In this issue… Nord-Lock® strengthens its industry leading position Made in Germany Update on the CBAM regulation CONNECTING THE GLOBAL FASTENER INDUSTRY
Issue 144: November 2023 | fastenerandfixing.com
THE ONLY CE-MARKED SECURING WASHERS
The CE marking is everywhere. But it’s only now that you’ll find it on one type of securing washers.
DIN 84
DIN 85
DIN 125-A
DIN 127 B
~ DIN 314
DIN 439 B
DIN 557
DIN 562
DIN 912
DIN 928
DIN 929
DIN 931 / ISO 4014
DIN 933 / ISO 4017
DIN 934
~ DIN 934 H=D
DIN 936
DIN 963
DIN 965
DIN 966
DIN 968 C
DIN 980 V
DIN 982
DIN 985
Threaded Rod DIN 976-1 (975)
DIN 1587
ISO 4026
ISO 4027
ISO 4032
ISO 4035
BS 4174 C
BS 4174 F
~ DIN 6334
DIN 6912
DIN 6921
~ DIN 6921
DIN 6923
~ DIN 6923
DIN 6926
DIN 6927
DIN 6928 C
ISO 7089
ISO 7380-1
ISO 7380-2
DIN 7500 PE (C)
DIN 7500 CE (Z)
~ DIN 7500 DE (D)
DIN 7500 EE (E)
DIN 7500 ME (MT)
DIN 7500 ME (MZ)
DIN 7504 K
DIN 7504 L
DIN 7504 N
DIN 7504 P
DIN 7504 Q
~ DIN 7504 Wafer Head
~ DIN 7504 P Wings + Ribs
DIN 7971 C
DIN 7971 F
DIN 7972 C
DIN 7973 C
DIN 7976 C
DIN 7981 C
DIN 7981 F
DIN 7982 C
DIN 7982 F
DIN 7983 C
DIN 7984
DIN 7985
DIN 7991
DIN 9021
ISO 10642
ISO 14580
ISO 14581
ISO 14583
DIN 34805-1
DIN 34805-2
Chipboard Screw CSK FT
Chipboard Screws CSK PT
Chipboard Screws PH FT
Cladfast® Light Section
Cladfast® Heavy Section
Cladfast® Heavy Section
Cladfast® EPDM
Drywall Screws THN
Drywall Screws TMN
Drywall Screws TSD
Plasfast 30° Pan Head
Plasfast 30° Wafer Head
Plasfast 30° CSK-Head
Plafast 60° Pan Head
Plasfast 60° CSK-Head
Repair Washer
Stitchfast® Light Section
Timberfast® Light Section
Timberfast® Heavy Section
Timberfast® Type 17 ‚S‘ Pt
T-Nuts
UNC HT Bolts
UNC Nuts
UNC HT Setscrews
UNF HT Bolts
UNF Nuts
UNF HT Setscrews
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CONTENTS 106 34
CBAM
54 134 36
144
NEWS
10-32 EXHIBITION NEWS
COVER STORY
34-35 CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS 104-116 MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS 134-138
Financial reports, acquisitions and trade duty news
Nord-Lock strengthens its industry leading position with unique CE Marked securing washers
INSIGHT
A positive takeaway from FASTENER POLAND®
36-53 MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 54-90
An exclusive insight into the German fastener manufacturing market
6
No need to fear hydrogen embrittlement
Towards a ‘digital value stream’ for construction products, beyond a digital DoP Introducing the new Hydrajaws® M35+
Update on the requirements of CBAM Rethinking efficiency with Growermetal
MADE IN GERMANY
92-102 FASTENER TESTING
118-126
Carlo Salvi Stories: Providing solutions for challenging needs
FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
128-132
Stay safe online: Tips to avoid getting hacked
APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY 140-152 The dimensional measurement of fasteners Exploring the universe with Bossard’s expertise
PRODUCTS + TOOLS
Tapes + adhesives feature
154-170
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EDITOR'S NOTE
Will Lowry, content director, Fastener + Fixing Magazine
More paperwork for no more sales
A key theme running throughout this edition of Fastener + Fixing Magazine is the seemingly endless introduction of regulations and requirements that fastener companies are having to take on, which creates an extra burden without generating more sales.
F
irst up, within the industry news section, the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) warns of the impact from the latest EU sanctions on Russia that continue to impact the import and export of iron and steel products across the whole of Europe. Having come into force at the beginning of September, CBM urges companies to urgently explore the legislation that requires evidence that iron and steel used to produce components in a third country (outside of the EU and UK) does not originate from Russia. In addition to this challenge, there is also the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation, with the transition phase having started at the beginning of October. Once again we have a report from a second European Fastener Distributor Association (EFDA) webinar that looked to give an update on the impact of the regulation – with Andreas Schneider of StahlmarktConsult once again giving a presentation on the intricacies of the CBAM regulation and provided hints on how importers can make their way through the “jungle” that is the CBAM obligations. Regulations is also a major talking point in our exclusive Made in Germany feature, which provides a unique insight into the developments at manufacturers within the German fastener market. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the opening article from Hans Führlbeck, general manager at Deutscher Schraubenverband – the independent industry association for German fastener manufacturers. Hans discusses the latest developments
Part of the Mack Brooks Group
www.fastenerandfixing.com Published by
Managing Director Jamie Mitchell jamie.mitchell@verulammedia.com
Assistant Editor Rebecca England rebecca.england@verulammedia.com Sales Director Mac Rahman mac.rahman@verulammedia.com Business Development Manager – Italy Emiliano Pagliaroli emiliano.pagliaroli@verulammedia.com
Content Director Will Lowry will.lowry@verulammedia.com
Business Development Manager – DACH & Europe Chantal Ridings chantal.ridings@verulammedia.com
Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge claire.aldridge@verulammedia.com
Production & Design Manager Lee Duskwick lee.duskwick@verulammedia.com
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FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
within the German fastener market and how the association looks to support its members with information, working groups and networking opportunities – especially when it comes to regulation requirements. Also within the Made in Germany feature we have articles from several leading German manufacturers including Dresselhaus, Bülte, AMBA, fischer, Goebel, HONSEL, REISSER, HEICO, PRINZ, PREBENA, rfks, RUKO, Schwer + Kopka, TOGE, GESIPA and AGTOS. The Cover Story for this edition also covers the topic of regulations and requirements, but this time from a quality perspective – with Nord-Lock® explaining how it has strengthened its industry leading position with the unique CE Marking of its securing washers – underlining the importance of quality and complying with regulations. As always, we also have a host of contributing articles, including Ulrich Bourgund and Thilo Pregartner, from Construction Fixing Europe Association, who look at the aspect of digitilsation when it comes to the development of the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and how it will require a ‘digital value stream’ – beyond a digital DoP. To add to this, there is an article in the Management + Systems section from regular contributor Jason Bader, principle of The Distribution Team, who provides some tips on how to stay safe online and avoid getting hacked. Finally, Peter Standring, technical secretary at Industrial Metalforming Technologies, muses about the role and importance of the dimensional measurements of fasteners and how AI may play a part in the future. Enjoy!
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 2023. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher. Annual subscription (6 issues) to non–trade and outside EU is €160.00 Verulam Media Limited, Office 3, 17 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 IDT Tel: +44 (0) 1727 743 882
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90 JAHRE
NEWS
BREAKING INDUSTRY NEWS AND ANALYSIS
CBM warns of impacts from latest EU sanctions on Russia Manufacturers of iron, steel or steel products could be sleepwalking into an export disaster, as a result of new EU sanctions on Russia, which came into force at the end of September. That’s according to the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), which is urging companies to urgently explore the legislation requiring evidence that iron and steel used to produce components in a third country (outside the EU, including the UK) does not originate from Russia.
S
tephen Morley, president at CBM, is predicting that many firms will be unaware of this change to exporting and it could cause products to be delayed at customs and, in some instances, trigger catastrophic production stoppages in critical automotive and aerospace sectors, as material test certificates will be required to confirm the facility and location at which the product was originally melted and poured, as well as requiring secondary steel processes to be also scrutinised. He said: “It is important to recognise that the scope of the EU measures on iron and steel products extends far beyond primary and secondary steel products to encompass many finished goods, including fasteners and other industrial consumables. They will also cover many retail products, such as stoves, cookers, kitchen and sanitary ware,” adding that the CBM has been warning its 200 strong membership body for more than a month and working with them to ensure they are able to provide the required evidence at point of importation. He continued: “Effectively, it is a case of prepare for the worst case scenario, while fervently hoping that EU authorities recognise the stringency of compliance requirements will jeopardise the flow of UK to EU supply chains.” Since a ler ting members to t his growing issue, t he CBM has been working closely with national audit, tax, advisory and risk
firm, Crowe, UK, and its expert customs team to validate its assessment and to interrogate the released FAQ guidance by the European Commission. The CBM is also deeply concerned that other associations and industrial membership bodies do not appear to have recognised the significance of the new sanctions and the massive hit on export trade it could bring. “There’s a lot of mixed messaging out there currently,” Stephen added, “with some suggestions that German customs may take a more pragmatic view about what evidence is required, whilst the latest information from Belgium and France suggests a more stringent approach. It’s so confusing for bosses who are already struggling with the impact of increased administration and trying to grapple with extortionate inflationary pressures and energy prices. It’s one more spectre on the horizon that we could all do without.” All that said, having pressed the Department for Business and Trade for further information, Stephen said the CBM has received a response with wording that implies more flexibility on the part of UK Customs authorities, although evidence is still required on the country of origin of iron and streel products processed in a third country, or countries. www.thecbm.co.uk
Highest ever Q3 sales for Bulten Bulten Group has reported that net sales amounted to SEK 1.378 billion (€117.9 million) for the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 25.9% on the same period the previous year (2022: SEK 1.095 billion). Adjusted operating earnings totalled SEK 36 million, equating to an adjusted operating margin of 2.6%.
B
ulten highlighted that the operating earnings have been charged with transaction costs of SEK 5 million – attributable to the acquisition of Exim & Mfr Holdings Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based distributor of fasteners and other components with annual sales of SG$40 million. Bulten explains that the acquisition provides it with a good platform to grow in new sectors, where the distribution stage is a pivotal sales channel. Anders Nyström, president and CEO at Bulten Group, commented: “The acquisition of Exim brings business opportunities in new customer groups. We had the highest ever Q3 sales in Bulten’s history and the capacity boosting measures have produced results, if later than anticipated, and have burdened the quarterly figures.” From January to September, Bulten’s net sales amounted to SEK 4.18 billion, an increase of 33.4% compared to the same period in 2022 (SEK 3.13 billion). Operating earnings (EBIT) totalled SEK 197 million, equating to an operating margin of 4.7%.
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THE STANDARD
DIN 912 | DIN 931 | DIN 933
HEXAGON HEAD
DIN 6921 | ISO 4014 | ISO 4017 | DIN 960 | DIN 961
HEXAGON SOCKET HEAD
DIN 7991 | ISO 10642 | DIN 6912 | DIN 7984 | ISO 7380 -1 & -2
THREADED SCREWS WITH HEXALOBULAR SOCKET HEXAGON SOCKET SET SCREWS THREAD ROLLING SCREWS
DIN 913/ISO 4026 | DIN 914/ISO 4027 | DIN 915/ISO 4028 | DIN 916/ISO 4029 DIN 7500 Form CE | DIN 7500 Form M
TAPPING AND DRILLING SCREWS HEXAGON NUTS WASHERS PARALLEL PINS
ISO 14579 | ISO 14580 | ISO 14581 | ISO 14583
DIN 7504 Form K | ISO 14585 | ISO 14586 | ISO 15481 | ISO 15482
DIN 934 | ISO 4032 | DIN 985 | DIN 980 | ISO 7042 DIN 125 | ISO 7089 ISO 8734 | DIN 7979 Form D
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THE GLOBAL PARTNER FOR DISTRIBUTORS
INDUSTRY NEWS Hilti’s positive momentum continues Hilti Group increased sales by 11.3% in local currencies over the first eight months of the year. In Swiss francs, growth amounted to 5% at a total of CHF 4.31 billion (€4.48 billion). At CHF 466 million, the operating result was 18.9% higher than in the same period last year.
I
n Europe, sales growth in local currencies was 11.9%. In the Americas, Hilti Group again saw an increase in sales of 11.9% and in the Asia/Pacific region, it posted double-digit growth (+16.5%) as well. The Eastern Europe / Middle East / Africa region saw, as expected, a year-on-year sales decline of -2.3%. The appreciation of the Swiss franc against all major currencies led to a negative currency impact of 6.3% on sales growth. “These results are in-line with our expectations,” explained Jahangir Doongaji, CEO at Hilti Group. “While the overall supply chain situation is rapidly stabilising, the construction market outlook remains uncertain and varies in different parts of the world. Despite this uncertainty, we continue with our long-term investments to strengthen our company strategically.” Following the particularly strong level of sales growth during the last four months of 2022, Hilti Group expects the sales and operating result growth to come down by the end of the year, with sales growth leveling out at high single-digits in local currencies.
Business process management acquisition completes
Following on from Hilti Group’s announcement of the acquisition of the 4PS Group at the beginning of July 2023, the company has now confirmed the competition authorities have approved the acquisition. With this acquisition, Hilti has expanded its software offering beyond asset management (ON!Track) and jobsite management (Fieldwire) to now include 4PS’ specialist business process management software for the construction industry. By joining forces, the two companies will now play a greater part in driving the digital transformation of the construction industry. Hilti has stated its commitment to retaining the approximately 350 strong 4PS team, including its management – with the former owners remaining on the board of directors of 4PS to support its integration in the coming years. It will also continue to operate under its existing 4PS Group brand name.
NORMA Group achieves stable profitability in Q3 NORMA Group has achieved stable profitability despite sales decline in the third quarter of 2023, with group sales totalling €297.1 million – 6.7% lower than in the same quarter of the previous year (Q3 2022: €318.6 million).
G
uido Grandi, CEO at NORMA Group, commented: “We delivered a solid performance in the third quarter despite a sluggish market environment. Although our business volume was mixed, we still managed to achieve a sound level of profitability. With our ‘Step Up’ improvement program, we continue to focus on increasing our operational efficiency and leveraging new market opportunities in the areas of mobility, industry applications and water management.” In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), sales in the third quarter of 2023 were almost exactly in-line with the previous year at €119.3 million (Q3 2022: €119.9 million). The slight decline of 0.5% is due entirely to negative currency effects. Organically, sales development was stable. Sluggish economic development in both the automotive industry and industry in general dampened demand for joining technology in the third quarter.
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In the Americas region, sales in the third quarter of 2023 fell noticeably by 12.4% year-on-year to €132.9 million (Q3 2022: €151.7 million). Organically, sales were down 5.6% in the period from July to September 2023. Negative currency effects had an additional negative impact of 6.8% on sales. Strikes at US vehicle manufacturers from mid-September affected customer ‘call offs’ to an unexpected extent, while demand for general industrial applications was also lower. The water management business, on the other hand, recovered after a difficult first half of 2023 and recorded slight organic growth compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the Asia-Pacific region, sales amounted to €45 million in the third quarter – with sales growing by 7.6% organically. Business volume grew particularly well in the area of joining technology for battery cooling systems and other vehicle applications. Due to negative currency effects of 12%, the quarter saw an overall decline of 4.4% compared to the same period of the previous year (Q3 2022: €47 million).
INDUSTRY NEWS
Global slowdown in demand
After an already challenging second quarter, Bossard Group’s third quarter was further characterised by a weakening in demand, with low growth impulses from Europe and Asia. This is reflected in Bossard’s sales in the third quarter, which fell by 14.3% to CHF 249.8 million (prior year: CHF 291.6 million). In local currency, the decrease in sales was 9.4%.
E
ven in a more challenging economic environment, Bossard is continuing to pursue the implementation of its Strategy 200 – with extensive investments in future growth and further efficiency improvements made in the third quarter – including the successful continuation of the roll out of the new ERP system in Malaysia and Thailand. Moreover, the digitisation of processes was also the focus of customers. In an environment marked by a shortage of skilled labour and inflation, Bossard’s Smart Factory services drew even more attention. In Europe, Bossard posted a Q 3 drop in sales of 9.8% to CHF 136.5 million (2022: CHF 151.3 million). The combination of ongoing inventory reduction on the part of customers, and weakening demand, continued in the third quarter. In an environment characterised by economic uncertainty, positive accents were set in the railway and electromobility industries. Following a phase of high double-digit growth rates, demand in America began to normalise. Sales fell by 16% to CHF 69 million (prior year: CHF 82.1 million). The strong Swiss franc was a significant factor in this development. Successful expansion of the customer base was particularly evident in the positive development of the electromobility focus industry. In Asia, Bossard recorded a 23.9% decline in sales to CHF 44.3 million (prior year: CHF 58.2 million). The appreciation of the Swiss franc was also evident in this market region. Demand in the Asia region was subdued overall, with the exception of the positive development in India.
Future outlook
Based on the currently observable market trends, Bossard expects restrained sales development for the fourth quarter of 2023. For the full year 2023, sales of CHF 1.06 billion to CHF 1.08 billion, and an EBIT margin slightly above 10%, are expected. Bossard Group’s operating cash flow will continue to develop positively due, among other things, to the reduction in inventories. Notwithstanding the current volatility, Bossard is optimistic about the future and, following a phase of consistent investment in Strategy 200, is adhering to its medium-term financial targets.
14 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
Sale of KJ Fasteners secured by KBS Corporate KBS Corporate has overseen the sale of K J Fasteners to a UK-based industrial specialist – who described the acquisition as “smooth and collaborative”.
F
ounded in 20 06, Dudley-based K J Fasteners has established itself as a regional leader in the West Midlands for quality structural solutions. The business’ dedication to providing an exceptional standard of service has led to long-standing client relationships in numerous markets, including power transmission, structural engineering, mining and water supply. Founders Kevin Hew and Kenneth Mole instructed KBS Corporate on the sale of KJ Fasteners to facilitate their wider retirement plans. The successful offer for the business came from D.P. Fasteners, part of The Industrial Mandate Ltd. D.P. Fasteners is an innovative service provider operating in the struc tural industr y t h a t p r i o r i t is e s co l l a b o r a t i o n a n d high frequency communication to deliver ‘best in class’ results. Matthew Sibley, the KBS Corporate associate director, who advised on the sale, said: “D.P. Fasteners has a strong foothold in the North East and felt it was the right time to extend its geographical reach. KJ Fasteners is a company of similar size and structure that will complement D.P.’s core offering and allow the business to really accelerate its growth trajectory.” Matt Kenny, from The Industrial Mandate Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to welcome K J into our group. With a strong heritage in specialist fastener sectors, in particular power transmission and heavy infrastructure, we are confident the business will thrive alongside group subsidiaries D.P. Fasteners and North East Fasteners. Our thanks go to KBS for leading a smooth and collaborative process.” Matthew Sibley added: “Kevin and Kenneth were exceptional to work with throughout the sale and remained committed to securing the right deal for both companies. I wish both businesses the best of luck as they grow together over the coming years.”
INDUSTRY NEWS Bossard’s practical training certified Bossard Group is partnering with École des Ponts Business School in Paris, France, for the delivery of the company’s Key Account Development (KAD) programme. The collaboration signals Bossard’s commitment to empowering its employees and enhancing its customer relationships through continuous professional development.
B
ossard’s sales leadership development training has been run by the company for seven years, during which time over 100 Bossard employees from around the world have benefited from the syllabus, which aims to strengthen the relationship between Bossard and its key customers by teaching students how to gain deeper understanding of customer needs, goals and challenges. This understanding allows the company to develop customised solutions that meet client requirements, effectively, with the programme leading, ultimately, to sales growth through the development of essential skills, competencies and the opportunity to build a global network. The success of the programme is also reflected in the performance of the KAD teams, which achieved significant increases in customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty. However, through the collaboration with École des Ponts Business School, the Bossard KAD programme is taking a significant step forward – one which will benefit the students, considerably. Having been approved as a formal École des Ponts academic
programme, it offers future graduates an official, and globally recognised, business school certificate earning 21 ECTS credits. This certificate has the potential to open doors for further growth and development, providing graduates with the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in the future. The KAD programme itself is a two year course comprising three modules that focus on intercultural teamwork, leadership and value creation training. The sessions are conducted both online and face-to-face at various locations worldwide. The current cohort of 24 participants is set to graduate in early 2025. Cédric Roesler, programme director at École des Ponts Business School, said: “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to delivering tailor-made programmes that address the specific needs of organisations and empower their employees. By combining our expertise with Bossard’s dedication to customer value, we aim to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to excel in key account management and drive sustainable results.”
Five years of year-on-year growth TensionPro, the UK-based bolt tensioner specialist, has just celebrated five years in business by announcing record annual sales, a growing order book and the opening of additional production and office facilities.
T
ensionPro provides what is calls a ‘one stop shop’ for all bolt tensioning requirements – covering equipment sales, repairs and refurbishment, spares, special tool designs, load calculations and new tensioner advice. Its core business spans the oil and gas, power generation, wind, civil and industrial markets. After year-on-year growth since 2018, the business is now firmly established in the bolt tensioning market with a wide range of proven, innovative products, a global customer base, and a worldwide network of distributors. Indeed, the company recently announced more local partnerships with distributors in key markets, having teamed up with Marcem in Australia to target the country’s wind and mining sectors, as well as Kinetic Energy Services in the UK, a leading independent service and maintenance provider to the wind turbine industry. To satisfy demand for product, the company has also expanded its UK manufacturing operation by acquiring additional facilities adjacent to its current base in Norton Canes, Staffordshire. This will provide extra space for a dedicated refurbishment section, a training and demonstration area, and a large open plan office for the sales and engineering teams to work together in one location. The company also has an expanding workforce, which was further strengthened this year with a number of new appointments. Most recently, Georgina Orford joined as design engineer, bringing with her nine years of experience in bolt tensioner design – gained in positions with Hydratight and Boltight. As part of TensionPro’s engineering team, she will help design bolt tensioner solutions, develop next generation bolting products and provide technical support to customers and distributors. Dave Metzger, director at TensionPro, explained: “Our first five years have flown by. There have been plenty of hurdles along the way, and it’s not always been easy, but we have stuck resolutely to our focus as a specialist supplier of hydraulic bolt tensioning solutions – delivered with excellent customer support and service. Our business model is to work predominantly through distributors and we have developed some excellent relationships within our global network.”
16 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
INDUSTRY NEWS First machine in AWI’s investment drive The first specialist machine in a GB£500,000 (€574,000) investment drive has been installed at Alloy Wire International (AWI), a leading manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire that supports more than 6,000 customers across 65 countries.
A
WI’s new machine is a wet drawing machine that will allow the company to significantly increase capacity as it looks to take advantage of a rapidly growing order book. The AWI team has worked with the manufacturer to ensure this new machine will fit seamlessly into the production set-up at its state of the art factory, with its specific features helping to reduce lead times even further. The capabilities offered by the new GB£145,000 machine include pre-programming to allow for set spool weights, or wire lengths, and flexibility to work with a wider range of both inlet and finish sizes; this in turn increases the range of mechanical properties that can be offered across all of its 62 grades. Tom Mander, managing director of AWI, commented: “Our sales have risen by over GB£6 million in the last 18 months and our pipeline of orders is looking extremely healthy – the time was right to push the button on upgrading our manufacturing capabilities. The production team looked at what we required to give us more capacity and greater flexibility and a GB£500,000 investment package was signed off – starting with the recent install of the wet drawing machine.” He added that the machine has been customised for AWI’s operations, enabling the company to consider work that it has previously turned down. “You can’t stand still in our sector. The wet drawing machine will be the first of a total GB£500,000 investment strategy, which will eventually see a four spindle annealing line spooler, a new
multihead drawing machine, and two, single hole drawing machines, arrive by the end of the year.” The company, which has two sites in the West Midlands and Yorkshire, was purchased by directors Tom Mander, Andrew Du Plessis, and Adam Shaw, in January. Since then they’ve overseen a significant growth in sales, with orders up nearly 40%, placing the company on course for a nearly GB£18 million turnover by the close of 2023 – the best 12 months in AWI’s 77 year history.
ARaymond invests in US manufacturing plant ARaymond is planning to invest US$12 million (€11.2 million) in its Logansport manufacturing plant in Indiana, USA – solidifying its long-term commitment to the region. The investment will include the installation of new pre-finish and coating lines, which will help streamline and improve the company’s overall operations.
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arry Barker, ARaymond plant manager at Logansport, stated: “We’re excited to continue our commitment to the region and to grow our investment in the Logansport community. This new equipment will allow us to better serve our customers.” The new equipment will arrive at ARaymond’s Logansport facility in December 2023, and will be fully operational by August 2024. The addition of the new coating lines is part of ARaymond’s overall reimagining of its North American operations, including processes that were spread across multiple locations into one facility. ARaymond Logansport will process 80% of its coating work and serve as the primary shipping location for both the Hamilton, Ontario and Logansport sites. These changes will provide its customers with benefits, such as avoiding the need to pick up products in two different locations, crossing borders, reducing administrative work, and aligning with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagements. To celebrate the investment, the plant welcomed ARaymond’s global leadership team this past July for a tour of the facility and to learn details of the impacts the US$12 million investment will have on operations. ARaymond’s leadership expressed their full support of this investment, as it aligns with both their goals to continually improve the efficiency of their products, and services, and to being active players in their local communities. “Our company has been in business for 155 years,” highlighted Larry. “Our mission is to continue our story, by making the improvements that respond to our customer’s needs and in parallel bring value to our surrounding communities.”
18 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
INDUSTRY NEWS
West Midlands Fasteners achieves certification UK-based West Midlands Fasteners has a long history of supplying quality products and services to its customers, with the company recently achieving ISO 9001 certification – reflecting its dedication to quality and customer satisfaction.
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ffering a variety of products for different applications, with more than 20,000 items in stock, West Midlands Fasteners continuously expands its product line to include added items such as studding connectors, thread reducers, wedge nuts, and flange nuts, which are marketed to the merchant trade. Leon Cunnington, sales manager at West Midlands Fasteners, comments: “We are proud to report that our company has been experiencing consistent growth because of our ongoing efforts to invest in our inventory and technology. We recently implemented a new computer system that has enhanced our ability to adapt to the dynamic and demanding environment of the modern world.” Leon continues: “Our mission is to deliver excellent service and quality in all our work. We have a qualified and experienced team that can manage any project with competence and effectiveness. Furthermore, we are the owners of the Parabolt brand since 2004, which enables us to offer technical help and quality products for the construction fixing industry.” West Midlands Fasteners is able to supply various products for different industries, such as construction, engineering, pipework, fire protection and wholesale. Alongside its own Parabolt brand, the company is also partnered with other well-known brands such as Lindapter, Rawlplug, Evolution and TR Fastenings. “We guarantee the quality of all our products by conducting in-house inspections and supplying full certification for our imported items,” mentions Leon. “We offer same/next day delivery for customers who are close to our location, and we collaborate with dependable carriers to ship our products nationwide. We also have our trade counter, which we opened in 2014, for customers to collect orders or bring samples for identification.”
Leon concludes: “Our operation is growing with more direct imports from various sources. Not only do we prioritise the best prices, but also the highest quality and the most reliable certification. Our merchant business is also increasing in volume and scope recently. After careful analysis of our product performance, and customer preferences, we have made a strategic decision to simplify our product range and concentrate on delivering our best selling items. This will enable us to improve our inventory control and satisfy the needs of our customers more effectively.”
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INDUSTRY NEWS BRALO appoints new global sales director BRALO has recently announced that Angel Calvo has joined the Group as global sales director, to contribute to the development and growing position as a leading company in the fastener industry.
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ith sales in fifty countries, including nine international subsidiaries, as well as three global production sites, Angel will help to drive BRALO’s success in providing a global offering of solutions – developed to meet the needs of all its customers. Angel brings an extensive professional background within the industry, having worked in companies such as KONE and THYSSEN KRUPP – where he held sales management positions with both national and international responsibility. Previously, Angel also held sales and marketing management positions in various service companies for the industry, such as SAFETYKLEEN and NILFISK. As a leader in high-quality blind rivets, insert nuts and installation equipment, BRALO offers complete solutions in the sectors of industry, automotive, construction and renewable energy, among others. Under Angel’s leadership, the entire sales and business development team will work in a coordinated manner to meet the needs of customers globally. “His extensive experience in business development and project management is a great addition to the BRALO team,” comments the company.
BIAFD’s autumn meeting sees record number of delegates The British and Irish Association of Fastener Distributors’ (BIAFD) mission is to keep members better informed and this was the case when 100 delegates gathered for the recent meeting in October, at the Delta Hotels Forest of Arden Country Club in Birmingham, UK.
H
ot topics for the meeting included the transitional phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) commencing – the regulation imposing a levy on carbon intensive goods imported into the EU – and how Russian sanctions continue to impact the import and export of iron and steel products across the whole of Europe. With that in mind, customs experts from Crowe UK delivered a comprehensive seminar on both topics – tailored especially to benefit the fastener distributor industry. Other areas covered by the meeting included a new money saving member benefit that was introduced by BIAFD’s new Secretariat and an economic update was presented by a specialist from NatWest. The day was concluded with the association’s AGM. Nearly 60 member companies attended the event bursting with information and networking and, needless to say, the feedback was excellent.
Daniel Ackroyd of executive member Accu said: “The updates that BIAFD provides through their bulletins and events are invaluable in helping Accu to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of our industry, particularly in recent months, and the contacts we have made have helped to support our rapid growth as a business. My experience with BIAFD has been very positive, and the network of contacts, and industry experts, we have built since joining has been incredibly valuable to Accu.” Sarka Thomson of BIAFD’s Secretariat commented: “It was great to see so many members attend and gain a better understanding of the challenges the industry faces. The association will continue to work hard to ensure BIAFD members are better informed, better protected and better supported.” Could you be missing out? To find out more about joining BIAFD visit www.biafd.org.uk or email info@biafd.org.uk
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NORTH AMERICA NEWS by Jason Sandefur, editor/publisher, GlobalFastenerNews.com
Bader tells Pac-West: Ask questions before stocking new products To prevent dead stock make it hard to bring new items into stock, Consultant Jason Bader told the Pacific-West Fastener Association, as the number one cause of dead stock is new items.
