that makes sense and that fits our growth model. We may not be able to see the future, but diversification buys us time to understand it.

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Trutek Fasteners Polska Al. Krakowski 38, Janki, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland. trutek.com.pl

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Nord-Lock Group Fredrik Meuller, CEO 2019 has been yet another positive and successful year for Nord-Lock Group, not only in terms of profitability and growth but also by introducing new products and innovations to the market. Of course, we are not immune to economic cycles, but we are well positioned to turn a downturn challenge into an opportunity.

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ith a very broad exposure towards many different industries, as well as many different geographies, we don’t stand and fall with one particular segment or one particular customer. That minimises our risk exposure quite a lot. Just like others, we can also see some early signs of a slowdown in the economy but we typically do not find ourselves as affected as many other companies – particularly those who have heavy automotive exposure, and we’re thankful for that.

During 2019 we had the possibility to further invest in our business, largely due to our owners Investment AB Latour taking a very long-term view of the fastener and fixing industry, and on the Nord-Lock Group itself as an investment. They have been with us for many years and they continue to reinvest a relatively sizeable portion of the profit back into the company.

We are of course growing very rapidly and we’re no longer a small company, turning over €150 million in 2019. This makes structure and processes even more crucial in order to be ready for the next phase, which is the aim to become a €200 million company within the next three years (organic growth). I’m convinced we haven’t even scratched the surface yet of the opportunities we have in front of us for organic growth. Of course, Nord-Lock Group was the first in this industry and continues to be the market leader, constantly raising the bar above our competition. A lot of the growth is around creating awareness about our solutions, our unique expertise and the values we bring to our customers and their investments.

As 2020 progresses, I think we will see more industry consolidation.

In addition to a softening of the curve, uncertainty is quite substantial due to many things such as trade wars, increased protectionism, BREXIT, etc. This is affecting everyone and is causing visibility to be quite low. I do not personally expect the downturn to be too long or deep – there are no signs of any crisis such as the 2008/09 scenarios.

For us, it’s actually a good point in time to consolidate the investments we’ve made during 2018/19 such as in people and infrastructure – everything from systems to processes. We are currently upgrading and expanding three of our sites, including our main site for wedge-locking washers in the northern part of Sweden, to futureproof the production for years to come. It’s a fantastic opportunity to create a better, safer and more sustainable work environment for our employees, but also to provide much more value added to our customers in the form of even better features of our washers. We’re also expanding our factory for Expander System®, and last but not least we’re building a brand new factory for our Superbolt™ tensioners in Pittsburgh in the USA. In 2019 we also launched an exciting concept within tensioning called Superbolt Load-Sensing Tensioner (LST). This gives our

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customers the opportunity to monitor their preload in real time, from a remote location through sensors. Data can also be collected wirelessly. It creates tremendous value for someone for example running an offshore wind park to be able to schedule maintenance and log in to see issues. You can save a lot of time and ensure safety, and that’s what we’re all about. We have a lot of interest in that concept now. It fits very well with the Superbolt Tool that we launched early 2019/late 2018 which is also a patented technology, where you can tighten bolts simultaneously with the same torque.

Looking ahead, we’ve been focusing on three strategic priorities since I joined and in a way we’re now ticking the first box. Firstly, there’s efficiency – to allow ourselves to grow by creating a better structure that’s more efficient and more effective and linked to that, to keep investing in systems, processes and R&D. The second pillar is growth – primarily organic growth because we have so many opportunities out there to pursue, but in a clever way. Yes we’re looking at mergers and acquisitions but on a highly selective basis that will complement the existing offering we already have. Last but not least, the third pillar is innovation, which again is going to be the long-term key success factor to be able to serve more customers and more markets with bolting innovations.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

SACMA Group Enrico Brigatti, chief commercial officer

SACMA was proud to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2019 in a special location – the famous Monza racing track, one of the oldest active tracks in the world, where the myth of speed and motors is ever alive.

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he topic of ‘speed’ is becoming more and more part of not only our daily and working life, but also the global market. With easy communication everything becomes more frantic and faster, as everybody expects quicker reactions and answers.

The ownership of SACMA Group has shown to be very sensitive to that situation and has not hesitated in investing a lot to keep up with the times. In the last five years alone, the Group has invested on average €6 million per year, corresponding to about 10% of total turnover, in new plants, buildings and new activities.

We are determined to intensify the production in Italy and to utilise only prime European components. To do that, and to remain competitive, we need cutting edge technology. At the same time, we are aware that for 2020 it is not enough to produce the best machines.

We must create for all our customers the conditions to utilise them successfully for the long-term.

For instance, we are looking to boost the service and training activities in our branches abroad by hiring fresh employees. This includes the Wuxi branch in China, Cleveland in the USA, and São Paulo in Brazil. There are also agencies in Poland and India that are able to give their own service. We know that it is very important to assure the best productivity of customers’ machines, but we want to do more.

For 2020, we want to build with our customers a lasting collaboration, with a continuous technical support. Besides the usual consulting of parts feasibility, we have established inside the technical office a real service for the development and design of tools for special parts. ‘S-Tooling’ will be presented officially at the wire® show in Düsseldorf, Germany, and involves highly specialised human resources, the latest simulation software, and a dedicated 3D printer, to issue the preview of a deformation sequence. We want to implement together with our customers a lot of special projects, giving us the chance to show the potential of our machines and giving customers an important competitive advantage.

Another aspect we wish to highlight is the innovation included within our products for 2020. Before opening this topic, an important premise is needed. SACMA never enters the market with prototype machines. Each SACMA header, and this applies also to Ingramatic thread rollers, is totally engineered and therefore perfectly repeatable, because they are developed and designed for serial production. In this way, even before the new model joins the first customer, other similar machines are in production and the related spare parts are already in stock. That’s our only philosophy of production.

Our target is to make a concrete and effective innovation.

To do this we follow a long and complicated internal procedure of development, design, pre-series and testing, without which it’s not possible to start the production. Examples of our innovative capabilities over the last few years include the WF machines and the motorised wire feeder ‘S-feed’, which have had a positive feedback

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from the market. We also have other innovative projects that will be presented to the market soon.

Many of these projects are inspired by the concept of user-friendly machines that are destined for the new generation of operators – enabling them to manage a lot of operations directly from the control panel. Other new models of machines that will be introduced in 2020 include the KSP12 – a one die two blow combined header – which is the evolution of the previous KSP11R; as well as the long awaited SP170 – completing the products line of 6 dies machines.

2020 will also be a special year for SACMA Group, which is already very successful with the Ingramatic brand supplying around the world the most reliable and competitive cold and warm thread rolling machines. However, this is not enough to cover and serve our customers. That is why we are growing with new activities, such as Tecno Lift, in a brand new factory near Ingramatic, where ancillary systems are produced for transport and loading of our machines and also for competitors’ machines.

During the wire show, at our stand, customers will also find a pleasant surprise. A new way of dealing with automatic machinery for secondary operations, such as tapping, turning, machining and general automation.

The purpose is to propose to our customers an ever wider range of machines complementary to the forming process, in order to challenge together the future market.

Concluding, I would like to say that to do important things well, and therefore also for building great machines, it’s necessary to have a dream. That dream, had by the founder and unforgettable Mr Giancarlo Rampezzotti – which gave a unique imprint to SACMA – is also part of our young president Valeriano Rampezzotti, which is to offer a great future by having the capacity to supply a whole range of machines for the fastener market in 2020.

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FROM 80 YEARS AT WORK TO INSPIRE THE FUTURE 80 years, and a complete range of solutions for the cold and warm forming machine industry.

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PROGRESSIVE HEADERS

WARM FORMERS

LARGE PART FORMERS

COMBINED HEADERS

Today, SACMA Group is the only player on the worldwide market that can supply a complete range of products for the fastener industry. Offering cutting-edge machinery such as combined headers for screws and bolts, 5 and 6 station progressive headers for special parts, the Ingramatic thread rollers, and the Tecno Lift loading systems.

Rapid, precise, ergonomic machines with a low management cost, meet the complex needs of an increasingly specific and rapidly growing demand.

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THESE FIRST 80 YEARS ARE NOT ONLY A GOAL, BUT A NEW BEGINNING. WITH CERTAINTY: THE BEST IS YET TO COME ...

www.sacmagroup.com

Sacma Limbiate S.p.A. Viale Dei Mille 126-128 • 20812 Limbiate (MB)ITALY Ph. +39 02 994521 • com@sacmalimbiate.it

JANUS PERSPECTIVE

NORMA Group Dr Michael Schneider, CEO The year 2019 posed challenges for the global economy and thus also for NORMA Group.

Nevertheless, our expertise in product development and customer service, as well as our consistent pursuit of our company strategy, have guided NORMA Group through the past year quite well.

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he global economic developments of 2019 and the automotive crisis also represented challenges for NORMA Group. The trade dispute between the USA and China; price increases on the raw materials side; and the generally tense situation on the global automotive market; resulted in our business performance falling short of expectations.

However, our success in the water management business, which has developed well in the USA, among other places, demonstrates that we are strategically well positioned with our focus on various business areas – based on the megatrends of resource scarcity and climate change. We have been systematically expanding our activities in the area of water management since 2012 and offer our customers joining solutions for water supply, irrigation and drainage.

Through acquisitions in Malaysia, Australia, the USA and, most recently, India, NORMA Group has expanded its market position and international presence and has a broad product portfolio available for a wide range of applications. For example, NORMA Group received an order from a US landscaping wholesaler for repair couplings for water pipes and is equipping an innovative ‘Living Smart’ residential construction project in California with drip irrigation systems for efficient water management. In 2019, a product from NORMA Group’s water management portfolio received the renowned Red Dot Award for product design. The jury of the award honoured the ‘Quik-Turn™ drainage channel’ for its good design quality and high innovation potential.

We have continued to focus on the future market of electromobility. With the eM Compact, we launched a quick connector on the market in the spring that was specially developed for use in thermal management piping systems in electric and hybrid vehicles.

This was followed by numerous orders from leading international automotive customers and battery manufacturers for the development and manufacture of advanced thermal management piping systems for vehicles with alternative drive systems.

We are looking to the coming year 2020 with optimism. In the area of water management, our goal is to further expand our activities and gain market share. Our focus will also be on general industrial business. In the area of electric mobility, we will continue to expand our product and service portfolio and support our customers with innovative materials and technologies.

We position our production, services, and value chains, where there is demand. As a result, our customers benefit from globally uniform high-quality standards, efficient delivery routes and local services.

We want to play an active role in shaping our markets as a technology

We are looking to the coming year 2020 with optimism.”

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leader and support our customers as an expert development partner. To this end, we have systematised the innovation process within NORMA Group by developing an ‘Innovation Roadmap’ and spend around 5% of our annual sales in the area of engineered joining technology and research and development. Investments in machinery, equipment, systems, and the qualifications of our employees, ensure our future viability. In 2019 alone, we invested a mid-double-digit million amount in various company sites.

By refinancing our credit lines at favourable conditions, we have created the security and flexibility to continue on our growth course in the years to come. The ‘Get on track’ transformation programme that we have just launched, with which we are preparing NORMA Group for a sustainably successful future, also serves this purpose.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

VIPA SpA Paolo Poppi, director general The last 12 months have been very challenging but, at the same time, crucial for VIPA. We have laid the foundation for further development of our company with a view to strengthening our commercial offer.

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or instance, in the last few months we have inaugurated a new plant at our headquarters in Rolo, Italy. This includes a new automated warehouse, equipped with five robot aisles of picking – putting us at the forefront of modern technologies and enabling us to store up to 120,000 pallets over an area of around 23,500m 2 .

In addition to this, the recent upgrading has made the whole system able to work around the clock by means of the automation.

This aspect, maybe the more important aspect, will enable us to produce relevant improvements in terms of order management – by speeding up all the in-house processes and therefore the shipment of goods to clients.

Currently, we are able to process up to 2,700 order picks that lead to a potential shipment capability of 420 orders on a daily basis. This is, without any doubt, an important goal we have accomplished but our perspective is always oriented to the future and this is why significant investment is still ongoing.

The next stage is to enhance our Kanban service, and for this purpose, we are enlarging the storage facilities. This work will be completed in the opening months of 2020 and, once the whole system is operating at full capacity, we will be able to offer a more efficient service, tailored to customers’ requests and requirements.

The quality of the products and the attention to the customers’ exigencies are the main guidelines that have led our company

throughout its development process, from the origins until today.

With this in mind, we have decided to invest and will continue to do so in the next year by trusting in our growth potential and in the opportunities offered by the fastener market.

However, our company has to face the effects of the new economic slowdown. The Italian economy is currently experiencing a phase of economic stagnation and these difficulties reflect on the fasteners market that remains fairly flat. As a result, the forecasts of closing 2019 are substantially in-line with the expectations and similar to the results of last year. Looking forward to 2020, we expect to face similar difficulties and challenges produced by the economic situation characterised by a continuous instability.

In particular, the unresolved issues linked to BREXIT, and the increasing tensions across the international market arisen by the US-China trade war, don’t facilitate economic recovery in Europe and don’t help revitalise the confidence of economic operators.

Despite this, investments are essential for the companies that aim to become a benchmark for the market and want to keep their strength.

The business cycle has always been characterised by the alternation of periods of economic expansion with periods of contraction. What is essential is to make companies and their production processes ready and suitable to seize the new opportunities of business whenever they will occur. This can only be adequately accomplished by investing in innovation.

...investments are essential for the companies that aim to become a benchmark for the market...”

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Marposs Monitoring Solutions GmbH Joachim Krüger, head of sales support for forming and stamping Persistent tensions in world trade has led to an economic downturn throughout the euro area.

Also, the transformation of the automotive industry towards e-mobility has led to global change and the associated reluctance and uncertainty. The BREXIT issue and trade disputes have also led to a slowdown in strong growth in recent years.

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evertheless, the issue of process monitoring in connection with ‘Smart Factory’ is a driver of innovation. Many manufacturers of fasteners are driving the issue of Industry 4.0 and thus the horizontal and vertical networking of production facilities. Via interfaces such as OPC-UA or MQTT, the various components communicate on the production level right up to the higher-level IT management system.

The bundling and evaluation of data is becoming more and more important. By exchanging and comparing the process monitoring data with the machine data, new analysis options are developed that take the topic of preventive maintenance, tool life and reproducible processes to a new level. The subject of quality assurance during ongoing processes is indispensable for our customers and an integral part of our corporate philosophy.

The Brankamp process monitoring solutions, which are part of the MARPOSS Group, are of great interest to the manufacturing industry for several reasons.

On the one hand, the monitoring devices provide important information about the forming processes, which can be used to optimise them and thus ensure reliable production of the fasteners. On the other hand, the process data stored in the Industrial Internet of Things environment can be used for evaluation and analysis and the collected operating data can be passed on to higher level systems.

All Brankamp monitoring devices of the X-series have the above mentioned possibilities and have established themselves as an integral part of customers’ operations worldwide.

The uniform user interface and the very flexible connection options for various sensors, such as force, acoustics and voltage signals, are particularly noteworthy. Different evaluation algorithms take over the analysis and evaluation of the signals in the background and in the best case regulate the machine, sort out parts, stop the machine or provide the machine operator with specific information about the process abnormalities. Linear drives offer completely new setting options for material deviations.

S b c Continuous efforts are being made to expand the application range of FactoryNET 4.0.

Further database connections and new interfaces to other production stages are being added. The documentation of process information is a growing issue, combined with a growing need for traceability, not of the individual part during cold forming, but of the movements of the machine material load. The provision of data for statistical analysis becomes another task of the process monitoring system itself. Condition monitoring is also becoming more and more important and is indispensable for predictive maintenance.

Condition monitoring can be implemented by means of vibration and oscillation evaluations at the relevant measuring points of the forming machines.

For these special monitoring methods, we work closely together with the manufacturers of the forming machines.

The wire® 2020 show in Düsseldorf (Germany), which will have more exhibitors than ever before, is regarded by the entire industry as an indicator for further business developments. In addition to the various monitoring options, our focus here will be on networking at the production level.

The bundling and evaluation of data is becoming more and more important. By exchanging and comparing the process monitoring data with the machine data, new analysis options are developed...”

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

HECO–Schrauben GmbH & Co KG Achim Carstanjen, general manager 2019 was an extraordinary year in the history of the German fastener expert HECO-Schrauben, with the owner family Hettich handing responsibility over to an external general manager for the first time in the 130 year history of the family led company.

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he management will cooperate closely with the new installed advisory board, which is headed by Stefan Hettich, the former general manager. Through these measures the owners have laid the foundations for further development and continuation of HECO’s values and culture.

In practical terms 2019 was also a fruitful year for HECO. In February the company launched its first screw anchor approved for masonry – once again underlining its leading role as an innovator in the fastener business by providing a solution for requirements of fire regulations in masonry applications.

2019 was also a stable year on both procurement and selling markets. The only shortages we faced were in staffing. This phenomenon was an issue in previous years too and to combat this HECO will intensify apprentice and trainee programmes.

In the coming years we see continuous development of our selling markets, as we do not observe any downturn in our market indicators.

In the procurement markets we do not see any shortages, but moderate and continuous price increases similar to previous years.

2020 will be a challenging year for HECO. We will launch a new screw for timber work, HECO-Topix-plus, which is applicable in other materials such as thin metal and plastics. The new screw is a logical follower of the existing well proven product assortments and will replace these – unifying all their advantages in one.

The new HECO-Topix-plus family is characterised by simplicity, performance and some unique features, which will add additional value to the user – especially carpenters and joiners. Once again underlining our commitment to making HECO users live’s easier and more productive.

As a typical German medium-sized business we serve the markets from our main plant in Schramberg, in the Black Forest, via our partners, specialised dealers and wholesalers – offering a wide range of products to professional craftsmen. We will stick to proven long-term relationships and work on being a reliable and innovative partner. Our future strategy is to strengthen the good relationships by offering further services and communication around the product, enabling our partners to provide benefits and solutions to their customers.

Looking into the far future we think that the materials wood and concrete will continue to expand as the preferred building material.

New aspects of purchase decisions will arise like the total environmental costs or CO2 balance of a product – and here we see good opportunities for HECO as a local German producer with modern equipment.

The main challenge, in the upcoming 5 to 10 years, we see in the development of digitalisation, and the change of business behaviour.

On the customer side speed of changes will increase, the new generation has a new conduct and will have different requirements than their predecessors. We have to adapt and better equip our future

We have to adapt and better equip our future customers...”

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customers with tools so that their life becomes easier and more profitable.

Referring to hardware and legislation we also see more and more regulations in Europe. For small companies like us, even today, approval costs are a significant part of the total costs. This can be even more, as we tend to be one step ahead with our innovations and need completely new approvals.

From our point of view the ‘war of talents’ will continue due to our demographic development in Germany and because of our location in a high-tech region.

Nevertheless, we have a nice offering to young people to take over responsibility soon and get a good training on the job.

For us the most decisive future subject is technological progress. As a German producer we have to be innovative – offering solutions to our customers. We are sure that we will meet all challenges of the changing environment. The ideas we have will provide good opportunities for us and our objective to make the world look more orange, more HECO.

JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Koninklijke Nedschroef Holding B.V Dr Matthias Sckuhr, CEO and chairman of the board After a highly promising start to 2019, industrial enterprises around the world are facing considerable challenges at the turn of the year.

China’s economy – which for many years has driven the global economy – has stalled.

Individual sectors, such as automotive, have been hit particularly hard. The situation is also being exacerbated by the political impact of international trade disputes and BREXIT.

D

espite the generally difficult environment, Nedschroef has managed to continue on its growth path, thanks to our growth above market in areas outside of the automotive sector. We have also been able to expand the range of our engineering service activities through our CP Tech business unit, established in 2017, and our machinery division’s innovative cold forming machines have given us a third mainstay that is contributing to our success.

The fastener technology sector as a whole is vibrant and the automotive supplier market is currently undergoing the biggest transformation since the car was invented more than 125 years ago.

Nedschroef is facing these challenges with targeted entrepreneurial and strategic decisions. In the process, we are exploiting the opportunities provided by the megatrends ‘sustainability’ and ‘digitalisation’.

The issue of sustainability is crucial as, in addition to the actual environmental aspect, we are experiencing increasing political and social demands for manufacturers to reduce their vehicles’ CO 2 footprint throughout the value chain in the automotive sector in particular. Of course, this also includes production of supplier components, such as fasteners. At Nedschroef, we already use efficient, sustainable forming technology processes that hardly create any production waste. We also use steel containing a high proportion of recycled material. Another component in sustainability is innovative fasteners for lightweight automotive construction designs. This means that, in future, it will be possible to produce small, economical and extremely versatile electric vehicles for city traffic and driverless people transporters. In terms of our product strategy, we are concentrating on new results in the automotive industry, especially with regard to e-mobility.

We are exploiting the new opportunities generated by Industry 4.0 for projects such as our ‘Dream Factory’. Here, we are developing platforms

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for our partners that will massively accelerate and streamline our business processes in the future. We are blazing a trail here, by relying on artificial intelligence to fully digitalise the sequence from receipt of an enquiry to production of the necessary product. Initial results have shown that we are on the right way forward with this concept.

Our 4F product strategy is at the heart of our continued sustainable growth. The term ‘4F’ stands for fastening, forming, functionality and fixing. We will drive this strategy forward to supply our customers with increasingly complex and demanding components, by deploying the strength that is our complete value chain.

This product strategy enshrines our entrepreneurial approach, which is geared to greater flexibility and agility and will, in future, incorporate even more customer centric activities. For example, in the immediate future Nedschroef will streamline its organisation so that it can concentrate even harder on the various markets’ specific requirements and different customers worldwide. This includes development and production of products on-site in the region where the customer is active. This leads to short lines of communication and short delivery routes and means customer requirements can be implemented quickly. We will also rigorously pursue the path to being a full service provider. We offer the customer a ‘one stop’ service package for fastening systems, including development services, testing and, of course, production, as well as delivery direct to the factory assembly line.

This package of measures, and the corporate strategy geared to growth and sustainability, will safeguard Nedschroef’s global trailblazing role in fastener technology and establish it as a leading partner for formed products.

We do not anticipate any significant improvement in the overall market situation in 2020. Our response to this is to pursue our path without hesitation, with the focus on profitable growth, cost optimised concepts for our customers and excellent processes. Rapid, flexible responses to the requirements of the market and those of our customers will be key to our success.

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

Hexstone Limited

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Ian Doherty, CEO 2019 has been a challenging year in the fastener market in the UK. Against a backdrop of a slowing world, EU and UK economic growth, the dreaded B word – BREXIT – has loomed large over the landscape.

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f the prospect of BREXIT has done one thing it has been to create an unprecedented level of uncertainty in the whole UK economy. That has translated into reduced levels of business confidence, investment, and construction activity.

Whilst there are pockets of positive news, the overall picture has been one of subdued activity and intense price competition – as players seek to maintain volume and share in a difficult market.

One trend that came more sharply into focus in 2019, and one which I expect to have even greater prominence was environmental concerns. Across the world we have seen greater and greater coverage given to concerns over climate change. The green agenda is here and here to stay! There are several aspects of this trend which impact the fastener industry.

According to many published sources, making one tonne of steel creates about 1.9 tonnes of CO2 , by the time allowance is made for the energy used in forming and manufacturing a fastener is added, 2 tonnes of CO 2 is a useful benchmark. Bringing a 20 foot container from China to Europe uses about 0.7 tonnes of CO 2 – the fasteners in that container probably equate to around 40 tonnes of CO 2 , so the manufacturing CO2 far dominates the transport elements.

40 tonnes of CO 2 is what an average family car would produce driving 400,000km. This should provide a driver for innovation in fasteners, which can perform whilst containing less steel (or other material) and thus have less environmental impact.

A second aspect to the green agenda is sustainability and the requirement for companies to demonstrate their actions in minimising the impact on the environment. At Hexstone we have been driving environmental improvements across the business, moving to LED lighting, replacing conventional lead acid batteries in MHE with lithium-ion, eliminating plastic tape and replacing it with paper tape and moving to FSC approved cardboard packaging with increased recycled content and recyclability.

By achieving ISO 14001:2015 accreditation we are demonstrating our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. The improvements we can make are small in comparison to the CO 2 impact of steel in fasteners, but this is a crisis and we must all do what we can for the planet. Whilst BREXIT may be a current fixation in

G the UK, in the long-term, climate change is almost certainly a much bigger issue and one that is with us to stay.

Another trend that has been on the increase is the need for traceability in the supply chain. As this becomes the norm, there will be a further drive to embed these processes in core systems. Working with BIAFD – our UK and Ireland association – we are introducing 2D barcode formats that provide machine readable formats for key data including country of origin and batch codes.

As we move into 2020, sadly I do not see a more positive outlook.

World economic growth remains sluggish, the prospect of an end to the US/China trade war seems as distant as ever and the final outcome of BREXIT still looms over the UK. Protectionism appears to be on the rise and with it the risk that further tariffs and barriers to free trade may be introduced – including anti-dumping duties. Whilst 2020 will see the UK in transition out of the EU, the longer-term trade deal (or no deal) is still to be negotiasted and may lead to the relocation of manufacturing out of the UK and with it the associated fastener usage.

However, I believe that tough times are a spur to change. I expect to see an increased level of consolidation within the industry as companies seek scale efficiencies and as financially weaker companies fail to weather the current conditions. All of this will continue the drive for efficiency in the supply chains, using IT and EDI to reduce transactional costs and optimise stockholdings and availability levels. I am sure the industry will emerge stronger from these challenges, but the short-term road may be a bit bumpy.

...tough times are a spur to change.”

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

WAFIOS Umformtechnik GmbH

Jens Gutsche, managing director

The economic development of German machine building has, apart from slight fluctuations, increased quite steadily over the last ten years.

However, in the Autumn of 2019, the production of German machine builders, which is very much geared to export, was some 1.6% lower than the previous year’s value. After so many years of economic boom a slowdown is to be expected. The decisive factor is the duration of the slowdown.

