Fastener + Fixing Magazine #130

In this issue…

Global fastener eCommerce made possible Made in Taiwan Automotive applications fastenerandfixing.com ≡ Issue 130: July 2021

COMPETENCE DISTRIBUTORS TRUST

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

A PERFECT FIXING FOR YOUR BUSINESS

• 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 U.S., 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.

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.

SEALTEK™ An acrylic-based sealing material which is applied to the underhead of the fastener. SealTek’s robust seal replaces the need for O-rings, gaskets, or sealing washers.

CONTENTS NEWS 10-38 Financial reports, acquisitions and trade duty news

COVER STORY 40-41

Global fastener eCommerce made possible

INSIGHT 42-50 Healthy contracts mean healthy business ACTON’s high-quality service A tribute to Sergio Pirovano Current impacts on the European fastener industry

MADE IN TAIWAN 52-84

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An insight into the Taiwanese fastener manufacturing market

EXHIBITIONS 86-92 Fastener Fair CONNECT: A brand-new digital event

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS

94-102

Unrivalled technical support from JCP Light-duty fixings feature

MANUFACTURING 104-118 TECHNOLOGY Ingramatic introduces combined threader concept Tooling, dies + punches feature

TESTING 120-124

The phenomenon known as fatigue Accurate load inspection for all fasteners

MANAGEMENT + 126-129 SYSTEMS

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52 88 126

Warehouse + inventory management feature

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

130-148

Product disassembly: A keystone in achieving a carbon neutral future?

Automotive applications

TECHNICAL 150-151 The ‘neighbour effect’ of loosening one bolt

PRODUCTS + TOOLS 152-168 Nuts, washers + locking systems feature Sockets + wrenches feature

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

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Stanztechnik

Your reliable partner in challenging times

Products With a high demand of flexibility, reliability and quality, the mid-sized and in fourth generation family-owned and managed company PÜHL, based in Plettenberg (GER), manufactures standard, ISO-, DIN- and special stamping parts for mechanical connections.

www.puehl.de

STANDARD PARTS

Service State-of-the-art manufacturing technology with 20 stamping machines and pressing forces up to 1,000 tons and a substantial warehouse of raw materials and finished products allow a fast production and delivery to competitive conditions.

SPECIAL PARTS Reliability Wholesalers and end users in the sectors of wind energy, steel construction, traffic engineering, railway engineering, agricultural machines and the automotive supplier industry, value the quality and the competitive conditions of the products.

PARTS ACCORDING DRAWING

EDITOR’S NOTE

Will Lowry, content director, Fastener + Fixing Magazine

A waiting game I know that there are currently a lot of topics within the market that are ‘up in the air’ with no answers either way being available. Nowhere is this more apparent than the current anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain iron or steel fasteners from the People’s Republic of China.

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oing to print, there had been no developments regarding the investigation. Although the European Commission has now set 21 st August 2021 as the latest date to announce provisional measures. Pre-disclosure of the Commission’s intentions must be made four weeks prior to that date, which means the latest something should be announced is 20 th July. However, these are the ‘latest’ dates so the announcement could come sooner.

As always, once there is any news it will be published on www.fastenerandfixing.com and we shall send a ‘breaking news’ email, so make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter.

Whilst there is nothing from the European Commission on anti-dumping, we do have an article from the European Fastener Distributor Association (EFDA) on the potential impact of tariffs on an EU economy already threatened by fastener shortages.

There is also an article from Hans Führlbeck, managing director at Deutscher Schraubenverband e.V – the German association for manufacturers of mechanical fasteners, who gives the perspective of manufacturers on the anti-dumping investigation and the current factors impacting them.

Whilst there is no announcement on anti-dumping, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions has announced the launch of a brand new online event – Fastener Fair CONNECT. Scheduled to take place from 17th – 18th November 2021, the event will complement the existing live shows. We have a special preview of what to expect from the new digital event, as well as an exclusive interview with Liljana Goszdziewski, portfolio director of the European Fastener Fairs on behalf of the organisers Mack-Books Exhibitions, who talks about what exhibitors and visitors can expect from the show.

www.fastenerandfixing.com Managing Director Jamie Mitchell jamie.mitchell@verulammedia.com Content Director Will Lowry will.lowry@verulammedia.com Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge claire.aldridge@verulammedia.com Digital Content Assistant Charlie Conibear charlie.conibear@verulammedia.com Sales Director Mac Rahman mac.rahman@verulammedia.com Business Development Manager – Italy Emiliano Pagliaroli emiliano.pagliaroli@verulammedia.com Business Development Manager – DACH Beata Csano beata.csano@verulammedia.com Business Development Manager – Europe Chantal Ridings chantal.ridings@verulammedia.com Production & Design Manager Lee Duskwick lee.duskwick@verulammedia.com

To add to this, we also have a special Made in Taiwan feature, including an introductory article from our Taiwanese media partner – Fastener World. In addition to focusing on the Taiwanese economy and the impact of Covid-19, the article from Fastener World also analyses the financial reports of leading Taiwanese fastener companies and how they have been impacted by the pandemic.

To go alongside this, we also have a range of articles from Taiwanese manufacturers that focus on the continued developments in products, capabilities, and markets, that have happened at a whole host of companies over the last 12 months.

Finally, in Application Technology we have an excellent feature on how fastening technology is used within a wide range of automotive applications. There is also a fascinating article from Peter Standring, technical secretary at Industrial Metalforming Technologies, which looks at product disassembly and why it should become more of a focus for industries in the future and also whether it is the keystone in being able to achieve a ‘carbon neutral’ future.

Subscribe for free at www.fastenerandfixing.com

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Part of the Mack Brooks Group

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

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 Verulam Media.

Copyright Entire contents copyright © Verulam Media Ltd 2021. 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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NEWS COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF KEY INDUSTRY NEWS

EFDA on impending anti-dumping duties Ahead of the European Commission’s decision on the imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties on the import of iron and steel fasteners originating in the People’s Republic of China, the European Fastener Distributor Association has highlighted the impact on an EU economy already threatened by fastener shortages.

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r Volker Lederer, president of the European Fastener Distributor Association (EFDA) comments: “With anti-dumping duties on Chinese fasteners, the supply of screws and other fasteners to the European economy could no longer be ensured. High capacity utilisation, raw material shortages and shipping problems have already thrown international supply chains into unprecedented chaos, making it impossible for European fastener distributors to supply European industry, trade and crafts with fasteners in time. Under these exceptional circumstances, the European Union would create the ‘perfect storm’ if it were to impose additional duties on the import of iron and steel fasteners from the People’s Republic of China.”

On 21 st December 2020, the European Commission initiated an anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of iron and steel fasteners from the People’s Republic of China (AD676). At the end of the procedure, protective duties on fasteners could be imposed, as was already the case from 2009 to 2016. “At that time, tariffs on Chinese goods of up to 85% brought trade with China to a complete standstill,” states Dr Lederer. “Although the WTO declared the EU measures illegal in 2016, the damage to the domestic economy was there.

European fastener manufacturers did not take any measures to significantly increase the production of so called standard parts.

They rely on high-quality special parts for the European automotive industry. Standard parts have to be bought from the Far East and other parts of the world.”

Dr Lederer continues: “Within the next few weeks, the EU Commission will decide whether to impose provisional duties in the summer, i.e. already during the investigation procedure.

To do so, it is seeking the vote of EU member states. However, the global market for fasteners is upside down. Delivery times for fasteners have doubled and even tripled since the beginning of the year, reaching up to twelve months. There are no alternatives to China in Asia or Europe. In other east Asian markets like Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam, capacities are exhausted as US companies claimed resources here a few years ago in response to the Trump administration’s protective tariffs on Chinese imports.”

“Pandemic travel restrictions make it impossible for European importers to conduct the visits and audits required for new suppliers. Raw material shortages, such as steel or wire rod, are exacerbating the supply problems. The continuing global logistics problems in maritime shipping – with container shortages and the effects of the crisis at the Suez Canal – mean that what little is available can only reach Europe with significant delays and extra costs. Purchasing in Europe is also ruled out as an alternative. European manufacturers are not having any free capacities and would never be able, nor willing, to produce the quantities of standard fasteners necessary to satisfy the demand of the European industry.”

“European fastener distributors supply the European industry with an extensive range of standard and special parts and ensure that the products are available in the right place at the right time.

A COMMITMENT TO PRODUCT QUALITY Major customers include manufacturers in the automotive, machine building, construction, wind energy, agriculture, furniture, craft and & TECHNICAL INNOVATION DIY sectors. For these manufacturers the permanent availability of standard parts is indispensable – so that their products can continue to be manufactured in Europe and successfully sold on world markets.”

“Therefore, Europe must now do everything possible to ensure the global competitiveness of its industry and not to unnecessarily complicate its supply with indispensable primary products like fasteners. To recover from the Covid-19 crisis and in order to avoid breakdowns of productions lines in Europe, the European economy needs the capacity of the entire Asian procurement market – including China. With anti-dumping duties, the EU would ‘put a spoke in the wheel’ of EU recovery,” concludes Dr Lederer.

...the global market for fasteners is upside down.”

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

Q U A L IT Y S IN C E

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N EW O N ST O C K: Tapping screws: ISO 14585 / ISO 14586 type C Drilling screws: ISO 15481 / ISO 15482 / DIN 7504 type K Thread rolling screws: ISO 14583 / ISO 14579 / ISO 14580 / ISO 14581 / DIN 7500 CE/M Hexagon socket set screws: DIN 913/ISO 4026 / DIN 914/ISO 4027 Nuts: DIN 985 / DIN 6923 Achilles Seibert GmbH

Philipp-Reis-Straße 3 · D-24558 Henstedt-Ulzburg · Fon: +49 4193 89 55 Fax: +49 4193 89 56 99 · sales@achill-fasteners.com · www.achill-fasteners.com

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NEWS - INDUSTRY

Würth Group reports double-digit sales growth Würth Group has reported sales of €8.4 billion in the first half of 2021, up 20.9% over the same period last year. Adjusted for currencies, sales grew by 22.6%. In Germany, Würth Group generated sales of €3.4 billion (+16.4%), with the companies abroad achieving total sales of €5 billion (+24.3%).

R

obert Friedmann, chairman of the central managing board of the Würth Group, commented: “That our growth in the first half of 2021 came out so strong, despite the pandemic, has exceeded all our expectations.

It is especially great to see that almost all business units are growing.”

The month of April was historic for Würth Group, achieving monthly sales of €1.42 billion, which translates into year-over-year growth of 50.5% (adjusted growth: 47.6%).

Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG, the parent company and at the same time largest individual company in the Group, also did well. In the first half of 2021, it generated sales of €1.25 billion including intra-Group sales (+17.9%).

At €520 million, Würth Group’s operating result in the first half of 2021 is well above that of the previous year (2020: €280 million).

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at

the beginning of 2020 put a considerable drag on the operating result in the second quarter of 2020. Strong sales growth across almost all business units, combined with lower costs due to the Covid-19 pandemic (e.g travel, conference and trade show costs) are now positively impacting the 2021 result.

great challenges, especially when it comes to fasteners, wood connectors, mounting rails and fittings,” explained Robert Friedmann. “Continuing to supply our customers quickly and reliably remains our top priority. Further price increases will be unavoidable.”

Price increases for raw materials pose new challenge

Moderate outlook for H2 2021

Demand for semi-finished and finished goods has been ramping up rapidly since the end of 2020, resulting in production and supply bottlenecks and, consequently, in rising manufacturing and procurement costs. The problems within the supply chains also further aggravate the situation. The Covid-19 outbreak at the South Chinese port Yantian is also adding to the already substantial delivery delays.

“There are not enough raw materials on the market, which presents us with

Würth Group is currently expecting growth in the double-digit range, to a total sales volume of around €16 billion, in fiscal year 2021 – up from €14.4 billion in 2020. While the economy has recovered in recent months, Covid-19 infection rates are dropping as vaccinations go up, the economic research institute Ifo is warning against setbacks caused by the Delta variant.

“We must not take these strong growth rates for granted. The current situation is very volatile,” stated Robert Friedmann. “We have to be prepared for everything.”

Hilti back to growth In the first four months of 2021, Hilti Group increased sales by 14.7% to CHF 1.925 billion (€1.75 billion). In local currencies, growth amounted to 16% compared to the same period of the previous year.

EO Christoph Loos commented: “The recovery trend in the global construction industry has continued and we have made a good start to the new fiscal year. It is pleasing to note that we have not only made gains compared with the low basis from 2020, but also achieved growth of around 6% in local currencies versus the first four months of 2019.”

Compared with the first four months of the previous year, the Europe business region recorded a sales increase of 22% in local currencies. In addition to a solid growth rate in northern and central Europe, the dynamic recovery in the Mediterranean countries, in particular, contributed to this result. In the Americas, the 9.9% increase was broad-based, highlighted by the positive development in Canada and Brazil. Asia/Pacific posted a 13.6% increase in sales, despite the very serious ongoing Covid-19 situation in India. By contrast, growth in the eastern Europe/Middle East/Africa region was only slightly positive (+5%) and still below pre-crisis levels due to the unchanged problematic situation in the Middle East.

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“Currency developments in the first four months of 2021 were also pleasing. The weakening tendencies of the Swiss franc since the last quarter of 2020 have roughly aligned Group-level business performance in local currencies with the picture in Swiss francs.”

“Due to the strong base effects compared to the lockdown phase of the previous year, the current growth rate is not indicative of the months to come. For the full year, the Hilti Group continues to expect a sales growth in the high single-digit range in local currencies.”

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NEWS - INDUSTRY

Significant first quarter growth for NORMA NORMA Group increased its sales in the first quarter of 2021 by 13% year-on-year to €286.4 million (Q1 2020: €253.6 million) despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Customer demand increased significantly in all major business segments and in all regions in the course of the general economic recovery – a development that was reflected in significant sales growth.

I

n addition to a strong water management business in the USA, global demand in the automotive industry and in the standardised joining technology business was noticeably higher once again. Organic sales in the first three months of 2021 increased by 17.8% compared with the prior year quarter.

Negative currency effects, particularly in connection with the US dollar, reduced sales growth by 4.9%.

Dr Michael Schneider, CEO of NORMA Group, commented: “The good first quarter clearly shows that we are on the right track when it comes to setting the course for sustainably profitable growth.

We are consistently aligning ourselves to the requirements of our customers and focusing on the strategic business fields of water management, industry applications and electromobility. We consider 2021, which continues to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, to be a transitional year that we will use to strengthen our strategic position for the future and become more profitable.”

“Our long-term strategy is defined: We help our customers address challenges arising from the megatrends of climate change and resource scarcity. Our product solutions contribute to a reduction of emissions and to the efficient and responsible use of water. The encouraging growth of our business is proof that we are on the right track.”

Growth in all three business regions

In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa) sales increased by 12.4% year-on-year to €132.4 million in Q1 2021 (Q1 2020: €117.8 million). This growth is attributable to the renewed upturn in demand both in the business with joining solutions for vehicles with all types of drive systems and in the business with standardised joining technology.

In the Americas region, NORMA Group increased sales by 5.1% year-on-year to €108.7 million in the first three months of 2021 (Q1 2020: €103.4 million). Substantial growth momentum was generated by the US water management business. The renewed increase in demand for customised joining solutions in the automotive sector also made a positive contribution.

In the Asia-Pacific region, sales grew by 40.3% year-on-year to €45.3 million in the first quarter of 2021 (Q1 2020: €32.3 million). The main reason for the very strong growth is the significant increase in demand in the Chinese automotive industry, an area that in the prior year quarter had been impacted by the pandemic related lockdown in China. Within the scope of the global change programme ‘Get on track’, NORMA Group integrated production at the Shaoxing site into its existing plant in Changzhou in the first quarter. The number of production sites in China has thus been reduced from four to three.

Böllhoff acquires SNEP S.A Böllhoff Group recently acquired the company SNEP S.A, a French manufacturer of special fasteners for the aerospace industry based in Montbrison. With this acquisition, Böllhoff aims to strengthen its own activities in the aerospace market segment. ith the 100% acquisition of SNEP, Böllhoff is further expanding its market position in technical fasteners for the aerospace industry. In the future, SNEP will be seamlessly integrated into the international aerospace activities of the Böllhoff Group and is expected to play an important role in the further expansion of this business sector within the company.

“France is an important aerospace market for Böllhoff,” says Michael W. Böllhoff, managing partner. “The acquisition of SNEP helps us to be closer to key customers and to fulfil their individual requirements even better in future.”

SNEP’s manufacturing know-how expands the Böllhoff Group’s current manufacturing competencies for the aerospace sector, particularly in the areas of turning and machining. SNEP will also benefit from the affiliation with the Böllhoff Group – for example from its many years of experience in the field of innovation, as well as in joining lightweight materials. The long-term goal of the takeover is to

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further strengthen SNEP’s development competence and thus become a local development partner for the aerospace industry in France.

“Last year, the aerospace sector suffered greatly from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” emphasises Wilhelm A. Böllhoff, managing partner. “In the medium term, we expect business there to recover – and thanks to the acquisition of SNEP, we will then be in an even stronger position to meet our customers’ requirements.”

The company SNEP SNEP was founded in 1918 and is an established manufacturer of fasteners for the aerospace industry. The product portfolio includes complex and highly specialised fasteners – from special washers, nuts and bushings to fluid fittings and build-to-print precision parts.

With 110 employees, SNEP generated total sales of €16 million in 2020. Within the Böllhoff Group, SNEP will operate under the name Böllhoff SNEP S.A in the future.

PINSTRUCTURE LTD Tel: +44 1527 67999 Fax +44 1527 66557 email sales@pinstructure.com

www.pinstructure.com 50 Enfield Industrial Estate, Redditch, Worcestershire B97 6DE

NEWS - INDUSTRY

Atotech Korea Ltd celebrates 25th anniversary Atotech, a leading speciality chemicals technology company and a market leader in advanced electroplating solutions, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Atotech Korea Ltd.

G

eoff Wild, chief executive officer at Atotech, commented: “25 years after launching operations, Atotech Korea Ltd is a strong contributor to Atotech’s success globally and an indispensable and trusted partner for many of Atotech’s customers, especially in the Asian market. I am proud of what our employees have achieved during this time and I am even more excited to continue on this path of success with them.”

Atotech operations in Korea commenced in 1993, when the company opened a sales and service branch office of Atotech Asia Pacific in South Korea, staffed with eight employees. In response to growing markets and increasing demand, Atotech founded its Korean entity, Atotech Korea Ltd in 1996. The company added another major milestone in 2006, when it inaugurated its new chemical production plant and TechCenter in the city of Jangan.

Meanwhile, the staff base in Korea had increased to 80 professionals.

Five years later in 2011, the company was able to revamp and expand its TechCenter and in 2018 equipped it with a class 1000 clean room for the production of high-grade chemistry for Fan-out Panel Level Package applications for the semiconductor market.

Today, Atotech employs over 110 employees in Korea and the Atotech Jangan plant, and TechCenter, have more than doubled its sales and more than quadrupled production output since its inauguration.

John Stephenson, chief operations officer at Atotech, commented: “During Atotech Korea’s successful history, there have been many important milestones that have led us to where we are today. We serve our customers with products of the highest quality and repeatable performance. Atotech Korea is a great example for this. I want to thank everyone for these extraordinary achievements and progress.”

Atotech Korea Ltd continues to be an essential contributor in Atotech’s journey of becoming even more digital, innovative, and data-driven, while developing into a leader in sustainability. Yungbum Kim, managing director of Atotech Korea, added: “During the current challenging times, we continue to offer a high level of support to our customers. Last year, we introduced HoloLens devices, which enable us to provide remote assistance for our customers whenever required. We are also actively building a paperless work environment in our laboratories and continue to engage in further digitalisation activities to improve our work efficiency.”

Klimas Wkret-met develops sales in France Polish manufacturer of fastening techniques Klimas Wkret-met has continued its expansion with the opening of a new French office as part of its export sales development strategy. espite celebrating its 30 th anniversary last year during the world’s biggest crisis, it did not change Klimas’ plans for export expansion. The company already exports its products to more than 60 countries through various distribution models and the new representative office is part of the company’s export sales development strategy.

Located in the west of the country, the French branch of Klimas in Poitiers has seven sales and technical support agents. The manufacturer rapidly enters the market with solutions such as fastening systems for thermal insulation of walls and fastening systems for lightweight housing. As the French increasingly opt for timber frame or prefabricated houses, screws and fasteners for wooden structures play a significant role in the offer.

“Taking into account the economy and foreign investments of domestic companies, France is today one of the most powerful countries

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in the world,” comments Paweł Klimas, business development director and board member at Klimas Wkret-met. “It’s a very good market for us for many reasons. Ongoing renovation and thermo modernisation of buildings drives the demand for assembly accessories, which are already in our offer. In addition, from the Polish exporters point of view, it is important that the country on the Seine has an excellent transport infrastructure.”

“Despite the progressive digitalisation in business, it is necessary to be present at local markets. Certain cultural, business and logistical issues must take place in the country where the customer is. It is clear that remote expansion in the market can be successful, but if we expect rapid results and the market requires high-quality service, we need to be there.

Otherwise a lot may fail and you wouldn’t get a chance to make the first impression once again,” continues Paweł Klimas.

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NEWS - INDUSTRY

Element Solutions announces planned acquisition of Coventya Element Solutions Inc, a global and diversified speciality chemicals company and the parent company of MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions, has announced it has made a binding offer* to acquire Coventya Holding SAS.

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nder the terms of the offer, Element Solutions will pay approximately €420 million in cash, including the assumption or repayment of debt, subject to certain adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in late Q3 or Q4 2021, subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals, completion of required employee consultation procedures and other customary closing conditions. Upon the closing of the transaction, Coventya will join MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions and will be reported within the company’s Industrial & Specialty segment.

Coventya is a global specialist in developing metal finishing chemical technologies with an array of solutions that provide decorative and functional coatings for industrial end markets in over 60 countries. The business has manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and its products serve customers globally across automotive, fashion, construction, electronic, consumer goods, energy, and aerospace/military end markets.

Coventya is expected to generate annual sales of approximately €160 million and adjusted EBITDA of greater than €30 million for its fiscal year 2021 ending in September.

President and Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Gliklich comments: “We are very pleased to announce our proposed transaction with Coventya. This is an excellent business that aligns seamlessly with our acquisition criteria and a company that we have admired for decades. Coventya has a long history of providing innovation and high-quality solutions in attractive niche markets like our own.”

He continues: “We believe that Coventya’s deep customer relationships, solutions-orientation, and outstanding team, will improve our company and the breadth and quality of solutions we provide to our key markets. With this acquisition, we expect our MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions business to benefit from enhanced scale and strong complementary product offerings. We enjoy nothing more than investing in our robust businesses and leaders in equally great businesses and teams. The opportunity with Coventya is a great case study for this, and we are looking forward to welcoming the Coventya team to the Element Solutions family.”

Coventya CEO Erik Weyls said: “This transaction is a great milestone for our company. We expect Element Solutions to provide Coventya and its people with resources and capabilities that will accelerate our growth.

This has long been a logical combination, which we believe will provide customers with a broad suite of enhanced solutions that will be differentiated in our markets. I am incredibly proud of the team that has enabled Coventya’s success to date and thankful for their effort to build such an outstanding company. The future is bright for our business and its people, and we are all looking forward to becoming a part of the dynamic company that the team at Element Solutions is building.” *Under French law, Coventya’s shareholders may not accept the Company’s offer or enter into the binding purchase agreement until completion of consultation procedures with certain workers’ representative bodies.

SFS acquires Danish company SFS Group has announced the acquisition of Jevith AS, a leading provider of fastening solutions for applications in high-quality building envelopes in Denmark. With the acquisition, SFS is expanding its market access in the northern European construction industry. evith AS was founded in 2001 and primarily supplies the Danish construction industry. Thanks to the company’s high technology and application competence, as well as its distinctive services, it has established a strong market position in Denmark.

By acquiring Jevith, SFS will gain access to customers from the Danish construction industry, which will further strengthen the position of the Construction Division within SFS – securing future market growth as a specialist in fastening solutions in the building envelope.

For their part, the customers of Jevith will benefit from the complementary SFS product range. In 2020 Jevith achieved a turnover of almost €5 million with around 10 employees. The company will in future operate as part of the Construction Division within the Fastening Systems segment of SFS. The existing Jevith management team will continue to run the daily operations, ensuring business continuity.

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NEWS - INDUSTRY

ARK branded products on sale in Europe The ARK Group of Companies has announced the establishment of Arpel B.V, located in Margraten, the Netherlands, which will enable it to quickly supply ARK products to customers across Europe.

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teve Auld, managing director of the ARK Group of Companies, explains: “Due to the growing demand in Europe there were already plans to expand The Ark Group of Companies to the European mainland. However, with BREXIT and the expected customs challenges the UK and rest of Europe would face, this expansion plan gained momentum, with the company established in March 2021.”

ARK has also appointed Paola Blat as general manager/director at Arpel B.V. “Paola is an established businesswoman who has been with the ARPEL B.V project since the start,” points out Steve.

“Based in the Netherlands, Paola has worked in several industries for many years. She brings with her an industry background having held management positions within other European rivet specialists.

During her career she has had responsibilities to manage stock

levels, customer service, logistics and office management. The addition of Paola to our team is a key part of our development plans over the next 12 month trading period, as the Group’s financial year runs from 1 st June to end of May.” The first steps in getting the complete ARK branded range of products stocked in the Margraten warehouse have been taken. “We are fully aware of today’s challenges with regard to the capacity in southern Chinese ports as a result of Coronavirus outbreaks, the Suez Canal blockage causing ongoing havoc for global container freight, etc, but we have been able to fully stock the Margraten site and we will have further stock arriving over the next few months,” points out Steve. “Having the Dutch operation means that our customers’ demands can now be serviced on request from both our warehouse locations in the Netherlands and the UK.”

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NEWS - INDUSTRY

Berner Group further expands European logistics network Berner Group is sticking to its ambitious investment plans despite Covid-19, with the wholesaler once again spending several million euros in order to put in place further important building blocks as part of its group-wide European logistics offensive.

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erner Group has already invested almost €60 million over the past two years in the course of its European logistics offensive, with a groundbreaking ceremony in the Austrian town of Braunau am Inn marking the start of construction work on a fully automatic high-bay warehouse, which is set to be completed by the end of the year.

The new high-bay warehouse (1,000m² of useful space, 5,500 pallet spaces) will include fully automatic storage, retrieval and order picking.

The investment package also includes an extension for the after sales department, with its own goods receiving section; the renewal of the fire alarm systems; and the expansion of the WLAN network to fully digitalise the logistics processes. Furthermore, new car parking spaces will be created for the roughly 500 employees and a forward-looking infrastructure for charging electric cars will be built.

Meanwhile, a second major project is underway, with a European import warehouse currently being commissioned in the Dutch town of Kerkrade. Berner points out that the new goods hub in the Netherlands will be part of the headquarters for the Region West, which opened a few months ago and will serve the Benelux countries.

“We have organised the site in a way that allows as many of our customers as possible to benefit from it, because we want to deliver their orders within one working day in the metropolitan areas,” says Robert Kühl, chief supply chain officer for logistics at the Berner Group. “Besides a state of the art infrastructure, with a total useful area covering around 25,000m2, we now have sufficient capacity in Kerkrade to integrate the import warehouse.”

This will play a strategically important role in the future for Berner, which operates in 23 European countries. The huge building complex with space for almost 18,000 pallets will serve as a supply depot, centrally storing stock for the subsidiaries stretching from Norway to Portugal. This includes deliveries of goods from the EU as well as most of the products originating from Asia for automotive and construction professionals. In operative terms, this means all national subsidiaries under the core Berner brand, alongside the construction trade specialist BTI, will be supplied with materials such as screws and other DIN/standard parts, gloves, or tools by the Kerkrade site.

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NEWS - NORTH AMERICA

by John Wolz, editor, GlobalFastenerNews.com

Brighton-Best unveils new vending program Brighton-Best International (BBI) has introduced its Proferred Vending Solutions, a new vending program that utilizes coil and locker machines to offer customers 24/7 access to essential products and equipment.

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BI explains: “Our Proferred Vending Solutions deliver the power of automated distribution by reducing supply cost, as well as introduce controlled product usage and state of the art technology.”

Owned by Ta-Chen International, BBI is a master distributor and importer supplying 7,000 distributors through 31 locations in six countries, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and the UK. BBI joins major fastener distributor Fastenal – which created its FAST Solutions industrial vending program in 2009 and has approximately 81,000 vending solutions installed at customers – in revolutionizing its growth model from standalone stores to installed machines distributing products on demand within customer facilities.

SENCO makes Cincinnati its worldwide HQ

Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools (SENCO) is expanding its 500,000 square foot facility in Newtown, OH, with an additional 32,000 square foot – as well as an 8,000 square foot renovation of existing space.

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ENCO’s expansion will add offices for sales, marketing and administrative staff, bringing all Cincinnati-based employees under one roof and making the Broadwell Road facility the company’s official worldwide headquarters.

“This is a great move for us to bring all our employees back together after working in separate buildings for decades,” stated CEO Cliff Mentrup. “We see a great benefit in putting our US manufacturing and Cincinnati-based business operations under one roof.”

Scheduled for completion by the summer of 2022, the project includes an employee cafeteria – serving hot meals – as well as a training, product education and innovation center.

“Part of our management philosophy at SENCO is to provide opportunities for the material and intellectual growth of all our employees,” Mentrup added. “It is our hope that creating a campus-like environment will encourage our team to collaborate and innovate further towards that goal.”

Parent company Kyocera Corporation of Japan, which acquired SENCO in 2017, has invested millions of dollars in the Broadwell Road facility to support manufacturing equipment and R&D projects over the past three years.

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MacLean-Fogg buys metal 3D printing supplier MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions has acquired the assets of Formetrix LLC of Mansfield, MA, for an undisclosed sum. The new business entity will be known as MacLean Formetrix and will be based in the Detroit suburb of Macomb Township.

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he deal includes Formetrix’s metal powder intellectual property portfolio, which will broaden MacLean Fogg’s capabilities to service new and existing OEM, tier 1 and 2 customers, as well as tool and die makers in the automotive, EV, industrial, agriculture, heavy truck and construction markets.

The unit will be led by General Manager Greg Rizzo. Harald Lemke, formerly of Formetix, has joined MacLean Formetrix as product management director.

“As a previous customer of Formetrix, we were able to implement technical cost breakthroughs with their material and process innovations that others in the additive manufacturing business claimed were impossible,” stated Duncan MacLean, CEO at MacLean Fogg. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue to make Formetrix’s innovations available for our internal users, as well as serve other innovative manufacturers and tool makers.”

These materials, combined with advanced 3D printing processes, allow for tool and die makers and manufacturers to realize cost, time, and weight savings, as well as tool to tool repeatability by replacing traditionally fabricated hard tools with durable printed steel tools and inserts.

Additionally, with the multi-dimensional design and manufacturing freedom that 3D printing allows, tool designers can realise new coolant channels and shapes.

MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions manufactures fasteners, engineered components and plastics for automotive, heavy truck and other diverse industries.

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NEWS - NORTH AMERICA

Combs advises STAFDA: Employers can make vaccines mandatory Employers can require vaccines and insist employees to return to the office, stated Human Relations Consultant Nancye Combs on a Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) webinar.

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n a discussion on Covid-19 employment issues, Nancye Combs, of HR Enterprises Inc, emphasised: “You are a private business.” Employers can have a ‘voluntary’ vaccine policy leaving the decision to employees. Or employers can institute a ‘deferred’ policy allowing employees to wait until the vaccines have ‘permanent’ approval. Currently the vaccines have ‘emergency’ approval.

Employers can also issue a ‘mandatory’ vaccine policy for all employees, Combs said. Employers may also require unvaccinated employees to wear masks.

Combs opened HR Enterprises 35 years ago and is the HR consultant for six national trade associations and dozens of companies. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is relevant to every company of one or more employees, Combs noted.

“An employer must have a ‘safe and healthy workplace’ and employees must comply.”

Attorneys do not care what any particular governor says on masks, Combs explained.