A
nother key factor that Jason Bader, principle at The Distribution Team, mentioned was to avoid emotional additions. “It is the emotional side of a salesperson who says, ‘I’ll bet I can sell that.’” He went on to explain that one of the biggest buyers of soon to be unsold inventory is often the owners of distributors. “Companies should be asking questions before adding new items to the inventory. Who is going to buy it? Will there be training support? Who else sells it? Is there a sell-through guarantee? Is the supplier offering any guarantees?” commented Jason. He continued: “If it is a new product, what is the launch date? What are expected margins? Will this supersede an item? What is the intended margin? What is the training plan?” With more than 30 years’ experience in distribution, Jason demonstrated using
gross margin from stock sales (GMROI) and inventory turns to calculate inventory investment. “Measure by buyers and product lines in each branch. You need the data to make inventory decisions,” he added. “One step to reducing dead stock is appointing a dead stock manager who will take a non-emotional response to inventory,” Jason suggested. “Make it an incentive-based pay position. It could be a part time job for a retiree.” Another step is verbiage. Jason said changes in titles can make a point: From ‘buyer’ or ‘purchasing agent’ to ‘inventory investor’ or ‘director of investments’ can motivate. It isn’t just inventory that costs. “Sometimes we keep customers around that shouldn’t be,” Jason said. “I’m ok with losing a few.” Distributors should also develop a ‘hit list’ calculating the number of times a product is
purchased. Anything less than four hits a year is a candidate for non-stocking. “There is a cost of holding inventory, Jason emphasized. “Every bin location is rentable property.” It is an “opportunity cost”. “A cer tain amount of dead stock is inevitable,” Jason acknowledged. “You are not going to get down to zero. We gamble. Customers change,” he cited as reasons. “Don’t use ‘cookie cutter’ approaches to stocking in different locations. There are geographic preferences.” As for additional steps in reducing dead stock, Jason questioned whether you can return the goods to the vendor or hold customers accountable. “Ultimately, what can a distributor do with dead stock? Simply dump it.” www.Pac-West.org
Pac-West panellists: Relationships build companies Four Pacific-West Fastener Association panellists, with successful fastener careers, credited relationships as the key factor in enabling a business to grow.
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uss Doran, who was president of Würth Timberline until 2014, and started in the industry in 1990 with A&I Bolt & Nut, cited an example of how relationships developed in an association pay off. He had a cooling tower customer desperate for specialized fasteners. Through his industry relationships he found a supplier who could “ship by end of week”. “Relationships are invaluable,” Doran said. Beyond supplies, relationships can yield “meaningful ideas,” he added. “Relationships equals priceless,” Wheeler agreed. He credited his success in business on relationships. He recalled a customer needing a fastener and having trouble sourcing it. Wheeler happened to be in Taiwan when contacted by the customer. He turned to the manufacturer he was visiting and who had been promoting turnaround time. Wheeler challenged the manufacturer to “prove it to me” and asked him to supply the fastener and airship it to Wheeler’s US customer. Before the end of the week Wheeler was able to contact the customer and announce the shipment was on a plane. “That’s the value of relationships,” he declared. It is more than customers, employees and suppliers, said Andy Cohn – who started in fasteners as a warehouseman for Bay City Screw in 1974
24 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
and acquired Duncan Bolt in 1988. In addition to executives at the headquarters, Cohn added your relationships with branches can be important too. “Listen to reps,” Cohn stated. Part of relationships is humans answering phones, Cohn finds. Doran said he had a policy of “always meeting the cold call customer”. Doran cautioned “don’t burn bridges”. A local distributor might lose a customer to a “big business” moving into the territory, but that customer may find out the change to a “jet versus a school bus” isn’t how they work best. Ron Stanley promoted participating in fastener associations such as Pac-West to develop relationships. Ron initially went from college to another industry, but was drawn back to Empire Bolt & Screw by his father Larry Stanley – the Empire founder. Ron is still active within Empire – with the company marking its 50th anniversary in 2022. The panellists also emphasized education throughout the company. Stanley encouraged sending employees to Fastener Training Institute programs. “Overall, 3% of staff time should be in education”, he advised. Wheeler suggested half an hour, once a week of ‘screw school’. Beyond training employees, “You’ll learn who doesn’t want to learn,” Wheeler pointed out. Doran cited a result of education avoids another problem: “We all get a black eye when we have a failure.”
NORTH AMERICA NEWS MWFA panel on Artificial Intelligence: See what your partners are doing Responsible users of Artificial Intelligence “need to see what partners are doing”, panellist Jason Therrien, of digital marketing firm thunder::tech, told the Mid-West Fastener Association.
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he panel on Artificial Intelligence was part of the Mid-West Fastener Association’s 2023 FSTNR Week, with Therrien pointing out his consulting firm has warned clients that “your competitors are jumping at AI”. Therrien observed that “we’ve gone from first mentioning ‘dial up’ through waves of technology. We are just beginning to see the pace at which AI can self-perform”. “Think of AI as efficiency,” Therrien suggested. It is a “tool for the sales team. Don’t expect AI to ‘fix’ your business,” he added. “You have to have your house in order.” “AI understands dark warehousing,” underlined Therrien. “AI knows exactly where everything is and each ‘couple of minutes’ AI saves add up.” Lyndon Lattie, inventor of Smartcert and a 20 year fastener sales executive, said AI “is more than music for a walk or a shopping list. The power of AI is in the data. An automatic quoting system is an initial business use of AI and “that is exactly what it was built for,” Lattie said. “Use it for what you need it for,” such as many repetitive tasks. He noted: “It is largely free”. Just like Alexa, AI “starts to get to know you by collecting data”, Lattie explained. Manufacturers can use AI to monitor machines. AI learns vibrations and can start to tell you “we think there is a fluid problem”, Lattie said. “AI is about levels of efficiency. It
can tell you what is going on in customer data. Use the pieces that work for you.” Brandi Bertoia, of fastener distributor software developer INxSQL, used AI to write her panellist bio. “AI grabbed information from the internet and compiled it to get 80% there.” “Don’t ignore AI”, she advised. “I don’t think it is avoidable at this point.” Bertoia added: “AI isn’t new really; it is just getting more attention now.” She also pointed out that “we’re not replacing jobs”, but automating mundane tasks. “No one wants to enter data all day.”
AI is data that becomes a free tool to make life easier and allow humans to make decisions. Bertola advised being aware of suppliers and customers’ AI usage. “Read their privacy policy,” Bertoia emphasized. Eric Dudas, of Fastener Clearing House, noted AI “is moving so fast”, but adding just anything to AI doesn’t help. He emphasized avoiding adding bad data, which is “garbage in, garbage out”. AI is better with “data scrubbing”. Dudas is already using AI in voice editing for his Fully Threaded Radio podcast. “Look for little slivers of tech you can use,” he advised. www.MWFA.net
SPIROL International marks 75th anniversary Originally the Connecticut Engineering & Manufacturing Company, SPIROL International celebrates its 75 th anniversary in 2023 – having grown to now have over 15,000 global customers, with locations on 4 continents and 13 countries.
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ounded in 1948 by Herman Koehl, Walther Von Conta and Hans Prym, the company started by producing just one product, the coiled spring pin. Today, SPIROL manufactures twelve product lines and produces two billion components annually. Hans Koehl, the son of Herman Koehl, started with SPIROL in 1959 and retired as CEO in 2004 – although he does continue as chairman of SPIROL Holding Corporation. His son, Jeffrey Koehl, is today’s CEO. Hans Koehl said increased use of plastics and the electrification of products “has had a profound effect on our business” and SPIROL has “done a great job at recognizing when to develop products to meet new requirements and address the change in the market before they become mainstream”. For instance, SPIROL created and standardized a compression limiter product line for bolted joint integrity of plastic assemblies. SPIROL has also reinvested in the business in multiple ways, such as acquiring Ford Aerospace of the UK. “Unlike our other product lines, precision shims is a tough product to take globally because each shim is custom made for a particular application,” explained Hans Koehl. “The opportunity arose for SPIROL to acquire Ford Aerospace, which would then enable us to produce shims locally for the UK and European market spaces.” www.spirol.com
26 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
ASIA NEWS
News provided by Fastener World Inc: www.fastener-world.com
Geopolitical tensions and the need, or not, for overseas plants Tensions between Taiwan and China are largely influenced by the rivalry and friction between the USA and China, with the latter’s military and political moves having, indisputably added impetus to the trend by companies to open an extra/new location overseas, the ‘+1 trend’.
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s to whether this trend actually impacts the Taiwan fastener industry is worth further scrutiny. Here Fastener World takes a look through some different aspects of the current geopolitical mess that might, or might not, have an impact. A first point to emphasise is that Taiwan has no intention and prerequisites to provoke China. It has never wanted a war, nor will it initiate one. There is complicated sentiment between the two countries but the economic development they have built together has been very successful. That’s why, for its part, Taiwan will not create a reason to go to war. Not only that, but the price of war is high. Many overseas experts have warned of the risks and consequences of a cross-strait war. In the event of such, Taiwan and China’s respective economies would be destroyed, taking decades for them to be rebuilt. As for the Taiwanese fastener sector and how it might be affected, costs in general for Taiwan’s fasteners fall, on average, into a middle of the price range category, and in the event of a war, it would not be difficult for customers to find other countries from which to buy the same standard of products as Taiwan’s. However, it should be pointed out that although Taiwan’s fasteners might be replaceable in terms of price, the nation’s R&D capability, production management, credibility, and its fastener supply chain – the most complete in the world – are unique to Taiwan, and that’s without mentioning significant value-added aspects to many products, as well as service satisfaction. All that said, as fasteners are not critical and tactically important like semiconductors, it is unlikely, if a war breaks out, that Taiwanese fastener factories would be attacked. In fact, over the past three years, Taiwan has not been affected by war concerns, or Covid-19, and during the past 20 years, the country’s fastener exports have actually shown a significant increase. This indicates these exports
will only be subject to global economic factors, but not to political and war factors. So, with all that in mind, would adding an overseas location necessarily translate to lower price offerings for customers? Well, the cost of setting up production lines in other countries is no less than the cost of production in Taiwan, and that factor alone may prevent Taiwanese owners from providing buyers with better prices and service satisfaction from an overseas facility. Summing up this brief analysis on the potential impacts of Taiwan Strait tensions on the nation’s fastener industry, it can be posited that buyers don’t necessarily need to ask Taiwanese owners to adopt the ‘+1 trend’. Why? Because doing so won’t necessarily lead to better pricing for buyers, so, with the country stepping out into the world in a way that it never could before, it needs buyers around the world to see the strengths of its fasteners – and believe in them.
Tackling the pain points of bi-metal screws A new Taiwanese patent called: ‘Forming method for stainless steel screw, capable of direct drilling and fastening’ has been developed by Taiwan’s Best Quality Wire to tackle what the company’s president, Hsiang Wu, calls the pain point in bi-metal screw production.
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he previous process, which requires multiple procedures and is slower than stainless steel screw production, and with a lower output capacity, is ultimately unable to form bi-metal screws in one piece – Wu’s pain point. Using the new patented technique, the company has successfully manufactured its new stainless steel Ultra S S Anti-Corrosion Screw, which can be formed in a single process, without requiring dual-material welding, turning, threading, cleaning, surface treatment or other processes pertaining to bi-metal screws. When compared with bi-metal screws, the new anti-corrosion screw has a surface hardness up to 550HV, core hardness over 520HV, a tension coefficient of 173kgf/mm2, corrosion resistance of over 3,000 hours, and resistance to over 50 salt spray laboratory testing cycles. The screw itself is rust-proof and corrosion-resistant, without the need for surface treatment.
28 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
Best Quality Wire says the patent process and the new screw can replace bi-metal screws, with the added value for clients of significant production cost reductions, faster production times, higher production volumes, and shorter lead times, as well as energy savings and lower carbon emissions. “I can guarantee the use of this screw for 20 to 30 years without rust,” says Hsiang Wu. “I hope to extend its use to marine, wind/solar power, construction and automobiles.” He added that with global inflation and imminent EU carbon taxation he hopes “this screw can help clients face the carbon tax challenge and be more cost-competitive”, as well as contributing to environmental protection. Outside Taiwan, the new technique has also earned patents in Europe and the USA.
ASIA NEWS
Guiding the metal industry towards carbon reduction With the first phase of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) having begun in October, attention to carbon reduction has reached new heights for the Taiwanese fastener sector and related industries.
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n response, Fastener World held its ‘Orientation of Smart Manufacturing and Carbon Reduction Guidance Programme for Metal Industry’ in late August – inviting the director of National Cheng Kung University’s Research Centre for Quality and Innovation, Mr JrJung Lyu, together with Mr Bill Wang, general manager of Hu Pao Industries, to share their experiences and knowledge of carbon inventory and carbon reduction. Bill Wang began by sharing how Hu Pao Industries has pushed for net zero transformation and began taking its carbon inventory last February. It became the first among 1,800 Taiwanese fastener companies to pass the latest ISO 14064-1 carbon inventory certification. He also reminded the audience that net zero transformation involves an entire corporate structure and can only be implemented with the cooperation of all employees and not just by relying on top managers. He explained, for example, that if a company’s monthly electricity bill exceeds TW$1 million, it is recommended to prioritise the introduction of ISO 50001 certification for energy management, in order to obtain the “maximum coefficient of electricity consumption” for the company. This can then be used to target the most energy consuming equipment – those items with a consumption rate of 60% to 80% – and reduce electricity consumption, accordingly. He then covered ISO 14064-1 certification, which enables inventory on the greenhouse gas emissions of an organisation to be taken as a whole, although much of the data for which will already be available from ISO 50001 work. Finally, ISO 14067, product specific, carbon footprint inventory can be performed, with data used on an ongoing basis. Wang also discussed the challenges facing enterprises due to the drive to net zero, which include such things as increased labour costs and inventory operations; a lack of environmental, social and
governance (ESG) professionals – most of whom will need to learn on the job; as well as a lack of digital tools to replace paper-based processes, including those requiring verification by auditors. External challenges cited by Wang include government agencies offering a wide range of carbon reduction options without the ability to identify their applicability to any specific organisation and, therefore, requiring staff to learn which options actually apply to their company. Wang’s own Hu Pao Industries has responded to this situation by establishing a cross-departmental net zero team, cultivating trainees to learn the certifications and regulatory requirements, and implementing carbon inventory taking through the establishment of inventory procedures, along with the collection of activity data and managing data quality. He said Hu Pao Industries will continue to push for ESG and net zero by building a smart power grid, purchasing green electricity, selecting low carbon raw materials, and promoting green purchase and resource re-use. As for Mr Lyu, he told the gathering that the time had come for a shift from the soft requirement of just ESG activities to the compulsory requirement of CBAM, which is based on the bill passed by the EU. He said: “Don’t wait until your customers demand it; the origin is not your customers, it’s from the EU.” He added that the need to implement a carbon reducing capability will take priority over cost reduction needs by 2030, not to mention the fact that while the EU might have taken this first step, the USA, China, and many other countries around the world will also, eventually, introduce carbon taxes. “Don’t be mistaken to think that just because you are only engaged in domestic sales you will not be affected. The impact will extend from the export industry to the domestic sales industry, so the Taiwanese Government has invested TW$11 billion this year to cope with this,” Lyu concluded.
Bossard opens Taiwanese plant Bossard has opened a new plant in Houli, Taichung, Taiwan, offering customers advanced testing, as well as other support services. From contract to completion the new plant took three years at a cost of TW$360 million (€10.48 million).
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he new facility, which occupies 6,600m 2, includes a brand new quality control laboratory and computer controlled, automated, vertical warehousing space with a total capacity of up to 3,600 SKUs. Bossard highlights the new laboratory is equipped with the most advanced instruments in the industry, which can process image measurements, as well as dimension/vibration/pull-out/hardness/thickness testing, and the laboratory is even equipped with a screw assembly tester, which Bossard states is rarely seen in Taiwan and provides customers with additional quality control. If customers have new product development ideas, the company also has a professional technical team to assist and advise on product development. Not only does this allow customers to significantly reduce the cost of self-development, but it also focuses on the practicality of products, performance, safety and efficiency, so the most appropriate improvements are made. In addition, if customers require other overseas, high-end brands, the company’s representation for a number of leading European and US parts manufacturers can help customers in this regard. Having many years of expertise in logistics management and smart factories, Bossard designed the new plant’s 15m high automated vertical warehouse to meet the needs of the next 20 years. Its functionality accurately controls inbound and outbound goods processes through the use of barcodes, allowing much more inventory to be handled than the original 500 SKUs of the older plants.
30 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
BRAZIL NEWS Sérgio Milatias, editor, Revista do Parafuso, www.revistadoparafuso.com.br
Automotive sector shows mixed results The number of vehicles produced within Brazil over the first three quarters of 2023 have seen mixed results, depending on the type of vehicle being produced – with Brazilian motorcycle production continuing to show positive results.
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he automotive sector is one of the most important markets for the Brazilian fastener industry, involving the manufacture of cars, buses, trucks, as well as motorcycles. Overall, the 2023 cumulated production (Q1 to Q3) for cars, trucks and buses is 1,750,827 vehicles, practically equal with the 1,752,632 achieved in the same period last year. The passenger car and light vehicle section was very similar, with production reaching 1,663,707 units for the same period, 2.96% above the 1,615,863 units last year. Brazilian motorcycle production continued to show positive results, achieving strong growth for the first three quarters of 2023 by reaching 1,191,673 units – a 12.24% increase on the same period the previous year (2022: 1,061,643 units). In contrast, both truck and bus production experienced a ‘hangover’ after good results in same period of 2022. When compared, truck production
Brazilian automotive production Vehicle
Q1 – Q3 2022
Q1 – Q3 2023
Difference
Passenger cars and light vehicles
1,615,863
1,663, 707
+2.96%
Trucks
116,675
71,765
-38.4%
Buses
23,824
15,355
-35.5%
Motorcycles
1,061,643
1,191,673
12.24%
was down 38.4% to 71,765 units this year (2022: 116,675 units) and bus production was down 35.5% to 15,355 units in 2023 (2022: 23,824 units). When analysing the overall Brazilian economic scenario for Q1 – Q3 of 2023 industrial production was slightly down at 1.3%, with predictions suggesting this will remain the same for the remainder of the year. However, the GPD annual increase estimate is above 3%, pulled mainly by sectors such as oil, gas, and the mining of iron minerals, which saw an 8.9% rise, and agribusiness with an increase of 17.9%. Sources: www.agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br / www.anfavea.com.br / www.abraciclo.com.br/site
Slight fall in fastener Sun and wind show exports and imports promise for fasteners Brazilian fastener exports and imports for the last three quarters of 2023 have shown a slight fall when compared with the same period in 2022, although the export price FOB per kilogram did increase for exports.
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rom Q1 to Q3 of 2023 the value of export for fasteners ‘Made in Brazil’ – bolts, nuts, screws and other types of fasteners – reached US$131.57 million (€122.5 million) a decrease of 3.09% when compared to the same period the previous year (2022: US$135.77 million). In volume the decrease was even more apparent with Q1 to Q3 of 2023 only reaching 23,111 tonnes – a 21.31% fall compared to the 29,373 tonnes achieved in 2022. However, the FOB price per kilogram did reach US$5.69 compared to the US$4.62 in 2022. Imports followed a similar pattern, with the value of fastener imports reaching US$751.23 million, a decrease of 5.99% when compared to the US$799.09 million achieved in 2022; and the volume decreasing from 156,581 tonnes in 2022 to only 143,032 tonnes in 2023 (a fall of 8.65%). The FOB price per kilogram did go up slightly to US$5.25 from US$5.1.
Brazilian fastener exports and imports Period Q1 – Q3 2022
Q1 – Q3 2023
Fastener exports
Fastener imports
US$135.77 million
US$799.09 million
29,373 tonnes
156,581 tonnes
US$4.62 FOB/kg
US$5.1 FOB/kg
US$131.57 million
US$751.23 million
23,111 tonnes
143,032 tonnes
US$5.69 FOB/kg
US$5.25 FOB/kg
32 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
The recent Intersolar South America and Brazil Wind Power exhibitions underlined the promising opportunities available to fastener companies within these sectors.
D
ifferent to countries in the northern hemisphere, the exhibition season carries on throughout the summer months in Brazil – with trade exhibitions almost non-stop during the month of August – including Intersolar South America. As already known, Brazil has highlevels of sunshine, which turns it into a promising place for the solar energy sector. This was underlined by the recent Intersolar South America show which attracted 530 exhibitors and around 50,000 visitors. Brazilian companies will be aware that the main obstacles to progress in the solar sector are from high costs caused by government taxes, as well as the regulatory uncertainties. This is underlined by the periodic report from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), which showed that solar energy only has share of 3.9% (33.5 GW)1 within the total installed electrical capacity in Brazil. As for the wind sector, the Brazil Wind Power (BWP) exhibition attracted more than 100 exhibitors and 6,500 visitors. The most important theme discussed during the BWP show was the possible expansion to offshore operations. The expectation is approval will be granted and 78 new projects are on standby for a new legal framework to proceed immediately. Currently the wind power capacity installed in Brazil is 26GW, divided among 916 wind farms and 10,178 wind turbines 2. With the expected successful expansion, the predictions are that the current capacity could be doubled. 1 Powerful and reliable. Total solar energy capacity installed, according to the Absolar: www.absolar.org.br 2 According to ABEEólica the local sector association: www.abeeolica.org.br
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COVER STORY Nord-Lock® strengthens its industry leading position with unique CE Marked securing washers When Nord-Lock®, part of the Nord-Lock Group, introduced its innovative wedge-locking technology in 1982, the company swiftly rose to its current market leading position as the global leader for bolting solutions. Now, the company is once again breaking new ground by announcing the addition of CE Marking to its wedge-locking washers.
B
y achieving CE Marking for its securing washers, Nord-Lock® explains it has accomplished a feat that no other global supplier has achieved – putting the company in a unique position in the building and construction industry. CE Marking is a requirement for anyone supplying products to the building and construction industry within the European Union ensuring products comply with the EU’s rigorous safety and quality regulations. The milestone of attaining CE Marking for securing washers reinforces Nord-Lock’s raison d’etre – protecting customer investments and keeping people safe. By implication, it also reassures the already established perception of Nord-Lock as the given partner when safety and reliability really matter. “We are thrilled to introduce CE Marking for our wedge-locking washers, reinforcing our commitment to delivering excellence in engineering and design,” reports Graham Souter, vice-president and head of the Nord-Lock Business Unit. “This achievement demonstrates our dedication to compliance and safety, providing our customers with a competitive edge in their operations.”
A testament to quality
Nord-Lock points out that to declare that a product is of ‘high-quality’ can mean a lot of things. So, the phrasing often gets applied somewhat by default in advertising and communication activities, occasionally without tangible efforts or actions behind it. However, in the building and construction industry, with products and components carrying the CE Mark, quality is
verified through rigorous processes and protocols. Constructors and manufacturers can thus be rest assured that using products with CE Marking means they reach more than satisfactory quality standards. The way to guarantee desired levels of quality in CE Marked products is through a Declaration of Performance (DoP). This is a ‘document that provides information on the performance of a construction product’, as stated by the European Commission. To obtain CE Marking for construction products, manufacturers need to have a DoP in place. To ensure that the DoP is legitimate, reliable, and accurate, the EU uses AVCP (The Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance). For standardised products, manufacturers can monitor and declare the quality performance of their products themselves. However, for components such as Nord-Lock wedge-locking washers, another more extensive system is applied.
Washers assessed by independent expertise
The AVCP system implemented by Nord-Lock for its wedge-locking washers involves third party involvement, meaning that the DoP is audited and verified once a year by independent and notified assessors. “Adding CE Marking to our washers reassures constructors that one of their smallest but most critical components continuously passes stringent quality assessments,” says Frank Götz, senior expert at Nord-Lock Group. “And considering the growing need for reliable securing measures, as projects are getting bigger and existing constructions age, being able to provide securing washers with CE Marking is a step in the right direction.”
Easier to comply with regulations
Other than reassuring high-quality standards, one upside of using CE Marked securing washers is that any building and construction
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business, in any EU market, can seamlessly reap the renowned benefits of these washers when compliance with regulations is assured throughout the assembly process. With a locking mechanism that uses tension instead of friction, Nord-Lock wedge-locking washers keep bolted connections tight and secure. Even when subjected to severe vibrations or dynamic loads, operators do not have to worry about bolts in critical connections loosening. “If you face a specific bolting challenge, chances are Nord-Lock has solved it before. With CE Marked securing washers now being a reality, it will be easier for anyone involved in the EU’s building and construction industry to get up to speed with the safest and most reliable bolting solution available.” www.nord-lock.com
Durable bolted joints in steel construction The saying goes ‘everybody can tighten a bolt’, but a properly designed joint involves a multitude of factors, from preload and friction to tool calibration, settlements, as well as dynamic loads.
N
ord-Lock higlights that while the requirements for welded joints have evolved steadily over the years, to the point where it’s now common to have certified professionals to execute and approve welded joints, a simple bolting protocol from anyone is sufficient for critical bolted joints. Unfortunately, even this minor requirement is not always available. The fact that critical bolted joints are not subjected to similar quality requirements as welded joints can lead to problems in steel construction – with one of the biggest risks from unsecured bolted joints, subjected to any kind of dynamic loads, being the loss of preload and loosening, which could lead to several negative consequences, such as production downtime and unintended movements. That is why Nord-Lock believes that the purposeful and sensible choice of one or more measures is one of the many responsible decisions of the designing engineer.
Challenges: Preload, slackening and self-loosening
Nord-Lock underlines that the design principle in steel construction is historically based on a rivet. Having remained unchanged, most steel bolts are designed non-preloaded. This runs contrary to the design principle of a bolt itself, where you always want to leverage the benefits of proper clamping and pretensioning. Loss of preload in bolted joints can occur due to slackening or self-loosening.
Solutions: Nord-Lock washers and European standards
In general, overcoming slackening involves implementing design principles, but self-loosening can be solved with Nord-Lock washers. The washers are validated as an effective securing element for bolted joints by European Technical Assessments (ETAs).
WWW.FASTENERANDFIXING.COM
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INSIGHT
IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS AND REPORTS WITH FASTENER SPECIALISTS
CBAM
Update on the requirements of CBAM
At the beginning of September, the European Fastener Distributor Association (EFDA) held another webinar for its national member associations on the impact of the CBAM regulation, including new EU requirements.
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ndreas Schneider of StahlmarktConsult once again gave a presentation on the intricacies of the CBAM regulation and provided hints on how importers can make their way through the ‘jungle’ that is the CBAM obligations. To begin with Andreas went through the basics of CBAM and gave an update on the situation (as of the beginning of September). He also discussed the responsibilities in the transition phase, such as what is required and who is responsible, as well as some recommendations on how fastener importers should proceed. As previously discussed in the July edition of Fastener + Fixing Magazine, the political decision to introduce CBAM was made at the end of 2022, with the CBAM regulation (L130/52) published in May 2023. The
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INSIGHT basic approach of CBAM is that when goods from third countries are imported into the EU, they should bear a levy equal to the CO 2 costs of EU manufacturers. The regulation concerns the import of all fasteners under code CN 7318 originating from third countries into the EU, with the exception of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. “The decisive factor is the origin of the goods,” highlighted Andreas. “If the goods are produced in third party countries and then exported via Switzerland into the EU, for example, the CBAM obligations will be fully enforced.” Since the previous article in July, there have been a number of updates to the CBAM regulation that relate to the transition period, including over 100 pages of annexes – underlining that adhering to the regulation is not going to be a straightforward process.
According to Article 16 of the Implementation Regulation the national authorities may impose sanctions if the notifier fails to take necessary measures to comply with the obligation to submit a CBAM report…” “Even now the necessary documents or steps have not been fully completed, we have the framework but some of the details are missing,” underlined Andreas. “For instance, we are still missing default values; we do not know what the national competence authorities will be in each country of the EU; and we are a lso still missing t he transitional registry.” Even with some details missing, the transition period of the regulation started on 1st October 2023 and will continue until the end of 2025. “The transition phase mainly contains reporting requirements and no financial obligations,” mentioned Andreas. “It is also the phase for the European Commission to set-up all the authorities and collect the necessary data and look to optimise processes. It is not until the final implementation phase, which will start from 2026 onwards, that it will be necessary to purchase CBAM allowances and there will be potential costs involved. There will also be further registration obligations and the reporting requirements will be extended.”
What are the obligations?
Andreas explained that every company that imports goods into the EU during Q4 of 2023 must submit a CBAM report to the European Commission no later than one month after the end of the quarter – January 2024. “Through the updates, the European Commission has confirmed that the ‘importing declarant’ can either be the importer who lodges a customs declaration; a person who is authorised to lodge a customs declaration; or it can be an indirect customs representative. This means a company does not necessarily have to submit the report itself, it can also be done by a customs declarant or a c u s tom s represent at ive. However, the legal obligation to submit the CBAM report lies with the importer.” Reports will be submitted electronically after registration via the CBAM transitional register, which is not yet available, but will be interoperable with existing customs systems. With it being a new process, and importers required to collect so much new data, Andreas was keen to underline how they could get additional time to fulfil these duties if required. “There are several options available, such as the declarant being able to amend a submitted CBAM report two months after the end of the relevant reporting quarter. This gives importers a little bit more time during the introductory phase if needed. Option two is a special clause that applies to the first two reports, which says the reports for Q4 2023 and Q1 2024 can be corrected until 31st July 2024. The third option is, at the justified request of the reporting declarant, the competent authority must examine the application in question and, if necessary, allow the declarant to resubmit or correct the CBAM report within one year of the end of the relevant reporting quarter (Art. 9 (3) Impl Reg). This means that if you do not have all the necessary information, you can get some additional time to gather this data. However, I believe it is better to submit an incomplete report than to give no report at all.”
Monitoring and sanctions
When it comes to the monitoring and sanctions, the monitoring is carried out by the European Commission, which informs the national authorities in the case of non-submission or deficiencies. The national authorities will then carry out an assessment within three months and, if necessary, initiate correction procedures. Ac c or d i n g t o A r t ic le 16 of t he Implementation Regulation, the national authorities may impose sanctions if the notifier fails to take necessary measures to comply with the obligation to submit a CBAM
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report, or where the report is inaccurate or incomplete and the necessary correction action is not taken after the rectification procedure has been implemented. Andreas reported that the amount of the penalty will initially be between €10 and €50 per tonne of unreported emissions. The penalty might be even higher in cases where the report submission has been missed for more than six months or if incorrect reports have been submitted more than two times in a row and not corrected. “With the possibility of these penalties, importers should submit reports even if certain data is missing initially.”
Reporting obligations
Next up, Andreas talked about the reporting obligations as part of the CBAM Implementation Regulation, especially Articles 3 and 7. “Each CBAM report should include a wide range of information, including quantity of goods imported in tonnes; types of goods as identified by the CN codes; country of origin; production routes used – defined in Section 3 of Annex II; information on specific parameters; specific embedded direct emissions of goods in CO2 per tonne; reporting requirements that have an effect on embedded emissions – as referred in Section 2 of Annex IV – for steel goods; the identification number of the specific steel mills – where
This means that if you do not have all the necessary information, you can get some additional time to gather this data. However, I believe it is better to submit an incomplete report than to give no report at all.”
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39
INSIGHT
known; additional information for specific embedded indirect emissions (electricity) – if applicable; additional information on the methodological basis for determining emissions; and, if applicable, information on the CO 2 price paid in the country of origin.” Andreas added: “The importer also needs to report the installation where the goods are produced. This is mandatory under CBAM and whilst it might prove difficult to find out this information from suppliers, it is needed along with an address and a location code, including geographical coordinates.”