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s a producer of cold forming machines, over the last few years we have been a little spoilt with success.

For us, too, 2019 went worse than expected. We had counted on slight growth. However, similar to the rest of the German machine building sector, we too are increasingly facing problems through the hesitancy of customers from the viewpoint of trade disputes. Anxiously, we look again and again at developments in the USA and China, which are also very important foreign markets for us. Meanwhile, it must be said, that both countries are increasingly casting doubt on international trade and international cooperation.

In addition, there is an unpleasant conflict situation with global customs and trade disputes, a weak global economy, BREXIT and political unrest and conflicts in some of our, up to now, export countries. The economic and financial crisis of 2008/2009 was able to be overcome without great social upheaval through quickly introduced political measures. Now a recession is threatening again, but it should not be as bad as 2008/ 2009.

As machine builders we feel the effects of the economic weakness ever more strongly. In the second half of 2019, we received considerably fewer orders for new machines. We are currently underway in ‘troubled waters’. The same applies to numerous other machine manufacturers, especially medium size companies.

Due to frequently ‘frozen budgets’ for new machines at our customers, repairs and retrofits have increased strongly. Through improvements and small features on the retrofits, the customer receives unexpected benefits on existing machines.

These are, naturally, opportunities to counter our customers’ investment restraint with regard to new machines. Obviously, we machine builders are concerned with developments in the automotive industry. Germany is a ‘car nation’. Take the region around Stuttgart as an example. In Germany, there is no other region like Stuttgart that has so many successful and respected automotive suppliers and that has so much to lose through electric mobility.

The automotive industry is the most important customer for machine builders. Structural change in the automotive industry all the way to the development and expansion of electric mobility is now in full swing. Thus, many industry standards proven over decades will now be newly set. Through the less complicated engines and fewer component parts, the orders on component suppliers are declining.

Especially affected by this are the companies in the metal cutting and forming industries. With the component changes, the supply structure is also changing. Established suppliers and products are faced with competition from new companies from the IT industry. All of this has an effect on mass forming.

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In conventional vehicle drive trains with the engine and transmission components, there is a declining procurement market for fasteners. There will be a massive change from mechanical to electrical components and, therefore, an increasing demand for requirements compliant, complex and innovative fasteners with wide ranging functions (such as, for example, insulators and conductors).

The volume of mechanical components purchased will be drastically reduced over the next few years.

On the ICE (internal combustion engine) there are nearly 700 screws and nuts. Whereas, in HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) there are somewhat over 600 and in BEVs (battery electric vehicles) there are only some 80 screws and nuts.

The definite opposing trend is pointing, naturally, to electronics.

Here the number of screws and nuts in the electronics of ICEs is zero.

In HEVs there are a little over 400 screws and nuts and in the BEVs somewhat over 600 screws and nuts. In the chassis, the differences between the three named drive types regarding the number of screws and nuts, lying between 230 and 380, are not so great.

Finally, electric mobility demands flexibility and readiness for new product diversity. The aim must be to maintain dialogue and therefore cooperation with the customers and, naturally, with potential customers already, at the development stage of new drive systems.

This also applies fundamentally to other interesting application areas of cold and hot forming, such as the building industry, the aerospace industry, the electro/electronic industry or other industries.

We at WAFIOS Umformtechnik want to act quickly, flexibly and inventively. Today, it is no longer enough to be just a good machine builder it is, therefore, necessary also to have very good system supplier capabilities. Know-how from a single source is increasingly crystallising out of our industry, whereby many other services from the enquiry right up to the support of the delivered system – including tools, loading and unloading of parts, process, process monitoring, sorting, measurement and much more – must be provided.

We view 2020 with cautious optimism. If it were only down to the economy, we would already be able to see the turning point in the third or fourth quarter of 2020. However, there are currently many risks that could lead to a recession. At the end of 2019 we sensed significant investment restraint in the industry. The entire machine building sector and its customers are, for the most part, very uncertain. The customs and trade conflicts must be resolved in order to have an upturn and stability in the global economic situation again.

The trade fair wire® and Tube® 2020, taking place in Düsseldorf, will be a first meaningful indicator for us. We are already looking forward to receiving many visitors on our exhibition stand and to having interesting discussions around the subject of forming technology.

REYHER GmbH & Co KG Klaus-Dieter Schmidt, CEO In recent years the fastener field was pampered by a good economic cycle, both in Germany and worldwide, profiting from increasing turnover. The peak of this development was for sure 2018. At REYHER during this year the export business grew in significant double-digits.

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uring this period the decisive decision making criteria for customer purchases was not the price of the product, but the availability – one of REYHER’s strengths. To continue building up and strengthening our export activities, in November our longstanding export manager Michael Martsch was appointed as vice-president.

It was to be expected that after these years, bearing the hallmark of high growth, there would come a time when a downturn would once again follow. Not only the German, but many European national economies cooled down noticeably in 2019. This has affected our company too. However, we have succeeded in achieving similarly high turnover to the previous year. One reason for this is certainly our very wide ranging customer base spread over many fields of business.

When we consider 2019, many economists are speaking only of a downturn, not a recession. At the same time, they are forecasting a renewed increase in gross domestic product for Germany from the current 0.5% to 1.1% in 2020 and even 1.5% in 2021. In the same period, the world economy should grow by 3% to 3.4%.

This is one of the reasons why we look positively into the future. In 2019, we have additionally addressed new target groups and have been able to gain new customers, especially in specialised business to business trades. In the coming year we shall build on this.

At the start of 2020, we shall be issuing our new product catalogue containing more than 84,000 stock products. Thanks to our diversity of articles, coupled with our high delivery performance, we are a reliable partner for our customers. As a well placed wholesaler with a wide product range and high availability, we are profiting from our industrial customers, and in the meantime our trade customers too, who are increasingly turning to digitalisation to reduce costs. Customers expect fast, lean and error-free processes and that simple repetitive business processes such as enquiries, orders, order confirmation, despatch notes, etc, can be handled digitally and automated. For a number of years, REYHER has had its own department manned by competent specialists to provide customised electronic connection with our customers.

Despite all the positive forecasts, as always, we naturally have to keep our eye on global political developments, since these will as ever have a not inconsiderable impact on the procurement market, especially in Asia.

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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Chavesbao

Jorge Càmara, export manager Changing climate policies, as well as economic and political tensions, have marked 2019 worldwide and have created a general uncertainty that has resulted in lots of noise in the global economy and fear for big investments.

This has been a general trend, but ever more so in all sorts of industries.

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s a result, and at Chavesbao we have been no exception, fastening and fixing producers and distributors have faced an increasing need for supplying sound and solid services and for becoming global providers for the needs of their customers.

In recent years, environmental concerns and new regulations on greenhouse gas emissions have driven industrial companies to adapt both their production processes, seek efficiency, and develop new products that comply with this new standards. At Chavesbao we are well aware of this trend and we have been adapting our products in search of more advanced and complex products – which are able to meet these new and shifting needs.

Recent events such as trade wars between China and the USA; the shadow of a trade war between the US and the European Union; or the still unresolved conditions on which BREXIT will finally take place; mark also uncertainty in the production demands on all sorts of markets. This means that companies must be prepared, now more than ever, to respond quickly to customers’ orders, and fasteners are no exception to this.

As a result, accurate technology process adaptations will be a must for fastener companies in the near future, so that we can provide reliable products at very short notice. Innovation and creativity will also have to be placed at the core of business processes – so we can supply the non-standard and evolved parts that customers will be demanding.

All this must be accompanied by changes in our own premises, because only smart premises will allow changes in those production processes that will really place customers at the core of them.

For 2020, digital transformation will also certainly be a challenge for all industries, fastener services included. However, we cannot forget that technologies will only serve a purpose if there are people placed behind them. Digital transformation is not only about technology, it is also about adapting working methods to make the most of it. At Chavesbao we are well aware that this will be the real challenge in the coming years and is one that will allow us to supply the service and immediate stock availability that customers are demanding, and to do so in an efficient way.

At Chavesbao we have big ideas regarding these matters, even when taking into account that we are facing a new stage in our business with Managing Director Mr Carlos del Río retiring during 2020. However, not without first leaving his compass, guidelines, and legacy, for strategies in developing our company. Thanks a lot, Master!

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JANUS PERSPECTIVE

fischer Group of Companies Florian Birkenmayer, speaker of the board of directors Over the past few years, the fischer Group of Companies has seen continuous growth. In 2010, we generated a gross turnover of €582 million. By 2018, we managed to increase this figure to €864 million, generated by around 5,200 employees all over the world.

W

e have successfully closed the 2019 financial year with yet another turnover increase. The fixing systems division, which is the largest of our, in total, five business divisions, contributed much to this growth, particularly in Europe. In the Middle East and Asia, on the other hand, we saw our turnover fall.

Generally speaking, we did very well over the past year – especially in view of the many political and economical changes that will also still continue to affect us in the future, whether it is the trade dispute between the USA and China, punitive tariffs, BREXIT or the general decline of the global economic growth. All of these developments will also impact directly or indirectly on our company. However, fischer always addresses any problems on the horizon quickly and with outstanding foresight.

We therefore have already developed and implemented effective measures at an early stage that will help us to also master these challenges in 2020, including continuous process optimisations, as well as the development and market launch of new product lines and services for our partners. Additions in the warehousing and logistics area, and to our production capacities, will also ensure that we are particularly close to the markets where we and our customers are already active, and to the markets in other regions where we see potential. This contributes to resource saving and to being able to continue to guarantee outstanding availability and an excellent delivery service.

We have generally noticed that, in view of the rapidly changing and globalised market, in-house innovation capacity and technology expertise are constantly gaining in importance. With our new products, we therefore intend to continue to set high international benchmarks in terms of level of innovativeness, safety, quality and ease of use. Add our professional service to this, and we will consistently continue to prove our competitive advantage. Under consideration of specific regional requirements, we will thereby manage to establish ourselves even further in our growth markets as well as in other regions.

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We also see scope for growth in the project and infrastructure area. Megatrends such as ‘digitalisation’ harbour opportunities in this respect, which we at fischer intend to use. BIM (Building Information Modelling) is changing the project business, which is an important area with respect to our turnover targets. We are successfully participating in this trend. We have already experienced how BIM sped up the construction progress, improved the quality and reduced the costs in projects all over the world. We are making BIM compatible product data available and are currently training our staff in the use of this new digital planning method. Our respective positioning is supported by communication measures. Our BIM strategy takes past experiences from all of the 47 international subsidiaries in 35 countries that belong to our group of companies on board.

We are also providing a free design software called FIXPERIENCE that is updated and optimised on an ongoing basis. Newly published design and measurement regulations are continuously taken into account by the programme in order to be able to provide the respective proof with regard to the applicable standards. In addition, we are offering digital services such as plug finder Apps for DIYers and professionals – in our opinion, this digital services area harbours major future potential, and we will continue to expand it in 2020. We also intend to increase our activities within the start-up area. We are currently successfully advancing our digitalisation strategy with our new App Craftnote, which is aimed at tradespeople. It summarises all of the information pertaining to a job and makes it available to everyone involved.

Besides our attractive in store product displays, we are also offering our retail partners comprehensive support in the e-commerce area.

We are continuously expanding these services, as our own financial success depends on whether our partners continue to be equipped for the future in this era of digitalisation. Apart from sales support, our customer consultation, care and training measures also continue to remain important. fischer is the technological market leader in some key fixing technology fields. A high-level of brand awareness provides an excellent starting point for further growth, and we are in a strong position for the future.

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INSIGHT

A UNIQUE AND IN-DEPTH LOOK AT the world of FASTENERs

New technical experts at UPIVEB

By Marco A. Guerritore, editor in chief, Italian Fasteners Magazine Succession affects nearly every job and often leaves a subtle feeling of melancholy and regret. And so, after more than four years of successful collaboration, Engineer Sante Costa left his position of technical consultant at UPIVEB of his own accord.

M

r Costa’s résumé is very impressive, filled with interesting assignments and fruitful experiences.

After graduating in engineering, he worked as a mechanical engineer at IVECO – Fiat Group for nine years, gaining experience in the field of production and functional testing of vehicles in the plants of Turin, Bolzano and Brescia. He was then invited to join the Fontana Group, where he worked for twenty-seven years, dealing mainly with problems relating to quality. His pride is the creation of the ‘Central Quality Coordination Department’ in Fontana.

Costa’s work at UPIVEB involved providing associates with opinions and advice on how to address and manage quality issues with regard to external processes (in general, as well as at suppliers and with customers) and internal processes (e.g optimisation of procedures relating to the quality management system). He has represented UPIVEB as president of the Italian Standards subcommittee and as a European technical expert, as convenor in international ISO Working Groups and technical expert in all the ISO/TC2 subcommittees.

One becomes two

Two experts have been called to replace Mr Costa as technical consultant of standardisation activities at UPIVEB: Engineer Antonio Ripamonti, president of

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UPIVEB President Mr Pirovano presenting the award to Mr Costa and introducing the new technical experts during the dinner at the end of the UPIVEB 2019 General Assembly (From left to right: G. Bizzozzero, S. Pirovano, S. Costa, A. Ripamonti, L. Panzeri and G. Pezzoli) UNI/CT031/SC04 ‘Fasteners’ and technical expert in SC04 (GL04 and GL05) technical bodies, as well as Engineer Luca Panzeri, coordinator of UNI/CT031/SC04/GL02 (washers and non-threaded fasteners) and convenor of ISO/TC2/ WG13 (washers and non-threaded fasteners).

After graduating in mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Milan, Antonio Ripamonti started a stimulating experience at CNR, which allowed him to deepen his knowledge of design methods through the finite element approach. He then joined the Agrati Group initially as internal equipment manager at the Veduggio production site, before moving to the technical department as research and development manager, where he mainly performed tasks aimed at the application of advanced numerical calculation systems (FEA) to the fastener industry. At the same time, he also began working in the field of fastener standardisation at a national and

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

international level, regularly attending ISO, CEN and UNI meetings. He currently works at the Agrati Tech Centre.

After graduating in mechanical engineering, with a specialisation in metallurgy, in 1991, Luca Panzeri joined the family company Panzeri SpA of Bulciago – an Italian manufacturer of washers – as quality assurance manager, a position he held for the next twelve years. He became head of the technical department in 2003 and purchasing manager seven years later.

He has been managing director of Panzeri since 2016. Mr Panzeri has always been very active in cooperating with national and international standardisation bodies with regard to washers.

The president, presidential committee, and members of UPIVEB, extended their sincere thanks to Mr Costa for all the work he had done over the years, and also wish Mr Ripamonti and Mr Panzeri all the very best in their new positions.

APPROVED FOR YOU

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N E W E TA O P T IO N 7 A P P ROVA L WI TH R E DU CE D E MBE DME N T

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INSIGHT

SIPA expands product capabilities

SIPA Srl has added nylon cable ties to its wide range of products, offering customers a high-quality product range to go alongside its steel cutting and plastic pressing capabilities.

F

ounded in 1989 for the production of plates and angles for hardware, SIPA has its own catalogue of products, supplemented by developing steel cutting and plastic moulding services for third parties.

SIPA actually started pressing plastics in 1999 – as a complementary service – and continued to introduce a variety of plastic products such as adhesive hooks, key rings, duck hooks, as well as under chair caps. In 2001 the company developed its own mechanical shop, helping it to manage both mould maintenance and planning and implementation. Sipa is also the distributor of a new range of nylon cable ties, which is an example of the company’s continuous efforts to develop its product range to meet customers’ needs.

SIPA took further steps in its capabilities with the introduction of washer production in 2006. This gave the company the ability to produce a variety of sizes, to industry standards. Through a targeted marketing campaign, and participating at trade fairs across Europe, SIPA has also been able to expand into new markets abroad.

The most recent development at SIPA was the expansion of its headquarters in 2018 with the addition of a new 7,500m 2 extension to its existing 9,000m 2 building.

The new facility has enabled the company to expand four key departments: Steel cutting: Including 30 automatic presses, with capacities ranging from 50 to 250 tonnes, for cutting sheet coils.

Plastic pressing: Composed of 10 automatic presses, ranging from 50 to 430 tonnes, for pressing plastic material from granules.

An additional 250 tonne bicolour press enables the use of two different materials or two different colours simultaneously.

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Mechanical workshop: The machine park consists of three work centres, three grinding machines, one lathe, one radial drill, one microdrill, one erosion bath and three wire eroders.

Warehouse: 7,000m 2 capacity ensuring fast delivery, which has always been a characteristic of SIPA’s service. The warehouse also houses three automatic packaging lines for both bags and boxes and various manual packaging machines – to satisfy all customer demands.

“From a simple idea, a sample, or a technical drawing, we are able to develop the design and detail of a mould both for steel and plastic articles. We can even produce parts using moulds from other firms, provided on a rental basis only. Additionally, we provide all the necessary maintenance during and after production, which enables us to supply excellent product quality combined with competitive prices.” www.sipaitalia.it

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INSIGHT

The importance of quality Almost 60 years of growth and investments has enabled Bontempi Vibo to become an international leader in advanced industrial fasteners – producing over 25,000 tonnes of screws and 1 billion parts annually – all whilst still upholding the characteristics of a family business, including a personal touch.

R

aoul Bontempi, CEO at Bontempi Vibo, explains: “Ever since my father started the company in a small workshop in Berzo Inferiore, Italy, in 1961, we have kept the same passion for both the quality of our products, as well as ensuring a reliable service to our customers. Thanks to our commitment to a family ethos we have been able to build long-lasting partnerships with our customers, which has been a key to our success.”

Bontempi Vibo offers a wide variety of screws and bolts and specialises in the production of hex head and hex socket head fasteners by cold forging carbon and stainless steel, in diameters M5 up to M36, as well as supplying several top quality surface coatings.

The company has three production plants in Rodengo-Saiano, Calabritto and now in Bellusco, after Bontempi acquired FRAM Srl and intergrated it into the single organisation structure at the end of 2019.

From 2020 under the Bontempi Vibo name, the production facility in Bellusco will hot forge lengths greater than 300mm and diameters up to M64. Also based at this modern, high specification production plant are three latest generation screw presses with pre-heating by induction, three rollers, and an inspection laboratory.

“Customer demand is constantly changing, and we have to be on top of that. It’s this strategy of continuously enlarging our range of products that led us to establishing FRAM three years ago,” comments Raoul Bontempi. “The founding of the business actually took us back to my father’s hot forging roots.”

FRAM was originally created to add expertise in hot forged bolt manufacturing to Bontempi’s existing wide range of cold forming capabilities. “As a business we want to continuously evolve and obtain the highest customer satisfaction levels, which is why we incorporated FRAM within the Bontempi Group. We will now continue to lead the fastener industry for cold forming and hot forging – all under the Bontempi name,” points out Raoul Bontempi.

Whilst making these changes in-house it was important for Bontempi to also retain the expertise and experience within FRAM. Marco Polato – co-founder of FRAM – is now commercial director for Bontempi Group, to help grow the business. This is not the only change

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to the Group management, with Vittoriano Calomeni, sales manager at Bontempi Vibo for over 15 years, the new general manager.

Based at Bontempi’s headquarters in Brescia, the Rodengo Saiano plant is also home to the sales purchasing and administrative offices, as well as the logistics, IT systems and management teams. This plant is set-up to continuously produce screws and bolts of different types, with diameters from 12mm to 36mm. The Group’s central automated warehouse, which has a capacity of over 15,000 pallet bays, is also located on the same site.

“The only way to compete with worldwide players is with automisation,” says Vittoriano Calomeni, general manager at Bontempi. “So in 2009, a fully automated warehouse with 15,000 pallet spaces was built, and there is still room to expand.”

Vittoriano continues: “We are very proud of what we have achieved at Bontempi Group. 10 years ago, at a time when the market conditions were extremely volatile, Bontempi was investing. It’s paramount we keep this level of investment and commitment in order for us to compete at not just a European level, but on a worldwide scale.”

Raoul Bontempi adds: “The warehouse itself is our main advantage when competing worldwide. It enables us to have a wide range of products and strengthens our position in the market. Our service to our customers is key and our time to market is a huge selling point.”

Bontempi has also been investing in its second plant – based in Calabritto and equipped for cold forging hex head and socket

TRADITION AND TECHNOLOGY SINCE 1961 Via Stacca 3, 25050 - Rodengo Saiano (BS) - Italy +39 030 35031

www.vibo.com

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INSIGHT head screws with diameters from 6mm to 12mm. “Recent investments at this site include the installation of a new modern heat treatment line with a capacity of up to 1,500kg/h, as well as new machinery to enable it to produce screws with captive washers,” mentions Vittoriano. “The addition of these new machines also enables us to reduce lead times and produce the part in both carbon steel and stainless steel.”

Also housed at the Calabritto site is a raw material warehouse with over 3,000 tonnes stored on-site, along with a wire rod sandblasting and polymerisation department, polishing department, packaging department and the inspection laboratory.

Quality is at the forefront for Bontempi Vibo – with an integrated system running across all three of its production plants. “Bontempi stands for quality and is recognised on the market for this commitment. This is one of the main advantage we have – the importance of a quality product is in the product itself,” proudly states Vittoriano.

Bontempi supplies standard and special parts into a number of safety critical applications, with customers requiring in-depth documentation and specifications.

Therefore investment in a new MES was of paramount importance to Bontempi Vibo to ensure a consistent high-quality approach. “The new MES collates all the production data, quality specifications, and manufacturing information, to one central system,” explains Vittoriano. “This system also enables customers to receive information, updated in real time, about stock and able to access ‘virtual stock’.”

The company can also arrange visits for end users in order to gain approval as a quality supplier. “Industries such as nuclear need us to work with the end user from the design stage for the bespoke critical parts.

Our aim is clear,” comments Raoul Bontempi, “quality, quality, quality”.

Vittoriano adds: “We must also now concentrate on Industry 4.0. This philosophy will enable us to continue to grow and make our offering even more desirable. To us, the product we sell is the screw and our service.

Its a whole complete package in order to fulfil our customers’ needs.”

“There’s plenty of opportunities for Bontempi Vibo to invest in not only our operations, but also our people and services.

We’re open to all possibilities and we will continue to grow. We’ll still be here in another 10 years and we’ll be bigger than we are today – both through our product offerings and our worldwide reach. It’s an exciting time for us here at Bontempi Vibo.” www.vibo.com

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From left to right: Marco Polato, Raoul Bontempi and Vittoriano Calomeni

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Made in Turkey 2020

MADE IN TURKEY

BESİAD Mustafa Tecdelioğlu, chairman of BESİAD

1008

Turkey’s growth as a focal point for automotive, domestic appliance, as well as other engineered product manufacturing and exporting, has seen the country’s fastener sector develop significantly over recent years. Here we speak to Mustafa Tecdelioğlu, chairman of BESİAD (the Turkish Fastener Manufacturers Association) about the development of the Turkish fastener market and opportunities for the future.

What distinguishes Turkish manufacturers from their competitors?

2 million vehicles annually with a target of 3 million, Turkey is also the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Europe and an exporter of white goods to the whole world.

The majority of the world’s largest fasteners wholesalers already have warehouses or offices in Turkey. Würth, Bufab, Böllhoff, Dresselhaus, Max Mothes and Optimas operate in Turkey individually or with a Turkish partnership. Coating licensees such as Magni, Dörken, NOF Metal Coatings, Atotech and machinery producing companies such as SACMA Group, Carlo Salvi, Jagura, Asai Sunac, Chun Zu, Hyodong, and Nedschroef Machinery, are all represented in our country.”

What are the advantages/benefits of being a Turkish company?

How do you foresee the shape of the Turkish fastener market changing over the next decade?

What do you think the challenges will be for the big and small companies?

“Turkish companies are young and dynamic with a flexible structure.

They have new machine technology and are fast and competitive with the use of domestic raw materials. Most importantly, Turkey has favourable proximity to the market. Thanks to our geographic location products can be transported via air, road, rail or sea with very fast delivery.

As a country we have ambitious, brave, reliable industrialists who can be quickly motivated, think fast and take charge. We are a country with dynamic, productive companies that are determined to work, whilst always thinking of growth and investment.”

“Turkey, in the field of fasteners, is one of Europe’s largest markets and one of the most major manufacturers. We are not foreign dependent because we can produce our own raw materials. We are also a sector that can produce its own moulds and can build its own heat treatment, packaging and coating facilities.

We are an industry that has obtained hundreds of patents related to fasteners and the majority of our companies all have quality certificates. We export fasteners to over 160 countries all over the world. The machinery used in Turkey is the latest technology and is capable of producing industry specific and standard fasteners for industries such as automotive, white goods, steel construction, machinery, furniture, electric and defence.

Fifteen years ago, imports were twice the amount produced in Turkey. This figure has now dropped to a minimum. Turkey has become an important country within the fastener sector and cannot only meet its own needs but also export. Turkey’s fastener industry continues to grow to become more informed and stronger. We are an industry that thrives on keeping Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, as well as unmanned production with automation, on the agenda.”

What is the current situation within the Turkish fastener market?

“Turkey is a very large user of fasteners, as well as a country that is in the Top 3 in Europe for the production of fasteners. Producing

“The world is globalising. Turkey is growing 3% – 5% annually. In parallel, our sector is growing. In addition to the growth of the country, the fastener sector will continue to grow further with the increase of domestic raw materials, trained manpower, and technological machinery investments. This will help the Turkish fastener industry to be one of the world’s major production bases. I think in the future we will be among the top two major producing countries in Europe and the Top 8 in the world. We expect the production figures in Turkey in the coming years to exceed 2 million tonnes.

The high-quality expectations of the automotive sector and the demand for zero errors is one of the main challenges for the Turkish fastener industry. A significant amount of investment and employment are required for error-free production, as well as sorting and inspection capabilities. Turkish fastener manufacturers are spending a considerable amount of time and money making these investments to ensure they can produce the required quality and avoid any expensive product recall risks.