OSHA just fined a Massachusetts company US$136,000 for telling employees there will be no masks. “They enforce workplace safety first.”

“If employees are vaccinated, socially distanced and practice good hygiene, you may feel that is a safe workplace,” Combs said.

“However, employers are not ‘off the hook’. If employers ignore the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the workplace becomes dangerous, OSHA will issue a mandate for everyone to comply or be fined. Masks will become PPE and treated just like safety glasses, hearing protection and hard hats on a construction site.”

Combs adds: “If the employer adopts a procedure that is based on CDC guidance and it works to keep employees safe, that will satisfy OSHA. If the employer ignores the CDC and employees become ill, OSHA will be right over,” with a reminder to have “a safe and healthy workplace” and issue citations and fines.

Combs said a “smart business leader will have a pandemic policy that is comprehensive and includes a vaccine policy and other workplace safety practices for masks, social distancing and hygiene”.

The pandemic has also changed business in other ways. Just as companies previously needed fire and other disaster plans, a pandemic policy is a new must, Combs pointed out. Companies “have to” prepare for disasters from fires to hurricanes to a CEO dying in a plane crash.

Employees are accustomed to disaster preparations including knowing where fire alarms and the nearest door are. “It is not just about Covid-19,” she said of potential disasters.

Employers “must follow federal, state, local, tribal or territorial regulations for local businesses and workplaces,” even if mandates are lifted, Combs advised.

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In transitioning back to normal from pandemic remote work, employers can schedule a hybrid or full remote plans. In considering bringing employees back to company facilities, Combs suggested a 30 or 60 day “look back period” in analyzing remote versus office hours. Remote time needs to be documented from check-in to check-out, Combs said.

Ultimately companies decide where the employee works. All lawsuits by employees thus far have failed, Combs pointed out. “When you own a company you can decide,” Combs explained. She advised working with employees on timing of a return to the workplace.

“People do well when they have a warning.”

Be careful in wording policies, Combs cautioned: If you say, “we might”, some will later respond, “you said”. The HR consultant has found “all kinds of problems working from home”. Issues arise especially with hourly paid employees. Employees must certify their hours each and every pay period.

There also are OSHA safety issues for remote employees, Combs continued. Time taken by children or personal use of a company car are samples of additional issues with remote work.

An issue as employees work from outside the home office is protection of company information. “Where is your data?” Combs asked. “Can you swipe it? How are uploads managed? How will you get it back?”

Company equipment used at remote locations is property of the company. Employers can withhold final paychecks, bonuses or other money until equipment is returned, Combs said.

In protecting your company data, you can require employees to sign non-disclosure agreements even when non-compete contracts may not be permissible, Combs advised.

With US$600 federal funds added to unemployment (subsequently US$300), there was “rampant fraud” in claims as 23 million people were unemployed. That figure is now down to 16 million unemployed.

“One of my CEO clients told me he received a claim with his name on it, one arrived for the chair of the board and one for the COO.” Employers report receiving false unemployment verifications. Combs urged employers to return those to the state boldly marked ‘fraud’ so it gets routed to the fraud department for investigation.

Combs urged employers to respond immediately as unemployment claims are time-sensitive and if the employer is late “you can forfeit the claim and it will be charged to you”.

Weekly unemployment averages US$500 to US$600 and ranges from US$240 in Arizona to US$1,234 in Massachusetts.

As of 18th May, twenty states have ended the US$300 additional unemployment funds to encourage people to fill job vacancies, Combs said. Employers should anticipate unemployment taxes will increase with “no idea how high they are going to go”, Combs cautioned. “3% or 10%?”

STAFDA.org

NEWS - NORTH AMERICA

Howmet Aerospace cuts emissions and energy consumption Howmet Aerospace has released its 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report highlighting the company’s approach to sustainability.

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o-CEO John Plant states: “For Howmet Aerospace, ESG is about generating meaningful change for a more sustainable future through proprietary technologies, which help the aerospace and commercial transportation industries reduce fuel consumption and cut carbon emissions. Social concerns remained an important issue during 2020 and we reaffirmed our commitment to employee and community safety in light of the pandemic, as well as focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Other highlights in the ESG report included: 4.8 million BobTail® lockbolts were used to assemble wind turbines in North America and Europe, representing a 33% increase over 2019 usage “due to growth in the industry and greater use and adoption of Howmet fasteners across European and North American installations”.

115 million BobTail lockbolts and 25 million BOM blind fasteners were used to assemble 6.9 gigawatts of solar arrays, diverting 170,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Howmet Aerospace Foundation approved more than US$5.2 million in STEM focused grants and disbursed more than US$2.3 million to non-profit organizations in communities around the world.

A 19.2% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and 17% decline in energy consumption compared to 2019.

A 21% reduction in total recordable incidents and a 4% decline in days away, restricted and transfer rate compared to 2019.

88% of Howmet’s key suppliers have sustainability programs considered leading or active.

The report was prepared in alignment with guidance from the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and standards from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and is available online. howmet.com/environmental-social-governance

Loose bolts prompt Tesla recalls Tesla recalled nearly 6,000 US vehicles because brake caliper bolts could be loose, potentially causing a loss of tire pressure, Reuters reports.

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he recall covers certain 2019 – 2021 Model 3 vehicles and 2020 – 2021 Model Y vehicles. Tesla’s filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had no reports of crashes or injuries related to the issue and that the company will inspect and tighten, or replace, the caliper bolts as necessary, according to Reuters.

Tesla said that loose caliper bolts could allow the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim, which could cause a loss of tire pressure in “very rare circumstances”. The company said if vehicle damage from a loose or missing fastener occurs, it would arrange for a tow to the nearest service center for repair.

The filing with NHTSA said Tesla was made aware in December of a field incident involving a 2021 Model Y vehicle with a missing fastener on the driver side rear brake caliper. The company has since taken measures during assembly to prevent loosening of the bolts, Reuters reports.

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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

In related news, Tesla also issued two recalls covering nearly 8,000 vehicles with potentially faulty seat belts. One recall covers certain 2018 – 2020 Model 3 sedans, along with certain 2019 – 2021 Model Y crossovers. That recall covers 5,530 vehicles with front seat belts that may be improperly secured to the b-pillar (the vertical section between a car’s front and rear windows).

The second covers 2,166 2019 – 2021 Model Ys where the second row seat belt retractors may be improperly fastened to the car’s body.

Both occurred due to problems fastening seat belt components to the correct torque specification during manufacturing.

ADVANTAGES • • • • •

NEWS - russia + CIS

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

BelZAN develops fasteners from new steel grades At the recent ‘Fasteners. Quality and Responsibility’ conference, Timur Galiakhmetov, director for technical development at BelZAN, announced the company’s plans to master the production of fasteners for new steel grades 36MnB4, 32CrB4 and 42CrMo4.

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elZAN is currently manufacturing pilot batches of the fasteners in the relevant grades and will be sending them to customers to obtain opinions. Timur noted at the conference that BelZAN needed to master the production of two phase steel grades for fasteners with strength classes 8.8 and 10.9 in Russia.

“It is economically and technologically feasible to use two phase steel grades for long parts in the automotive industry. At the same time, in Russia, it is necessary to develop a joint programme for the development of modern grades of hard alloy and high-speed steels with high performance properties for the production of cold heading tools,” explained Timur.

New zinc lamellar coatings in Russia launched

OSPAZ hardware used for construction of Kursk NPP-2

Vladimir Chumakov, director of Khimsintez production, located in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region, told the participants of the 10th conference of ‘Fasteners. Quality and Responsibility’ about a variety of updates regarding zinc lamellar coatings.

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his included the new lamellar coating from Netoks Zn LF; a report on the increase in the use of zinc lamellar coatings in Russia; as well as the range of domestic equipment for applying zinc lamellar coatings available within Russia.

Also discussed was ArtTron company, located also in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region, which has created – with the consulting support of AntikorTech from St Petersburg – the first centrifuge in Russia for applying zinc lamellar coatings. The launch of this small in-house coating plant does not require a laboratory, treatment facility, or a large number of employees – making it a fairly convenient solution for fastener manufacturing companies.

An import substitution programme is being actively implemented during the construction of Kursk NPP-2, a new power plant in Russia.

When erecting the reactor buildings, builders are using flexible anchor stops from the Oryol Steel Rolling Plant.

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leksey Erenichev, director of the Oryol Steel Rolling Plant, comments: “When building such constructions, the main thing is reliability and safety. For the production of flexible stops, we use special steel – hard, but at the same time plastic – and carefully select the annealing temperature to increase strength. The fasteners that we supply for the nuclear power plant have already been tested and have been used in the construction of many infrastructure facilities.”

Bolts included in research programme The Russian Ministry of Construction has approved the Applied Scientific Research Programme for 2021.

It includes the study of the operation of high strength steels C390 and C440 in bolted joints (item 41).

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t the present time, as noted in the programme, there is no unified and standardised method for determining the mechanical properties of bolted joints made of high strength steels SZ90 and S440. Therefore, the properties of rolled products at low temperatures are not taken into account. The lack of a unified methodology imposes a limitation on the possibility of using high strength rolled products in bolted joints in the design and manufacture of metal structures.

In Russia, several tens of thousands of bridges require major repairs, of which about 3,000 bridges require immediate repair,

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including metal railway bridges. High strength bolts with small dimensions are able to provide a detachable connection that is not inferior in strength to a welded one and surpasses a riveted one.

The use of bolts of a new type in the design and reconstruction of metal bridges will provide, among other advantages, the ability to use them in various climatic conditions. High strength bolts can be used in harsh climates down to -60°C (marking ‘ХЛ’) or medium cold temperatures down to -40°C (marking ‘У’).

The study is planned to be carried out in 2021 at the expense of the federal budget.

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NEWS - russia + CIS

‘Production of self-tapping fasteners’ book released For those looking at how to master the production of fasteners, a new book: ‘Production of self-tapping fasteners’ has been published in Russia.

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ithin Russia, relatively small productions of fasteners are constantly being created. However, the lack of specialists hinders the development of the fastener market. When it comes to the product of self-tapping fasteners, there are several areas of technological information available, but these are scattered across various media and not in

a concise form. The book: ‘Production of self-tapping fasteners’ aims to make up for the lack of information for specialists in hardware production.

The author of the book is Semyon Volkov, production director of Krepezh Pro, who presented the book at the conference ‘Fasteners.

Quality and Responsibility’.

Mariya Valiakhmetova, editor in chief, Metiz Magazine, Ukraine

Severstal-Metiz expands production of railway fasteners Severstal-Metiz (a hardware asset of Severstal) has launched three new lines for the production of railway fasteners.

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he company has launched three lines at once for the production of screws, nuts and washers. In addition, its terminal production line has also been modernised and equipped with a new press, as well as featuring electronic systems, additional sensors and touch displays.

The new lines will produce a wide range of fasteners for the railway industry, including clips, washers, nuts, bolts and others, as well as screws of various types and modifications.

Severstal-Metiz has extensive experience in the production of railroad fasteners of various types and configurations. Moreover,

the company is testing a new super resistant and durable nano-galvanic coating for fasteners.

Fasteners with such coatings are used in the construction of maritime facilities, oil/gas production complexes, as well as any other applications where there is an aggressive environment.

Several-Metiz points out that the nano-galvanic coating is several times superior to any other. For example, the corrosion resistance in the salt spray of a thermal diffusion coating is 720 hours, whereas the nano-galvanic coating is more than 1,000 hours.

The coating is currently undergoing additional research.

MMK-METIZ self-tapping screws production OJSC MMK-METIZ has mastered the production of self-tapping screws for a window profile with a diameter of 3.9mm.

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n connection with the development of the construction industry, there is a growing demand for self-tapping screws of various designs, including self-tapping screws for window profiles. OJSC MMK-METIZ has developed a technology for manufacturing screws from steel grade 15G (M), which provides the required mechanical properties.

Self-tapping screws for window profiles are used to connect plastic profiles with reinforcing elements. They feature locking notches on the head and are perfectly fixed. The notches are intended for countersinking holes for creation of an optimal seat for the countersunk head. In addition, the notches prevent spontaneous loosening of the screws. The countersunk head of the screw has a PH2 slot.

The screws are manufactured with a diameter of 3.9mm, and a length in the range of 19mm to 35mm, as well as being available galvanised.

In the production of self-tapping screws, OJSC MMK-METIZ carries out control measures at all production stages from raw materials to packaging, which allows it to obtain high-quality fasteners that meet the requirements of customers.

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NEWS - asia

China’s steel sector records output growth in Q1 China’s steel sector saw output expansion in the first quarter of 2021, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) reports chinafastener.com.

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n the January–March period, crude steel output rose 15.6% year-on-year to 271 million tonnes. The output was up 17.3% from the same period in 2019, bringing the average growth for the past two years to 8.3%, according to the CISA – citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The output of pig iron rose 8% from a year earlier to 221 million tonnes, the data showed.

As downstream industries continue to recover, their demand for steel products is surging, the CISA stated. In the first three months of the year, China’s apparent consumption of crude steel stood at 258.96 million tonnes, up 15.3% year-on-year.

Super Cheng set to invest Super Cheng has announced it will invest NT$700 million (€20.7 million) in setting up a new plant and R&D centre in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

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uper Cheng Industrial Co Ltd is a leading Taiwanese manufacturer of lock nut and high strength bolts, with its sales focused predominately on the North American market.

The brand new low carbon emission and energy saving plant and R&D centre will be located in the Gangshan District and is in response to the increasing market demand for customised products and automotive fasteners, as well as reinforcing the company’s manufacturing capacity for special fasteners and diversifying its existing product range.

The new plant will be completed with the introduction of Smart Manufacturing and a fully automated warehouse will improve capacity and efficiency. In addition, Super Cheng will also hire more product R&D staff to develop more suitable products.

Founded in 1982, Super Cheng’s main products include: All metal lock nuts, nylon insert lock nuts, flange nylon insert nuts, flange bolts, socket head cap screws, OEM parts and auto parts.

BYD new energy vehicle sales nearly double

China’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD Auto Co Ltd reported surging sales in April, company data showed.

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n a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the Shenzhen-based company said its sales of NEVs, including purely electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, surged 97.5% year-on-year to 25,662 units in April. In the January – April period, BYD sold 80,413 NEVs, up 128.5% year-on-year. www.chinafastener.com

Taiwanese NAFCO expects upturn in H2

Fastener World reports that Taiwanese aerospace fastener manufacturer National Aerospace Fasteners Corporation (NAFCO) took a blow from the Covid-19 pandemic last year – losing 80% of its profits.

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AFCO‘s net profit last year was NT$60 million, down 82.9% with EPS at NT$1.14. As countries embark on massive vaccination schemes and are pushing for vaccine passports and ‘travel bubbles’, NAFCO hopes the aerospace market will see sales rejuvenated in the second half of 2021.

NAFCO mainly supplies engine fasteners and other machined parts to primary clients such as GE and Rolls-Royce. The company says it hasn’t sensed an apparent upturn in purchase orders as yet, but the market status may not be clear until mid-2021.

NAFCO has reported that its industrial business segment has seen an increase in demand. The company supplies fasteners mainly for American and European automakers, but it also taps into lightweight fasteners for new energy vehicles. Thanks to the upturn in the American and European car markets and increased demand, the business segment’s revenue proportion has risen to 20% – 30% from the pre-pandemic of 10%.

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NEWS - asia

US infrastructure plan to benefit TCI

China’s transport investment reaches 3.48 trillion yuan

Having expanded its distribution network within the US market, Ta Chen International (TCI) expects to benefit from the recent US infrastructure plan introduced by the Biden administration in late March.

China’s fixed asset investment in the transport sector maintained steady growth last year, official data showed.

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o stimulate economic development and industrial growth of the domestic US market, the Biden administration announced an eight year investment and employment improvement programme worth US$2.25 trillion, with the infrastructure plan mainly focusing on the infrastructure of railways, highways & bridges, electricity systems, as well as electric vehicles.

TCI has successfully gone from a traditional manufacturer to a master distributor of industrial products. It is deemed “the Amazon of the manufacturing industry” and TCI says it is proud to be the only master distributor of the stainless steel product industry.

In 2018 TCI tapped into aluminium distribution by acquiring Alumax Milled Products in the US. Contrary to other suppliers importing products that are subject to high tariff rates, TCI not only has successfully consolidated a leading position in the US distribution network, but also has the advantages of readily available inventory at lower prices and localised production.

T

he total fixed asset investment increased 7.1% year-on-year to nearly 3.48 trillion yuan (about €446.8 billion) in 2020 – the highest in the last year, according to China’s Ministry of Transport.

By the end of 2020, the operating mileage of China’s railway network reached 146,000km.

The country had a total of 5.2 million kilometers of highways, of which expressways represented 161,000km. There were 2,592 berths of 10,000 tonne class or above and 241 certified civil airports throughout the country by the end of last year. www.chinafastener.com

Known for patented screws

A-Stainless International Co Ltd is known for its trio of special products – milled point, square thread and double-spiral screws – which are patented in Taiwan, the USA, Europe and Japan.

A

-Stainless points out that the thread design of its square thread screws and double-spiral screws lowers 40% of drive-in torque compared to chipboard screws, enabling users to complete the job with less effort, as well as decreases the chance for head rupture as the stainless steel screw drives in the workpiece.

For the milled point screw, A-Stainless collaborated with machine companies to develop a special cut-off machine for manufacturing the screws with a highly stable tapping speed. This means that the milled point screw delivers more stable tapping speed, drives through more efficiently, and through thicker workpieces, when compared to forged point screws.

A-Stainless has also been authorised by a world renowned header punch company to manufacture the special patented Ttap® header punch.

Furthermore, the company recently invested in a wire drawing plant that manufactures 0.2mm – 10mm stainless steel wire products including cold headed wires for screws, spring wires, mesh wires and EPQ Wires.

A-Stainless not only works on integrating upstream and downstream production to control screw material quality, but also provides clients with a more diverse service.

Keeping production in Taiwan

Founded 25 years ago, Huang Jing Industrial Co Ltd has grown from a small factory of around 330m2 to a large plant with warehousing, packaging and manufacturing operations all located within Taiwan.

D

edicated to the OEM production of small construction screws, Huang Jing is capable of offering drywall, self-tapping, bi-metal, and many other small screws for the construction industry. The company can also provide customised sizes (available in M2 to M16).

Throughout this time, Huang Jing has increased its monthly capacity to 1,200 – 1,500 tonnes and maintained long-term collaborations with many Taiwanese traders. Huang Jing also only uses materials from Taiwan CSC. “For a long time we’ve been adhering to the strategy of keeping production in Taiwan and working with associate factories to fully satisfy customers’ demands,” explains Huang Jing. “Through our capabilities and services, we have been able to create the best balance between price and quality, which has seen us experience continuous growth in orders from Europe, USA and Japan.”

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

Ingepal: Back in the fastener game In April, the State Court of Justice for São Paulo State, in São Paulo City, emitted a report closing the judicial recovery involving the company Indústrias Gerais de Parafusos Ingepal Ltda, a process started in 2013.

I

ngepal is one of the most important Brazilian manufacturers of bolts, nuts and other similar special parts. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2015, and IATF 16949:2016, and has a history as a strong provider within supply chain for a variety of industries, including automotive (bus and trucks), solar energy, road and agricultural machines, railroad-subway, construction and, mainly, mining.

Currently, its annual production capacity is more than 1,000 tonnes per month of fasteners, using its modern trademark machines, which includes Chun Zu, National Machinery, Nedschroef and SACMA equipment, as well as its sophisticated laboratory. All installed on an industrial unit covering 30,000m 2 of which 14,000m 2 is facilities.

The closing judgment reached Revista do Parafuso through an enthusiastic message from Laura Melle Santiago and José Roberto Santiago, both directors of the company and right now back in the fastener game.

Metalbo founder passes away The Metalbo fastener company family said goodbye to Gerhardt Böving on 15th May 2021, at Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

I

n 1960 Gerhardt Böving and Edgar Arnold joined together to drive forward Rex Máquinas, a machinery industry provider for local fastener manufacturers.

Both went their separates ways in 1987 to create two of the most important fastener companies in Brazil – one is the Industrial Rex Ltda, controlled by the Arnold family; and the other is Metalbo Indústria de Fixadores Metálicos Ltda, controlled by the Böving family.

Volkswagen faces recall due to motor pulley An incorrect assembly has caused a recall action for the Volkswagen subsidiary in Brazil, according to the website of Procon SP (the consumer rights protection public service in São Paulo).

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he four models involved in the recall are the Fox, Gol, Saveiro and Voyage, produced in Brazil from 7 th April 2021 to the 19 th May 2021. In a press release the German car maker reported that it had found a risk of the motor pulley becoming loose, which could lead to an accident.

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Brazilian motorcycle production up Thanks to an influx in home delivery services via eCommerce – brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic – domestic Brazilian motorcycle production has reached similar levels to 2019.

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otoboy is a nickname used commonly in Brazil to identify those people who provide delivery services to homes, such as food, electronic devices, books and a variety of other products. These services generally are done by younger people, around 18 – 35 years old, that use motorcycles as transport vehicles.

Most motoboys use motorcycles with engines from 100cc up to 190cc, which are the models that correspond to around 80% of the total Brazilian production.

As these services have risen in a dizzying way – so much that the online food ordering on delivery platform Uber Eats has increased globally in income by 224% in just Q4 2020 – the recent production growth of motorcycles makers installed in Brazil can be in part attributed to the motoboys.

Despite the pandemic and shortage of raw material, parts, and pieces, from January to April 2021 the domestic production (part of them operating at CKD system) reached 359,621 motorcycles, according to the Abraciclo (the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Motorcycles, Mopeds, Scooters, Bicycles and Similar).

This is a very similar level to Q1 of 2019, when the total reached 367,986 units, and is a significant increase of 20.16% when compared with 2020 (299,278 units).

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COVER STORY By placing fastener manufacturers first, Martijn Wirken, CEO of newly established Aramfix, believes the fastener market is ready for ‘the next step’ – a worldwide database of fasteners. Here, Martijn tells us about this new adventure and why he’s making global eCommerce easily available to the fastener industry.

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et’s start by looking a little differently at the world. For some people, our earth is enormous and for others it’s a journey with different approaches and cultures.

Distance is a factor that can create difficulties, but it can also create opportunities – it just takes a little imagination. If raw materials are readily available in a certain area of the world, those countries probably process the raw material to steel grades more efficiently than anywhere else on the planet. Every manufacturer has its own strength. Making fasteners, for example, requires a lot of different disciplines and equipment.

This is where Aramfix comes in. Aramfix makes global fastener eCommerce possible and easily accessible. Traditionally we believe that customers do not search for a manufacturer, they just search for a fastener with a specific standard or quality. Aramfix bridges this gap and connects potential customers to the right manufacturer once they have found their product.

Every change in the market including potential tariffs, raw material costs, freight, Covid-19, etc, will influence the behaviour of a purchaser and a manufacturer. A lot of purchasers are focused on just a certain selection of suppliers. At Aramfix we connect companies with manufacturers from the USA, Europe, Asia, Brazil and Australia – creating a worldwide supply chain. This has many benefits to the registered customers.

For instance, if shipping freight costs are at an extremely high-level, products can be sourced closer to home.

Manufacturers registered with Aramfix are selected with a great deal of care and a ‘Code of Conduct’ must be adhered to.

We also encourage our manufacturers to be innovative, help them automate and reduce their costs, as well as educate them to continuously improve and reduce delivery times and set a high-quality standard.

This worldwide database of fasteners gives insight in the market, whilst operating

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Global fastener eCommerce made possible independently and bringing knowledge to the next level of international trade. Aramfix also has an inbuilt tool using intelligent algorithms to enable its manufacturers to adjust their prices in a single click.

The whole structure of related items are then immediately recalculated and updated, which is unlike ERP systems that normally require manual price adjustments – visible immediately to users. Speed and time are also crucial, especially in a highly competitive market such as the fastener industry. This is why Aramfix believes the customer needs to be able to see actual prices, stock, as well as delivery times – any time and anywhere.

Distributors have developed the skill of information and logistics very well but this normally only works on a much smaller

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footprint and often for local sales. If you are a larger customer, you need to login to various webshops to check suppliers conditions or you are at risk of being stuck in a fixed contract. This is time-consuming.

To add to this, the Aramfix global fastener eCommerce platform is also connected to the global FOREX market, helping to eliminate currency risks for both the customer and manufacturer. The customer will pay in their own currency and this is automatically converted if necessary.

To avoid price differentiation, there is a built-in short time delay.

Existing relations between manufacturers and customers can be easily updated through the contract module. Behind the scenes, the manufacturer can connect with the specific customer for an additional discount to the

Aramfix is the next generation fastener eCommerce platform – it enables you to control the market and be ‘one step ahead’ of the competition.”

standard prices. The customer can login and will see anytime, anywhere, the actual prices.

The manufacturer just has to keep their steel and logistic prices updated for the best competitive rates.

The aim is for customers ordering from Aramfix to have one vendor but the benefit of a thousand manufacturers’ stock – meaning logistics can be optimised. Aramfix therefore offers various shipping methods and can control the entire transportation including all related documents and customs declarations.

The Aramfix team has extensive experience in fastener manufacturing and surface treatment, working with global multinational companies for over 15 years. Its employees are also skilled mechanical and software engineers to ensure a high-level of security and data according to GDPR.

This article marks the launch of the platform for manufacturers to make their own profile and connect their price calculations. Then, from September 2021, the platform will officially be opened and an Aramfix App will be available on Google Play or Apple store. Distributors can already request to cooperate and from 2022 they can join the Aramfix Distribution Network (ADN) beginning with a distributor in each country. Once the Aramfix platform is established in Europe, the plan is to extend it to the USA. Aramfix is the next generation fastener eCommerce platform – it enables you to control the market and be ‘one step ahead’ of the competition. www.aramfix.com

Don’t waste time in never ending quotations.” www.fastenerandfixing.com

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INSIGHT

take a look into the workings of fastener companies

Healthy contracts mean healthy business

By Jim Japczyk, CFO at Optimas OE Solutions When it comes to business contracts, there are often special groups in companies to administer them because of their complexity and importance. The significance and the fundamental necessity of doing business with others makes contracts both daunting to create but exhilarating once executed.

O

ften, a contract is viewed as ‘what’s in it for me’ when the reality is a healthy contract, ensuring both parties are treated fairly and meet the needs of both equally, can be a win, win for everyone involved.

Never are healthy contracts more important than in the supply chain industry. I have worked in this business for more than 20 years and I have seen, negotiated, and signed off on many contracts. And, yes, while the process may be a little daunting, the reward of delivering an agreement that all parties are comfortable with and feel meet each party’s needs is significant and satisfying.

As the world of business becomes more challenging with its fast pace, paradigm shift given Covid-19, and the greater need for strong partnerships, a healthy contract becomes the focal point of success quite often.

From my experience, there are a number of things that make up a healthy contract, whether with suppliers, manufacturers, customers, distributors, or facility managers. Each is not in and of itself independent of any other part of the contract. Rather, parts of agreements can very well affect other parts of the agreement. So, one needs to be careful how this intricate set of conditions work together to deliver a healthy contract.

First, when entering into contract negotiations, the fundamental principle of a healthy contract – fairness and ensuring it meets the needs of all parties in an equitable and mutually beneficial way – should be the guiding principle or theme for the negotiations. For example, it is

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“The most important thing about a healthy contract is having all parties clearly and understandably explain what is needed in the business arrangement to make each successful in their respective business endeavor.”

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INSIGHT

Often, a contract is viewed as ‘what’s in it for me’ when the reality is a healthy contract… can be a win, win for everyone involved.”

important that all parties have strong financial incentives built in – whether that is making money or trimming costs. Another example is ensuring that each party has a reasonable ‘out’ clause in the contract. Feeling like you have a proper way to end the contract without damage to any of the parties makes for not only a healthy contract but a healthy working arrangement.

That leads me to the concept of anticipation.

This means one should always ensure the contract is written in such a way that it tries to anticipate what might change in the business arrangement and offer provisions in the contract to address those fairly and equitably. This is challenging to say the least especially given our recent experience with unexpected events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, steel prices have been moving up dramatically and it has put pressure on our cost of goods. In our contracts, we have a provision to help soften the impact of price on all parties. It is a fair provision that anticipates cost of goods changes, treats the customer fairly and helps address issues beyond our control.

Flexibility in a healthy contract is another important attribute.

The ability to adjust or modify provisions in the contract as business needs or conditions change is key to a healthy contract. We find this particularly important with the many facilities we have. To adjust our physical plant as the business changes is always extremely healthy as business drives demand up or down. Our healthy contracts allow us to do that while being fair to the leaser.

Some of you have probably heard the old expression ‘clear as mud’. Well, that is something we definitely want to avoid in healthy contracts. Often the language of a contract does not afford itself to provide a clear understanding of intent to business executives.

The clearer and more specific the language ensures there will be no misunderstanding at any point in the business arrangement. My rule of thumb is just write the contract in plain, understandable, everyday language and apply the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle.

Clearly understood ramifications is the final building block in a healthy contract. While no party ever wants to get to the point in a

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business arrangement of having to invoke the ramifications of not meeting the conditions of the contract, it behooves every party to have those spelled out clearly. No one is trying to impose their will on another party or be vengeful, but sometimes parties do not meet the provisions of a contract and ramifications have to be invoked. A contract without these clearly spelled out is not a healthy contract and businesspeople understand that. It is best to be transparent and honest about consequences and what that means.

So, in the end, I stress one over riding theme when it comes to healthy contracts. The most important thing is having all parties clearly and understandably explain what is needed in the business arrangement to make each successful in their respective business endeavor – by having a written contract that is binding and respected by all. Healthy contracts can simplify the partnership and deliver better products and services, greater profitability, smoother operation and overall business success.

Healthy contracts usually result in a healthy business for all parties and deliver a strong bill of health for all involved.

About the author

Jim Japczyk joined Optimas in 2019 as senior vice-president and chief financial officer. His prior career experiences include CFO leadership roles within the distribution, manufacturing and consumer services sectors, primarily under private equity sponsorship.

Jim has directed the finance, technology and human resource functions and, together with his teams, provided transformative leadership that established the path to drive enterprise valuation growth. Before his CFO roles, Jim was vice-president – controller at a publicly traded consumer products manufacturer. He has also served in various SEC reporting and financial management positions.

INSIGHT

ACTON’s high-quality service Belonging to the Emile Maurin Group, French-based ACTON SAS is committed to supplying a high-quality and quick service to the European fixing market – which has become even more important over the last 18 months.

F

or more than 35 years, ACTON has offered a wide range of more than 15,000 stainless steel fixing products – all in stock – with fast delivery being the company’s main goal.

ACTON is able to offer this high-quality quick service thanks to the close relationship it has with its customers, as well as key partners. This enables the company’s sales team to understand the needs of the market instantaneously and ensure the purchasing department quickly sources the necessary products.

Thanks to the hard work of its staff, the range of ACTON products has continuously increased to meet the interests of distributors in Europe and overseas. For instance, for several years, ACTON’s range of woodscrews has been influenced by the demands and changes within the building industry – with hundreds of new items, specialised for wood assembly, being created and proposed in different grades of stainless steel (AISI 410, A2 and A4).

The importance of ACTON’s high-quality and efficient service was underlined in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the market seeming to boom everywhere around the world. “Level of stock and fast delivery have never been so important,” explains Philippe Purgy, director at ACTON. “This made the daily task of the purchasing department even more demanding, as they needed to adapt to the new challenges of this uncertain period.”

Philippe adds: “These challenges include material availability, which has been impacted by the huge demand for many different industries; as well as the availability of product transportation,

especially freight ships, which are so limited that the expedition of containers has become a new sort of ‘tough sport’ for buyers and forwarding agents. This unusual situation has changed the standard procedures of both our purchasing and logistic arrivals departments, which has led to us employing a new buyer and several warehouse employees.”

These challenges within the market have naturally led to the trend of prices increasing – following the level of the global demand.

“As a business, we needed to adapt our price list and ensure clear and efficient communication, which our customers appreciate,” states Philippe. “Thanks to us being part of a strong and flexible organisation, as a company we were able to support our customers throughout this stormy period.”