Division of tasks
Next up, Andreas gave a clear division of tasks when it comes to the CBAM report. “Firstly, for the determination of emissions, the main responsibility lies with the third country producer. It is clear the installation operators in third countries are responsible for the monitoring and reporting of emissions. This might be questionable from a legal point of view, as the EU cannot issue a regulation that is directly binding on companies in third countries, but the Commission wants the third country operators to collect data on emissions and then send a report as a third country manufacturer.” A nd rea s cont i nued: “ T he ma i n responsibility for the importer is to ensure the completeness of the import list and of the other relevant factors that are not emissions. When the documents were originally published in August a lot of importers would have spent time on the determination and calculations of emissions. However, I believe importers should not be too concerned with the details or determination of the emissions. It is
In the case of fasteners, the embedded emissions of the fasteners will be composed of the emissions of the production process (heat applied for making the rods and for annealing the final product), plus the embedded emissions of the wire rod and any precursors.” clear from Article 3.1 of the Implementation Regulation that this is the main responsibility of the third country producer.” “A few other areas of the regulation that could help importers simplify the process include Article 4.3, which says that for the first three CBAM reports (until 31 st July 2024) the declarant (importer) may use methods for determining emissions other than those specified in the EU regulation. These include default values set by the EU Commission, which have not been published yet but hopefully will be soon.” Another aspect of the regulation that could help fastener importers is Article 5.3, which says that up to 20% of the total embedded emissions associated with complex goods can be based on estimates provided by
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the plant operator. This is very important for fastener importers as the EU default values qualify as an estimate. “Producers of fasteners will be able to typically estimate the emissions of their own installations or use default values for the implementation phase of the regulation, which hopefully will make things easier,” stated Andreas. “As already mentioned, the default values are not published yet, but I hope they will be published soon by the Commission. They will then apply regardless of the country of origin and are uniformly defined for screws for the four-digit level of the CN 7318 – covering direct and indirect emissions. This means there will be one default value for all fasteners.” Andreas went on to explain that whilst he expects these default values to be set at globally high-levels, it is not too much of a concern during the transition phase. “During the transition phase you do not have to pay or buy certificates, so there is no issue with using higher default values. However, once the implementation phase starts in 2026 the default values, if set at high-levels, will cause higher costs when calculating emission levels.”
Adding complexity
Whilst Andreas agreed that some updates had helped simplify certain aspects, there was one part of the regulation that appears to be more complex than previously thought and that involves the indirect emissions that stem from the electricity consumed during the production process. “This must now be determined for steel products in the transition phase, which was not initially planned. Whilst these indirect emissions need to be reported during the transition phase, as things
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INSIGHT stand they do not need to be reported in the implementation phase, but this is not 100% confirmed, as it is still in discussion.” The calculation of indirect emissions, at least in the case of steel goods, is very complex according to Andreas. “In Annex III of the regulation there is a lot of hints and methods that have to be used. Aspects that need to be reported include manufacturing routes, production processes, as well as process boundaries for all relevant raw materials. However, I believe importers should not lose themselves in the detail too much, as this is not the main focus. If companies do want to do it then they can find some guidance in the document guidance for installation operators.”
Reporting emissions
Andreas confirmed there has a been simplification when it comes to the reporting of emissions, as Annex IV states that for each good, emissions might be determined for each CN code or for aggerated goods categories. This means that importers do not have to report emissions for each single CN code of fasteners. Emissions can be reported for the category of iron or steel products or category of fasteners. “This makes things a little easier, as otherwise it would require a huge data set for each CN coded product. Whilst this has been simplified, there are other things that have not. For instance, the report of emissions is divided into two elements – the first element is specific to embedded/direct emissions and the second element is the indirect embedded emissions of each of the goods. In both cases, they are calculated from two parts – the production process of the fasteners and the second is the embedded emissions from any relevant precursor.” Andreas continued: “When we talk about specific emissions, it is the total emissions divided by the quantity of goods produced. In the case of fasteners, the embedded emissions of the fasteners will be composed of the emissions of the production process (heat applied for making the rods and for annealing the fina l product), plus the embedded emissions of the wire rod and any precursors.”
Emissions of precursors
Andreas went on to point out t he emissions of precursors is, in his opinion, the most difficult and complex part of the whole process. This is because for precursors the operators of installations need to monitor the quantity of each precursor used during t he repor ting period for each of t heir production processes. For instance, the first precursor of fasteners could be the wire rod, but then all the precursors for wire/wire rod themselves need to be included too – for instance crude steel, pig iron, and any other production routes of steel.
...it makes sense to use a pragmatic approach when it comes to CBAM...” “The regulation states clearly that if the precursor is a complex product, which is true of steel, all relevant precursors must be included until no precursor is left,” reported Andreas. “Therefore, if the manufacturer of screws does not have this information, they must request the relevant information (identification of the installation, direct and indirect embedded emissions, production route, additional parameters, etc) from the relevant raw material suppliers, which could prove very complex.” Andreas added: “A slight simplification within the regulation is that the operator of the production facility of fasteners, and also the precursors before the fastener production, don’t have to report detailed data on the emissions, as it is optional. The mandatory aspect is only to report the value of emission of the installation of third countries, which must be included in the CBAM report.”
Sample procedure for determining emission data
When it comes to determining emissions data, Andreas was clear that without the constructive cooperation from all parties ‘actual data’ cannot be determined. “In my opinion, this type of data will not be available from the different aspects of the supply chain. Unless there are already recording systems that meet the requirements, it is questionable whether/ when the requested data will be available. What makes it even more complicated is the production routes of steel that might be used in the case of fasteners, can be different. Mainly it will be the integrated blast furnace route, where coke and iron ore and other precursors are used. However, it is possible that the steel could be from an electric arc furnace, which is high alloyed. Even within the different process routes you might have different plant configurations. This will create a whole bunch of different emission processes and values in the case of the production and the precursors of fasteners.” Andreas did point out that the European Commission does allow under certain conditions a simplified ‘bubble approach’ for the emissions of steel production under certain conditions. “The end of the boundaries depends on several conditions, but you have to include the emissions of wire rod and if the wire rod comes from an integrated steel mill, which is allowed to work with a simplified ‘bubble approach’, then the process might end here. However, if the conditions are not met, then it will be necessary
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to go through the production process to include the producers of the individual raw material parts (coke, iron ore, etc).” Andreas highlighted that for the guidance of third country operators, there is a section for the emission of steels and there is clear guidance on how to calculate emissions for producing steel – including some examples – and also the conditions for the ‘bubble approach’, which makes it easier. The main condition of the simplified ‘bubble approach’ is that all materials are consumed within the steel works, and the steps are done outside.
Recommendations on how to proceed
Andreas explained that whilst it is a very complex issue, in his opinion it makes sense to use a pragmatic approach when it comes to CBAM and recommended using two main sources – the first is Annex I of the Implementation Regulation, which is a table that contains the structure of the CBAM report and a second table that lists detailed information requirements that have to be included in the CBAM report. The second main source is Annex IV, which whilst only a few pages, contains the content of communication from operators. “From these two sources, you can divide your approach into two questions – what part of the reporting obligations can be fulfilled through one’s own efforts and where do I depend on data from third country producers? Both will provide good guidance on how to navigate and use the CBAM report,” suggested Andreas. As a final point Andreas highlighted some key questions that each importer needed to ask themselves, such as do they want to continue to import goods from third countries? Do they want to be a ‘CBAM declarant’ or should this be done by another company or a customs declarant? Also, if the importer is doing it themselves, Andreas suggested they need to assign responsibilities within the company to make sure all data is collected and reported. “From 1 st October importers who have decided to be a ‘CBAM declarant’ themselves must ensure that all CBAM related products are fully recorded within the company. The minimum should be the CN Codes (8-digit level), as well as quantity and country of origin (where it is produced),” concluded Andreas. “The quantities in the CBAM report must also be given by customs procedure, so that you can follow up the CBAM declaration.” www.efda-fastenerdistributors.org Since the EFDA webinar the CBAM Transitional Registry has been activated and for most countries (not including Germany) the competent national authorities have been published. It is understood that importers can only register once the national authorities have been determined.
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INSIGHT
Rethinking efficiency with Growermetal Over the years Growermetal has implemented its service by combining its long experience as a washer manufacturer with agile productive processes and logistics – with a constant focus on customer satisfaction and a commitment to the creation of a responsible and sustainable approach.
I
n a globalised world, businesses have become increasingly international and their strategies have switched towards comprehensive, timely and large-scale services. Agility, flexibility and the ability to handle a large number of orders are therefore essential for any industry with a broad perspective and long-term goals. That’s why Growermetal SpA decided to align itself with these values, investing in a competitive logistic system in order to improve the whole supply chain. From its headquarters in Calco, a city in the north of Italy, 40km from Milan, the Italian washer manufacturer offers a capillary service to the European market and serves the world’s leading economic areas, such as North America, South America, the Middle East, China and other Far Eastern countries – exporting its products through a widespread sales network. To facilitate and promote partnerships with different areas, the company also decided to implement its washers and blanked parts supply service through the creation of a network of sales offices abroad, including Growermetal USA and Growermetal Do Mercosul, founded in 2014 and 2015 respectively, which enable the company to better meet customers’ needs in North and South America. “The businesses expansion was made possible by a strategy meant to bring advantages from many points of view, linking major business processes within and across Growermetal and facilitating the movement of goods,” states Paolo Cattaneo, CEO of Growermetal. In order to improve its service, and achieve the best performance, the company worked on many aspects. First of all, the creation of a wide range of solutions, including standard washers and parts to the manufacturing of special projects according to customers’ drawings – with a production capable of more than 7,000 different washer designs. “This is a portfolio of measures, materials and geometries that is the result of a know-how rooted in more than seventy years of activity,” points out Paolo. “This means the portfolio can address a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, railway, agricultural machinery, industrial machinery and transport equipment, as well as the clean energy, oil and gas, electromechanical, construction and infrastructure sectors.”
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...the portfolio can address a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, railway, agricultural machinery, industrial machinery and transport equipment...”
INSIGHT In addition to standard designs, such as washers with internal or external teeth, conical elastic washers, flat washers, spring washers for railway applications, corrugated washers, and many others, Growermetal’s R&D team has developed exclusive branded geometries, such as the flagship products Grower TenKeep® and Grower SpheraTech®, which are among the latest innovations the company has launched into the market. Together with its range, another distinctive feature of Growermetal is its completely in-house manufacturing system, which has enabled the company to improve its efficiency levels over the years. Thanks to the centralisation of resources, and the continuous investment in innovation and cutting-edge machines, today the Italian business can count on a production cycle that is conducted entirely at its headquarters.
In a scenario of Just In Time production – focused on full customer satisfaction – ensuring a logistics system in-line with the requirements of a dynamic market is not only an advantage, but a necessity to create trusted relationships with partners.” “The management system facilitates the constant supervision of the parts and washers during the process, which is made of different steps and services – including tooling design and manufacturing, blanking and embossing, coining, steel wire rolling and surface finishing treatments, as well as treatments aimed at improving the characteristics and resistance of the products, such as heat treatment, zinc flake coating and mechanical zinc plating – the latter available both on Growermetal’s product line and to third parties,” explains Paolo. This variety is further completed by quality control, as well as final packing and storage, ensuring full supervision and optimised handling of the washers. In fact, it is within the large automated warehouse that the third key element of Growermetal’s strategy can be found. “In a scenario of Just In Time production – focused on full customer satisfaction – ensuring a logistics system in-line with the requirements of a dynamic market is not only an advantage, but a necessity to create trusted relationships with partners,” states Paolo. That is why for more than 10 years Growermetal’s fully automated warehouse has contributed to the moving of semi-finished and finished products, through its self-supporting structure with more than 11,000 storage locations, 1,500m 2 of automated area and 17 storage levels. The service provided by the warehouse is implemented through the
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combination of automatic packaging lines, five laser guided vehicles (LGVs) and stacker cranes, which combined perform more than 150 combined cycles per hour. With more than 4,000 products, and the support of an advanced Warehouse Management System (WMS), Growermetal’s warehouse has been organised to offer medium and long-term benefits. In fact, the company can provide greater efficiency in the movement of goods, without picking mistakes; the constant monitoring of the stock levels; and many other functions that guarantee the best service to the end customer. To further enhance the quality and efficiency of its solutions, Growermetal has also recently introduced a new automatic packaging machine, which allows easy handling of customers’ packaging and expands the possibility of customisation. “We are a well established company in the fastener industry, however, we are aware that our sector is impacted by the rise of more and more demanding requirements and needs. This evolution brings new challenges, both from the technical and the organisational point of view. We must take into account all these aspects, so that we can drive the company towards a flexible and ever evolving approach. Digitalisation will also be essential in this path,” reports Paolo. Among the latest innovations introduced in the supply chain, Growermetal has invested resources to improve service traceability through the use of software aimed at precise control of single items and their management. These systems have helped not only to increase the accuracy and safety of the parts, but also to ensure immediate intervention and resolve malfunctions during production steps, minimising downtime. Active collaboration with the supply chain has also contributed to the creation of transparent relationships with suppliers in the selection of raw materials, aiding a reduction in the company’s ecological footprint through the adoption of innovative materials, such as low impact steel. From the sustainable point of view, the adoption of cutting edge technology was a key aspect that has led to increasing the energy efficiency of the processes and environments involved. “As a company, we have to embrace change because it is the only way to improve and evolve. Of course, continually rethinking our business model may be challenging, but it is also extremely motivating,” concludes Paolo. “Technological innovation offers us a key to speeding up change, but a responsible, eco-sustainable, solution oriented attitude and transparent approaches are essential to move ourselves forward, anticipating the future and reducing our impact.” www.growermetal.com
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INSIGHT Charting the changing face of fastener logistics over 50 years This year TR Fastenings celebrates 50 years within the fastener industry – having seen a dramatic change in the logistics and services required by customers over this period. Here Glenda Roberts, global projects and marketing director at TR Fastenings, charts the key moments in the company’s history and how it met the challenges and opportunities that came its way.
T
R Fastenings was founded by Mike Timms and Mike Roberts, whom the company is named after, in Uckfield, East Sussex – an area that was hardly the centre of the fastener world at that time, as the major UK fastener manufacturers and suppliers were in the Midlands and reigned supreme. Both Mikes came from a background in fasteners having worked for a large turned parts company. They had ambitions to start a different kind of distributor business in the south, as they realised there was a different way of servicing large manufacturers. Typically, in that era the large fastener producers supplied against a purchase order based on manufacturing batch quantities. They made it in bulk and shipped in bulk. Most customers’ manufacturing facilities had large warehouses to enable them to hold many months of inventory and they had little option but to take that batch quantity and the rule was it was plus or minus 10%. If it was 10% short of what was required, then they had to purchase a new batch quantity. The Mikes convinced enough large companies in the south that they could deliver on a weekly or monthly basis their exact requirements, reducing stocks and cost, etc. This necessitated work i ng w it h t he manufacturers in the Midlands and they brokered agreements to have
…today we (TR) employ approximately 1,400 people and have locations in 18 countries, including seven manufacturing facilities…” scheduled deliveries of fasteners held against a blanket order. This may not sound groundbreaking in today’s world, but it was a revolution at that time. As their team expanded and the business grew, they added more product to the portfolio. Over time the phrase ‘Just In Time’ became common parley in our industry, but TR were one of the first companies to introduce this into supply chains. To this day, TR Fastenings still uses the number plate JIT TR on one of its vehicles. The 1980s saw manufacturing growth and TR expanded its locations including setting up screw manufacturing in Telford. When I joined 34 years ago, we had five locations in the UK and Ireland and today we
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employ approximately 1,400 people and have locations in 18 countries, including seven manufacturing facilities, which underlines how far we have come.
Leaning the supply chain
In the 1990s change came in the form of the DTI, the Department of Trade and Industry, who asked us to participate in a ‘Managing in the 90s’ programme. There was a wind of change happening where suddenly cheaper household products, such as small domestic appliances, were being imported from Asia. The DTI anticipated this escalating and started to look for partner companies such as TR to help manufacturing companies become lean. This was a new concept for many and Malcolm Diamond, our UK MD at the time, and I hosted visits to our HQ or visited companies, with the DTI, where other speakers talked about how we could all assist in leaning their supply chain. We further developed our logistic systems including feeding straight to the production line – eliminating waste, time and improving overall efficiencies. At that time, it took some selling to convince people this was the way to progress, as naturally everyone was sceptical that we would deliver one less washer in the bag to the bin. One customer commented at the time ‘People have had their eyes opened, and TR can help us to initiate change. The fact that they are managing our fasteners is almost secondary to some of the other initiatives that have taken place because of it’. Today, many global companies building a new facility often do not include a warehouse as they expect the product to arrive ‘On Time In Full’ (OTIF) with order fulfilment and demand planning via EDI.
INSIGHT A new warehouse is being built at TR Kuhlmann
Working with Asia
We imported our first fastener parts from Taiwan 35 years ago and this was a huge learning curve – having never had to manage freight and customs before. Without the internet and mobile phones, etc, there was a reliance on telex and fax machines and personal visits. I sometimes wonder how we ever did business then, as today everything is so immediate and information is at our fingertips. Many of our early relationships forged in those days are still in place today. Our supply chain expanded in Asia as suddenly manufacturers were driving us towards ‘low cost countries’ as they strained to get their costs down. We opened our manufacturing locations initially in Singapore and Taiwan and grew our suppliers – adding increased product ranges. Suddenly we were shipping containers of products and managing our logistic operations became a key focus, as it was such an important step in our development. Managing production lines based on longer lead times from Asia was a logistics challenge and our IT team developed systems to give us greater visibility. Today, our freight forwarders provide us portal access to enable us to see end-to-end where goods are in transit. Additional critical data on carbon emissions is provided, and the all-important customs support and advice.
Meeting challenges
In 1999 we, like many companies, prepared for the ‘Millennium Bug’ and concerns about what this could do to interrupt supply chains. Contingency plans were put in place to ensure that we had enough stock in the right place, so we were not the ones that stopped a production line. Manual backups in case our computer systems would switch off at midnight were put in place, and of course this never happened. However, at the time it could have been disastrous on many fronts. We continued to develop Direct Line Feed systems globally, mainly working with UK and European companies who had transitioned to lower cost countries such as China, India and laterally Mexico – who knew the service we could provide. Coaching personnel in TR sites to manage DLF systems was key and on a number of occasions we also helped these companies teach other component suppliers how to provide lean logistics. One such event sticks in my mind when I was asked to speak at NCR’s (an ATM manufacturer that we supply globally) conference in India – to talk to their suppliers about lean build and the benefits as we had previously done in China. I had not realised that there were over 300 suppliers attending and from that event we generated business with some of these companies. On 11th September 2001 we all saw the horror that was 9/11. As we mourned that disaster and in a state of shock, we had to turn our attention to the fact that all flights had been cancelled to and from North America. Weekly we received two air freight containers from North America to support several computer manufacturers in Scotland during the Scottish Silicon Glen boom period. Fortunately, everyone in their supply base pulled together to maintain supply until flights resumed.
Preparing for BREXIT consumed our time for several years – assessing risks and trying to plan for every eventuality. The logistical challenges, customs documentation and transport issues the vote to leave the European Union caused were immeasurable. From the UK we supplied 33 Master Distributors across Europe – who market our proprietary ranges, such as self-clinch products and fasteners for plastic. We took the decision after some months of logistical challenges to move the stock and the management of these important customers to our company TR Kuhlmann in Verl, Germany. An extension to its building was needed to house a further 500 pallets. Its business has continued to grow organically and this has necessitated the building of a new warehouse alongside our existing site to manage the future growth (pictured above). This is close to completion and will house an additional 1,200 pallets. TR Hungary also moved to a new purpose built site to manage its growth and supply to customers in the seven countries on its border. It continues to develop its DLF logistics to customers in that region[1].
Planning for the future
This year in the UK the decision was taken to change our business model and create a modern warehouse, an engineering centre and centralising other key functions. This is designed to improve our customer service and create a more efficient and cost-effective National Distribution Centre, NDC in the West Midlands. This is a significant investment in a 75,000 square foot purpose built warehouse positioned off junction 10 on the M6. This gives better access to motorway routes and our other locations remain as customer service centres. It is no longer economic to house stock in multiple locations and although this is a challenging task, we know that this will future proof our business for years to come. There are always new challenges, and we are in the midst of managing the Russian Sanctions Directive, which is time-consuming, and we have the delights of CBAM to think about next, but at TR Fastenings we always look to meet global challenges head on and see how we can turn them into opportunities for us as business.
TR Hungary’s new purpose built site
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[1]
https://www.trfastenings.com/company/newsroom-and-media/ press-releases/new-facility-in-hungary TR’s new National Distribution Centre in the UK
INSIGHT
Raising the bar for thirty years In September Assistant Editor Becca England attended Rapierstar’s Trade Press Information Day, which underlined the journey the UK company has taken to become one of the largest suppliers, and a leading player, within the UK and Irish fenestration market.
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nown for its ability to design, develop and supply technically advanced fasteners and fixings, Rapierstar Ltd started as a business thirty-one years ago, when founder and MD David Furness spotted an opportunity to challenge the market’s established players. Today, the company operates from a 100,000 square foot (approximately 9,300m 2) headquarters, which includes a bonded distribution and technical centre, near Macclesfield in Cheshire – where a stock of more than one billion individual items is held at any time. By holding many months of stock, Rapierstar is able to absorb the impacts of disrupted global supply chains and offer stability to customers across the UK and Ireland. “Our skilled and knowledgeable team supports fabricators, installers, systems companies and hardware manufacturers. By working right across the industry, they are in an excellent position to help customers achieve more, whether that’s improving the quality of their products, getting new products through tough testing regimes, overcoming technical issues or boosting productivity efficiency and health and safety in their factories,” stated David Furness.
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An informative event
Attendees of the Trade Press Information Day were greeted warmly before they were given an introduction to the industry and Rapierstar’s capabilities by Andy Holland, group technical & marketing manager at Rapierstar. Andy outlined how the company was able to establish longterm partnerships with manufacturers across the globe, ensuring full control of product design, manufacture, and supply, enabling Rapierstar to deliver consistently high-quality fasteners to customers. He went onto explain how this quality is maintained and checked by various rigorous tests – including salt spray testing, depth of plating, dimensional, ductility, speed of insertion and torque testing – with every
batch of fasteners arriving at its technical centre tested. “This is one of the reasons why many players in the UK’s fenestration industry rely on Rapierstar for the correct advice in selecting the best screw for each application and consistent reliable delivery,” explained Andy.
Communication is key
Rapierstar works constantly to highlight the crucial role that fasteners play in the assembly and construction of every building element, including doors and windows, especially as they are often taken for granted – as per unit they are the lowest cost component in the finished product. “As the team has seen on numerous occasions, one failure such as a friction stay screw breaking and causing the casement to fall loose, can have costly consequences in terms of call-backs and reputation,” highlighted Andy. Additionally, recent industry trends have led to the introduction of highly engineered PVC-U window systems, where the reinforcements are manufactured from recycled plastic. This, alongside government schemes to make UK homes more temperature and energy-efficient, means triple-glazed windows are becoming an ever-more popular option for today’s window suppliers – both of which are fundamental changes to window design and require adjustments to the fastening components. These adjustments are not a simple ‘quick fix’ and, as Andy stressed in his presentation, “can generate lead times of up to six months”. Therefore, the message to both window manufacturers and distributors alike is that communication is key when changes occur.
Rapierstar’s next era
In the last two years, Rapierstar has implemented many major upgrades behind the scenes, including Cloud-based solutions, a world-class ERP system, and fully integrated business management
systems on a par with many multinational businesses – ensuring that the latest digital technology is at the core of everything the company does. “Using the latest version of Microsoft Business Central as our business management platform; increasing the use of Solidworks computer aided design to develop new products; and enhanced cybersecurity protection; all provide a solid platform for the business to thrive in the digital age,” underlined Andy. Running parallel to this is Rapierstar’s on-going investment in its R&D programme, with a number of patented new product developments in the pipeline for different applications across the construction industry. These advancements reflect Rapierstar’s design capabilities and offer new potential for the business in its next era – as it looks to branch out while maintaining its position as a leader in the fenestration market. www.rapierstar.com
Exceptional Specialist Fixings with Superb Service
Extensive window & door range Over 1 Billion specialist fixings stocked Next day UK delivery Rapierstar, a leading name in the window and door manufacturing industry, revolutionized the fastener market since its inception in the early 1990s. With unwavering commitment to delivering only the best to its customers. Rapierstar’s fasteners are precision-engineered components essential to the quality and durability of windows and doors.
Call +44(0)1260 223311 for more information sales@rapierstar.com www.rapierstar.com
MADE IN GERMANY
a focus on the german fastener manufacturing sector
An insight into the German fastener market
Here Hans Führlbeck, general manager at Deutscher Schraubenverband (DSV) – the independent industry association for German fastener manufacturers – discusses the latest developments within the German fastener market and how the association looks to support its members through information, working groups and networking opportunities.
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The magazine last focused on the German fastener market in 2021, what have been the key developments at DSV and within German fastener manufacturing in this time? “Of course, there was the Covid-19 pandemic, which was certainly challenging, but fortunately over the last twelve months, more or less, companies and the market have started to get over the impact. Businesses are looking to try and get back to normal and there are definitely more face-to-face meetings now happening – rather than the web meetings we had all become accustomed. Looking at the fastener industry, there was a strong increase in the material costs over the last 1.5 years, which is something we had not seen before. A lot of companies struggled with this rise in costs, alongside the impacts of growing inflation. This resulted in businesses needing to look at how to deal with that development without losing substance in profit and the balance sheet, which is a big effort and is not always that easy. Whilst these costs have reduced, there are still further challenges – with the economy in Germany currently struggling, especially since Q3 of 2023, although it has not been strong since the last quarter of 2022. The automotive industry is still not reaching the old production numbers of 2018 or 2019 and the construction sector and housing markets are currently both down in Germany. Within Germany there is also the political environment that is coming up with a huge number of regulations and laws, which is making it very difficult for companies, especially SMEs, to cope with these new requirements. There seems to be a new law every week that needs to be understood and managed. This is all additional administration that is putting a burden on companies without them selling any more fasteners. Businesses are having to increase costs with additional staff members without it helping them drive more business or sales. Also, we are currently going through a transition phase, within the whole industry, towards sustainability and ‘green’ products. This means there are a lot of question marks because things are changing and again there are a lot of requirements and legislation being introduced that is going to require extra work for the fastener industry. For instance, there is the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which on the one side will hopefully lead to some fair competition regarding sustainability and related cost. However, on the other side companies are having to make big reports and fill in forms, which again is a lot of administrative work. There is also the European Union’s initiative towards PFAS (Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which again will involve the fastener
The automotive industry is still not reaching the old production numbers of 2018 or 2019 and the construction sector and housing markets are currently both down in Germany.”
As an association we want to create a platform and network that our members can exchange information and work on pre-competitive technical solutions within the industry, always whilst following the rules of anti-trust.” sector as it relates for example to the surface treatments that are applied to fasteners. The big coating companies will be aware of this challenge, and I am sure OEMs will start asking fastener companies to guarantee that fastener coatings are free of PFAS materials. Of course, there are also the sanctions on Russian steel that have recently been introduced by the EU. Companies now have to prove the material they are using is not from Russia. Again, it is how you prove this and what information is required that is going to take a lot of working time to manage and ensure each company is in compliance. All these things are not even particular fastener related, these are general topics that every company in Germany and most of the EU will need to handle.”
The DSV looks to support its members from a technical, scientific and economical aspect. Within these areas what has the DSV been working on?
“In general, as an association we look to provide support to our members through information and different working groups. These groups focus on general topic areas, such as materials, quality, surface treatments, cold forming, thread rolling, environmental, health and safety, as well as logistics – typical subjects you will find around the production of fasteners. In partnerships with German Universities, the working groups look to concentrate on common research in a pre-competitive environment, so that we are in adherence to anti-trust regulations. For instance, a general question we would use is ‘what are the effects of ‘green’ steel to wire rod and what impact does this have on fasteners?’. The working group would then meet two or three times a year and discuss the subjects and the results that have been investigated – with the information then being passed onto members. Another area in which we support members is with the DSV information that we publish, which are like standards or technical proposals that customers may follow when it comes to the fastener industry. They have been around for several years and are a good way to support members and the industry from a technical point of view. Both customers and manufacturers are aware of the DSV information, and we find that when customers agree contracts with manufacturers they agree they will follow certain DSV information standards.
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MADE IN GERMANY As an association we want to create a platform and network that our members can exchange information and work on pre-competitive technical solutions within the industry, always whilst following the rules of anti-trust. We want to be a platform for our members and offer services that will help them with their day-to-day business. However, how much a member gets out of the association is dependent on how much a member participates within the association. Those members that come to the meetings, participate in discussions, and provide input, will get a lot out of what we can offer. It is only by engaging that members can maximise the benefits of the association.”
During the last interview you mentioned a key focus for the DSV would be its fastener education academy. How has this developed?
“The fastener education academy (Schraubfachakademie DSV ®) has been developing very well for the association and in fact we have set-up some new courses and seminars. We have also seen a lot of people attending the courses, which is very positive. I think the reason it has been successful is because we are not a profit driven organisation. We are an association that’s sole aim is to offer seminars the industry is requiring; find the right teachers; and give the best education. We are able to do this because we are getting teachers who have come out of the fastener sector. These people do this to support the whole industry, they are coming from different companies and they do the work voluntarily and try to educate new people for the fastener market. Another added advantage for those who attend the courses is that the people who attend the seminars often create their own networks. Within a certain course or seminar there are people from fastener manufacturers, as well as from OEMs and tier 1 and tier 2 companies. They all sit together and learn about fa steners a nd ma ke con nect ions a mong t hem selves. T h is mea n s that the next time the OEM or tier 1 companies have a question about fasteners they can talk directly to a fastener manufacturer. In fact, for our fastener engineering programme, and technician programme, the alumni tend to meet every two years to network and discuss fasteners, which is a huge positive for the academy, for the fastener industry and for the end user markets.”
Sustainability continues to grow in importance within markets. What is the DSV’s position on sustainability? What steps has the association and its members taken in this area?
“At DSV we support sustainability in general and believe that as an industry we need to find our own way. First of all, we need ‘green’ steel long-term to produce reliable products. If you look at a fastener, I would say 70% – 80% of the CO 2 footprint is coming from the steel side, as a fastener is almost 99% steel apart from the surface coating. We therefore cannot rely on the old way of producing steel. We need ‘green’ steel with less CO 2 emissions packed in. Our industry is working with the steel industry to help develop this ‘green’ steel, but this will take many years and will require huge investments from the steel producer side. There is already ‘green’ steel on the market, but is the quality the same and can it be consistently produced at the required amounts? Also, what type of developments can be done to further improve it? There are still a lot of questions.
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Overall, we want to keep industry in Europe, as we need it over here, and we hope that customers do start to look at reshoring or nearshoring as part of this process.” The other two elements that have a high impact regarding CO 2 emissions is the hardening process and the coating process, because you have to heat up furnaces for the hardening and also for the coating. Again, these areas need to be looked into and analysed. These are all big areas and there will be a lot of costs involved and, at the end of the day, the national economy has to cover these huge investments. However, the whole thing of sustainability is a good, so it needs to be done but at the correct speed. Companies are not going to be in a position to do everything straight away. We have to carry out the transition in a reasonable time frame, so the companies and the manufacturers can follow.”
When the Covid-19 pandemic disr upted global supply chains there was a lot of talk of reshoring/nearshoring. Has this started to happen a nd does it pr ov ide opportunities to German and European fastener manufacturers?