Competition from Far Eastern companies also poses another challenge, which Turkish companies will continue to handle. In addition, tariff barriers imposed by countries to protect their companies makes competition more difficult.” www.besiadturkey.com

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MADE IN TURKEY

Global scale, personal care In recent years, NORM Cıvata has achieved exponential growth with accelerating export sales.

This success was achieved by focusing on high-quality production, investing in technology, and building strong and sustainable relationships with customers. The company’s latest motto perfectly summarises its way of working: ‘Global scale, personal care’.

N

ORM Cıvata points out that this motto underlines how it is becoming a more global company, but the personalised care to its customers still remains.

This understanding and attitude lies at the heart of the business.

“At NORM we have continuously moved forward with an integrated manufacturing and quality service to become a solution partner for major manufacturers and well known brands in domestic and global automotive markets – producing 50 million pieces daily,” states Chairman Fatih Uysal.

“NORM continues to be a leader and pioneer in the fastener industry and we are committed to a superior quality policy and a wide product range – offering supply chain management solutions for automotive OEMs, tier 1 companies and European wholesalers.”

When it comes to high-quality products and being customer focused, Fatih is clear that NORM Cıvata makes no compromises on what he sees as the company’s greatest values.

“What differentiates us from the competition is that we do all the manufacturing processes in-house: Annealing, cold forming, secondary operations, heat treatment, coating, sorting and packaging. After the production process, we are also able to apply several coatings such as Dörken, Geomet, Magni, MacDermid, Coventya, 3M, Precote, Nylok and Omnimask.

In addition, 80% of our tooling is being produced in-house.”

Close to the customer

As a business NORM Cıvata is constantly looking to grow and expand its business day by day in order to be closer to its customers.

“The first example was in 1998, when we established a logistic centre, Vissart Europe, in Meaux, France,” points out Fatih Uysal.

“Then in 2012, we set up another logistics centre, Norm GmbH, in Krefeld, Germany, to enable us to make daily shipments, meet special packaging needs and provide an engineering service.”

Other more recent examples include Norm Fasteners Co, which was set up in 2018 to operate as a sales and logistics centre in

Michigan, USA. NORM also has a new logistics centre in Poznań, Poland, and is looking to introduce a new logistics centre in Pitești, Romania, in 2020. “With these investments, we are able to serve our customers in Turkey, Germany, France, Poland, Romania and the USA,” proudly states Fatih.

While strengthening logistics, NORM Cıvata is also investing in its production capacity. Currently, the company has two production sites in İzmir and Manisa (Salihli). After considering the high demand from customers, and VW’s investment in Manisa, NORM Cıvata decided to enlarge its production site in Salihli. NORM has ongoing construction in Salihli for two plants in a total area of 22,500m 2 – one plant for nut production and the other plant for coating.

Moreover, over 100,000m 2 was invested in as a greenfield site in Salihli.

Technology advancements

Another area where NORM Cıvata has been investing is the ‘cleanliness’ process, with the company investing in the latest technology for washing machines and laboratory equipment. “The requirements for cleanliness are getting increasingly stringent for components used in automotive, electronics and aerospace industries,” mentions Fatih. “‘Technical cleanliness’ is becoming more important in assembly processes as it helps increase

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performance, lower energy consumption, reduce emissions and improve safety, which is why we have been focusing on it at NORM.” In addition, NORM Cıvata has invested in a rack dip spin coating line in its coating facility in Salihli, once again to meet customer demands in the market. “By using this system, thread damage risks are totally eliminated,” points out Fatih. “Bolts or nuts are hanged on the racks one by one and then the process starts with surface treatment, coating and then packaging. Furthermore, this facility will enable us to coat vehicle chassis parts, which are not suitable to coat by cataphoresis.”

Researching and developing

Developing its technology and innovation capacity will be NORM Cıvata’s main priorities for the future. “Our R&D investments are accelerating day-by-day, with higher R&D capability we aim to develop more patented, lighter and solid products for the future,” explains Fatih. “We are also looking to increase the number of co-design projects with our customers through our Resident Engineer Programme. Currently, we have one resident engineer working at Ford in Turkey to provide customer specific solutions in fastening. Also, our resident engineer in Germany is ready to give support to our customers when needed. We aim to develop this cooperation more to increase productivity and customer satisfaction.”

Patented products

NORM Cıvata also states that it is the first Turkish company to adopt computer-aided engineering methods for production of fasteners. Simufact finite element software is used extensively in the R&D centre to carry out activities such as product development, process improvement, die and model design and cost reduction.

The main aim of R&D studies is to develop lightweight fasteners with improved fatigue and vibration resistance for automotive components. Studies also cover innovative connection solutions, micro alloyed material forging, smart bolts and non-ferrous material forging.

Amongst the unique patent products NORM Group has also developed are: NORMEST (Norm-Easy Self Tapping): A self-tapping bolt that demonstrates high performance in creating its own threads in the assembled part.

NOW (Norm One Way): A bolt with a unique head form that allows the user only to tighten and not loosen the bolt.

Fasti-NORM: A bolt that eliminates the welding process of bolt to sheet metals by means of a special head form.

Norm-iFR: A fatigue resistant bolt with a unique thread profile.

NORM has been investing in its ‘cleanliness’ process

In response to the expectations of the automotive industry, NORM Cıvata also started a government funded R&D project to produce aluminium alloy bushes.

Having successfully introduced these aluminium alloy bushings, NORM has also extended its product range of male threaded fasteners and continued to improve internal threaded parts.

“All of these innovative and unique products were developed in a short period to reduce costs and increase product performance and quality for the customers. For NORM, the customers are always the driving force to create branded solutions and products.”

2020 priorities

Fatih concludes: “In 2020, we foresee that the fastener market will be stable, yet there are many new projects that we are expecting. We aim to increase our sales with these new projects thanks to increasing production capacity via new investments in Manisa.

Also, we will continue to add new products to our portfolio to reach more customers. Furthermore, strengthening our presence in the US market is still one of our main priority areas.” www.normholding.com

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MADE IN TURKEY

Çetin develops global identity In 2019 Çetin Cıvata went through a significant period of investment with the company adding further manufacturing capabilities, as well as renewing its corporate identity with new logos across all platforms – using all of its corporate experience to bring the company, and Tecde Group, into a new era and to further grow its brand globally.

T

he first major development for Çetin Cıvata in 2019 was the completion of its new sorting, handling and packaging facility, as well as its new logistics warehouse.

“Both of these building were necessary in order to help us better serve our customers,” explains Cenk Turfanda, general manager at Çetin Cıvata. “Through the new sorting, handling and packaging department we can ensure a reliable supply of products to all our customers and through our new logistics warehouse we can guarantee that we are sending the products to customers as and when they need them.”

The next major investment by the Tecde Group was in a surface coating facility. “Our Group’s coating company has got the license to apply DELTA® brand coatings from Dörken, in addition to the coatings of Magni, which we have been able to apply for the last two years,” explains Cenk. “Our coating company has also invested in a fully automatic zinc nickel line and also in alkali-zinc, with integrated deep spin, top coat lines.”

The final investment by Çetin in 2019 was in five new multi-station cold forging machines and three new combined cold headers, which were installed in the factory throughout the year. “We have a full production set-up at Çetin Cıvata, which enables us to produce a wide range of bolts, from M3 to M27, nuts, from M6 to M22, and a wide range of screws – all in various qualities and coatings,” mentions Cenk. “Our factory also has all the necessary system conformity certificates and quality certifications, such as IATF 16949, EN ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, ISO/IEC 27001 and the conformity certificate of structural bolting assemblies as per EN 14399 and EN 15048.”

Cenk continues: “Thanks to our ability to ensure a consistent and satisfactory service to the market – through our total quality management system, which is approved and controlled by our international global buyers’ regular audits – and also through the continuous orders and forecast order plans from our direct OEM clients, our products will continue to fit perfectly into our clients’ production lines for their daily consumption and usage, as well as their plans for the future.”

Through these investments, plus its commitment to quality, Çetin Cıvata is able to supply its products to markets all over the world.

“Being a Turkish company we have a geographical advantage that enables us to reach customers globally,” points out Cenk. “We are located in the middle of the European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets with the possibility to visit customers in all three areas within 2 to 4 hours. We can also export products to these markets

Through these investments, plus its commitment to quality, Çetin Cıvata is able to supply its products to markets all over the world.”

106 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

520

via road, rail and sea. Turkey has a young and ambitious population, which creates big potential for Turkish companies to grow quickly and to follow global developments in technology.”

Cenk points out that one of the challenges of being a Turkish manufacturer, however, is the difficultly of making mid to long-term strategic business plans – due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the continuous regional problems in Turkey’s neighbouring countries.

“Political inconsistency in neighbouring countries creates low economic growth in the region and means there is a lack of demand for Turkish export products from these countries, which makes it difficult for smaller companies to grow as quickly. Normally if a company is looking to start exporting it will focus on the neighbouring countries, before expanding further afield. However, this is not possible currently, which can make it difficult. At Çetin Cıvata we have been exporting for many years and have therefore already established partnerships around the world.” Çetin Cıvata underlines that it has been able to establish such a vast network of customers due to five key properties. “Flexibility, wider product range, proactive strategy, tailor-made new and special product development, as well as a good brand name and reputation, have all played a key role in our success,” states Cenk. “Going forward we also need to be more active and dominate in the OEM market. That is why we are reinforcing our engineering staff and improving the capability of our R&D department. We are also looking to increase the dynamism of our sales team.”

One of the biggest

opportunities for Çetin going forward is the reputation it has established for itself within the fastener market. “Thanks to the capacity and flexibility of our machinery set-up, and our ability to make all production processes in-house – wire drawing/annealing, cold forging, thread rolling, heat treatment and surface coating – without subcontracting, we can provide a first class service to customers and ensure long and successful partnerships,” mentions Cenk. “We are continuously investing in modern machinery and equipment to help us expand our wide product range; continue our development ability for new and special products; as well as constantly looking to optimise the service we provide to customers. All these features differentiate us from the competitors in our domestic and export markets.”

Focusing on its domestic market, Çetin has recently taken additional steps to further grow its sales activity by employing further experienced sales specialists – who will be active in the field by regularly visiting customers in strategic industry areas of Turkey. “We see moderate growth in the Turkish fastener market in the next 10 years, with the main challenges for the big players being the narrowing and tightening of profit margins, as well as huge fixed costs,” explains Cenk.

“Overall, we see consistent but modest growth in the global fastener supply chain in the next 10 years – with more consolidation within the market. As a big player, one of the main challenges is the narrowing and tightening of profit margins. This has been a big ‘headache’ for all metal and steel related industries during the last decade – throughout the world. For smaller companies, one of the big challenges will be to accommodate their production set-up’s in accordance with the Kanban service markets and in conformity with Full Service Provider companies – so they can give the correct service for ‘just in time’ deliveries. I believe they also have to be more dynamic over the years to come.” www.cetin.com.tr

One of the biggest opportunities for Çetin going forward is the reputation it has established for itself within the fastener market.” www.fastenerandfixing.com 107

Berdan Produced Anchor Bolts for

• The Second Longest Suspended Bridge in Europe (İzmit) • The Longest Bridge in The World with 2023 metres (1915 Çanakkale)

In the bridges and mega projects Yesterday In Izmit Today in Canakkale Tomorrow all around the World

info@berdancivata.com www.berdancivata.com

MADE IN TURKEY

Quality assurance with Berdan

328

For forty years Mr Hasan Şemsi has directed and inspired the development of Berdan Cıvata, based in the ancient city of Tarsus, in south-east Turkey. Here he talks about how a small business grew to be a fully integrated production operation and, remarkably candidly, of the mistakes that taught him how to achieve the highest levels of quality assurance for critical application construction fasteners.

I

n Turkey in the 1980s, an employee who had worked for 15 years over a 25 year period was entitled to retire. That is how I was able to retire from Temel (STFA) Bolt, then the biggest bolt factory in Turkey, aged 43 and join my brother, Yunus, in setting up a 200m 2 workshop in Tarsus with five employees.

We realised that we had no possibility to be competitive in low strength bolts so we needed to produce high value-added bolt and nuts. At our workshop, the bolts were hot forged and the threads either machined or rolled. Then they had to be taken to a company 40km away for quenching and tempering. Then they were shipped 450km to Ankara for hot zinc coating. Finally, they were tested by a state institution in Adana, around 40km from our workshop.

I already had twelve years’ experience in the bolt and nut sector, half of it in business management at the oldest and biggest bolting factory, called Denet Civata, in Istanbul, and the rest at Temel Bolt, in Adana. I had gained a great deal of knowledge about bolts, nuts, materials, surface coatings, heat treatment and testing. However, we still had things to learn and in some cases we had to learn expensive lessons.

We gained our first lesson by sending two containers of bolts, destined for a power plant in Ankara, to a coating company for hot dip galvanising. However, we did not realise that while this company had coated thousands of Class 5.8 bolts every year, it had insufficient knowledge and experience in coating Class 10.9 bolts like these. We were informed that our precious 10.9 quality bolts had been cleaned by acid pickling in the same way as the low strength 5.8 quality bolts.

Obviously, by keeping them in acid for a long period of time, they had all been exposed to the risk of hydrogen embrittlement. As a result, we had to scrap all the bolts and produce new ones to replace them.

We carried out more research on Class 10.9 and 12.9 after this heavy loss, equivalent to nearly one year of earnings for the 10 – 12 employees in our small and new business. The ASTM F568 standard, which confirmed our own belief, recommended that Class 10.9 or 12.9 bolts should not be hot dip galvanised (HDG), because of the risk of embrittlement failure as a result of the hydrogen introduced to the steel while pre-cleaning with acid.

110 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

However, on some big projects abroad we saw exactly these grades of bolts covered with HDG. So we thought if this could be done outside of Turkey we should be able to coat our bolts in a similar way. Finally, through careful research and testing we achieved a safe methodology.

Now, in our eco-friendly HDG facility, we protect both the health of our employees and the environment by performing mechanical cleaning instead of pre-cleaning with acid. Most importantly the bolts are not exposed to the risk of hydrogen brittleness. We have took out a patent for this methodology and started declaring to our users, through trade fairs and professional publications, that the hydrogen embrittlement risk on 10.9 hot dip galvanised bolts has been eliminated by Berdan FOREVER at our eco-friendly coating premises.

This announcement was so effective that we rapidly needed to increase our capacity by two or three times with this coating method making such a great contribution to our growth. By these operations we realised that there have been so many steel fastener users, both domestically and outside of our country, suffering from hydrogen fragility.

We received our second hard lesson from our heat processor. We learned that it had hardened the Class 10.9 bolts we had produced from 42CrMo4 material by heating them in a rich carbon semiconducting cabinet, instead of hardening in a neutral bath. Because of the heating in this abundant carbonaceous salt bath, carbon deposits in the valley of our bolt threads developed.

These 10.9 bolts were used in a 50m – 60m high tower. The tower, which was to be lifted to the top of a building, was broken into two or three pieces. The small bolts in the tower structure had broken as a result of hitting the crane. During laboratory tests in Germany, tiny cracks in the valley of the threads were discovered due to the carbon deposits, causing the fracture of the bolts because of the abnormally high hardness induced during heat treatment.

The bolts not only had to be manufactured once again but the failure also cost us a lot of money as the replacements had to be airfreighted to the jobsite in Egypt. We had to take another expensive lesson and therefore decided to create our own in-house heat treatment facilities so we could rigorously control the processes and protect ourselves from ever again facing the consequences of such mistakes.

We realised that we had no possibility to be competitive in low strength bolts so we needed to produce high value-added bolt and nuts.”

Now we have our own cabin furnaces for bolts and studs up to two metres long in Class 10.9. We use a well type furnace for wind tower anchor bolts up to 3m long and a continuous mesh belt automatic quench and temper heat treatment line for smaller bolts, up to M30 x 200, and nuts. We no longer send any bolts or nuts to external companies for heat treatment.

Today, besides our hot dip galvanising plant, we have installed our own electro galvanising plant as well as a zinc lamella coating line.

This means we do not need to send any of our bolts and nuts out of our premises for coating against corrosion.

We also decided to make some more investments into our test laboratory when we had problems with external laboratory tests, even though they were relatively minor. As time went on, we increased our laboratory testing equipment – so much so that our laboratory is now the best equipped in the bolt and nut sector in Turkey and we are the only manufacturer with laboratory accreditation to ISO EN 17025.

Over the years, we have received new test equipment for the growing needs of our global customers or we have developed equipment ourselves to meet our specific requirements. Today we hold the patent for and have the most powerful tensile tester in Europe at the Berdan laboratory. While the capacity of the biggest tensile tester in Turkey is 250 tonnes and stands 3.5m high, our patented device performs tensile testing up to 500 tonnes, utilising compression – and it stands just 1.5m high. Similarly, one of Europe’s most powerful torque testers, with a capacity of 30,000Nm, is in our laboratory.

Today Berdan is the only integrated fastener company in Turkey that can carry out notch impact tests at very low temperatures, down to -150°C. Thanks to our own surface coating facilities – for hot dip galvanising, electro galvanised coating and zinc lamination coating – we

have achieved great success taking on unexpected orders and projects.

A prime example is Berdan Cıvata being called upon to use its fastener engineering experience to connect Europe and Asia – with the company supplying anchor bolts for the Çanakkale Strait bridge, after previously working on the Osmangazi bridge.

The Çanakkale Strait bridge (named Çanakkale 1915 bridge after Turkey’s historic victory in the region during WWI) is a 3.7km steel suspension bridge being built over the Dardanelles Strait in the Çanakkale province of Turkey. Located at the western end of the Marmara Sea, the bridge will connect the Lapseki District to the Gelibolu District (Gallipoli).

The consortium contracted to build the Çanakkale Strait bridge – Daelim and SK E&C, along with Turkish companies Limak Holding and Yapi Merkezi – contacted Berdan Cıvata to manufacture steel anchor bolts and relevant fastening components due to the company’s experience within the industry.

Berdan Cıvata supplied 762 sets of M85 x 1,0178mm Class 10.9 of anchor bolts for the bridge, which once completed will have a central span of 2,023m and a total length of 4,608m – with space for three lanes of traffic in both directions. Berdan already has previous experience of supplying such a project after supplying the Izmit Bay Crossing suspended bridge (Osmangazi bridge), which opened in July 2016. The Osmangazi bridge has a central span length of 1,550m – currently making it the 2 nd longest in Europe and 4th longest in the world.

We are very proud to be involved in the Çanakkale 1915 bridge project and we are already supplying products to help ensure the bridge opens on time in 2023 to coincide with the centenary of the Republic of Turkey. www.berdancivata.com

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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MADE IN TURKEY

The Teknoform experts By gathering a team of experts that have the know-how, knowledge and experience of over 25 years in cold forging engineering and production – plus a state of the art production line and machinery – Teknoform can provide quick and reliable production.

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T

eknoform focuses on special and challenging cold formed parts and has a full range of production capabilities in-house, including cold forging machines and secondary operations, heat treatment, an R&D department, as well as a quality laboratory that is constructed according to the requirements of the automotive industry.

Teknoform’s partnership with SMF Tools means it can provide quick and reliable production as well as fast delivery.

The company has establishing itself as a supplier to the automotive industry, passing the VW audit with an ‘A grade’ for both Class 8.8 and 10.9.

“Increasing our production with the automotive industry during recent years has been a key aim for the business,” explains Teknoform. “We believe that global

OEMs investments into Turkey over recent years has helped accelerate our growth in the market and enabled us to export to new countries and continents.”

External sales currently account for 60% of Teknoform’s business. The most

112 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

important export market is Europe, but the company is also looking to enter the US market. “With recent Nedschoref machine investments increasing capacity, speed, and efficiency, as well as an increasing number of customer, we are always thinking about our future growth in the fastener market,” says Teknoform. “Our geographic positioning makes us the perfect partner to Europe ensuring a logistical advantage. It will be those businesses that are able to offer not only special and quality products but also those that are able to build a relationship with customers, and become ‘special’ in the eyes of customers, that will stand out from the crowd and succeed.” www.teknoform.com

MADE IN TURKEY

ARMA celebrates 40th anniversary Founded in 1980 as a moulding workshop, ARMA Fixing Systems is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a manufacturer that provides innovative solutions to the fastener industry.

O

riginally starting with only two employees, in an area of just 20m2, the company quickly developed to start serving customers from various sectors such as automotive, home appliance, machinery, agriculture, construction, defence and marine. Today, the company has 100 employees at its new production site, which was built in 2016 and covers 7,000m2 of covered area in Hadımköy, Istanbul, Turkey.

ARMA has been working with the automotive sector since 1987, when it started manufacturing special metal brackets, metal stampings and metal components for local OEMs. Now, 40% of its turnover belongs to automotive global OEM brands and to tier 1 companies. ARMA has also received IATF 16949 certification, which complements its quality assurance system established many years ago according to ISO 9001.

Another important sector for ARMA is the home appliance sector, which it initially started to supply in 1990 with special spring fixing elements, metal clips and other metal fasteners from high carbon steels and stainless steel. Now 30% of its turnover goes to the home appliance sector – by providing innovative fixing parts, especially for cookers.

This production is carried out with ARMA’s own designed automatic forming machines.

656

In 2000 ARMA also developed a range of clamped products, including retaining clamps, hose clamps, pipe clamps, cable clamps and exhaust clamps.

The company is planning to add new product groups to its clamp production lines in the near future.

ARMA is always looking to develop new ranges and opportunities, which is why in 2018 it invested in a plastic injection machine. It now manufactures plastic products from engineering plastics and has recently completed its first project for plastic fasteners in automotive applications.

In addition to designing new moulds, apparatus, gauges and machines for its production line, ARMA is also able to develop and optimise tool life, reduce tool costs, improve productivity in production, as well as guarantee tool supply with a quick and reliable delivery term.

“Throughout every stage of our production process we focus on high-quality, which is a key selling point for our customers,” explains Murat Dikel, plant manager at ARMA Fixing Systems. “The company provides unmatched quality with optimum price and service by delivering on time to achieve 100% customer satisfaction.”

Over the last 40 years, ARMA Fixing Systems has shown significant growth in its production capabilities, product range, and customer base. Today, the company serves customers in more than 30 countries worldwide – with the majority based in Europe and the USA. “Currently the domestic market accounts for 52% of our total sales, with export representing 48%,” mentions Murat. “We look to export our products to different areas around the world, which is why we attend both domestic and overseas fairs in order to widen our customer portfolio. The next show we will be attending is Fastener Fair Turkey on 27 th – 29 th February 2020 in Istanbul. We invite all visitors to our booth 656 in hall 12 to find out more about our products and capabilities.” www.armafixing.com

Birlik – meeting customers’ needs Established in 1988, Birlik Bağlanti is a Turkish manufacturer and exporter of special fasteners including screws, bolts, rivets and bushes, with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes per month for the automotive, white goods and furniture sectors.

B

irlik has a wide range of machinery including 1 die 1 blow machines up to 7 die 7 blow machines. It also has transfer machines and a range of secondary operation forging presses and CNC machines.

“At Birlik we look to supply our customers with the highest quality products and the best service, which is why we have eleven sorting machines. This enables us to work with several industries including automotive tier suppliers, home appliance, furniture, small appliance and construction,” explains Arda Yedibaslar, foreign trade manager at Birlik Bağlanti.

According to its customers’ demands, Birlik can produce products in iron, copper, aluminium, stainless steel and brass (MS). “Our company wants to work with customers to ensure we are producing exactly what they need when they need it,” points out Arda. “That is why we are continuously looking at how we can improve our production processes, as well as why we have a ‘zero defect’ policy.”

To keep its customers’ satisfaction at the very highest levels, Birlik has a laboratory where it has Micro/Vickers devices to carry out surface testing, as well as Rockwell devices to check core hardness. The company also checks tightening torques with torque metres during all processes by SPC controls.”

Arda concludes: “With our 165 experienced workers, our aim is to satisfy customers in domestic and international markets in terms of quality and services.” www.birlikbaglanti.com

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Diameter: 2.2mm x 5.5mm

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EXHIBITIONS

PREVIEWS AND REPORTS FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS

Fastener Fair Turkey 2020 ready to welcome international visitors With 190 exhibitors already booked at Fastener Fair Turkey, registration is now open for trade visitors to join the 5th Turkish show for fastening and fixing technology – at the Tüyap Exhibition Center in Istanbul on 27th – 29th February 2020.

O

livia Griscelli, exhibition director of Fastener Fair Turkey, on behalf of the organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd, commented: “Attended by global players such as car manufacturers Ford and Toyota, as well as Turkish Airlines and State Railways, as many as 190 exhibitors from 11 different countries have already booked their stand, confirming the international nature of the show.”

As always, Fastener Fair Turkey will include the key Turkish fastener manufacturers, including Çetin Cıvata Sanayi Ticaret AŞ, NORM Cıvata Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, as well as fastener and automotive parts manufacturer Teknoform Bağlanti Elemanlari San Ve Tic AŞ.

Also exhibiting will be Meridyen AS, a producer and exporter of screws, bolts and fastening systems, together with Obel Cıvata and Oz Cıvata, both manufacturers of nuts, bolts, screws and fastening systems.

As well as Turkey, the rest of the world is well represented with exhibitors also from France, Germany, Italy, Iran, China, Taiwan, Israel, India, South Korea and the USA. These exhibitors include Fixi Srl – presenting its vast range of fasteners such as blind rivets, threaded inserts, self-clinching fasteners and wire inserts; Smalley

Europe, a manufacturer of SPIROLOX retaining rings and wave springs, will be showcasing its range of 10,000 parts stocked in carbon and stainless steel; and Atotech, a manufacturer and supplier of surface finishing solutions for the automotive, construction, smartphone and furniture industries. As well as these companies, notable international companies include Trafilerie San Paolo Srl, Magni Group Inc, Titgemeyer GmbH, SACMA Group, Beneri SpA, Berardi Bullonerie Srl, NOF Metal Coatings Europe, Regg Inspection Srl, Reinhardt GmbH, and Videx Machine Engineering Ltd.