Another area that has been impacted by recent events has been the digitalisation of sales, which has pushed up to new levels for ACTON. “Thanks to the improvements and steps we have taken since the arrival of our marketing manager in 2019, we have been able to adapt to this new way of purchasing for many customers,” comments Philippe. “We are predicting that the turnover of the webshop will have tripled in two years and will represent an interesting mean of communication for many new customers.”

Philippe concludes: The goal of ACTON is to always improve. We do this through updating processes and developing our sales within the market using the highest qualified staff, whilst reducing our environmental presence through new rules and procedures.” www.acton.fr

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INSIGHT

A tribute to Sergio Pirovano A personal tribute from Marco Guerritore, editor-in-chief of Italian Fasteners Magazine, on the death of Sergio Pirovano who passed away on 30th January 2021.

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popular saying that is sometimes used to reveal a person’s state of mind in the face of adversity is ‘hope is the last to die’. With that in mind all of us, admirers and friends, had hoped until the very last moment for a positive resolution to Sergio Pirovano’s health, but unfortunately it never came, which meant on 30 th January 2021, Sergio Pirovano – president of UPIVEB – left us with a sense of emptiness and infinite sadness. All we are left with is despair and regret.

Yet, Sergio fought the disease with incredible fortitude and faith in a recovery. He showed the courage of a lion. In the most difficult moments, he revealed the best of himself, his true personality and great depth.

Sergio did not always have an easy character, he was complicated, but the best part of his personality was always evident, such as his unquestionable loyalty, his great sensitivity and involvement in social issues and, above all, his immeasurable generosity.

Sergio loved his job deeply. He was very committed to promoting fasteners and particularly the value of Italian quality in the industrial world. He was tireless in maintaining contacts, promoting meetings, stimulating debates, all aimed at the technical and economic progress of the fastener.

As a member of the board, he actively participated in EIFI meetings and activities.

As president of UPIVEB, he promoted and implemented countless initiatives. To list them all would be impossible, so we will only mention the most significant – such as the commemoration of the 50 th anniversary of the founding of UPIVEB, which was held on 10 th June 2011 at the legendary Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Italy, under his expert guidance. The anniversary ceremony consisted of a rich and interesting cultural programme that also included entertainment. The highlight was a conference attended by distinguished speakers from the political, financial and industrial worlds.

Another noteworthy initiative was the organisation of ‘MEETALY’ the first international conference on screws and bolts, which was held in Milan during the Expo 2015. More than 500 delegates from countries around the world attended the event with great interest. It was a huge success, which justifiably rewarded the commitment and organisational skills of Sergio Pirovano.

However, perhaps Sergio’s greatest achievement as president of UPIVEB was that, after overcoming a number of difficulties and demonstrating great diplomatic skill, he succeeded in amending the UPIVEB Articles of Association to extend the membership to include the supply chain, i.e to allow all those companies and organisations that operate within the sector to become members of UPIVEB, such as manufacturers of bolt making machines, steelworks, wire drawing mills, heat treatment companies and so on.

He was a great president who will surely be missed by many friends and admirers from Italy and around the world.

Sergio loved his job deeply. He was very committed to promoting fasteners and particularly the value of Italian quality in the industrial world.”

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How have you handled the storm?

The market has certainly been turbulent over the last 18 months, but rather than ‘staying in port’ fastener companies have been out riding the waves.

Let the market know your adventures in our special

INDUSTRY INSIGHT IN SEPTEMBER

For more information please contact sales@verulammedia.com or call 01727 743 882

INSIGHT

Current impacts on the European fastener industry

By Hans Führlbeck, managing director, Deutscher Schraubenverband e.V. European fastener producers are part of an innovative steel processing industry, which is fundamental in keeping everything together. Often this industry is only truly appreciated by people when things are not working ‘as usual’.

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he European fastener industry has been impacted by several factors over the last 18 months, including the Covid-19 pandemic, a dramatic increase in raw material prices, as well as the ongoing investigation by the EU Commission, for the initiation of punitive tariffs on imports of certain fasteners originating from China.

The current EU anti-dumping investigation has once again opened up an issue for the European fastener industry, which has been in the background since the sudden withdrawal of anti-dumping duties on imports of certain fasteners from China in 2016 – due to a procedural error. In the investigation in 2009, the European Commission imposed anti-dumping duties of up to 85% on imports of certain screws, as well as washers made of iron and steel originating from China. These high duties illustrated the level of price dumping concluded by the EU in 2009. When the Commission had to withdraw this anti-dumping measure in 2016, this did not mean that dumping had gone away. Since that time there has been a drastic increase of imports of certain fasteners from China.

Market insiders mention a price level for these imports far below the average market price level for fasteners manufactured in Europe.

Significant increases in fastener imports from China to Europe in recent times, prove the high attractiveness of Chinese fastener prices.

Corresponding imports from other countries from the Far East did not show the same kind of development as those from China. This leads of course to some speculation about the reasons behind this data.

The demand for fair prices for fastener imports into the European market does not mean European fastener manufacturers desire an environment in which companies can make inflated profits or would not be exposed to any competition. Not at all, instead both manufacturers and distributors have to think on a day-to-day basis about their competitiveness, their internal processes, cost structure and innovations. The same as anybody else in any market economy.

Non European competition is welcome and necessary to ensure the European fastener industry stays competitive within the global market.

However, fair conditions should be the basis for all business and the same conditions should be available for each market participant.

This is especially true when it comes to steel, and in the case of manufacturing fasteners, steel wire rod – which is the main production cost of fasteners. The steel market is a global one, giving – within a certain range – a more or less similar level for steel prices, even if there are some regulatory impacts. Since mid 2020, when huge price increases for steel are reported everywhere, it would be expected, by

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considering a general commercial knowledge, that market participants would react somehow to these steel price increases. It is therefore interesting and remarkable to see that Chinese exporters are so far able to manage most of these huge steel price increases internally – for what is – as mentioned – one of their major cost factors when it comes to fastener production.

Due to the extent of the steel price increases observed so far, it should be clear at least from a business point of view, that this topic was at the top of the agenda for most fastener manufacturers, which is why they have reviewed their options for appropriate action.

Fasteners are used in most industries and many trading businesses. That is why the current steel price increase is challenging suppliers and customers not only in Europe. Such topics did exist in the past and will also exist in the future. This is due to the interplay of supply and demand, of course also in the steel industry – even if regulatory impacts show up from time to time. Governmental protectionism supports domestic markets, with price dumping being a more aggressive and externally directed element.

In the last 15 months the Covid-19 pandemic has shown everybody that suddenly things can happen, which cannot be accounted for in day-to-day life. The ramifications of the crisis affected everybody all over the world, even more so than the finance crisis in 2008. The Covid-19 pandemic hit the fastener industry hard with thousands of tonnes of fasteners not being produced or sold. Unfortunately, these crises happen from time to time and not one of them is similar to the other. However, a crisis such as the pandemic happens when various parameters take place in a combined way and at the same time. This is very different to price dumping, which is a deliberate action.

The supply chain of fasteners and how it may be impacted by any possible future implementation of anti-dumping duties for imports of certain fasteners from China into the European market is a big talking point. However, the risk of interruption to the supply chain of any duties should be very low, as the experience between 2009 and 2019 proves – even when having duties as high as 85% for imports of certain fasteners from China.

Such a long time period gives us a good ‘helicopter perspective’ on how any potential anti-dumping duties would impact the market. Considering the potential existence of dumping prices, and the manipulative impact on the industry and other markets, the introduction of duties is a justified and necessary step. www.schraubenverband.de

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MADE IN TAIWAN

Focusing on

Taiwan

For our special Made in Taiwan feature we invited our Taiwanese media partner Fastener World to provide an update regarding the current situation within Taiwan regarding Covid-19, as well as how fastener companies have been impacted.

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hen the Covid-19 outbreak first happened, Taiwan was one of the leading countries in the world in its approach.

The country was well prepared for such a pandemic having been one of the country’s worst hit by SARS in 2003.

After the impact of SARS, Taiwan set-up its Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) to manage future outbreaks. This meant the country was able to react quickly to Covid-19 and initially had significantly less cases than most countries in 2020, even without going into a national lockdown. However, in recent weeks there was a surge in cases. The reported daily number of cases peaked at 700 in May, but in June at the time of writing it was down to 100 to 200 – mostly within Taipei City to the north of the island. The number of cases within other regions of Taiwan have been sporadic in either single or double-digits. CECC is already on high alert and aware of the Delta and Lambda variants, and acknowledges a high risk of their invasion, which is why it is bulking up the defense line to stall or more preferably prevent them entering the country – creating a window of opportunity to complete vaccination.

Taiwan has therefore entered a Phase 3 self restriction mode, where the Taiwanese government has called for the citizens of the whole nation to restrict themselves at home, cancel transport tickets and refrain from any unnecessary outdoor activities, which

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the vast majority have been willing to comply with – meaning there has been no need to issue a citywide or national lockdown (Phase 4) as of now.

To combat the rise in numbers, Taiwan is counting on vaccine supply from the USA and Japan, which the country will receive over the following months. It is also developing its own vaccine, which is expected to be rolled out no later than August if everything goes to plan.

Even with the current growth in cases, foreign investors are still optimistic for Taiwan’s ability to tackle the virus, with investments within industrial parks remaining strong. Taiwan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been growing at a steady rate throughout the pandemic, with the recent increase in domestic transmissions not expected to change much if containment policies succeed, reports the National Development Council (NDC).

Taiwan News reported1 that if the surge is contained, the NDC believes economic growth for Taiwan will be only 0.16% less than originally predicted for 2021. However, if the pandemic remains serious until Q3 2021, the impact on economic growth could expand to 0.53%, the Central News Agency Taiwan reported. NDC Minister Kung Ming-hsin said the cabinet’s extra Covid-19 relief budget of NT$210 billion (€6.2 million) was sufficient to support local business and to account for 0.9% of GDP growth.

The Taiwanese government had previously estimated that the economy had grown by 8.16% during Q1 of 2021, which was the fastest pace since the final quarter of 2010.

Taiwan’s exports grew 38.6% in May 2 from a year earlier as countries around the world slowly come out of lockdown and looked to bounce back from the pandemic. Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance reported that exports in May totalled US$37.41 billion (€31.5 billion), while imports rose by 40.9% from a year earlier to US$31.25 billion.

This left Taiwan with a trade surplus of US$6.16 billion for the month.

The export growth in May was the third straight month Taiwan’s exports had increased by double-digits. In March, total exports increased by 27.1% year-on-year, while in April they grew by 38.7%.

Figures from January to May showed that exports were up 30.2% from a year earlier at US$170.32 billion, and imports increased 26% from a year earlier to US$143.61 billion. So far for the year, the country has a trade surplus of US$26.7 billion.

The biggest contributor to export figures in May was electronic components at US$13.27 billion, a 29.6% increase compared with the same month in 2020. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance, this was followed by information, communication, and audio video equipment at US$5.1 billion; metals at US$3.16 billion; plastics/rubbers at US$2.81 billion; and machinery at US$2.48 billion.

A sector that has been performing particularly strongly is the semiconductor industry, which has been a strong pillar and GDP contributor to Taiwan’s economy – especially since the US moved to strengthen ties with Taiwan alongside Japan. This is underlined by the exponential stock growth of TSMC. The same growth has been seen in healthcare and would have continued in the construction industry, which was seeing increases in property prices, but the recent surge in cases has seen the housing market stall, which has impacted domestic demand for construction fasteners.

Financial reports for listed Taiwanese fastener companies

Unsurprisingly, the end of 2019 is a dividing line for Taiwan’s fastener sales, with it being followed by the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, with fastener companies reporting reduced sales as of the second quarter of 2020 until the end of the year.

On the right is a roundup of the top ranking Taiwanese companies based on their sales revenue for 2020.

Tycoons Group dominated the ranking in 2019 with the highest revenue but fell around 30% in 2020 due to the pandemic and was replaced by Tong Ming Enterprise at the top of the ranking. Tong Ming already made it to NT$8.8 billion revenue in 2019, and continued progressing 4% to NT$9.1 billion in 2020 when the pandemic hit.

One of the entrants in the chart with the largest growth margin in revenues is OFCO Industrial, up 59% from NT$1.1 billion to NT$1.8 billion. Next is Sheh Fung Screws Co Ltd growing 24% from NT$1.8 billion to NT$2.2 billion in revenue but with a smaller EPS growth margin. Sheh Fung is followed by Chen Nan Iron Wire Co Ltd with revenues up 15.1% from NT$1.5 billion to NT$1.8 billion.

Sales revenue and EPS in 2020 Revenue (1,000 NT$)

Ranking

Company

2020

2019

Growth %

1

Tong Ming Enterprise

9,171,338

8,807,059

4.1%

2

QST International

8,824,031

9,925,200

-11%

3

Chun Yu Works & Co

8,054,615

9,333,591

-13.7%

4

Tycoons Group

7,930,384

11,519,202

-31.1%

5

New Best Wire Industrial

5,765,791

6,241,040

-7.6%

6

San Shing Fastech

5,072,643

6,549,045

-22.5%

7

Sheh Fung Screws

2,253,521

1,817,019

24%

8

Rodex Fasteners

2,127,028

2,419,478

-12%

9

Sumeeko Industries

1,990,511

2,431,674

-18.1%

10

Intai Technology

1,961,112

2,327,239

-15.7%

11

OFCO Industrial

1,825,709

1,147,717

59%

12

Chen Nan Iron Wire

1,825,106

1,584,339

15.1%

13

NAFCO

1,704,031

2,816,190

-39.4%

14

PATTA International

1,503,425

1,865,652

-19.4%

15

Chun Zu Machinery

1,221,097

1,579,288

-22.6%

16

Sheh Kai Precision

1,061,740

1,117,875

-5%

17

Ching Chan Optical Technology

468,353

606,140

-22.7%

The entrant with the largest revenue drop is the Asian aerospace fastener company NAFCO, which plummeted nearly 40% in revenue. This is not as a surprise, as it is well known that the world’s aviation industry was severely impacted by the pandemic last year. NAFCO managed to pull itself through and it still has a shot at ‘rising like a phoenix from the ashes’.

Overall, Taiwanese public listed fastener companies shared a common impact on revenues and profits in 2020. Indeed, the Taiwanese fastener companies were shrouded in a sentiment of market depression, but as they move into July 2021 and look back, they find themselves fortunate to have a stronger base and a continuously operating supply chain to get through that difficult time.

The market sentiment now is different from last year’s. Steel demand and price are surging, as are the inquiries from abroad. The top priority now is to grab as much as what the virus has taken from Taiwan.

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https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4205823 https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4219136

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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MADE IN TAIWAN

New C1 seismic certification Construction Anchors Co Ltd has announced an update to its European Technical Assessment for concrete bolts, with the products now C1 seismic certified.

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onstruction Anchors was founded to develop and supply a range of high-quality mechanical fixings and tools for the construction industry. The company also focuses on the development of European Technical Assessments.

An example of this commitment is the business recently achieving C1 seismic certification for its USB concrete bolt, which had previously achieved ETA certification in Option 1 (ETA – 12/0522).

“Our aim is to produce high-quality anchors that are able to achieve the very highest certifications – including ETAs,” explains Construction Anchors.

“The recent C1 seismic certification further underlines the quality and capabilities of our products and we are very proud to be able to offer customers the very best solutions. From our main factory in Taiwan we are able to develop the USB concrete bolts from the initial conception through to the final manufacture.”

Construction Anchors is also able to supply a wide range of innovative fixing solutions along with bespoke products tailored to customers’ needs from its Chinese factories, such as wedge anchors, sleeve anchors with various head types, drop-in anchors, chemical anchor studs, window frame screws, metal hammer drive anchors, metal frame anchors, express nails, metal insulation anchors, plasterboard anchors, hollow wall anchors, rubber nuts, toggles, clips, plugs and shims.

The company already has a host of products that have achieved ETA certification including the RDI anchor – an expansion anchor for use in non-cracked concrete (ETA – 17/0176) and non-structural applications in concrete (ETA – 17/0177); as well as the CMH anchor – an expansion anchor for multiple use in non-structural applications in concrete (ETA – 17/0325).

To add to this there is also its range of CT Bolts, which have achieved numerous European Technical Assessments. This includes the CT Bolt 7 – a torque controlled expansion anchor, in sizes M6, M8, M10, M12 and M16, for use in non-cracked concrete (ETA – 17/0595); as well as the CT Bolt 1 – a torque controlled expansion anchor for use in cracked and non-cracked concrete in sizes M8, M10, M12 and M16 (ETA – 16/0573).

Construction Anchors points out that there are many influencing factors that can determine the correct choice of a suitable fixing or anchor, which will perform to the expectations of the designer and customer alike. “Our aim is to point the user in the right direction so that they can choose the perfect solution for their particular application.”

A prime example of where users make errors is when it comes to the description of the base material or substrate for a particular application.

To make things easier, Construction Anchors has put the base materials into groups – masonry, brickwork, blockwork and stone – to ensure customers can select the correct fixing for the material.

Alongside its production capabilities and technical knowledge, Construction Anchor’s in-house logistics team can also manage the journey products take, with emphasis on reliability and service. “Over the years our vision has not changed,” concludes Construction Anchors. “We continue to focus on producing high-quality construction anchors that have ETAs in order to meet today’s high standards in the building sector. In addition to these products, we also provide the technical insight and first class service that ensures our customers can have complete confidence in us as a business.” www.constructionanchors.net

Our aim is to produce high-quality anchors that are able to achieve the very highest certifications...”

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MADE IN TAIWAN

C1 SEISMIC NOW AVAILABLE Contact: amy@constructionanchors.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

‘One stop shop’ manufacturer Ray Fu is a successful manufacturer and exporter of all kinds of fasteners and aims to become a ‘one stop shop’ manufacturer for its customers.

R

ay Fu Enterprise is a subsidiary of Chen Nan Iron Wire Co Ltd and was established in 2000 as a fastener trading company. It wasn’t until 2002 that Chen Nan expanded its factory to include fastener production. Today, the factory covers 138,000m 2 and includes 16 new wire furnaces, 40 wire drawing machines, 100 fastener machines, as well as 3 new heat treatment machines.

“Over the years, Ray Fu has acquired multiple ISO, CE and ETA certifications that underline the quality of our production and the wide range of products we can supply,” points out Ray Fu. This range includes self-drilling screws, self-tapping screws, concrete screws, window screws, automotive screws used in plastic, as well as socket cap screws (Allen cap screws). A leading product for the company is its RF self-tapping screws for timber structures, available in lengths from 60mm up to 600mm, which have also achieved an ETA certification (ETA – 18/0850).

“This certification confirms that we are able to meet the highest quality standards within Europe and means our customers can

be confident in the quality of the products they are receiving,” explains Ray Fu. “To ensure the quality of the products, our company has 30 dedicated quality control personnel checking each process along the way. From the moment an iron coil arrives at our facility, we perform a full inspection at the start and end of each process. This means we perform a minimum of 23 inspections before the product reaches our customers.”

With this commitment to quality, and multiple certifications, Ray Fu believes there is no difference between its product quality and those products made in Europe. “As a fastener manufacturer we strive in to ensure we reach each and every detail on a customer’s drawing. By doing this we can be sure that the product quality will be the same.”

The aim for Ray Fu is to be a ‘one stop shop’ manufacturer that not only provides standard parts to customers, but also works alongside its customers to help reduce costs. “We have been involved in multiple building projects providing our expertise in faster and safer fastening solutions. We try to become a stable backup partner for our customers all around the world,” mentions the company. “When stocks are low, we are able to provide emergency stock to our customers within 30 days. In addition, we are working with them on new products and the development of old products. By changing the way products are cold formed, we can help increase the product quality and decrease costs.”

Another service Ray Fu can offer customers is its stockpiling system, where it keeps specific stock for customers, which can be ‘called off’ as and when the customer needs it. “We have been partnering with multiple customers with our regular stockpiling and emergency stockpile systems. This ensures their stock never depletes wherever they are based – the USA, Europe or Asia,” mentions Ray Fu. “This service has been particularly popular during the last 18 months due to the volatile market.”

Ray Fu continues: “Whilst Covid-19 has been a challenge, the most problematic situation is the current shipping crisis. Never has any company encountered such delays and fluctuations in price for shipping goods around the world. During this critical time, we have been able to maintain a good dialogue with our customers and looked to help as much as we can. For instance, we have used air freight for some critical parts and also secured sea freight dates to ensure the lowest cost possible for our customers.”

“In the past, companies in the USA and Europe were keen on maintaining a ‘Just in Time’ stockpile, such as automotive companies, DIY product providers and fastener distributors. However, this sudden change in shipping has led to a lot of companies being unable to provide their customers with ample products. As a manufacturer we need to maintain a steady flow of supply, which is where our stockpiling system can really help as it cuts down production time.” www.ray-fu.com

Competing with Europe on quality Roseter is a specialist in fastening screws for the automotive, construction and building industries worldwide. The company can offer a range of products in combination with technical support and has the ability to develop new solutions.

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ased in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Roseter Info Trade Co Ltd focuses predominately on fastening screws for roofing and cladding, especially in applications involving profiled sheets, sandwich panels, façade systems, as well as fibre cement sheets.

A key product in this area for Roseter is its bi-metal screws, which are available in stainless steel and have also achieved CE/ETA certification (ETA – 17/0323). “Our bi-metal screws are very popular and we are currently supplying them to western and central Europe,” explains Roseter. “We are looking to develop this product into other geographic markets in the future.”

In 2020, Roseter added even more products to its ETA certification, so it now includes more than 20 products. “We are constantly investing in our products, facilities and certifications. We have further investments planned for the future that we believe will make us even more competitive within the market.”

Roseter continues: “As a manufacturer, we don’t always receive first line feedback from end users. Therefore, through mechanical tests and simulations, we look to ensure our quality meets not only

the requirements but also the needs of our customers and in turn their customers.”

“From our experience, when it comes to comparisons between our production and that of a European manufacturer, there is only one difference and that is the delivery time – simply due to geography.

However, when it comes to quality it is hard to define any difference at all. We have faith that our quality and performance can definitely compete with leading European manufacturers.” www.roseter.com

MADE IN TAIWAN

Passion and efficiency With advanced equipment, skilled technicians, a strict quality management system, and a commitment to customer focus, Durabltec is a manufacturer that has a passion for quality products and efficient processes.

D

urabltec has a wide range of manufacturing capabilities including cold forging, hot forging, as well as a selection of secondary operations, which enables it to produce a wide range of products to meet customers’ needs, from M2 – M16 and in lengths from 5mm up to 400mm.

The range available from Durabltec includes terminal screws and fasteners for use in electrical equipment; self-tapping, thread forming and plastic screws for use within automotive assembly; fasteners for building construction, plus window and furniture sectors; turning parts produced using CNC machinery; stamped parts such as washers and clips; as well as products according to drawings and designs.

“We have made some recent investments into 3D drawing software for CAD and CAE applications, so that we can provide customers with new ideas and solutions,” points out Durabltec.

“We can even provide a simulation analysis report in advance, so customers can see how a product will perform in set applications, before going into full production.”

Durabltec adds: “Thanks to the experience within our company we are also able to reverse engineer products, which is often very helpful to customers.

This is a good example of how we look to understand the needs of our customers and provide them with the necessary support and products to provide the optimal solution.

Our ultimate aim is to be a great solution provider and a reliable technical partner for all our customers.”

In addition to its production capabilities, Durabltec is also determined to provide a first class service. “Our aim is to be friendly and professional with customers, whilst responding quickly and reliably to their enquiries. Thanks to our specialised supply chain management system we can control every facet of the production, including production management, quality control, as well as final inspection – which includes traditional roller sorting and modern optical sorting. This helps us guarantee not only the quality but also optimal costs and a prompt delivery time.”

An important part of the process, that Durabltec pays particular attention to, is heat treatment and surface treatment of the products

We will continue to work on making Durabltec as efficient as possible and ensure that we keep our passion for not only our products and service, but also how we grow as a business in the future.”

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it produces. “Heat treatment is a vital part of production and therefore it is critical that the correct treatment is carried out and to the necessary regulations and requirements,” mentions Durabltec. “As a business we can offer a range of heat treatment options, such as carburising hardening, nitriding hardening, carbonitriding hardening, neutral hardening, annealing, bright heat treatment, vacuum heat treatment and sub-zero heat treatment, all of which offer different options and benefits.”

“Alongside heat treatment, it is also important that the right surface treatment is used for products. Our surface treatment options meet the necessary international specifications and we can offer a wide range of solutions, such as zinc and aluminium flake coating, powder or liquid coating, multilayer coating, as well as various well known brands of coating.”

Durabltec continues: “The design change requirements of products are becoming more and more challenging, with customers asking for more advanced solutions. As a business it is up to us to be able to continually raise the quality of our products, improve the efficiency of our production and look to make processes more cost-effective – all to provide the best support for customers. We will continue to work on making Durabltec as efficient as possible and ensure that we keep our passion for not only our products and service, but also how we grow as a business in the future.” www.durabltec.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

Anchor Fasteners to open new factory Anchor Fasteners is planning to open a new factory in Benjhou Industrial Park in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in order to offer additional services to customers in the near future.

F

ounded in 1986, Anchor Fasteners Industrial Co Ltd provides anchors and rivet nuts to customers in the industrial, construction and automotive sectors.

40% of the company’s sales today come from Europe, 30% from Asia and 25% from North America. The company is also able to work alongside customers to co-design bespoke products.

To meet growing demand, Anchor has always looked to introduce additional capacity, with the company establishing several plants over the years.

In addition to expanding its facilities, Anchor is also committed to investing in R&D and innovation by progressing its manufacturing technologies, from machining to cold forming – in order to reduce costs and the consumption of raw materials, whilst continuing its commitment to quality. Anchor is focused on product quality and has received ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 14064-1, IATF 16949 and ETA certifications.

Through this R&D and focus on quality, Anchor has been able to expand its market into high value fasteners for the automotive, electronics and construction sectors. In addition, through establishing an alliance in 2008, Anchor is also able to supply the medical industry.

Today, Anchor’s annual revenue is approximately US$40 million (€32.9 million) and believes its continued investment in innovation will be essential to its long-term success. That is why the company continues to invest in new equipment in order to add new services and product lines, increase capacity, as well as upgrade its manufacturing efficiency.

“It will be critical to continue investing in new capabilities to keep up with changing market dynamics and requirements. For example, in the automotive industry, we are continuing to see a shift toward electric vehicles,” explains Anchor Fasteners. “Moving forward, it will be essential to continue increasing our product diversification through digital transformation and new manufacturing technologies.”

As the global situation continues to evolve, efficient inventory management has also been underlined by Anchor as vital. “We work closely with our partners and customers to ensure we maintain sufficient inventory to meet their needs and ship on time,” comments Anchor. “We are committed to delivering a great customer experience and a big part of that is an efficient stock control system to ensure a reliable supply and meet customers’ expectations. When combined with competitive pricing, and a great variety of high-quality products, we are able to be a ‘one stop shop’ for our customers’ fastener needs.” www.anchorfast.com.tw

Sheh Fung announces next phase of expansion plan Sheh Fung has announced the implementation of its Phase 2 expansion plan, which will see the company introduce more machinery to its capabilities – enabling it to further develop its range of construction screws.

S

heh fung was established by President Lucky Tu in 1973 and over the past four decade has developed from a small factory to a medium large firm – thanks to the efforts of Sheh Fung’s employees. Over recent years the company has taken several big steps in its development. In 2012, it implemented a new SAP system; in 2016 it built a new factory; and in 2017 it became a publicly traded company.

“We are trying our best to reach our vision of becoming the world’s leading fastener manufacturer,” states Sheh Fung.

“Through all our investments we aim to stay competitive within the market when it comes to quality, price, delivery and innovation. This implementation of Phase 2 will be the next step on the journey and will enable us to continue to develop.”

Sheh Fung focuses on small constructional screws and its main items are woodscrews and self-drilling screws – supplying customers globally in the USA, Europe and Asia.

“We look to build long-term partnerships with our customers, built on trust,” explains Sheh Fung. “That is why we work with

customers so that we can ensure that our quality is the quality they need.”

To help do this Sheh Fung has a vertically integrated manufacturing process, which includes in-house heat treatment, as well as plating and coating. “Having all these processes in-house means we can guarantee the quality,” points out Sheh Fung. “We have more than 15 QC employees who carry out all the quality checks to ensure our products meet the necessary standards and requirements.”

Sheh Fung adds: “We see ourselves not only as a screw producer, but a solution provider who can call on its production, QC, R&D, and packing department, so that we can design and carry out strategic plans for our customers. We are a listed company in Taiwan, so we have a social responsibility to fulfil and this is the same with our customers. That is why we have the goal to make our company better – for our shareholders, community and employees – as well as make our customers’ better.” www.shehfung.com

MADE IN TAIWAN

Kwantex never stops developing Kwantex Research Inc is known within the market for its ability to introduce new products and innovations, with the company determined to continue investing in new product research and development.

F

ounded in its hometown Kwanmiao in Tainan City, Kwantex first showcased its ability to create new products with the introduction of the Cutter screw, which enabled it to make its name within the wood working industry. The company quickly followed up this invention with others, such as the Pocket Hole Screw and KTX-Torpedo® Screw, which Kwantex states was a real ‘game changer’ for the business and in fastener applications – with the product even receiving the Red Dot Design Award in 2014.

Kwantex’s commitment to researching and developing new products has even continued during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our investment in new product research and development never stops,” states Kwantex. “For instance, in the past two years we have developed the improved 6-lobe TTX drive (Taiwan torx drive), which features a unique sharp hook design, no cam-out, provides more torque transfer, whilst also offers more than four times the bit life. Another new screw is the Archimedes’ Secret Screw, which has pull-out and anti-loosening values that surpass other brands in the European and US markets. This screw will be launched in 2022 and we are looking forward to its future sales performance.”

In addition to developing new high-end products, Kwantex also focuses on market demands and provides clients with solutions that successfully assist customers in building their own brands in the highend markets of Europe and America. “We are able to work closely with our customers on improvements to their products, whether it be regarding the function or quality of the product,” points out Kwantex. “We can even help with new packaging designs, as well as arranging steady lead times and logistics. Through a close working partnership and key exchange of information, we are able to create opportunities for customers, whilst also building our reputation within the market.”

In addition to working with customers and designing patented screws, Kwantex can also supply commodity products such as drywall screws, self-drilling screws, tapping screws, etc. These screws are available in sizes M2.5 to M12, and in lengths from 10mm up to 600mm, as well as carbon steel materials such as C1022 and 10B21.

Also available are stainless steel materials SS302, SS304, SS305, SS316 and SS410.

Kwantex is also able to supply a special stainless steel material – KTX-1 Metal, which is heat treated martensitic stainless steel that can be used to replace A2 cap, ZDC cap and SS410 screws. “KTX-1 Metal screws provide excellent corrosion resistance, high hardness, high strength, as

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well as high drilling capacity performance,” points out the company.

For both its special and standard screws, Kwantex ensures it delivers quality solutions that are reliable. It can do this thanks to its production factory, which includes head forming, thread rolling and cutting processes. “Each of our machines are equipped with a computer so the operator can check the details of the screw drawing at all times,” mentions Kwantex. “Besides the regular inspection by the operator, we also carry out further tests every 4 hours, which enables us to monitor production quality and collect ‘big data’ for analysis.”

If at any point the measured figures exceed the tolerance, the computer will display red figures to indicate an abnormality, the operator can then immediately adjust the machine to ensure that the screw production meets the drawing specifications. “We use wire rod from China Steel Corporation (CSC) in Taiwan to ensure stable product quality from the source. Together with the strict quality inspection process of the finished product, we can ensure all the exported products meet customers’ requests.”

Through its ability to provide customers with technical assistance, as well as high-quality products, Kwantex has customers around the world, with its main markets in Europe and the USA. “We are a reliable, responsible and trustworthy company. Our mission is to provide solutions to all our customers’ daily problems and we can do this thanks to more than 25 years of production experience,” states Kwantex.