“During the pandemic it was a big thing that a lot of customers and OEMs suggested was essential going forward, but that has not so far turned out to be the case. In the end, it seems profit is important and so they will always look for offshore purchasing to keep costs down as much as possible. I do think to some extent they are looking towards the element of nearshoring part of the production, especially as it is another aspect of sustainability – but it will be a very gradual process, at least for the moment. I don’t think there is one solution that will encourage customers to change their supply chain and buy solely from European manufacturers. I think it will be a multitude of factors that will shift the pattern, things such as anti-dumping, the CBAM regulation, sustainability commitments, etc. The more time-consuming and administrative tasks required, and the less flexible importing is, the better chance of people rethinking their purchasing strategies. Overall, we want to keep industry in Europe, as we need it over here, and we hope that customers do start to look at reshoring or nearshoring as part of this process. When you look at the fastener market, a huge portion is imported, but we do have the capabilities and capacities within Europe to change this if the price structure is more competitive and on a level playing field.” www.schraubenverband.de
Accelerating the digitalisation of production Through the development of a more powerful range of equipment, the Schwer + Kopka product line of the Marposs Group is able to further accelerate the digitalisation of production of its customers.
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ased in Weingarten, Germany, Schwer + Kopka GmbH offers its own range of machine terminals and process monitoring systems, plus a comprehensive MES solution in terms of Industry 4.0. In recent years, the company has launched the new SK410 and SK5.12 device generations, which have been key developments. “On the one hand, we have been using tried and tested piezo sensors for several years, and on the other hand, more and more flexible sensor solutions are being developed in order to carry out measurements as close to the process as possible,” explains Joachim Krüger, head of sales support forming and stamping at Marposs Monitoring Solutions GmbH. “Together, with our customers, we are trying to advance the targeted ‘zero error’ strategy and interconnected production, which is why innovation is the driving force behind our customer relationships.” As a business Schwer + Kopka has also been investing in the software development of its MES software C-Thru4.0MES, where it sees a long-term opportunity to create significant added value for its customers as a central interface in production. “For years we have offered technical solutions for process monitoring in forming technology, which is characterised by the best possible sensor placement, proven algorithms, and the corresponding endurance monitoring devices,” states Joachim. “To continuously raise the technology standard, our application engineers are in daily contact with machine manufacturers and customers to make sure our solutions are meeting every need and requirement.” The company’s core business is sensors and evaluation devices for metal forming technology. In addition, there are various software solutions for networking production, including communication with external systems such as ERP or CAQ providers. “The focus on process data and digitalisation is also becoming increasingly important for customers, so the product portfolio will certainly be expanded in this sector,” mentions Joachim. By using the monitoring units from Schwer + Kopka, customers can also ensure they are meeting sustainability requirements, with resources such as material and energy used in the best possible way, as Schwer + Kopka’s monitoring units can help minimise scrap and, with the combination of the MES solution C-Thru4.0MES, aggregates can be switched off promptly at the end of the job. “A practical example is that a warning message can be issued when there are too many empty strokes – so that immediate action can be taken and the machine does not run idle,” highlights Joachim. He concludes: “Through our own range of machine terminals, and process monitoring systems, plus a comprehensive MES solution in terms of Industry 4.0, customers are able to produce more parts with less operators – whilst still protecting the machines and tools. Predictive maintenance is gaining in importance, where an evaluation of the force curves already provides detailed indications of wear, and we will continue to provide innovative solutions to meet customers’ ongoing needs.” www.schwer-kopka.de
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
Logistics of the future from Dresselhaus
Photos by Joseph Dresselhaus GmbH & Co KG
MADE IN GERMANY
To prevent delays or interruptions in the production of complex and cost intensive products, production lines have to respond to changes quickly. The DIREKT RFID Kanban system from Dresselhaus is a smart solution that synthesises state of the art technology and the time proven Kanban principle.
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n combination with other systems, the DIREKTblack unit from Dresselhaus offers comprehensive sustainable logistics concepts for the industrial and retail sectors. The modular DIREKT RFID Kanban system helps enterprises to achieve maximum efficiency in their intralogistics processes, therefore eliminating bottlenecks. The flexibility of the scalable system also allows adaptation to individual customer preferences or changing production requirements. Typical applications apply to the automotive sector, but the versatility of the DIREKT RFID Kanban system makes it an ideal solution for faster intralogistics processes in numerous other industries as well. The DIREKT RFID Kanban system from Dresselhaus expands the time proven Kanban principle through the use of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology for all integrated modules. This allows full automation and optimisation of virtually all intralogistics processes. “In addition to reduced costs, the Dresselhaus system also offers numerous other benefits,” explains Stephan Pertschy, chief sales and marketing officer (CSMO) at Joseph Dresselhaus GmbH & Co KG. “All orders and replenishment requests are transparent at all times; the extensive automation reduces the load on employees, especially in times of high order frequency; and on-time replenishment of the supply of DIN and standard parts guarantees uninterrupted production.”
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The modules and their functions
The basic unit of the DIREKT RFID Kanban system comprises the DIREKTunit with RFID pads, the DIREKTbin and the DIREKTlabels – with the DIREKTcontroller as an interface. The C-parts are held in this so-called RFID station until they are needed in production. Each bin motion is monitored by software and documented in the Dresselhaus DIREKTportal. The customer therefore continuously receives information online about the status of their system, including ‘real time’ visualisation of the storage location. This data is used for planning the required items, optimisation of inventories and updating statistical data. The items are dispatched and delivered to the production line ‘Just In Time’.
DIREKTpad with DIREKTbins of different sizes on top – these modules form the basis of the Dresselhaus DIREKT RFID Kanban system
info(at)teudeloff.de (Europe) sales.us(at)teudeloff.de (America) sales.fe(at)teudeloff.de (Asia)
ai169711435527_DU_11Okt23_210x148mm_Kanban_EN.pdf
op tool 1
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State-of-the-art RFID Kanban solutions Dynamic markets, shorter production cycles and requirements from lean management are radically changing the procurement of C-parts. More efficient solutions in production supply are required to make processes simpler and more cost-effective. Dresselhaus DIRECT C-Parts Management makes your processes fit for the challenges of the future. Get in touch with us.
Watch our added values in the video.
www.dresselhaus.de
MADE IN GERMANY RFID boxes for empty DIREKTbins, RFID shelf pads and RFID scanners are available for material requirement planning. The scanners use a passive RFID transponder to identify the bins, after which the data is transmitted to the Dresselhaus ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. This means that each container automatically initiates the replenishment of supplies. The supply of parts is also automatically adjusted if production is reduced or interrupted. Dresselhaus highlights that this method optimises ordering processes, prevents unnecessary stockpiling, reduces costly production space and lowers operating costs.
DIREKTweightsystem IoT small and large
A typical example of a DIREKTmodule based on an RFID station is the DIREKTweightsystem IoT. The weighing cells integrated in the DIREKT RFID Kanban system monitor the fill level and the corresponding alarms if defined fill levels are exceeded. Two sizes are available, a compact weighing system with a footprint of only 13cm x 17cm for small load carriers and a weighing system for large items the size of a pallet. Even the compact DIREKTweightsystem small can handle loads of up to 40kg and features variable storage space sizes by combining several weighing units. For heavier loads, the DIREKTweightsystem large is designed for loads up to 1.5 tonnes. It can be accessed by pallet trucks for changing pallets and can be used in high-bay warehouses without difficulty. Both variants are supplied with long-lasting batteries (about two years), which indicate their charge state in time for replacement. The DIREKTweightsystem IoT also features an autonomous Cloud gateway for encrypted data transmission. It is designed for wireless transmission of exact stock levels to within a few grams over a range of 200 metres – without physical checkpoints. No manual actuation, touchscreens, connectors, buttons or local IT integration is necessary.
Continuous development for diverse capabilities
The modular DIREKT system from Dresselhaus is continuously being improved with the addition of new features: The DIREKTweightsystem initiates a fully automated order process if the weight drops below a defined value. An LED indicates the status of the order and delivery process. Alternatively, the DIREKT button with an integrated RFID transponder can be used to initiate an order. This option is suitable for items without an RFID label, which are stored separately on shelves since they are too big to fit in the standard bins. The new DIREKTlamp with bright energy efficient LEDs provides clarity in the Dresselhaus DIREKT RFID Kanban system
The DIREKTglove, which is equipped with an integrated scanner, is connected to a mobile reader system. With each motion of the hand, it reads the DIREKTlabels and transmits the data to the Dresselhaus ERP system, which makes it ideal for fast and efficient recording of incoming goods.
Other new DIREKT modules
A new feature is the DIREKTpostbox for material requirement planning. The DIREKTlabels of the removed articles are scanned here, and the demand transmitted to the ERP appears on the touchscreen. The DIREKTpostbox is ideal for high volume handling. The DIREKTbox, on the other hand, holds up to 100 empty DIREKTbins and forwards the scanned data. Designed for convenient handling, it requires no special local installation. It is available in two versions: DIREKTbox steel and the lightweight DIREKTbox carbon. The DIREKTcontroller 10 inch – with a 10 inch touchscreen – has been added to the existing product range of DIREKTcontrollers with a 7 inch and 15 inch display. The DIREKTlamp with long-life LEDs and an optional motion detector provides clarity. In addition, the new DIREKTrocker, DIREKTslide and DIREKTsep provide for even more transparency and convenience of handling, thus speeding up the material requirement planning process.
A full range supplier for industry and retail
The interaction of the components makes the DIREKT RFID Kanban system the ideal solution for intralogistics of the future in diverse industries – and not just for DIN and standard parts. Since October 2023, Dresselhaus has added more than 40,000 products and assortments to its industrial and retail product range. These include numerous tools, consumables, chemical products, work safety and clothing items, and much more. “In this way, we are developing from a C-parts specialist to a full service supplier for industry and commerce, to meet increasing customer requirements for complete solutions from a single source,” mentions Stephan.
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The Dresselhaus DIREKT RFID Kanban system is continuously being improved with the addition of new modules
the product stored at each location. Equipped with these innovative functions as standard features, the DIREKTblack unit fits perfectly in the DIREKT RFID Kanban system. It also works and is available as a standalone solution. The intelligent, space-saving design of the DIREKTblack unit ensures optimal utilisation of the available space. The shelf system is made of robust and durable steel elements and is designed for fast and easy assembly. The jet black surface (RAL 9005) that gives the system its name provides long-term protection of the steel construction; hides any signs of wear; and creates a professional clean cut image for use in public areas, such as retail outlets.
Modular concept with four basic variants
Four pre-configured towers serve as the basis for optimal planning of an individual system, typically with four base elements. From bottom to top, the floor module for stability, followed by three additional modules on top, building upward – standard part modules, drawer modules (also made of Plexiglas), as well as bins, as cabinets or for storing cans. Optionally, an advertising sign can be placed on the top module, if the DIREKTblack unit is to be used in areas with public access or otherwise as an advertising or image carrier. “In addition to the four basic variants, customers can also plan an individual DIREKTblack unit completely according to their preferences – the number and diversity of available modules and additions is huge,” points out Stephan. “An option for accessing a planning tool with the Dresselhaus App is also in preparation and will make selecting the desired configuration more convenient and transparent.”
Current versions, prefilled for different industries Seamless integration of this product diversity in the DIREKT RFID Kanban system is achieved with the DIREKTblack unit, which simplifies the storage of DIN and standard parts, fastening materials and consumables of all types.
Perfect organisation with DIREKTblack
The DIREKTblack unit is available for diverse skilled trades and industries, facilitating a more efficient work day. Dwindling or missing articles can be ordered immediately by scanning their barcode with a handheld scanner or an end device with the Dresselhaus value added App installed. Everything needed during the work day in industrial and skilled trade companies can be stored in the DIREKTblack unit: DIN and standard parts, as well as consumables such as technical sprays, adhesives and sealants in cartridges, fastening materials of all types, in addition to typical items needed in the shop – tools, safety gloves and goggles, for instance. The system is designed for organised storage, so the items are ready to hand at all times. That is especially advantageous in the case of ‘small parts’, which have to be stored separately until they are needed, with no risk of being confused with similar items.
It is also possible to receive professionally pre-configured variants, tailored to the requirements of the particular industry, with Dresselhaus taking care of everything, including delivery and assembly. The DIREKTblack unit DINO, for example, is available filled with DIN and standard parts – the basic Dresselhaus products, such as metric screws, nuts, washers, lock washers and more. There is also the DIREKTblack unit DACH, which is specially configured for roofers and contains typical items such as sheet metal screws, construction screws and universal screws from the Dresselhaus range. Here again, value added stickers with barcodes enable fast reordering, also with the Dresselhaus App, to ensure optimally organised inventory. www.dresselhaus.de
Designed for integration in the DIREKT RFID Kanban system
Each product is provided with a value added label that is designed for effortless removal from the package, so that it can be affixed to the corresponding storage space on the shelf. This not only ensures transparency in the labelling of the shelves, it also facilitates fast and convenient reordering of products online by scanning the barcode on the label – either with the DIREKTbarcodescanner or the Dresselhaus App. A pictogram on the value added sticker shows the user
The modular DIREKTblack unit from Dresselhaus can be used by customers in industry, skilled trades and the retail sector to organise the storage of DIN and standard parts and integrates perfectly in the DIREKT RFID Kanban system
WWW.FASTENERANDFIXING.COM
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MADE IN GERMANY
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fter 10 years with the company, working alongside her father Stefan Bülte, Fanny Bülte officially took over the reins of Bülte Group in 2023 and is determined to preserve the family heritage and perpetuate the values and expertise that have been the company’s strength for almost 70 years within the plastic fastener market. “As a major player in the international plastic fastener industry, Bülte has developed a reputation for catering to a wide array of industries, including automotive, electronics, construction and general industrial applications,” states Fanny Bülte. “The company’s expertise in plastic fasteners and components makes it a trusted source for reliable nonmetallic fastening solutions.” In a competitive sector, Bülte stands out in the plastic fastener market for several reasons – for instance its diverse product range of plastic components for various industrial applications, such as plastic screws, nuts, washers, fasteners, spacers, custom moulded parts and more. “We use high-quality raw materials that are resistant to corrosion, chemicals and have no electrical conductivity, which is supported by our own strong technical expertise in the design and manufacturing of plastic components – with ‘Made in Germany’ quality,” explains Fanny Bülte. “Our team is also able to work closely with customers to develop bespoke solutions that meet specific application requirements. We can also advise our customers on the best manufacturing solutions to meet their needs and help them to choose the right raw material for their project.” Bülte’s experience and professional expertise enables it to manufacture advanced injection moulded parts using a variety of different plastics materials, such as PA, PE, PP, POM, PVDF and PC. Bülte also makes sure it uses only the highest quality plastic materials – helping to ensure the durability and reliability of its products under various environmental conditions. Plus, the company also adheres to international quality standards and is certified to ISO 9001, which further guarantees the quality of its products and processes.
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With an innate sensitivity to design and ergonomics, and a corporate DNA focused on the quality of its ‘Made in Germany’ products, Bülte is a long-standing family business now totally under management by the third generation. © MAJA Photography
Generations of know-how
As a major player in the international plastic fastener industry, Bülte has developed a reputation for catering to a wide array of industries, including automotive, electronics, construction and general industrial applications.”
FAMILY COMPANY FOR 3 GENERATIONS
Your business partner for plastic fasteners since 1956!
Choosing small parts, make big difference.
www.bulte.com
MADE IN GERMANY Ongoing innovation
Bülte is committed to ongoing innovation and actively seeks new technologies and materials to enhance the performance of its products. “Our aim is to remain at the forefront of the industry – by developing advanced plastic fastening solutions,” emphasises Fanny Bülte. “We are committed to using our strengths as a lever to continue modernising and through innovation we can continue to offer composite materials that combine plastic polymers with other materials (such as glass, carbon or reinforcement fibres) to provide ever more effective solutions and meet the specific needs of customers.” A prime example is the expansion of Bülte’s catalogue to include pressboard and hard paper. “These two innovative materials share characteristics that make them commonly used in the manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, such as insulating sleeves, spacers, supports and insulation components,” highlights Fanny Bülte. “They are valued for their ability to provide reliable electrical insulation, thermal resistance and dimensional stability in electrical and electronic environments.”
Made in Germany
Fanny Bülte is aware of the fundamental challenges facing not only Bülte Group but an industry that needs to reinvent itself, which is why she has made sure Bülte remains attentive to the environmental and social challenges of production, such as the climate emergency; the rational consumption of raw materials; the decarbonisation of the industry; and the need for more responsible management and governance. “Due to the changes in the market in the past few years, and especially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of German manufacturers and our products has increased immensely,” reports Fanny Bülte. “That is why we have already begun working on our sustainability and environmental responsibility, as well as digitalisation and quality control. To not only honour our culture of safety, compliance and tailored solutions, but to put us in a strong position as a European manufacturer.” This is also why Bülte Group has looked to further strengthen its market position in the field of plastic fasteners, including the acquisition of the specialised plastic fastener division of Werit Group in 2021. “Customers have seen Bülte’s offering expand, and the acquisition helps to further confirm our position in Germany as a leader within the sector,” highlights Fanny Bülte. “We a re a lso i ncrea si ng ou r tooling range, which will enable us to further improve both quality and manufacturing efficiency, as well as strengthen our position in t he eastern and nor t hern European markets.” Fa n ny Bü lte conc ludes: “Although originally German, our added value lies in our knowledge of the international market and our Franco-German bi-nationality, which has enabled us to position ourselves at the centre of Europe. We are very proud of our ‘Made in Germany’ capabilities, which is why we will continue to maintain our current production facilities, mainly in Germany, further underlining and confirming our ‘Made in Germany’ reputation for ever greater quality, flexibility and reactivity.” www.bulte.com
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In-depth product portfolio Bülte Group offers a wide range of plastic components and fasteners for various industrial applications. The oldest and best-selling product in the company’s history are plastic washers according to DIN/ISO standards.
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he washer range includes standard washers, but also locking and sealing retaining washers (such as the well-known RBM – a patented washer), then various flat washers covering a wide range of thickness from 0.2mm to 6mm, plus other technical washers such as self-adhesive washers and peek washers. Other products within the range include: Plastic screws: With 6,600 standard products, the plastic screws range is the broadest and most diverse of Bülte’s product families. These are a part of the core business and Bülte is able to offer several styles of head in its hex head screw family from DIN933 – the most commonly used standard for various types of washer faced hex heads. The screws are lightweight, corrosion resistant and can be used in various industries. Bülte highlights that all kinds of materials can also be processed including PVDF, PTFE, hard PVC, PP, PE, POM, polyamide glass filled, etc. Plastic nuts: Bülte has a full range of plastic nuts to meet customers’ requirements, such as hex nuts, including Plastilocknut®, flat nuts and self-locking nuts. The common standard for nuts is DIN934/ISO4032 passing through cap nuts, wings nuts, and knurled nuts, as well as miscellaneous nuts, including a wide variety of shapes, and bi-material nuts (metal/plastics nuts). Spacers range: Spacers are one of the most extensive product families at Bülte, with applications in many sectors and a wide range of sizes and materials. This means that 4,500 different products are available to customers. The range is divided into two families – round unthreaded spacers and tapped/threaded spacers. Options also include round or hexagon profiles, female/ female, male/female and female/clip. Custom moulded parts: At the same time as distributing standard products, Bülte can also propose special parts according to individual customer requirements. “These really are our greatest asset and our development objective,” states Fanny Bülte. “Special parts meet the unique requirements of specific applications for our customer and we can even provide neutral labelling or products with customer’s branding. Details such as article number, or special labelling etc, can be applied too.”
Full reliability when it counts
precote 85
thread locking
precote 15
underhead & thread sealing
omniTECHNIK Mikroverkapselungs GmbH Munich | Germany | precote.com
MADE IN GERMANY An innovative manufacturer of standard and special stamping parts The history of rfks goes back more than 85 years, with the family company growing progressively and establishing itself as a reliable and innovative manufacturer for standard and special stamping parts on the local and international washer market.
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s CEO, Carl Philip Schulte represents the expertise and the constant development of the family-owned business – now in its third generation. “Our rfks team consists of over 160 employees, including the 25 strong in-house tool shop as the core of the company,” explains Carl Philip. “We also have skilled personnel in all areas of operation through our forward thinking HR programme.” With the aid of more than 45 high-speed stamping machines, from 20 tonne to 800 tonne press force, R+FK Schulte KG (rfks) is one of the leading European producers of washers according to DIN/ISO standards. At the same time the company supplies customised special parts for specific needs – all available in various material grades and surface coatings.
Diverse product range and coatings
“We as rfks stand for reliability, efficiency and a comprehensive service within our long-standing partnerships. What sets us apart from direct competitors is our versatility and know-how in both worlds,” emphasises Sales Manager Peter Schlütter. “We are competitive in DIN/ISO standard washers, as well as being technically minded in demanding special parts according to customer drawings.” Thanks to its own in-house tool design and tool shop, rfks can provide exclusive solutions for each customer – covering a comprehensive spectrum of thicknesses from 0.05mm to 12mm and of inside diameter from M0.8 to approximately M165. rfks is also able to process all punchable material grades and offers a wide variety of hardnesses and surfaces for its products. “We can do this thanks to our long-term network of reliable and certified suppliers for heat treatments, including nitrocarburising, austempering, hardening and tempering, as well as surface treatments such as zinc, zinc nickel, mechanical zinc, hot-dip zinc, nickel, zinc lamella and phosphate,” highlights Carl Philip.
rfks’ customer benefits
A key benefit of customers working with rfks is the combination of its stamping and coining production – resulting in multifunctional features in one stamping part. Due to its own tool shop, rfks can also develop intelligent tool designs for stamping solutions. “Fast and flexible project processing, by bundling all core competences, distinguishes the rfks team from other market participants,” reports Carl Philip. “We offer our customers a comprehensive service to manufacture the products according to their needs. For example, we can create
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customised proposal drawings by taking into account the technical functionality and usability of the product.”
Growth through constant investments
rfks has established itself at the forefront of the market through its ability to combine many years of know-how with constant new investments and process innovations – in order to manufacture the best solution for every customer. “In 2022, two new machines with 500 tonne press force and one machine with 250 tonne press force were added to our capabilities, which have enriched our versatile machinery capability and increased the overall in-house stamping capacity by more than 30%,” explains Peter. “Additionally, we have invested in a highly modern vibratory grinding centre.” rfks has also looked to use digitalisation in order to continue developing. “In the age of pervasive digitalisation, rfks maintains a consistent monitoring of all phases of production for each part,” underlines Carl Philip. “Through the latest version of our ERP system, proAlpha 9.1, we profit from sophisticated system controlled logistics and excellent production planning modules – ensuring transparency and efficiency. In addition to that, we are implementing sustainability more and more into our everyday business and we are looking to take on environmental, social and governmental challenges in order to fulfil our responsibilities towards the environment.” www.rfks.com
MADE IN GERMANY Precision tools for metal cutting RUKO, an expert in precision tools for metal cutting, has recently made several investments within its technologies, machinery and products in order to further expand and strengthen its position within target markets.
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eadquartered in Germany, near Stuttgart, RUKO GmbH Präzisionswerkzeuge develops and produces durable and reliable precision tools, adapted to customers’ requirements. In order to continue to meet the needs of its customers, RUKO has heavily invested in its production, through a modernisation process that has seen 18 old machines replaced by 23 new state of the art machines, which require significantly less space and have enabled RUKO to expand its production capacity, whilst reducing production times. “We have deliberately opted for in-house production in Germany in order to integrate our know-how directly into the product development process and thus also ensure the quality standard ‘Made in Germany’,” explains RUKO. “By continuously investing in the latest technologies and machines we have been able to not only renew our machinery, but also expand our capacity, as well as include a production line for twist drills. This enables us to meet the growing global demand for our products.” Through the modernisation of its production, RUKO has also been able to take significant steps in its sustainability targets. “With the introduction of the new machines our electricity consumption has reduced by over 50% compared to 2015, despite a significant increase in output,” mentions RUKO. “To add to this, we now have an oil recovery system that recovers more than 500 litres of additional oil per tonne from the already filtered grinding sludge of the production process. In addition, the energy generated by the machines heats the entire production and shipping hall in winter.
A wide tooling capability
RUKO has a very large portfolio of tools in its range, with the company specialised in the production of drills for metal cutting. These include twist drills, step drills, taps and countersinks. In addition, the range also includes concrete and wood drills, as well as saws and magnetic pillar drills. “This portfolio is expanded annually with innovative products,” points out RUKO. “We are constantly striving to develop new tools to give our customers a competitive edge and help them achieve the best results.” This is underlined by RUKO’s specially developed ULTIMATECUT line, which offers innovative and high-quality precision tools that have been developed for the most demanding applications – both in industry and for professional users. “Trade loyalty is of great importance to us. We value and maintain long-standing relationships with our distributors and specialist dealers and our commitment to trade loyalty is based on trust, reliability and a collaborative partnership,” reports RUKO. “Through the investments in our machines, and employees, we ensure the quality of our products and at the same time optimise our production processes. We can also react quickly to changing customer needs and open up new market opportunities by designing innovative solutions.” An example of RUKO reacting to customers’ requirements is the launch of new sustainable packaging – REPACK by RUKO – which is made of cast fibre, a completely sustainable material that is compostable and provides an alternative to the usual plastic cassettes. www.ruko.de
The success story of Goebel
Founded in 1979 by Brigitte Goebel and Klaus Arens, Goebel Group started in a small two car garage located near Düsseldorf, Germany, before becoming an innovative world market leader in fastening solutions.
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rom the beginning both Brigitte and Klaus realised a need in the market for new fastener options. This awareness, paired with their dedication to quality, would be the foundation they built Goebel’s business on. This perseverance paid off when a German railway company, known today as Deutsche Bahn AG, placed its first order for rivets that would be used in the manufacturing of passenger railcar interiors. Still a customer to this day, Goebel’s rivets can be found in most of Deutsche Bahn’s railcars that travel throughout Europe. Forty years later, Goebel’s dedication has not waivered, resulting in exponential growth on a global scale – with continued success. Today, the business has grown to include a multicultural team of employees, patented product innovations, expansions of subsidiaries, and further investment into reshoring manufacturing efforts. The group has also continued to be a family business, with CEO Marcel Goebel the second generation and the third generation already within the business, with Elias Goebel CTO and responsible for the production plant in Germany. In fact, ‘Made in Germany’ is critical for Goebel’s mission to become the preferred supplier to its customers. With that in mind, at the
beginning of Q1 of 2024, Goebel GmbH will start production of various blind rivets and toggle latches in Germany. “With continuous efforts, investment, and passion of the management and team, Goebel will become one of the market leaders in the fastener industry and the 4 th ever manufacturer of blind rivets in Germany,” states Marcel. Goebel has a vast production capability – with a capacity of 294 million units per year and, through the investment of 70+ dedicated production machines, the company has set itself a target to expand its production to 1 billion blind rivets per year. The complete machine park will also be equipped with a process monitoring system, FactoryNet, which will create a network for all areas of the company. “The intelligent networking of production and the online recording of production data, with open interfaces to our ERP system, will make our production processes transparent, faster and more cost-effective,” explains Marcel. “Thanks to the first class in-house tooling we are also able to guarantee the shortest possible production of tooling for all production machines. A fast, lean and efficient supply for our customers is the center of our service offer.” www.goebel-group.com
MADE IN GERMANY TOGE® continues to innovate For almost 60 years TOGE® has focused on developing and producing anchor systems tailored to the needs and wishes of its customers, with the company continuously work i ng on developi ng new products.
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OGE®’s ability to introduce new innovations into the market is underlined by the introduction of the upgraded TSM high-performance LT A4 stainless steel concrete screw, which has been designed for even smoother processing and boasts top tier quality with an ETA certification. It is also available in various sizes and head shapes to cater to the diverse needs of customers. TOGE ® is also on the brink of introducing two more innovative products to its line-up – the TSM Multiground, a unique internally threaded screw capable of being flush-mounted into concrete surfaces to help simplify tasks such as ceiling suspensions, as well as the TSM Eco concrete screw, an economical choice tailored for applications not requiring the highest load capacities – providing a cost-effective solution for various fastening needs. “The TSM Multiground is available in M6, M8 and M10 thread sizes and offers users a compelling alternative to conventional drop-in anchors – helping to streamline work processes and providing substantial time savings,” explains Niklas Barlovitz, head of product management at TOGE Dübel GmbH & Co KG. “Initially, the TSM Multiground will come with an ETA for concrete as a multiple fastener, with plans to extend testing to other substrates such as masonry, aerated concrete, and even wood, in the near future.” Niklas adds: “As for the TSM Eco concrete screw, this will be offered with a hexagonal head in sizes M8 – M10, with a countersunk version to follow. Another major benefit of this product is the adapted manufacturing process, which results in a CO 2 saving of 700g per kilogram of screws produced.” With these new products, as well as its wide portfolio, TOGE ® ’s foremost commitment is to provide its customers with secure and high-quality solutions. That’s why all its safety critical products come equipped with exceptionally high grade certifications, sometimes even boasting up to five different approvals spanning various applications within a product range. “It is imperative that our products undergo monitoring by an independent authority to ensure safety and quality. The testing procedures mandated by various guidelines guarantee that approved products conform to the specified fields of application and performance parameters outlined in the certification,” underlines Niklas. “Consequently, we continuously invest in obtaining new certifications to uphold these standards. For our customers, these premium
TSM Eco
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TSM Multiground certifications serve as a true distinguishing factor when it comes to assessing quality and safety. We understand that in an ever evolving market, trust and confidence in products is paramount. Therefore, we take pride in our unwavering dedication to providing secure and top tier solutions, backed by rigorous testing and multiple certifications.” To further guarantee the quality of its products, TOGE ® has also continuously invested in its production and administration buildings, as well as a new modern testing laboratory and further machinery at its Nuremberg site – in order to expand its capacities. “This puts us in an excellent position to continue developing, testing and producing highquality products in Germany in the future,” points out Niklas. “As part of the Würth Group, we also have access to the newly built Reinhold Würth Innovation Center – CURIO, which was completed last year with an investment of €75 million. In addition to our own facilities, this provides us with a further wide range of testing and development opportunities.” In addition to its expertise in concrete screw technology, TOGE®’s product portfolio includes a wide range of solutions, such as insulating anchors and insulating screws – designed for securing insulation panels in underground garages or basement ceilings. Additionally, TOGE®’s product line includes aerated concrete screws, purpose-built for aerated concrete applications, along with distinctive offerings such as asphalt screws and specialised products tailored for road and railroad construction needs. “We take immense pride in consistently delivering to our customers top tier ‘Made in Germany’ approved products, whilst maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality,” states Niklas. “In addition, we can provide complimentary software for calculating concrete screw loads and we can offer customised product solutions to meet virtually any customer requirement. Moreover, we offer the option of presenting our products under private label branding, and we facilitate approval transfers for added convenience.” Niklas concludes: “We are witnessing a clear shift away from traditional fastening systems in favour of concrete screw solutions. With our existing product line-up, we are well prepared for the upcoming years and thanks to our commitment to ongoing innovation – exemplified by the latest offerings of TSM Multiground and TSM Eco – we are empowering users to achieve higher speed and efficiency, attributes that are poised to gain even greater significance in the future.” www.toge.de
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EUROPE‘S LARGEST SUPPLIER FOR WINDOW PRODUCTION SCREWS
– APPROVED QUALITY – – SHORT DELIVERY TIME – – MANY SPECIAL SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE – Nögel Montagetechnik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH Koppelweg 1 • 49767 Twist Phone +49 (0) 59 36/93 63-32 • E-Mail: schulte@noegel.de www.noegel.de • shop.noegel.de
MADE IN GERMANY
Having a blast with AGTOS
AGTOS is an expert in shot blasting technology with the company able to supply customers with technologically advanced, long-term efficient solutions.