Who visits?

Fastener Fair Turkey brings together industry professionals who source and trade fastener and fixing materials from key manufacturing sectors as the technology is required in a variety of industrial sectors. In 2018, the exhibition saw 2,900 visitors from 48 countries, 70% up on 2016. Automotive giants such as Hyundai, Tofas, Karsan Automotive, Ford, Toyota, Man Truck and SAMPA Automotive from the commercial and military transport sector attended in 2018.

Mitsubishi Electric Turkey, Panasonic, Siemens and Toshiba also attended the show.

Visitor information

Fastener Fair Turkey 2020 will be open from 10:00 – 17:00 on 27 th and 28 th February 2020, and from 10:00 – 16:00 on Saturday 29 th February 2020. Trade visitors can register online before 27 th February 2020 for free for all three exhibition days.

More information about the exhibition, such as the regularly updated exhibitor list and information for travel and hotel bookings, is available on the exhibition website.

116 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

Exhibitor List COMPANY NAME 3E ENDÜSTRİYEL MÜH SAN. VE TİC. LTD ŞTİ

COUNTRY TURKEY

HALL 12

STAND 958

COMPANY NAME METALSAN DERGİSİ

COUNTRY TURKEY

HALL 12

STAND TBC

A RAYMOND BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SANAYİ VE TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

336

MİKRON CNC TAKIM TEZG. MÜH. BİLG. TAS. PROG. SİST. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

942

AJANSMIK YAYINCILIK

TURKEY

12

TBC

MILFAST METALWORKS CO., LTD.

CHINA

12

361

AKPINAR CİVATA HIRDAVAT İNŞ. SAN. TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

212

MİTAŞ CİVATA SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ

TURKEY

12

512

AKS OTOMOTİV SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

350

MOĞOLLAR MAKİNA DIŞ TİCARET DENİZCİLİK LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

356

ALTAVOX ISIL İŞLEM SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

658

MONETA TANITIM ORGANİZASYON REKLAMCILIK YAYINCILIK

TURKEY

12

TBC

AN CHIAO MOULDS CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

160

MURAT CİVATA BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

324

AOZHAN INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD

CHINA

12

164

ARMA BAĞLANTI SİSTEMLERİ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

656

ND INDUSTRIES BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI KİLİTLEME SIZDIRMAZLIK TEKNOLOJİLERİ SAN. TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

720

ASB OTOMOTİV SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

928

NET CİVATA VE VİDA SAN. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

904

ASİL CİVATA

TURKEY

12

534

NEXO INDUSTRIES P. LTD.

INDIA

12

558

ATOTECH İSTANBUL KİMYA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

224

NIKAN TECH IRANIAN

IRAN

12

540

BAYKAN CİVATA

TURKEY

12

956

NIMPEKS

TURKEY

12

140

BELPA BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

120

NINGBO OUKAILUO HARDWARE CO., LTD.

CHINA

12

366

BENERİ S.P.A

ITALY

12

350

NINGBO TRANSHOW FASTENER CO.

CHINA

12

874

BERARDI BULLONERIE S.R.L.

ITALY

12

546

NINGBO ZHISHANG SPECIAL FASTENERS

CHINA

12

977

BERDAN CİVATA SOMUN MAK. YED. PARÇ. İML. SAN. VE LAB. HİZ. TİC. SAN. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

328

NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE

FRANCE

12

934

NORM CİVATA SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

504

BESIAD - BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SANAYİCİ VE İŞADAMLARI DERNEĞİ

TURKEY

12

1008

OBEL CİVATA SAN VE TİC A.Ş - OBEL FASTENERS

TURKEY

12

312

BİLGİNOĞLU ENDÜSTRİ MALZ. SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

756

OMEGA CİVATA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

212

BİMEKS TEL A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

456

ONİKİ MAKİNE

TURKEY

12

750

BİRLİK BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SANAYİ VE TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

334

ONUR MONTAJ SİST. TEK HIRD SAN TİC LTD ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

108

BOLT FASTENERS CO.

TURKEY

12

246

OSAKA TEL VE TELBANT

TURKEY

12

758

BOZTAŞ CİVATA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

712

OSG TURKEY KESİCİ TAK. SAN. İÇ VE DIŞ TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

742

CELEBRITE FASTENERS CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

975

ÖZ CIVATA SOMUN LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

220

ÇETİN CİVATA SANAYİ TİCARET A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

520

ÖZGÜN KAYMAS MAK. MÜH. VE İML. SAN. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

146

ÇETİNKAYA YEDEK PARÇA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

928

PEK PERÇİN CİVATA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

203

CHANGDE BOLT HARDWARE PRODUCTS CO., LTD

CHINA

12

275

POTENZA MÜHENDİSLİK SAN VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

446

CHANGZHOU JUNHE TECHNOLOGY STOCK CO., LTD

CHINA

12

166

PRESTİJ YAYINCILIK

TURKEY

12

TBC

CHENG CHANG CARBIDE CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

980

REFORM CIVATA SANAYİ VE TİCARET LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ

TURKEY

12

640

CHIEN TSAI MACHINERY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

262

REGG INSPECTION AND ROLLING

ITALY

12

746

CHUM YUAN CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

777

REINHARDT GMBH

GERMANY

12

106

COS PRECISION TOOL CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

774

RONEN GROUP LIMITED

CHINA

12

360

DEMSA ISIL İŞLEM SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

528

ROT-SAN OTOMOTİV İNŞ. KUN. SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

740

DİNAMO BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI TİCARET VE SANAYİ A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

350

SACMA GROUP

ITALY

12

746

DRESSELHAUS ÇETİN CİVATA PAZ. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

428

SAMİ KIRAÇ CİVATA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

340

EAGLE METALWARE CO., LTD

CHINA

12

172

SANTECH SANAYİ TEKNOLOJİLERİ TİC. LTD ŞTİ

TURKEY

12

746

EBRU BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI ÜRETİM SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

1040

ŞARA ENERJİ İNŞAAT TİC. SAN. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

204

EMEK PERÇİN VE ENDÜSTRİYEL BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

1044

TURKEY

12

646

SERİN CİVATA SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

SERMET KALIP SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

SERTEL VİDA METAL A.Ş.

TURKEY TURKEY TURKEY

12 12 12

940 650 736

CHINA

12

267

SHANGHAI FAST-FIX RIVET CORP

CHINA

12

170

EZEL CIVATA TİC. VE SAN. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

920

SIJIN INTELLIGENT FORMING MACHINERY CO., LTD

CHINA

12

FASTEN FIX CO., LTD

CHINA

12

464

SİMAR DIŞ TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE

UK

12

967

FIXI S.R.L.

ITALY

12

950

SİNTAÇ MADENİ PARÇA MAK. SAN. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

262 160, 262, 156 112

FORMTEK SAC KALIP MAKİNE SANAYİ VE TİCARET LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ

TURKEY

12

1042

SİSTEM MAKİNA SANAYİ TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

450

GEBOPRES BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SANAYİ TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

556

SMALLEY EUROPE

FRANCE

12

836

GEBR. TITGEMEYER GMBH & CO.KG

GERMANY

12

302

SMF SERT METAL KALIP SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

1022

GENÇ RONDELA METAL SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

634

SOM CİVATA SOMUN SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

304

GÜNDENİZ AHG BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SAN. VE TİC. DIŞ TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

324

STAHL ALPINE ÇELİK TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

728

GÜNEŞ TEL ÇEKME SAN. VE TİC. AŞ

TURKEY

12

947

TURKEY

12

TBC

HAIYAN BROTHER UNTIED FASTENER CO., LTD.

CHINA

12

578

TURKEY

12

1004

HAOYIJIA MACHINE CO, LTD

CHINA

12

377

HANDAN CITY TIANCONG FASTENER MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD

CHINA

12

571

JIAXING GOSHEN HARDWARE CO., LTD

CHINA

12

364

DONGTAI CITY HUAWEI STANDARD COMPONENT COMPANY LTD.

CHINA

12

367

SUBCONTURKEY GAZETESİ SUN BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI PRES METAL MAKİNA SANAYİ VE TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.

TAHRİBATSIZ MALZEME MUAYENE SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TAIYA MOULD JIAXING CO., LTD. TARANTO GALVANO

TURKEY CHINA TURKEY

12 12 12

250 966 1026

HANGZHOU QUFAIR NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD

CHINA

12

974

TAŞKAZAN SOMUN CİVATA BAĞLANTI EL. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

820

HANYANG FASTENERS INDUSTRY INC.

KOREA

12

570

TEKELİOĞLU CİVATA SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

704

HSIUNG JEN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

876

TEKNOFORM BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

912

HUANGSHAN SHENGRUI SEIKO MACHINEY CO. LTD

CHINA

12

962

TEKNOVALS A.Ş

TURKEY

12

936

HYODONG MACHINE CO., LTD.

KOREA

12

150

TERMOSAN ISIL İŞLEM SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

662

İÇDAŞ ÇELİK ENERJİ TERSANE VE ULAŞIM SANAYİ A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

240

TITANOX TURKEY BAĞ. ELEM. SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

812

İDEAL BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI VE METAL ÜRÜNLERİ SAN. TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

1010

TITGEMEYER TURKEY BAĞLANTI TEKNOLOJİLERİ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

302

IMANPACK PACKAGING & ECO SOLUTIONS SPA

ITALY

12

456

TOCSAN TÜRKİSTAN OTOM. CİVATA SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

142

JANGSU TONE MACHINE CO.,LTD

CHINA

12

162

TORK BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI

TURKEY

12

724

JIANGXI KAIXU AUTOMOBILE FITTING CO.

CHINA

12

676

TRAFILERIE SAN PAOLO SRL.

ITALY

12

746

UGC UĞUR GÜRBÜZ CİVATA SANAYİ VE TİCARET LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ

TURKEY

12

702

JIANXING SANMAI IMP & EXP CO., LTD

CHINA

12

280

VIDASAN

TURKEY

12

346

JIASHAN ORIK MACHINERY CO. LTD

CHINA

12

156

VIDEX MACHINE ENGINEERING LTD.

ISRAEL

12

160

JIASHAN SH-KT INTL TRADE CO LTD

CHINA

12

576

JIAXING HONGXIN TRADING CO., LTD.

CHINA

12

477

VİSAN VİDA İTH. İHR. SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

202

JIAXING KOX IMPORT&EXPORT TRADING CO.,LTD.

CHINA

12

964

WENZHOU JINSHENG FASTENER CO.,LTD.

CHINA

12

674

JINJIANG TAGONG HARDWARE FORGING MANUFACTURER

CHINA

12

168

WENZHOU LEILEI FASTENERS CO., LTD.

CHINA

12

276

KAMAS GALVANİZ KAPLAMA SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ

TURKEY

12

764

WENZHOU SHENGNAN FASTENERS CO., LTD.

CHINA

12

460

YAĞMUR VİDA SANAYİ VE TİCARET İTHALAT İHRACAT LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

228

KARDEMİR KARABÜK DEMİR ÇELİK SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş.

TURKEY

12

440

YANGZHOU CANAAN ELECTRO-THERMO MACHINE CO., LTD

CHINA

12

370

KINFAST HARDWARE CO.,LTD

CHINA

12

266

KIRAÇ CİVATA SOMUN RONDELA SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

734

KİSTLER TURKEY SENSÖR VE TEKNİK ÖLÇÜM SİSTEMLERİ LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

1002

YBS CHEMICAL ANCHOR SYSTEMS YESWIN MACHINERY CO., LTD YÖNDEMİR METAL SANAYİ

Turkey Taiwan Turkey

12 12 12

118 256 840

KONAK CİVATA SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

234

YUYAO ALFIRSTE HARDWARE CO., LTD.

China

12

770

KONFU ENTERPRISE CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

456

YUYAO ZHENDA MACHINERY CO., LTD.

China

12

274

KONYA SOMUN DÖVME OTOMOTİV SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

128

ZHEJIANG BULLET HARDWARE CO., LTD.

China

12

277

LU - YI DIE WORKS CO., LTD

TAIWAN

12

882

ZHEJIANG JINGGU MACHINERY MANUFACTURE CO.,LTD

China

12

771

MAGNI GROUP, INC.

USA

12

924

ZHEJIANG PENGLI AUTO PARTS CO., LTD

China

12

470

MARPOSS ITALIA S.P.A (MARPOSS / BRANKAMP)

ITALY

12

446

ZHEJIANG XINCHUN FASTENING PIECE CO., LTD

China

12

376

MARMARA ISIL İŞLEM SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

TURKEY

12

858

ZHEJIANG ZHAPU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD

China

12

466

MERİDYEN A.Ş

TURKEY

12

320

ZMT METAL SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

Turkey

12

946

EMTİES BAĞLANTI ELEMANLARI GİJON METAL OTOMOTİV SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

ESSEN EXHIBITION (DALIAN) CO., LTD

*Correct at time of print 15.01.20

www.fastenerandfixing.com 117

EVENTS CALENDAR

Fastener Fair Turkey Istanbul, Turkey 27 Feb – 29 Feb 2020 www.fastenerfairturkey.com The fastener event for Turkey.

International Hardware Fair Köln

EMPACK 2020

BYGGERI’20

FEiCON BATiMAT

TechniShow

MosBuild

Köln, Germany 1 Mar – 4 Mar 2020 www.eisenwarenmesse.com Global trade fair for the hardware and DIY industry.

Fredericia, Denmark 10 Mar – 13 Mar 2020 www.byggerimessen.dk Scandinavia’s trade fair for construction products, tools and equipment.

Utrecht, the Netherlands 17 Mar – 20 Mar 2020 www.technishow.nl Benelux’s largest event in the field of production technology.

ESEF

Utrecht, the Netherlands 17 Mar – 20 Mar 2020 www.esef.nl The meeting place for the Dutch manufacturing industry.

St. Petersburg Technical Fair

St. Petersburg, Russia 18 Mar – 20 Mar 2020 www.ptfair.ru Metallurgy, welding, metalworking, tools, materials and machinery exhibition.

wire® Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf, Germany 30 Mar – 3 Apr 2020 www.wire.de Wire and cable, including fastener manufacturing technology.

120 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

Utrecht, the Netherlands 31 Mar – 2 Apr 2020 www.empack.nl The future of packing technology.

São Paulo, Brazil 31 Mar – 3 Apr 2020 www.feicon.com.br Construction industry fair.

Moscow, Russia 31 Mar – 3 Apr 2020 www.mosbuild.com Russia’s largest building and interiors trade show.

CONSTRUMA

Budapest, Hungary 1 Apr – 5 Apr 2020 www.construma.hu International building trade exhibition.

CONSTRUCT – AMBIENT EXPO

București, Romania 9 Apr – 12 Apr 2020 https://construct-ambientexpo.ro International trade fair for construction technologies and products.

5th MECHANICAL COMPONENTS & MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY EXPO NAGOYA Nagoya, Japan 15 Apr – 17 Apr 2020 www.japan-mfg-nagoya.jp/en-gb/about/ mtech.html Asia’s leading B2B trade show for mechanical components/processing technology.

exhibitions

Counting down to wire® and Tube 2020 In the run-up to the international trade fairs wire® and Tube – once again being held at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre from 30th March – 3rd April 2020 – Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, global portfolio director metals and flow technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, explains what visitors can expect at the shows, and what’s new for 2020.

What’s new at the world’s leading trading fairs for wire, cable and tubes in 2020?

“There are a number of new features at wire® and Tube.

We will be following on from the good registration results obtained at the previous 2018 events with some 2,600 exhibitors from 65 countries. Again 16 exhibition halls will be occupied extending over a net total of 115,000m 2 .

We will have not one but two premieres and new campaigns in 2020. Exhibition halls 16 and 17 will see for the first time, the complete value chain for fasteners and springs.

In addition to production machinery and equipment, finished products in the form of fasteners, connectors and technical springs will now also be on show.

This means that from 2020 wire will be the new information and order platform for the producers, marketers and buyers of screws, fasteners, construction elements and fitting parts, as well as all types of springs and bent wire parts.

For the first time, we will also be running a large-scale ecoMetals campaign for the entire duration of wire and Tube 2020. Exhibitors who are particularly committed to the areas of energy saving production, material and resource efficiency, climate compatible use of renewable energies, or optimised energy controlling, can join in the campaign. Their stands will be highlighted specifically using a label and corresponding sticker.

We will be having ecoMetals trails, which are guided tours stopping by these exhibition stands.

Participating exhibitors are given the opportunity to personally provide detailed information about their company’s innovations at their stand for a fee. Interested trade visitors can register online for participation in an ecoMetals trail in the run-up to the event. Spontaneous participants on-site are also welcome, of course. The meeting point is the ecoMetals information counter at entrance ‘Nord’.

2020 will also see the premier of a new exhibition hall for Tube exhibitors from the tube production, tube accessories and tube trade segments. 158 metres long, 77 metres wide and offering more than 12,000m 2 of floorspace hall 1 corresponds to roughly the size of halls 8a and 8b.

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exhibitions In technical terms the new hall lives up to the high standards of the whole exhibition centre. It can be accessed via seven gates, and suspensions from the hall ceiling are possible as is the supply of stands with power, water and compressed air from the hall floor.”

What will be the main emphasis at wire 2020?

“wire 2020 covers a comprehensive spectrum of themes ranging from machinery and equipment for wire manufacturing, wire processing and finishing, spring and fastener technologies and their finished products, auxiliary materials and process technology tools through to glass fibre.

Glass fibre is a highly topical theme of growing significance because ultra high-speed fibre optic links are expanding worldwide.

Furthermore, the latest developments in test engineering and specialist areas will be on display. Exhibitors provide information on trends in measuring and control technology. Additionally, materials, special wires and cables will be in focus.”

What countries do the exhibitors and visitors of wire and Tube hail from?

“Our exhibitors primarily come from Italy, Great Britain, France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Poland and Germany.

Companies travelling to Düsseldorf from overseas come from the USA, India, Taiwan, South Korea and China.

70,000 trade visitors are again expected over the five days of the trade fairs. Most guests will come from the strong production and buyer countries such as Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Turkey and Germany. From overseas we expect many visitors to come from the USA, Brazil, India and China.”

How are the two events being affected by the global economy?

“The exhibitors of wire as well as Tube present their technology highlights to an international trade audience. The leading trade fairs are therefore must attend events for the whole industry. wire and Tube regard themselves as pacesetters – especially in these times of heightened uncertainty caused by trade tensions between the USA, China and Europe, and the UK due to BREXIT. According to the Deutsche Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahlrohre e.V, the energy industry, automotive sector, and mechanical engineering, remain the key users as before.

The challenges are also accordingly high for the wire and cable industry. Economic unpredictability in the wake of increasing protectionist tendencies put a burden on the industry, according to Germany’s Eisendraht- und Stahldraht-Vereinigung (German Iron and Steel Wire Association).

However, more cables, lines and wires are the positive consequence of the constant and rapid changes affecting mobility. The demands made on the industry in terms of innovations and flexibility are rising, new drive technologies, autonomous driving or e-mobility determine the thinking and decisions taken in boardrooms. Demand is also driven by more and more artificial intelligence in vehicles and rising multimedia requirements.”

124 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

exhibitions

Meet the entire hardware industry From 1st – 4th March 2020, Köln will once again become the meeting point for the entire international hardware industry. Across four days, around 2,800 suppliers from more than 55 countries will present tools and products from the industrial supply, fasteners and fixings, fittings and home improvement segments.

E

ISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Köln will present itself not only with a new hall and more square metres but with segments distributed equally over all halls. The largest product offering is still the ‘Tool’ section in halls 2, 4, 5, 10 and 11. The theme of ‘Industrial Supply’ can once again be found in halls 2 – 5, while exhibitors of the ‘Fasteners and Fixings’ and ‘Home Improvement’ segments will present themselves in halls 2 – 5 and 11.

With this structure, trade visitors will profit more from the unification with the other segments and the synergies resulting from this.

“The exhibitor quality once again shows the EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Köln is the world’s leading trade fair for the hardware industry. It is the optimal meeting point for the buyers and decision makers of the industry,” commented Catja Caspary, vice-president at Koelnmesse GmbH. The product offering of exhibitors is complemented by an extensive and diverse event programme. One highlight of the trade fair is the presentation of the ‘EISEN Innovation Award powered by ZHH’ at the EISENforum. The Zentralverband Hartwarenhandel e.V. (ZHH/Central Association of the Hardware Trade) and Koelnmesse will once again

126 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

honour the best products from the fields of tools, fasteners and fixings/ fittings and industrial supply. In order to attract even more attention for innovations, the award ceremony will take place on the first day of the trade fair, Sunday 1 st March 2020 at 10:00 at the EISENforum in hall 11.1. The prize winners and all nominees will be presented to international trade visitors over the entire duration of the trade fair in a special exhibition.

In addition to the enormous range of offerings, the profound international character and the quality of the exhibitors of the EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Köln is particularly appealing. More than 85% of exhibitors will once again come from abroad in 2020. Besides many exhibitors from Germany, other European countries are also very well represented in Köln. Italy, Poland and the Netherlands are strong exhibitor countries, among others. From overseas, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and the USA are represented with large contingents. The significance of the event as the most important meeting point of the industry can be seen in the list of names on the registration list, including an agreement with the Cordless Alliance System cooperation. www.eisenwarenmesse.com/tickets

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exhibitions

Over 76% of exhibition space booked at Fastener Fair Italy 2020 More than 76% of the exhibition space has already been reserved at Fastener Fair Italy 2020, taking place from 11th – 12th November 2020 in pavilion 3 at Fiera Milano City.

T

he third edition of Fastener Fair Italy provides a great networking opportunity for buyers and sellers in the industry. “Italy is the second largest fastener producer after Germany so places are filling up fast for the 2020 fair. Over 100 exhibitors have booked their stands from 8 countries,” said Olivia Griscelli, exhibition director of Fastener Fair Italy on behalf of the organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd. Exhibitors include Italian companies Berardi Bullonerie Srl – a supplier of both custom and standard screws and bolts, machinery manufacturer Dimac Srl, and screw, rivet and stud fastener company Corbetta & C SNC. Foreign exhibitors include German electronic parts supplier Ettinger GmbH, pgb-Europe NV from Belgium, as well as Rotor Clip s.r.o from the Czech Republic – a manufacturer of clamps, wave springs and rings.

“With such high-quality products on display, this unique fair attracts trade visitors from the aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, construction, energy, marine, agricultural and mechanical engineering industries. At the last show in 2018, as many as 2,700 visitors came from 63 countries to see 214 exhibitors from 14 countries,” added Olivia Griscelli.

Visitors to Fastener Fair Italy 2018 included global players like Ducati Motor Holding, the motorcycle manufacturing division of Italian company Ducati, as well as well known appliance manufacturers Electrolux and De’Longhi, plus technical specialists from IKEA Components.

Fastener Fair Italy is part of a series of targeted trade events for the fastener and fixing industry, including Fastener Fair Turkey, Fastener Fair India, Fastener Fair France, Fastener Fair Mexico and Fastener Fair USA. Fastener Fair Stuttgart, is the global flagship exhibition of the Fastener Fair brand.

128 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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exhibitions

Digital ecosystems centre stage For 2020 HANNOVER MESSE will have a revamped layout, making it even quicker for visitors to zero in on the key industrial transformation technologies of greatest interest to them. The focal point of the show’s industrial transformation message is the ‘digital ecosystems showcase’ covering the full range of software for every link in the industrial value chain.

T

aking place from 20th – 24th April 2020, the digital ecosystems showcase will be strategically located at the heart of the venue – in halls 14 through 17 – where it will enjoy thematic synergies with various other themes in the neighboring halls.

Processes and technologies that up until quite recently were regarded as separate and distinct will be showcased together in an integrated overview of process flows and solutions. “In the current age of Industry 4.0, the focus is on flexible manufacturing, standalone yet integrated machines and systems, and autonomous exchanges of process information. The key to it all is the software that maps and manages these processes. At HANNOVER MESSE, all theme areas relevant to this will be clustered in the ‘digital ecosystems’ display,” said Hubertus von Monschaw, global director digital ecosystems at Deutsche Messe.

Among the exhibitors in this part of the show will be Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Dassault, EPLAN, HUAWEI, Microsoft, PSI, SAP, Siemens PLM, Software AG and Telekom. There will also be a number of prominent newcomers such as Google, proAlpha, McAfee and Knapp. Their displays will span a range of themes, including predictive maintenance, machine learning, MES (manufacturing execution systems), logistics (WMS and TMS), data analytics, CAD (computer aided design), PLM (product lifecycle management), business platforms, ERP (enterprise resource planning) for real time monitoring, virtual/augmented reality and industrial security.

At HANNOVER MESSE 2019, these themes attracted over 100,000 visitors. One key aspect common to all of them is increasing convergence of applications and technologies. MES and data analytics are a case in point. Manufacturing execution systems (also known as

production control systems) are able to function reliably only if their future performance can be predictively modelled and analysed using appropriate data analytics – so that improvements and checks can be undertaken as appropriate.

The convergence of once separate areas of technology is also very clear from CAD, PLM and business platforms. Whereas only a few years ago CAD software was primarily about designing individual workpieces and machine parts, there are now companies providing software platforms that model and manage entire value chains from design and parts procurement right through to final quality control.

ERP (enterprise resource planning) is another exciting focus of software convergence. At HANNOVER MESSE 2020, providers will present examples and use cases demonstrating how mechanical engineering and other firms can now leverage ERP tools in completely new ways. Predictive ERP, for example, is sparking more and more interest. It enables manufacturers to predict possible events and initiate the necessary measures and countermeasures. Integrated with the appropriate process models, predictive ERP systems can facilitate better decision making by running simulations of even the most complex scenarios.