A big problem for everybody over the last 18 months has been the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe. “Covid-19 had a big impact on a lot of our customers throughout 2020, but by the end of the year we did start to see an increase in the number of orders,” explains Kwantex. “This increase has continued into 2021, where we have seen a significant influx in orders – mainly due to customers having a lack of screws as the various lockdowns around the world have started to lift.”

Kwantex predicted the surge in orders towards the end of 2020 and therefore has been in close contact with its customers to ensure they can maintain their inventories. “For customers with large quantities each year, we can offer a stock order system (pre-production plan). When the customer places an annual order, we will gradually complete it and keep semi-finished products that customers can ‘call off’ as and when they need them,” mentions Kwantex. “Most customers have therefore placed orders in advance to have more stock. This is another example of how we go the extra step for our customers and we will continue to do so going forward, alongside introducing new exciting products.” www.kwantex.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

Integrating Artificial Intelligence Ching Chan Optical Technology Co Ltd (CCM) is looking to integrate Artificial Intelligence within its line of sorting solutions to enable it to further meet the needs of its customers around the world.

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CM was founded in 1992 by Chairman Alex Wu and his elder brother, producing vibratory feeders in a small rental workshop in Chiayi City, Taiwan. Through nearly 30 years of experience, CCM staff have successfully developed multiple optical sorting machines.

CCM produces a wide variety of optical automatic sorting machines, including a screw/bolt series, nut/washer series, rod/stud series and eddy current series. “We have developed optical sorting equipment and systems for all kinds of fasteners. We can offer the very best service to our customers,” points out CCM. A major trend currently is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is why CCM is looking at how it relates to its machinery.

“We have spent a lot of time on AI and are looking at how we can apply it to the new sorting systems we are working on,” explains CCM. “We provide intelligent Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) sorting systems for all over the world and to make sure we are supplying the latest technology, we need to make sure we are aware of all the trends and opportunities within the market.”

A big advantage for customers working with CCM is that the company is also able to produce its own software system in-house, which means the company is able to provide the answers to both machinery as well as software challenges.

A key factor in the company’s ability to develop its machinery is the establishment of an OEM sorting department, which enables CCM to sustain a large number of practical field tests to continually enhance and improve its machinery quality. This commitment has seen CCM’s high precision sorting devices gain excellent recognition from well known fastener manufacturers worldwide.

Other key developments for CCM include the merger with The First Contact Tech (formerly JingBun Precision Tech) in 2019, as well as a new sorting system for semiconductor chips, which it believes will be very popular.

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A world champion mindset

With the company philosophy of “understand customers’ requirements, transcend customers’ expectations”, CCM is dedicated to achieving maximum added value by providing a total solution – from controlling the origins of fastener production to finished goods inspection.

“We have eight offices in Taiwan and China, moreover, our products are already sold to more than 30 countries,” points out CCM. “Our aim is to become the number one industrial fastener equipment manufacturer, which is why we never compromise on quality. We also consistently offer remarkable services to transform traditional manufacturing companies to precision technology companies.”

A key service that CCM is also able to supply is its after service, with the company ensuring that every machine is carefully taken care of when at a customer’s plant. The company also provides troubleshooting videos, all saved on the machine’s PC, to provide initial help to customers.

To add to this, and guarantee machines are running as they should be, CCM goes on a service tour twice a year where it checks up on customers and machines to see if it can help optimise processes.

There are a variety of other services that CCM looks to do in person, but these have not been possible due to Covid-19. “We have needed to provide a lot of these services remotely, which was very challenging initially. However, we have managed to adapt and meet the needs of our customers,” mentions CCM. “Services and software systems are two crucial factors that make us stand out from other manufacturers. That is why it is vital that we not only know the needs but meet the needs, of our customers.”

The CCM family

CCM states that its most important asset is its employees. “Our corporate culture is to take care of every employee and we want each of our employees to be successful too. A good working atmosphere enables staff to fully focus on their job and look to develop their career, as there is no limit to reach their full potential. As one of the leading companies of the industry, we share the profit to attract, reward, train, inspire and welcome talents with different background to join us.” www.ccm3s.com

MADE IN TAIWAN

A key link within the supply chain For over 29 years Easylink Industrial has been successful in providing high-quality fasteners and services to the automotive, electronics and electrical industries, thanks to its President Lerry Tsao being a strong believer in continuous improvement and innovation.

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asylink Industrial Co Ltd was founded in 1992 as a trading company in Kaohsiung – the largest industrial city in Taiwan. In 2005, based on customers’ requirements for better service, Easylink started to build its own factory along with a TAF laboratory, which has since been awarded ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 certification.

Today, the company has two factories in Taiwan and one factory in Vietnam, as well as a branch office in Ningbo, China, as a sourcing agent. This has enabled Easylink to specialise in the export and manufacturing of screws, nuts and fasteners for automotive and electrical industries around the world.

From the very beginning ‘innovation’ was a way of life for the company and embedded in Easylink’s philosophy and culture. “At the very start I looked at what could set us apart from other fastener manufacturers and how we could enhance our manufacturing, quality and service to our customers,” explains Mr Tsao. “I decided that both innovation and continuous improvement were the key factors to our future success and this has proven to be the case.”

This commitment to continuous improvement is underlined by the company building a new state of the art manufacturing facility in Kaohsiung in 2018. “As a high-quality fastener manufacturer we wanted to make sure we changed with the times and continued to use modern technology,” mentions Mr Tsao. “This helped create the vision for the new facility and that vision became a reality in 2018.”

The new Easylink manufacturing facility includes production lines that are fed automatically from an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) warehouse. “The AS/RS is connected to the plant floor with computerised robotic ‘buggies’ that deliver materials,” explains Mr Tsao. “This means finished products can be picked up by buggies and stored for secondary processes and brought back to the factory floor, as and when they are needed.” This is possible thanks to every step of the production being monitored via barcoding – right up until the product is completed and ready to ship to the customer.

Easylink also produces its own tooling in-house, which it states helps bring quality consistency and production efficiency. Another key area for the company is the quality of the processes and products, with periodic quality inspections maintained via digitalisation. For instance, in-process inspection data is downloaded wirelessly in ‘real time’ to the SPC system, which helps minimise data entry errors and ensures process control. Additionally, Easylink has a laser and optical

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sorting engineering team that builds all the optical sorting machines used – once again ensuring quality, integrity and guaranteeing the company meets the PPM requirements of its customers. For instance, in 2020 the optical sorting engineering team built 360 degree models that can view critical dimensions from all sides and angles.

Easylink also continues to invest in new technologies to increase the quality yield rate and is looking to utilise the Industrial Internet (IoT) by networking its production lines – enabling data analysis and early warning mechanisms to reduce downtime. By using software simulation and 3D modelling, the engineering team can also establish a knowledge base for machine adjustment.

“Easylink strives to continuously improve its competitiveness through ‘smart’ manufacturing, such as automated factory systems, a tooling control system, IoT data collection with production alert system, product control system, material control system, spot digitalised inspection and 360º view optical sorting,” states Mr Tsao.

“We have developed a digitised knowledge database to capture the expertise of our senior engineers and our employees can draw upon this to facilitate the rapid turnaround of customer designs.”

“In this unusual time, there is much uncertainty in product usage and forecasts. By maintaining safety stock, Easylink is able to bridge this uncertainty and help ensure seamless supply to our customers’ factories. With this pandemic, customer expectations have also shifted towards the world of online services. By using the order status and shipment tracking system that our website provides, customers can obtain the needed data at any time to increase customer satisfaction levels.”

Mr Tsao concludes: “Our outstanding performance and capabilities is underlined by numerous successful audits. We will remain focused on innovation and continuous improvement going forward, with all our employees committed to excellence.” www.easylink.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

Fong Prean – living to solve problems With 36 years of experience, and a vastly experienced research and development team, Fong Prean is able to develop and customise products to fulfil market needs and help customers with their product challenges.

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ong Prean Industrial Co Ltd was established in 1986 and started with just a leased factory. Now the company has expanded to have its own 3,300m 2 plant and has the machinery and capabilities for providing customised fasteners, cooperating with customers to develop new products.

Over recent years Fong Prean has introduced a host of specialised screws including the patented MS head screw, which was designed for wood and hard gypsum board and can be installed without burrs or damaging the surface – increasing work efficiency.

There is also the Reamer screw, which can drill hardwood without pre-drilling required and reduces splitting – even close to the edge.

Fong Prean also points out that its twister thread design provides high holding power and low driving torque, which enhances safety and reduces work time.

Due to the market for fibre cement boards becoming more popular, Fong Prean has also designed a 12-V-Ribs head to provide a perfect countersunk with no burrs and without any extra work for the user.

“As a company we are focused on developing new products and solutions to help solve issues for customers,” explains Fong Prean. “We collect the latest market information and develop and design fasteners to be suitable for new building materials or tools.

In addition, we continuously collect data and look to optimise our systems, as well as update equipment, to enable us to introduce new processes and new possibilities. Whilst doing this we always look to follow international quality standards and continuously train and educate our employees to ensure they understand product features and applications.”

Alongside customised products, Fong Prean is also able to provide a host of standard products, including drywall screws, woodscrews, chipboard screws, decking screws, cement board screws, concrete screws, roofing screws, self-drilling screws, wing tek screws, tapping screws, and stainless steel screws, in diameters M2.6 to M11 and lengths from 9mm up to 400mm.

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The company supplies these products globally, with its main markets currently in North America, Europe and Japan – especially in the architecture, DIY, construction, as well as furniture sectors.

Fong Prean is keen to point out that alongside its ability for customisation and innovation, it is also committed to quality. “We check and test every step from heading, pinch point, threading, heat treatment, coating, packaging and even container loading. We also periodically assist our supporter mills to reach a consistent technology and quality,” mentions Fong Prean. “We want to provide a full service to our customers – from the purchasing to production, logistics, as well as the after sales service – and a key factor in all these areas is ensuring the very highest quality.”

Fong Prean has also made a concerted effort to continue investing within the business, especially when it comes to digital transformation and optimising its systems, as well as updating machines and testing equipment. The company also regularly conducts research in how to further reduce costs and error rates without impacting the quality or service it delivers to customers.

“We keep improving our computer system to assess capacity, shipment times, production plans and quality management traceability, which helps us reduce error rates, increase efficiency and meet the purchasing demands of our customers,” explains Fong Prean. “As a company we have also attached significant importance to being a ‘green’ business, which is why we are looking at sustainable development, our environment policy, as well as educating our employees on the importance of environmental protection.”

Fong Prean concludes: “Since 2017, the number of patented products and customised screws we have produced has increased 30% per year and we believe this will continue to be the case in the future. As a company we will keep collecting data and are always looking to introduce new technologies, optimise our systems, as well as train our staff to develop and design products to fulfil the market needs. Speciality screws, patented fasteners, customised designs, and high value products, are our main focus – we live for solving our customers’ problems.” www.fongprean.com

MADE IN TAIWAN

Founded on innovation Thanks to the innovation of its founder, Mr Pang Ching Huang, Joker has been able to make the successful step into the international market when it comes to innovative patented products, good and stable quality, accurate and flexible lead times, as well as customisable packaging ability.

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stablished in 1984, Joker Industrial Co Ltd is based in Changhua, Taiwan, and is a producer of fasteners, anchors and hardware. It was in 1988 when Mr Huang invented an innovative stamping technique for nut production, which replaced the traditional time-consuming and high cost milling method, and applied it to the production process for hollow wall anchors that the company really took a step forward in its development.

With this innovation, Joker was able to develop its business and product range so that it is now one of the main manufacturers within Taiwan for hollow wall anchors, as well as other products such as concrete screws, rivet jack nuts, express nails, metal insulation plugs, as well as self-drilling anchors.

“Thanks to our innovative capabilities, as well as our wide product range, we have been able to develop a global customer base, including customers from Germany, Sweden, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, the USA, Canada, Japan and Korea.”

Joker’s commitment to innovation continues even today, with the company continuously working on new approvals and certifications. “We have been able to achieve such a good reputation within the fastener market, especially for construction anchors, thanks to our commitment to quality,” points out Joker.

“For instance, in order to fulfil customers’ expectations, we successfully achieved an ETA Option 1 certification (ETA – 14/0374) for our concrete screw – Sissy Stud – in 2014. However, we have continued to develop the capabilities of the concrete screws and expect to achieve the C1 and C2 seismic accreditations in October.”

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Joker also points out that it is currently working on different head types for its concrete screws, as well as making them available in A4-316 stainless steel. “Being one of the first Taiwanese manufacturers to achieve a high-level of ETA Option 1 for a concrete screw anchor, in both cracked and non-cracked systems in 2014 was a big statement for our business,” explains Joker. “With more than 50 experienced craftsmen in metal anchor stamping, cold forging and threading, welding, heat induction, nut forming, zinc alloy diecasting, as well as plastic injection, we are very confident in the capabilities and quality of our products. Thanks to the skills and ability of our employees we are also able to work with customers to design new products and guarantee quality.”

The quality is further guaranteed through regular audits for its certifications and accreditations, as well as from its global customer base. This allows Joker to be confident with the quality of its processes – with the company also carrying out inspections throughout the production process, from raw material to the final product. “Throughout more than 30 years of experience of working directly with the market’s leading brands worldwide, Joker has grown up with quality and it is something that we will never comprise,” states Joker.

Whilst fulfilling customers’ needs, products and quality is the first priority for Joker. Its second is to think ahead on what will happen within the market, so it can ensure it stays at the forefront on of the sector. “As a professional manufacturer, we should be well prepared to accept and solve all kind of production requests from customers,” states Joker. “To do this we share our abundant experience and knowledge with customers to provide even better solutions for them. We believe trustworthy relationships and clear communication will be the key factors to obtaining success for the entire supply chain.” www.joker.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

Major Industries Ltd expands facility Earlier this year, Major Industries Ltd moved into a brand new state of the art facility, located next to its existing site in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The larger 8,000m2 facility has enabled the company to optimise its processes, improve productivity to even greater levels, as well as help its customers recover, as quickly as possible, from the pandemic’s disruption.

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ajor Industries’ reputation as a world-class, well respected manufacturer of high performance cold form tooling began in the early 1980s, when the company’s expertise in heat treatment and knowledge of metallurgical principles were applied to the production of steel tooling.

In 1988, following the successful development of a new vacuum brazing technology, Major Industries launched the patented MIL-Tip, which is produced using a unique process of fusing a carbide tip to a steel shank – combining the benefits of high-speed steel with tungsten carbide without diminishing either property.

The result of this is a reliable punch that is, at the same time, both wear resistant and tough.

“MIL-Tip was rapidly adopted by the fastener industry, which immediately recognised its ability to match the performance of solid carbide punches at a lower cost,” explains Neil Pentecost, UK sales director at Major Industries. “The MIL-Tip has continued, to this day, to be a preferred choice for leading cold formers worldwide and placed us at the forefront of the tooling sector.”

Major Industries’ ability to rise to the daily challenges of overcoming technical obstacles presented by customers within the cold forming industry, has enabled it to establish a strong reputation within the market. “By understanding customer goals, industry demands, and the need to optimise material utilisation, we are able to invest in the latest technologies to advance our capabilities and provide a greater variety of tailor-made tooling for our customers’ applications,” states Neil.

Today, the company has at its disposal an impressive range of high-speed steel and tungsten carbide grades for all tooling applications. It also has two pressure furnaces with a rapid quenching facility and a choice of five PVD coatings to enhance tooling life and provide greater wear resistance, even at high temperatures.

“By managing every critical manufacturing process in-house, we can maintain a tight control of both production and expenditure, guaranteeing that we deliver only the highest quality product at a cost-effective price,” points out Neil.

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By focusing on customer value, the company’s motivation to ‘make things better by making better things’, ensures Major Industries produces tooling that reduces unplanned stoppages in production; maximises machine availability and output; and ultimately returns higher productivity and overall equipment effectiveness. This means that over time, tangible savings can be made by decreasing tooling costs and improving efficiency.

Harnessing an impressive stock of experience, talent, equipment, and expertise, Major Industries has been able to extend its portfolio into a full range of tooling that now encompasses the entire cold forming process, from start to finish, and includes punches, inserts, punch and die assemblies, transfer fingers, KO pins and sleeves.

“Our new facility will enable us to continue to provide customers with the high-quality products and services that they rely on,” confirms Neil. “It will also mean we can continue to develop our capabilities and processes so that we are constantly meeting the needs of our customers’ and the market as a whole.”

In addition to the investment within the new facility, Major Industries is also making additional investment in reducing lead times, as well as improving efficiency and quality assurance, through the purchase of EDM sinking, EDM wire cutting, CNC milling, CNC grinding, and turning machines, all of which are expected to be commissioned throughout the year.

“By increasing our tooling capacity by 10%, we will strengthen our position as an international supplier of cold forming tooling, adding resilience and competitiveness as demand continues to grow,” states Jack Lee, director of business operations at Major Industries.

Major Industries’ customer base includes many of the world’s leading fastener manufacturers, mainly within the automotive and aerospace sectors, and its expertise is often called upon when they wish to resolve their ongoing tooling issues, where performance does not always meet expectation.

“By identifying shortcomings in existing tools, such as heading punches, piercing punches, marking pins, die inserts, and die assemblies, we can suggest recommendations to upgrade either the specified material, heat treatment or coating, and sometimes to help optimise the tooling configuration. The next stage is for us to manufacture the component to the revised specification in-house, enabling customers to then complete performance and comparison trials.”

Based on performance, reliability, and trust, Major Industries has established long-term partnerships with suppliers and customers alike. “Our commitment to providing a complete tooling service that delivers greater operational benefits, beyond the production line, has delivered tangible value to the fastener industry for almost 40 years,” concludes Jack. www.majorindustriesltd.com

MADE IN TAIWAN

New stainless steel material from Point Screw Point Screw, a specialised manufacturer based in Taipei, Taiwan, is looking to develop its capabilities and market share thanks to a recent investment in special machinery for producing turning parts, as well as the introduction of a new stainless steel material.

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oint Screw Enterprise Co Ltd was established in 1997 and its mission is to use professional manufacturing technology to ensure excellent product quality and enable it to work closely with customers on product development.

“Thanks to more than 20 years of research and development, plus the growth of the business, we have been able to successfully work alongside customers and expand the number of products we are able to supply,” states Point Screw.

Point Screw’s production is currently focused on automotive screws, SEMS screws, screws used in electrical equipment, computer screws and precision screws.

To further expand its product capabilities, the company invested in new machinery for turning parts in 2019, with the aim to manufacture and supply turned parts widely used in the electronic and automotive sectors.

“This was a big investment for us a business, but it was necessary so that we could develop our turning parts section and supply even more products to customers within the automotive and electronic markets in Europe and North America,” mentions Point Screw. “We made this investment in 2019 and then the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, so we have not yet fully optimised this opportunity. As countries and companies start to come out of lockdown, we see these new turning machines as a real opportunity to grow our business.”

As well as investing in its machinery, Point Screw also looks to continuously develop new materials and new products, such as its newly developed stainless steel material SUS550, which it says has characteristics of high anti-corrosion (salt spray test 6,000 – 15,000 hours), high anti-acid (Kesternich test over 100 cycles) and high hardness (615HV ~ 640HV).

“We are very excited about this new material,” states Point Screw. “Its resistance to corrosion is 15 times better than any material drilling screw on the market and can ensure no rust for over 200 years outdoors. We are eager to talk to our customers about this new stainless steel material and we are certain that it will become very popular within the market.”

has the same production management as the Taiwanese factory – guaranteeing the exact same product quality its European and American customers expect. “Another advantage of having both Chinese and Taiwanese operations is that even if there is any anti-dumping tariffs introduced for products made in China, we can still supply customers through our Taiwanese factory,” explains Point Screw. “Having the Taiwanese and Chinese operations means we can provide customers with the best options when it comes to purchasing, as well as enhancing customers’ market competitiveness.”

The total area of Point Screw’s factories in Taiwan and China is around 12,000m2 and the company also has its own specified laboratory, and RoHS testing equipment, so that it can test all of the products it produces. “In today’s highly competitive market it is vital you are able to continuously produce the very highest quality products,” states Point Screw. “Thanks to our excellent upstream and downstream cooperating factories, as well as our strict quality control system, and highly efficienct production, we can provide customers with fast supply and quality assurance.”

From the beginning of a customer’s order, Point Screw’s quality system controls the efficiency of each station and process related to quality control – throughout the production process, right up to the customer’s quality verification after shipment.

Multiple factories

In addition to its factory in Taiwan, Point Screw also has a factory in China, which

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“We produce products according to customers’ dimensions and quality requirements,” mentions Point Screw. “Thanks to our strict quality inspections throughout the production process, our customers do not have to worry about receiving defective products. This has enabled us to gain a good reputation within the market for our quality.”

Point Screw concludes: “As a business we will continue to update and invest in our manufacturing equipment and capabilities, as well as ensuring a flexible production line and doing our best to meet the ever-changing product needs of customers. By doing all this we hope to create a ‘win-win’ situation for us and our customers in the future.” www.pointscrew.com

MADE IN TAIWAN

Rexlen introduces new inspection equipment Rexlen has been further introducing new inspection equipment in order to continue to meet the quality needs of its customers.

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stablished in 1977, and headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Rexlen Corporation is one of the leading fastener trading companies in Taiwan and is able to offer a wide variety of fasteners and special parts according to customer drawings, including forged parts, casting parts, stamping parts, as well as

turning parts.

Over recent years Rexlen has experienced continuous growth in sales, which the company says is primarily down to its continuous improvement in its product quality, as well as the long-term relationships it has with its customers. “We are dedicated to providing products that not only meet but exceed our global clients requirements,” states Rexlen. “A key factor in ensuring this quality is our fully equipped quality control laboratory, which was certified in 2005 and has helped broaden our offering and services – whilst ensuring the highest product quality – meeting worldwide specifications.”

To ensure its laboratory is able to carry out all the necessary tests and procedures, Rexlen recently increased its inspection equipment, with the introduction of a wide variety of machines including a spectrometer and a coordinate measuring machine.

Another recent development for the company was the opening of a new facility in 2020, as well as introducing new machinery so that it could further develop its product range and provide additional support to customers. “As a business we are committed to providing customers with innovative, high-quality products, and services, and our new facility will enable us to continue to do this in the future.”

As part of its manufacturing capabilities the company uses multi-forming cold forging machines, as well as CNC machinery, and

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Thanks to our ISO and TAF accredited laboratory we are able to monitor not only our own manufacturing, but the entire supply chain.”

has an ISO and ITAF accredited laboratory in Taiwan and China.

This enables it to produce products in diameters from M3 – M20 and lengths from 10mm up to 120mm. The materials available include carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, brass and aluminium. This includes quality grades 4.8, 5.8, 6.8, 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9, as well as AISI A2 – 70 and A2 – 80 for stainless steel.

“Alongside our wide range of multi-forming and CNC capabilities, we can also offer casting, stamping, hot forging, as well as plastic, rubber and aluminium extrusion for custom designed products,” states the company.

A speciality of Rexlen is its ability to manufacture customised fasteners and work with customers within the North American and European markets in a variety of industries. “We create an Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process for every order, with our engineers monitoring every production process to ensure the quality meets all customer requirements,” points out Rexlen. “We also have a strong research and development team, who have a significant amount of experience within the fastener field, which enables us to develop new products and processes.”

Rexlen concludes: “We have been in the fastener sector for more than 44 years and we have accumulated technical experience on a wide range of different end user industries. Our relationship with customers is based on friendship, mutual trust, and support, it is not just about business. Thanks to our ISO and TAF accredited laboratory we are able to monitor not only our own manufacturing, but the entire supply chain. This means our customers can be confident that every product they receive from us is excellent quality.” www.rexlen.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

Committed to continuous improvement With a strong fastener manufacturing background, San Shing’s tooling factory has developed to be a global supplier using reliable tooling production techniques. This has been possible thanks to the company’s commitment to continuous improvement.

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an Shing Fastech Corporation’s tooling factory was founded in 1968 and was initially established to generate tooling for its own fastener production. It started as a small shop with a traditional lathe and handful of turning machines – with a couple of technicians and a few operators making up the entire production team. Over the years, with a strong fastener manufacturing background, the tooling section has developed to become a global tooling supplier and serves its customers with established tooling production processes.

“Today our tooling factory is fully equipped with a total of 360 sets of processing equipment, including CNC milling and CNC turning machines, grinding machines, EDM wire cutting, EDM discharge machines, 5-axis high-speed milling machines and CMM for inspection,” states San Shing proudly.

This wide range of machinery enables the company to offer an extensive product range, with San Shing able to produce tooling for cold forming, hot forging, press production, as well as task specific parts applications in industries – ranging from the fastener industry to the automotive and aerospace sectors.

“As it is widely known, the optimum performance on forging tooling undoubtedly has become one of the key subjects in seizing an extra edge on market competition,” mentions San Shing. “Our self-contained tooling factory spares no effort in not merely satisfy the huge internal demands of consumable tooling – for more than 5,000 tonnes of production – but also serving hundreds of thousands of quality oriented punches and dies annually to the well known automotive and aerospace manufacturers around the world.”

One of the core elements of the tooling factory’s capabilities and growth has been the company’s dedication to continuous

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improvement. “We are always looking to develop and improve as a business, which can take many forms,” states San Shing. “For instance, in order to cope with the growing demand from our customers, we expanded our factory in 2015, adding up to 6,000m 2 .”

For its manufacturing related operations, San Shing committed to improving its production efficiency, as well as boosting its capability to face up to more challenges for high-end moulds from different fields. “Nowadays, full automation in a production line is expected in order to upgrade production techniques and efficiency to a new level,” mentions San Shing. “That is why we have introduced new robotised manufacturing systems to several workstations – including EDM, milling and grinding processes. This will allow us to continue to work with customers and meet their developing needs and requirements.”

For more than 50 years, San Shing has dedicated itself to offering quality oriented services in fastener-related industries. With the pioneering experiences and background in fastener manufacturing, San Shing’s tooling department has been able to meet the needs of customers for the improvement of tooling life span.

San Shing concludes: “To uphold the high-quality level and flexible delivery and service the company is known for within the industry, we will continue to develop our tooling products and processes so that they can satisfy customers’ demands – with a special focus on adding further ‘full automation’ systems within manufacturing.” www.sanshing.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

A leader in bi-metal solutions Sheh Kai was founded in 1992 and is a leading manufacturer of bi-metal screws and bi-metal screw anchors – offering a first class strategic partnership for customers in cooperation with the best quality and service.

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heh Kai Precision Co Ltd states that it exclusively owns its manufacturing technique for its bi-metal products, which enables it to stand out from competitors and provide unique and reliable solutions to meet customers’ requirements. In addition, its research and development team is committed to continuous innovation to help achieve better quality and added value.

“Our fasteners are essential for building high-level corrosion resistant structures. In addition to our excellent research and development, we also look to work closely with our csutomers so that we can understand their needs and requirements, so we can guarantee we are supplying the correct products and solutions,” states Sheh Kai. Sheh Kai is able to produce bi-metal self-drilling screws in diameters 4.2mm to 6.3mm and lengths from 16mm to 300mm; bi-metal concrete anchors in diameters M6 to M12, which have ETA certification; dual hardness concrete anchors with ETA certification; as well as hammer drill bits from 3.2mm to M35 in lengths from 50mm to 1,000mm.

When it comes to its hammer drill bits, Sheh Kai has also invested in its production factory and is looking to develop its inventory of products within this range – so that it can work closely with OEM and ODM customers. “As a company we always want to make sure that we are able to supply the products our customers’ needs when they need them,” comments Sheh Kai. “By investing in the production factory for hammer drill bits, we can increase our capabilities when it comes to these products and work with more customers.”

Sheh Kai is also looking to further develop inventory in other products, especially after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Ensuring you have the inventory for customers and the necessary production capacity to meet needs is a crucial factor at the moment,” points out Sheh Kai. “We have always looked to create inventory for customers so that we are able to quickly meet their needs. However, with the current market we need to try and forecast for customers in advance. We need to step away from our manufacturer view and put ourselves in the mindset of a wholesaler.

By doing this we can look to develop our inventory and ensure we can provide solutions for all requests.”

Sheh Kai concludes: “Thanks to our capabilities and investments, customers can be confident that they will receive a stable supply of quality products at a reasonable price, which have received the necessary approvals and certificates. As a business we will continue to focus on developing patented technology and to create a new range of solutions, as well as develop updates for exisiting applications.” www.shehkai.com

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MADE IN TAIWAN

Working in high-end markets Wan Iuan has recently invested in new machinery to enable it to further establish itself within high-end markets when it comes to all kinds of standard and special tools, including fastener dies and punches.

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an Iuan Enterprise Co Ltd is located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and started in 1991 as a small company with less than 20 people. Through the leadership of General Manager Chiou Tsai Ding the company has grown to the business it is today – supplying punches and dies to global customers, with it having around 100 employees.

The company is able to manufacture all kinds of fastener dies and punches in a variety of high-speed steels (Erasteel and Nachi), as well as carbide (CB Ceratizit). “With 25 years of manufacturing experience we believe we can reach all customers’ requests for products,” states Wan Iuan.

Currently Wan Iuan is focused on Europe with Italy its main market (representing 40%), after that it is Germany (10%) and then the rest of Europe. “We are always looking to develop into new European markets and we are seeing our products being used in more and more countries,” points out Wan Iuan.

Wan Iuan’s punches and drives are very popular for the production of automotive screws, as well as in the construction hardware sector.

“These markets are very important to us and as a business we are always looking at how we can further work with customers in these sectors,” mentions the company. “We also work in a lot of other industries and are keen to grow these markets with our customers.”

A big factor in working in these high-end industries is the capabilities and reliability of the products, which is why

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Wan Iuan has recently added a new 5-axis machine and increased the quantity of its CNC machinery. “These machinery additions will enable us to further enhance our processing performance – so we can shorten delivery times and further develop our high-end sector customers.”

Another decisive factor that has enabled Wan Iuan to establish itself within these high-end markets is its commitment to quality. “The quality of Taiwan’s technology is obvious to all in the world – whether it is fasteners, machinery or any industry,” states Wan Iuan. “Why is Taiwan’s quality so strong? Because we have a ‘one stop service’ in Taiwan. From upstream to downstream, from order to shipment, the entire production process is complete, with everyone helping each other.”

Wan Iuan’s commitment to supporting it customers has also been underlined during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the company ensuring strict control of its factory. “We needed to guarantee that our factory stayed open and continued to work and deliver products to customers,” states Wan Iuan. “With all the changes in automotive demand and the continuous changes in global supplies, customers need products to be delivered on time and that is what we aim to do.”

Wan Iuan concludes: “We will continue to provide the products, the quality and the service, to the necessary delivery dates, to meet the needs of our customers. For those customers that are looking to increase their tool life, and want to work in partnership, they need to speak to Wan Iuan.” www.w-i.com.tw

MADE IN TAIWAN

Supporting a global market For more than 45 years, Top Screw has believed and practiced ‘practicality’, ‘responsiveness’ and ‘unlimited improvement’ – offering quality and cost-effective fasteners whilst supporting customers in a global market.

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op Screw Metal Corp has always been a pioneer in the development of fasteners, such as sheet metal fasteners, lock inserts, as well as customised fasteners.

Established in 1975, Top Screw’s first big development was in 1983 when it introduced male and female compressions rivets, for which it received a patent. A couple of years later the company became well known for specialising in tubular rivets, as well as internally threaded bolts, especially for their excellent quality when using cold heading machines.

In the late 1980s the company expanded from a factory in Nan Yau to a Tay-Ho facility, which was twice the size of the previous capacity.

This enabled Top Screw to develop its production so by the early 1990s the company was producing 50 million pieces per month on specially adapted high-tech multi-stroke cold heading machines – exporting products to Europe, America, the Middle East, as well as southeast and northwest Asia.

Then in 1993, Top Screw made a huge investment, and resources, in research and development, which enabled the company to develop its quality and delivery times, as well as introduce new products – such as its range of blind rivet nuts, which have become a major product for Top Screw and led to the company entering the automotive market.