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hanks to a combination of experience in the blasting process, along with the technical possibilities available through new opportunities and innovation, AGTOS is able to supply a range of concepts and systems for surface treatment, including its popular turbine wheel shot blasting machines, which were developed in-house. “Our core product is the turbine wheel blast machines, with our overall concept and service including the logistics from the previous process levels to the blast machine and from the blasting process to the following stations,” explains AGTOS GmbH. “Sales and technology also work very closely together at our company, which is why we always offer very practical concepts. In addition, we have developed an internal quality management system that enables us to meet the high standards required by customers. Having invested in both production capacity and processes, we are well equipped for further organic growth.” In recent years AGTOS has also been able to deliver very effective and economical solutions for the surface treatment of fasteners. “Our type of drum blast machine is predestined for fasteners,” states AGTOS. “It requires little space and can be set-up as a standalone machine or in a line. Our customers are impressed at how short the process time is and how good the results are. In addition, spare and wear parts need to be changed much less frequently than with comparable machines.” Other developments at AGTOS include expanding the production capacity of its plant, as well as equipping both its sites with the same ERP system. “Both these steps had a decisive influence on our flexibility and capacity,” explains AGTOS. “Customers benefit from both shortened and improved delivery times, as well as leaner and streamlined production processes, which provide us with cost savings that are then passed onto customers.”
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Another key service that AGTOS provides its customers is after sales support. “We always ensure that a close exchange takes place during the project phase, with customers receiving intensive support during the first few weeks,” points out AGTOS. “Even after the official acceptance and commissioning of the machines, the close partnership continues. This can include close-meshed, regular inspections to remote monitoring of the machines via VGA. In addition, service calls can be planned, accompanied or controlled via the service App. Plus, our Smart Monitoring offers the possibility to collect the process data of the machines, which can be processed and used for analyses and predictive maintenance.” AGTOS believes that the combination of its experience in the blasting process and new technical possibilities offered by things such as digitalisation, enables its customers to get the perfect machinery – supported by a compact service and support. “We believe that well trained employees and modern production equipment are essential for delivering good products,” concludes AGTOS. “Our customers expect high 24/7 performance from their machines and that is what they get by working with us.” www.agtos.com
2 0 ye a r s
Competence in Shot Blast Technology
EFFICIENT CLEANING AND DEBURRING SYSTEMS FOR VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL PARTS AND COMPONENTS. As a full-range supplier, we design and manufacture shot blasting machines including filter and transport technology. ➜ New shot blast machines ➜ Second hand machines ➜ Service and spare parts ➜ Reparation & maintenance ➜ Inspection & consulting ➜ Performance improvement AGTOS | GmbH | D-48282 Emsdetten info@agtos.de | www.agtos.com
343-10/21-4c-GB
Experience our Systems and Solutions: www.ecoclean-group.net
MADE IN GERMANY
The principles of PREBENA PREBENA, a family business now in its second generation, is able to offer an in-depth portfolio of tools and collated fasteners for a wide range of industries and trades. Here President Gabriela Bornemann and CEO Werner Rücklinger explain how sticking to the company’s principles of reliability and the highest quality have been essential factors in PREBENA’s success. The magazine last focused on the German fastener market in 2021, what have been the key developments at PREBENA in this time?
“Innovation is our key to success. Being ‘one step ahead’ and answering our customers’ needs is our biggest drive. That is why, in 2004, we started with our PKT-Technology (PREBENA Cartridge Technology) as a pioneer in the cordless market. We spent a lot of engineering resources to develop a product range of cordless tools – including our new HYBRID technology, which is based on both compressed air and battery technology. Starting with two cordless framing nailers, in 2021, we now also have a wide range of battery-based tools, including a battery screwdriver and our latest innovation – a battery-based concrete nailer. Whilst compressed air tools still make up the majority of our products, we see battery technology as the future of mobile working. We want to offer our customers both technologies, which is why we decided on the new PKT-HYBRID line. The PKT-HYBRID cordless framing nailers from PREBENA are available in two versions – the round-head and half-head strip nailers, with either a short or long magazine, and can process magazined round or half-head nails up to 100mm (4 inches) long. The framing nailers can be used in a variety of ways, for the woodworking industry, in prefabricated house construction, for roofing, interior design or the pallet industry. Our latest innovation in the HYBRID line is a battery-based concrete nailer, which processes concrete nails up to 40mm long – for concrete and steel. Thanks to the combination of the proven PKT cartridge technology, and a powerful 18V battery pack, the tools have enormous firing power. Thanks to the cross-manufacturer battery system of CAS (Cordless Alliance System) our users can now also use other machines and devices that they need in their everyday work. CAS brings together a wide variety of manufacturers from a wide range of industries under one ‘battery umbrella’. Within the system, devices, machines, chargers and battery packs are 100% compatible and can be combined as desired. There are more than 400 powerful battery products available in the 18V class. A mobile battery powered compressor, which can also be operated with the CAS batteries, and a battery-based screwdriver, complete the new cordless program.”
What investments has PREBENA made in recent years and how do these investments benefit customers? “In recent years we have invested a lot in our engineering resources, especially i n autom at i s at ion for
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industrial use. Automatisation and automatised processes are a very important requirement in a modern industry, and we decided to face that trend many years ago when we started to develop our industrial products. We now have a full range of high-end automatic industrial tools, specially designed for the prefabricated housing industry. We work closely with our customers to develop the best possible solution, which is why our product portfolio includes automatic devices for staples, nails and corrugated fasteners, as well as semi-automatic devices for the woodworking industry. The advantage for the customer is that PREBENA is not only supplying the tools and fasteners ‘Made in Germany’ but we also guarantee a worldwide service. Furthermore, we rely on in-house expertise. We offer everything from a single source for a wide range of industries and trades, from the development and construction of a production machine to customer-specific fasteners and competent ser vice. Thanks to partnerships around the world, and the many years of experience and expertise of our employees, our product portfolio is perfectly coordinated and synchronised. Our customers can rely on us and receive customised solutions that help to create security and trust.”
What additional services is PREBENA able to supply customers and how do you work with customers to find fastening solutions? “PREBENA Wilfried Bornemann GmbH & Co produces more than 3,500 different fasteners – whether staples, pins, brads, collated nails or screws there is a fastener for each application. These fasteners are produced at the main production site in Germany and regularly inspected, so that the fasteners are certified and meet the highest requirements in timber construction. Thanks to our own ‘Made in Germany’ production, we are also able to produce fasteners for special applications. Plus, we can develop and process unusual materials such as copper or brass, as well as special cuts and shapes on customer request. We offer customers a solution to their problem – regardless of whether it is a fastener, device, automation solution or service. In addition, the entire process chain is still in our hands – from development to production to global sales. Ou r tech nolog ies a re recognised worldwide as leading solutions a nd ou r
products are sold in over 60 countries. Our production facilities for fasteners are also located around the world. Nevertheless, since PREBENA was founded in Schotten in 1960, all technical innovations have taken place at the headquarters in Germany. Both the tools and machines for the production of staples, magazined nails and screws are developed by PREBENA itself. This enables us to be a system provider – supplying a perfectly coordinated product portfolio from a single source.”
What are the types of products PREBENA is able to manufacture? How does the company guarantee the quality of its products?
“PREBENA is able to manufacture all different types of corrugated fasteners and staples from 3mm to 180mm length – ‘Made in Germany’. In addition, we have been producing various staples with ETA certification since August 2016. The European Technical Assessment (ETA) is a generally accepted form of proof of technical usability in reference to the Construction Product Regulation in the EU. The DIBT (German Institute for Structural Engineering) in Berlin granted the certification. Consequently, the new PREBENA building staples have all the necessary requirements for permanent use in the building industry, prefabricated housing industry and wooden frame construction industry. These ETA building staples are produced at our headquarters in Schotten and can therefore be marketed and sold as ‘Made in Germany’. In parallel with the staple certification, a range of devices has been developed to handle the staples in the relevant industries. This covers all pneumatic staplers for rapid and single stapling with ETA staples, including automatic tools for static use in industrial
manufacturing, mobile tools for moving large scale substructures or pneumatic staplers with an automatic trigger system. Since 2023, we can also offer our customers a certified quality for concrete nails. The certification for our concrete nails was carried out by an external institute, the VHT (Research Institute for Wood and Dry Construction) in Darmstadt, Germany, which guaranteed a certified application for static use.”
How has your company approached the topic of sustainability?
“As a manufacturer of tools and fasteners, we are aware of our responsibility towards the environment. Ecology and high-tech go hand in hand at PREBENA and our products are known for their longevity. Our products are ‘Made in Germany’ and are also highly repairable. In addition, with our PSS (PREBENA Service System) we offer repairs at a fixed price and long availability of spare parts. This can significantly increase the service life and the stability of the value of our high-quality machines. For the careful use of resources and the environment, we also use refillable compressed air cartridges with our PKT technology and we are a member of the CAS (Cordless Alliance System) for the cross-manufacturer use of 18V batteries. In addition, we have invested in renewable energy in the form of a PV system in 2023 with the aim to make our production of fasteners and other products ‘Made in Germany’ more environmentally friendly and sustainable.” www.prebena.com
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MADE IN GERMANY
More than riveting technology A strong partner when it comes to fastening technology, for industry and trade, HONSEL today is more than riveting technology – with the company’s guiding principle to provide customers with the entire solution for fastener and processing tools from a single source.
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ONSEL has become well known within the industry for its riveting capabilities, with the company always looking at how it can expand and develop its extremely wide range. “In addition to standard products from the catalogue – blind rivets, blind rivet nuts and studs, as well as associated tools from manual riveting tools, cordless riveters or pneumatic tools, self-clinching elements and machines – we can develop process monitored automation components for industrial applications,” explains Knud Möller, head of marketing at HONSEL Distribution GmbH & Co KG. “As a manufacturer, we always have the opportunity to implement individual adaptations and complete special solutions together with our customers. It is important to note that we have also retained a high degree of flexibility and agility in order to be able to react quickly to requirements and changes.” Knud adds: “From the requirement analysis, via sampling, to the adaptation of products – if necessary, as well as optimisation in the application, and ensuring needs-based delivery, with ongoing service, HONSEL is able to provide a complete service and ensure it is meeting the needs of its customers.”
A prime example of how HONSEL can provide unique solutions to meet customers’ requirements is the HONSEL blind rivet nut headless, which was created from customer demands for a completely u nprot r ud i n g con ne c t ion i n wh ic h components can slide over each other without interfering edges. “From t he i nd iv idu a l ly de ve loped solution we have now gone into serial production and have also included the product in the new 2024 catalogue,” reports Knud. “This is a typical example of how we can work with customers to create solutions that meet real needs and how these products can become key product lines within the market.” Through the constant modernisation of its large production facility at its Fröndenberg site, for example with additional 6-stage presses of the latest generation, HONSEL is also able to continually improve its production capabilities and massively increase output. “Our manufacturing capabilities and service are underlined by the fact that the assembly of several tools of our cordless riveter family now takes place in Germany at the Neumünster facility – where design, development and product management, as well as the service centre for maintenance and repairs, are also located,” mentions Knud. “Clear communication and short distances enable quick interventions in production and the rapid implementation of individual special solutions, as well as the close support of our private label partners.” Knud adds: “The ongoing expansions and modernisations at all our locations are the basis for HONSEL’s constant growth and the implementation of new technologies. Following the focus of the automotive industry in North America, we are currently establishing a subsidiary with production capacities in the USA. Across all areas of the HONSEL Group the key factor has always been quality. This enables us to create perfect products and a comprehensive service, whilst relying on the great know-how of the HONSEL team.”
New developments
HONSEL’s commitment to quality is further underlined by the company expanding its range of blind rivets with ETA structural
The ongoing expansions and modernisations at all our locations are the basis for HONSEL’s constant growth...” 76 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
approval, which are available from stock. HONSEL also became a member of the new AMPShare alliance with batteries powered by Bosch in 2022. The ultra-fast and lightweight Rivdom eBZ 1, for blind rivets up to 5mm, and the eVNG 2, for blind rivet nuts from M3 – M12, are the first two HONSEL cordless riveters to be equipped with the AMPShare batteries from the beginning of 2024, which will make them compatible with over 300 tools from what is now over 30 partners.
Sustainability ambitions
When it comes to sustainability, HONSEL has also set itself some ambitious self-imposed environmental and climate goals. “One of them is to act completely CO2 neutral as quickly as possible,” explains Knud. “To this end, we have already initiated and implemented a large number of measures, from which the company benefits today. This includes the PV systems on all production and logistics halls; to the avoidance of environmentally harmful substances in production and administration; as well as the introduction of a vehicle fleet consisting of electric vehicles. In addition, the production facility in Fröndenberg – located directly in a local recreation area on the Ruhr – meets the highest environmental standards.” Knud concludes: “At HONSEL we want to sharpen the awareness of sustainable action to each employee in each area – down to the smallest details. We also demand this sensitivity from our suppliers and partners and evaluate them on an ongoing basis.” www.honsel.de
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MADE IN GERMANY REISSER makes major logistics investment With the construction of its new logistics centre, REISSER has made the largest investment in the company’s history. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the major logistics investment will set the company on course for continued growth in the future.
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Photo by KLEBL GmbH/ Reinhard Mederer
ith over 100 years of experience in screw technology, REISSER has established itself as a specialist in fastening and connection elements. The new logistics centre, located around 30km from the company’s headquarters in Ingelfingen-Criesbach, Germany, will see the company make an investment of €45 million. “For us, the expansion is a logical step that was planned with foresight,” points out Delia Pander, corporate communications at ReisserSchraubentechnik GmbH. “The spatial capacities at our headquarters in Ingelfingen-Criesbach are too limited in the digital age for our ambitious strategic plans and growth targets. With the new logistics centre, which had its ground breaking ceremony in 2022, customers have the advantage of getting everything directly from one source.” “The construction of the logistics centre will free up space at our headquarters in Ingelfingen, where we can then use this space to expand our machine park – ensuring the further expansion of our production and thus continue our growth course,” adds Delia. Production is at the heart of REISSER, with the company committed to ‘Made in Germany’ quality as the basis for perfect fastening solutions. REISSER’s focus and core competence is the production of stainless steel screws in grades A2/A4/A5/A8 and bi-metal. The company also manufactures steel screws in various grades and strengths, as well as other materials.
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“We offer our customers the development and manufacture of their products according to their requirements, with the ability to provide customised solutions for a range of components if required,” highlights Delia. “We put the customer first and look to find solutions together, as equal partners. We also offer our customers added value in the form of services such as dimensioning software for dimensioning/ calculation in timber construction, trapezoidal/sandwich profiles and solar installation; in-house electroplating services; as well as in the area of shelving systems at the point of sale.”
Meeting sustainability needs
Through the new logistics centre, REISSER is also able to meet its customers’ requirements when it comes to sustainability. “For the new logistics building, we are relying on a modern and sustainable construction method,” mentions Delia. “The hybrid construction method, concrete-wood, will also play the leading role in the administration building. Wood is the more climate friendly building material, while prefabricated concrete elements – with their good properties in sound insulation, fire protection and load bearing behaviour – are the ideal components for a supporting structure.” REISSER also recently installed a photovoltaic system on the roof of its headquarters. The system has an output of 137kWp and generates 145,000kWh of electricity annually, which the company uses for its
Photo by KLEBL GmbH/ Reinhard Mederer
own consumption. In addition, REISSER is currently expanding the charging park for the company vehicles. Since October, a total of 28 charging points have been available at the company’s operations in Criesbach. Delia adds: “A large part of our hall area in Osterburken is also covered with photovoltaics. The amount of electricity that we sustainably produce there covers the Osterburken site’s own needs. At the same time, the entire temperature control of the building is provided by a heat pump that uses the electricity we produce ourselves. Our halls are heated with a concrete core temperature control system. This has the advantage that the heat comes from below and air is not unnecessarily heated under the ceiling. Only the areas where employees are located a re heated, pure storage a reas in t he automated a rea a re heated significantly less, and this will also help us to achieve less energy waste.”
Focused on new markets
REISSER has also recently shifted its focus onto the ventilated curtain façades and timber construction markets. “To help these markets we have developed new products that meet the needs of customers,” states Delia. “For instance, we have developed the REISSER spacer screw RDS for ventilated curtain walls, which enables simple, economical and almost thermal bridge-free installation of curtain type rear-ventilated façades on concrete and masonry. It is characterised by its sustainability and has a general building authority approval. It can also be used for new buildings, as well as for the renovation of existing buildings. It is therefore perfect for the simple renovation of an existing thermal insulation system. In fact, our new administration building, which is being built next to the new logistics centre, will be clad with a rear-ventilated façade – where the RDS spacer screw will be used.” www.reisser-screws.com
MADE IN GERMANY EXCELLENCE IN STAINLESS STEEL We develop and produce high-quality products made of A2, A4, A5 and A8 stainless steel.
REISSER-Schraubentechnik GmbH info@reisser-screws.com • www.reisser-screws.com
MADE IN GERMANY
First class products and service For more than 120 years HEICO Group has offered high-quality product solutions in the field of fastening and cold forging technology, with the company continuing to invest in its production sites, machinery, and products, in order to go on meeting and exceeding the needs of its customers.
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EICO is a family-owned business with a long tradition and a lot of experience, whilst at the same time being a very modern and dynamic company with innovative spirit. HEICO has 14 subsidiaries worldwide, which all have their own warehouses, as well as a wide network of sales partners and dealers that the company utilises – enabling it to react very quickly to customers’ requests. “At HEICO we have a high-level of diversity and innovation when it comes to our products and capabilities,” states Tobias Grobe, head of sales and marketing at HEICO. “Firstly, we impress customers with our wide range of bolt locking devices and pre-tensioning solutions. Next, we amaze them with the numerous manufacturing options in our cold forging division.” In order to go on providing first class products and services, HEICO has made some significant investments, including consolidating its two production sites into its Ense-Höingen operation. “The production site and administration offices in Ense-Niederense had become too small and an expansion was no longer possible due to its location in the middle of the small town centre,” points out Tobias. “Due to the common location, we realised that several departments – such as shipping and construction – could be merged to not only save costs but also increase efficiency and synergy effects.” Other investments by the company include the addition of modern and more efficient machinery, such as new multi-stage presses, an induction hardening system and an automatic packaging system. “We introduced these machines in order to be able to produce larger quantities much faster, and more efficiently, as well as to expand our production options in the field of cold forging,” explains Tobias. HEICO has also invested in a high-bay warehouse with a capacity of more than 6,800 pallet locations. “Due to our increasing sales volumes we decided to invest in the warehouse so that we could increase our inventory levels and further improve the availability of products,” mentions Tobias. “The conditions of the market are constantly
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changing and if you do not respond as a business to these changes, and do not continually reinvent yourself, then you are more likely to get into difficulties. That is why we are always investing in the research and development of innovative products, as well as in powerful and promising machines and systems.” As a manufacturer of special fastener solutions, HEICO Group attaches great importance to quality and precision, as well as meeting the highest standards and specifications in the automotive, energy and steel construction sectors. “Since the beginning, we have offered customers excellent service with expertise and technical support from our sales team and certified fastener engineers,” states Tobias proudly. “In close collaboration with customers, we always find the perfect product for nearly all applications, including developing customised solutions. Our team of R&D experts, and the company owned laboratory, provide the best prerequisites for guaranteeing the highest precision and quality. We also continuously work on improvements and innovations – such as handling benefits, durability, corrosion resistance, etc – which provides opportunities for potential expansions of the existing product range, as well as completely new product groups in the future.” www.heico-group.com
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MADE IN GERMANY All-in-one machines for long products
With its machinery portfolio, AMBA is focused on the cold forming of long products – with a high-level of integration of all processing steps from semi-finished to finished product. This includes all-in-one machines for the forming of screws, tubes and spokes – with the machines able to carry out each process step, from paying off, cutting and straightening the wire, to head forming and thread rolling, as well as the discharge of the finished products.
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eorg Haas, head of sales and customer service at Aachener Maschinenbau (AMBA) GmbH, explains: “Thanks to our own mechanical and electrical design, as well as a high-level of in-house production depth for both mechanical components and control cabinet construction, we are able to design these high-quality all-in-one machines. Where previously customers may have needed multiple machines and equipment to produce products, with AMBA they can produce finished products with only one machine, whilst guaranteeing the very best quality.” Thanks to the vast amount of knowledge and experience within the business, AMBA is also able to support customers with any after care service required – guaranteeing machines run smoothly. “We know that for customers to manufacture their orders efficiently, and on schedule, they need a machine that can consistently produce the quantities required,” mentions Georg. That is why AMBA offers its customers a spare and wear parts service – all from a single source. “This means that spare parts can be on-site at our customers’ premises the very next working day by express shipment, even in the USA,” points out Georg. “We also offer training, maintenance, inspections and rebuilds for our machines. In this way, even older machines can be made fit for the future again by retrofitting the electrics and control system. This is a particular advantage when you consider the longevity of our machines, with some machines having reliably performed their duties for over 50 years.”
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In recent years AMBA has also made many detailed improvements to its machiner y, including the control system – extension of functionalities, standardisation of software modules, as well as the extension to other control systems. Improvements were also implemented in the design and assembly of the machines. Plus, quality standards were raised by establishing checklists and inspection points. In addition to its existing range of machinery, AMBA is also currently developing an even larger series of its proven boltmaker, the BM 12. “In addition, we are working on the development of a boltmaker for the production of bi-metal screws. Here, too, the all-in-one concept will be used,” reports Georg. Alongside its machinery, AMBA has also invested in its premises through the expansion of its production hall in 2018. “Due to increased demand, the previous hall capacities were no longer sufficient and had led to delays in the delivery of machines,” explains Georg. “Now we have the possibility to put several machines into operation and deliver them on time through parallel pre-assemblies and final assemblies.” A key market for AMBA’s all-in-one machines is the timber construction market, which the company says still shows great potential, especially with the growing requirements regarding sustainability and CO 2 balance. “In addition to the timber construction market we are also seeing an increasing demand in the expansion of renewable energies and the fastening of solar/PV modules,” highlights Georg. “There are also the fasteners for power transfers or the fastening of battery packs, which will require new types of fasteners in the future. That is why we are already developing and realising new machine concepts with innovative processes, in cooperation with fastener manufacturers.” Georg adds: “As already mentioned, we also see an interesting market in the production of long bi-metal screws and have successfully carried out the first development steps on integrating the technology into our all-in-one machine concept. As a business we are always open to new opportunities and willing to work alongside interested fastener manufacturers in the development of new machinery.” www.amba.de
Join us at the WIRE SHOW from 15 – 19 April 2024 in Düsseldorf, Germany
AMBA - Aachener Maschinenbau GmbH All-in-one machinery for metal cold forming
New BM12 screw machine With our new BM12 screw-making machine, we have further expanded the range of our All-in-One machines. The new machine can process up to 18-mm-diameter wire. This makes it the most powerful of all our machines.
AACHENER MASCHINENBAU GMBH Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 17 - 19 | D-52477 Alsdorf | Germany T: +49 2404 551289 - 0 | info@amba.de | www.amba.de
MADE IN GERMANY
From dowel supplier to system In its anniversary year of 2023, the fischer Group of Companies is not only looking back at 75 years of success, but above all forward to the future – having becoming renowned for its innovative power, through which it continues to develop new products and areas of business, with its fischer Innovation Campus established for this exact purpose.
Using the BauBot construction robot in combination with a digital construction plan means construction site processes can be almost completely automated
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lthough the medium-sized business was heavily focused on plastic plugs and on operating in Germany in the past, it has since successfully evolved into a global group of companies under the management of Prof Klaus Fischer, particularly in the past 40 years. The company’s success story was evident once again in the past financial year, during which fischer achieved a turnover of over €1 billion for the first time in the company’s history (€1.14 billion) – with the business pursuing further sales growth. Starting with a patented plastic expansion plug in 1958, fischer now offers system solutions and services for planning, construction and operation throughout a building’s entire supply chain. These services now extend far beyond fixing technology. In addition to plastic plugs, steel anchors, chemical fixing systems, and screws, the range also includes façade substructures, installation systems, FireStop solutions for passive fire protection, anchor channels, solar fixings and much more. In addition, fischer offers its customers a wide range of services. With comprehensive services, the fixing expert supports its trade partners in their convincing online and offline presence. A wide range of eLearning courses, live online seminars and face-to-face training courses at the fischer Academy also keep tradespeople, dealers, planners and structural engineers up to date. As a strong and reliable partner in fixing technology, the company is always at its customers’ side, wherever they are.
Efficiency and reliability in construction
The company states it is still setting the standard for efficiency and reliability in construction with its innovations and quality standards. One of the current milestones is its fastening robot, the BauBot. The fully automatic helper takes over the drilling, cleaning and marking of boreholes, as well as the installation of fischer fixing solutions in floors, ceilings and walls at heights of up to five metres. In combination with a digital construction plan, the robot masters the complexity of a wide variety of construction sites, increases productivity, and precision, and
fischer Construction Monitoring is the world’s first intelligent and integrated monitoring solution for structures and plants in the fixing technology sector
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brings safety through continuous digital documentation. Tradespeople are physically relieved by the use of the robot and their health is protected by a dust-free environment. As a result, the robot increases efficiency when working, reduces errors, saves costs and time, as well as contributing to reducing the shortage of skilled workers on construction sites, which ultimately ensures project success. In another world first, the fischer Construction Monitoring sensor innovation allows existing prestressing forces in fastenings to be monitored at all times and from anywhere. The Construction Monitoring software solution within the myfischer portal is used together with sensor integrated fischer fixing products. With the SensorAnchor anchor rod, forces can be precisely measured from a distance and permanently monitored. The SensorDisc washer makes it possible to check the pretensioning force in various screw connections simply by tapping it with a smartphone. The data of the sensor integrated fixing products can be read out with the fischer PRO App or via web application. The use of this innovation increases the service life, sustainability, safety and maintenance efficiency of structures and plants.
Competence for construction projects
Today, fischer is a strong and reliable project partner that supports customers with any construction project through a wide range of services, from planning to on-site support until the project’s successful completion. An in-house engineering office, BIM solutions, engineering services and fischer’s FiXperience design software also provide support with project planning. Digital services, such as dowel-finder Apps, make it easier to select and use fischer products. In its own fischer Construction Engineering GmbH, the fixing expert bundles its competences and increases efficiency, safety and precision on the construction site in the areas of project business, dimensioning, surveys, BIM modelling & CAD, fire protection and services. The fischer BIM spectrum includes digital twins of the relevant fischer product and system portfolio including inserts (fischer anchor channels), façade substructures, as well as installation and fire protection systems. With BIM engineering services, fischer also supports customers in the selection, dimensioning and modelling of fischer fixing and system solutions – right through to the creation of digital models and assemblies optimised according to the respective customer and project specific requirements. fischer Field-to-BIM services simultaneously enable as-built surveys and modelling, including analysis and processing of the point Cloud, as well as
provider and project partner as-built documentation for 3D representation of the existing structure. For fast construction progress on-site, fischer BIM-to-Field support ensures the transfer of planning data from the BIM model to the real construction site – by means of digital models and the use of the latest technology, such as the BauBot robot. The FiXperience software also allows the fixing solutions of complete projects and individual applications to be planned in a targeted and cost optimised manner. The fischer PRO App for smartphones and tablets, with the Android and iOS operating systems, also gives professional users and planners access to many useful functions and information about fischer fixing technology at any time and from anywhere. Using the product advisor, tradesmen and engineers can enter common parameters to quickly and easily find the right individual product and suitable system solution. The purchase can be completed online or at a fischer retail partner. DIYers can find the right product for their fixing project with the help of the plug finder as a fischer App DIY and as a website tool. The fischer App Craftnote also serves as a central coordination and communication point for all projects involving craftspeople’s businesses. As an interface between construction site and office, it links communication, documentation, organisation and planning of the craftspeople’s operation. With reliable data and stable processes, the company’s success can be planned.
Consistent international expansion
fischer Group operates globally with a result oriented approach for the benefit of customers and users. Around 80% of the family businesses’
Solar systems – available from 2024. Mounting solutions for photovoltaic panels.
turnover is generated outside Germany. With 51 subsidiaries in 39 countries, the fischer Group of Companies is successfully established in the market and exports to more than 120 countries, with new subsidiaries due to be added. In doing so, company owner Prof Klaus Fischer is consistently expanding the company’s internationalisation. He has been steadily expanding the company’s international commercial activities since becoming its general director 43 years ago. At the time, the company generated a turnover equivalent to around €50 million with around 1,000 employees.
Sustainably successful
fischer shows responsibility for people and the environment. The fischer Process-System, which avoids waste, contributes to sustainability throughout the group on a daily basis. For its commitment in this area, the fischer Group of Companies received the German Sustainability Award 2020 in the ‘Large Companies’ category. The fixing specialist offers its GreenLine anchors, which consist of at least 50% renewable raw materials and are particularly low in emissions. In addition, there are other fastening innovations, such as the FIS V Zero injection mortar, which does not contain any hazardous substances. The innovative formulation of the label-free universal mortar guarantees user-friendly and safe processing, as well as environmentally friendly application and disposal. For the benefit of occupants and building users, FIS V Zero also meets the highest requirements for maintaining clean indoor air quality. www.fischer-international.com
MADE IN GERMANY
Delivering more than promised With a high manufacturing capability, and in 2022 alone producing more than 140 million connecting elements – using optimum processes and state of the art equipment, PRINZ is able to supply high precision solutions that can meet customers’ requirements for automotive and a variety of other industries.
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ince it was founded in 1875, PRINZ has looked to ensure its long-term success and create close relationships with its customers by delivering ‘more than promised’. “Today, we are a full service supplier, offering support in product design and with the capabilities to provide custom solutions in the field of long shaft fasteners and other applications,” explains Stephan Schwarz, CEO at PRINZ GmbH. “We serve as consultants, contributing to the cost-effective and highly demanding production of our customers.” As part of its manufacturing capabilities, PRINZ has a range of multi-stage presses (from 2 – 6 stages) that enable it to create custom fastening technology for its customers. “We develop solutions in cold forming technology, often at the limits of technological capabilities,” explains Stephan. “This means we can manufacture screw-like fasteners in all materials, ranging from short to extra long lengths of up to 2,000mm and a diameter range from 2mm to 22mm.” PRINZ also ensures that its production processes are monitored to meet customers’ zero-defect strategies and its production is fully automated – with the ability to offer corresponding fully automated 100% inspections. “These inspections include eddy current testing, surface roughness measurements, as well as dimensional checks using cameras and lasers,” reports Stephan. “We also build our tools in our own tool shop, which gives us further control over the production processes and machinery.” In order to ensure cost-effective and quality orientated production, PRINZ is able to work with customers on collaborative product development, which takes into account both the customers’ applications and requirements. “Our engineers, product and key account managers provide support in these efforts, including the creation of prototypes
and test tools,” mentions Stephan. “We are also able to adapt geometries and use material flow simulation to transform a turned part into a cold formed component, along with the incorporation of pre-assemblies for an optimised process flow if necessary.” Through the experience and technical knowledge within the business, PRINZ is also able to continuously expand its range of products, diameters and lengths. “We have introduced a lot of new products that are already being used in automotive applications, such as fuel cells, battery storage, mobility applications, bike carrier systems, and e-bikes,” points out Stephan. “We also have some new projects for the construction industry, but our general focus remains in the mobility sector.” In addition to new products, PRINZ has also looked to invest within the business and its capabilities. “In order to introduce the new products, and improve productivity, we have invested in new multi-stage presses, thread rolling machines and spoke forming machines,” highlights Stephan. “The investments are aimed at helping us access new markets and produce competitively in Germany.” Alongside the focus of competitiveness, reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable business practices have equally been prioritised by PRINZ. “We have looked at how we can make our processes more energy efficient and have introduced new compressors, LED lighting, induction heating and new washing machines,” points out Stephan. “A company’s carbon footprint and consequently the reduction of supply chains will be a crucial factor in awarding new projects. That is why we initiated sustainability analysis following the Scope principle at an early stage and also why we evaluate all our investments based on both financial and environmental return on investment.” www.prinz-h.de
In order to ensure cost-effective and quality orientated production, PRINZ is able to work with customers on collaborative product development, which takes into account both the customers’ applications and requirements.”