Gateway to China’s fastener market From 23rd – 25th September 2020, China Fastener Info and Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) will jointly organise Fastener Shanghai – Shanghai Fastener & Tech Show 2020, which will be co-located with wire® and Tube China.

S

hanghai Fastener & Tech Show 2020 will bring together companies focusing on screws, nuts, bolts, washers, rivets, fastener equipment, moulds, raw materials, and surface treatment, from all over the world. Opening up the upstream and downstream channels to create a one stop sourcing platform for fastener products, manufacturing equipment and raw materials.

The statistics of the previous Shanghai Fastener & Tech Show 2018, and wire and Tube China 2018 speak for themselves. 1,654 exhibitors from 31 countries exhibited over 11 halls covering 100,800m2. The shows also saw an increase of 6.9% in visitors compared to previous editions with 45,120 professional visitors from 91 countries and regions.

Fasteners are the most widely used mechanical part in various sectors.

After decades of development and accumulation, China’s fastener industry

130 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

has completed the transformation from small to large, and its output ranks first in the world. However, how to produce high-quality fasteners to meet new needs of application markets has become a new challenge.

With the supply side structural reform in China, the high-end fastener market is getting larger. Industries such as the 5G network, advanced biological and medical equipment, aerospace, rail transit, marine engineering equipment, intelligent manufacturing, nuclear power, wind power, and eco vehicles need a large number of high-quality fastener products, which reflects the huge potential for market growth.

“By taking part in Shanghai Fastener & Tech Show 2020, you can make full use of the platform to find quality buyers and business partners from upstream and downstream to develop new business relationships and get quality sales leads. You can tap into China’s fastener market.”

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS news and information dedicated to construction fixing products

30 years of ETAs, CE Marking and EOTA In 2020 the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA) will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Ahead of this milestone, we caught up with Sergio Vazquez Jimenez, secretary general of EOTA, to see how the organisation is still aiding the fastener and fixing industry today.

What is EOTA and what are the organisation’s core activities? How is this relevant to the fastening industry?

“EOTA is a non-profit organisation which – for the last thirty years – has used the scientific and technological expertise of its members – the Technical Assessment Bodies (TABs) – to develop and adopt harmonised technical specifications. In other words, EOTA offers companies the opportunity to add CE Marking to construction products that are not, or not fully, covered by a harmonised standard – formerly according to the Construction Products Directive (CPD) and now according to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).

EOTA coordinates the procedures for the request of a European Technical Assessment (ETA) and for adopting European Assessment Documents (EAD). EOTA also informs the European Commission (EC) and the Standing Committee on Construction of any questions related to the preparation of EADs and suggests improvements to the EC based on its vast experience.

We also ensure examples of best practices are shared between our members to promote greater efficiency and provide a better service to the industry, and we make sure that adopted EADs and references to ETAs are kept publicly available.

We really believe that the ETA route is a wonderful tool not only for large companies but also for SMEs. Our goal, mission, and task, is to support the access of manufacturers, including small and medium enterprises, to the European market.

The fastener industry is not only a core industry for the construction sector, but also one of EOTA’s most important and long-standing partners. Almost 15% of the European Assessment Documents that have been developed by EOTA are for the fastening industry and more than 30% of all ETAs have been issued within this product area.”

What does your role at EOTA involve?

“The EOTA secretariat monitors the EAD development and once they have been cited in the Official Journal of the European Union we make them publicly available on our website. My work day involves a lot of meetings, with our executive board, the General Assembly, the Commission services and other partners and construction industry stakeholders. The core of EOTA is the technical work we do, which

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is handled by our technical board chair. Here in the secretariat, we support her tasks as much as possible.

My background is that of a technical architect, but I hold a second degree in economics. I started as a quality manager in the construction sector, then as a building manager and then after six years I decided to take up the challenge to join the public administration in Spain. My aim was to gain experience in managing large projects, not only from the technical point of view but also from the economic point of view.

Later on, I was offered the chance to represent the Spanish Council of Technical Architecture (CGATE), which represents some 55,000 Spanish professionals in several international organisations. It was then that I realised the next natural step for me would be working in an international organisation and EOTA gave me this opportunity in July 2017. I must say that handling the EOTA projects has been my most challenging experience so far. I enjoy the international environment and also the high-level of expertise and professionalism the people I get to work with bring to the construction sector.”

What are some recent developments at EOTA and why are they important to the fastening industry?

“We have recently converted some fastener related ETAGs into new EADs. This also concerns the famous ETAG 001. The old ETAG consisted of six parts and has now been subdivided into three new EADs. From a technical point of view, the content remains the same. The new EADs are: EAD 330232-00-0601: Mechanical fasteners for use in concrete.

EAD 330499-00-0601: Bonded fasteners for use in concrete.

EAD 330747-00-0601: Fasteners for use in concrete for redundant non-structural systems.

This conversion required a huge amount of work from us, our members, and the European Commission, and the plan is to move forward with this conversion approach until all ETAGs that are still relevant for the construction sector have been converted into EADs. Another recent development is a new working group, which has been created within EOTA – we call it the ‘Expert Group Fixings’. We launched this in July 2019. The idea is to bring together experts from the entire fixing industry, and of course, TABs and associations, in order to discuss and promote innovations in the fastener industry.”

How does EOTA define innovation, and can there be innovation through EADs?

“Absolutely. Let’s talk about fixings first of all – we think that as part of one of the most dynamic industries, fixing companies have brought lots of new impulses and innovation to the construction sector through the EOTA route for the last 30 years. At EOTA, we see a lot of evolution in the systems and products the fixing manufacturers bring to us, as well as higher performances, for example in the form of additional product features or increased working life.

Three innovative EADs have been developed recently: EAD 332347-00-0601: Connector for strengthening of existing concrete structures by concrete overlay.

EAD 332001-00-0602: Clamping system for connection of precast concrete members.

EAD 331924-00-0602: Decking fixing assemblies.

A look at EOTA’s assessment work shows that innovation in the construction sector, along with CE Marking for novel products, happens mostly in two ways. The first is when a manufacturer decides to place a completely new construction product on the market for the first time. The second, and in my opinion the more relevant one, is when a manufacturer wants to place a construction product on the market with new or with improved features. This form of innovation is usually related to strong and well established industries such as fixings.

Both kinds of innovation – the more obvious and the silent one – are catered for by the voluntarily route of the ETA.”

What is the process of applying for an ETA?

The chosen TAB will then inform you about its general terms and provide you with a price quote. If you agree with the conditions, you will sign an agreement of confidentiality and commercial secrecy with your TAB. You will then need to provide the TAB with a comprehensive technical file of the product to be assessed.

It is helpful if you include any research, tests or other technical assessment results you might already have. Depending on the characteristics for which you wish to declare a performance, you and the TAB of your choice will jointly determine and agree on a work and assessment programme, which will take into account all relevant and already existing harmonised technical specifications. The results of the assessment will be stated in the ETA. A draft of your ETA will be circulated among all EOTA TABs designated for the relevant product area for consultation and input.

You will also be able to comment on the draft ETA and suggest modifications. The TAB is then responsible for issuing the final ETA. The ETA is the basis for the Declaration of Performance (DoP) and the CE Marking, which you are required to draw up/affix to your product in accordance with the CPR. The European Commission is also informed about every ETA request. References of issued ETAs are published in a public database kept by EOTA, which can be found on our website.”

What have been EOTA’s defining moments in its 30 year history, and what does the future hold?

“For me this is not a difficult question. From my experience, our markets need EOTA and the ETA. They are important tools for winning the trust of customers and other construction industry stakeholders and for promoting the use of novel products.

Any system can be improved, especially in complex environments such as the construction sector, but EOTA has provided a relevant service to the internal market ever since 1990.

I had the opportunity to meet with the first secretary general when I started my role here at EOTA. He explained to me the difficulties EOTA had faced over the years.

One crucial moment was when the old Construction Products Directive was replaced by the current Construction Products Regulation (CPR), which was adopted in 2011 and fully entered into force in 2013.

As the approach and technical needs were completely different, we and our industry partners had to overhaul the way we worked. At present, there is again a lot of discussion and loads of workshops around the future of the CPR. EOTA and its members are very happy to support any improvement to the existing system.

However, we also feel that the construction industry needs a reliable and stable legal framework to tackle the challenges ahead. Making the construction sector smarter, greener and more sustainable, will take a lot of inventiveness and effort from construction product manufacturers. Providing them with an effective system to place their novel products on the internal market will be key for achieving these important objectives.” www.eota.eu

…as part of one of the most dynamic industries, fixing companies have brought lots of new impulses and innovation to the construction sector through the EOTA route for the last 30 years…”

“If you are a manufacturer or their authorised representative, you can apply for an ETA with any TAB of your choice that is designated in the relevant work area. The TAB will provide you with the relevant application forms.

For the ETA request, you will be asked to provide the following information: Description of the construction product, its intended use and the essential characteristics/performances you wish to declare.

Declaration that no request has been submitted to another TAB before.

If you can, you should also indicate whether your product is not, or not fully, covered by a harmonised standard – which is a prerequisite for the ETA. If you are not sure the TAB of your choice will help you.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

The benefits of chemical anchors Here Bossong SpA, with its complete range of high-quality chemical anchors, manufactured in its main plant in Bergamo, Italy, explains how the use of chemical anchors is continuously growing within the market thanks to their flexibility and the possibility of installation in every type of base material.

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or some base materials such as hollow and solid masonry, AAC, and lightweight concrete, the chemical anchor is the best solution, because it doesn’t create any tension on the base material during the installation.

In terms of flexibility, a chemical anchor enables the possibility to anchor the rebar, for example with the post-installed rebar connection and also to design fixings with variable setting depth. The possibility to increase the setting depth up to 20 times the diameter of the threaded rod gives the designer the option to have a higher resistance load with respect to a mechanical anchor.

All the chemical anchors produced by Bossong are styrene-free and have a thixotropic consistency, in order to allow overhead installation. The range of chemical anchors is composed by: POLY EC: Polyester resin without ETA-CE certification, for medium/light loads and for use in different base materials such as concrete, solid and hollow masonry.

POLY SF: Polyester resin with double ETA-CE certification, for medium loads and for different base materials. Also available, the POLY SF chemical anchor is assessed for use in solid and hollow masonry (ETA – 11/0396) and for fixing in non-cracked concrete (ETA – 15/0560).

VINIL: Epoxy acrylate resin with ETA-CE certification, for medium/high loads, suitable for all base materials. The VINIL chemical anchor is assessed for fixing threaded rod and rebar in non-cracked concrete (ETA – 15/0708).

V-PLUS: Vinylester resin with double ETA-CE certifications, for high/structural loads, suitable for all base materials and for all weather conditions. The V-PLUS chemical anchor is assessed for fixing concrete with threaded rods and rebar (ETA – 09/0140).

The certification includes static and also seismic performance, with seismic category C1 and C2.

In addition to the first ETA for fixing the V-PLUS chemical anchor is assessed also for the post-installed rebar connections (ETA – 09/0246). For this ETA the performances included in the certification are static, seismic and also fire. This fixing is also available in Winter and Tropical version for temperature of base material from -20°C to +40°C. EPOXY 21: Pure epoxy resin with double ETA-CE certification, for very high/structural loads, suitable for all solid base materials and for diamond drilling hole up to 2,000mm. The EPOXY 21 chemical anchor is assessed for fixing concrete with threaded rods (ETA – 11/0344).

The certification includes static and also seismic category C2. The EPOXY 21 chemical anchor is also assessed for post-installed rebar connections (ETA – 11/0345).

For this ETA the performances included in the certification are only the static one, but the product has a separate report for the fire resistance. www.bossong.com

For some base material… the chemical anchor is the best solution, because it doesn’t create any tension on the base material during the installation.”

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Tecfi invests in chemical anchor range Over recent years Tecfi SpA has heavily invested in developing its range of chemical anchors, strongly believing in the advantage of reducing edge distances and spacing, without pre-stressing the base material.

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s a result, Tecfi was one of the first companies to achieve the C2 performance category on a styrene-free dual component pure epoxy chemical anchor – for use with threaded rods from M16 to M24 – according to the Annex E of the ETAG 001.

SWE01 epoxy resin is also ETA-CE certified in Option 1 for cracked concrete – for use with threaded rods from M12 to M24 – and Option 7 for non-cracked concrete – for use with threaded rods from M8 to M30 – according to ETAG 001 – Part 1 and 5. In addition, SWE01 achieved a Technical Report (TR023) for post-installed rebar connections from diameters 8mm up to 32mm.

Furthermore, Tecfi has recently achieved the C2 performance category on the DGE02 styrene-free dual component vinylester resin for use with threaded rods from M12 to M16 and C1 performance category for use with threaded rods from M12 to M20. In addition, DGE02 got an ETA-CE for use with rebars from diameters 8mm to 32mm with exposure under fire and in seismic areas.

These upgrades have been welcomed in the market with a very big enthusiasm, as customers can now use, in seismic areas, a vinylester chemical anchor with standard and easy to find threaded rods or rebars, and not just with very special and expensive anchor rods.

These last achievements consolidate the very high status of the DGE02, already certified in ETA-CE Option 1 for use in cracked and non-cracked concrete with threaded rods from M10 to M20 and

ETA-CE Option 7 for use in non-cracked concrete with threaded rods from M8 to M30.

Tecfi has also developed two varieties of vinylester resin, which are suitable for extreme climates that come with the same high grade certifications: DGE12, suitable for low temperatures, guaranteeing a fast curing; and DGE22, suitable for high temperatures and guaranteeing slow curing.

DGE02, DGE12 and DGE22 can also be used in wet concrete and flooded holes, except for rebars installation and in seawater. DGE02 is available in 300ml and 400ml cartridges, while DGE12 and DGE22 are available in 400ml cartridges.

In order to enlarge its range of vinylester bonded anchors, Tecfi is now launching the new DGE03, a styrene-free dual component epoxy acrylate vinylester resin, that has achieved the ETA-CE Option 7 for use in non-cracked concrete with threaded rods from M8 to M16 and rebars from diameters 8mm – 16mm.

Moreover in 2017, Tecfi introduced EHE01, a dual component vinylester resin in glass capsule, which achieved the ETA-CE Option 7 certification for use in non-cracked concrete, with threaded rods from M8 to M30. EHE01, which can also be

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installed in wet concrete, avoids any waste on the jobsite thanks to the pre-sized capsule.

Tecfi has also invested huge resources in its polyester resins. In fact, in 2017 it launched a new dual component polyester resin, under range code DGE00, available in 300ml and 400ml cartridges. DGE00 achieved the ETA-CE certification for use in solid masonry (use category b) and hollow or perforated masonry (use category c) with threaded rods from M8 to M12, ensuring a very good compromise between quality and price.

At the same time, Tecfi decided to raise the level of its DGE01, the styrene-free dual component polyester resin, which is now an extremely flexible product – suitable for a very wide range of base materials. In fact, it got the ETA-CE Option 7 certification for use in non-cracked concrete with threaded rods from M8 to M16, according to ETAG 001 – Part 1 and 5. It came in addition to the recognition that DGE01 had achieved several years earlier, the ETA-CE certification for use in solid masonry (use category b) and hollow or perforated masonry (use category c) with threaded rods from M8 to M12. DGE01 is available in 300ml and 400ml cartridges.

Finally, Tecfi also offers a very wide range of studs for chemical anchors with nut and washer: Slotted dog point steel bars in 8.8 grade (range code DAT02), 45° sliced steel studs in 5.8 grade (range code LN01), flat ended steel rods in 5.8 grade (range code DA02), studs with hex shank and double 45° cut in steel (5.8 grade, range code DAF02) and A4-70/AISI 316 stainless steel (range code DAF72). www.tecfi.it

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Specialinsert® rewards employees with cruise Specialinsert®, a leading industrial company specialised in selling and manufacturing fasteners that are solely ‘Made in Italy’, celebrated its 45th anniversary, and exceeding a target of €10 million turnover, by rewarding its employees with a Mediterranean cruise.

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aking place in October 2020, the cruise will journey along the Italian and French coasts and will involve all 62 employees, including the new hires of 2019 (and their families) – for a total of more than 200 guests.

“We have shared an ambitious goal with our employees and, thanks to their daily efforts, we have been able not only to achieve it but to exceed it,” states Cinzia Arduini, CEO of Specialinsert® Srl, proudly. “We would like to thank every single employee who has contributed to this milestone – participating in the constant growth of Specialinsert with excellent results over the last three years, as well as our expansion in foreign markets. To date there is an 11% turnover increase compared to 2018. Our journey continues on the wave of success and the cruise will be a special moment to celebrate together.”

Founded in 1974 by Piero Arduini, Carlo Gatti and Dino Lisso, Specialinsert has always manufactured all its products in Italy. Today, this happens in Turin (where the headquarters are located) and in Maerne di Martellago (located in the Venice area). In addition, at the Milan branch there is a warehouse with sales and marketing offices.

The second generation of the Arduini and Lisso families, holding tight together the helm of the company, continue to follow the path traced from the beginning – guiding Specialinsert on a path of continuous growth that is strongly oriented to excellence. Key competitive features are product innovation and R&D. Currently, Specialinsert holds six trademarks, three invention patents and ten utility models’ patents, plus collaborations with prestigious Italian and foreign universities.

The company is UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certified to guarantee its optimal quality management system, and also obtained the IATF 16949:2016 certification in 2018. The alignment with the standards that regulates the entire automotive supply chain has given momentum to the business’ development, reconfirming the company as one of the industry’s top partners.

Significant investments of more than €2.5 million have been made in enabling technologies with a 4.0 Plan focus. The Specialinsert ‘Smart Factory’ pursues the maximum integration of processes between the three locations, now monitored in real time thanks to the installation of an ERP management, where 90% of the plants are interconnected. The introduction of machinery with numerical control and state of the art instrumentation to check the quality of all products, as well as resources allocated for process automation – not just within production departments but also in the laboratory, R&D and logistics, complete the 4.0 plan.

“We strongly believe in the essential value of human capital as the engine of our growth and, for constant skills’ refinement, we have allocated significant resources in the implementation of a structured training plan,” says Cinzia Arduini. “Together with us, our staff have grown and expanded further, thanks to the inclusion of new profiles engaged in strategic business areas in key roles. Specialinsert intends to continue to actively contribute to the development of the territory in which it operates. Further ambitious projects are ahead of us and, in order to complete them, we will continue to focus on people, leveraging the talents of our local communities.” www.specialinsert.it

WASI stainless steel wood screws now with ETA WASI has received a European Technical Assessment for its WS 9136 countersunk wood construction screw – helping it meet the special demands placed by the timber construction sector on connection technology in terms of quality and safety.

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ven in times in which steel and concrete are the predominant building materials, the classic timber construction method is far from being obsolete. On the contrary, roof trusses are still mainly made of wood and in recent years more and more houses have been built using the timber system. On average, every sixth house is now built of wood.

Countersunk wood construction screws (chipboard screws) with cutting ribs and TX drive are used for various types of wood constructions. Special rules apply to the use of building products, which guarantee a high safety standard.

The European Technical Assessment for the WS 9136, made of stainless steel, applies particularly to screws with a relatively large diameter of 10mm. This is mainly used for large and heavy timber constructions, such as roofs, staircases or carport constructions. The ETA guarantees the qualification of WASI stainless steel wood screws for load-bearing timber construction – guaranteeing a reliable hold even after many years, as well as an attractive appearance without ugly rust marks.

The TX drive enables quick and easy screwing due to better torque transmission, optimal centring of the bit and also reduces the risk of slipping. The additional cutting ribs underneath the strengthened countersunk head guarantee a clean and flush screw-in result – any overhanging wood chips are thus cut off. www.wasi.de/en

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

fischer bolt anchors secure Moscow’s metro

Individual solutions for complex constructions Due to the increasing popularity of wood as a building material, with regard to environmental protection and the use of cross laminated timber explicitly in the building construction sector, Eurotec GmbH has increasingly focused on the subject of fastening and anchoring prefabricated wooden elements. he efficiency as well as the quality of the complex range of engineering timber construction is the centre of attention. The core of this sophisticated architecture consists of complicated shapes, enormous spans of the buildings and high static challenges.

From floor anchor plates with transverse bracing in heavy timber construction, which are connected to each other with steel cables, to cross flat connectors for heavily loaded timber connections with individual hole patterns.

The Eurotec module connectors have been available since the beginning of 2019. Its new products include shearing angles, shearing plates and tension rods and straps. These are used for anchoring walls, columns and ceilings.

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The special features of the shearing angles are the many different areas of application and the high shearing capacity – thanks to the new fastening concept. In order to secure aligned components against shear forces, Eurotec has also developed the shearing plate, which can be used in many different ways to cover all possible anchorage cases.

Eurotec’s assortment contains several versions of tension straps, which can be used to create wood-wood, wood-concrete and steel-wood joints. Special holes for screwing at an angle of 45° make the tension straps particularly efficient and unique.

The Eurotec tension anchor is used for the transfer of tensile forces in order to enable simple and fast anchoring of wooden elements to wooden, steel or concrete substrates. www.eurotec.team/en

With over 12 million inhabitants, Moscow is Europe’s largest city. This becomes apparent on a daily basis in the city’s congested streets. The city and Russian government have been looking to resolve this situation, with solutions including a new underground metro tunnel in which approximately 50,000 fischer FAZ II bolt anchors have been used to install the ventilation system.

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ccording to information from the transport provider Inrix, motorists in Moscow spent approximately 210 hours stuck in traffic last year, with the average speed being just 18km/h.

The construction of a new several kilometre long metro tunnel led by the Russian construction firm Mosinzhproekt is set to encourage more road users to switch from the streets to the metro. The project, which began in April 2019 and planned to be completed by the end of 2019, is therefore of great importance to Russia.

The essential tunnel ventilation system extracts pollutants and smoke in case of fire while also supplying fresh air. The ventilation systems have been installed safely and permanently, as well as in a fast and economic manner using fischer bolt anchors FAZ II. The Russian subsidiary of the fischer Group of Companies developed a solution in close cooperation with one of its partner firms, the technical planner and supplier VIP Systems. This solution ensures the fixings are optimised from both a technical and economic point of view. In total, approximately 30,000 FAZ II 24/30 and around 18,000 FAZ II 12/10 – both in stainless steel (A4) variants – were used to secure the ventilation system.

“Initially, the plan was to attach the installations to the tunnel tubes using four anchors per unit, each with a diameter of 24mm, due to the high loads,” reports Andrey Egorov, managing director at fischer Russia. “We offered

a significantly more economic fixing solution with the same highlevel of safety,” the expert emphasises, before explaining “with our fischer FAZ II 24/30 we were able to reduce the number of fixing points from four down to two while simultaneously ensuring the required load-bearing capacity”. This prevented errors during the installation of the ventilation system in the rail tunnel’s high-density reinforced concrete while saving time and material costs.

Two FAZ II 24/30 A4 bolt anchors per unit were used to install the ventilation system’s main units to the tunnel tubes. An additional two FAZ II 12/10 A4 fixings were used to secure each secondary supporting structure. In general, the bolt anchor is the preferred solution for installing equipment that is not subjected to dynamic loads, such as ventilators, in tunnels. Its tried and tested expansion clip safely introduces loads into concrete and enables high load-bearing capacity.

The FAZ II 24/30 and FAZ II 12/10 in A4 have an ETA (European Technical Assessment) and an ICC Approval, making them compliant with both European and international standards. They are made of stainless steel and are proven to be fireproof and resistant to seismic influences.

“In addition to the ideal fixing solution, we also impressed the client with our range of services, with which we accompanied the construction of the metro through all project phases, from planning and calculation, training and on-site support all the way through to completion,” emphasises Andrey Egorov.

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

Recent European Technical Assessments for fixings Following an agreement with the European Organisation of Technical Assessments, here is a list of recent ETAs published in the last two months on the EOTA website.

ETA NUMBER

TRADE NAME

COMPANY

ETA NUMBER

t is important to note that existing ETAs may be amended or withdrawn so this list should not be considered definitive.

For further information and a full list of valid ETAs visit EOTA’s website.

If you have recently received an ETA, and would like to have it included in our table, please email us the full details at editor@fastenerandfixing.com www.eota.eu

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TRADE NAME

COMPANY

EAD 330232-00-0601 Mechanical fasteners for use in concrete

EAD 130033-00-0603 Nails and screws for use in nailing plates in timber structures

ETA - 18/1074

ETA - 19/0679

ATX

TOP KRAFT SK AS SG FIX SK AS

EAD 330499-00-0601 Bonded fasteners for use in concrete ETA - 19/0646

Forte Presa Poliestere and Forte Presa 9.0 Poliestere Bonded anchor

SARATOGA INT SFORZA SpA

ETA - 19/0651

Stahlfix EASF Injection System for concrete

Sogiva Swiss SA

ETA - 19/0685

Libo Anchorfix-3+ Bonded anchor

Libya for Construction Chemicals LLC

EAD 330076-00-0604 Metal injection anchors for use in masonry ETA - 19/0642

POLY-GP® / POLY-GP® PLUS Bonded anchor

Simpson Strong-Tie

ETA - 19/0645

Forte Presa Poliestere and Forte Presa 9.0 Poliestere Bonded anchor

SARATOGA INT SFORZA SpA

CNA Connector nails and CSA Connector screws

Simpson Strong-Tie Int Ltd

EAD 330087-00-0601 Systems for post-installed rebar connections with mortar ETA - 19/0652

Stahlfix EASF Injection System for post-installed rebar connections

Sogiva Swiss SA

ETA - 19/0665

Hilti HIT-HY 200-R V3

HILTI Corporation

ETA - 19/0684

Libo Anchorfix-3+ Bonded anchor

Libya for Construction Chemicals LLC

ETA - 19/0701

E400 Epoxy Adhesive for post-installed rebar connections

Azfast Asia Pte Ltd

EAD 030351-00-0402 Systems of mechanically fastened flexible roof waterproofing sheets ETA - 19/0694

FDB flat roof fasteners FDB 50/45-410

DÜNA Befestigungstechnik GmbH

products that meet your approval Construction USB Hex Bolt BZP

Option 1 - Pending

Concrete Bolt Socket Head BZP

Option 1 - Pending

Concrete Countersunk Head BZP

Option 1 - Pending

Construction USB Hex Flange Nut BZP

ETA-12/0552 - Option 1

Concrete Pan Head BZP

Option 1 - Pending

Also Available in Mechanical Galvanised Fire Approval – Pending

Construction Anchors Co., LTD. 9F, No.21, Sec.3, Xinsheng S. Rd., Da'an Dist, Taipei City 106, Taiwan (R.O.C) Tel: 886-2-87978359 Fax: 886-2-87977905 Email: amy@constructionanchors.tw www.constructionanchors.net Contact Amy Huang for more information.