This commitment to innovation has continued with the company introducing a variety of new products, including self-tapping threaded inserts; bolt rivet nuts with extruded structure – providing improved torque and preventing bolt and nut separating; the E-self-driving nut an anti-theft device; as well as binding post screws, speed pin rivets and bolt rivet nuts.

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“Our key products today are locking thread inserts, plusnuts, jack nuts, bolt rivet nuts and customised products,” points out Top Screw. “As a business we do not look to provide products for a specific market. Instead, we look to try different sectors to seek more business opportunities.”

Top Screw can produce based on customers’ requests – OEM and ODM – and keeps stock of both standard and customised items according to customers’ requirements. “We are a reliable supplier and can offer customers a first class service and products, whether it be standard or customised,” states Top Screw.

A decisive part of meeting customers’ requirements is also guaranteeing quality, which is why Top Screw has continued to adapt its QC department over the years, so that it now includes a plating thickness testing machine, micro vicker hardness tester, 3D profile projector and image display sorting machine.

“Quality is very important and that is why at Top Screw we look to ensure we deliver both quality products and a quality service.”

This pride in delivering a quality service has been underlined during the current global situation, where Top Screw was able to continue delivering to its customers. “We like to plan customers’ annual orders early, because we know they like stable business and stable price.

Moreover, we keep enough stock for them if required, so they can ask for it as and when they need it. By doing this we can deal with any urgent orders quickly.”

Top Screw concludes: “Through practicality, responsiveness, and unlimited improvement, we always look to do our best and not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations. We will continue to do this in the future and look forward to introducing new products to our range, as well as working with more customers across every sector around the world.” en.topscrew.com.tw

Through practicality, responsiveness, and unlimited improvement, we always look to do our best and not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations.”

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

Top Screw Metal Corp.

EXHIBITIONS

PREVIEWS AND REPORTS FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS

bauma postponed to 2022 bauma, the trade fair for construction machinery, building material and construction equipment, has been postponed until 24th – 30th October 2022.

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his is the result of numerous discussions between Messe München and top industry representatives and the advisory board. Above all globally active exhibitors – who are making high investments in the show with stand construction, logistics and hotel capacities, etc – were expecting customers from all over the world to attend the show, so requested a postponement.

“The decision to postpone bauma was of course not an easy one for us. Unfortunately, despite the vaccination campaign that has started all over the world, it is currently not foreseeable when the pandemic will be largely under control and unlimited worldwide travel will be possible again,” explained Klaus Dittrich, chairman of the management board of Messe München. “This makes participation difficult to plan and calculate for both exhibitors and visitors.

After all, the participants at the last bauma came from over 200 countries around the world, so the decision is consistent and logical.”

Regardless of the postponement, the technical and organisational planning for bauma 2022 will continue. The core of bauma 2022 will still be the face-to-face event, supplemented and expanded with digital offers. “Customers from all over the world can take part in bauma, even if they cannot or do not want to travel to Munich in person,” points out Klaus Dittrich.

Restarting the hardware industry With just under 2,500 registrations, ‘early bird’ stand bookings for EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Köln closed successfully with exhibitors from over 40 countries registering for the show – putting the foreign share of exhibitors at over 70%. s a globally established platform for innovation, business, and communications, EISENWARENMESSE is more important than ever, especially after having to be cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic. “Both national and international exhibitors are thus particularly interested in being on board at the Cologne fair grounds when the hardware world takes off again,” reports organisers Koelnmesse.

The exhibitors who have already confirmed participation for the fair, taking place on 6th – 9 th March 2022, include GESIPA Blindniettechnik GmbH, Hazet-Werk Hermann Zerver Gmbh & Co Kg, KNIPEX, STAHLWILLE Eduard Wille GmbH & Co KG, and Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH.

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Once again EISENWARENMESSE will be partnered with the cross manufacturer Cordless Alliance System (CAS) initiated by Metabo. The partnership is a battery system based on the powerful battery technology of the Nürtingen-based power tool manufacturer and is considered to be one of the industry’s innovations. The CAS umbrella currently consists of ten well known manufacturers, encompassing around 130 machines and devices that are compatible with the same battery and can be combined as required.

EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Köln is hoping to underline the international significance of the trade fair as a network and business platform of the global hardware industry.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

Visit and search our live online calendar... fastenerandfixing.com/events-calendar

exhibitions

Fastener Fair CONNECT: A brand new digital event Mack-Brooks Exhibitions has announced the new Fastener Fair CONNECT – the first online marketplace and digital business platform unifying Fastener Fair shows worldwide, which will take place from 17th – 18th November 2021.

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astener Fair CONNECT will see Fastener Fair Stuttgart, Fastener Fair Italy, Fastener Fair Mexico, Fastener Fair USA, and Fastener Fair India, join forces to provide a unique networking event targeting the global fastener and fixing industry. The digital event will offer a comprehensive programme for trade professionals, including virtual product showcases, expert webinars and interactive matchmaking opportunities.

The organiser of Fastener Fair CONNECT, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions, states that this new online event for the international fastener and fixing community will enhance networking opportunities between geographical markets otherwise unable to meet due to Covid-19 and related travel restrictions. This newly launched event will provide exhibitors with a unique platform to present their innovative products, equipment and technologies to a targeted global audience.

Matchmaking features will create new business opportunities by enabling companies to connect with potential and existing customers

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worldwide. In addition, through industry expert webinar sessions, Fastener Fair CONNECT will gather industry professionals to address the challenges of the fastener supply chain and discuss the most recent fastener and fixing industry trends.

“For the first time, we are merging the Fastener Fairs worldwide to deliver our customers an all-inclusive experience. Fastener Fair CONNECT will digitally unite five solid regional markets for the fastener and fixing industry, providing the whole supply chain with a comprehensive display for innovations and unparalleled networking opportunities with the global fastener and fixing community.”

“Working together with the global fastener fair brands will allow us to extend the shows’ remit by enabling cross promotion between shows and expanding the digital event’s international audience reach. In addition, the event will combine highly relevant educational webinars and an unrivalled potential for the sector to connect internationally with peers and industry experts,” explains Liljana Goszdziewski, portfolio director of the European Fastener Fairs, at Mack-Brooks Exhibitions.

I N D I A M U M BA I

SOURCE, NETWORK and LEARN

NETWORK: Matchmaking and virtual meetings

Fastener Fair CONNECT is a two day online business trade, network and knowledge platform calling all international fastener and fixing industry professionals. Attendees from various industrial sectors will be able to identify and connect with relevant technology suppliers, browse products and innovations on the virtual showrooms, as well as attend live sessions and webinars on current industry issues tailored to deepen the sector’s know-how and competencies.

Upon registration, participants will be prompted to select their desired product categories and interests. A matchmaking system will combine the information chosen to help buyers connect with relevant suppliers by pairing contacts with compatible profiles. Attendees will be able to send contact requests and pre-schedule meetings with the right supplier before the event.

SOURCE: Virtual stands and product showcases

Through the collaboration with international key partners and industry associations, Fastener Fair CONNECT will shape a webinar programme addressing the current challenges faced by the fastener and fixing supply chain. Industry experts will cover the sector’s trending topics and provide valuable insights into the latest developments for fastener and fixing technologies.

Further information on Fastener Fair CONNECT, such as a speakers and session programmes, will be released in due course.

The exhibitor directory offers an easy starting point to discover fastener and fixing manufacturers and suppliers. The virtual stands will allow attendees to access exhibitor information, including product details, corporates videos, and much more. In addition, product showcases will provide a detailed sourcing directory for products and services.

LEARN: Webinar sessions on the latest industry and technology trends

www.fastenerandfixing.com

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exhibitions

Fastener Fair CONNECT: Organiser interview After the announcement of the new Fastener Fair CONNECT digital event – the digital business platform unifying Fastener Fair shows worldwide – we spoke to Liljana Goszdziewski, portfolio director of the European Fastener Fairs on behalf of the organisers Mack-Brooks Exhibitions, about what exhibitors and visitors can expect from the event.

Mack-Brooks has announced the launch of Fastener Fair CONNECT. What is this event and why have you decided to introduce it?

“Fastener Fair CONNECT is the brand new digital event and online business platform that merges Fastener Fair shows worldwide. This newly launched event is a cooperation between Fastener Fair Stuttgart, Fastener Fair Italy, Fastener Fair Mexico, Fastener Fair USA and Fastener Fair India, and it will provide a meeting point for fastener and fixing trade professionals to come together and reconnect with the industry. It will offer exhibitors a unique platform to present their innovative products, equipment, and technologies, by enabling business potential with prospective and existing customers worldwide.

Fastener Fair CONNECT aims to support the fastener and fixing community by unlocking networking opportunities and trade activities between geographical markets otherwise unable to meet due to Covid-19 and related travel restrictions. For quite a while now the industry hasn’t been able to meet at a live exhibition. At the same time we understand that some organisations might not be able to attend the live shows scheduled in the second half of the year.

Thanks to the strong connection between the Fastener Fair brands, we want to offer the fastener and fixing industry the opportunity to connect internationally with their clients and potential customers, reaching even those unable to attend the live events.”

How will the Fastener Fair CONNECT event work and when will it take place?

“Fastener Fair CONNECT is an online event taking place from 17 th – 18 th November

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2021. The platform will host virtual stands where exhibitors will be able to showcase their products and innovations; as well as upload product info sheets, commercial and marketing materials, and corporate or product videos. Visitors interested in a specific company, product or brand will have the option to contact suppliers directly on the platform, via the chat function available, and arrange meetings with the exhibitors.

The primary purpose of running the digital event is to give the fastener community worldwide a marketplace to meet...”

The event will incorporate a knowledge platform, with webinars and live sessions held by industry experts. Registered attendees will log into their personal dashboard to view and manage arranged meetings and favourited webinar sessions and access the messaging tools. The dashboard works just like a daily planner, where visitors can keep track of their daily schedule to plan the day and make the most of the experience during the two days of the show.”

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With the event unifying Fastener Fair shows worldwide will it be online continuously across the two days?

“Yes, on the two days of the event, the platform will be accessible for 24 hours.

Exhibitors will have the possibility to make their members of staff available in selected time zones, depending on what is more convenient for them. Attendees will be able to view the availability of exhibitors and send meeting requests during the time frame chosen. Visitor registration will be available after summer – specifically to allow participants plenty of time to navigate the content on the portal and organise their daily schedule before the event dates. Live sessions will be held in the local time zone of the speakers, but of course, recordings for each webinar will be accessible on demand on the platform to anyone at any time.”

How will Fastener Fair CONNECT fit in with the physical shows?

“Fastener Fair CONNECT will offer a complementary experience to the live shows, which are scheduled to take place as planned on the respective dates in the autumn/ winter. The primary purpose of running the digital event is to give the fastener and fixing community worldwide a marketplace to meet with their peers internationally, during a time where attendance to some geographical regions might be more difficult from different countries. With the digital platform, all shows’ participants will have the option to reach out to their suppliers or gain access to industry developments and trends by attending the event virtually.”

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exhibitions How can companies get involved? Is there a cost?

“The digital event is open to any business organisation operating within the fastener and fixing industry. Exhibitors taking part in each live show will be given the opportunity to enrol on the digital event at no extra cost.

The digital platform will be an enhanced experience for them. For any other company interested in taking advantage of this unique opportunity, we would advise them to reach out to their local sales representative to discuss a personalised visibility offer in detail. As for attendees to the show, the event will be free of charge upon registration.

Registered participants will be able to access the platform with no limitation to view the exhibitor’s showrooms, and product showcases, and attend all the live sessions.”

How do you intend on getting visitors to attend the event?

“The event is digital-only, and attendance will be available to anyone from anywhere.

Visitor promotion for the event will run in the months before the event, the same way we would do for a live show. It will highlight updates on exhibitors joining the show, new product launches and the latest industry innovations, webinar programme and speaker introductions. By working with the other Fastener Fairs, we will be able to tap into each show’s regional market, broadening our target audience and reaching out to the international fastener and fixing industry. The cooperation between our fastener brands will help to strengthen our partnerships globally with industry associations and national stakeholders in order to deliver Fastener Fair CONNECT’s participants a comprehensive experience and enhanced coverage with promotion across all shows.”

You mention there will be virtual product showcases.

How will this work? Will this be aimed at new products or existing products? How can companies get involved?

“Yes, that is correct. Fastener Fair CONNECT will offer virtual product showcases. Each exhibiting company will be listed on the exhibitor list, and the platform will categorise firms depending on the products and innovations they are presenting at the event. Exhibitors will have access to their company profile page, where they will be able to upload corporate videos, product pictures and descriptions, commercial materials and specifications. We are offering

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Fastener Fair CONNECT aims to support the fastener and fixing community by unlocking networking opportunities and trade activities between geographical markets otherwise unable to meet due to Covid-19 and related travel restrictions.” exhibitors a portal where they can choose to push technologies that are important to them, depending on their sales and business development strategy. It can be an existing product but also an opportunity to reveal to the market new innovations or product launches.

The more information uploaded on the platform, the greater the reach and visibility to fastener and fixing buyers. Attendees will be able to search directly for exhibitors or browse through the product directory to find the technologies they are looking for – by utilising filters and matchmaking functionalities.”

A host of webinars is also mentioned. What will these webinars be about? When will they take place? Will they be live or pre-recorded? Will there be Q&A opportunities?

“The show will also host webinars, discussing topics and trends relevant

FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

to the fastener and fixing industry. We are currently working together with all Fastener Fair brands and our industry partners to select compelling content for the sector and shape the webinar programme, which will be released at a later stage. The sessions will take place during the two days of the event, but participants will be able to view the conference schedule before the event and select the sessions they would like to attend.

Sessions will be live, but since we are covering different time zones, they will be recorded, and we will make the content available on-demand on the platform after the session has ended.

Keynote speakers will share their insights on industry trends and challenges the fastener and fixing industry faces today, and there will be some time for Q&As after each session. A moderator will facilitate interaction between keynote speakers and conference audiences during the discussion.”

There will also be interactive matchmaking opportunities. Can you tell us more about what this will include? Will it only be for selective companies or open to all participants?

In what time zone will the meetings be held?

“Fastener Fair CONNECT is built on a platform that includes matchmaking functionalities to improve the website’s usability and make visitor participation as effective as possible. These features are supported by the latest AI and machine learning technologies.

They will be implemented across the platform and available to all participants.

Upon registration, attendees will be prompted to select product categories of their interest, enabling the system to define the visitor’s profile and tailor their customer journey.

The system will work on product recommendations, which will consider the visitor’s interests and ‘match’ them with relevant products and exhibitors with compatible profiles. Visitors will then be able to connect directly with the suitable suppliers that fit their needs and requirements.

As per the time zone when the meeting will be held, that will depend on the exhibitor’s availability they set in their schedule during the two days, which will be viewable for attendees on the front end.”

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS news and information dedicated to construction fixing products

Unrivalled technical support from JCP JCP Construction Products, the specialist fixing division of Owlett-Jaton, is renowned as a brand synonymous with quality and an ever expanding product range. This includes its nylon frame fixing and stainless steel heavy-duty anchor ranges, which are backed up with unrivalled technical support and on-site product testing.

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CP offers a comprehensive range of CE approved and ETA certified nylon frame fixings, with R90 fire rating (90 minutes resistance) too. Available in either 8mm or 10mm diameters, with a polyamide PA6 nylon sleeve, the 10mm diameter option is fire rated up to 90 minutes for the fastening of façade systems on concrete.

Tested to ETAG 020 – plastic anchors for multiple uses for non-structural applications – the ETA substantiates that these nylon frame fixings can be used for a range of solid and hollow base materials for multiple fixings in non-structural applications. The base materials include cracked and non-cracked concrete, lightweight aggregate concrete, solid masonry, hollow or perforated masonry, and AAC (Aerated Autoclaved Concrete).

The nylon frame fixing is available with a bright zinc plated steel countersunk screw, hexagon flange head screw and countersunk A4-70 316 stainless steel screw. The stainless steel screws are ideal for external use, including marine environments. The countersunk head design offers a flush finish, with a TX drive offering a fast and strong insertion, whilst the hexagon flange head design spreads the load out over a greater surface area and is compatible with respective sockets.

JCP has also expanded its stainless steel A4-316 heavy-duty anchors offering by introducing hexagon bolt and countersunk types to its ever-expanding product range. The anchors are approved for use under seismic actions C1 and C2 and offer high tension and shear resistance. Both are resistant to fire exposure of 30 – 120 minutes, with a fire classification of A1.

These two types line-up with the existing stud and nut type of A4-316 heavy-duty anchor, which features the same criteria. The A4-316 stainless steel body enables the heavy-duty anchors to be used in interior and exterior applications, including marine environments.

To support the entire product range, JCP offers an Anchor Calculation Program (ACP), which is designed to simplify specifying connections to floors, ceilings, and walls, and factors in loadings, spacing and edge distances. The ACP is available from the JCP website and is free of charge to download and available to anybody. Users of the ACP simply enter in relevant data for a specific application, and the program recommends fixings accordingly. It includes fire and seismic requirements and can accurately suggest suitable anchors based on the connection configurations.

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The specialist fixings brand has also invested in detailed animation videos, showing clearly how these fixings should be installed correctly.

Created with the end-user in mind, JCP hopes that the videos will support their customers when dealing with end-users.

With the ever changing demands of the construction industry, and ultimately the needs of its customers, JCP’s support also extends further to its highly experienced area sales managers carrying out on-site product testing, right across the UK, when requested. The construction industry has witnessed an increase in such requests, and in turn, site visits occur on an almost daily basis – performing pull-out tests to demonstrate the suitability and capability of JCP products, as well as to ensure correct installation.

The test rig is attached to the fixing and load is applied to the specified level, which determines the strength of the application. Upon completion, the customer is provided with documentation, substantiating the application. This includes a report that records the loads achieved, the corresponding product data sheet for comparison, as well as a calibration report – proving that the results are true and accurate.

Whether it is in-line with a building regulation requirement, or for peace of mind, JCP area sales managers are on hand to provide advice on behalf of customers.

The site tests are predominantly performed on new construction projects but also include new extension work to an existing structure. Testing can be carried out on any JCP branded product to the respective specifications, which factors in the relevant base material too. This includes the wide range of CE and ETA affiliated products available from JCP. Many contractors are now required to provide proof testing for fixings. It is an expensive and time-consuming practice. Proof testing, to validate the quality of installation, might not be necessary if approved anchors are installed by trained operatives working under supervision. JCP’s technical department offers installation training sessions for contractors and their personnel.

Many JCP products are certified and regulated, including CE approved, ETA certified, WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme), and fire rated products. This is all backed up by a great reputation, technical support and a wide range of packaging options. www.owlett-jaton.com www.jcpfixings.co.uk

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS LIGHT-DUTY FIXINGS FEATURE

Faster screwing with new milling tip To keep up with the growing demand for wooden construction fasteners, Klimas Wkręt-met has developed a new version of its carpentry screws with washers and conical heads, WKCP, WKCS and KMWHT, to include a modified spike, which it reports makes screwing up to 40% faster with 20% less pressure.

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he new screws have gained additional threads on the tip, the so-called double thread, which allows for faster ‘catching’ of the wood. The specially shaped milling tip also enables screw application without pre-drilling, even with larger diameter screws.

The additional cutting notches responsible for cutting through fibres, combined with the new milling tip, further reduces resistance and thus speeds up the screwing process.

“In tests conducted prior to product launch, we confirmed that the new screw tip shape results in a reduction in screwing time of up to 40% for the same load. The amount of savings depends on the type of connection and the wood used,” comments Artur Michalak, product manager at Klimas Wkręt-met. “The new milling tip significantly reduces resistance when screwing, as it easily cuts through the fibres in the wood. The 20% less force used to tighten the screws, as well as the faster running time, also helps reduce battery consumption when using cordless screwdrivers. Less electricity, as well as less time to charge the battery, are the benefits that ultimately translate into the efficiency and working time of contractors.”

Klimas Wkręt-met also points out that the way the screw enters the wood is also influenced by a special wax coating, which significantly reduces the screwing torque. This makes installation faster and easier.

WKCP, WKCS and KMWHT carpentry screws have undergone special examinations and tests verifying the strength parameters; the quality of protective coatings; the speed and ease of screwing; and the safety of connections. “Our products undergo a series of detailed tests including pull-out tests, shear tests, screw head pull-through tests, and salt chamber corrosion tests of coatings. All tests are aimed at maintaining the highest quality, which affects the safety during the use of the products,” concludes Artur Michalak. www.klimas.com

LIGHT-DUTY FIXINGS FEATURE

Multifunction frame fixings guide Multifunction frame plugs, also known as frame fixings, have a wide range of applications in concrete, perforated and solid bricks, as well as aerated concrete. Because of this, it is often difficult to know and choose the right type of fixing, which is why CELO has created a simple guide to aid installers.

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ELO’s ‘Easy guide to choosing your frame plug’ takes the installer step-by-step, going through the different decisions needed to find the right fixing, such as the different head types of the plug and screw the installer can choose, as well as the materials and applications that will be worked on.

One option that can meet these needs is the multifunction frame plug MFR from CELO, which users can immediately install in applications. The advantage of the MFR compared to metal anchors is the suitability for almost all substrates and not just concrete.

In addition, the MFR 10 comes with two approved setting depths of 50mm and 70mm for a larger variety of applications. It can also be combined with other innovative products such as the ProtectFIX®, a maximum security bracket, which provides fall and burglary protection for windows and doors.

CELO offers a wide range of MFR frame fixings, made in Germany, which have gone through extensive testing; are made from high-quality ageing, weather and UV-resistant nylon; as well as being ETA certified.

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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS LIGHT-DUTY FIXINGS FEATURE

HAPAX® achieves ETA HAPAX® woodscrews from pgb-Europe have recently been upgraded with a European Technical Assessment (ETA – 20/0787), as well as an added BlueTop coating to provide an extra corrosion resistance.

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gb-Europe points out that its HAPAX® screws, which feature a low screw-in torque combined with a high screw-in speed, are popular with professionals due to their unique properties. These include their patented triple thread point, as well as the patented unique geometry of the countersunk milling segment under the head of the screw. The triple thread point ensures the screw grips the wood quickly and holds it firmly when being screwed in due to its low insertion point.

This makes the screw suitable for use in demanding applications, such as a timber frame construction, as well as reduces the risk of splitting the wood to a minimum. The specially shaped milling ribs under the head sink into the wood easily without damaging it. The triple thread point, combined with the countersunk milling ribs with an optimised thread, also ensures a low tightening torque without compromising the high pull-out value. pgb-Europe highlights that its newly upgraded BlueTop coating offers up to 10 times more corrosion resistance in a neutral salt spray test than traditional galvanisation. This makes the screw ideal for use in open constructions without direct exposure to the elements, such as under carports or pergolas. As a result, the screws meet the requirements of service class II according to Eurocode 5.

The BlueTop coating is free of chromium VI and meets all the requirements of REACH/ROHS. This ensures that the environmental impact during production and recycling is reduced to a minimum. In addition to HAPAX woodscrews having recently obtained an ETA for the various screws from 3mm to 8mm diameter, for use in wood constructions, they also have CE Marking. www.pgb-europe.com

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Our production extends to 4,000m2. Manufacturers offer under their own brand ASfix, and packaging under the customer’s brand is also possible.

We have the necessary documentation for our products.

AS system d.o.o., Obrtniška ulica 14, 3240 Šmarje pri Jelšah, Slovenia

www.as-system.si

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS LIGHT-DUTY FIXINGS FEATURE

Suspension solution for lightweight services Gripple® – a registered trademark of UK-based Gripple Ltd – says its new InvisiGrip® wire fastener offers a professional, visually discreet and easy to install solution for the suspension of lightweight services.

I

deal for retail signage, decorative displays and acoustic elements, the InvisiGrip® is suited for instances where aesthetics are important as its translucent hanger creates the illusion of ‘floating’ displays and adds additional visual interest to the suspended object.

“This product fills a need for a versatile, simple to use, easily adjustable, quick change solution in the fast paced retail, leisure and office environment – where displays are frequently changed. We believe this is the first solution of its kind on the market,” explains Will Anderson, product manager at Gripple.

The patented mechanism uses a clear filament to create a ‘floating’ effect and comes in ready to use kits, eliminating the need for steel wire and metal hooks. The system boasts a 5kg safe working load per suspension point.

Gripple is a 100% employee owned company that provides suspension solutions for construction, ground engineering solutions for civil and landscaping applications, as well as wire joining and tensioning solutions for agriculture.

CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS European Technical Assessments 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

EAD 330499-01-0601 - Bonded fasteners for use in concrete ETA - 12/0107

Resifix EYSF,Resifix EYSF Express,Resifix EYSF Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 12/0112

Resifix EY,Resifix EY Express,Resifix EY Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 17/0721

Res : iFIX PYSF, ResiFIX PYSF Change, ResiFIX PYSF Express and ResiFIX PYSF Tropical

CELO Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 17/0805

ResiFIX PY, ResiFIX PY Express,ResiFIX PY Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 20/0533

Bonded Anchor VZ

MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co. KG

ETA - 21/0250

ICFS CM 385 PE,ICFS CM 585 PE

INDO CONSTRUCTION FASTENING SYSTEMS (ICFS) INDO - SPARK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

ETA - 21/0286

RESINA VINILESTER SIN ESTIRENO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0287

RESINA EPOXY ACRILATO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0288

RESINA POLIESTER LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0303

RESINA POLIESTER SIN ESTIRENO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0377

VINYLESTER CHEMICAL ANCHOR

Pro-Fix Building Materials Srl

Think Fixing

I

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

EAD 330232-00-0601 - Mechanical fasteners for use in concrete ETA - 14/0101

Resifix EYSF,Resifix EYSF Express,Resifix EYSF Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 17/0720

ResiFIX PYSF,PYSF Change,PYSF Express,PYSF Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 21/0284

RESINA VINILESTER SIN ESTIRENO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0289

RESINA POLIESTER SIN ESTIRENO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0378

VINYLESTER CHEMICAL ANCHOR

Pro-Fix Building Materials Srl

EAD 330076-00-0604 - Metal injection anchors for use in masonry ETA - 14/0101

Resifix EYSF,Resifix EYSF Express,Resifix EYSF Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 17/0720

ResiFIX PYSF,PYSF Change,PYSF Express,PYSF Tropical

Apolo MEA Befestigungssysteme GmbH

ETA - 21/0284

RESINA VINILESTER SIN ESTIRENO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0289

RESINA POLIESTER SIN ESTIRENO LUSAN

LUSAN FIJACIONES Y ANCLAJES S.L

ETA - 21/0378

VINYLESTER CHEMICAL ANCHOR

Pro-Fix Building Materials Srl

EAD 330499-01-0601 - ETAG No 001 metal anchors for use in concrete ETA - 15/0116

Injection System BIT PRO – Winter and Standard

BIT United Ltd

G&B FISSAGGI, the Italian company

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

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

www.gebfissaggi.com

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

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

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

YOU DESIGN WE FASTEN...

SINCE 1995

Result Oriented Solutions

Leading Edge Technologies

w w w . k a l e l i l e r . c o m . t r

Advanced Quality Control Systems

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF THE FASTENER MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Ingramatic introduces combined threader concept A member of the SACMA Group, Ingramatic is introducing the combined thread and profile rolling machine model RP620-RR12, W40/TR6 size – inspired by its I-Thread machine line.

T

he modular I-Thread machine line provides many innovative features such as the motorisation of the die match, the single starter unit driven by torque motor motion, as well as the double starter unit driven by servomotors. These two types of starter units have, as a standard function, the self-learning adjustment of the starter fingers to make the set-up of the blank introduction easy and quick.

The combined thread and profile rolling machine model RP620-RR12, W40/TR6 size has a rotary profiling/threading station, as well as a standard flat dies station for rolling special parts with combined shapes. The rotary station is equipped with a GR3 size roller and sector to run special shapes or threads. The station is installed on a dedicated frame before the standard flat die thread roller.

It is also possible to bypass the rotary station and activate the motorised height adjustment from the touchscreen panel. The touchscreen panel also allows the operator to set-up the rotary station easily with the electronic handwheel. After the first rolling operation made on the rotary station, the parts are oriented to the feeding rails of the flat die threading machine.

The flat die station is equipped with the latest technologies available including an introduction system – driven by servomotors for an ultra-precise introduction of the blanks into the dies. The station is also designed to run special and sophisticated parts after heat treatment from M6 to M16, as well as featuring a double starter unit with an exclusive self-learning adjustment.

104 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

There are two solutions to feed blanks into the feeding rails of the combined machine with a V-Group consisting of a vibratory feeder unit connected to the threader, for blanks up to 140mm under head, or a vertical elevator with a vibrating hopper for longer parts up to 350mm – to load the machine smoothly and quickly.

The thread rollers issued with double starter units are equipped with the ‘M-Group’, which provides the motorisation of the drive unit and slide body position for quick and accurate control of the die match. All the adjustments are stored for each part and can be recalled to proceed with the automatic set-up of the machine. As per all Ingramatic threaders, the machine is equipped with a rejection gate to reject parts when the load monitor detects deviations.

These combined threaders can produce finished parts, such as fasteners and screws for a variety of industries, starting from blanks.

They are also ideal for high productivity requirements, consolidation of production methods, floor space utilisation, and work flow, in the fastener manufacturing process – by having the profiling and threading all in one machine. www.sacmagroup.com

COMBINED ROLLER

PROFILING AND THREADING ALL IN ONE Flat Dies Unit | TR6/W40 | h. 260 mm.

www.sacmagroup.com

Ingramatic RP620-RR12 for multi-shape parts

Modular Concept Machine Design INGRAMATIC introduces a new family of combined rollers where the implementation of the rotary rolling unit is extending the capacity of the flat dies rolling machine.

Rotary Dies Unit | GR3 | h. 60 mm.

This unit is a rotary thread rolling station inspired by the Ingramatic GR machines well known by the specialists of threading technologies. This modular unit allows to run very complex parts in one shot without refeeding the part.

The RP620-RR12 is the only machine available in the world with advanced technologies including a heavy-duty frame, servomotor starter units and motorized die match adjustment. The operators can set the complete machine using the electronic handwheel.

Ask for more information to : info@sacmalimbiate.it

Sacma Limbiate S.p.A.

Viale Dei Mille 126-128 • 20812 Limbiate (MB) - ITALY Ph. +39 0299 4521 • info@sacmalimbiate.it

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY TOOLING, DIES + PUNCHES FEATURE

Cool the tool – efficent cutting tool solutions One of the main tasks in metal cutting is to extract the enormous heat in the cutting zone efficiently. This is quite a challenge, especially in turning work where there is continuous contact between the cutting edge and the workpiece. ARNO Werkzeuge has therefore developed the ARNO Cooling System® (ACS), which feeds coolant directly to the cut point via two channels from the top and the bottom.

A

RNO has developed the ACS system in two variants – ACS1 and ACS2. With the ACS1 variant, the coolant jet is guided along the insert seat in a coolant channel and emerges directly at the cutting zone.

The coolant then effectively goes under the chip and optimally flushes it out of the cutting zone. This drastically lowers wear and significantly prolongs the service life of grooving and parting tools.

With the ACS2 variant, the coolant channel at the insert seat is coupled with a second flow optimised coolant jet from the bottom onto the tool flank. The latest developments offer this coolant channel with a triangular outlet, which supplies coolant across the full width of the insert right through to the edge.

Tool set-up and application is also optimised. Traditionally the optimum coolant supply of an external cooling system is manually positioned and, often, inaccurate in application. The internally guided coolant jet however, always goes precisely where it has the greatest effect – to the cutting zone and the tool flank. It also minimises the risk of material build-up on the cutting edge and the associated crumbling.

ARNO has also utilised the innovation of additive 3D printing methods to produce advanced technology part off modules. For the first time, this method also permits the production of a triangular shaped coolant outlet so that the coolant jet is precisely controlled to off the maximum cooling effect with minimum consumption and to ‘flood’ the furthest edge of the tool flank. These optimised cooling conditions also permit further potential optimisations, such as a reduction in insert width. Specific applications have shown that a part off tool of 1mm less in terms of insert width, with 20 machines and on 220 machine days, means a reduction in annual costs in excess of GB£400,000.