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JANUARY 2024 The first product spotlight of the year...
Stainless Steel Fasteners Don’t miss out on this opportunity to talk to fastener buyers about the unique qualities and benefits of stainless steel For more information please contact sales@verulammedia.com or call +44 (0)1727 743 882
MADE IN GERMANY
Comprehensive riveting solutions GESIPA® stands for holistic blind rivet technology, with the company focusing on the development and production of innovative fasteners, such as blind rivets and blind rivet nuts, as well as high-quality tools for the efficient processing of these fasteners.
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s a specialist in blind rivet technology, GESIPA® can optimally match its riveting technology to individual productions according to specific customer requirements. “Due to geometry or design, many components are only accessible from one side during assembly, but still have to be joined securely,” explains GESIPA®. “The blind rivet technique solves this challenge. A rivet or blind rivet nut is inserted from the front of the workpiece into the drilled hole and pressed with a special rivet setting tool. This creates a form-fitting connection that promises high strength and reliability. This fastening method is successfully used in the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, construction and in heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology.” The demands on riveting technology can be many sided, with the products having to adapt to different materials whilst ensuring efficient work processes and safety. “The technology can be succesfully used in a variety of industries, for instance in the automotive industry rivets are used to attach components to the car body. In mechanical engineering, they are often used to connect housings, frame parts and structural elements. In construction projects, blind rivets are used to fasten façade cladding, sheet metal roofs, railings or metal structures, among other things,” reports GESIPA®.
The setting process
A blind rivet consists of two parts, the blind rivet body and the mandrel. To install the blind rivet a hole is drilled in the components to be connected, which GESIPA® points out should be at least 0.1mm larger than the diameter of the blind rivet body. After inserting the blind rivet into this hole, the setting head is on the processing side of the component and the hollow rivet shank is on the blind side. The rivet is then held in position with the help of a special blind rivet setting tool. To deform the rivet and create the joint, the setting tool is triggered. This causes the shank of the rivet to be pressed together by the closing head and the setting head to be pressed against the component. The hollow rivet shank is deformed by the mandrel in the component until the mandrel breaks off at the predefined point and force.
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www.baecker.eu
GRIP IT. USE IT. CONTROL IT.
TINY PARTS. HUGE IMPACT. BENEFIT FROM THE VERSATILITY OF PLASTIC STANDARD ELEMENTS.
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CLAMPING LEVERS, TENSION LEVERS AND EXCENTRIC TENSION LEVERS // INDEX BOLTS AND BLOCKING HANDLES // BALL AND SPRING INDEX PLUNGERS // BRIDGE HANDLES // START AND SOFTTOUCH KNOBS // LOCKING HANDLES // CROSS AND THREE-STAR KNOBS // KNURLED KNOBS // WING KNOBS // BALL KNOBS // CYLINDER HANDLES // MUSHROOM KNOBS AND T-HANDLES // HAND WHEELS AND CRANK HANDLES // LEVELLING FEET //HINGES // RUBBER METALBUFFERS // LATCHES
SCREWS // NUTS // WASHERS AND SPACER ROLLS // SPACER BOLTS // CABLE TIES // KNURLED KNOBS // WING KNOBS // THREADED RODS t
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MADE IN GERMANY This creates a firm connection between the components. On one side of the component, the setting head holds the rivet in place, preventing it from slipping, while on the blind side of the component, the deformed shank ensures a strong connection. “If an internal or external thread is to be inserted into particularly thin components or components that are only accessible on one side, blind rivet nuts or blind rivet studs are the ideal solution,” adds GESIPA®. “Unlike the blind rivet, the blind rivet nut is a fastening element with an additional function.”
Reliable, fast and cost-efficient
In contrast to other joining techniques, such as screwing or welding, the blind rivet technique does not require accessibility from both sides at the joint. In addition, the setting process is particularly simple and user-friendly, with the rivet being set within seconds – helping to shorten production and assembly times. GESIPA® also underlines that even delicate, brittle or soft components can be reliably joined together. Moreover, since the rivet is set from the outside, there is no damage to the surface, which preserves the aesthetic quality of the material. “Blind rivet technology also scores points over other joining techniques when it comes to dynamic loads, such as the subsequent transport to the area of application of the components or when used in vehicles,” mentions GESIPA®. “This is because riveted joints are vibration resistant and offer high-tensile and shear strength.”
Wide product portfolio
GESIPA® offers a wide range of rivet types to meet different requirements and materials. Even the standard range includes more than 400 blind rivets with different rivet shank and set head diameters, as well as flexible minimum and maximum clamping ranges. For the setting head, a choice can be made between flat round head, countersunk head and large head. The possibilities for material connections of the applied parts are also diverse. For instance, aluminium and steel, copper and steel or copper and bronze can be connected. The strength of the connection depends on the type of rivet used and the specific requirements of the application. “Should an application break out of the norm, our experts are on hand to help,” reports GESIPA®. “With their broad technical and industry knowledge, it is possible to optimise the rivet to suit the application. With decades of experience in the consultation and development of blind rivets and nuts, as well as over 40 years of experience in the automatic processing of blind rivets, the technical sales department defines the project specific requirements. These include, among other things, the surface finish, application specific shear and tensile strength, as well as setting process reliability.” The choice of the right ‘compatible’ product can influence the quality, strength and reliability of the joint. “Different materials require different types of blind rivets,” points out GESIPA®. “The application environment also plays a major role, as factors such as temperature, humidity, vibration or chemical influences impact the performance of the rivet. Therefore, it is important to choose a rivet that is suitable for the specific application environments. Strength and design requirements, as well as quality and safety standards, should also be considered.” In addition to the standard range, GESIPA® also offers blind rivets for particularly demanding applications. For example, even extreme connections can be achieved with high strength structural blind rivets. Regardless of their structural properties – whether brittle, flexible, soft, porous or fragile – almost all materials can be joined using the right type of rivet. The technique is even suitable for components
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The demands on riveting technology can be many sided, with the products having to adapt to different materials whilst ensuring efficient work processes and safety.” made of fibreglass, hardboard or gypsum laths. “With plastic parts, white breakage can be avoided by using functionally embossed rivets,” highlights GESIPA®. “Furthermore, splash-proof connections can be realised easily and reliably. For projects where dimensions or spacings outside the standard dimensions are required, we also have products in special fits and designs.”
Application made easy
In addition to various types of rivets, GESIPA® also has the right setting tools available. If particularly high performance is required, pneumatic-hydraulic setting tools are often suitable. The compressed air required for the setting process is used twice – both for setting the blind rivet and for extracting the residual rivet mandrel. GESIPA®’s battery-powered setting tools allow maximum flexibility, as they work independently of cables and hoses. The consistent further development of battery riveting technology by the company has led to modern CAS-based battery technology in this field – with the GESIPA® Birdie® tool a particularly small, light, but at the same time powerful battery riveting tool. “All setting devices are characterised by their precision and simple handling. This enables error-free processing of the rivets with short processing times. In addition, the setting tools are particularly robust and durable,” states GESIPA®. “By optimally matching the fasteners, individual productions according to specific customer requirements are possible. Our own certified quality management system also guarantees consistently high standards. Through the overall system, consisting of fasteners, processing equipment, and assembly techniques, we can offer comprehensive solution competencies for industry and trade from a single source.”
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EXHIBITIONS
PREVIEWS AND REPORTS FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS
A positive takeaway from FASTENER POLAND® On 18th – 19th October FASTENER POLAND®, the international trade fair for fastener and fixing technology, left a positive impression on the exhibitors and visitors who attended EXPO Kraków. The 6th edition successfully endorsed two days of industry meetings, thousands of conversations, guests from dozens of countries, an expert conference, novelties and premieres.
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ven before the first visitors arrived at EXPO Kraków, organisers believed this year’s edition of FASTENER POLAND® would be a major success, with the show including 150 producers and distributors from 15 different countries – 77% of which came from abroad. Post show, this was further confirmed with organisers reporting that of the 3,258 people who visited the fair, 45% visited from abroad, with the highest number of visitors coming from Italy, the Czech Republic and Ukraine, alongside noticeable attendance from India, Taiwan, Brazil and China. The international business atmosphere was visible every step of the way at EXPO Kraków. Tomasz Karwowski, commercial director of DROMET Sp. z.o.o. commented his appreciation for the opportunity to meet many new customers. “Our main goal is to meet new customers – customers from outside our own country. Every year we manage to achieve this goal. I’m very happy with this. Among the foreign customers who visited our stand this year were also those with whom we had not had contact before.” Andrea Villa, vice-president of the management board of EUROFIX Italia, noted: “The FASTENER POLAND® trade fair is not as large as other events in the world, but it is very specialised, which means that I have time to talk to every client. I can spend several minutes talking to them and discuss in detail all the issues that interest them. This is very important for us.”
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A novelty of this year’s trade fair was the zone of fasteners dedicated to the renewable energy and electrical engineering sectors. Poland is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of the size for the photovoltaics market and the industry has recorded continuous increases in sales – meaning the demand for specialised components is constantly growing. It was here that exhibitors presented their latest innovative and high-quality components, dedicated to this growing industry. Another indispensable element of FASTENER POLAND® is the industry conference where, each year, the most current topics for the industry are discussed. This time the main theme was ecology and economics in the fastener industry, along with the challenges and opportunities they entail. The most discussed issue was the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). New regulations and the changes related to their introduction are another challenge for company’s importing products from outside the EU. “This is just one aspect of the broadly understood green revolution that the industry is witnessing, which results not only in challenges, but also in opportunities for entrepreneurs. The development of ecological and economic construction and renewable energy sources requires access to fasteners that meet the highest quality standards. All these problems were discussed by respected experts, and the conference enjoyed great interest among visitors and exhibitors alike,” reported the organisers. www.fastenerpoland.pl
EXHIBITIONS A new chapter for China’s hardware industry
China’s hardware industry received a much needed boost with the overwhelming response to the successful China International Hardware Show (CIHS), which took place from 19th – 21st September 2023 in Shanghai, China.
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s one of the most influential hardware events in the global market, organised by China National Hardware Association and Koelnmesse Co Ltd, CIHS 2023, in conjunction with its concurrent exhibitions China International Building Hardware & Fasteners Show 2023 and China International Locks & Security Doors Show 2023 – covering 120,000m 2, featured a wide range of products including tools, DIY & building hardware, locks, work safety & accessories, as well as processing equipment and garden tools. A total of 2,623 exhibitors, from 27 countries and regions, brought tens of thousands of brands and products to showcase to visitors, as well as exchange, and network, and take advantage of the great business opportunities. Organisers reported that the fair received 68,405 visits from 97 countries and regions worldwide during the three day period, among which the international trade buyers accounted for 7.7%. Supported by Koelnmesse’s international hardware trade fairs, CIHS 2023 welcomed the encouraging re-entry of international participants, especially from Germany, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, China and Taiwan. “Though CIHS was interrupted for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s event marks a grand comeback and restart, and we have exceeded expectations in terms of the scale, numbers of
exhibitors and visitors, performance of the events and the feedback from all participants,” commented Zhang Dongli, president of China National Hardware Association. “Such achievement symbolises the dedication and innovative inputs of the organisers and respective partners, as well as the active support and participation of all exhibitors and visitors.” On the occasion of CIHS’ 20 th anniversary, the organisers had launched a series of celebration events, including an on-site gallery dedicated to honouring CIHS’ journey over the past two decades. This dedicated area showcased the impressive growth of the exhibition, with expanded scope and increased participation from valued exhibitors and visitors. The remarkable showcase highlighted the extraordinary progress made and set the stage for future milestones. “In the past two decades, we have witnessed the prosperous development of China’s hardware industry and contributed to the enhancement of international cooperation and exchanges. With years of expansion and accumulation, CIHS has successfully evolved into the ideal choice and access for overseas buyers in the Chinese market,” remarked Oliver Frese, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. “We are delighted to provide comprehensive support to enterprises in expanding their global export capabilities and distribution networks through our on-site events and services.”
INTRODUCING
THE UK MARKET LEADER
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A product portfolio of over 20,000 items in A2 and A4, Metric, Unified and Imperial Thread Form
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EXHIBITIONS Precision Fair – the catalyst of the high-tech industry Taking place from 15 th – 16th November, at Brabanthallen in the Netherlands, the 22nd edition of Precision Fair will unite the entire value chain of precision technology to meet and share knowledge about the latest developments in the industry.
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he high-tech sector is a key pillar of the Dutch economy and that is not without reason – this sector is representative of about 50% of all R&D investments in the Netherlands. Therefore, at the Precision Fair, industry leaders, training institutes, government agencies, technical universities and incubator programs meet annually to work on the future together. “New connections are made and numerous established relationships are fostered,” states Bart Kooijmans, program manager at Precision Fair. More than 325 companies will be exhibiting this year, specialising in fine mechanics, photonics, and nanotechnology, among other fields. Alongside the exhibitors, industry associations will also be found on the expo floor, with DSPE, Euspen, VDMA, ILOnet, Minacned, the Dutch Vacuum Association (NEVAC) and The Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers (KIVI) present, among others. Additionally, a comprehensive program has been set up for visitors of the show, with Keynote Speaker Marc Hendrikse, the figurehead of High-Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM), highlighting the importance of the sector. A Young Talent program has also been
established with pitches and a demo area, as well as an arena that showcases universities, colleges, start-ups and knowledge institutes. In addition, a live stage will feature panel discussions, pitches and expert sessions. Bart is expecting a large turnout this year: “I’m looking forward to the fair and a lot of others are too. Within just a couple of weeks, three-quarters of the exhibitors had already registered and the rest followed in no time. Every year at the fair, visitors are given the opportunity to gain important knowledge. Moreover, you get to meet potential partners in an easily accessible way – who you can do business in the future, or even with your competitors.” He adds: “Because we are now located in the Brabanthallen, we also have plenty of room to welcome new parties. We are not only seeing a growth in the number of exhibitors as a consequence – even more industry associations are present this year and so visitors will have a unique opportunity to represent their company and, for instance, to initiate subsidy projects. Above all, let’s not forget all the networking gatherings – it’s worth coming just for those.”
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Discover more Be part of the change
EVENTS CALENDAR EISENWARENMESSE Köln, Germany 3 Mar – 6 Mar 2024 www.eisenwarenmesse.com Hardware and DIY sector.
International Hardware Fair India
ESEF
New Delhi, India 2 Dec – 4 Dec 2023 www.hardwarefair-india.com Hardware and DIY sector.
Utrecht, Netherlands 12 Mar – 15 Mar 2024 www.maakindustrie.nl/esef The meeting place for the Dutch manufacturing industry.
The Big 5
Engineering Solutions Live
Dubai 4 Dec – 7 Dec 2023 www.thebig5.ae An event for the construction industry with its global hub in Dubai acting as the gateway between east and west.
Warwick, UK 21 Mar 2024 www.engineeringsolutionslive.co.uk Trade fair for the engineering industry.
Swissbau
National Hardware Show
Basel, Switzerland 16 Jan – 19 Jan 2024 www.swissbau.ch National construction fair.
Las Vegas, USA 26 Mar – 28 Mar 2024 www.nationalhardwareshow.com Connects retailers, dealers, wholesalers, distributors and manufacturing to the marketplace.
BUDMA – International Construction Fair
Feicon
Poznań, Poland 30 Jan – 2 Feb 2024 www.budma.pl Building technology, equipment and materials.
São Paulo, Brazil 2 Apr – 5 Apr 2024 www.feicon.com.br Construction industry fair.
Intersolar India
CONSTRUMA
Gujarat, India 21 Feb – 23 Feb 2024 www.thesmartere.in Exhibition for the Indian solar industry.
Budapest, Hungary 10 Apr – 14 Apr 2024 www.construma.hu International building trade exhibition.
SchraubTec Landshut
wire Düsseldorf
Landshut, Germany 28 Feb 2024 www.schraubtec.com/landshut German regional trade fairs for screw connections.
Düsseldorf, Germany 15 Apr – 19 Apr 2024 www.wire.de Wire and cable, including fastener manufacturing technology.
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We cordially invite you to visit
March 20-22 I SHANGHAI, CHINA
2024 3.20-3.22
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VENUE: NECC (SHANGHAI)
VISITORS
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1000+ EXHIBITORS
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ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP 3 FASTENER PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITIONS STAMPING & LATHE PARTS
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THE FIRST BIG FASTENER EVENT IN ASIA IS COMING NEXT MARCH!
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s the world's largest fastener producer, China's huge manufacturing market and complete supply chain system provide broad development space and abundant raw material supply for fastener manufacture. In addition, as China continues to increase
investment in technological R&D and innovation, the technological progress and industrial upgrading of the fastener industry have been greatly improved, helping China's fasteners to form dual advantages in terms of quality and price. Not only the product quality is good, but also the price is relatively low, making Chinese fasteners have a high cost performance in the global market.
1 MORE NEW PRODUCTS More new fasteners and equipment will be unveiled at FES 2024 in next March to provide a complete and detailed display of subdivided categories.
2 MORE INTERNATIONAL MATCHMAKING More accurate international B2B matchmaking will be launched on site for international visitors to meet the one exactly they want on site.
3 DEEPER INDUSTRY INTEGRATION A Fastener+Fixing Solution Zone will be designed to provide overall solutions covering fastener products, technology, At the same time, with the advancement of global division of labor, continuous upgrading and
engineering utility, logistics for end users.
adjustment of industrial structure, and achievement of science and technology, the quality of Chinese fastener made great progress. Enterprises keep innovating in technology to develop high-strength, fatigue-resistant fasteners that better meet market demand and expanding the scope of material utility such as alloy steel and various composite materials.
As one of the world’s top 3 fastener professional exhibitions, Fastener Expo Shanghai has continued to create a high-level fastener professional exhibition with the spirit of "perseverance", and provides a one-stop all-round display of the fastener industry from a localized and international perspective since its establishment in 2010. Fastener Expo Shanghai 2023 (FES2023) attracted more than 850 exhibitors and 15,652 visitors within its 56,000m2 exhibition area and turned out to be a big success.
FES 2024 will be the first big event specialized in fastener held in Asia next March with the most complete fastener categories, the most cost-effective purchasing resources, and the one-stop whole fastener solution platform that you should not miss. Click www.FastenerExpo.cn to explore more.
March 20-22 I SHANGHAI, CHINA
Fastener Expo Shanghai 2024 will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from March 20 to 22, 2024. As the first fastener professional fair opened in Asia in 2024, FES 2024 will continue to offer large and comprehensive fastener standard products as always and actively build a high-end customized fastener demonstration area in respond to the high-quality development requirements of "Made in China 2025" and will also bring something new.
Event Director:Herry Meng
Marketing Manager:Scylla Zang
+86 186-1683-7551
+86 177-2103-7019
herry.meng@ebseek.com
scylla.zang@ebseek.com
SEE YOU IN MARCH
EXHIBITIONS Meeting the demands for industry cleanliness In-depth technical discussions, a strongly attended Expert Forum, and a positive overall mood on all three days of the fair, testified to the fact that the 20th edition of parts2clean, which took place on 26th – 28th September at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, fulfilled visitor expectations.
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ver 150 companies from 14 different countries were present at the fair, generating high-quality contacts, new projects, and direct business deals, with more than 3,000 trade visitors. Organisers confirmed that the share of foreign visitors to the show was 20%, with the highest numbers coming from Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Austria and the Netherlands. A core theme of this year’s show was ‘High Purity’, which the show organisers said was a major contribution to the 33% increase in show visitors compared to 2022. “In this way, we have placed a stronger focus on the range of solutions offered at parts2clean for tasks where the highest cleanliness requirements need to be met,” stated Christoph Nowak, project director at Deutsche Messe. This was confirmed by Rainer Straub, board of management and vice-president sales & customer service at Ecoclean GmbH: “parts2clean was significantly more successful for us this year than in 2022, certainly due to the highlighted theme of ‘High Purity’, which is a focal point in our program at Ecoclean – helping us to attract new visitors.” Dr Ing Günther Schmauz, board member at acp systems AG, added: “With our high purity snow blasting cleaning solutions, we were previously more of a niche supplier at parts2clean. At this year’s event, however, we were able to welcome a large number of trade fair guests from the fields of EUV lithography, including system partners and suppliers, as well as electromobility. The latter ranges from battery manufacturers and suppliers of components for power dissipation, and energy management, right through to electric motors. For us, parts2clean 2023 went very well.” Maria Laure from the New Business Perfect Welding division at Austria-based Fronius International stated: “We participated in parts2clean for the third time and have noted a positive development, both in terms of visitor numbers, as well as the international makeup. We conducted around 50% of our discussions in English and these are ongoing discussions that deal with specific tasks, and in some cases the visitors even brought along the workpieces to be cleaned.”
In-depth discussions with trade visitors
Exhibitors reported that visitors were able to hold highly detailed discussions about specific projects, as roughly 88% of them were involved in operational investment decisions, while 78% visited the trade fair looking to make purchases. Wolfgang Prem, managing
director of Maschinenbau Silberhorn GmbH, reported: “This year we are taking away a whole lot of good leads with visitors from companies we did not know before. However, the highlight of our participation in the tradeshow was that we were able to sell one of our new MWS cleaning systems to a company from Israel directly at our booth. It was a first contact that occurred right here at the show.”
Record attendance at Expert Forum
A key attraction at parts2clean was the Expert Forum, available in both English and German, where lectures by renowned speakers from science, research and industry aimed to generate or deepen cleaning knowledge. This year, the forum achieved record numbers. “A magnet for visitors has always been the bilingual Expert Forum at parts2clean,” explained Christoph. “But this year it underpinned its status as one of the world’s most sought after sources of expertise on industrial parts and surface cleaning, drawing record attendance. The enormous popularity of this forum shows that there is an immense need for information – both for traditional cleaning tasks, as well as high purity applications, which will continue to increase due to changing and new requirements.”
WWW.FASTENERANDFIXING.COM
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EXHIBITIONS wire and Tube premieres in Cairo From the 2nd – 4th September, wire and Tube Middle East Africa, together with GIFA and METEC Middle East Africa, presented themselves within the METAL & STEEL EGYPT trade fair for the first time at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo.
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he regions of Egypt, the Middle East and North Africa offer many first time exhibitors the opportunity to invest in these growing markets and this year 383 exhibitors, from 19 countries, took the opportunity to show their colours in Cairo. In addition to native companies, organisers confirmed exhibitors from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Morocco, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA, among others. There was noticeable interest in the exhibition halls right from the start of the five-in-one trade fair. Over 7,000 professionals, around 10% of which were international, travelled to Cairo across three days to network and indulge in in-depth discussions about trends and innovations from various industries, as well as discover the latest machinery, equipment, products and services from the wire, cable, tube, foundry and metallurgy sectors, in addition to the metal and steel industry. Egyptian trade fair organiser AGEX (Arabian German Exhibitions & Publishing Ltd) has already been holding its METAL & STEEL EGYPT trade fair since 2010. The cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf this year has resulted in valuable synergy for all sectors involved. Organisers have confirmed there will be another edition of the five trade fairs in the first half of 2025, where industry players will once again present themselves in Cairo.
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Via dell’Artigianato, 16-18-20 - 36027 SAN PIETRO DI ROSÀ (VI) - ITALY Tel. 0039.0424.562044 - Fax 0039.0424.564055 E-mail: sipa@sipaitalia.it - E-mail: ordini@sipaitalia.it - Web: www.sipaitalia.it
CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS
INSIGHT AND NEWS ON THE CONSTRUCTION MARKET
Towards a ‘digital value stream’ for construction products, beyond a digital DoP By Ulrich Bourgund and Thilo Pregartner, Construction Fixings Europe In the course of developing the new Construction Product Regulation (CPR) the aspect of digitisation has attracted more and more attention and interest. It looks like now most stake holders understand that for a single product, with the respective intended use a Declaration of Performance (DoP) – based on an ETA or hEN, a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and most probably a Digital Product Passport (DPP) have to be provided to customers.
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lot of details of the various documents are not yet fully clea r but t he a mount of information to be shared w it h customers strongly requests a digital concept and format. In order to allow consistent, complete and relevant information to be delivered to customers it seems to be important to clarify who is meant as ‘customers’. It can be the ‘design engineer’ in the office or the ‘craftsman’ installing the respective products on construction sites. In order to avoid individuals being flooded with irrelevant information a clear concept on what to provide to whom is needed. In the September edition of Fastener + Fixing Magazine[1] more engagement of the manufacturers is asked for and an XML file format is suggested to allow digital DoPs. This is a good start but to pick up momentum into the digital dimension a more complete concept could Process Digital workstream Digital tasks be helpful. owner At t he a n nua l meet i ng of t he Digital templates: EOTA EAD adopted Construction Fixings Europe Association DoP (CFE) on 13 th October 2023 in Stockholm, Primary New / updated ETA EAD developed TAB X Sweden, CFE members expressed again Focus XML released Template their readiness to support this initiative analog Project activity TAB Y actively, but proposed a more sustainable approach by including the overall value Test & evaluation (analog) DoP - Smart CE Mark / QR code Product labelling / Instruction Design Digital DoP Manuf. report analog - link to digital ETA/DoP for use software Internet site of product/application chain with the respective documents to be generated. It becomes obvious that Notified Certificate of Conformity Body - analog & digital digitisation cannot mean transfer some documents at some point in time into Customer/ Right product for application / Market digital design & documentation a digital XML file format. The current Surveillance activities on digital concepts exploit limited parts of the value stream only (see Figure One: Current suggestions for digital concepts exploit limited parts of the value stream only
104 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
Process owner
EOTA Primary TAB X
Digital workstream
Digital tasks Digital templates: ETA, DoP... Mainten, / Change process
EAD adopted / Digital ETA & DoP template released (new/updated) New / updated EAD developed
TAB Y
Digital template for evaluation report to be developed by TAB/EOTA
Manuf.
Test & evaluation (analog & digital) report of product/application
ETA released - analog & digital
DoP - analog & digital
Notified Body
Digital ETA for specific product
Smart CE Mark / QR code Product labelling / Instruction Design for use software Internet site - link to digital ETA/DoP
Certificate of Conformity – analog & digital
Customer/ Market Surveillance
Digital Evaluation Report DoP Digital CoC
Right product for application / digital design & documentation
Digital design & documentation
Digital handover of data (eg XML, beyond PDF) Figure Two: A complete digital concept along the value chain will substantially increase productivity and quality of product/application information – the performance data stream
Analog key elements of product performace data process
Digital key elements of product performace data process
l
l
Evaluation report
l
ETA
Digital Evaluation Report
DoP
l
Digital ETA Digital DoP
Label
l
Digital Label Digital IFU
IFU
l
l
Min 5 to 6 manual processes to different stakeholders
Design software
Design Software
Max 2 manual processes to different stakeholders
Digital CoC
Figure Three: Quality and productivity of performance data process are substantially increased Figure One). In this example it is referred to as a construction product/ intended use, which is qualified by an EAD/ETA process. Emphasis is given to the fact that product and intended use has to be clearly defined to avoid misunderstanding and confusion. In this figure on the vertical axis, the respective process owners are displayed who need to take certain process steps to arrive at DoPs, etc. The complete concept for digitisation along the value stream is suggested in Figure Two. Now a complete flow of digital data, from the very first step of data generation via suitable definitions of formats developed, which allows each manufacturer to communicate the respective data to customers. Do we really gain something? In order to quantify the effects on productivity in the value chain a comparison is given in Figure Three. It is obvious that the number of steps and hand over of data is reduced and it is easy to imagine that the quality of the output will be substantially higher than before. If we go beyond the current view on the value stream of product performance for an intended use it is obvious that there is more potential to be exploited (Figure Four). In any case each and every product segment has to define the respective data content and the format in order to limit the data to the one which is needed for the product to be used. At the end there are of course important decisions to be made on an IT front. Is there preference for one central database for all data or is a decentralised concept the more preferred solution? Whilst there may be
ETA / DoP Instruction for use
✓ ✓
DoC Material Safety Data Sheet EPD, other information digital product pass (supply chain, recycling...
to be integrated into value stream
Figure Four: The digital landscape for construction products has to be further extended to cover all documents driven by the new CPR pros and cons for both options, the respective costs at manufacturer level should be small in order to not further push up costs for constructions. www.construction-fixings.eu Sorgato B: ‘Digital DoP for post installed fasteners: Manufacturers on board, please’, FFM Issue 143 Sept 2023 www.fastenerandfixing.com/construction-fixings/digital-dop-for-postinstalled-fasteners-manufacturers-on-board-please [1]
WWW.FASTENERANDFIXING.COM
105
CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS
Introducing the new ® Hydrajaws M35+ Hydrajaws®, a company renowned within construction fixings and testing equipment for its quality and innovation, has released the world’s first modular dual load capacity digital pull tester incorporating ‘Easi-Effort®’ technology.
W
ith a legacy spanning decades, Hydrajaws® has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of pull testing solutions – with the company stating it has once again done it with the highly anticipated release of the Hydrajaws M35+. Hydrajaws underlines that the new Hydrajaws M35+ is not just a tool, it’s a revolution – combining cutting-edge technology with the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, whilst setting a new standard in the industry. Key features of the new Hydrajaws M35+ includes the impressive ‘Easi-Effort’ technology – a level of convenience that Hydrajaws states is unparalleled in the market. This means every pull testing application is executed with ease, ensuring minimal operator fatigue. Crafted from top grade materials including titanium, the Hydrajaws M35+ is also the most lightweight pull tester on the market and is built to withstand the toughest environments. Whether it’s high temperatures, heavy rain, or dusty conditions, this tool’s rugged exterior ensures reliable performance, project after project. T he tool is a lso equ ipped w it h state of the art data logging capabilities, with the M35+ allowing for ‘real time’ monitoring and tracking of pull testing results via the free to use Hydrajaws Verify App. This means construction managers can
now access critical information on-site or remotely, streamlining project management and decision-making. Hydrajaws also underlines that the Hydrajwas M35+ is the world’s first modular dual load capacity digital pull tester. This means the powerful tester not only has a 3.5 tonne capacity in standard guise, but it also has 6.5 tonne capacity with further optional load
…the new Hydrajaws® M35+ is not just a tool, it’s a revolution – combining cutting-edge technology with the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, whilst setting a new standard in the industry.” 106 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
NEW
+ M35
Dual Load Capacity Digital Pull Tester
OPTIONAL LARGE BRIDGE
OPTIONAL MEDIUM BRIDGE
Introducing the world’s first lightweight modular digital pull tester incorporating ‘Easi-Effort®’ technology. The Hydrajaws M35+ Easi-Effort® Pull Tester can test up to 35kN or 65kN on the same device, with an easily configurable bridge setup, without needing a separate tester. This lightweight and ergonomic pull tester is enhanced by Easi-Effort® technology, increasing testing frequency and reducing operator effort.