Designed and Produced in China and Taiwan

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

LIGNOLOC® wins 2020 German design award LIGNOLOC® – the collated wood nail – developed by Austrian company Raimund BECK KG, was selected as the winner in the category ‘Excellent Product Design – Workshop and Tools’ by the German Design Council. The award ceremony will take place on 7th February as part of Ambiente 2020 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

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IGNOLOC® is the first magazine loaded nail made of wood. It is shot into the wood material, without pre-drilling, by a pneumatic nailer and thus replaces traditional steel nails.

A true innovation that is environmentally friendly, sustainable and enables a more purist use of wood – without any metal, glue or similar.

“We are incredibly proud that our product, which usually plays the leading role unnoticed, has shifted into focus and has been honoured with such a premium prize,” says Stefan Siemers, director research and development at Raimund BECK KG. “We believe that ecology is entering our industry step-by-step and we want to do our part to make fastening solutions greener, cleaner and smarter,” adds Christian Beck, CEO and general manager at BECK. The LIGNOLOC wood nail system reflects the company’s mission to rethink fastening and develop new technologies, and to create connections of better quality and pave the way for new solutions beyond the usual.

The German Design Award is the international premium prize awarded by the German Design Council. Its goal is to discover, present, and honour unique trends in design. Every year, top class entries in product and communication design are honoured, each of which blazes new trails in the international design landscape. The award, launched in 2012, is among the most prestigious design competitions worldwide and has an excellent reputation far beyond specialist circles.

Since the launch, the German Design Award has grown significantly. Back then, 1,500 entries were presented to the jury – last year there were more than 5,000 submitted. The high international response of the German Design Award is underscored by the number of participants. The international share of entries was around 55%.

The German Design Award 2020 joins a number of prestigious awards that LIGNOLOC has received so far. Including materialPREIS2018, Green Product Award 2018, Innovation Award Architecture + Construction 2019 and Best Product Award 2019 – Houses of the Year.

CLINCHING FASTENER SPECIALIST GRAND METAL (PRECISION TECH INDUSTRIAL LIMITED)

is a professional producer in clinching fasteners and equipped with imported auto-lathes, cold forming machine, automatic optical sorting machine. We also have a complete laboratory for mechanical and performance such as torque testing, pull/push-out testing, Salt Spray Testing. Grand Metal has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification and now is on getting ISO/TS 16949 certification.

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

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

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF THE FASTENER MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Three sector star die accelerates hot heading Special machine manufacturer Krott & Heuter GmbH has developed a new Type ZKSTA series of machines for the hot upsetting of fasteners such as screws, bolts, heads, and pins, which have passed trials at a renowned manufacturer of punches and ejector pins.

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he centrepiece of these machines is a specially developed three sector star die, which chronologically separates the insertion, heating up, heading, cooling and discharge operations from each other, enabling the machine to reduce heading cycle times by up to 30%.

Up to now, it has been customary to use dies with two opposing mountings for the hot heading of fasteners such as screws and bolts, as well as ejector pins for mould making and perforating pins and needles. Previously, a new pin was inserted in the upper position while the pin in the lower position was being headed. The die was then turned through 180°, the pin cooled down and then discharged.

Insertion, cooling and discharge all took place in the same mounting, with the result that the sum of these operations determined the cycle time. The consequence, it was necessary to wait for sufficient cooling, particularly in the case of thick material, despite the fact that heating up and heading had long since been completed.

The ZKSTA series of automatic heading machines feature a newly developed star die with three separately cooled mountings arranged in a star configuration. While a finished pin is being removed from the first position and a new one inserted, another pin is being inductively heated and upset simultaneously in the second position. In the third position, the pin is cooling. The star rotates by 120° to the next position after each cycle. The process that determines cycle time is now heating up, and there is no longer any need to wait through the unproductive cooling phase.

Users report that they have been able to boost the output of production lines by up to 30% thanks to the separation of heading, cooling and discharge.

The ZKSTA machine upsets pins of diameters between 2mm and 8mm with an upsetting force of up to 200kN, although significantly larger dimensions and upsetting forces, of up to 1,000kN are also possible. The machine’s high-level of precision also permits the production of

fastener heads with special geometries, such as types bevelled on one side, for example, or pins featuring various special head shapes.

The automated machine can also be used for cold upsetting of softer materials, such as structural steel, aluminium or brass.

The pins are automatically inserted, measured and upset to the precise final head dimension by means of a servo-controlled stop plate, resulting in every individual head completely filled.

The servo-hydraulically actuated upsetting cylinder can be operated power controlled or deformation controlled. Unlike conventional systems, which require large quantities of hydraulic fluid, the new system does not include any external fluid supply.

There is also no separate tank for hydraulic fluid, and the machine therefore has a footprint of only around 1m × 3m.

These heading units have maintenance intervals of around 20,000 operating hours.

Technically, they are automatic upsetting machines and are thus not subject to European mechanical and hydraulic press legislation.

Expanding expertise and exchanging experiences The annual ‘Dörken Days’ once again took place at Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on 28th – 29th November 2019, and saw over 180 experts receive a comprehensive overview of current trends and challenges in corrosion protection.

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nce a year Dörken MKS invites customers, market partners and corrosion experts from throughout the value chain to ‘Dörken Days’ and interest was once again great at this year’s event – the 9th to be held. At the beginning of the varied programme the participants received a market overview of the global corrosion protection activities of Dörken MKS and learned about new developments regarding the new seminar programme at ‘The Corrosion College’.

A further focus was the latest quality offensive of Daimler Trucks and the new MBN 10544 specification of Daimler on the subject of coefficients of friction. Insights into coating practice were also delivered, including presentations on the requirements satisfying coating of large components such as car chassis and the use of the colourless lubricant DELTA-LUBE® 50

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with self-tapping aluminium screws. In addition, participants also embarked on a journey through time through the ‘evolution of the corrosion test’ and learned the latest regarding audits at Dörken MKS. “We experienced two highly successful days. The experts participating were able to use the opportunity to network intensively throughout the value chain and interact avidly. We would like to thank the participants for their interest and the speakers for the wonderful, extremely practice relevant presentations,” said Dr Martin Welp, managing director at Dörken MKS.

The end of the pin is inductively heated and then pressed into the die by the heading cylinder

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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Opening of high-tech production line for mechanical galvanisation Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, coating and mechanical galvanisation specialist – Thielco Steel Solutions Group B.V – will be opening a new high-tech production line for mechanical galvanisation in the first quarter of 2020.

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echanical galvanisation, or mechanical zinc plating, is a corrosion resistant surface treatment that was originally developed for the automotive industry. Glass beads and chemicals are used in a rotating mill to roll zinc powder onto the products. This very specific galvanising process is non-electrolytic and is performed at room temperature, which offers a number of powerful advantages: No risk of hydrogen embrittlement, and the material hardness is not affected.

High corrosion resistance per micron and an even, visually attractive layer.

Layer thickness from 6µm possible, so thread fitting is guaranteed.

No dust discharge, unevenness or damage to the products.

Good electrical conductivity.

Product adhesion is impossible.

The process is ideal for preserving rings, discs and other flat punched parts and, in recent years, demand for this unique treatment

has risen considerably. The low process temperature also makes the process extremely suitable for hardened wire products, such as wire nails, springs and spring washers. Thanks to all these properties, mechanical galvanisation is the ideal alternative to electrolytic galvanisation, thermal centrifugal galvanisation and zinc flake coating.

This new line will replace Thielco’s existing production line, which has been in operation since 1987. With its production line developed entirely in-house, Thielco increases its capacity and brings process quality to a new reference level. The entire process takes place in an automated and prescription driven manner, with a focus on ‘zero defects’ results.

Thielco Steel Solutions Group B.V is ISO certified. The process meets the NEN-EN ISO 12683 and ASTM-B 695 standards.

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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Dimac MCV3 for long bolts 2020 has started with a challenging project for Dimac Srl and Metalac Brazil, a company of the PCC Group, with the design and manufacture of a special automatic 100% inspection and sorting machine – the Dimac MCV3, for long bolts starting from M6 up to M20 with a total length of 250mm.

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his machine will include 360° dimensional controls, hex heads across flats and across corners inspection, bending controls, crack detection and heat treatment inspection by eddy current. The Dimac MCV3 will be manufactured following the guidelines of Industry 4.0 and will be connected to the company network to share process statistical data in real time with the company ERP system, as well as to be programmed and supervised offline.

A new eddy current technology, based on ibg Prüfcomputer multifrequency scanning device will be applied to challenge the detection of different classes of heat treatment and hardness. The new special Dimac MCV3 machine will be commissioned in Italy by March 2020.

Metalac and Dimac started their partnership many years ago in 2006, when Mr Egea and Mr Massimo Agrati (Dimac owner and CEO) met for the first time to open a cooperation for the 100% inspection and sorting of automotive fasteners. The 13 year old Dimac machines are still working 24/7 in the sorting department of Metalac at

Sorocaba, to meet the target of zero defects for dimensional controls by vision and crack detection by eddy current.

“There is a new economic climate in Brazil which is really stimulating and challenging – the OEMs and the automakers are restarting the investments, demanding their suppliers to increase their own expertise and technology, to keep pace with the future innovation,” explains Dimac. “OEMs committed to clearing the zero defect bar, exceeding the most demanding industrial requirements, require a certainty of state of the art equipment that ensures and certifies the 100% fasteners’ conformity.”

2020 also holds other exciting prospects for Dimac Srl, with the company planning the unveiling of many new innovations. This starts with the launch of the new Dimac MCV5 Special Series expected for the wire® show 2020. Complying with the latest IoT, automation and safety standards, this model combines the top of electronics and mechanics with the best in class vision system. www.dimacsrl.com

Advanced vibratory feeder control system REO AG states that it is launching the world’s most advanced vibratory feeder control system in early 2020 – the REOVIB MFS 368. Having a compact design, it combines a wide range of applications with a wide range of security mechanisms and interfaces.

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örg Rohden, board member and head of product development at REO, explains: “During the development of the REOVIB MFS 368 we maintained close contact with our customers and partners in order to meet future requirements within the field of Industry 4.0.

Thanks to the cooperation of our developers at REO and the technicians of the REO Digital Connect 4.0, a start-up of REO – which dealt exclusively with digitisation and device communication with regard to Industry 4.0, completely new approaches were taken. The result is the most state of the art and future-proof control system for vibratory conveyor technology on the market.”

With a range of 110 volts to 230 volts input while maintaining a constant 205 volts output and extensive certification, the new REOVIB MFS 368 is ready to be used anywhere in the world. Where once several conveyors were used, now, one REOVIB MFS 368 is enough. Thanks to automatic control, the conveying performance always remains constant, regardless of the place of use, changing mechanical loads or wear of springs. Manual adjustment or readjustment is no longer needed, making worry-free continuous operation possible.

The quality of the mains current also does not matter. An integrated active line filter ensures optimum sinusoidal current consumption from the power supply network. Thanks to the high immunity to interference, harmonics are not transmitted and the networks in which the devices are operated are not further loaded.

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The power consumption and thus the energy consumption of the new control unit MFS 368 has been significantly reduced, which over the years compensates for the acquisition costs. Another important contribution to the resource and environmentally friendly production by REO. The REOVIB MFS 368 has an LCD display with multilingual full text display that is easy to read from any position. Intuitive operation means no more complicated menu structures or subject specific knowledge as a requirement for operation.

“The optional temperature control of the magnets once again increases the safety of the system, which is another of the many advantages of the product,” explains André Kurzbach, member of the executive board and sales manager of REO AG. “The magnets of the conveyor system are controlled during operation, which prevents overheating and potentially expensive destruction of the conveyor unit.”

The REOVIB MFS 368 is IIOT-ready and therefore is already an ideal fit for modern communication technology of Industry 4.0. Even if no such technology is currently used by the customer, the interfaces guarantee a worry-free integration without additional future costs. In addition, the hardware and software REONET DL (Devices Link) and REONET CT (Configuration Tool) developed by REO are also supported.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Figure 1

Optimising the insertion process in flat die rolling In cold forming, the insertion of the blank into the forming tools is particularly important with regard to process stability and susceptibility to failures. Particularly in thread or form rolling with flat dies, the insertion of the blanks into the rolling tools significantly determines the quality of the forming process.

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his is why flat die rollers are equipped with process monitoring systems as standard. Modern process monitoring systems, such as the Brankamp X5, monitor the rolling process, detect roll backs and automatically control the die match (ADMÂŽ) if the dies are not aligned. To ensure that the quality monitoring integrated into the process does not impair the productivity of the machine, parts detected as faulty are separated from the good parts by a sorting device without interrupting the production. Of course, it is desirable to determine the cause of the defect in the case of sorting.

The X5 offers so called pusher monitoring for this purpose. Figure 1 shows the corresponding screen on the X5 unit. The upper half of the menu shows the rolling curve. The insertion area is marked with two arrows. Below the rolling curve, the reproducibility of the insertion process is shown by a horizontal bar in drag pointer mode. The size of the bar correlates with the stability of the insertion process. It helps the operator to find an optimum setting during set-up for dynamic operation at nominal machine speed. In the case of pushers, whose

drive is coupled to the crankshaf t, the shifting of the front dead centre in the direction of the rolling gap usually helps. Modern flat die thread rollers have insertion pushers, which are moved by a linear motor.

With these systems, the operating force can also be adjusted.

After set-up, the insertion process is continuously monitored. If the reproducibility of the insertion now deteriorates during ongoing production, the Brankamp X5 generates a corresponding warning message. Even if the parts slide slightly during insertion, this results in clear deflections of the drag pointer. Thus, it becomes apparent afterwards that the cause of rejected parts was a faulty insertion. In these cases, the operator corrects the insertion process and zeros the drag pointer. www.marposs.com

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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE FASTENER SECTOR

Go digital to weaponise manufacturing supply chains

By Nicole Winokur, vice-president of marketing, Optimas The manufacturing industry has a strong heritage of adopting game changing technologies to deliver higher quality products more efficiently. With the introduction of digital, the industry is moving into an era arguably on par with the industrial revolution.

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owever, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and digital roadmaps that align with company goals do not take shape overnight. To deliver business transformation, the gap between company goals and digital supply chain strategy needs to close. But how do you get there before the competition?

As supply chain complexity and competition escalate, so do related manufacturing challenges. A few of the most common are: The inability to respond to demand variability and intermittent demand: When demand changes faster than a company’s ability to respond, you can end up with the wrong SKU mix and locations, frequent internal inventory transfers and expedites with high freight costs.

Poor customer service levels: These are manifested by stockouts, incomplete orders, and slow order fill rates, leading to lost sales or missed opportunities.

Excess and obsolete inventory: Safety stock builds up to cover service level requirements, which can lead to excessive working capital use, carrying costs and internal transfers.

Supply chain planning automation is a way to bring digital strategy to life to mitigate manufacturing supply chain challenges like these that threaten a company’s viability. By digitising supply chain planning users can speed up responsiveness and make smart decisions to cut costs, boost profitability and increase market share.

Optimas is a global industrial distributor and service provider specialising in fastening and supply chain solutions. We embarked on a company wide digital transformation journey to create a stronger, more efficient business. A focus on digitising supply chain planning in partnership with ToolsGroup has helped us better serve each of

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our stakeholder groups: Manufacturing customers, supplier partners and internal business operations for both our distribution and manufacturing divisions.

Optimas has a ‘long-tail’ of products, which means it has many SKUs with intermittent demand compared to fast movers, as well as highly variable demand. This variability made the SKUs ‘unforecastable’, which caused safety stock increases to achieve service levels. To profitably balance service and inventory, we replaced our intensive, manual reactive planning process with an automated machine learning driven process, to more accurately forecast demand and optimise inventory levels.

With the first phase of implementation complete, we have already seen significant benefits to manufacturing and distribution KPIs, including increased inventory velocity/turns, improved service and reduced stockouts, expedites and on-hand inventory. We are projecting a 60% reduction in inventory across SKUs when the full rollout is complete. Machine learning powered automation has also enabled a 67% improvement in buyer productivity.

For manufacturing customers, we have improved service levels and realised a 7% improvement in forecast accuracy. Improved forecast accuracy means we can provide the same high-levels of service with less inventory.

“ToolsGroup demand planning software enables us to run our operations more efficiently and cost-effectively. With better part level forecast accuracy, we only carry the inventory we need when we need it for our customers, and we’re able to provide our suppliers with a more accurate demand signal. Plus, using this type of digital innovation allows us to attract and retain high calibre talent. Planners are able to work more swiftly and accurately while quickly identifying opportunities for improvement,” commented Kyle Burby, director of supply chain at Optimas.

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS

The benefits of ERP for wholesalers and distributors

The wholesale and distribution industry is becoming increasingly competitive and is putting pressure on companies to offer a more cost-effective service, quicker delivery times and a personalised and multichannel shopping experience – all whilst competing with the market leaders and distributor giants like Amazon. Here, UK-based OGL Computer looks at the benefits of ERP for both wholesalers and distributors and why ERP can be the key to future-proofing a business.

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emands from manufacturers are forcing companies to look at efficiencies, retailers are demanding a more responsive service and end user customers are looking for a multichannel, personal experience.

Couple this with the uncertainty of trading in the UK after the political negotiations, the marketplace can begin to look bleak.

Successful, savvy wholesalers and distributors are tackling these challenges head on and embracing technology to drive their businesses to the next level. Investing and implementing technology is how wholesalers and distributors can remain competitive. Settling for outdated and manual systems is what can hinder growth and you’ll soon be left behind struggling to meet demands and customer needs.

ERP software is a solution designed to connect all key areas of a business, automate processes that use up valuable staff time and ultimately improve efficiencies and productivity. For wholesalers and distributors, ERP software can be vital in maintaining control of inventory and improving order processes, enabling a company to stay competitive.

In order to tackle the common challenges faced by the distribution industry, a business needs to have (and be able to continually monitor and improve) the 3 key, future-proofing business objectives: Control, visibility and efficiency.

Without control over stock and overheads, visibility of sales and company performance, optimum business efficiency in order processing, sales teams, purchasing, accounts and a warehouse, it will be almost impossible to grow and improve a business.

How will an ERP benefit a business?

An ERP solution connects the key areas of stock control, sales order management and customer service. These areas will always work better when they’re interconnected because it enables full visibility across the business. An ERP ensures stock control is connected to a sales department, finance team and purchasing so a smooth, streamlined order process can be achieved.

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There are six main benefits of an ERP solution: Real time business data across all departments: ERP systems give all departments access to the same real time data, reducing the risk of employees making decisions that are based on non-standardised, disparate data. Because data is stored in the same place and can be accessed via secure login credentials, even field staff can work remotely using the same pricing grids, stock figures, schedules and much more.

Improve business and sales performance: With access to real time accurate data, there is control and visibility of performance.

Data and stats of customer journeys, open sales, warehouse efficiencies, stock control and team performance give the ability to spot trends, know best performers, but also where to improve.

Tight stock control and warehouse management: Implementing an ERP System gives the ability to be more responsive to customers’ needs, buy better and sell smarter, minimise overstock and free up warehouse space for stronger selling lines. The system provided a systematic way of growing product portfolios and managing stock. With deep analytics, it is also easy to monitor how ranges or even individual products are performing; which markets have room for growth; and what lifestyle stage a portfolio was at.

Improve communications across departments: All communications (whether customer or employee), documentation and products are all stored in one place within an ERP system. This also means that employees are kept up to date with product performance, new product launches, customer interaction, status of an order and so much more.

Quality control: The real time data and visibility of company performance means that labour costs can be streamlined increasing efficiency in terms of employee productivity and help reduce unnecessary costs.

Enhance customer service: Employees will be able to provide personalised, quality customer service with access to contact details, order history and past interactions.

technical

IN-DEPTH STUDIES OF FASTENING TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS

A consideration of zero defects Dr Peter Standring, technical secretary, Industrial Metalforming Technologies (IMfT) The term ‘zero defects’ was coined by Quality Guru Philip Crosby in the mid 1960s whilst working on a US rocket programme. His aim; to reduce the number of failed launches. In essence, he sought to eliminate defects using quality management tools.

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he major criticism and reason for its lack of wider adoption after 1970 was that perfection – or production without defects – is an impossibility.

Although attracting board room commercial interest the concept lay basically dormant until picked up by the US automotive industry around 1990.

Here, it was seen as a counter to the all powerful Japanese auto invasion of the US market – based primarily on guaranteed quality and cost.

Interestingly, much of the Japanese success was down to the adoption and exploitation of Total Quality Management (TQM) concepts, which US citizen W.L. Deming had been developing in post war Japan.

The statistical methods of process control used by Deming and others (including the early Ford Motor Co) were similar to the Six Sigma concept developed by Bill Smith at Motorola in the 1980s.

The US$12 billion of savings announced in 1995 by Jack Welsh, CEO of General Electric, due to his company’s adoption of Six Sigma techniques produced a scramble by all dynamic companies to do the same. The result, the proliferation of quality management teams based in most manufacturing companies seeking, as in the case of health and safety, to have zero problems. It should be noted that the stock market fall from grace of many of these companies has been blamed on the lack of inventiveness, which statistical methods are claimed to foster.

This article will not seek to rehearse the arguments for quality management, that is well covered by the growing lexicon of acronyms on the topic. Rather, it will consider some of the areas of fastener manufacture where problems do arise and which can result in defects.

So, what is a defect and how could it commonly be described?” www.fastenerandfixing.com 159

TECHNICAL Definition of a defect

Just like the landscape, language is littered with words and phrases that mark an earlier time.

A ‘dozen’ is perhaps an antiquated word not finding much modern day use but most folk would know that it means twelve of something. However, a ‘Baker’s Dozen’ meaning the number thirteen? It would be interesting to find out what percentage of English speakers know why medieval bakers in England gave their customers 13 rather than 12 loaves. The answer is simple; when the king of the day passed a law banning the sale of underweight bread on pain of severe punishment, a baker was happy to give an extra loaf away to comply with the law.

This may have been an expensive practice for medieval bakers but it is also true today in all manufacturing industries where the achievement of an actual size or value is problematic. Paper making is an example where the calendaring process produces a product the thickness of which changes post processing.

Reducing the excess product provided to meet the specification stated, by just a tiny percentage on high volume goods, be they sold for construction, food consumption, cosmetics or secondary manufacture, would have a major effect on a company’s bottom line.

Just imagine one extra bean in every can and then multiply that by 10 9. As Bogart could have stated in the film Casablanca, one billion beans would surely make quite a hill!

But, you might very properly suggest, giving a product away to ensure it meets the required specification cannot be considered a defect? And yet, using the counter argument, if a coil of steel strip or rod was outside the size tolerance of what was specified, that surely would be considered defective?

As we enter the 2020s a significant problem that faces the online clothing market is that 40% of the goods sold are being returned, particularly by young people. Clearly, whilst most of the returned goods may not be defective in the way they were manufactured, the concept of returning goods to the retailer might spread across sectors and if it did, could create a supply chain problem downstream of manufacture. A UK fastener manufacturer informed me that only a few days earlier he had a batch of fasteners returned to his company and was surprised to find he was legally obliged to accept them.

Of course, the above does not describe what would be an evident product defect. Say a screw without a thread, a nut with a split or a washer without a hole. So, what is a defect and how could it commonly be described?

All OEMs can be plagued by such problems as can be noted by the product recalls they are forced into making. Clearly, as an OEM, they have responsibility for the product they manufacture. However, in today’s global environment, where supply chains often cross continents as well as national borders, following the audit trail may prove difficult particularly if the time to failure is long. This is why many industry suppliers are legally contracted to maintain legacy data for many years following use of the product. Security coding to identify the item is demanded in many safety critical applications and is essential for both the OEM and the supply base to mitigate any potential claims for damages.

Clearly, at the end of life of the assembly, sub-assembly, whatever, virtually all items will remain defect free.

Given that all OEMs should hold chapter and verse data on every single manufactured item, it is almost impossible to believe they don’t ‘harvest’ the invested value rather than selling the unwanted product for scrap. As shown in Figure 1, incorporating ‘disassembly’ into the product design, the OEM could resell fully audited materials and parts as semi finished items for alternative lower grade manufacture. Putting this simple concept into practice could provide massive cash returns to OEMs whilst slashing energy and environmental costs on new materials and processing for other manufacturers.

Obtaining defect free parts for reuse represents a significant and worthwhile challenge for OEMs and the fastener industry to pursue...”

Defects

An aeroplane crashes and assuming it is not due to pilot, air traffic control error or criminal activity, then something else must have failed.

On a new aircraft type, as with the early BOAC De Havilland Comet, repeated pressurisation and a stress raising window geometry design was identified as the cause of failure. The resulting design solution has been applied to all subsequent pressurised aircraft. This problem was quickly evidenced when multiple crashes occurred in the same aircraft type. However, a similar defect can also take place well into the functional life of an aeroplane. Both could be defects due to design but not evidenced until the in-service life has begun.

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Figure 1: OEM material purchase, use and recovery model

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Red is cost

Green is value

A OEM preorders and bulk buys material at a significant discount relative to purchase from stockholder.

B OEM uses automated mass production methods to manufacture parts.