With the ACS2 from ARNO, users feed coolant to places that were previously impossible. As this supply’s coolant under the chip, the chip breaks optimally and is flushed more easily out of the cutting zone.

Chips are shorter and the tendency for built up edge insert conditions are greatly reduced. Measurements confirm that this coolant method reduces temperature by about half.

ARNO explains: “As a result, the tool is exposed to much less stress and flank wear is considerably reduced. Instead of having to lower cutting and feed rates to protect the tool, rates can even be increased.

Productivity also rises since tool life is significantly longer. Users report that their tools last up to three times longer or at least twice as long.

Fewer tool changes ultimately relieves the work burden on operating personnel, not to mention significantly reduced machine down time.”

Users don’t need to go without direct cooling, even in turning operations. With the right tool holder, the integrated channels feed coolant close to the cutting zone. No complex adjustments are needed since the plug-and-play system always fits. Optionally, the

106 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

manufacturer offers a VDI holding tool to match the tool holders and it feeds coolant to the holder without any pipe or hose connections.

Integrated cooling is even possible on sliding head lathes where tools must be frequently changed. Here, ARNO recommends its AWL sliding heads tooling solution and the AFC quick-change tooling system. The AWL tool holder system (patent pending) offers bespoke solutions for a wide range of sliding head lathe manufacturers’ machine tools. The AFC quick change tool holders are mounted on a fixed stop and the required insert can be fitted or removed via two quick release clamping screws. Two separate cooling channels in the tool holder system can be opened or closed to permit tools with and without through tool cooling to be used in parallel.

“It is almost always beneficial to use tools with tool cooling wherever possible and when you also find a tool manufacturer that understands the manufacturing scenarios and has given a lot of thought to the process, productivity receives a real boost,” comments ARNO.

60 years manufacturing the most advanced and reliable machines

www.saspi.es

Product range • Flat thread rolling dies • Flat knurling dies • Flat form rolling dies • Circular thread rolls • Tangential chasers Licenced Products • Taptite PRO® • Taptite 2000® • Duo Taptite® • Powerlok® • High-Torque® • Taptite II® • Taptite® CA • Plastite® • Screwbolt® • Mathread® • Remform®

T +34 943 850 262 +34 943 850 266 F +34 943 853 445 M saspi@saspi.es

Z.I. Intxausti s/nº 20720 Azkoitia, Gipuzkoa.

Spain.

Manufacturer and stockist of Quality Threading Tools

www.rlstooling.co.uk email: info@rlstooling.co.uk tel: +44 (0)1543 271 808

Apex Business Park, Walsall Road, Norton Canes, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 9PU, England

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY TOOLING, DIES + PUNCHES FEATURE

Highly positive with four cutting edges Walter AG has launched the new MN3 geometry indexable insert in two grades – a cost-effective, uncoated and polished grade, WN10, and in the grade WNN10, with a wear resistant HIPIMS PVD coating, extremely smooth surface and optimised layer bonding.

T

he polished rake face, for improved chip evacuation, and the extremely sharp cutting-edge, for a softer cutting action, of the new geometry are particularly important factors for the insert’s good performance. The double-sided insert is a useful expansion of the existing Walter portfolio for ISO N machining with the positive geometries FN2 and MN2.

MN3 is the first Walter geometry to have double the number of cutting edges while also being highly positive. The rake angle on the radius is 29 degrees. It can be used both for the medium machining of non-ferrous metals and ISO N alloys – such as aluminium, copper or brass alloys – and for the fine finishing of small components made from steel and stainless steel materials or high temperature alloys.

Thanks to the highly positive cutting edge and chip nubs, users benefit from improved chip breaking – even when working with ‘lead-free materials’ such as CuZn21Si3P. The surface roughness has also been optimised, which allows for an increased tool life even when working with materials that have a tendency to stick (built-up edges). Finally, the negative basic shape with double the number of cutting edges increases productivity and cost-efficiency.

We analyze this type of cold forming tools for improving their life, and we also manufacture them completing the process including different types of coating.

W W W. L A Z P I U R .C O M

mayes warwick quarter page-2018-outlines.pdf

1

25/01/2018

C

M

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CM

MY

CY

CMY

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CEIA Induction Heating Systems for Fastener Industry

THE HEATING TECHNOLOGY FOR: warm forming • thread rolling • thread-locking • hardening • forging

 T +3 9 0 5 7 5 4 1 8 1  E powercube@ceia-spa.com  W w w w.ceia-power.com

The best partner for your production!

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY TOOLING, DIES + PUNCHES FEATURE

Customised tooling to optimise thread rolling processes Heroslam SAL is working with fastener and threaded part producers to optimise thread rolling operations, increase productivity, and reduce thread rolling costs, to become a ‘one stop shop’ for thread rolling dies.

W

ith more than 75 years of experience, Heroslam supplies a wide range of tools that ensure exceptional quality for high demanding thread rolling operations, including flat, cylindrical and planetary thread rolling dies.

Heroslam also offers ground threading profiles specially designed for greater thread precision, as well as special profiles for a more progressive rolling process. This

helps to minimise the appearance of laps and premature wear of the tool. Other benefits include stronger chamfers and RRO technology to minimise die chipping and improve thread quality.

Alongside this the company provides a tool regrinding service, as well as a wide range of steels treated in its own facilities to achieve the properties best suited for each thread rolling application, as well as in-house coatings that increase tool life and reduce threading costs.

“We are a ‘one stop shop’ for thread rolling dies – flat, cylindrical or planetary,” comments Heroslam.

“We offer our clients our extensive knowledge and experience to increase their productivity and optimise their thread rolling processes, by offering the best thread rolling solutions in terms of quality, precision and tool life.”

TOOLING, DIES + PUNCHES FEATURE

Setting the standard Dormer Pramet is a global manufacturer and supplier of cutting tools for the engineering industry – offering both indexable and round tools that are widely used across several die applications.

T

his includes a varied choice of high feed cutters, as well as tools for copy milling. Indexable drilling and boring products are also available. Dormer can also offer tools for hole making, milling and fine profiling, tapping and reaming.

Cutting tools are also available for specific die and mould materials, such as steel and hardened steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminium, copper, bronze and graphite. In addition, Dormer provides made to order custom tools for various application needs, while offering technical advice, CAD/CAM support and a thorough customer service.

“Where standard tools cannot meet customers’ requirements, our custom-made service of specials provides a suitable option. This can help reduce machine time and make the whole process more effective. Both indexable and solid round tools can be developed to meet requirements,” comments Dormer.

Special tools are designed, developed and produced at Dormer’s dedicated production units, with recommended coating and grade choice. This includes custom-made production of bodies, arbors and inserts, along with end mills, drills, step drills, taps, reamers and countersinks in HSS, HSS-E, HSS-E-PM and carbide materials.

110 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

Available now:

Process monitoring

SK5.12

Developed, to protect machines and tools with the latest hardware and software and to ensure the quality of series parts

Sales | Support | Information: www.schwer-kopka.de Herknerstraße 4 88250 Weingarten T + 49 75156164-0

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY TOOLING, DIES + PUNCHES FEATURE

A new method for determining Here Laurence Claus, NNi Training and Consulting Inc, discusses a new thread rolling technology from Mule Technology LLC that can improve part quality and efficiency, reduce set-up time and complexity, as well as produce repeatability in set-ups.

F

astener manufacturing has not changed much in the last seventy-five years, although thread rollers have evolved to become faster, safer, and more efficient, they still depend, for the most part, on a skilled operator to set them up and operate them. Skilled thread rollers are in high demand because these skills are acquired by hard work and experience rather than taught in school. Even highly trained employees would agree that no two set-ups are ever exactly the same.

However, Mule Technology is able to provide fastener manufacturers an empirical way to measure part quality relative to set-up variables. Mule Recipe Curves (MRC), are set-up ‘recipes’ that can be used to provide the optimal, repeatable machine and tool settings needed to achieve the highest levels of quality and productivity from flat die thread rolling operations.

To individuals that have never set-up a rolling machine, it all may seem pretty simple, but operators tasked with setting these machines every day will tell a very different story. In fact, the process is a very intricate balance of timing, pressure and die orientation. In particular getting the dies oriented just right so that they apply the right amount of pressure to the right areas of the blank is really the key. The traditional approach to this involves turning adjustment screws and placing shims under and behind the dies. The problem is that, in most cases, the individual performing the set-up completes these tasks based entirely on subjective ‘feel’ and ‘experience’, grabbing whatever shims are available and turning the adjustment screws a little this way or that. Although they will eventually find a combination that works, with no objective and repeatable references, there is little probability that this set-up is optimal or can be repeated next time.

Enter Mule Technology. The cleverness of this solution is that it removes the guess work and replaces it with four recordable and repeatable adjustment points. The Mule Technology package starts with a retrofit kit available for any brand or style of flat die roller. The kit provides a new stationary die pocket with a top clamp, Mule KeysTM in either inch or metric alternatives (Figure 1), and Mule RecipesTM , a computer App that enables repetitive and uniform set-up and instruction retention. The fundamental essence of this technology is the ‘recipes’ that document the optimal Mule Key combinations.

Figure 1: The Mule Key kit is the Block showing central component used keys by the operator to fix the positioning of the dies.

Each kit consists of three components designed to work with the new stationary die pocket. The kit components are bars, discs and disc inserts.

Each set-up uses two bars, one that will be positioned at the leading end of the stationary die and the second at its trailing end.

Each kit comes with 12 sets of numbered bars varying in thickness by 0.010 inch increments for the inch series and 0.025mm increments for the metric series.

There are two disc inserts with holes machined near the top and bottom. These holes are designed to fit the discs. Each kit comes with 15 sets of four alphabetically labelled discs increasing in thickness by 0.001 inch increments for the inch series and 0.025mm for the metric series. Each disc protrudes past the face of the disc insert by the amount the disc is designed for. By varying combinations of bars and discs the operator is able to precisely position the dies in a fashion that provides the optimal results for the thread being produced.

Although each kit consists of four equally sized discs and two equally thick bars, different combinations may be used to achieve the desired outcomes of die distance, die tilt and die rate (see Figure 2). The resulting combination of bars and discs in the start and finish trailing positions is called the Mule Recipe. Evenly adjusting all four discs or both bars gives the die distance or total pressure exerted across the face of the dies. Creating an incline by adjusting the bottom two discs separately from the top two discs is called the die tilt. This is a useful adjustment when varying pressure on top versus the bottom of the die is needed.

Die rate is the difference between the starting and finishing pressure and is adjusted by changing the start disc/bar combination from the finishing combination. Since each bar is numbered and

Figure 2: Engineered control

112 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

optimum thread rolling set-ups each disc is alphabetically labelled, when the optimal combination is determined, it can be recorded and stored as a Mule Recipe to provide reproducible set-up instructions.

Creating and storing ‘recipes’ so that jobs may be uniformly reproduced each time the thread roller is set-up is an exciting component of this technology. In fact, one user reported that they have been able to reduce set-up time for new parts on their Hartford 10-400 by 62% – while another user reported reducing set-up time by 80% on repeated parts and 60% on new parts on their Hartford 20-225.

Perhaps even more exciting, however, is the door it opens for design experimentation, an activity never previously possible on traditional flat die thread rollers. Arguably, for every job, there will be several ‘recipes’ that work, but perhaps only one or two that really provide the best results measured in final thread quality or die life. Fastener manufacturers that are dedicated to continuously improving their customer experience with better quality and lower prices, or by improving their own internal operations, should find this new technology extremely interesting.

In addition to optimising the best rolling method, this technology provides an important and robust tool for troubleshooting or problem solving. Imagine the power and ease one has being able to quantify results based on minor set-up adjustments when troubleshooting rolling problems related to die pressure. One example where such an investigation could prove useful is troubleshooting a piping issue – an over rolling condition that results in material to moving from the

S E T T I N G

U P

A

Mule RecipesTM tablet view

centre of the part outward to the thread extremities leaving a void or ‘pipe’ in the centre of the part.

Although there may be some in process monitoring technologies available, which are capable of measuring die pressure, there are no other technologies out there today that allow users the ease to adjust, record, optimise, and troubleshoot, like the Mule Technology. Amongst other benefits, like easing set-up time, improving efficiency, and closing the skills gap, fastener manufacturers should embrace this technology and use it to strategically set themselves apart from their competition. www.muletechnology.com

T H R E A D

R O L L E R

SHOULDN’T BE HARD

www.muletechnology.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Supplying the aerospace market for a decade This year Carlo Salvi SpA is celebrating a ten year partnership with Glory Aviation Standard Parts Co Ltd (CAG) – a specialist in the production and supply of fasteners in the aerospace market – having supplied three heading lines, as well as a customised service, to the company based over 8,000km away in Jinan, China.

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ounded in 2009, CAG has 40 employees and produces special products developed for the aerospace sector across China, Germany and the USA. “Our first meeting with Carlo Salvi took place in 2010 when we needed to expand our business by installing a new line for parts heading,” explains Mr Xu, president of CAG. “We chose Carlo Salvi because of its reputation in the aerospace field. After installing the first header, the results – in terms of speed and efficiency – came shortly after, so much so that our collaboration has continued until today.”

Carlo Salvi has now supplied CAG with three double stroke machines. The first heading line was installed to enable CAG to supply

114 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

a market with increasingly resistant, customised and well made parts. Subsequent investments have now made it possible to improve the company’s production capacity.

“What we appreciate most about these heading machines is certainly the speed – a production of 400 parts per minute offers considerable advantages. The possibility of preparing the tools outside the machine for the next job also helps us save time and costs.

The settings are fast, and simple, and it is possible to recall values previously stored, as well as automatically positioning K.O pins and cut-off length. Last but not least, we appreciate the safety devices the machines are equipped with, to protect our operators,” reports Mr Xu. The partnership with CAG is strategic for Carlo Salvi, both for the role that the company plays in the aerospace sector and for the close human relationship that has been established between the two work teams. Even if the two plants are physically distant, digital devices allow maximum interaction and allow presence ‘on-site’ even if 8,000km away.

“What we do have in common with CAG are the high-quality standards that we wish to guarantee every day to all those who rely on our technology. We are sure that together we have built solid foundations for a fruitful collaboration,” concludes Germano Pandiani, COO at Carlo Salvi. www.carlosalvi.com

StudioDagAgency.com

Our performance. Your advantage.

Combined Machines

Tapping & Secondary Operations

Carlo Salvi

Full Key Solution Cold and Warm Metal Forming.

Special Assembling Machines

Tools

Customized turnkey solutions with integration of equipment for secondary operations like: threading, pointing, drilling, tapping, washing and packaging machines.

A complete line can be pre-assembled and tested at our plant.

“Our success is entirely reflected in the satisfaction

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of each customer”.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Cost saving with cold forming secondary operations

Fastmatec has presented a method for performing secondary operation by cold forming using specially designed machines by Tze Ping Machinery Co Ltd, which has many years’ experience with this technology.

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astmatec points out that whilst cold forming is an excellent technology to produce parts with very good mechanical properties, in many cases it’s not possible to obtain the finished part. Secondary operations are needed to produce ball joints, grooves, second upsets and similar shapes. This usually has to been done by machining with the known disadvantages of low productivity, inferior mechanical structure and loss of material.

The principle behind Fastmatec’s method is an open die, made out of two halves, which encloses the blank. Once the blank is introduced in position, the open die closes. A two blow heading station cold forms the blank inside the die and forms for example a second screw head or ball shape. The die opens and the part falls down while the next part is put into position to be placed inside the closing two open die halves.

Parts are introduced by feeder vibrator bowls or specially designed devices according to the shape of the blanks. The machine range goes from blank diameters of 3mm up to 15mm. The length of the parts can be from 25mm up to 350mm for the bigger parts. It’s even possible to have infinite length parts with specific machine adaptations. The maximum production speeds are from 40 to 90 pieces per minute.

Fastmatec states: “Costs savings are obtained by lower material costs, lower die and tooling costs and lower process times. A further

SHORTEN PROCESSING TIME

advantage is that these machines can do that extra operation for which normally a press would need an extra station. These machines open up many possibilities for producing parts, which now are technically and economically feasible.” www.fastmatec.com

FASTMATEC

SPECIALIST IN COLD FORMING TECHNOLOGIES European Agent for Tze Ping re-headers – secondary operations

COST SAVING BY COLD FORMING SECONDARY OPERATIONS

STANDARD MACHINES

Products with infinite length possible

FASTMATEC 2020, S.L. www.tze-ping.com stevie@mega-link.com.tw Tel 886-6-2672980 Address No.183-8,Fu An Rd.,Fu An Village,Alien Dist. Kaohsiung City,Taiwan

www.fastmatec.com hwesthoff@fastmatec.com ggomez@fastmatec.com Tel: +34 610 466472 / 619715443 Address Torres Jonama, 5.

17253 Mont-Ras, Spain

FEEDERS - CONVEYORS VIBRATING SYSTEMS

www.tecnoliftitaly.com

Tecno Lift, a Sacma Group company, can offer the best solution to ease the production process, taking into account the type of fastening elements to be moved and the working speed. The Tecno Lift range is consisting of vertical elevators to be connected directly to the feeding rails of machine tools; vibrating hoppers to load the blanks and washers into the vibratory feeders ; Porter units with combined weighing hoppers for the precise and accurate feeding for small and medium sizes parts; belt feeders to load the blanks into a vibratory feeders and other vibrating systems giving a constant and precise quantity of blanks; belt conveyors for parts or scraps; dosing systems allowing to split a large production batch into manageable sub-batches so that they can be controlled easily during the process and; bin tilting elevators for a complete automation of the loading system with the possibility to lift and rotate the containers.

TECNO LIFT S.R.L. • V.le Piemonte, 28 - Zona ind.le • 15053 Castelnuovo S. (AL) • ITALY • Ph. +39 0131 18 58 633 • sales.administration@tecnoliftitaly.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

100% inspection and sorting of threads Dimac solutions – including its Super Gewinde tool and MCVx vision software – for the inspection and sorting of any type of fastener thread are the result of constant innovation to satisfy customers’ needs and the standards of the automotive, aerospace and automatic assembly industries.

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threading process requires a 100% analysis of each part before shipment, in order to guarantee the expected yield from an outstanding product and to prevent major economic consequences incase the part doesn’t meet the application requirements, thus avoiding annoying product recalling campaigns.

Innovative special controls from Dimac Srl include the Super Gewinde tool, which features the 360° all around optical inspection of external threads – detecting any small and localised thread defect – and the In-Thread-OK function to verify the inner threads’ presence and check the thread’s quality. What’s more, in MCV5 the In-Thread-OK function can be used in conjunction with the part programmable ejection option with which to decide what types of NOK to eject (e.g parts without thread), with a view to continuous process improvement.

The Dimac MCVx vision software also includes a special HI-LO thread function, which gives the possibility to calculate the high, low and approximate diameter of a threaded area, detecting the theoretical crests and grooves.

The thread dimensions’ tool calculates the outer, inner and flank diameter, the pitch, the bending, and the peaks count, whilst the thread angle tool searches for thread defects due to the misalignment during the threading process. The thread quality tool allows users to check the conformity of a threaded area by some crosschecks while the system automatically controls the thread to evaluate the quality according to the sample quotas and tolerances.

The angle difference option detects any steep-thread due to rolling dies misalignment – lines are drawn by the system software on the thread profile to merge crests and grooves and to calculate the angle difference with respect to the axis of symmetry of the part.

CEIA induction heating systems for the fastener industry CEIA SpA has introduced a new induction heating system that can be used across the fastener production phase. The new SA/400 line, with a frequency range from 100kHz to 400 kHz, can be used for the continuous heating of wire, for the warm forming process, or for the thread rolling, threadlocking, hardening or forging of bolts or screws.

EIA states it is a partner for all fastener manufacturers that require high-quality control and its new SA/400 line is available in several configurations to satisfy different user requirements. These include a 12.5kW generator with single heating head output; 12.5kW generator with dual alternative heating heads output; double 12.5kW generators with dual simultaneous heating heads output; 25kW generator with single heating head output; 25kW generator with dual alternative heating heads output; double 25kW generators with dual simultaneous heating heads output; as well as a 50kW generator with single heating head output.

The Power Cube SA/400 Generator Series is equipped with data logger for quality process control and web server for remote control and service. Furthermore, all CEIA accessories can be implemented such as optical pyrometers or thermal camera, plus any field bus modules for an implementation into automation lines. Moreover, the new SA/400 generators are equipped with standard Harting connectors for easy and quick management of the many I/O signals available. All these specifications make the new SA/400 generators ready for Industry 4.0 requirements.

For more than 50 years, CEIA has been manufacturing high and medium frequency generators that distinguish themselves for the high-energy efficiency and the minimum operating cost. Thanks to the remarkable experience, and to the continuous technological research, CEIA can grant products of excellent quality and security. All CEIA induction generators, control units and optical pyrometers are certified and calibrated to grant the customer a repeatable result and a high-quality control. www.ceia-power.com

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Dual-spindle thread and knurl rollers Videx Machine Engineering Ltd has recently completed the updated design of a wheel bolt machine that is capable of thread rolling 320 – 360 wheel bolts per minute.

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he Videx dual-spindle machine accepts headed parts directly from the header or from a vibratory feeder. It thread rolls in the first station and knurls under the head in the second station. The thread and knurl rolling operations are independent of each other, eliminating any influence of one rolling operation on the other. Thus enabling faster production rate, better quality parts and the use of simple and economical rolling dies.

Individual adjustments on the machine require less operator skills and also enable better control of the quality of each rolling operation. Separate rolling operations also assure better quality of the knurl and thread. The machine also features higher production speeds with the second operation not slowing down.

Other advantages include less handling, eliminating the possibility of mixing parts, as well as lower cost tooling – the dies are replaced in minutes and only when needed.

Both stations are equipped with controlled thread rolling feed-start, auto die clamping, zero-taper mechanism for parallel threads and micrometric thread pressure screws, as well as full speed control, automatic air shut-off and two operator control panels. www.videx-machine.com

Via per Carpiano, 18, 20077 Melegnano (MILANO) ITALY

FM 28879 AS9100 Rev D and ISO 9001:2008 • BS7751 • BS7752 • MA/MS standards • DIN 8140 Fully traceable product.

HIGH STRENGTH Stainless Steel Wire Thread Inserts Providing strong threads in a variety of materials and applications.

Precision engineered in the UK to international standards.

Extensive range of coatings and platings.

www.wti-fasteners.co.uk

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For further information contact: Helpline: 01530 416888 Email: sales@wti-fasteners.co.uk

TESTING

INSIGHT INTO TESTING METHODS FOR THE FASTENER SECTOR

The phenomenon known as fatigue Here Cesare Certini, owner of S.M.T Srl – an independent Italian laboratory specialised in metallurgical testing – looks at the phenomenon known as fatigue, which can sometimes lead to mechanical parts breaking even when the stresses to which they are subjected are lower than the static resistance value.

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ailure due to fatigue occurs when pieces are subjected to repeated and time varying loads with a cyclical and/or oscillatory regime and when there are areas with geometric discontinuities or mechanical or metallurgical defects.

Typically, these defects are hidden or microscopic and the formation of fatigue cracks does not involve deformation or reduction of area in the region of failure. This lack of indication of the damage prevents the problem from being detected before the failure.

Due to surface irregularities or the presence of microstructural discontinuities, local stresses can exceed the local yield point, so that by cyclically applying the load, a plastic deformation develops.

The fatigue process can be divided into three phases: 1. Nucleation of the crack: On the surface or in correspondence, with internal or sub-surface defects due to the action of cyclic stress.

2. Crack propagation: Under the repeated action of the stress.

3. Fast fracture: When the residual section of the workpiece is reduced to such an extent that it cannot withstand the external load.

The appearance of the fracture on a mechanical item broken due to fatigue is characterised by two distinct areas, the first relating to the propagation of the crack and the second relating to the final failure due to overload.

Fatigue has been a subject studied since the nineteenth century, but despite this it is believed that, even today, about 75% of mechanical failures are due to this phenomenon.

It is therefore understandable how it is necessary to prevent this occurrence, in particular when the piece is a safety critical part.

For this reason, there are a series of standardised tests, used to verify the fatigue resistance depending on the type of fatigue – flat bending, rotating bending and axial traction.

In the case of axial fatigue, the most widely used international standards are ASTM E466, ASTM E606, ISO 1099 and ISO 12106. These tests involve subjecting a standardised specimen to an alternating stress or cyclic deformation.

The specimen, in the case of the cylindrical section, has the classic hourglass appearance and requires great accuracy in its preparation so that there are no external elements (surface imperfections, hardening, incorrect connector radius) that could influence the final result. The use of the specimen is a necessary approximation in the case in which the characteristics of a material are to be verified, or

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when the piece made is of complex shape; or when its dimensions are such that it cannot be tested with machine tests existing on the market.

In the fastener field, however, pieces often have dimensions that can be tested directly. Even in the case of parts with large dimensions, test machines with important forces, which can reach up to 2,500kN, can be used. These machines can be of two types: Servo-hydraulic and vibrophore.

Servo-hydraulic machines for dynamic tests keep the load, deformation or displacement constant, depending on the quantity being measured. They are machines that generally work with frequencies in the order of 10Hz – 20Hz. The alternative to these machines is to exploit the resonance – the specimen or the piece is made to vibrate at a frequency equal to its natural frequency, creating a cyclic field of displacement and deformation such as to cause it to break.

The vibrophore has the characteristic of being able to work at very high frequencies, up to 150Hz. This is an advantage from the point of view of costs, time, energy savings and finally the environment. In fact, working at high frequency, the test times are reduced to about a quarter of those required with servo-hydraulic machines, with a consequent being significant reduction in test costs.

From the point of view of the environment, in addition to a reduction in energy consumption, it must be considered that resonance machines do not use the oils used by the servo-hydraulic machines, thus avoiding the need to manage their disposal.

The machinery of S.M.T Srl includes both types of testing machines, in order to meet the different needs of its customers.

Among its latest investments, there is a new 700kN vibrophore machine, capable of testing not only specimens, but important sizes when it comes to the fastener sector, which, as explained above, allow the customer to save both time and money.

This machine is routinely used to check the axial fatigue resistance of screws and other components that require very high-test stresses. www.smtsrl.com

TESTING

Accurate load inspection for all fasteners US-based Load Control Technologies is a leader within the fastener load measurement sector, with its next generation of ultrasonic fastener technology, the i-Bolt®, providing accurate load inspection for all fasteners. Here Mason MacDonald, customer support manager at Load Control Technologies, tells us more about the company and its capabilities.

How was Load Control Technologies established and what have been the key developments over recent years?

“Firstly, I must provide some context, Load Control Technologies is an Innovation Plus LLC company. The company was founded in April 1990 as a partnership. In 2003 the name Load Control Technologies was adopted. Typically, any mention of Innovation Plus generally refers to the company prior to 2003.

With that in mind, Innovation Plus was responsible for the conception and proof of feasibility of the ultrasonic fastener technology, which was later commercialised as the Ultrafast® Intelligent Fastener® technology. This technology utilised a piezoelectric thin film coating, which is applied to every fastener as a finishing operation, to directly measure load in the fastener using an ultrasonic pulse echo technique. Innovation Plus proved feasibility of Ultrafast technology through initial funding from a Ben Franklin Partnership Innovation Award and a NASA contract with the Marshall Space Flight Center.

Load Control Technologies continues to demonstrate its technology leadership in the field of fastener load measurement through the recent introduction of its next generation of ultrasonic fastener technology, the i-Bolt® Fastening System, with greatly enhanced capability, broader application and lower cost. This new technology provides accurate load inspection with all fasteners and has applications in the automotive, aerospace, construction and other industries. This major advance in ultrasonic transducer manufacturing technology enables licensed fastener manufacturers to deliver high volume ultrasonic fasteners at lower installed cost.

Whilst we are a US-based company, we also have facilities in Bergara, Spain, which enables us to provide fast fulfillment and delivery of bolts and assembly tools. For instance, both our US and Spanish facilities are capable of producing fully qualified development i-Bolts in as little as two days.”

3σ accuracy, in less than a second, all while using an impact wrench. This capability revolutionises the assembly process and opens the door for what is potentially the highest volume IOT device in the world, the i-Bolt. i-Bolt technology equips end users’ fasteners with a low cost permanent ultrasonic transducer (only 50 microns thick) at the top or bottom of each bolt. Form, fit and function of the fastener is unaffected. The permanent transducer enables load controlled tightening, tightening load monitoring, and load inspections, throughout the life of the joint with near perfect repeatability and ±5% (3σ) inspection accuracy.”

What are the benefits to customers of using your products? In what applications can they be used?

“Current torque tightening methods provide ±30% – 50% accuracy, depending on material. Many industries, primarily aerospace, would never accept a process control variation this large. The i-Bolt provides direct load measurement with ±3% – 5% accuracy in both assembly and inspection. i-Bolt technology is often used in development to better understand the behaviour and long-term integrity of bolted joints. Inevitably, in critical applications, the question is asked ‘why aren’t we using this in our production?’

When people adopt this technology, they are surprised to find out how inaccurate and inadequate their previous methods are. When you can achieve such an improvement in manufacturing process control, it is extremely difficult to justify returning to those previous methods. Eventually, all critical bolts will utilise IOT technology to indicate how tight they are.”

Design to load, tighten to load, inspect to load.”

How does this ultrasonic fastener technology work? What are the key features?

“Load Control Technologies delivers long-term solutions to critical joint and assembly process control problems in the aerospace, automotive and energy industries. This is often achieved by using the i-Bolt Fastening System, allowing fastener load to be measured and controlled during tightening. This means that customers can assemble a critical joint to specification, with

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How important is quality and testing when it comes to fasteners? Have demands for reliability changed over recent years?

“Load Control Technologies is concerned with addressing process control variations in tightening methods providing ±30 – 50% accuracy. With such a huge variation, the only way to safely account for this is to over design a joint for the worst-case tightening conditions. This results in reduced control, unnecessary weight, as well as lengthy assembly times. With direct load measurement, providing a significant improvement in tightening control, critical joints are designed to precise load and tightened and inspected in seconds. This is where our motto derives from ‘Design to load, tighten to load, inspect to load.” www.loadct.com

TESTING

ZwickRoell expands hardness testing products portfolio Following the recent acquisition of Austrian company EMCO-TEST Prüfmaschinen GmbH, ZwickRoell Limited now offers a comprehensive portfolio of products from which to select the optimum solution to satisfy testing applications.

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ith over 65 years experience, EMCO-TEST has built a reputation for innovative hardness testing products, designed and manufactured at its modern headquarters in Kuchl, Austria. The company specialises in traditional hardness testing and has a comprehensive product range that perfectly complements the ZwickRoell range of products.

Expanding its portfolio of hardness testing solutions with the addition of these products, enables ZwickRoell to offer the perfect solution for its customer’s hardness testing needs. With this product integration, ZwickRoell can provide everything from a single source, backed up with the highest level of after sales support.

Today’s state of the art hardness testing machines can be used in a wide range of applications. They are based on technologies that use innovative mechatronic components for high precision testing, particularly in quality assurance, production line testing and in the laboratory.

ZwickRoell offers decades of experience, sound technical expertise and products that ensure reliable test results, paired with a strong and comprehensive sales and service network, all under one roof. The ZwickRoell hardness testing team, with more than 100 employees, offers an attractive and comprehensive product portfolio, which includes a full range of hardness testing equipment for use on metals, plastics, and rubber, to facilitate tests in accordance with internationally recognised standards. ZwickRoell’s hardness testing solutions range from manual standard applications to fully automatic testing systems.

In addition, Zwick also offers traceable UKAS certification of ZwickRoell hardness testers, hardness reference blocks and indenters.

The new pendulum impact tester from Hoytom Hoytom S.L has developed a new Charpy/Izod pendulum impact tester for metal testing – HyTT – available in the traditional 300J, 450J and 750J capacity options – making it easy to run precise fast test cycles. he speed at which the pendulum automatically returns to the starting position; the new automatic centring device; and the ability to quickly start tests by simply closing the door; have sped up the testing process and enabled customers to optimise the number of tests, making them more efficient. This makes the HyTT ideal when speed is critical, such as during low temperature testing. Its touchscreen and data acquisition software also make it easy to use for any user.