YEARS
TY
35
FE
MAKE SURE IT’S SECURE
See more at hydrajaws.co.uk/M35
RING SA EE OVER
TRUSTED WORLDWIDE
132-221_1.0
Compatible with the Hydrajaws Verify Digital Reporting System
PION
erify
CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Finally, the Hydrajaws M35+ arrives in a compact, tailor-made rugged rucksack, engineered for easy transportation to even the most remote and challenging job sites. No longer bound by bulky equipment and cumbersome set-ups, professionals can now carry the power of precision testing wherever their projects take them. “The Hydrajaws M35+ is more than just a testing tool; it’s a catalyst for progress in the construction industry,” adds Stephen. “With its unprecedented strength, precision and user-friendly features, the M35+ empowers construction professionals to elevate their projects to new heights of excellence and safety. By embracing this groundbreaking technology, the future of construction is now stronger and smarter than ever before.”
…the Hydrajaws® M35+ arrives in a compact, tailor-made rugged rucksack, engineered for easy transportation to even the most remote and challenging job sites.” A versatile tool for all applications spreading bridges. This unrivalled dual load capacity means it can handle a diverse range of construction applications, from residential projects to monumental infrastructures. “No longer will engineers need to rely on multiple devices for different testing requirements; the M35+ is a versatile tool that covers it all,” states Stephen Hynes, managing director at Hydrajaws. The engineers at Hydrajaws understand that comfort and ease of use are paramount for professionals in the field, which is why the M35+ features an ergonomic design that minimises operator fatigue, allowing for prolonged use without sacrificing performance. With the safety of structures relying on fixings and anchors, the HydrajawsM35+ has also been designed to meticulously test the integrity of these crucial components – giving construction professionals the confidence that their projects meet the highest safety standards. “With precise and comprehensive testing capabilities, the M35+ is a cornerstone in safeguarding str uctures and, ultimately, lives,” points out Stephen. “By employing the Hydrajaws M35+, construction teams significantly reduce the risk of structural failures and accidents. The thorough testing process ensures that ever y fastener and anchor meets or exceeds industry standards, providing peace of mind for both engineers a nd clients a li ke. Wit h sa fet y at t he forefront, the M35+ empowers construction professionals to create structures that stand the test of time.” Designed for longevity, the Hydrajaws M35+ also minimises waste by delivering consistent, rel iable per for ma nce over its lifespan. This not only benefits the environment but also translates into long-term cost savings for construction projects.
108 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
The Hydrajaws M35+ is a versatile pull testing tool with a wide range of applications. From masonry structures to concrete skyscrapers, the M35+ is an indispensable companion for any construction project requiring pull testing up to 65kN and compliance with BS 8539. For instance, the tool can be used to ensure the integrity of anchor points for rope access – with technicians demanding the highest level of precision and reliability – making the M35+ an essential tool for this critical sector and working at height in general. The M35+ can also be used in the M&E (Mechanical and Electrical) sector, such as for overhead pull testing applications, which can be executed with ease, ensuring minimal operator fatigue. Confirming the safe installation of fall protection systems to comply with BS 7883 is also an option with this versatile tool. Other industries benefiting from the M35+ are marine, renewable energy infrastructures, telecommunications masts, and solar energy installations.
Unleash the future of pull testing today
“The Hydrajaws M35+ is not just a tool; it’s an investment in the safety and integrity of your projects,” reports Stephen. “With its unmatched convenience, durability, and advanced features, it’s a game-changer in the world of fastening testing solutions.” He adds: “With the launch of our new dual load capacity digital pull tester, we have delivered on our mission to bring innovation to the market. We were keen to offer a user-friendly, lightweight, class leading, cost-effective product and we believe the M35+ surpasses all our customers’ expectations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to revolutionise your pull testing capabilities by contacting Hydrajaws today and experience the future of pull testing technology with the M35+.” www.hydrajaws.co.uk
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CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Thermo-modernisation fastening techniques Despite a tightening of standards for greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, there remain both public and private buildings that are inadequately heated and consume a lot of energy – often due to piecemeal thermo-modernisation renovation work having been undertaken. The main challenge facing the stakeholders on such renovation projects is defining the purpose, nature and scope of the work to be carried out, which is where the right components for the job, including fixing techniques, will play an important role in ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of any renovation.
A
t a time of ever increasing ga s, e lec t r ic it y a nd f ue l prices, more and more people are considering investing i n t her mo-moder n isat ion for their homes, which is the best way to reduce heat loss and positively impact household budgets. In addition to replacing heating sources, an important approach is the replacement of joinery, especially of windows, as well as insulation of the roof and external walls. Due to the introduction of the common European Green Deal Strategy, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions, thermo-modernisation is a necessity, but also a very costly investment. That’s why homeowners should take advantage of the different kinds of programmes under the thermo-modernisation allowance scheme, which provides funding for materials and work related to home insulation. To receive a grant, it’s necessary to meet conditions set out in the programme, with the scope of work defined by an energy audit, carried out before the thermo-modernisation begins. This will show the energy condition of the building and indicate how to improve it, the costs, effects of implementation, as well as the expected energy consumption and costs after the work is done. Windows are usually the first items to be replaced. The programme specifies the conditions to be met by the various components used during renovation and refurbishment, not only windows, polystyrene, or wool, but also construction chemicals and fixing techniques.
Wi ndow repl acement i n thermo-modernisation and the role of frame mountings
Window joinery plays an important role in the energy balance of a building. It has an impact, not only on heat loss, but also on passive solar energy gain. On average, windows’ share of heat loss amounts to 15% – 25%, especially in houses built before 1990 – when it was standard for windows to be installed without taking energy savings into account. This is one of the reasons why the replacement of windows with new, improved-performance windows, should be a prelude to further thermo-modernisation work; indeed, it’s advisable to install, fix and
seal windows correctly before the insulation layer is applied to the walls. Windows are constantly exposed to the elements along with the forces imparted when closing and, opening them. In addition, the joinery-to-wall connection must be a tight one and, regardless of their size and the material from which the windows are made, they should form a uniform system with the building wall. This is where various Klimas Wkręt-met fastening techniques offer versatile solutions for these types of assembly. For i n st a l lat ion s where a w i ndow protrudes beyond the face of a wall and is mounted using specia l consoles, or guides, for example, Klimas Wkręt-met’s K PS -FA S T-S/ K PR-FA S T-K sc re w s work well, and it’s recommended that two, or multi-point mountings onto the window recess using frame dowels be used, e.g the K PS-FAST-S. On t he ot her hand, when extending into the thermal insulation zone using a dedicated fixing system, KPR-FAST-K frame dowels from the Klimas Wkręt-met range are suitable. Worth noting that the length, diameter, number and placement of fasteners must be adjusted to the dimensions of the frame and any recommendations by the window frame manufacturer. When it comes to installation in a window opening, without protrusion, the use of screws
110 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
is recommended, e.g f lat head WHO/pan head WHOW. As a rule, in single layer walls, windows are set at half the thickness of the wall, while in two layer walls with a thermal insulation layer of 15cm – 20cm, they are set as close to the outer edge of the wall as possible. In two layer walls with insulation of more than 20cm, the joinery can be installed outside the wall, in the thermal insulation zone. In three layer walls, windows must be installed directly in the insulation layer, between the supporting wall and the façade wall. When installing in the centre of the window opening through suitable mounting holes in the frame to the solid substrate surround, the use of hardened, self-tapping screws for WHO frames is recommended. These screws are equipped with a notched thread, which guarantees a secure and durable fixing in both masonry (concrete, ceramic, and silicate bricks) and wooden substrates, while the tapered head ensures a secured fixing into PVC. On the other hand, for the installation of wooden profiles it is recommended to use a WHOW screw with a cylindrical head, which guarantees the lowest possible head exposure – while also ensuring secure seating. If the window is located on the outer edge of the wall and is flush with it, the use of LO frame connectors is recommended; this is a high-quality expander connector made of galvanised steel.
Huade Holdings Ltd (Vietnam) Subsidiary of Oread Fastener Group
CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Roof thermo-modernisation and rafter insulation screws
Insulating the eaves of a building is the ideal solution if insulating the roof without renovating the attic is the intention. Covered from the outside, the roof truss is protected from changes in ambient temperature, improving the energy balance of the building. With this method, not only can all work be carried out from the outside, but it also has many advantages over traditional roof thermal insulation technologies, such as a reduction in heat loss of the building and protecting the roof structure. In addition, it offers more design options for the attic and does not reduce its height. For structural reasons, roof insulation is possible on sloping roof structures where the angle of inclination is greater than 20 degrees; PIR panels are often used in this method of insulation, although both rock wool and wood wool have varying technical parameters, which determine their thermal insulation effectiveness in such applications. In addition, the correct installation of this type of insulation depends on the right choice of screws and how they’re used. Klimas Wkręt-met offers WKPC carpentry screws in such scenarios, which meet the right ETA confirmed technical parameters. With their additional thread under the head, stable fixing
of the counter battens is ensured and loads are transferred from the insulation directly to the rafters, thus protecting the insulation installation from damage. As well as its WKPC carpentry screws, Klimas Wkręt-met offers a wide range of screws and carpentry fasteners for various applications.
External wall thermo-modernisation and the ThermoDrive V2 fastener
Due to surface areas involved, thermomodernisation of external walls is one of the biggest challenges in the whole process, which is where mechanical fasteners play an important role. They perform several functions such as load transfer, including the protection of the ETICS system against wind suction forces and detachment from the substrate. Mechanical fasteners also have t he task of st if fen ing t he ent ire insulation system, eliminating movement and deformation of individual insulation boards; limiting the formation of point thermal bridges; and protecting against failure due to any loss of adhesion and load bearing capacity of the adhesive layer with the substrate. A new generation of thermal insulation fixing, suited to such scenarios, is Klimas W k ręt-met’s ThermoDrive V2 fastener,
A4 STAINLESS
Option 1
Part 6 Email : info@joker.com.tw Https://www.joker-fastener.com
which can be used for fixing polystyrene and mineral wool to substrates made of concrete, solid ceramic brick, ceramic hollow brick, lightweight aggregate elements and cellular concrete. In addition, the V2 fastener is suited for use with uneven substrates, including those contaminated with old layers, e.g involving plaster and/or adhesive. The ThermoDrive V2 fastener can also support ETICS-on-ETICS scenarios during the renovation of external walls constructed with large slab technology, and can be used in a concrete ‘texture’ layer with a minimum thickness as low as 40mm, whilst achieving high strengths. Of note for contractors and ETICS system providers is the rigidity of the V2’s sleeve, which increases the durability and safety of insulation systems. The sleeve has been designed in such a way that the screwed steel pin, which a llows the insulation layer to be fixed, is sufficiently isolated – so the fastener displays a minimum point t her m a l conduc t iv it y coef f ic ient. I n addition, and par ticu larly notewor t hy for a metal stud fastener with such a wide range of applications, is the fact that the point thermal conductivity value of only 0.001 W/mK is apparent – irrespective of the thickness of insulation to be attached to the substrate.
CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Complying with Constructionline’s premier criteria Fastener manufacturer, EJOT, has been approved as a Constructionline Premier member, with its range of high performance concrete anchoring solutions, including LIEBIG heavy-duty anchors, now available for main contractors and public sector project teams to specify and procure through the Constructionline platform.
E
JOT’s approval means the company has been verified to operate to the highest ethical and quality standards under the latest membership structure and has complied with Constructionline’s enhanced assessment criteria in areas including environmental management, quality management and equal opportunities’ policies. As a result, buyers involved in major public sector building and infrastructure projects can find valid information on EJOT’s fastening systems in Constructionline’s supplier database, including EJOT’s building envelope solutions and its LIEBIG heavy-duty anchors, the latter having been used globally since the 1980s in a wide variety of applications, including nuclear power facilities, military establishments, tunnels, bridges and other safety critical, high load installations. EJOT UK’s structural anchoring specialist, Paul Papworth, said: “We’re really pleased to have been approved as a Constructionline Premier member, because we k now how impor tant it is for buyers on major projects to have total confidence in their supply
par tners – par ticularly for safet y critica l applications, like anchoring into concrete.” Originally created as a government department more than 20 years ago, Constructionline supports thousands of businesses across the public and private sectors by connecting buyers and suppliers. It increases opportunities for members, such as EJOT, to access a wide range of procurement contracts and projects, while at the same time giving buyers access to a validated pool of high-quality suppliers, working to enhanced PAS 91 criteria. The depth of the assessment and scrutiny involved in the Constructionline scheme means no aspect of a supplier’s business goes untouched. As part of EJOT’s Constructionline verification process, it submitted a variety of quality specific documentation, ranging from its ISO 9001:2015 certificate and ethical and equality policies, to information detailing the company’s ‘Carbon Reduction Plan 2035’ and the data to demonstrate its reduction efforts to date.
Heavy-duty fastening system for semi-automatic operation Engineered structural connector and building solutions specialist, Simpson Strong-Tie, has introduced its Timber Drive™, a heavy-duty structural fastening system designed for stand-up, semi-automatic operation while driving 3 inches to 6¼ inches structural screws.
T
he new system is suited for heavy-duty jobs that require repetitive fastening, such as decks, docks, boardwalks, piers, and flooring, as well as for fastening metal straps to wood, engineered wood or mass timber panels. The company says that the ergonomic design of Timber Drive� makes it a faster, easier way to work, with its patent pending drop-feed loader allowing for semi-automatic driving of a wide variety of Simpson Strong-Tie fasteners. The system has been engineered to vertically drive large structural screws without the operator having to bend over, which reduces knee, back and shoulder fatigue and increases user comfort, reciprocally impacting speed and productivity. Designed to accept a variety of different screw diameters, lengths, and head styles, the drop-feed loader allows a simple drop of the fastener, pull of the trigger, and drive. With four adjustable countersink depth settings and two interchangeable nosepieces that accommodate either face-screwing or connector fastening, the Timber Drive� system is versatile across a wide range of heavy-duty applications and also features a positive placement tip that locates connector holes and provides true, straight, perpendicular driving when fastening metal straps to mass timber panels. “From decks and docks to big flooring jobs and heavy-duty applications like piers, the Timber Drive� fastening system provides a faster, easier way to work with less fatigue, and is compatible with corded and cordless drivers using the Quik Drive G2 adapter. Since the patent pending, semi-automatic drop-feed loader works with structural screws – featuring a wide variety of lengths, diameters, thread types and heads – Timber Drive� provides greater stand-up fastening versatility than ever before,” says Andrew Brigham, group product manager at Simpson Strong-Tie.
114 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
Structural timber screw UKTA certified The UK Technical Assessment (UKTA) certification has been secured by Aptus, a specialist supplier of fixings and fastenings to the construction industry, for its pro-struct® structural timber screws.
A
ptus’ approval follows in-depth assessment conducted by the British Board of Agreement and certifies the entire pro-struct® range as complying with the requirements set out for screws by European Assessment Document (EAD) 130118-01-060, parameters which assess a product’s performance against 14 different criteria. To ensure they can offer a working life of 50 years when used in applications, such as forming connections, or securing insulation to rafters, the pro-struct® screws employ a number of innovative features. Specifically, they are manufactured from a specialised grade of steel, which is combined with an advanced heat treatment process that enables them to accommodate the natural movements of timber without shearing. They also benefit from cuttingedge thread geometry for a quicker drive and better pull-out resistance, as well as a larger diameter head, which improves resistance to head pull-through. Their zinc plated coating, which has been salt spray tested to 500 hours, also ensures compliance with service Class 2 of Eurocode 5. Like all Aptus products, the pro-struct® screws are backed by UK-based technical support and have been developed specifically for the UK market, with gauges available including 6mm. This gauge is more suited to the narrower joist sizes employed in the UK compared to 8mm diameter screws typically designed for the larger joists used in Europe. Aptus’ pro-struct® structural timber screws are currently available in a variety of lengths up to 300mm, with a 400mm option expected to be launched soon.
CONCRETE SCREW
METALS
N EW UPDATED
ANCHORS FOR QUALIFIED & APPROVED HIGH LOADS ETA
EAD 330232-00-0601
ETA - 17/0506
OPTION 1
CRACKED CONCRETE AND NOT
STRUCTURAL FIXING APPROVALS IN SEISMIC AREA DESIGN SOFTWARE
ETA
EAD 330232-00-0601
ETA - 17/0471
ETA - 11/0377
CRACKED CONCRETE AND NOT
CRACKED NOT CONCRETE
OPTION 1
OPTION 7
STEEL
ETA
FIRE RESISTANCE
EAD 330747-00-0601
ETA
EAD 330232-00-0601 EAD 330011-00-0601
info@blumorgana.it
CLS-CE
H E AV Y ZINC PLATED
R120 EOTA - TR 020
ETA - 21/0450
JB-CE / JBB-CE MULTIPLE USE
NWS-CE / NWS-CE1
COLLATED NAILS JB-CE / JBB-CE CLS-H CE BPB-C
ABGC 12-18 B
f i x i n g
s y s t e m s
®
FIXING SYSTEMS ETA
w w w . b o s s o n g . c o m Z.I. 2 - Via E. Fermi, 49/51 - 24050 Grassobbio (BG) Tel +39 035 3846 011 - info@bossong.com
OPTION 7 - 1 SEISMIC C1-C2 ETAG 020 - 014 FIRE
HAND DRIVEN NAILS
CUSTOM PACKAGED NAILS
ISO 45001:2018 | ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 14001:2015
GLOBAL FOOTPRINT CUSTOMIZED PACKAGING PRIVATE LABELLING
www.astrotechsteels.com | marketing@astrotechsteels.com
CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS Recent European Technical Assessments for fixings Following an agreement with the European Organisation of Technical Assessments, here is a list of recent ETAs published in the last two months on the EOTA website.
I
t is important to note that existing ETAs may be amended or withdrawn so this list should not be considered definitive. 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@verulammedia.com www.eota.eu
ETA NUMBER
TRADE NAME
COMPANY
ETA NUMBER
TRADE NAME
COMPANY
Fasteners for use in concrete for redundant for non-structural systems
Bonded fasteners for use in concrete
23/0246
Ceiling Anchor DN
MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co KG
23/0489
Kratos BetonFixx PE
Kordsa Teknik Tekstil A.Ş.
23/0527
EJOT Multifix PSF+
EJOT Baubefestigungen GmbH
23/0546
MIT-V 100
Mungo Srl
Three dimensional nailing plates
23/0550
MO-PUS
Index - Técnicas Expansivas S.L.
23/0458
Konepuristin Column Shoes
Konepuristin Oy
23/0553
Adit Chemical500 v4
ADIT Ltd
23/0570
Simpson Strong-Tie CCS connector
Simpson Strong-Tie Int Ltd
23/0562
Unifix Injection System Poly 3.0
Unifix SWG Srl
23/0607
Suki Angle brackets and hold downs
Suki International GmbH
23/0564
H200+FC
FDG – Fasteners Direct Global Ltd
23/0608
Suki Post bases
Suki International GmbH
23/0566
E600+
FDG – Fasteners Direct Global Ltd
23/0609
Suki International GmbH
23/0591
PESF PRO Injection anchor
TOO Energon Service
Purlin Tie 170 right/left Purlin Tie 210 right/left
23/0667
SNAPT Injection System SNPSF300, SN-PSF300 Express, SN-PSF300 Tropical
FAST PACK LLC
23/0610
Joist Hangers Type A and B
Suki International GmbH
23/0670
Knapp WALCO Bolt hold-downs and WALCO Pipe connectors
Knapp GmbH
23/0668
SNAPT Injection System SN-P300 SN-P300 Express SN-P300 Tropical
FAST PACK LLC
23/0672
Stexon GmbH
23/0683
ROCKANY Injection system PASF
ROCKANY FACTORY LLC
S-fasteners: S40-M12, S40-M12 L, S40-M12 OK, S45-M12 OK S45-M12, S30-M12 i, M30-M12 i
23/0723
Draco DRACOFIX HP Bonded anchor
DRACO Italiana SpA
23/0701
KLIMAS Angle Brackets
WKRĘT-MET Sp z.o.o.
23/0730
NOVIPRO KEMISK FIXERING
SGDS Gruppen AB
Think Fixing
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 MAREFIX marefix@marefix.com G&B Fissaggi Benelux export@gebfissaggi.com G&B Fissaggi France export@gebfissaggi.com
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Carlo Salvi Stories: Providing solutions for challenging needs For the next edition in our collection of ‘Carlo Salvi Stories’, a series of articles celebrating business collaborations, successes and shared goals, we focus on the relationship between Carlo Salvi and AF Fasteners – a British company specialised in the production of fasteners for the commercial and military aerospace industry.
F
ounded in 1972, and part of the FMT Group, AF Fasteners’ main production and distribution site is located in Glossop, in the Derbyshire Peak District, with the company partnered with UFC in Southend on Sea and SPL, a treatment facility based in Sheffield. Back in 2015, AF Fasteners’ decided to make a significant investment in both machinery and technology, this as a result led to the connection between AF Fasteners and Carlo Salvi, which began in 2016 through the purchase of a 246E and 248E heading machines. “The first encounter with Carlo Salvi took place when we were looking for a supplier to be able to meet our needs,” comments Louise Glover, general manager at AF Fasteners. “Carlo Salvi immediately displayed competence, rapidity and professionalism. More than 90% of our manufacturing now comes from the machines they supply, making their use indispensable for us.” AF Fasteners products are sold globally, with fasteners used in aircraft engines, structures, helicopters and even missiles. Thanks to the partnership with Carlo Salvi, AF Fasteners is able to provide
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solutions to the most challenging needs, with Carlo Salvi even helping AF Fasteners with the implementation. This has enabled AF Fasteners to expand its business into the wholesale market, with the UK company determined, and confident, in pursuing this new segment thanks to the speed and precision provided by the solutions made on its Carlo Salvi machines. “The partnership between our company and AF Fasteners is solid and of great value. Aware of the high competence and reliability of our headers, and the continuous training of their staff, we can proudly declare that we have achieved some excellent results,” states the Carlo Salvi sales team. “At Carlo Salvi we are sure that there is no business without a solid relationship that accompanies every aspect of the process, and with Carlo Salvi Stories we want to give voice to this aspect that is so fundamental for us.” Andy Sargeant, FMT Group managing director at AF Fasteners, added: “The relationship with Carlo Salvi was born several years ago, whilst we were developing an important expansion project to modernise the production line – installing highly qualified machines. We believe we have chosen a reliable and competent partner to grow with over the years ahead.” www.carlosalvi.com
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSPECTION + PACKING FEATURE
Bespoke bucket packaging line for fasteners With almost half a century of experience, Dutch company Weighpack International has grown from a small workshop, producing weighing machines for fasteners and hardware, into a leading company that designs, manufactures, installs and services complete packaging lines for the hardware sector.
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eighpack’s range of packaging machines includes over 50 different machines and is constantly being improved. This extensive portfolio includes automatic bin feeders, vibratory feeders, weighers and counters, case packers, palletisers, baggers, conveyors, cartoners, sealers and more. In addition to standard machines, most packaging lines are customised to meet specific customer needs – with the aim of delivering a wide range of high-quality products at the best value in the market. A prime example of how Weighpack is able to provide bespoke solutions is when it created a complete line for a leading fastener supplier in the US market. The company realised that dosing and packaging are critical steps between component production, storage and transportation. This is a specialist area where efficiency and precision are essential. Weighpack was asked to develop a bespoke solution for the entire bucket packaging process for fasteners, from product input to check weighing, lidding, labelling, printing and case packing – all whilst ensuring the most stringent requirements for packing quality and efficiency were met. As a specialist in the design of complete packaging lines for bulk hardware, Weighpack proposed a solution tailored to the customer’s needs, drawing on its nearly five decades of experience and innovative approach. “The original Request for Quotation (RFQ) stated that we needed to design, manufacture, install and commission a fully automated and integrated packaging line, which could be controlled from a single point, and capable of accurately portioning and placing screws into pre-formed plastic buckets – resulting in ‘retail ready’ sealed packs,” points out Weighpack. “With that in mind we developed a tailor-made bucket packaging line, creating a system that not only met the customer’s immediate needs for flexibility, but also provided room for future expansion as the company grows.” The configuration of the packaging line, designed for the organised packing of carbon steel fastener products into buckets, begins at the product infeed where the customer transfers items from internal bins to the main storage hoppers. Product flow from the 1,200kg capacity vibratory hopper is managed by a special vibratory pre-weigh tray, which directs products to a Z-shaped inclined slatted belt conveyor with waved edges. This conveyor feeds into a 14 head combination weigher capable of producing up to 35 buckets filling per minute. Automated bucket dispensers de-stack stacked buckets and transfer them to a belt conveyor. Four buckets are then transferred to a servo driven pocket conveyor at the end of the belt. This pocket
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conveyor indexes four buckets per cycle and presents them under the multi-head weighing system for filling. The filling station is equipped with an orientation magnet to align longer steel fasteners inside the narrow containers. After an indexing sequence that includes check weighing, the buckets are automatically fitted with one to three drill bits and a driver bit before being lidded and labelled. The packaging cycle continues with a laser printer marking the buckets with production date codes. Automatic case formers erect four-flap master cartons, which are then transferred to the case packer. At the end of the line, the case packer configuration loads three or four buckets into the master carton before sealing and labelling. A robotic palletiser will also be added to the line at the customer’s facility. “Weighpack specialises in handling products with small volumes and high weights. Our strength lies in managing the entire process, from initial consultation to ongoing service and maintenance. All components within the Weighpack packaging line are also carefully designed and integrated to ensure seamless communication between sub-systems and ancillary equipment. This integration brings many benefits, such as trouble-free operation and efficient maintenance,” reports Weighpack. “Our customers also benefit from expertise in mechanical engineering, mechatronics and control technology, including both PLC and PC. This approach resulted in the final system that was designed and tested at Weighpack’s facility in The Hague, the Netherlands.”
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSPECTION + PACKING FEATURE
Customers’ satisfaction is Bonotto’s priority Bonotto Packaging is specialised in the design and manufacture of machinery for packing fasteners, bolts, mechanical components, electrodes, fastening systems, bearings and small metal parts.
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hanks to its Founder Antonio Bonotto, a true leader in the field of packaging s m a l l me t a l p a r t s a nd me c h a n ic a l components, the company has been able to achieve great success – using his knowledge and experience within the field to f u l ly u nderst a nd c u stomers’ need s a nd prov ide tailor-made solutions. This has enabled Bonotto Packaging to create a wide range of packing solutions, including horizontal flow-pack machines, weighing machines, counting modules, vertical and tubular machines, case packers, carton openers and closers, as well as complete packaging lines. In addition, thanks to its vast experience, Bonotto can also provide support for lines or machines from other brands. “Our mission is simple, to contribute to the success of our customers by providing them with the most advanced and reliable solutions to enhance the efficiency, speed and quality of packaging,” explains Bonotto.
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YOUR SUSTAINABILITY WITH SACMA Energy & Floor space savings, Clean Factory WIP reduction, Employees Care www.sacmagroup.com
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Our combined headers All In One improve drastically your sustainability.
All In One = Optimum Footprint Energy saving : the installed power of multiple processes, to produce screws and bolts, consisting of header, pointer, washing machine, roller and parts conveyors, is well over double of the installed power of the Sacma combined header, suitable to execute the same operations. Floor space saving : All In One making the production space 4 times less than traditional lines of manufacture, consisting of multiple machines.
KSP12-R 1D2B Combined header
Clean Factory : from wire to the finished product within a single sealed machine, simpler and efficient. WIP reduction : the WIP requirement of blanks between different operations is cancelled, and deletion of inter process washing operations provides an improved environmental foot print. Employees care : health and safety is vastly improved using only one machine, having operations within a single machine footprint, thus avoiding wasteful travel between multiple processes and machines.
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Sustainable supplier : Sacma is one of the most sustainable manufacturers of forming machines in the world having the production of components integrated in our factories ? Come to visit us !
Sacma Limbiate S.p.A.
Viale Dei Mille 126-128 • 20812 Limbiate (MB) - ITALY Ph. +39 0299 4521 • info@sacmalimbiate.it
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INSPECTION + PACKING FEATURE
Filling devices for packaging of cardboard boxes and KLTs Just as important as fast inspection and sorting machines is ensuring the parts involved are stored and packed in the time available. That is why GEFRA offers various filling devices to supplement its inspection systems, for a quantity precise packaging of sorted parts.
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EFRA’s first type of filling device uses two roller conveyors with a cross slider. One roller conveyor is used to store empty containers, the second stores the filled containers, which are pushed automatically from one roller conveyor to the other by a cross slider. A space-saving type available from GEFRA is the filling device using roller conveyors and a lifting station. Here the two roller conveyors are arranged one above the other, the lower one for empty containers and the upper one for fully filled boxes or KLTs. The container is replaced using a lifting station, which transports an empty container to the top of the filling position after the full container has been filled. Another type of machine from GEFRA is the filling device with a conveyor belt and roller conveyor. Here the empty KLTs or boxes are brought into position by a conveyor belt and, after being filled with the exact number of pieces, pushed onto a roller conveyor where they can be easily taken away. All filling devices are controlled and operated automatically via the AUTOCONTROL software of GEFRA’s inspection system. If necessary, the relevant data can also be transferred to a customer’s production data management system. The movements of the containers are also monitored by sensors to ensure safe and ‘trouble free’ operation, so the inspection system can work independently without an operator. After the exact quantity of items has been filled, the cardboard box or KLT is transported away and stored. The number of maximum possible containers is determined by the length of the roller conveyors. To remove the filled containers, the system has a ‘clearing’ feature where the full containers are automatically moved one after the other to the end of the roller conveyor. There they can be easily taken off or stacked on a pallet, for example. The width and length of the containers can also be adjusted, so it is possible to use different container sizes and types. Integration into an existing packaging system or a company’s standard packaging system, e.g automatic film packaging devices, with data exchange is also possible with GEFRA’s range of filling devices.
Greenkote® and Duroc enter into joint venture Greenkote®, the international developer and provider of leading edge anticorrosion coatings, has announced it is entering into a joint venture with Belgian coating company Duroc N.V – with the new affiliation making Greenkote® coating capabilities directly available to the European Union and surrounding regions.
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ommentating on the joint venture, Mark Gore, CEO at Greenkote® PLC, said: “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Duroc because they are one of Europe’s most experienced and respected providers of metal coating services. Having Greenkote® coating capabilities installed directly in their Antwerp facility will enable European customers to get our anticorrosion coatings much more quickly and easily. It will also significantly extend Greenkote® coverage, adding to the facilities we currently have in the UK and Italy.” Maarten Van Bercklaer, managing director at Durco added: “Greenkote® will be an important addition to Duroc’s line-up of metal protection capabilities. Our company focuses specifically on providing surface treatments for fasteners and small bulk parts, and Greenkote®’s thermal diffusion technology addresses those categories perfectly.” In the coming months, the companies will be installing major new Greenkote® equipment in Duroc’s Antwerp facility to produce the advanced thermal diffusion coatings. The companies are already entering discussions and doing project assessments with European customers who are interested in Greenkote® coatings.