C OEM assembles parts.

D Over life of product defect free parts function as designed and at end of life remain defect free.

E During the life cycle, materials, manufacture (particularly energy costs) will all rise.

F End of Life – OEM disassembles parts, cleans and sorts them into material type and geometry.

G These fully audited parts are then catalogued and offered for sale as semi finished stock. If the OEM seeks only to sell at cost price this would mean that the materials cost nothing during their primary life.

H The sale to another manufacturer would provide a significant saving on the purchase of primary raw stock and a major energy/CO2 saving in manufacture.

Obtaining defect free parts for reuse represents a significant and worthwhile challenge for OEMs and the fastener industry to pursue in order to make it happen.

Fastener manufacture

Many years ago, I attended a plenary meeting of the International Cold Forging Group (ICFG) and heard a presentation by a leading Japanese expert in the field. His company, a world leader, was intent on achieving ‘zero defect’ supply to their customers. Interestingly, he offered an in-house comparison between the quality produced by techniques of machining with those of cold forming.

Average parts per million (ppm) defects recorded in the machine shops were slightly above 20 whereas those produced during cold forming were between 2 and 3. Of course, he stated, it was not possible to produce ‘zero defects’ inside the manufacturing units.

Therefore, all products required 100% inspection prior to despatch to ensure the customer did not receive any defects.

The term ‘you get what you pay for’ is well known and in some cases very true. In a fastener manufacturing company, if a new coil doesn’t run, often the first to be blamed is the material supplier. At a non-confidential technical session attended by fastener specialists, representing a number of different fastener manufacturing companies, when a coil didn’t run the agreed action was to turn it round and run it the other way.

This simple exercise, which in many cases appeared to work, suggests that during coil manufacture an issue relating to orientation can arise. After many years of enquiry, I have never received a satisfactory explanation as to the cause of this apparent phenomenon. Other issues relating to heat treatment, strain hardening due to coiling and shot blasting, together with the surface imperfections that result from processing the resulting stock, present potential sources of manufacturing defects.

Interesting work has and is being carried out to assess the effect and influence of the variability of elements within alloy steel. This has shown how although within tolerance, elemental variations can change a material’s performance characteristics at the metal forming stage. ‘Getting what you pay for’ is clear if the constituent elements of an alloy are toleranced more tightly in one type of steel than another. Although within specification, the variation in such properties can result in unintended material behaviour when subjected to deformation in a multistation close tolerance cold header.

As in any system, inefficiency or failure of one part will reduce or eliminate the success elsewhere. Surface finish of the work material and tooling, the lubricant and its condition, and indeed the machine tool and its setting, are all integral contributing factors. As are the methods used to record the performance data and control the output. The introduction of anything new to a system, which is running under control, is always a source of potential trouble.

For example, when cold forming, a new tool could fail very early or continue until wear requires it to be exchanged.

When asked in a public meeting about the wear characteristics of their cold forming tools, a major player in the industry replied

without any hint of embarrassment, that the tools the company used never lasted long enough to wear out. What they also added, was that when a tool did survive, the ‘patina’, which it developed as part of its surface modification due to high pressure and interfacial lubrication, was something to be prized. If such a tool needed to be reground thus destroying the ‘patina’ this, he stated, would cause serious consternation for the machine operator whose bonus depended on smooth and successful output.

Tooling and its design, especially where multistation progression is employed, is crucial in achieving success. However, without total control over all aspects of tool manufacture and maintenance, either in-house (preferable) or with a tool maker/heat treater in which there is complete confidence, major difficulties can exist. In one situation I was associated with, a company struggled to develop a new five station part as the punch in station four repeatably failed within one thousand parts.

A representative of a Taiwanese tool making company happened to call and was invited to supply the failing punch. This they did within seven days and the tool produced over 76,000 parts. The company’s outsourced investigation into the tool steel revealed it to be nothing special suggesting that its success was simply due to manufacture and heat treatment.

Conclusion

Those in the supply chain can only provide products that meet the specification of the design. The tighter the tolerance, the greater the accuracy and this will clearly attract a higher cost to produce. Specifying more than is needed to achieve the design function is just another way of wasting money.

For manufacturers in a supply chain, design is also an issue relating to matters concerning material condition, methods of manufacture, equipment, tooling, skills, etc. Each of these activities are areas where product defects could and will occur. So, for a supplier to guarantee to provide ‘zero defect’ products they must undertake 100% inspection and remove all defective items.

Clearly, for a product like a fastener this will only be carried out where the in-service function warrants it. In reality, this would be justified in safety critical cases, particularly those concerning life or death situations (e.g crucial aerospace applications).

However, it was not always so, during WWII when the automotive industry basically took over the mass manufacture of aircraft, the overriding goal was to produce output and to solve whatever problems arose away from the assembly line. This was clearly a policy where the means justify the end and which thankfully, is no longer admissible.

So, for manufacturing output to be defect free, it must include what is done today and what might happen tomorrow. Direct problems identified at the time of production can be removed by inspection. However, defects that occur during service due to faults in manufacture or the specification of an inappropriate product, these matters would be more difficult to deal with and could result in recall and litigation. A rigorous testing regime can and will assist in eliminating many of these but as always, at a cost in both time and money. As history teaches us, this doesn’t always happen as it should.

As in any system, inefficiency or failure of one part will reduce or eliminate the success elsewhere.”

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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TECHNICAL

An innovative fastening approach for thin sheet metals and modelling by finite element method Süleyman Kahraman, M.Sc. mechanical engineer, Fecon R&D and Engineering Service Limited Nowadays weight reduction studies have gained importance for a wide variety of industries, but especially in automotive and aviation. When it comes to weight reduction there are two main activities that are being carried out.

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he first is that components made of aluminium or magnesium, which have high specific strength, are more intensively used in a product compared to before.

The second is the optimisation carried out for the wall thickness of components – such as wall thickness minimisation in BIW (body-in-white) components of a vehicle.

When it comes to the optimisation of wall thickness, this may bring soluble point creation problems in sheet metals.

This is because fasteners such as bolts, nuts, or studs, should be joined into sheet metals in some applications. Currently, two main methods are used for the joining of a fastener to sheet metal – conventional welding and self-clinching fasteners (SCF).

Conventional welding methods

Welding methods have some constraints when joining fasteners to sheet metal. The melting point of materials of both components should be very close to each other for proper welding operation. Basically, fasteners made of medium carbon steel cannot be joined to sheet metal made of aluminium, since there are high melting point differences between steel and aluminium.

Even when the material of both components is the same, some problems can be observed for thin sheet metal applications in terms of insufficient mechanical strength and improper visual properties. This is because during the welding operation the thin sheet is exposed to high heat and required penetration may not be provided. Heat affected zone (HAZ) occurs for all welding methods and its negative effects are more significantly observed for thin sheet metals.

Self-clinching fasteners

SCFs are based on plastic deformation and provide significant advantages compared to welding methods for joining a fastener to sheet metals. The main application principle of SCFs is that a specially designed fastener is settled into a pre-drilled hole and then sheet metal is

Figure 1: 3Fs process step – (a) forming operation, (b) folding operation, (c) cross-section view of fastener and sheet metal at the end of the process plastically deformed through wall thickness so that the deformed material accumulates into the geometry existing in the SCFs. By this way, shape bonding between sheet metal and the SCF occurs and it resists against pulling out forces and torques. No heat input is required and therefore low energy consumption and joining of multi materials is possible by means of SCF. However, when it comes to thin sheet metal applications, SCFs do have some restrictions. If the wall thickness is reduced to a certain value, deformation through wall thickness cannot be provided. Present solutions for thin sheet metal applications involve the SCF itself being subjected to highly plastic deformation – since the sheet metal cannot be deformed through wall thickness.

This means the materials used for SCFs need to have sufficient ductility in order to meet high plastic deformation without any crack formation. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the fastener plays an important role for a reliable joining process. Standard mechanical properties indicated in ISO 898 specification may not meet relevant deformation without crack formation or at least, this operation cannot be managed by mostly manufactured mechanical properties such as 8.8 grade. This non-standard situation increases the manufacturing cost depending on material or heat treatment requirements of the fastener. Additionally, 100% quality control (e.g eddy current) may be required for adaptation to the fastener manufacturing process, since the mechanical properties of the fastener is very essential. These are negative factors that increase manufacturing costs.

3Fs method and modelling by finite element analysis

A new clinching method has been developed for eradicating present problems regarding soluble point creation in thin sheet metals. This method is called 3Fs, which comes from the initial letters of Fecon, Forming and Folding. In this article, the 3Fs method, which

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TECHNICAL allows joining of a fastener into thin sheet metals without pre-hole or deformation in fastener requirements, as well as providing easy implementation and reliable cost, will be explained.

The main process steps are given in Figure 1 (previous page). This method consists of two main operations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; forming and folding. In the forming operation, sheet metal is shaped by means of pre-punch as shown in Figure 1.a. In the folding operation, a specially designed fastener is pressed into the pre-shaped sheet metal from the opposite direction of the forming operation (Figure 1.b). At the end of the entire process, clinching between sheet metal and fastener is provided without any hole requirement (Figure 1.c).

High plastic deformation is created in sheet metal and carried out by means of a punch so that the fastener is not exposed to high forces thanks to the Bauschinger Effect. Because, during the forming operation, dislocations accumulate to the opposite direction of the folding operation. Basically, the fastener is not exposed to plastic deformation, which is the main difference between the 3Fs method and the present SCF solution for thin sheet metal.

For the 3Fs method, the sheet metal material chosen was AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel, due to its high formability and corrosion resistance properties, and the wall thickness of the sheet metal was determined as 0.6mm. Finite element analysis (FEA) software was used during the development stage of the 3Fs method and results obtained from FEA are supported by experimental studies. MSC Simufact Forming Software was chosen for FEA due to its user-friendly interface, easy adaptation and also robust results. The 3Fs method was modelled as a 2D axial symmetry so that many results belonging to different geometry variations were rapidly achieved. Residual stress occurring in the forming operation were transmitted to the folding operation in order to reflect the physical conditions of the process.

After conceptual design and process step determination, by means of FEA models, experimental studies were carried out. Components of the joining process and prototype fasteners were manufactured by machining operation and the required components were subjected to heat treatments. Experimental studies were performed under a force and stroke-controlled press.

Results obtained from the FEA model were compared to experimental studies in order to achieve an FEA model that reflected the entire physical conditions. Therefore, force and stroke graphs and section cuts of prototypes were investigated. Obtained stroke and force graphs are given in Figure 2. It is observed in Figure 2 that the characteristics of both graphs are very close to each other, which means both graphs follow similar paths.

Some amount of deviations arises in the graphs and it is thought that this deviation is stemming from dislocation accumulations and the Bauschinger effect cannot be entirely simulated. Also, some dimensional deviations in manufactured components compared between CAD data. In any case, the FEA model adequately reflected the physical conditions.

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Prototypes after the joining process are given in Figure 3.a and 3.b. Section cut views of the fastener and sheet metal at the end of the 3Fs process are compared in Figure 3.c and 3.d. The section-cut comparison shows that physical conditions are very highly reflected by the FEA model. As a result of all studies a new clinching method, which has many advantages compared to the present SCF solution and welding method, was achieved and it is validated by FEA and experimental studies.

Figure 3: General view of fastener and sheet metal after joining process, (a) back side view, (b) front side view, (c) section-cut view of experimental studies, (d) section-cut view of FEA model

Conclusion

The 3Fs method provides leak proof application since there is no pre-hole preparation requirement, which means that 100% leakage test adaptation in production process or additional material usage such as gasket is not required for leak-proof applications.

Adaptation of 3Fs is possible for many types of sheet metals made of a wide range of materials. Additionally, deformation is not formed using the fastener and therefore the material of the fastener can be manufactured by standard materials and heat treatments.

Fasteners can also be designed using a geometry that allows them to be manufactured entirely by the cold forming technique.

3Fs provides affordable cost against competitors technologies since it can be manufactured by standard material, standard heat treatment, entirely cold formed, and also it is a leak-proof application.

At the end of all the studies an innovative, patented and cost-effective joining method was developed. www.fe-con.com.tr

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Fecon R&D is a start-up company, established in Turkey, for the development and optimisation of innovative fasteners and joining methods. In this sense, the company provides solutions to customers with a selection of its own designed and patented products for a wide range applications.

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY FASTENING SOLUTIONS FOR ALL INDUSTRIES

As the automotive revolution gathers pace, new opportunities arise

By Chris Black, global sales director of automotive business development, TR Fastenings Ltd According to BloombergNEF’s latest electric vehicle (EV) outlook report, 57% of all global passenger vehicle sales and 30% of the global passenger vehicle fleet sales will be electric by 2040.

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wo million EVs were sold worldwide in 2018, and this number is expected to rise to 10 million by 2025, 28 million by 2030 and 56 million by 2040. The growth in this sector has been rapid, rising quickly into the millions, a far cry from 2010 when only a few thousand EVs were sold across the globe.

An obvious factor in this market growth is the significant development of the technology, both in terms of the vehicles themselves and of the infrastructure and accessories needed to support the market.

However, infrastructure still remains a major challenge for the sector, as the chicken and egg dilemma of supply versus demand continues to amount to far fewer charging points than needed being installed.

The revolution gathers pace

Figures from the UK charging point platform zap-map states there are currently (as of October 2019) 27,228 charging connectors in 15,734 devices, at 9,880 locations across the UK. The total number of connectors has increased from just over 13,000 in November 2017 to almost 23,000 in May 2019, a 57% increase in just 18 months.

In 2017, Volvo Cars announced that it would stop making cars that exclusively used internal combustion engines (ICEs) by 2019, with every new model featuring some form of electrification. More recently, the brand has taken it one step further as it edges closer to its ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2040 by scaling back its lifecycle footprint by 40% between 2018 and 2025. The carmaker is aiming for 50% of its global sales to be fully electric vehicles by 2025.

This growing consumer demand for EVs, coupled with the rapid development of EV and electric vehicle battery (EVB) technology has

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enabled TR Fastenings to combine its extensive fastener product range and breadth of knowledge into the ideal package to support and contribute to these groundbreaking initiatives.

TR and the role it plays in the industry

Fastening technology is crucial for EV and EVB manufacture, and TR’s range includes a number of parts that are particularly relevant for EVB assembly, such as fasteners with electrically isolating coatings, lightweight non-magnetic fasteners, battery retention bolts, cable management hardware and compression limiters.

In addition, TR’s branded range comprises every component listed in a typical Bill of Materials (BOM) for EV charging units, including sheet metal fasteners, thread forming screws for plastics/metals, plastic hardware, enclosure hardware, security fasteners, standard fastenings, cable management parts, as well as specials and bespoke designed fasteners.

“Our role in this ever evolving market is to support and consult with our customers on the best solutions, which meet the demands of the changes and developments facing their industries. As a trusted, Full Service Provider (FSP), our engineering, design and manufacturing expertise, as well as our global reach and long-standing industry

experience, make us the ideal partner for any firm involved in the burgeoning EV industry – from battery manufacturers to charging point manufacturers to automotive tier 1s and OEMs,” comments TR.

Driving OEMs into the future

Automotive OEMs face some serious challenges. TR supplies over 10,000 different fasteners annually to tier 1 companies in the automotive sector. These cost-effective parts are predominantly manufactured, according to its ‘zero defect’ philosophy, at its flagship manufacturing plants in Malaysia and two factories in Taiwan – the gateway to Asia/Pacific OEM relations.

However, whichever part of the world you find yourself, TR notices one consistent trend – the expectations of the customer have changed. Due to the waning of product differentiation and a general increase in vehicle quality throughout the sector, customers are becoming less loyal to a specific brand and expect more high-end features to be standard.

However, many automotive customers have specific needs in terms of product and in order to help customers maximise a component’s full potential, TR’s team of application engineers work closely with its tier 1 customers’ design engineers. TR has built a reputation as the ‘go to’ company for support and its technical team is happy to arrange on-site visits for problem solving or a like for like cost saving alternative product development or the design of a totally new component.

“Our global presence and market expertise enables us to support tier 1 companies on an international basis, leveraging volumes and simplifying supply chains.”

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Hugo Benzing protective elements make electric mobility safer Just over a year ago, Hugo Benzing introduced the BENZING VENTS series containing protective elements for lithium-ion cells in electric vehicles. Since then a lot has happened, not least the public discourse about the future of mobility. In order to illustrate the complex subject of safety in electric mobility, the Stuttgart-based company has published a high-quality explanatory video.

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ithium-ion batteries such as those used in electric vehicles consist of many individual cells. Each of these cells can experience thermal excitation due to hazardous sources, e.g internal or external short circuits. Depending on the cathodes metallic composition, such an overheating can cause an unstoppable chain reaction, also known as thermal runaway. Temperatures can exceed 1,000°C within seconds.

This will cause a highly toxic cloud of hydrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and graphite to form. If the affected cell thermally excites its neighbours, too, the resulting volume of gas will reach up to several hundreds of litres per second. Since the gas forms so rapidly, it generates pressures exceeding five bar, which can irreversibly deform the casing or even cause an explosion.

In order to prevent casing deformation due to a thermal chain reaction, Hugo Benzing GmbH & Co Ltd developed its BENZING VENTS series containing protective elements that operate at a pressure as low as around 350 millibar.

The battery’s location within the vehicle determines the type of protective element used.

For external applications, BENZING VENTS bursting discs can be used.

They discharge the gases directly to the outside and closes again as soon as the pressure drops below 350 millibar. This is important to keep out water, dust, stones, salt or other debris. In internal applications, it is crucial to discharge the gases safely to protect persons in the interior from exposure.

BENZING VENTS bursting membranes connected to an exhaust pipe are the right solution here. The membrane consists of porous PFTE which, unlike other materials, can burst at pressures as low as 350 millibar and breathes before bursting allowing it to be used as a pressure relief element.

The patented high performance BENZING VENTS protective elements thereby reduce the chance of the battery casing exploding.

Fast curing epoxy adhesive for cosmetics sector The new epoxy-based adhesive Vitralit® UC 6025 from Panacol optimises automated assembly processes and can be applied and cured very quickly due to its accommodating dispensing properties.

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specially designed for the cosmetics industry, Vitralit® UC 6025 has an optimal viscosity for gap filling applications.

The one component epoxy adhesive is odourless and easy to dispense. Its controllability and fast curing properties make Vitralit UC 6025 suitable for applications requiring a high performance.

The new adhesive can also be cured with UV or visible light in just a few seconds. The adhesive curing process can be further

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optimised by using UV/LED curing equipment from Dr Hönle. The fluorescing version of the adhesive allows in-line process control for maximum productivity.

Once cured, the adhesive has high adhesion to ABS, aluminium and glass. These properties and lack of odour make Vitralit UC 6025 ideal for applications in the cosmetics industry. Application examples include bonding lipstick applicators or bottle lids.

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

NORMA equips one million vehicles NORMA Group will be supplying fuel quick connectors with steel housings to a French automobile manufacturer, with around 1.3 million vehicles being fitted with the connectors by 2023.

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ORMA’s quick connectors can be used for the reliable connection of fuel pipes and, due to the steel housing, are extremely shock-resistant and thus more break proof than pure plastic quick connectors. This significantly reduces the risk of fuel leakage in the event of a collision and ensures greater safety for the driver and passengers.

“Our connection solutions help people feel safer in vehicles. Thanks to our broad product range, and our decades of expertise in the field of fluid transport, we are able to meet our customers’ increasing safety requirements with effective solutions,” says Dr Michael Schneider, member of NORMA Group’s management board.

Manufactured at NORMA Group’s plant in Guichen, France, customers can configure the connectors according to their individual requirements. Various types are available for the housing, retaining clip, sealing ring and angle.

3D printing opens up new potential Würth Industrie Service is able to offer a wide range of the most diverse technologies, including additive manufacturing processes – specifically geared towards machinery and plant engineering.

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dditive manufacturing, which is much better known as 3D printing, has been in use with plastic engineering for many years.

However, the method offers potential for many further applications including architecture, design, medical engineering, packaging or mechanical engineering.

By offering additive manufacturing, Würth Industrie Service is able to offer initial samples, prototypes, certified serial parts, spare parts and tools – all from a single source from batch size one. Making it a quick and cost-efficient supply process, not just for C-parts.

Be it large or small items, spare parts, small series or fully-fledged mass production, additive manufacturing gives customers maximum freedom for the development and implementation of products, which also goes for the materials used for industry components.

Ranging from robust, rubbery or transparent plastics to aluminium, stainless steel, tool steel, high temperature resistant steel or titanium, the most suitable solution for the respective application or component of a customer – in production, materials planning, maintenance, construction and development – is chosen. These different materials can be prepared using various technologies such as laser melting, laser sintering, stereolithography, metal 3D printing or PolyJet printing.

Thanks to additive manufacturing, customers cannot only reduce lead times, development cycles and total component costs, but also improve the component’s performance, weight and – opening up new perspectives in regards to the geometry of developed parts. An innovative building

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component design allows combining different functions in one part. Additive manufacturing provides a new range of design options, including any desired shape and surface quality, integrated channels for process media and a reduced number of assembly steps. In addition, these manufacturing methods result in shorter delivery times and an elimination of minimum purchasing quantities.

In order to make full use of the opportunities offered by additive manufacturing, 3D printing specialists from Würth Industrie Service develop the respective components in cooperation with customers, following a predefined process and relying on state of the art construction methods. Virtual 3D models are prepared using CAD. Thanks to the digital ‘twin’ of the component, all process steps along the way to the finished product can be traced, which allows an optimisation of component features and a full documentation. Data models are then translated into machine data and printed. The additive component is created layer by layer.

When it comes to compliance with technical requirements, the highest quality standards and a consistent, efficient process are the key to success. In order to guarantee the component’s quality, Würth Industrie Service operates a fully equipped test laboratory currently accredited for 50 test methods according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. Thanks to the available product and testing know-how, all components created in an additive manufacturing process can be tested for the below parameters to ensure the desired quality – mechanical strain, geometric shape, surface and material features.

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PRODUCTS + tools THE LAtest product and technology developments

How to install a coiled spring pin

By Jeff Greenwood, product sales engineer, SPIROL International Corporation Coiled pins were designed with assembly in mind. Compared to other pins, their square ends, concentric chamfers, and lower insertion forces make them ideal for easy installation.

Additionally, coiled pins can accommodate wider hole tolerances than any other pin because they compress during installation and conform to the shape of the hole. All in all, coiled pins are the easiest type of pin to install and are designed to be serviceable.

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he coiled pin’s nominal diameter represents the recommended hole size for the product into which they are being installed. Coiled pin design guidelines will provide the recommended hole tolerance range.

The coiled pin is designed so that the pre-installed diameter is greater than the hole size, and the chamfer diameter is smaller than the hole. During installation, the swaged chamfer helps align the coiled pin with the hole and facilitates compression of the coils as it is being driven into position.

Installation options

Most manufacturers prefer to use a hammer when only a handful of prototype assemblies are needed. However, sometimes, particularly when the pins are too small to hold while hammering into the hole, manufacturers may opt to use a pin driving chuck so they don’t have to hold onto the pin while it is being inserted. Automatic pin inserters are preferred for high production volumes because they provide a significant return on investment (ROI) over time. Additionally, automatic pin inserters are also preferred for small diameter pins that are difficult to handle.

Hammer

The simplest coiled pin installation method is to use a hammer. First, align the coiled pin up to the hole by hand.

Next, simply hammer the coiled pin into the hole as if it was a nail. Drive the pin to the desired insertion depth and be careful not to damage the host.

Using a hammer is great for prototyping a handful of assemblies or trying out a coiled pin for the first time. However, this installation method is not recommended for short pins or pins with small diameters because it can be difficult to hold them in place by hand.

Automatic pin installation machine

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Manual press or air hammer with pin driving chuck

Coiled pins can be installed manually with a press or air hammer by using a pin driving chuck. First, secure the pin driving chuck into the press or air hammer. Next, manually insert the coiled pin into the end of the driver.

Then place the exposed end of the pin into the hole and complete the installation by advancing the press handle or actuating the air gun.

Presses and air hammers with pin chucks allow for better axial alignment, control, and quicker cycle times compared to a hammer. These are great solutions for small to medium volume production. Additionally, pin driving chucks are cost-effective and versatile tools that allow manufacturers to control alignment and insertion depth.

Furthermore, the chuck will hold the pin securely in place prior to and during installation. The pin driving chuck has an internal punch with a diameter smaller than the hole but greater than the pin’s chamfer diameter. This is critical for effective installation.

Figure 1

Automatic installation equipment

Automatic pin inserters are ideal for efficient, high volume production, and are completely self contained. The fastener is oriented in a vibratory feeder and fed to a shuttle mechanism that positions the fastener directly underneath the insertion quill. The shuttle is mounted on a retracting mechanism that positions the pin exit bushing as close to the assembly as possible for insertion, then retracts for unobstructed loading and unloading.

The installation steps with an automatic pin inserter are simple. The operator will load the assembly onto the fixture, activate the machine to insert the pin, and then remove the assembly. Periodically the supply of pins in the feeder bowl must be replenished. The operator does not need to handle the pins throughout any part of the installation process as he/she simply has to pour the pins from the shipping container directly into the feeder bowl as required.

There are many add-on features available to customise the automatic inserter to suit the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs such as adjustable work station, infrared safety light curtain, force monitoring, distance monitoring, part presence sensing, rotary index tables, feeder bowl level monitoring, drilling and pinning combination, and multiple pin insertion per cycle, etc.

The feeder bowl can also be designed to sort out errant product or debris.

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Additional considerations

Fixturing: Fixtures are designed to hold, support, and align components during installation. This is a critical element to the performance of the installation equipment and therefore the quality of the final product. Effective fixturing also improves cycle times, reduces the risk of scrapped assemblies, and poka-yokes the beginning of the assembly process.