The HyTT has been manufactured using rigid and low friction components and meets both EN ISO 148 and ASTM E23 standards for metal testing. Its 0.01J resolution enables tests to be run from 1J to 80% of the full scale according to ASTM E23, without the need to change the hammer.

In addition to its excellent technical characteristics, HyTT features a sliding door opening mechanism that makes it more conformable to position specimens and subsequently collect them after testing.

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FA S T E N E R S & F I X I N G T E C H N O L O GY

With over 130 years’ experience, REYHER is one of Europe’s leading distributors of fasteners and fixing technology supplying customers worldwide.

We secure your supply of C-parts 130,000 articles in stock Over 99% readiness for delivery Technical competence Diverse e-business solutions Flexible Kanban supply Individual packing solutions

F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG Haferweg 1 · 22769 Hamburg · Germany Phone +49 40 85363-0 contact@reyher.de · www.reyher.de

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE FASTENER SECTOR WAREHOUSE + INVENTORY MANAGEMENT FEATURE

Removing complexity from the warehouse

By Alex Mills, sales and marketing director at ProSKU For many smaller and growing eCommerce businesses the world of warehouse management might seem like the dark side, something that only much larger companies need. However, at what point in your business growth do the advantages of a systematic approach to managing your stock start to deliver tangible benefits? The chances are it will be sooner than you think.

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f you are selling a small and finite number of items, you might not need a dedicated stock management solution. You buy what you need, when you need it, and send it to the customer when it is ordered.

Perhaps you can remember all the information you need in your head. If not, you can probably use a few pieces of paper or a basic spreadsheet.

However, things get complicated as soon as the amount of stock begins to grow. Psychologists have known for some time that we can only retain six or seven pieces of information in our short-term memory. We can, of course, remember far more in our long-term memory. In practice, we pass information we want to retain, either consciously or unconsciously, from our short-term to long-term memory – but that is not an ideal way of running a core business function.

It is inevitable that stock management requirements will become more complex as a business grows. What if those few items you are selling become ten, twenty, or a hundred? If you are selling items that are manufactured, require some form of adaptation, or are bought in bulk, you are much more likely to need to keep track of your stock.

Where did it come from? How many do we have? Where is it now? Is it ready to sell? Who has ordered it? Things like that. Suddenly, and without you doing very much, that is quite a lot of information to

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remember. Some form of ‘memory aid’ will be quite useful. In other words, some form of stock management system.

There are many reasons why stock management can become complex. If you stock a lot of identical items, it might not be too important to identify each one at an individual level. However, if you need to rotate stock so that the oldest items are sold first, or if you need to ensure traceability through the supply chain, then you will need to know and manage more about an item than its basic identity.

Every time you add a new piece of information related to any specific item you increase the complexity.

This is where a proper warehouse management system comes in. It will be a ‘memory aid’, overseeing essential day-to-day stock management tasks and providing structured, consistent and accurate data. The system should be able to interface with eCommerce applications to provide the stock information needed to sell items; link to carrier management systems to deliver items cost-effectively; and interface with back office applications that can provide insights into efficiencies and cost savings to help with business development.

For many businesses, the most suitable solution will be a cloud hosted, software-as-a-service solution – such as ProSKU, which is adaptable to current needs, scalable for business growth, easier and faster to deploy than traditional systems, available with simple and predictable pricing models, and future-proofed by ongoing developer upgrades.

MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS WAREHOUSE + INVENTORY MANAGEMENT FEATURE

Automation increases efficiency and capacity at A Perry A Perry Ltd, a UK supplier and manufacturer of hinges and ironmongery, will now be able to process orders more than four times quicker after investing GB£1.2 million in new automation technology.

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he investment in picking robots has been implemented to cope with the significant rise in demand seen by A Perry in the first quarter of 2021. It enables the company to vastly reduce day-to-day operational costs and make more efficient use of floor space. It also allows for future expansion of stock volume held on-site, without the need to relocate.

The Cradley Heath-based firm worked with OW Robotics to install 15 fully automated robots and 330 moveable pods in its warehouse in just six weeks.

The Q7 Hikrobots have a weight capacity of 1,000kg and provide rapid access to 4,000 picking locations containing 15,000 product lines – while only requiring two packing stations to complete customer orders.

Hour-to-hour A Perry’s implementation will enable it to increase picking rates by up to four times, which will mean the business can process significantly more orders to boost sales and revenue in the long-term.

“Due to our unique position in the marketplace and significant investments within our supply chain, our stockholding has been considerably better than most of our direct competition, which has

resulted in a substantial rise in demand. In the first quarter of 2021 we have seen a 60% increase in orders and to be able to efficiently facilitate these, this investment in automation has been essential to be able to keep on top of our customers’ expectations,” comments Chris Perry, operations director at A Perry.

Greg Downey, robotics business consultant at OW Robotics, explains: “Right now, all businesses that operate a warehouse are faced with the difficulties of accessing stock through the supply chain, rising shipping and freight costs and also the shortage of stable labour, which all result in slowing picking rates and fulfilment. Online demand for products across all industries has skyrocketed in the last twelve months and that trend is expected to continue. That’s why A Perry has made this investment in a robotics solution at the right time.”

WAREHOUSE + INVENTORY MANAGEMENT FEATURE

ORSY®mat vending machines in global use Danfoss AS, a manufacturer of power sustainable solutions such as motors, pumps, drives, valve and compressors, has installed another ORSY®mat vending machine from Würth Industrie Service GmbH & Co KG at its factory in Parchim, Germany.

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uccessfully installed in March 2021, the latest ORSY®mat WGT, dispenses PPE and is in addition to the already used vending machines at the Parchim site. The ORSYmat WGT weighing system detects the withdrawal of an item on the basis of the integrated weighing cells, in which the weight of the stored item is saved.

By using this technology, individual items can be withdrawn without depending on the packaging unit. There is also an option to withdraw several items at the same time from the vending machine, as from a normal materials cabinet. After the item is withdrawn, the vending machine closes and automatically takes stock of the inventory inside.

Danfoss Group has 72 production facilities in 20 countries and employs more than 28,000 people.

As well as conventional vending machines, other digital system solutions are also deployed across the Group for process optimisation. In the smaller company facilities with lesser quantities, the items are replenished via a global SAP-Ariba ‘punch out’ catalogue, which can provide around 60,000 items. Danfoss and Würth Industrie Service are also working together closely to optimise activities such as product standardisation, analysis of filling cycles, as well as processing via buffer cabinets.

“Whether in Slovakia, France or Poland, the vending machines are a complete success and contribute to more efficiency and productivity by significantly reducing the costs and saving the time required for procurement. Danfoss is the perfect example – demonstrating the potential and prospects in ‘MRO products with system’,” states Würth Industrie.

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Nedschroef chooses Infor As part of an ongoing transformation, Nedschroef has chosen Infor CloudSuite Automotive to help modernise its business operations, as well as save costs and increase efficiency.

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edschroef has evolved in several areas, from a cluster of autonomous organisations to a single entity consisting of various business units. The final step in this evolution was the introduction of ‘one way of working’ that required a modern and integrated ERP system and therefore a renewed digital strategy to fit this new business model. Within this ‘one way of working’ strategy, the entire ecosystem is integrated – from internal processes, such as machines, to external processes, such as supply chain systems.

The software supplier selection process started in 2018.

Nedschroef was already using Infor XPPS Enterprise Resource Planning software and issued a request for a proposal to update its ERP system. After a thorough evaluation of several potential suppliers, Infor was selected because of its combination of industry specific knowledge, as well as having a system that showed how it could contribute immediately to Nedschroef’s operational needs and ambitions. Also important for the decision was that the integrated platform would meet the requirements specific to the automotive and manufacturing industry.

“The fact that we had previous experience with Infor was irrelevant to the selection process; it was by no means a foregone conclusion,” says Joris Te Molder, CIO and IT director at Nedschroef.

“We chose Infor because the company came up with the right people and demonstrably appropriate solutions. Ultimately, all

multi-disciplinary teams unanimously agreed that Infor CloudSuite Automotive was the right solution.”

Implementation is step-by-step and is carried out in collaboration with Infor partner Merino Consulting Services. The solution has already been implemented and is operational for two Nedschroef sites in Barcelona, Spain, and Schrozberg, Germany. Rollout for the remaining sites is planned from 2021 to 2024. With the implementation of Infor CloudSuite Automotive, Nedschroef now has the potential to save costs, reduce risks and greatly increase productivity in quality and quantity.

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY FASTENING SOLUTIONS FOR ALL INDUSTRIES

PRODUCT DISASSEMBLY: A keystone in achieving a carbon neutral future?

By Peter Standring, technical secretary, Industrial Metalforming Technologies (IMfT) It is an interesting observation that for multi-component assemblies, fasteners not only hold things together but very often, they determine how things are made.

For example, the adhesive bonding of lightweight auto panels without risk of delamination is made possible by the use of self-piercing rivets, which also preserve the aesthetics of the vehicle.

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Swiss watch movement, an internal combustion engine, flatpack furniture, a vacuum cleaner, each and all owe significant parts of their design/ manufacture to the methods used to hold them together. Where permanency is required, bonding through welding, gluing, forming, moulding are all techniques that can be used.

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3/8/21 1:29 PM

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY For other fastening devices, screw threads, bayonet fittings, catches, latches of all descriptions will provide both assembly and disassembly options. Clearly function, cost, value, demand and customer preference will all come into play when considering the how, why, when and where of fastening in any assembly.

For the manufacturer, the cliché of ‘pile them high and sell them cheap’, only applies to the high volume, low value markets. Some standard fasteners perhaps?

For the customer, do they care how the assembly they buy is fastened together? How many folks purchasing vehicles will ever see most of the average 6,000 fasteners that hold a car together?

Also, there are different types of customers. The commercial, those buying machines to make other products, or it could be the end user or domestic buyers – who require something that works well and looks good. In both cases, functionality is the key. However, in recent times, with the end of life legislation, safe disposal of unwanted goods has become an important issue.

The ongoing End of Life (EoL) EU Vehicle Regulations of 2000, forced automotive OEMs into adopting the concept of ‘extended producer responsibility’ meaning they had to take back their own vehicles at no cost to the customer. This was part of an EU framework of different regulations and directives with the objective of managing waste. Interestingly, virtually all vehicle OEMs saw the EoL regulations as a form of tax and somewhat dismissively off loaded their responsibilities in this area to agencies where toxic elements are safely removed and the rest basically scrapped. To automotive OEMs, this requirement is still considered a cost.

A demand for change

Most people have a prejudiced attitude to change, they don’t like it!

Manufacturers are no different. Once they have an investment, which is making money, why would they want to change it? Competition, improvements, the chance to make even more money, are the drivers to adopt change. To have faulty goods returned, also to have to take back what they once sold, for the manufacturer not only costs money but can incur reputational damage.

The enormous diversity of life on earth over the previous one billion years was brought about through ‘evolution’ – basically, trial and error.

As the ‘tech’ companies have shown, it only takes a quarter of a century to be worth hundreds of billions of US dollars if you have access to data and the algorithms to manipulate it. No trial and error here.

For manufacturers of non-food consumer goods, whose market knowledge is confined to previous customer history and anonymous blanket advertising, their market horizon

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is ‘yesterday’ – compared with the trillion-dollar tech companies whose access to data ensures they determine much of our ‘tomorrows’.

The last third of the 20 th Century saw a mass movement of acquisitions and mergers across European and USA manufacturers.

Independent regional producers of component parts and consumer goods were subsumed into large, often rebranded businesses, or simply ceased trading. One of the consequences of this was the sharing of back office tasks and the rationalisation of the product range and standardisation of component parts.

A further but non-advertised development of this conglomeration was the adoption of a policy across the various product sectors sometimes termed as ‘built in obsolescence’. In days when regional, household named companies employed hundreds and often thousands of locally based employees, the reputation of a company for producing quality goods was an ‘established’ fact of everyday life. The bean counter’s desire to create huge businesses, focussed on specific market segments, created significant turbulence amongst manufacturing groups as they acquired/ shed elements of their organisations to establish a sectorial presence. So, previously viable regional businesses were absorbed, split, sold off or closed to ensure that what remained could deliver, big!

Manufacturing efficiency based on automation could only work where high volume of demand was available. However, in any competitive environment, the market is only as big as the population it serves.

In pre-conglomerate days, when quality and reputations were based on service life and repairability, the volume of goods sold were reflected in the availability of income. Couple new high volume manufacture with a payment by instalment economy (hire purchase) and huge sales targets can be reached. But how can they be maintained?

Enter a new design philosophy, ‘built in obsolescence’, which employs the use of functional parts like bearings, seals, etc, to have an in-service life that barely exceeds the product warranty. Moreover, ensure the design is such that the product can’t be repaired, then, replacement volumes can be guaranteed.

So powerful have the financial organisations become in protecting their high volume manufacturing facilities that even where design failure has resulted in producing life threatening situations, regulatory authorities can do little to get things changed.

People power

‘The law is an ass!’ is a phrase that has often been used in literature and elsewhere. Clearly, since laws are just a collection of words, perhaps

it would be charitable to say that it is the ‘interpretation’ of the law that can give it the ‘ass’ like characteristics. And, who interprets the law for their clients? More importantly perhaps is the question: ‘Who can afford the ‘best’ lawyers?’

Like many situations, the stirrings of ‘public’ disquiet over the ambitions of big business began in the USA. The basic issue across all sectors is ‘can manufacturers prevent buyers of their products from repairing them without insisting, through warranty statements, that all servicing and repairs must be handled by the manufacturer’s own authorised dealers?’. For most of this century US consumers and those acting on their behalf, have lined up against some of the largest global manufacturers to demand this right.

Currently in North America, and within the EU, this ‘right’ has/is being extended across a host of manufactured goods including automotive, electronic, white, brown, etc. The purpose, to ensure that products can be repaired at a fraction of the cost of replacement and by so doing, extend life and reduce waste. For many years, modularity and the use of sub assemblies have been key to efficient manufacture. Given that freedom to repair could become a global requirement within all of product design, maybe the micro management of sub assemblies will become the next growth area?

Fastening for disassembly

Excluding premium brand names, the costs of the assembly of any product will always be ‘pared to the bone’. Full automation can help achieve this. The result, an unused product that has a maximum value.

Sell the product and immediately its value reduces. Use it and its value reduces further. Now, assume the product requires repair. Any reversal of the initial automated assembly will, by comparison, be very much more expensive than it was to assemble. Also, depending on the product and the environment it has been in, disassembly may involve cleaning, etc. The end result will be a broken product that could be restored/refurbished or scrapped. Notwithstanding the outcome, the key to the whole exercise being considered worthwhile, is the ease of disassembly.

So, the OEM, which now has the regulated responsibility to provide the means to repair (replacement parts, etc) has a choice. They can comply with legislation by, for example, providing independent repairers with the layout and special purpose tools often required to effect disassembly or they could adopt a

new policy and redesign the product to allow disassembly to be carried out as efficiently as was the original assembly.

If the OEM were to offer a monetary ‘bounty’ on the return of goods to a dealership (higher value if a replacement product is purchased) then once the design for disassembly is low cost, they themselves could obtain value for the component parts they salvage. Given the volumes involved, for the automotive industry it has been shown that the fully audited metal parts could have a higher resale value at EoL than the material did when it was first purchased – making these parts zero cost. In addition, if they sold the material on for other applications, such action would provide massive reductions in CO 2 and energy costs.

Unfortunately, by chasing the dreams of tomorrow (for example, EV, AV, etc) and ignoring value in recovery. they throw away, without any apparent regard, what legislation obligations they have today.

Getting there together

Given the essential nature of all fasteners to human life, it is quite astonishing how little attention is paid to their importance. Of course, there are trade bodies linked to fasteners and institutes relating to specific subjects like welding. However, given that without the use of fasteners, nothing else would be possible, where is the huge edifice with ‘Fasteners for All’ across its door proclaiming its significance to everything else?

Since disassembly is the factor that makes product repair and material recovery a practicable possibility, why are governments around the world not bringing those who design products and fasteners together and supporting them to gain mutual advantage from what they deliver?

Necessity is the ‘Mother of Invention’ and common sense screams out the necessity to reduce material usage by encouraging product repair and component recovery. A network of global ‘Centres for Disassembly’ could provide a fastening solution for tomorrow based on what we dispose of today?

Mass production and its shadow, standardisation, was born out of a need to have interchangeable parts for firearms. This didn’t happen overnight, but it did spawn a shoal of manufacturing capability and development. Disassembly requires a similar kick start to refocus minds in exactly the same way that all government departments for war demanded their share of interchangeable parts from weapons manufacturers. Today, the war is on the profligate waste of energy and resources; the contamination of land, water and air; and a way to meet the tsunami of demands for quality of life from a monotonically increasing global population.

Design for disassembly may not meet such demands but it could help neutralise some of the problems associated with carbon intensive manufacture and help meet more human aspirations than it does today.

www.fastenerandfixing.com 133

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

Bonding instead of plugging Porsche AG, together with its long-term supplier tesa SE, has developed an innovative robot assisted manufacturing process at its headquarters in Zuffenhausen, Germany, for hole coverings in car bodies.

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flames of up to 500°C for six minutes, protecting the passenger compartment to allow driver and passengers to get out of the vehicle in case a defect battery catches fire.

“Our automatic application unit, tesa EfficienSeal, was developed utilising tesa expertise and guarantees customers that holes are effectively sealed,” explains David Caro, corporate vice-president of the tesa business unit automotive. “Also, the positioning accuracy is significantly higher compared to the manual process. The sealing operation becomes 100% effective and can be performed in half of the time compared to the traditional process.”

Using this innovative automation technology, tesa automotive customers benefit from a high degree of flexibility. Depending on vehicle type, as well as the related number and sizes of holes in the car body, the robot can exchange end effectors quickly based on the sealing patch type and size needed.

©Porsche

cross the globe more than 10 billion holes in car bodies each year, necessary for the e-coat painting process, must be closed for corrosion protection. This is typically done manually by pushing bulky plastic plugs into the holes, which is an extremely time-consuming and physically demanding task for workers. Per shift, workers push more than 3,500 plugs to seal the holes, often working in an overhead position. By doing so, they need to apply a thumb pressure per plug equalling 7kg – an enormous ergonomic strain.

The alternative is sealing patches from adhesive manufacturer tesa – applied by a robot quickly and reliably.

The fully electric Porsche Taycan is the first vehicle in the world to use a new automation technology for efficient hole covering, thus optimising the entire production process. By summer 2021, Porsche AG will implement this new concept at its Leipzig plant. “The cooperation with Porsche is an excellent example of how tesa, as a long-term partner of the automotive industry, drives innovations and offers future oriented solutions to bring value to our customers,” explains Angela Cackovich, board member direct industries at tesa SE. Compared to conventional plastic plugs, tesa sealing patches feature a variety of advantages. While plugs always must match perfectly, it is possible to cover holes of different dimensions with one patch size. This reduces the overall complexity and saves time. tesa patches can also provide additional benefits. The base product, tesa PunctureGuard, ensures corrosion protection via perfect sealing – combined with high mechanical strength and good noise dampening properties. Additionally, these durable adhesive patches, which are only 1mm thin yet extremely tough and last a car’s lifetime, are significantly lighter than the approximately 6mm plastic plugs. This is of great relevance for e-cars, as every extra gram means a loss of range. tesa’s special product tesa FireGuard, developed for the so called Battery Foot Print, withstands

134 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

Perfecting tube and wire management ARaymond Automotive works together with its customers to provide fastening solutions for automotive applications. Recently, the company was approached by a customer to design a newly improved C-clip as part of a truck’s diesel exhaust fluid system.

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-clips are a type of retaining ring used to hold an assembly together consisting of a semi-flexible ring or clamp with open ends that can be snapped into place. A customer typically relies on this C-clip to retain certain tubes and wires as part of a truck’s diesel exhaust fluid systems. For the most part, this works fine but there was room for improvement as the original C-clip could hold only two tubes together.

“The customer wanted to know if we could design a clip that could retain multiple tubes,” says Jason Reznar, senior development engineer at ARaymond. “They wanted to turn this original clip into a quad clip for their application, which could hold up to four tubes. It’s quite rewarding to problem solve and develop or redesign products that quite simply work more effectively for our customers.”

“It’s critical to start such a project with as much information about the application as possible. For example, this customer had specific criteria we had to meet because the exhaust system is quite a complicated area, with only so much space and certain attachment and mounting requirements.”

Part of this criteria comprised of the tube dimensions and features including length, diameter size, material, as well as the location of other parts. “There are multiple things that we must factor in when it

comes to tube or wire management. For this project, it was important to keep the tubes separated from one another, as opposed to using a tie strap. So, this meant designing a new clip, as well as properly orienting its placement in relation to the other tubes.”

Fortunately, the prototypes were fairly simple for ARaymond to create, thanks to its additive manufacturing capabilities, which helped expedite the process. Also referred to as rapid prototyping or 3D printing, the additive manufacturing process uses successive layers of material to create 3D objects. This capability allowed ARaymond to create a quick and cost-effective model of the quad-clip once designed and ship it to the client for testing before committing to the final product.

AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

How is hook and loop used in cars?

The automotive sector is an ever evolving and innovative industry. There are new, safer and eco-friendly developments introduced seemingly every day. As more vehicles adapt and implement the latest technology, more high-quality parts and reliable materials are needed – including the hook and loop fastener.

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s a manufacturer of automotive hook and loop fasteners, HALCO Europe Ltd has supplied products to some of the worlds’ best known car brands, with its fasteners meeting many industry fire retardant specification requirements – including FAR 25.853.

BMW recently partnered with HALCO to supply hook and loop, thanks to HALCO’s ability to meet very specific requirements, in this case designing a bespoke solution for the pioneering automotive brand. Tesla has also worked with HALCO on its revolutionary Model T and Model S electric car, utilising a hook and loop in its seating systems and vehicle insulation.

For seating applications, the low profile nature of hook and loop tape contributes to a sleek and secure design. As a quick and easy fastening solution, it also helps reduce manufacturing processes. It can also be used as a simple fastening solution to keep floor mats in place, removing the need for clunky clips.

For door panels, attaching the insulating materials used in automotive manufacturing, hook and loop assists with noise reduction and ensures easy assembly. The fasteners also offer easy access to the boot compartments without any loose items such as warning triangles and tools rattling around. Modern vehicles also contain a myriad of cables and can lead to electrical problems unless managed cleanly. This is an easy issue to avoid by using hook and loop ties, providing a secure but quickly accessible solution.

Hook and loop is also used as a straightforward aftermarket solution within the automotive modification market. This simple but effective technology has been used in cars for space saving and organisation, as well as some interior DIY projects, such as mounting additional sat nav devices and screen systems.

136 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

Simple selection with new clevis fastener kit Available in a wide variety of sizes and options, the new clevis fastener kit from WDS Components Ltd contains all parts needed to complete a secure fastening in automotive manufacturing.

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idely used in machinery automation, clevis fasteners – comprising of a clevis fork, clevis pin, a washer and a pin or clip – are used in a variety of applications from attaching machine shock absorbers to rod ends for gas struts. WDS now supplies these components combined in an easy to order kit, removing the need for the customer to specify and select individual components.

Enabling faster design, the kits have a single part number and CAD file for download and import. The kit format also ensures compatibility according to fitting type required and size, saving time in ordering and speeding up manufacturing operations. The kits are available in robust zinc plated steel or, for hygienic applications or where the highest resistance to corrosion is required, 304 stainless steel. Both kits are available with male and female fittings and a wide range of 43 sizes, from thread M4 to M12.

The kits also have a range of fasteners to give a choice depending on security of closure – combined with ease and speed of fitting. The cotter pin provides the highest security of fastening while the spring clip affords the greatest ease of installation; the E clip is a balance between the two designs.

To ensure compatibility with both new and existing applications, the components have DIN numbers meaning they conform to a metric standard. The clevis forks meet DIN 71752 and the other components also carry a DIN number where required.

AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

Low shrinkage epoxy for automotive active alignment Dymax has developed a light and/or heat curable cationic epoxy, Dymax 9803, for the active alignment of camera modules, optical components, LiDAR (light detection and ranging), as well as other ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) assemblies used in automotive applications.

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ptical components, lenses in cameras, CCD chips or complex optical devices need to be positioned economically and efficiently.

Active alignment is the primary solution for making high precision image systems manufacturable and feasible in final products, where devices need to align down to micron accuracy. Dymax 9803 has very low volumetric shrinkage, high Tg, low coefficient thermal expansion (CTE) and was developed to meet these rigorous active alignment requirements.

The flexibility to cure very fast with broad spectrum UV light, LED light, or low temperature heat, accommodates a variety of application needs. Dymax 9803 has improved 85°C/85% RH resistance, exhibits less overall movement through thermal excursions, as well as features higher viscosity and thixotropy to maintain bead shape upon being dispensed. In addition, the material can be refrigerated and shipped/stored at 1°C – 5°C, and not frozen. Dymax 9803 meets NASA ASTM E595 low outgassing specifications making this solution ideal for critical optical components. All these characteristics help manufacturers improve time to market, reduce scrap costs and enhance overall image quality.

138 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

Automotive fastening systems Serial production, such as that used within the automotive sector, requires constant and reliable parts, supplies and logistics services to ensure the smooth management of stocks. With this in mind, Berardi Group has created B-Lean Factory Systems – tailor-made logistics solutions, based on a client’s specific needs.

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he role of B-Lean Factory Systems is to develop tailor-made logistics solutions based on the client’s production chain, internal procedures and production line layout. The objective of the Kanban service is to optimise the whole supply and production chain, to prevent stock shortages, as well as subsequently avoid production stops.

Berardi provides custom solutions specially developed for the needs of automotive products including quick fastening systems with high resistance to mechanical stress and vibrations, for suspensions and shafts, as well as custom sized nuts and screws.

Also relevant to the automotive sector is Berardi’s capability to offer a wide selection of specific surface coatings, including Geomet® and Deltaprotekt®, as well as various top coats that enhance corrosion resistance or reduce surface friction. In addition to surface coatings, Berardi can also supply threadlocking applications, which prevent loosening of the fasteners even under severe vibrations.

Berardi has over 6,000 clients worldwide from car and motorcycle brands, to major producers of power transmission systems, as well as international companies that specialise in the production of LPG and methane distribution systems. www.gberardi.com

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE FEATURE

WEVO products for automotive lighting systems To meet the high-quality standards laid down

by HELLA GmbH & Co KGaA, a manufacturer of lighting systems, for the bonding and sealing of headlamps and rear lights in passenger cars, WEVO-CHEMIE GmbH has developed products that facilitate both freedom in design and efficient production.

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he headlamps and rear lights of passenger cars and commercial vehicles are not only important design elements but, as components of assistance systems, also fulfil increasingly complex functions. To ensure that electrical and electronic components are reliably protected from environmental influences throughout their entire life cycle, the components must be well sealed.

The adhesives used play a key role in this – they must meet the requirements for durability and resistance, but must not be visible, especially in the headlamps’ field of vision. The increasing use of large and complex components also poses a challenge in production.

To meet the technical and aesthetic requirements, HELLA is using potting and adhesive systems from WEVO – including specially adapted variants of the polyurethane-based WEVOPUR 801. This results in a number of positive options compared to conventional systems.

For instance, complex geometries of LED and matrix headlamp systems can be realised by adjusting the reactivity and flow properties of the adhesive systems. WEVOPUR 801 is used close to the headlamps’ visible area or ‘field of vision’ – this demands the perfect combination of low viscosity during application with fast setting and good wetting for downstream processing. The specific circumstances of the design and structure of the headlamps need to be taken into account, while still guaranteeing high process quality

with regard to application, adhesion and further processing. On the other hand, cable runs and electronic components at the rear of the headlamps and rear lights are potted. In this case, the system used must above all offer sufficient flowability to prevent bubbles and other inclusions from forming. In addition, modified thixotropies ensure the adhesive does not flow through cavities into the interior of the headlamp.

In both of these cases, the subsequent tightness of the seal plays an important role, because the electrical and electronic components must be reliably protected against environmental influences. The moisture and gas tightness of the lamp housing is also of ever greater importance, because unlike halogen or xenon headlamps, the illuminants in LED headlamps no longer heat up the headlamp lens; this can lead to condensation or even icing up inside the headlamp if air or moisture is able to ingress the lamp unit. Furthermore, the WEVO solutions have been optimised in terms of thermal conductivity and heat resistance so the heat losses of the illuminants can be dissipated to the lamp housing, ensuring the lamps’ long-term functionality.

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Global partnership established for pipeline and vessel repair Hydratight has partnered with adhesive sealants and functional coatings specialist Henkel, to be a primary service provider for delivery of the LOCTITE® composite repair system for pipelines, tanks and vessels.

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he collaborative approach will enable Hydratight and Henkel to help customers avoid unscheduled and expensive plant downtime and increase asset life by delivering efficient and cost-effective engineered repairs.

These repairs use LOCTITE® adhesive technology and high strength glass carbon fibre tape – designed to reinforce and seal pipes for high pressure, temperature, as well as chemical resistance.

The repairs are designed for components ranging from straight, bend, reducer, T-Piece, flange, tanks, vessels to heat exchanger vessel shells. The LOCTITE composite repair system has third party design certification from DNV GL, Lloyds, and TÜV, for meeting the requirements of ISO 24817 for the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries.

Hydratight has collaborated with Henkel on numerous projects specifically working with large operators in petrochemical refineries across Europe and expanding into Asia, Africa, and the Middle East regions. The key drivers for these projects are the need for a quick, high-quality engineered repair, while ultimately maintaining pipeline and vessel integrity, with a design life up to 20 years, and safeguarding health and safety.

“Hydratight and Henkel have formed a strategic collaboration on a global scale to deliver innovative interim and permanent repair solutions, which we know will be beneficial to our customers. The alliance not only provides permanent, cost-effective pipeline repair technology, but is delivered by expertly trained and competent technicians in a variety of onshore and offshore projects,” says PJ O’Connell, service commercial director at Hydratight.

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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

BUMAX supplies fasteners for Slussen project BUMAX has supplied 15,000 high strength and corrosion resistant fasteners to global construction company Skanska for the Slussen infrastructure project in Stockholm, Sweden.

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kanska, a multinational project development and construction group based in Sweden, was commissioned to provide new stainless steel sluice and flood gates for Slussen. The gates are among the largest of their type in the world and designed to resist corrosion in the brackish water environment over a 100 year lifespan. As they cannot be removed once they are in operation, their strength and corrosion resistance are of great importance. The gates simply cannot be allowed to fail during their long lifespan.

Skanska turned to BUMAX to provide premium high strength and corrosion resistant stainless steel fasteners for the Slussen sluice hatches. The company ordered approximately 15,000 BUMAX fasteners for the project. The fasteners specified were a mixture of BUMAX 88 (A4/316L) and BUMAX SDX 109 (Super Duplex), which provide high strength and excellent corrosion resistance. This solution catered for conditions posed by brackish water from Lake Mälaren and also the higher salinity of the sea water from the Baltic Sea.

“BUMAX was able to provide us with stainless steel fasteners that fully met our high strength and excellent corrosion resistance requirements for the Slussen project,” said Bob Hamberg, purchase manager at Skanska Sweden.

Around 90 different types of BUMAX fasteners were ordered for the project. The largest of these fasteners were BUMAX SDX threaded rods M48 x 1,225mm and M36 x 1,125mm, in Class 80. Due to the size and strength of these large rods, BUMAX collaborated with RISE (the Research Institute of Sweden) to utilise specialist testing equipment in order to test the mechanical strength of the fasteners. These tests showed that the rods could reach loads of 886kN – over 90 tonnes – prior to yield and 1,221kN – over 124 tonnes – on fracture.

APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

Accurate bolt tension measurements for wind turbines Denmark-based R&D AS has developed the Bolt-Check solution, which accurately measures bolt tension within wind turbines, using ultrasonic sensors and software analysis, to help maintain the right tension of bolted joints.