Spring loaded alignment pin: The use of a spring loaded alignment pin is recommended for assemblies with through holes to ensure alignment is maintained between the pin and the holes of the assembly components throughout the entire installation process. A spring loaded alignment pin is fixed on the installation table and is used for alignment of the assembly prior to and during installation.

Spring loaded alignment pins (also known as locating pins) have spring mechanisms so they retract as the pin is inserted into the assembly as shown in Figure 1. If the fixture used the periphery of the assembly components as datums, rather than a simple disappearing pin, the manufacturer would have to hold tighter tolerances on the parts to maintain proper alignment. This would result in higher manufacturing costs without adding any value over using a disappearing pin for assemblies with through holes. www.shop.spirol.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

One battery system, six riveters BRALO has launched a new range of battery riveting tools BET (BRALO Electronic Tool) to provide greater autonomy, versatility and efficiency to the industry, and offer a complete solution without a cable – meeting the fastener needs of customers, both with rivets or with insert nuts.

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ith a system of interchangeable batteries of 2Ah and 4Ah, and only one charger, the range of BET riveting tools achieves a high-speed of work, together with a high power to cover a wide range of applications in standard rivets. These include structural rivets, S-Trebol or lockbolts, as well as for insert nuts up to M12.

The BET range of riveting tools also has a battery life indicator with LED lights to show the battery charge level; a transparent mandrel collector with quick emptying of the mandrel container to offer greater safety and cleaning of the work area; as well as a reinforced piece for a safe ejection of mandrels.

The BET tools’ hanging rings make them especially suitable for use in assembly lines. The range features a balanced and ergonomic design, and a high sensitivity trigger to achieve fast and quality riveting. The tools’ ergonomic handles also provide a secure and comfortable grip for the operator in any application.

BRALO says its new range of riveting tools is very easy to use and maintain. Its battery system also provides the necessary freedom to access outdoor applications where it is difficult to reach with a pneumatic riveter, or simply benefit from the convenience of not being tied to a cable. Its balanced and ergonomic design provides a conformable use of the tool, with hardly any noise or vibrations, protecting the operator.

Wide range of tools to meet all applications

The new range covers a wide range of riveting requirements: BET-1: For standard rivets in any material from 2.4mm up to 5mm, and Hardgrip up to 4mm.

BET-2: For rivets from 4mm to 6.4mm, structural up to 6.5mm.

BET-3: For rivets S-Trebol from 5.2mm up to 7.7mm.

BET-4: For Bralock lockbolts of 6.5mm.

BET-N: For insert nuts from M3 up to M12.

BET-0: For hexagonal holes up to M12.

BET riveting tools are especially suitable for the most demanding industries, such as construction, infrastructure, ventilated façades, household appliances, solar panels, automotive, etc, and confer high performance where professional riveting and quality is required.

174 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

BRALO is a company of technological innovation, offering fastening solutions and customised attention, designing solutions together with the client, as well as special cold stamping parts in different materials, measures and finishes. Its quality standards are based on the ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standards, as well as the ISO 14001 environmental standard.

With a production of more than 3,600 million pieces a year, BRALO supplies twelve categories of rivets, including standard rivets, multigrip, peeled, trebol, sealed, structural; as well as cylindrical, grooved, hexagon and half hexagon insert nuts, and manual, pneumatic and battery riveting tools.

BRALO has three production plants in Spain, Mexico and China; and has an extensive commercial network formed by nine branches located in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, France, Turkey and the Czech Republic – servicing customers in 60 countries worldwide. www.bralo.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

stamping out the impact of theft globally

Brand revolution at Hafren Security Fasteners This year, Hafren Security Fasteners is launching new product packaging and high-quality branded tooling, giving a new look and feel that is much bolder and appealing across all product offerings. The new packaging will start hitting store shelves this year.

H

afren has a reputation for providing high-quality security fastener products throughout the construction industry and wanted its packaging to reflect the quality of the products inside the box. “After doing our homework, we came up with a design that we feel meets the requirements of the market. Our customers wanted something with a higher visual impact that would gain the attention of their customers and the new Hafren branded box undoubtedly delivers. Our new packaging conveys to anyone who uses our products, that they are going to perform at a very high-level,” said Ryan Crawley, marketing manager at Hafren Security Fasteners.

As a wholesaler of security fasteners, Hafren is clear in its position to support frontline distribution partners. The company says it will never seek out direct end user business and this is at the heart of its brand ethics/route to market; preferring to partner with proactive, forward thinking distributors who ‘get’ the value proposition and want to differentiate themselves from the rest of the market.

The brand strongly supports the distribution chain and marketing model, which makes it quick and easy to buy and sell these security fasteners. Distributors can benefit from a wealth of support packages, including readily available Hafren product handbooks, demonstration/sales packs and brochures, marketing support, an e-commerce website, and now a product that is packaged to stand out amongst the competition.

This high impact packaging design gives continuity and ease of recognition across the Hafren brand. Without a doubt helping to improve shelf appearances. The boxes have been designed with an understanding of the importance of maximising store/shelf space and therefore the size formats are optimal to increase profitability. Boxes are made from 100% recycled cardboard to minimise environmental impact.

Quality is guaranteed throughout the product range, technical experience and commercial acumen within its team; all supported and backed up by ISO accreditations in quality (9001) and environmental management (14001). www.hafrenfasteners.com

For more security fasteners visit; www.hafrenfasteners.com Or call us

+44 (0)1686 621 300 Or email

sales@hafrenfasteners.com Don’t forget to follow us

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

New metal fixings helping installers comply with wiring regulations Cable management specialist HellermannTyton has launched its new range of metal fixings that can be used within both commercial and residential buildings, which also aids installers when complying with the BS 7671:2018 18th edition wiring regulations in the UK.

T

he 18 th edition wiring regulation states that plastic clips should not be used as the sole or ‘main’ support for cables.

In addition to this, strong reference is made to the spacing of the metallic clips and fixation methods. Where the previous wiring regulations stated ‘escape routes’ it now states ‘access or egress routes’, meaning both entry routes in and exit routes out of the building are covered.

Designed to support the increasing market requirement and the industry’s required regulations, HellermannTyton’s new range of metal fixings consists of spring steel wire clips and a fireproof plate series, both compliant with the wiring regulations.

The fireproof plate series range of metal fixings are made of galvanised steel material and have been tested in conditions of up to 830ºC for up to 120 minutes. Ideal to use in trunking, the new spring steel wire clip series can be fixed to multiple construction substrates such as brick, concrete or breeze block becoming the ultimate metal fixing.

The fireproof plate and spring steel clip series have both been tested at the Exova Warrington Fire Test lab to ensure they are compliant with specification BS 50200:2015, assuring its intrinsic resistance to fire when used in emergency circuits.

“We’re so pleased to announce the launch of our 18 th edition metal fixings range. Designed to assist mainly in the electrical and construction industry, this new range has been created with our customers’ needs in mind. By using metal fixings in conjunction with cable trays and baskets ensures maximum compliance with the

regulations to reduce the risk of cables causing obstruction in the event of a fire,” explains John Brodie, product manager for fastenings and fixings at HellermannTyton.

HellermannTyton has an in-house design team and its own manufacturing capability, so can provide expert advice on cable management as well as bespoke solutions. With this capability, HellermannTyton can create solutions to meet the diverse needs of electrical installation contractors.

Providing optimal safety As one of Europe’s leading wholesalers of stainless steel fasteners, with almost 30 years’ experience, Apex Stainless has established a worldwide reputation for excellent customer service – a principle that is deeply embedded at the very heart of the company and permeates through every level of the business. pex aims to offer its fastener distribution customers a ‘one stop shop’ for all stainless steel fastener and fixing requirements and constantly strives to offer the very best possible customer service – building upon its already extensive and comprehensive product portfolio of over 20,000 product lines.

Given the ever more rigorous requirements as regards to quality and strength of products capable of coping with the harshest of conditions and environments, the company has focused attention on the range of fasteners offered by BUMAX® as a solution. This product range is one of the strongest stainless steel fasteners in the world and has a proven track record of providing optimal safety and reliability in the most demanding of applications.

Existing A4 stock ranges are therefore currently being supplemented by BUMAX® 88 socket cap screws and socket countersunk screws. These screws are manufactured from 316L (A4) low carbon material and conform to a minimum tensile strength of 800N/mm2 combined with a yield factor of 640N/mm2. These parts will shortly be available from the shelf to ensure prompt delivery and fulfilment of any customer requirement, including next day delivery to UK customers.

Further product groups from the BUMAX range, including BUMAX 88 hexagon full nuts, flat washers, hexagon head screws (full and part thread), as well as 316L Class 100 tensile products (BUMAX 109), will also ultimately be stocked in the UK, although currently access to the BUMAX inventory in Sweden should facilitate prompt deliveries. Even greater strength products are available, including bespoke fasteners to drawing. www.apexstainless.com

A

178 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

EFC offers motion control products and gas springs EFC International has announced the addition of a new product line, Normont Motion Technology, including gas springs, dampers, and custom motion control solutions. The product line is complementary to EFC’s current motion control product offerings, including components from ITW Motion, such as rotary dampers, linear dampers, air dampers, hinge dampers and latches.

N

ormont is a manufacturer of industrial, automotive, and aerospace gas springs and hydraulic dampening solutions.

These products can be found in numerous applications for automotive, truck, bus, heavy machinery, ATM machines, riding mowers, emergency vehicles, and recreational vehicles as well as in many other industries.

“The addition of Normont gas springs to our product offering enhances our ability to enable customers to further consolidate their supply base through EFC. They can obtain motion control products along with the engineered fasteners, while

also experiencing world-class engineering support. This also complements our existing product line of ITW Motion dampers and latches, broadening our motion control solution offerings,” states Paul Musgrove, sales manager at EFC. EFC International is a global supplier of speciality engineered metal, plastic, cold formed, spring steel stampings, electrical, and assembled component parts, to the OEM and distribution market places – serviced from multiple locations in North America, Europe and Asia.

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Controlled tightening from Stahlwille Controlled fastener tightening is now even more important in production, assembly, and service work, and is indispensable in taking uncertainty out of the quality/safety equation. Controllable torque tools – such as the MANOSKOP® 730 Quick – ensure secure connections that exactly meet the requirements every time.

L

ightweight materials such as carbon, a l u m i n i u m , magnesium alloys, and plastics, are very sensitive and quickly become brittle – making bolt tightening with low torques essential. There is also an increasing need in the industry for fastener logging due to ever stricter regulations and quality standards.

The demands made by customers on torque tools in their respective fields are diverse. Stahlwille’s mechanical, electronic and electromechanical torque wrenches provide solutions for all these requirements that enable maximum accuracy, efficiency and safety. The tools are dependable and robust to withstand continuous professional use and stay reliable.

Stahlwille’s torque range includes multipurpose tools that are at home in many situations.

The MANOSKOP® 730 Quick is a mechanical torque wrench that is versatile, quick to set and has a virtually wear-free flexible rod measuring system. There is no need to reset to ‘0’, because there is no spring. The torque is set via a double sliding scale with a thumb recess. A magnifier facilitates reading even where the angle of sight is unfavourable. The locking lever integrated in the handle is easy to access and unlock, enabling the user to adjust the torque very quickly.

Stahlwille offers much more than just hard wearing products with excellent precision.

Services, including support in optimising processes, practical, as well as target group orientated training programmes, are on offer and deliver the added value that demanding users have come to expect. In the state of the art training centre in Wuppertal, Germany, an experienced team of trainers imparts basic or specialist knowledge and ensures that both trade partners and users become acquainted with products and their application.

Top Screw Metal Corp.

ISO 9001:2015

BLIND RIVET SCREWS + NUTS for industrial applications

PRECISION Made in Germany

www.honsel.de

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

100 years and counting Berardi Fasteners marked its first century of business as a solid, yet growing company, under the leadership of Giovanni Berardi, fourth generation of an entrepreneurial lineage that began back in 1919, when Giulio Berardi opened his hardware store in Bologna.

T

he Berardi Group inaugurated its headquarters in Castel Guelfo (Bologna) in 2017, and today has 12 depots in Italy, 3 associated companies (Vibolt, Vitman, VIBF), and Berardi Maroc, its Moroccan branch. Thanks to this sales network, Berardi serves 8,000 clients with as many as 150,000 articles, 45,000 of which are always ready on stock. With 3.5 billion single parts delivered, the Group’s turnover rose to over €75 million in 2018.

“Berardi is keeping up the innovation process that started in the early 2000s, with new product categories, and customised logistics services, which allow us to keep up with market demands, and anticipate the needs of clients. By offering high-quality products and advanced technological solutions, we became a partner, rather than just a supplier, for our 8,000 clients,” comments Giovanni Berardi, owner at Berardi.

Berardi’s says its added values are best represented by its quality and technical offices. Highly qualified personnel with deep knowledge are always there to find the best technical solutions. Non-conformities are contained to minimal levels thanks to cutting edge equipment and constant training, in an effort to keep ahead of clients’ expectations. Berardi’s quality assurance system is ISO 9001 certified.

Testing equipment includes a tensile strength machine, a salt spray chamber, a fluorescent X-ray coating thickness gauge, a micro hardness testing set, a Magnatest®, a digital optical measuring system, and last but not least, two sorting machines with optical and laser technology.

The sorting machines measure dimensions, check threads and head recess depth, verify the uniformity of surface coatings, and can even detect mechanical fragility with a special probe. Thanks to this technology, Berardi can also supply items with defect levels expressed in parts per million, as required for items used on automated assembly lines.

In addition, Berardi’s technical office is fully equipped to develop custom parts from the client’s drawings. Special parts are obtained through hot and cold forging, turning, lathing, or cutting. With CAD 3D, Berardi technicians can also design models with exact tolerances. As an extra service, Berardi offers personalised packaging options, such as fastener kits and custom labelling for boxes. www.gberardi.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

EvoTorque® offers cordless revolution Norbar Torque Tools has launched a cordless torque tool, the EvoTorque® battery tool (EBT), specifically designed to improve performance and data traceability in safety critical and heavy industrial operations, such as manufacturing.

T

he new EBT is ideally suited for all applications where conventional electric or pneumatic power is not available or simply in situations where the removal of hoses and cables is needed to improve workplace safety.

Developed to meet the market need for cordless torque tools, the EBT removes the need for on-site generators, eliminates the problem of unreliable on-site voltage stability and declutters the workplace of trailing cables and hoses.

It is capable of delivering exceptional power and accuracy whilst, crucially, gathering and transmitting the mission critical data required for modern quality control systems.

The new battery tool is equipped with a high powered, no maintenance brushless motor, which provides significantly greater power than similar tools on the market and outstanding thermal durability.

From the outset, Norbar recognised that speed of operation is one of the most important factors for most tool users. With this in mind, a new automatic two speed gearbox was developed and offered as an option on all EBT models. This allows the tools to run at between 4 and 5 times the speed of single speed tools under low load and automatically shift to a high torque, low speed gear for final tightening. The additional benefit of an automatic gear change, compared with the manual change offered by many competitors, is that no time is lost in stopping, shifting and restarting the tool.

184 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

“Most torque tool users want to know how many tightening cycles the tool will perform from a battery, but the more relevant question usually is, how many cycles will the tool perform before it overheats?” commented Philip Brodey, project sponsor at Norbar Torque Tools.

“The new EvoTorque EBT is designed to offer outstanding performance whilst minimising the traditional overheating problem of battery operated tools. In short, under the same conditions a Norbar EBT will keep working when most competitor’s tools have to be stopped to cool.”

Philip continues: “Critical in the design of the new EBT is the ability for the tool to deliver precise torque, to within ±3% of setting.

To achieve this, the EBT joins a small group of tools on the market that are transducer controlled rather than current controlled. Coupled with Norbar’s unique joint sensing software, this makes the EBT one of the most accurate torque tools available over a wide range of joint types.”

Norbar’s EBT cordless torque tool family has three torque ranges; 1,350Nm, 2,700Nm and 4,000Nm. Tools are supplied kitted in a hard case with two batteries and a three bay rapid charger that enables cold batteries to be fully charged from flat in 45 minutes.

There is also a ‘bare tool’ option for customers who already have a sufficient number of batteries and chargers. Accessories including a ‘Right-Angle Gearbox’ and offset gearboxes that are designed to reach bolts with limited head room will also follow shortly.

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

TensionPro products get ARMOURMAX® protection All bolt tensioners from UK-based bolt tensioning specialist, TensionPro, will now be supplied with ARMOURMAX® protective coating as standard. This unique, durable, anti-wear and anti-corrosion finish aims to maximise a tool’s life and reduce maintenance, saving on downtime on-site.

O

ne of the common problems that can afflict tensioning equipment and threaded components is galling. This is caused by adhesion between sliding surfaces of similar composition metals. Even small amounts of contact pressure can lead to significant damage of bolt tensioners and bolting components.

Coating tools with ARMOURMAX® creates a super hard surface finish, which protects from this type of wear and tear as well as general scuffing and marking. As well as the peace of mind that comes from knowing a piece of high-quality equipment is protected from corrosion, the deep black finish gives treated components an enhanced appearance, which lasts the lifetime of the tool.

“We strive to offer the best possible, highest quality tools so our customers can be confident in their performance and reliability at all times. We are constantly innovating to improve our product offering. That’s why we are excited about including ARMOURMAX as standard on all our bolt tensioners. It is a unique technology that will provide a real benefit to users of our equipment,” commented Dave Metzger, director at TensionPro. TensionPro provides a ‘one stop shop’ for all bolt tensioning requirements – covering equipment sales, repairs and refurbishment, spares, special tool designs, load calculations and new tensioner advice. Its core business spans the oil and gas, power generation, wind, civil and industrial markets.

Rivit meets different market needs with stainless steel Specialising in the production and distribution of fastening systems, Rivit Srl is able to offer a comprehensive range of products to satisfy the most demanding customers.

T

o meet the needs of a variety of sectors such as boating, electronics and transport, Rivit has been developing various types of stainless steel fasteners, such as the Lockriv, Multigripriv, and sealed rivets.

The Lockriv’s main feature is the body deformation by compression, which creates a large blind side bearing area against the rear sheet, assuring a wide tolerance with the hole diameter, as well as high shear and tensile strength. Rivit points out that this makes the rivet ideal for applications on fibreglass.

The Multigripriv, with a sole rivet length, enables users to grip to various thicknesses. The particular shape of the mandrel and of the body, during the deformation by compression, creates a large blind side bearing area against the rear sheet, assuring complete hole filling.

The sealed rivets are characterised by a sealed end instead of the standard open hole and are suitable for containers or boxes to prevent the leaking or penetration of fluids.

The rivet nuts allow users to create threads on predrilled sheets, even when they cannot reach the back side of the sheet itself. Using the

rivet nuts does not cause any damage on the surface treatments.

“Within our range, we wish to highlight our ITC-Z stainless steel rivet nuts, open splined cylindrical body, dome head; and our IRC-Z stainless steel rivet nuts, open splined cylindrical body, reduced head,” states Rivit. “Also available, are Jackriv rivet nuts, in AISI 316 stainless steel, M6 – M8, which are designed to provide maximum clamping action over a wide range of material thicknesses, creating female threads where there is no access to the blind side.”

The special Jackriv geometry, when deforming, creates a large blind side bearing area, which ensures integrity of the parts to be assembled, especially on plastics and composites.

During installation, the body is compressed to form a star; which makes the Jackriv highly resistant to sharing stress and vibration, but also easy to apply.

Ideal fields of application for these rivet nuts are composites and plastics, such as display panels, sandwich sections, household appliances, containers buses and caravan panelling, and internal parts of ships.

The installation tools are also available for all blind rivet and rivet nut lines from Rivit. www.rivit.it

The future begins today 2020 will see new changes at Stafa Group including a newly redesigned website, featuring a new e-shop with faster processing time and a focus on carefree ordering through real time access to stocks, prices and orders.

S

tafa is in full development with these changes, and is aiming to optimise its organisation and prepare for the future. As well as the new website, Stafa Group has also launched some new branding, renewed its ERP system, and installed a completely new warehouse management system, to enable the Group to better serve its customers.

Finally, its human resources information system is also being updated, which will further streamline internal processes. www.stafa.nl

186 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 121: JANUARY 2020

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advertisers index 310Express......................................................... 182

DS Fasteners..................................................... 155

Kinfast Hardware Co Ltd.............................141

Saspi Tallers...................................................... 123

Abbey Clamps......................................................15

Eisenwarenmesse........................................... 127

Landmark Craft ............................................. 145

Schäfer+Peters.................................................. 43

Achilles GmbH..................................................... 11

Eurotec.................................................................. 65

Lederer GmbH............................................. 22, 24

Schnorr................................................................. 79

Acton.................................................................... 173

Fareast Metal International Co Ltd........ 187

Lusavouga SA......................................................19

Schwer + Kopka................................................147

Advance Spares............................................... 169

Fastbolt....................................................................2

Marcopol...............................................................37

SD Products....................................................... 157

Albert Pasvahl......................................................9

Fastener Fair France.................................... 129

Marposs................................................................ 79

Alloy & Stainless Fasteners........................ 188

Fastener Taiwan..............................................121

Mayes & Warwick............................................147

Shanghai Fast-Fix Rivet Corporation..... 185

Ambrovit...............................................................13

Fastener + Fixing Magazine.........................51

Mecavit.................................................................. 29

Apex Stainless Fasteners ..............................75

FastFixTechnology.com..................................85

Merlin Business Software Ltd................... 155

APM Hexseal........................................................91

FastFixSearch.com...........................................71

Mitos Srl...............................................................171

ARK Group ................................................118, 119

Fixi Srl.....................................................................35

Nakashimada Engineering Works Ltd..... 39

Arma Baglanti..................................................114

Fong Prean Industrial Co Ltd.................... 155

National Machinery.........................................61

Astrotech Steels Private Limited............. 179

G & B Fissaggi Srl............................................ 145

ND Industries.............................................4, 5, 31

Atotech................................................................ 149

Gala Precision Engineering Private Ltd.... 25

Ningbo Londex....................................................27

Avon Stainless Fasteners Ltd.......................35

Gesipa.....................................................................91

Nord Lock.......................................................1, 190

Bendfast.............................................................. 188

Grand Metal ..................................................... 145

Norm Civata...............................................99, 100

Berardi Fasteners............................................. 83

Hafren Fasteners Ltd.................................... 176

Orbit Fastener Company Limited............ 183

Berdan Bolt...............................................108, 109

Hang Zhou RET Trade Co Ltd............167, 180

Peter Schroder..................................................131

Birlik Baglanti Elemanlari San..................115

Harrison Silverdale....................................... 165

PGB - Europe NV.................................................55

Bontempi Vibo.................................................... 97

Heico Befestigungstechnik........................ 165

Pinstructure........................................................15

Sheh Fung Screws.......................................... 142 Sheh Kai Precision Co....................................177 Sipa......................................................................... 95 Smith Bullough.................................................131 Spirol Ind............................................................ 169 Stafa.......................................................................... 7 Star Fasteners.....................................................81 Tecfi....................................................................... 137 Teknoform...........................................................113 The Insert Company...................................... 187 TITIBI.................................................................... 144 Tobsteel............................................................... 165 Top Screw Metal Corp Ltd............................181 Trutek.............................................................. 69, 93

Bossong............................................................... 135

Heller Tools...........................................................53

PRK Technologies............................................175

Bralo........................................................................15

Hexstone Group..................................................17

Püehl....................................................................... 23

Bulte...................................................................... 169

Index Tecnicas Expansivas Srl.......................3

Ray Fu Enterprise Co.................................... 173

Carlo Salvi.......................................................... 125

Industrial recence...........................................171

Rexlen Corp....................................................... 163

Cetin Civata.............................................104, 105

Inoxdadi.............................................................. 185

Reyher.................................................................... 25

VVG Befestigungstechnik............................181

Chavesbao.............................................................21

Jeveka.....................................................................57

RFKS........................................................................57

Wan Iuan Enterprise Co Ltd....................... 153

Ching Chan Optical Technology Co.........151

Jiangsu Yongyi Fastener Co Ltd..................41

Rivit...................................................................... 189

Wasi........................................................................ 63

Colombo Special Fasteners Srl................... 45

Johan Smit......................................................... 157

Robert Grass GmbH......................................... 89

WPI Services..................................................... 148

Construction Anchors ................................. 143

Joker Industrial Co. Ltd..................................35

Rosmil.................................................................. 152

Yuyao Alfirste Hardware Co Ltd.............. 139

Don Quichotte....................................................131

Jubliee clips........................................................171

Sacma.....................................................................73

Zago Manufacturing Inc............................... 33

UBK....................................................................... 183 Valenta................................................................ 127 Vipa Spa.................................................................77

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CONTROLRIV SYSTEM CONTROL FOR BLIND RIVETS AND RIVET NUTS

CONTROLRIV 4.0

CONTROLRIV BASIC

The 4.0 control system allows to monitor the insert installation or rivet according to the predetermined settings made by the operator. The 4.0 creation of a control network through the Master/Slave connection with which up to 12 different units can be managed simultaneously.

The system allows to control the placing of the rivet nuts or blind rivets according to the predetermined settings made by the operator.

You have improved productivity, quality of work and a reduction in waste.

STOP ERRORS!

Rivit, from 1973 today

Is always looking for cutting-edge solutions to have everything under control RIVIT Srl ITALIA Bologna / Italy T. +39 0514171111 rivit@rivit.it / rivit.it

RIVIT INDIA Pvt Ltd Chennai / India T. +91 44 428 50 250 rivitindia@rivit.in / rivit.in

RIVIT MAROC Sarl Au Temara / Maroc T. +212 661 379 765 rivit@rivit.ma / rivit.it

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R I V I T . I T

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ALLOY C-276

THE NORD-LOCK ORIGINAL WASHERS Nord-Lock offers products in a wide range of sizes, shapes and materials, developed to suit even the toughest environments. With a promise of 1,000 hours corrosion resistance on all steel washers it makes the Nord-Lock washer the best on the market.

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