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ecently approved by the challenging DNV-GL independent certification process for bolt clamping verification, the Bolt-Check solution can also digitally track individual bolts over their lifetime, which helps ensure each bolt remains at its optimal tension.

Although essential to safety and product reliability, correct bolt tension is hard to achieve using the traditional torque and tension methods, and as wind turbines continue to increase in size, it is more important than ever to maintain the integrity of the bolted joints in these structures. A wind turbine consists of thousands of different sized bolts, making correct bolt tensioning critical. One loose bolt can trigger a domino effect that, at worst, could result in the failure of the entire turbine.

The Bolt-Check system measures the length of the bolt as it lengthens in response to the application of load – torque or tension.

These values are converted into accurate clamping force. During the bolt tensioning process at the assembly level, the operator observes the data live on the screen and stops applying load once the desired tension has been achieved. Once in service, measurement of the bolt tension is possible without the need to loosen the bolts. This is because

the system uses ultrasonic and mechanical length measurements, as well as information about the material properties of the bolt batch.

Combining these three values, makes it possible to measure and calculate the actual clamping force.

Accurate to within 5%, R&D states the Bolt-Check system offers a superior advantage over traditional torque and tension methods, for which error tolerance can be as much as 30%. Compared to existing measurement solutions, Bolt-Check can be implemented at a fraction of the price and used directly on standard bolts.

The Bolt-Check system can be used when installing new bolts and when evaluating existing bolts – as part of determining the lifespan of wind turbines. As part of the full Bolt-Check system, a unique traceability tag is added to each bolt, supporting pre-failure diagnosis and traceability, including the location of each bolt, as well as its schedule of service and maintenance. No pre-treatment of bolts is required.

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TECHNICAL In-depth studies of fastening technologies and applications

The ‘neighbour effect’ of loosening one bolt

By Jonas Nilsagård, CEO TensionCam Systems AB, Jakob Falk, test engineer BATC, Bulten AB and Emmy Pavlovic, SVP technology & innovation, Bulten AB

The clamping force of a bolted joint is mainly determined by the assembly of the bolt itself. However, settlements and relaxation of surfaces and soft materials in the joint, together with external loads, can lead to a reduction of the initial assembled clamping force during service. In worst case scenarios this can actually implicate bolts coming loose, leaking gaskets (if present in the joint) and/or catastrophic failure.

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he automotive industry has addressed this risk by applying strict design rules on surface roughness and geometry for critical joints, combined with accurate assembly such as torque and angle tightening, gradient controlled tightening or ultrasonic controlled tightening. All to achieve an accurate and repeatable initial clamp load and to minimise loss of clamping force in service.

In the industrial sector however, such assembly techniques are sometimes not possible to apply and, due to generally larger dimensions of components, surface control to fine tolerances is difficult to achieve.

Hence, industrial bolted joints typically achieve less accuracy in assembly and have more settlements/relaxation, especially if combined with gaskets, leading to higher

risks of severe clamping force loss and failure.

As a result of this, bolted joints in industrial applications often require expensive maintenance in the form of regular, manual checks and regular retightening.

TensionCam Systems AB, a small Swedish start-up, is now addressing the issue of poor clamping force control in industrial bolted joints, by making it possible to remotely monitor the clamp load in industrial fasteners.

A fingerprint sensor (yes, the kind you find on your mobile phone) is used to monitor a pattern in the bolt head or nut side, utilising the deformation of the pattern to measure the clamping force in the joint. Assembly can thereby be performed to a target clamp force level; maintenance can be planned and executed only when really needed; and/or a warning can be sent out in case of the clamping force dropping to a dangerously low level.

150 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

There are numerous different industrial bolted joint applications where variations and loss of clamping force can be an issue.

One of the most common joint type is the pipe flange, typically found connected to pumps, valves and inbetween pipe connections. Here the clamping force is crucial to assure that the gasket in the flange can keep the joint sealed. As many industrial pipe systems carry aggressive chemicals, the sealing function is critical and leakages can lead to severe environmental damages and personal injuries.

In this investigation TensionCam technology is used on a flange joint supplied

by DENSIQ AB, a leading supplier of sealing solutions to the industrial sector. The focus of the study is to examine the so called ‘neighbour-effect’ – when loosening and exchanging one bolt in a flange joint – and to see if gaskets with different stiffness

behaviours have significant influence on the clamping force after assembly.

The flange joint examined is connected by eight M16 Class 8.8 bolts. Each bolt is equipped with TensionCam sensors. Gaskets in mechanically stiff graphite and soft PTFE, in 1.5mm thickness, are evaluated. The assembly is performed via manual tightening, using a digital torque wrench. Prior to assembly the bolts are lubricated with DENSIQ ECOLUBE. The initial lubrication is used throughout all experiments. Two assembly sequences are evaluated: (i) circular assembly and (ii) cross wise assembly. The experiments are executed in order (1) Graphite gasket and circular assembly, (2) PTFE gasket and circular assembly, (3) Graphite gasket and cross wise assembly and (4) PTFE gasket and cross wise assembly.

For each experiment all eight bolts are tightened to 100Nm according to the given sequence. Subsequently bolt #1 is loosened and thereafter retightened again to 100Nm. For the circular assembly pattern, the bolts are further tightened up to 100Nm after the first assembly, as this sequence was expected to give a more uneven clamping force distribution compared to cross wise assembly.

It was noted during measurements that bolt #7 systematically showed low values, also during set-up of the experiment. This could be due to poor readings in the TensionCam

After assembly

After further tightening

After loosening #1

After retightening #1

Figure 2: The assembly clamp force distribution [kN] in the joint after circular assembly (top panels) and after cross wise assembly (bottom panels). The left panels show joints with Graphite gaskets and the right panels show joints with PTFE gaskets sensor or damages causing higher assembly torque in this bolt position.

The experiments show that loosening of one bolt in an assembled joint causes the clamping force to increase in the two neighbouring bolts by approximately 7% – 8%. As the loosened bolt thereafter is retightened the clamping force of the two neighbours goes back to the ‘assembled’ condition, whereas the retightened bolt achieves a higher clamping force. For

graphite gasket the increase is higher (in the range of 30%) as compared to PTFE (in the range of 20%). Hence, it can be questioned to which torque a replaced or retightened single bolt actually shall be assembled to?

Furthermore, the experiments indicate that a stiffer gasket (graphite) causes lower clamping force from assembly, as compared to a softer gasket, when assembly is torque controlled and done in one step (direct to 100Nm).

PRODUCTS + tools THE LAtest product and technology developments NUTS, WASHERS + LOCKING SYSTEMS FEATURE

A reliable seal for large bolts APM Hexseal says its Nutzilla Seelnut guarantees a reliable seal for large bolts without adding any messy sealants or extra gaskets, as well as forming an effective positive seal in virtually any environment.

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utzilla benefits from the same innovative design and excellent moulding quality as the rest of APM’s Seelnut line of products. With sizes up to M90, the proprietary metal-to-rubber bonding processes used in the single piece design of Nutzilla guarantee a reliable seal for large bolts. Benefits to this include exceptional seal integrity, a long shelf life of 25 years or more, excellent reusability, as well as optional self-locking pellets.

Nutzilla provides an ideal self-sealing solution for a variety of applications including bridge and tunnel building, environments from -103°F to 400°F (-75°C to 240°C), excavation equipment, industrial construction, oil and gas production, power generation, subterranean and underwater infrastructure, as well as transportation. www.apmhexseal.com

NUTS, WASHERS + LOCKING SYSTEMS FEATURE

Automating threadlocking for screws Accu Limited has invested over GB£13,000 (€15,000) on specialist equipment to improve the speed and quality of its in-house threadlocking solution – AccuLock. The solution has already been applied to more than GB£1 million worth of screws during 2020.

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o assist in maintaining its high-quality stance, the UK-based component supplier decided to invest in a semi-automated patching rig to move away from a manual, laborious process. The new equipment is able to patch multiple screws per minute and has increased Accu’s throughput by 360%. Meaning that customers will not experience longer lead times as demand increases. It has also improved quality, accuracy, efficiency and OTIF – resulting in cost savings of approximately GB£20,000 per year.

Co-Founder Antony Kitson explains: “The investment aligns with our commitment for continual improvement alongside growth, whilst offering clear benefits to our customers. Recent industry figures from

152 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

the CBI indicate a general feeling of optimism in the manufacturing sector with many firms planning to raise their spending in the coming months. Our aim is to support firms as they embark on new projects and investments.”

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS NUTS, WASHERS + LOCKING SYSTEMS FEATURE

Specialist Security Insert Bits In Stock

Owlett-Jaton doubles its stover nuts offering Owlett-Jaton has added a whole new range of Class 10 stover locking nuts to its portfolio, doubling the size of its offering to keep in-line with industry demand. The DIN 980V nuts are available as standard in metric sizes ranging from M6 to M24, in bright zinc plate, as well as being available for next day delivery in the UK.

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deal for servicing or repairs, DIN 980V stover nuts are economical hexagon prevailing torque, all metal, self-locking nuts.

Irregularly shaped threads at the top of the nut create the self-locking function, which grips the corresponding bolt threads, giving a stronger hold. Benefits to this are that the nuts can be adjusted, removed after installation and then reused.

Being all metal means that stover nuts are ideal for high temperature environments. They are resistant to shocks and vibration and therefore do not require any form of anti-vibration washer. In turn, this improves efficiency and reduces inventory requirements. Stover nuts can be used in a wide range of applications and industries including metalworking, agricultural equipment and automotive.

Owlett-Jaton has also introduced an extra size into its Class 8 range of stover nuts, with the addition of an M24 – meaning the range now features M6 – M24. Customers can order online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via its website. www.owlett-jaton.com

ARMA expands its clamp portfolio Despite the negative effects of the pandemic, ARMA Fixing Systems has increased its level of production digitalisation in 2020, as well as designing and producing an automatic forming machine to produce a new fixing clamp. he new types of clamp product, prototypes of which were made in 2020, will begin mass production on two different production lines.

Established as a moulding workshop in 1980 with only two employees, ARMA Fixing Systems celebrated its 40 th anniversary in 2020 and continues to serve customers from various sectors, such as the automotive and home appliance industry.

The company supplies products such as fixing clamps, hose clamps, ear clamps, exhaust clamps, heavy-duty clamps, metal fixing clips, cage nuts, metal brackets and metal components, as well as plastic clips and other plastic fasteners, which are used extensively in the automotive and white goods industries.

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS SOCKETS + WRENCHES FEATURE

Next generation torque wrench In addition to high torque measurement accuracy for controlled screw tightening, the new TORCOFIX 2.0 torque wrench models from GEDORE Werkzeugfabrik GmbH & Co KG are also characterised by intuitive, efficient and optimised operation.

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his ensures safe bolting during repairs and maintenance in mechanical engineering, as well as in the automotive and commercial vehicle industry.

The new TORCOFIX 2.0 is available in the variants TF-K, TF-SE, and TF-Z, offering versatile solutions for different areas of application, as well as special applications.

The TORCOFIX TF-K enables controlled screw tightening from 20Nm to 850Nm with a ratchet function. This variant has an integrated mushroom head square drive with ball lock for the models ½ inch up to 300Nm. The ¾ inch models in the range up to a maximum of 400Nm, 550Nm and 850Nm are in turn equipped with a push through square drive and pin lock. Due to the reversible mushroom head/through square, the tool is equally suitable for clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation. To change the direction of rotation, the user must simply remove the mushroom head/square drive and reinsert it on the other side after turning the torque wrench.

Also available, TORCOFIX TF-SE is designed for the range 20Nm to 400Nm and has an internal rectangular holder including ejector device in the versions 9mm x 12mm (in the range 20Nm –150Nm) and 14mm x 18mm (in the range 40Nm – 400Nm). This adaptor allows for an optimal adjustment to the respective tightening situation and application, as completely different, interchangeable insertion tools with quick-change system can be combined with the torque spanner. This makes the TF-SE the ideal partner for work in confined spaces, for example.

GEDORE also offers a torque solution with an interchangeable insert in the range above 400Nm – the TORCOFIX TF-Z. It applies torques from 20Nm to 850Nm and, as a version with slip-on tang and interchangeable slip-on tools, also offers optimum adaptation options for different application conditions.

All models of the new generation TORCOFIX 2.0 favour intuitive operation of the torque wrench. The convex handle is based on the natural gripping position

of the hand – the ergonomically optimised shape with a circumferential notch centres the hand in the middle of the handle.

This positioning is essential for precise application of the set torque.

The torque is also adjusted via the handle of the torque wrench. By pulling out the colour-coded locking knob, the handle can be turned, allowing the required torque value to be set. A fixing recess at the upper end of the handle serves as an ideal counterhold.

Subsequently pressing in the locking knob fixes the selected torque value. When the torque wrench is not in use it is stabilised by a stand on the handle and thus prevented from rolling away.

Since precise setting of the required torque is essential, GEDORE has also further developed the scale of the TORCOFIX 2.0 series. Maximum accuracy is achieved with the new double scale (Nm/lbf-ft)

156 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

with vernier. In addition, the practical double scale eliminates the need for time-consuming conversion. Depending on the model, the scale is divided into increments of 0.5Nm to 1Nm and is located under a viewing window that protects against dirt and abrasion. A higher contrast colour scheme makes it much easier to read, even in poor lighting conditions. Another plus is the vertical orientation of the scale.

This makes reading and setting equally effortless for right and left handers.

Made of robust tubular steel with high-quality plastic parts, the matt powder coated surface protects against annoying reflections. Thanks to the automatic release when the torque is reached, the TORCOFIX 2.0 is immediately ready for use without having to be adjusted again, thus saving time. The torque spanners are tested and certified according to DIN EN ISO 6789-2:2017.

Hardmetal Tooling & Spare Parts www.sermocol.pt

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS SOCKETS + WRENCHES FEATURE

Mechanical wrenches in a nutshell By definition, mechanical wrenches are adjusted for one target torque and they have inner moving parts. Therefore, they are not used for measurement and of course there is no integrated transducer.

Here Atlas Copco outlines the benefits of using a wrench and the different types available.

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echanical wrenches are usually the easiest and simplest way to ensure a minimum reached torque on a joint. They are usually lower in operational costs than other tools, while offering a very quick set-up and fast tool replacement.

Manual torque wrenches are lightweighted and ensure good ergonomics. They can provide good quality standards also in narrow areas, as sometimes the joint accessibility is very poor and electrical tools are too big to fit into the cramped spaces.

Types of mechanical wrenches

©Atlas Copco

Click type torque wrenches are the most frequently used in the market. They are easy to use and provide a very distinctive feedback to the operator – the click. This feedback will occur when the minimum torque is reached. Indeed, the tightening quality highly depends on the handling of the operator.

The next mechanical wrench concept is a break type wrench. This wrench type also has easy handling and gives distinctive feedback to the operator. In fact, the wrench won’t perform a click, but it breaks into a higher angle. The unique BWR mechanism significantly supports the reduction of overloads on the joints and increases process reliability – the wide angle helps the operator to stop to avoid overloaded bolts.

The third type of mechanical wrench is the Camover, sometimes also called slip type wrench. Due to the camover mechanism, it is not possible to applyQP anJubilee overload on the bolt and therefore process reliability is significantly increased. The wrench is very easy to handle for a new operator 2021 Add.pdf 1 23/02/2021 15:22:14 and the feedback is indicated by the mechanical ‘slip’ of the internal mechanism.

As a step towards process control, Atlas Copco offers a Microswitch adaptor to count clicks or breaks. It can send a signal to a PLC every time the minimum torque is reached, as well as when a click or a break is registered.

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS

F Socket adaptor

SOCKETS + WRENCHES FEATURE

extension sets

The 6983 and 6984 set of socket adaptors from Laser Tools Ltd have been designed for cordless drill use to speed up the process of removing or refitting fasteners.

eaturing rotating sleeves that can be held securely while the adaptor of the cordless drill is spinning, the 6983 set features three adaptors – 1/4 inch drive, 3/8 inch drive and 1/2 inch drive – which have different coloured anodised aluminium spinning sleeves for easy identification. The ¼ inch drive and 3/8 inch drive versions are 65mm long, while the ½ inch drive version is 72mm in length.

To assist access, the 6984 set has two 200mm long adaptors, 3/8 inch drive and 1/2 inch drive, again with different coloured spinning sleeves. Fitted with quick-chuck ends to fit the cordless drill, the 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch square drives will take sockets or bit adaptors. The ball bearing spring clip holds the socket securely. Holding the spinning sleeve keeps the socket securely in position while the cordless drill effortlessly and quickly removes or refits the fastener.

The socket adaptors are recommended for use with the Laser Tools cordless impact drill – part number 8011.

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Cordless freedom for blind rivet nut applications STANLEY Engineered Fastening has introduced the NB08PT-18, which it states can meet the high demands for a cordless blind rivet nut tool that delivers rapid, high volume placement capabilities, from a mobile package, whilst eradicating the constraints, limits, as well as hazards of a compressed air line.

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B08PT-18 has been designed with the needs of the user at its focus. Its lightweight, cordless design allows for greater mobility, user comfort and ease of access across a range of applications, whilst also eliminating the hazards associated with trailing compressed air lines. Its compact, ergonomic design and in-built LED light also work to offer greater operator function across tight, enclosed or hard to reach applications.

With the capability to install up to 900 (M6 steel) blind rivet nuts on a single charged DeWalt 2.0Ah battery, as well as the fast charging times and cross tool benefits that come with a battery powered solution, the NB08PT-18 offers operators unparalleled productivity while cutting unnecessary downtime.

Quality fastening is the main key performance indicator for most industrial manufacturers and as such the NB08PT-18 contains a wide range of quality control measures to ensure repeatable, reliable assemblies with every application. The easy to use touchscreen control panel allows operators to quickly switch between ‘pull to force’ or ‘pull to stroke’ settings to ensure premium performance across a wider range of applications and plate thicknesses.

An onboard poke-yoke and cycle counter display ensures fewer quality issues across all applications and reduces the likelihood of incorrectly installed or missing fastenings, which can often lead to expensive reworks or possible product recall. The touchscreen controls are also password protected to mitigate the risk of introducing unnecessary quality issues; as well as advanced connectivity to allow operators to easily download application data from every job.

STANLEY Engineered Fastening points out: “In addition to complete mobility and increased quality assurance, the NB08PT-18 boasts several performance enhancing capabilities designed to reduce wasted downtime and boost operator output. The tool incorporates a push start function that allows the operator to rapidly mount blind rivet nuts onto the mandrel and reduce wasted handling time between fastenings. This feature, combined with tool-less, quickchange nose housing and pull to force or pull to stroke capabilities, ensures we can ultimately offer operators a single cordless blind rivet nut tool of supreme adaptability – capable of delivering multiple applications across a wide range of differing plate thicknesses.

New epoxies cure at 60°C

SPIROL expands eCommerce

Panacol has developed a range of new one component epoxy adhesives – Structalit® 5511, 5521 and 5531 – that cure at very low temperatures and adhere very well to substrates with low surface energy.

SPIROL International Corporation has expanded its Shop.SPIROL.com in the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada to include disc springs, slotted spring pins and inserts for plastics.

ll three adhesives are single component, epoxy resin-based adhesives and cure at just 60°C, making them particularly suitable for temperature sensitive electronic components. Curing at higher temperatures will accelerate cure time and add additional strength to the bond.

Structalit 5511 features a particularly low ionic content and is therefore especially suitable for use in electronics. Combining a high Young’s modulus with an elongation at break of more than 8%, it ensures high adhesion to many substrates with additional shock and vibration resistance.

Also available, Structalit 5521 is softer and more flexible after curing, allowing the adhesive to better compensate for stresses between substrates.

Due to its very low modulus of elasticity, this adhesive is very well suited for potting or for the application of thicker adhesive layers.

As the third adhesive of the new epoxy technology, Structalit 5531 has an extraordinary low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), yet is flexible enough to withstand drop and vibration tests. The incorporation of filler particles gives the adhesive extremely high resistance to mechanical and chemical influences.

All three adhesives possess high purity and low ion content, which complies with international standards for electronic and microelectronic component assembly.

PIROL initially launched Shop.SPIROL.com within the USA in 2018 for its flagship product, the coiled spring pin. Since then, the eCommerce program has steadily expanded to include additional products lines, languages, as well as the ability to purchase in different currencies.

SPIROL’s eCommerce program enables customers to safely and conveniently purchase standard products in small quantities by using a credit card or PayPal account.

In addition to being able to purchase products or request a quote, visitors can also download 2D drawings and 3D models of each product type available.

Eventually all SPIROL’s engineered fasteners will be available – including additional languages and currencies.

In order to help as much as possible during these unprecedented times, SPIROL is also now offering free economy shipping on all orders made through shop.SPIROL. com to ensure that customers can receive all the products they require fast and easy. www.spirol.co.uk

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Special solutions from Owlett-Jaton Whilst the majority of fastener applications can be met by fasteners produced to recognised standards, there are other applications for which standard products do not meet the needs of the application. They need something more specialised – a special.

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t Owlett-Jaton, the bulk of the business is providing standard products to distributors, but it also offers a comprehensive specials service to meet all the needs of customers – a ‘Complete Wholesale Solution’. The Owlett-Jaton specials service can be broadly split into five categories – coatings, thread patching, machining, inspection and tolerances, as well as bespoke to drawing.

Many applications may result in fasteners being exposed to conditions that are likely to result in corrosion. This may be addressed through specification of stainless steel products, but where this is either not possible due to the application, or not cost-effective, a coating may be applied to enhance corrosion protection. These may be electroplated such as bright zinc plating, heat-based such as hot dip galvanising or sheradising, or organic zinc flake coatings such as Geomet®.

Coatings may also be applied as additional topcoats to assist with torque tensioning control. This can be done to standard products or in addition to other coatings. Owlett-Jaton provides 18 different coating options to meet the needs of customers.

As for thread patching, Owlett-Jaton offers a full range of patches, which may also be combined with coatings. Thread patches help ensure that parts are securely locked into position after assembly, minimising loss of clamp load due to vibration. Thread patches can also be used to improve sealing in gas, oil and other liquid industry applications.

Finally, Owlett-Jaton can provide the machining of fasteners, which can range from simple drilling to allow the insertion of locking split pins, or cutting to length and chamfering, through to more complicated modifications – such as rethreading and shank diameter reduction. Machining services can also be combined with coatings and patches.

In some uses, high degrees of precision are required. In these cases, the fastener may conform to an international standard but have closer tolerances for that application. This may require specific manufacture or advanced inspection techniques, such as optical measuring and sorting to ensure the specification is met.

There can be requirements for unique fasteners made to a drawing. Owlett-Jaton provides a fully bespoke service, working with the customer on the specification and then managing the manufacturing, finishing and testing of the fastener.

Having sourced a special fastener, Owlett-Jaton’s specials service also provides Country of Origin and full batch traceability to all its special products. This is backed up by its ISO 9001:2015 quality systems and ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system.

As special fasteners often end up in demanding applications, they may require additional certification. These may include Initial Sample Inspection Reports (ISIR) or Production Part Approval Process (PPAP). ISIR and PPAP up to level 3 can be provided by Owlett-Jaton.

“The world of specials is complex and ever-changing. Our team has many decades of experience in providing special products in both carbon and stainless steel, for a wide range of customers and applications,” explains Owlett-Jaton.

“The team can help with all customer requirements and provide the technical and documentary backup needed to be a reliable partner in this area.”

Owlett-Jaton not only supports customers in the UK but also exports products to the EU and the rest of the World. www.owlett-jaton.com

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PRODUCTS + TOOLS

What is embedding?

By Bill Eccles, technical specialist, Bolt Science Ltd As part of a series of articles looking at the non-rotational loosening of threaded fasteners, this article will be looking at a mechanism, called embedding, which can result in a loss of bolt preload without any rotation of the fastener occurring.

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o, what is embedding? Surfaces may appear to be smooth to the naked eye but when sufficiently magnified, there are high spots on the surface. These are referred to as asperities. When two such surfaces come into contact, asperities on one surface contact asperities on the other.

With two such surfaces in contact, the real area of contact is the area covered by the asperities touching each other, that is, the asperity contact area. The real area of contact is different to the area of the two overlapping surfaces, the apparent area. The asperity contact area can be substantially less than the apparent area. Due to this, the stress on the asperity contacts can exceed the yield strength of the material resulting in localised plastic deformation. The entire area does not deform, just the asperity contacts. Embedding is this localised deformation process that involves the plastic flattening of the asperities at the contact areas within a joint. The loading to cause such plastic deformation will be substantially less than the load needed to plastically deform the entire apparent contact area.

Some of this plastic flattening will occur during the tightening process, in which case, subsequent tightening will compensate for such loss, and so accordingly, no loss of bolt preload will occur. It has been found however that some embedding occurs once tightening is stopped.

The embedding will occur on all contact surfaces within the joint. The bolt head to joint interface (any joint plate interfaces within a joint), the nut face interface and the interface between the threads will all experience some embedding loss. Such embedding results in the two surfaces coming together, that is, the grip length decreases slightly. This causes an extension loss in the bolt, which in turn, results in a loss of preload. Depending upon the surface roughness, current research indicates that the amount of embedding that can be experienced is between 1 and 7 microns (a micron being 0.001mm) per interface.

Some embedding loss occurs as soon as the tightening process stops, but the majority tends to occur when the joint experiences an external load. This may be some time after assembly. To compensate for such loss, some manufacturers ask for the fasteners to be retightened sometime after the joint has been in service, for example, retightening the wheel bolts on a vehicle after 100 miles. This is impractical

on many joints and so compensation for such losses should be considered at the design stage.

The amount of preload loss from embedding depends upon several factors, specifically: The stiffness of the joint and bolt: This, in turn, depends upon the diameter of the bolt, the grip length of the joint and the type of joint material and bolt material used. In general, the smaller the bolt diameter, and the smaller the grip length to diameter ratio, the larger the preload loss from embedding.

The number of interfaces within the joint: In general, the greater the number of interfaces, the higher the amount of embedding loss will be.

The type of loading also influences the amount of embedding: Shear loads tending to produce more loss than axial loading.

...embedding becomes more significant the smaller the bolt diameter.”

166 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 130: JULY 2021

It is not generally appreciated that embedding becomes more significant the smaller the bolt diameter. Surface roughness values can be similar whether an M12 bolt is used or an M4 bolt is used. If the same joint grip length to diameter ratio is used, the percentage loss of preload will be much greater for the small bolt. For example, a detailed calculation indicates that the M12 joint can be anticipated to lose 5kN, or 12% of its preload, whereas as an M4 bolt will lose 1.7kN, or 38%, of its preload. Essentially, this is due to the amount of embedding being similar for both joints, but since the preload is proportional to the bolt area, and the bolt area is a function of the square of the diameter, the preload reduces much faster than the bolt diameter does. This can make it difficult for small screws to be kept tight. In such circumstances, including a locking device on the fastener is not likely to prevent loosening issues arising. This is since the preload loss is without any fastener rotation occurring.

Changes to the design and incorporation of features to change the stiffness of the overall joint system may be needed to mitigate the effects of embedding loss.

Determining the magnitude of preload loss can be problematic. Although more research is needed, there are guideline values for embedding loss. Software such as BOLTCALC can assist in establishing the amount of preload loss from embedding that a joint is likely to experience.

Guidelines on how to determine the amount of embedding loss is also provided in Bolt Science’s online training course. www.boltscience.com

PRODUCTS + TOOLS

Plan, monitor and analyse with CONTROLRIV4.0 Rivit Srl’s CONTROLRIV4.0 is a monitoring system for blind rivets and rivet nuts, which helps plan different placing operations; monitor the process of the work; and easily and safely analyse resulting data.

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ONTROLRIV4.0 is connected to the riveting tools and, according to the working methods and to the predetermined settings made by the operator, the work of one or more tools is monitored in ‘real time’ in order to avoid mistakes and deactivations. The results are improved productivity, higher standard of work and reduced waste.

The system is designed in modules, with a Master and 11 Slaves to obtain up to 12 workstations managed simultaneously.

The Master, with a touchscreen display and a user-friendly software, can easily interact with a PC, a PLC, and download all the work data in a very simple way onto portable storage drives.

The Slave, more compact than the Master, only manages the operation of the riveting tool by indicating its status on integrated LEDs. Though all the work is managed by the Master, the Slaves in certain configurations can communicate with the PLC independently.

Monitoring of the assembling operations develops the study of the curves, through piece and batch counters and work lists. Work monitoring is supported by stored batch data, all check activities, implemented work lists and the

recorded curves. For working phases, visual and sound alerts have been designed to highlight correct or wrong applications, particularly the lack of air in the latter case.

In addition, in order to have a clearer and more visible reference from afar a three colour luminous tower with alarm siren is also available. Every single unit features a pneumatic valve that turns compressed air on and off, to safely secure the system; best distinguish the working phases from the configuration ones; and pre vent further errors in the event of a wrong application result.

CONTROLRIV4.0 works with tools for rivet nuts RIV912, RIV938, RIV939, RIV949 and RIV916B, as well as with tools for blind rivets RIV503, RIV504, RIV508, RIV511B and RIV300. www.rivit.it

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Fasteners.......................................................147 Bendfast.............................................................. 169 Berardi Fasteners........................................... 140 Berdan Bolt...........................................................37 Birlik Baglanti Elemanlari San................... 25 Bossong................................................................. 97 Bralo........................................................................91 Brighton Best International..........................91 BTS...........................................................................21 Bülte.......................................................................141 Carlo Salvi...........................................................115 CEIA...................................................................... 109 Cetin Civata........................................................ 23 Changzhou Canty Electric Industry Co...... 163 Chavesbao.............................................................21 Ching Chan Optical Technology Co.......... 65 Citizen Machinery .......................................... 111

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Klimas Wkret-met ........................................... 43 Kwantex................................................................ 63 Lederer GmbH............................................. 20, 22 Lesjöfors............................................................. 142 Load Control Technologies ........................ 123 Major Industries.................................................73 Mayes & Warwick........................................... 109 Merlin Business Software Ltd................... 129 Motor Clips.........................................................131 Mule Technology .............................................113 Nakashimada......................................................35 National Machinery........................................ 29 ND Industries............................................ 4, 5, 27 Ningbo Londex................................................... 33 Nord Lock........................................................... 172 Norm Civata........................................................ 93 OmniTechnik........................................................31 pgb Polska............................................................. 11 Pinstructure........................................................15 Point Screw Enterprise Co Ltd.....................75 Puehl.......................................................................... 7 Ray Fu.................................................................... 56 Remaches Factory Srl...................................... 11 Remaches Tudela ........................................... 165 Rexlen Corp..........................................................77 Reyher.................................................................. 125 RFKS..................................................................... 149 Rivit.......................................................................171 RLS........................................................................ 107 RMZ......................................................................... 97 Roseter Info Trade.............................................57 Rosmil.................................................................... 98 Rotor Clip ...........................................................141 S.M.T Srl...............................................................121 Sacma.................................................................. 105

San Shing............................................................. 79 Saspi..................................................................... 107 Schaefer + Peters............................................. 111 Schnorr............................................................... 143 Schroeder Schrauben................................... 158 Schwer + Kopka................................................ 111 SD Products........................................................167 Sermocol............................................................. 157 Shanghai Fast-Fix Rivet Corporation....167 Sheh Fung Screws.............................................61 Sheh Kai Precision Co......................................81 Sipa......................................................................... 39 Smartfix.............................................................. 163 Smith Bullough................................................ 163 Specialinsert..................................................... 144 Spirol Industries...............................................131 Śrubena Unia Sp. z o.o...................................147 Star Fasteners.................................................. 137 Sumar OU........................................................... 109 Szatyina.............................................................. 146 Tecfi......................................................................... 95 Tecno Lift.............................................................117 Teknoform.......................................................... 145 The Insert Company.......................................131 titibi......................................................................100 Top Screw Metal.................................................85 UBK....................................................................... 168 Valenta................................................................ 145 Videx......................................................................119 Vipa SpA.................................................................87 Wan Iuan Enterprise Co Ltd......................... 83 WTI.........................................................................119 Yuyao Alfirste Hardware Co Ltd.............. 127 Zago.........................................................................15

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