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Greenkote® anticorrosion coatings serve a broad range of industries – from automotive and rail to offshore and construction – in which products are exposed to the weather and harsh and extreme corrosive environments. These coatings meet and exceed numerous international corrosion protection standards such as C5 and over 3,000 hours of standardised salt spray testing. Greenkote® can be applied to many types of metal parts, from threaded fasteners to stamped and cast pieces, in sizes from 5mm to 2m. In addition to superior corrosion protection, these unique coatings also provide longer wear, better adhesion and more conformal coverage, which makes the coatings well suited to complex 3D geometries like threaded parts. The Greenkote® name derives from the fact that the coatings are also uniquely eco-friendly. They are applied by a patented zinc-based dry thermal diffusion process that requires no hazardous chemicals and produces no toxic by-products. The absence of acids from Greenkote® processing also eliminates hydrogen embrittlement, a metal failure associated with many other coatings.
NEW • T20-HC Automatic Tapping Machine With Four Spindles www.hsaspe.com
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New Automatic Tapping Machine model T20-HC
Fully integrated machine to run nuts from M6 to M20 The T20-HC Automatic Tapping Machine is equipped with n.4 reversible spindles mechanically driven by lead screws with an output rate up to 160 pieces/minute. Internal threads, within the range M6 to M20, can be executed using standard taps in both technologies, cutting and forming. Modularity is at the core of the machine with the double spindles which is enabling two autonomous working areas. Flexibility is maximized with the possibility to work two geometrically different parts in completely independent processes.
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Precision in operation is achieved using a structurally rigid design of frame, along with the engineered and innovative design of the positioning/clamping devices. Orthogonality and concentricity in conjunction with other dimensional/geometrical features, are lifetime guaranteed. Ask for more information to : sales@hsautomazioni.it
HS Automazioni s.r.l.
Via San Maurizio 184/17 • 10073 CIRIE’ (TO) • ITALY Ph. +39 011 9221825 • info@hsautomazioni.it
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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Manassero becomes exclusive Italian agent for RMG Manassero has announced that it has become the exclusive agent for RMG in Italy, with it already representing the company in several European countries – including the Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, Hungary and Serbia.
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arco Manassero, owner of Manarassero & C Srl, explains: “We are very excited to become RMG’s agent for Italy. This is a much bigger market than the countries we already represent, and together we are quite confident we will have excellent results in the Italian market – combining our reputation and customer knowledge with RMG’s well known machines, which represent the absolute benchmark.” In the spring of 2024 Manassero will also have two new models on display at its warehouse, in Turin, Italy, in the form of the Model 89 and the Model 500 Spacesaver. “Thanks to our experience and market knowledge, particularly in the 500 Spacesaver model, which is a RMG patent, we are confident it will prove to be a top seller,” states Marco. “Space is always something companies lack and this solution represents a way to shorten, by meters, the room needed for a header, plus wire drawer, plus decoiler.” Marco points out that the construction quality of the machines, as well as the material used in the capstan, which is D2, plus many other interesting features, will also be strong selling points. “We welcome all our Italian customers to inquire with us, and to visit us in spring next year when it will be possible to get ‘hands on’ on experience with RMG’s machines.” www.manassero.eu mayes warwick quarter page-2018-outlines.pdf 1 25/01/2018 10:17
MANASSERO DEALERS IN SECOND HAND MACHINERY FASTENER & NAIL MACHINES
Asahi AT1010
National 625 S3LS Chun Zu CH20S
E.W.Menn GW52
TRANSFER HEADERS
ASAHI OKUMA AT810 (2 machines) 8x100 mm, 200 ppm, 7.5 tons 1992 ASAHI OKUMA AT1010 10x100 mm, cutoff 125 mm, 200 ppm 1992 KLOSE LP200-10 10x200 mm, 90 ppm, 14 tons 1999 unused since 2005 SALVI 243 (4 machines) 5x25 mm, 350ppm, bushing cutoff, sound encl. 1990 CHUN ZU CBF83L 10x115mm, 140ppm, 25HP, 14 tons 2000 MALMEDIE K64 29x180mm, 90ppm 1981 NATIONAL 500 (3 machines) 14x50 mm, 100 ppm, Universal Transfer, TKO 1986 MULTIPRESS MP510S 12x100mm, 50-200ppm, 16 tons 2000 NATIONAL 625 S3 LS 19/16x100 mm, 150 ppm, 24 tons, sound enclosure 1988
DOUBLE STROKE HEADERS
SALVI 476/SV (2 machines) 4,76x45 mm, 450 ppm, sound encl. 1980 & 1983 NATIONAL M56 HS (2 machines) 6x30mm, 350ppm 1970 SACMA SP21 (3 machines) 8x80mm, 200ppm 1974, 1985 & 1986 KLOSE DPL8 8x200 mm, 40-50 ppm 1980 HILGELAND CH3L (3 machines) 10x150 mm, 100 ppm 1978, 1980 & 1984 FENG PEI FW-40C-255 13x255mm, PKO, 40-50ppm, 30HP 1999 CE CHUN ZU CH20S 20x150mm, 35ppm, 250 tons load, 23 tons 2014 CE
THREAD ROLLERS
E.W.MENN GW52 (2 machines) M6x80/40mm, 600ppm 1980 & 1987 E.W.MENN GW83L (2 mach.) 4/12x150/105mm, 260 ppm, vib. bowl 1984 & 1985
OTHER MACHINES
NATIONAL BH141 (3 machines) 9.8X14 mm, 425 ppm 2004, 2007 & 2011 WAFIOS FTU 4.3-98 (2 machines) CNC coiling & bending centre 1995 & 1999
MANASSERO srl - Italy info@manassero.eu Follow us on
www.manassero.eu +39 011 5216446
FASTENER TESTING
ANALYSING TESTING METHODS FOR THE FASTENER SECTOR
No need to fear hydrogen embrittlement Schlötter, together with iChemAnalytics, has developed a test rig that reduces testing time for hydrogen embrittlement, with the ability to test up to 20 items simultaneously – in just 180 seconds.
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he market for fastening parts is increasingly demanding high strength materials and special attention must be paid to possible hydrogen embrittlement when electroplating them – because when you increase the material strength, the risk of hydrogen induced brittle fracture also increases. For this reason, Schlötter, together with iChemAnalytics, has developed a new practical test rig that enables versatile C-body testing, compliant with the latest standards, in a fraction of the time otherwise required. The WSRME TWIN precision measuring device uses C-ring samples to detect changes in the material condition that can occur, for example, due to liquid metal-induced, hardness, tempering or hydrogen embrittlement. Comparable tests used to take several days, however, thanks to the special design and precise testing concept, it now only takes two to three minutes. This enables process manufacturers and contract coaters to independently integrate standard compliant work, as well as genuine process monitoring, and quality assurance, into their own production without having to rely on external testing service providers. The new test method from Schlötter is based on a mechanical load test where force displacement curves are recorded. The individual measuring cells are provided with specifically parameterisable measuring programs that can be called up in parallel. Thanks to the high-resolution force sensors, and very precise measurement curves, high-quality characteristic values can be reproductively generated and used as a basis to further develop in-house processes and products. The WSRME TWIN precision measuring device contains two test field openings, as well as several electric drives with adjustable feed to precisely implement the desired load levels of the test procedures. Depending on the variant, up to 10 measuring cells can be equipped with a maximum of 20 C-rings, which can be measured in parallel and independently of each other. Depending on the requirements, test specimens individually tailored to components or processes can also be manufactured and used. Various
The market for fastening parts is increasingly demanding high strength materials and special attention must be paid to possible hydrogen embrittlement when electroplating them...” 128 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
load and positioning options are simultaneously available to the operator – from force or distance controlled stepwise loading to defined holding times with subsequent lifting at a constant stretch rate. Schlötter explains that this saves a lot of time that would otherwise be needed for testing in a row. In the course of this, certain characteristic values are automatically determined and monitored, which result from the freely selectable measuring methods. At the same time, high-resolution force sensors and precise displacement measurement ensure optimum data quality. Thanks to the integrated evaluation algorithms, which are controlled by a powerful microprocessor, the measuring device can measure or calculate a multitude of material-specific characteristic values, such as the transition from elastic and plastic material behaviour, the hydrogen induced material deconsolidation, as well as a material specific deformation index for the process. The measurement and characteristic values generated in the process are automatically linked and stored with the other metadata, such as pre-treatments and material conditions. “A high statistical significance is achieved by parallel testing on several measuring stations at the same time. This allows valuable conclusions to be drawn about how the component quality or the composition of the starting steel can be improved for machining alone,” explains Thomas Haberfellner, head of the chemistry and development of new markets business unit at Dr Ing. Max Schlötter GmbH & Co KG. All measured values are stored in a database and can be imported into programs such as Microsoft Excel. These results can help customer specific products be developed or the existing portfolio optimised, such as additions to coating baths (e.g for electroplating) or new ‘bath additives’ (e.g pickling inhibitors). Schlötter is already successfully using the test rig for this purpose in its own research and development. The results that are quickly accessible with the new measuring technology has enabled Schlötter to develop the in-house SLOTOCLEAN BEF 1790 pickling degreaser, which has a new generation of inhibitors. These not only maximise the inhibition value, but also minimise the process
related tendency to hydrogen embrittlement – while more than tripling the service life of the pickle compared to the first generation systems. This makes an active contribution to conserving resources and reduces the CO 2 footprint in contract electroplating. “With the material properties of high strength steels increasingly being optimised to become lighter and more resistant. Cathodic corrosion protection applied by electroplating is often used to give these steels the best protection against corrosion. A pickling step must be carried out during the pre-treatment of the component to achieve the best possible adhesion of the coating,” explains Dr Michael Zollinger, managing director of Dr Ing. Max Schlötter GmbH & Co KG. During the pickling process oxides and scales are removed, resulting in a metallically flawless surface for the subsequent coating process. However, if the acid used in pickling attacks the base material, hydrogen is also produced in atomic form. Physical processes can cause parts of this hydrogen to recombine to form non-diffusible molecular hydrogen on the surface or diffuse into the material. The storage of atomic hydrogen weakens the metal lattice. Depending on the alloy, the component can eventually become brittle and, in the worst case, this stressed state can lead to what is known as brittle fracture. “The pre-treatment and subsequent coating of higher strength steel components, with a tensile strength greater than 800 MPa, therefore repeatedly poses the question to both specialist companies and users of how high the maximum hydrogen concentration in the component
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may be for material damage to be avoided,” mentions Michael. “To date, despite numerous scientific papers, no user-friendly in-process testing methods have become established for the user in practice; any such methods are often time consuming and complicated.” He concludes: “The WSRME TWIN precision measuring device not only makes in-process testing for hydrogen embrittlement easily accessible to every manufacturer and contract coater. The versatile parameter recording, and automated evaluation, also help to reduce process costs in the long-term through targeted material selection, the optimisation of heat treatment parameters and the use of chemicals in-line with requirements.”
FASTENER TESTING
Würth Industrie Service relies on new testing options Würth Industrie Service has been investing in its test laboratory in order to continue to provide absolutely reliable test results of the highest quality – using state of the art technologies.
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ürth Industrie Service’s test laboratory is specialised in fastening technology and is accredited for more than 50 test methods conforming to DIN EN ISO/ IEC 17025 – enabling it to serve as an official and independent testing station, whilst ensuring maximum product and process quality. In the area covering 800m 2 the highly qualified employees at Würth Industrie Service use state of the art testing devices to ensure seamless quality management. New testing options available include a torsion test bench, scanning electron microscope and adhesive testing technology, with the laboratory experts having their sights firmly set on customer requirements. With the new torsion test device, customised tests can be carried out on component screw connections with double the torque of 300Nm and with a rotation speed of up to 1,500 rotations per minute. The vertical column test stand also helps to screw in connectors with a weight of up to 500kg vertically in order to determine various parameters like clamping force, breakaway torque and tightening torque. A free-moving tilt arm can be added to the torsion test bench for optimally conducting tests on customer’s components in inclined positions and multiple positions with a single placement. “With the new test bench, we have even more options for testing fasteners. We can advise our customers more precisely and support them in a better way when faced with challenges in various application scenarios,” explains Sandro Nahm, deputy laboratory manager at Würth Industrie Service GmbH & Co KG. The company also has the ability to test adhesives, which are increasingly being used in all areas of manufacturing. Based on comparable test series carried out on a separately set-up gluing workstation, two trained employees determine which adhesives are suitable for what purpose – depending on factors that range from quantity of the adhesive and strength of the adhesive connection to load-bearing capacity. As a comprehensive partner, Würth Industrie Service can also offer its customer a complete package ranging from consultation and testing of adhesives, required auxiliary materials such as more chemicals to recommendations for occupational safety items.
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With the new scanning electron microscope, the company is also look ing to progress t hrough innovation. The microscope can be used to map t he broken and heavily stressed components at nano level, making it possible to detect the smallest of anomalies within the surface quality and specific properties of the fracture structure, such as fatigue striations. This enables detailed statements on the origin of the fracture or the cause of the error to be derived. The chemical composition of the sample can also be determined in the smallest space using a special detector. As a result of these investments, Würth Industrie Service’s customers benefit from maximum commitment to quality, which also applies to non-Würth parts. Among the other highlights of the laboratory are the friction testing machine for fasteners – for testing screws up to the size M80; a salt spray chamber for corrosion testing; and a measuring room for measuring complex geometric tolerances – with the latest 3D multi-sensor technology. “We test fast response times with modern testing devices – just what our customers want,” says Jürgen Bauer, laboratory manager at Würth Industrie Service. “Within Würth Industrie Service, we inspect fasteners for departments like incoming goods, initial sample testing, application consultation and complaint management. We also receive enquiries from all over the world and provide our expertise in quality control, application consulting and product development.”
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No matter what size – 100% reliability matters Only continuous monitoring and testing can guarantee 100% reliable bolted joints. We offer an extensive portfolio of test and analysis systems. They analyze the functional characteristics of bolted joints (such as the coefficient of friction, preloading force or torque) and also bolting tools; they capture all the measured values and provide a clear presentation of the documented results. These systems allow targeted monitoring of tolerance limits, and they ensure that process deviations in fastening technology are detected at an early stage.
www.kistler.com/reliability
FASTENER TESTING DuraVision universal hardness testing machine ZwickRoell has introduced the DuraVision universal hardness testing machine, which is a flexible solution that has a load range from 0.3kgf to 3,000kgf for tests on many different materials and component geometries.
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n iversa l ha rdness test ing machines a re designed to accommodate hardness testing according to Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell and Knoop principles. To cover all of these test methods, a tester must offer a wide load range, which is where the DuraVision is able to meet customers’ needs. Hardness testing not only applies to the determination of material characteristics in terms of hardness and forming processes, but it is also used for quick and effective testing during production processes to ensure that the material meets specific requirements and behaves optimally according to its intended application. ZwickRoell points out its range of universal hardness testing equipment ensure reliable test results in the laboratory, as well as in raw production environments. T h e v a r iou s m o d e l s of t h e D u r aV i s ion r a n ge a r e software-controlled universal hardness testers with automated closed-loop load application and fully automatic test point evaluation. These advanced technolog y sof t ware-controlled instruments
Tensile tests on plastics Tensile tests on plastics are used to determine essential material properties such as tensile strength, yield strength and modulus of elasticity, with Hegewald & Peschke able to supply a range of test systems optimally configured to test plastics according to DIN 527, ASTM D638, ISO 37 and ASTM D412.
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prime example is the tensile testing machine inspekt duo L 10kN from Hegewald & Peschke, which thanks to its test room height of 1,325mm is also suitable for testing materials with a large elongation and features pneumatic specimen grips for clamping the tensile specimens. In combination with the control unit, reproducible pneumatic gripping of the specimen with controlled gripping pressure (specimen-specific adjustable) is therefore ensured. Hegewald & Peschke points out that one advantage of the parallel clamping device is that this clamping pressure acts reproducibly over the entire tensile test and thus thin materials and foils can also be tested without jaw cracking. Of particular interest for fibre-reinforced plastics is the so-called hold mode, which reduces parasitic gripping forces to prevent pre-damage of the materials. Specimen depth stops also ensure that the tensile specimen is clamped axially and that no transverse forces manipulate the test results. In addition, the testing machine and grips can be operated directly on the machine, which makes work easier for the operator, especially when testing large quantities, and optimises workflows. Alternatively, operation via the LabMaster testing software is possible – with the ability to specify test parameters for different specimen shapes and materials. Another component of the testing system for plastic tensile tests is the long distance extensometer for determining elongation at break and elongation at tensile strength on plastics and elastomers with high elongation. The gauge has an inductive fine measuring range for the standard compliant determination of the modulus of elasticity (according to ISO 527) and the elongation at break within one test.
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accommodate a variety of functions, including the use of templates, user defined specimen tooling, high resolution camera systems and electronically controlled load application. The fully automatic instruments can also be used to create a wide range of hardness curves and hardness mapping. Another significant benefit of these universal testers comes from the addition of a revolving tool changing system, which facilitates speedy changeover between individual test methods. The universal testing machines test in accordance with international industry standards, including ISO 6506, ASTM E10 (Brinell), ISO 6507, ASTM E384, ASTM E92 (Vickers), ISO 6508, ASTM E18 (Rockwell), ISO 4545 (Knoop), DIN 51917 (carbon testing), as well as ISO 2039 (plastics testing).
Quality is not an act, it is a habit
Owlett-Jaton is committed to offering its customers peace of mind when purchasing products, which is why its dedicated inhouse product testing laboratory is equipped with a wide range of apparatus and testing facilities designed to support the already rigorous purchasing and goods inward inspection processes.
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wlett-Jaton’s laboratory comprises of two dedicated rooms, one for sample preparation and re-working of products, whilst the second offers a clean environment for performing inspections and conducting investigations on fasteners and fixings. Such testing ensures that products sourced from Owlett-Jaton conform to the relevant national and international standards, such as DIN, ISO, BS and SAE – with the testing covering product diameter, radius and length, thread conformity, as well as coating thickness. Owlett-Jaton’s in-house inspection equipment is as impressive as it is comprehensive, ranging from handheld devices – including a wide range of ring, plug, and calliper gauges – through to much more advanced instruments. The high-end equipment includes a Nikon shadowgraph – an optical measuring device for inspecting angles and lengths – as well as a Keyence IM-7000 image dimension measuring system – a high-tech, computer software operated optimal imaging device, designed to measure angles, lengths, thread pitch measurements and ‘true roundness’. All of the in-house equipment enables the inspection of parts to be executed to a high-level of accuracy. www.owlett-jaton.com
Unleash the power of iron and discover new ways to prevent corrosion
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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE FASTENER SECTOR
Stay safe online: Tips to avoid getting hacked By Jason Bader, principle, The Distribution Team
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Recently, my LinkedIn account was hacked. I received an email from LinkedIn stating that an additional email address had been added to my account. I then received a second email stating that there had been some suspicious activity and did I make these changes. By the time I read these emails and attempted to log in, some bad actor had changed the primary email to their own, wiped out my login credentials and essentially took over my account.
experienced the entire range of emotions – fear, anger, self-pity and finally acceptance. LinkedIn is one of my primary marketing vehicles for podcasts and other services. The thought of rebuilding my 3,000 plus connections and profile was not something I was looking forward to. Fortunately, after ten very frustrating days, I was able to find a contact in the LinkedIn security department who helped me clear out this basement-dwelling squatter and restore control of my account. Not only was this a tremendous relief, but it has sent me on a quest to plug the leaks in my online boat. Nothing like a swift ‘kick to the teeth’ to shift one from reactive to proactive mode. Since this incident, I have done a bit of research on how to mitigate this type of invasion in the future. Here are some of the challenges and solutions that made the most sense to me.
Password negligence
I am truly guilty of this. I have used the same passwords for so many of my online accounts without regard for the sensitivity of the product.
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I would encourage you to turn on something called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) whenever possible. This is becoming more prevalent in the online world.” My financial services, travel and my shopping accounts used the same passwords. My social media accounts often had the same passwords as well. In hindsight, this was simply foolish. It was like having the same key to my home, vehicles, office and safe deposit box. As an alternative, my research suggested the use of password management software that will generate a very strong set of random characters whenever you open
a new account somewhere. The program then stores this information and uses auto-fill technology to log you into the account. This is one of the areas where autofill is positive, I will talk about the negative aspects later. As an additional measure, I would encourage you to turn on something called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) whenever possible. This is becoming more prevalent in the online world. Essentially, when the service doesn’t recognise where you are entering from (either browser or IP address), a verification code is sent to either your phone or email. This is the second layer of protection even if your login and password information has fallen into the wrong hands.
Network security
Like many of you, I travel extensively and often find myself taking advantage of free WiFi opportunities in hotels, airports and coffee shops. While these opportunities are certainly welcome where mobile service is limited, they do come with certain potential risks. When we jump on an unsecured network, even if there is an access password, there is a chance that someone is ‘listening in’ to our digital stream. They could be gathering information on sites that we visit and ultimately capture our credentials. Conversely, there have been incidents where malicious software has been delivered to unsuspecting users who tap into the unsecured WiFi stream. Using your own mobile hotspot to provide a connection for your other devices is one way to get a tighter handle on your digital connections. Most smartphones have this feature and date usage limits seem to be plentiful. Another security solution is to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) software to secure your online connection. These services create an encrypted connection so that eavesdroppers can’t follow you around looking for site credentials or secure information. These services are inexpensive and should be part of any traveller’s arsenal.
Auto-fill convenience
If you are anything like me, online shopping has become a way of life. If I haven’t visited the UPS store to pick up packages in a couple of days, they call my cell to check if I’m OK. Being one who believes in working smarter, not harder, I tend to take advantage of shortcuts in all aspects of my life. Shopping is no exception. Over the years, I have allowed Google to store and fill in my address information to facilitate a quicker shopping experience. Furthermore, I have also had Google store credit card information to speed up the process. Google Pay and Apple Pay may feel like a wonderful convenience; but these services, as secure as they may seem to be, leave us a bit vulnerable. Just be careful that we are limiting the auto-fill usage to reputable sites and use other security measures, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to authenticate the process.
Social media sharing
For me, this is where the whole mess started. I post information on LinkedIn. I use it to share my podcast episodes, comment on other’s postings, and generally let my thoughts be known in a limited way. I try to avoid too much personal sharing as I believe that this is a business platform. On the other hand, I have been dragged into the more personal side of social media using platforms like Meta and Instagram lately. I am certainly not a super user of these mediums; but who doesn’t like a scrolling dopamine hit every once in a while? There are certainly many cases of personal attacks and manipulations though these platforms, but I wanted to focus in on one that has always made me a little more cautious. Travel related posting can be fun in a ‘my life is better than yours’ kind of way. Sorry. My Gen X cynic was feeling left out of the conversation. Unfortunately, there are dangers in sharing when you are away from your home. In a 2011 study by researchers at the University of Florida found that approximately 78% of ex-cons surveyed
Using your own mobile hotspot to provide a connection for your other devices is one way to get a tighter handle on your digital connections.” admitted that social media played a role in their selection of homes to target for burglary and other property crimes. These participants noted that vacation related posts were key factors in their process. Furthermore, social media profiles and posts can give important information to con-artists and online scammers. Clever criminals can dupe friends and relatives into giving up sensitive information by posing as close friends who know details about your life, such as your place of work, restaurants you frequent, your travel plans, and even your personal relationships. My intent is not to scare anyone here. I am simply sharing what happened to me and how it has helped change my thinking around the subject of cyber security. I am by no means an expert. If you want a greater understanding of how your personal and business assets can be compromised, I encourage you to seek out a professional on the subject. I interviewed an expert a few years ago on my podcast and I would be happy to pass along his information. Before I let you go, I would be remiss if I didn’t urge you to backup your data. As I was reeling with the thought of having to rebuild my LinkedIn network, I was cursing myself for not backing up my connections. When was the last time you backed up your critical contacts, emails, and work documents? Be smart, be safe, and know that I am always here to help.
About the author
Jason Bader is a holistic distribution advisor who is passionate about helping business owners solve challenges, generate wealth and achieve personal goals. He can be found speaking at several industry events throughout the year, providing executive coaching services to private clients and letting his thoughts be known in an industry publication or two. In 2019, he launched his first podcast, Distribution Talk. Episodes can be found at www.distributiontalk.com and most podcast applications. He can be reached via email at jason@distributionteam.com.
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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS AI-driven robotic order picking system Mecalux has introduced a robotic order picking system based on the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to optimise order picking, through a long-standing collaboration with Siemens.
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ecalux’s new automated solution incorporates Siemens’ SIMATIC Robot Pick AI technology, a groundbreaking vision software that employs deep learning algorithms to significantly streamline picking in warehouses. With AI integrated into the programmable logic controller (SIMATIC S7-1500), Mecalux’s collaborative robot (cobot) is able to perform order picking with total autonomy and maximum accuracy. Developed at Mecalux’s technology centre in Barcelona, Spain, the cobots have been designed to operate 24/7 and execute up to 1,000 picks per hour. They can handle a wide range of items, making this technology suitable for businesses from all sectors looking to optimise order processing. “The technology partnership with Siemens has allowed us to join forces to create a highly flexible, safe and user friendly robotic solution that adapts to the specific needs of our clients,” says Javier Carrillo, CEO of Mecalux. A camera positioned above the cobot’s picking box captures a 3D image of the goods to prepare the orders. “The AI algorithm has been pre-trained with millions of items to offer ‘out of the box’ performance. It’s able to make decisions in milliseconds on robust, collision-free picking positions for products presented completely arbitrarily. One of the key aspects of this solution is that it doesn’t need to know the 3D model of the item in question beforehand. The advanced artificial intelligence algorithm acts as the brain, enabling the smart picking process,” says José Ramón Castro, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries in Spain. Once the item has been selected, the cobot deposits it in the picking box with high precision, making the most of the available space. Mecalux has even devised an algorithm to ensure that the cobot places the goods in the correct location.
Guided by Mecalux’s warehouse management software, the collaborative picking solution can change its gripping system automatically depending on the type of merchandise to be handled. Upon receiving a new box, Siemens’ vision system and AI algorithm identify the items inside and determine the most appropriate way to pick each product.
Infor helps companies rapidly scale automation Infor®, the industry Cloud company, is introducing Infor Enterprise Automation solution, a set of Infor Operating Service (Infor OS) multi-tenant Cloud services designed to help companies rapidly scale automation across their organisations – by connecting data integration, artificial intelligence, machine learning (ML), and robotic process automation (RPA) capabilities, into a single platform.
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ith Infor Enterprise Automation, companies can continuously expand Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) automation capabilities across diverse applications and achieve business results faster – while minimising integration costs and risks. The solution enables customers to create unlimited automation processes that interact directly with Infor CloudSuites or any other application experience without human intervention. Infor’s Enterprise Automation solution is unique because it delivers automation capabilities through a single composable platform, Infor OS, which connects systems and people through back end automation, decision automation and – with the release of Infor RPA – front end automation. With this new release, Infor now provides a complete automation suite, which addresses front end automation – including labour centric/repetitive, rule-based and high volume/low value tasks that are needed to complete a business process. Infor AI addresses decision automation through Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning services to streamline task execution,
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recommend next best actions, as well as predict potential issues and adjust systems accordingly. Also included, Infor iPaaS (integration platform-as-a-service) addresses back end automation through integration services for the development, execution and governance of workflows connecting any combination of on-premises and Cloud-based applications within individual or across multiple organisations. Holger Mueller, vice-president and principal analyst at Constellation Research, a leading market research and advisory firm, said: “There are not enough developers to build all the enterprise automation that enterprises need today, and business users are frustrated about missing out on automation. With Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and other low code capabilities, enterprise users can take over and own their automation destiny, and easy to use solutions such as Infor Enterprise Automation help them with that. It is a triple win, as business users get the automation they want and need; it’s a win for IT that can focus precious resources on more critical tasks; and a win for the whole enterprise that can increase its levels of automation, thus achieving what really matters – innovation acceleration.”
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MANAGEMENT + SYSTEMS
Better vendor relationships for global success In today’s volatile business landscape, minimising surprise in global sourcing may seem like an impossible task. However, it’s not about predicting the future, it’s about being prepared for unexpected challenges. Here Keith Kentish, group commercial director at TFC, an AFC Industries company, explains how a global sourcing partner can assist in navigating tomorrow’s unforeseen challenges.
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upply chain disruptions, fluctuating commodity prices and geopolitical uncertainties have become major concerns for manufacturers. The past few years have been particularly turbulent – marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, raw material shortages, component scarcities and ongoing conflicts. These factors have heightened the need for reliable and efficient supply chain networks. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the present supply chain landscape, it is essential to examine the stability and continuity of commodity prices. While price fluctuations can be worrisome, many commodity prices have now plateaued or experienced a significant slowdown in their rate of increase. This stability allows businesses to focus on other critical aspects, such as manufacturer and supplier dynamics. Managing a diverse portfolio of C-Class products poses unique challenges for medium and large sized manufacturers. These companies typically prioritise production efficiency, product quality improvement, and new product introduction programmes, leaving little time and resources for sourcing and managing the availability of C-Class products. Sourcing these products from multiple vendors results in a multitude of relationships to manage, numerous orders
to process, as well as the need to negotiate prices across fluctuating market levels. To overcome these challenges, many manufacturers are deciding to outsource the responsibility for sourcing components – relying on a single, reliable global sourcing partner instead of dealing with multiple vendors themselves. By streamlining vendor management and consolidating the sourcing process, manufacturers can significantly reduce the complexities associated with sourcing C-Class products. For example, TFC conducted an extensive analysis of a customer’s current vendors and identified opportunities to source comparable brand items at reduced costs without compromising product quality. This involves auditing suppliers worldwide, ensuring adherence to quality, service and abiding by ethical standards. By establishing trusted relationships with vendors, a global sourcing partner can effectively manage a global supply network. But how does this partnership minimise surprise? With ‘hands on’ experience and continuous training, global sourcing specialists are well equipped to understand manufacturers’ C-Class product requirements and provide valuable strategic advice, including change management.
Conquering supply chain complexity Körber has been named a Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) report in recognition of its unmatched depth of technologies to empower global businesses to further digitise and automate warehouses.
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had Collins, CEO at Körber Supply Chain Software, comments: “We view our fifth consecutive placement as a Leader in the Gartner Magic QuadrantTM for Warehouse Management Systems as another milestone in our journey to become the global supply chain software champion. Our suite of warehouse management, control and simulation software, as well as order management, plus voice and robotics solutions, enables companies to build agile, efficient and sustainable supply chains. We help those who move goods, to do good.” “As half of the companies today focus simply on trying to meet consumer expectations, effective supply chain technology plays a sizeable role,” adds Chad. Körber’s WMS solutions make this possible, by encompassing the unique needs of small businesses, global enterprises and third party logistics providers – all driving to meet end consumer expectations. By combining the K:Motion Warehouse Management System with autonomous mobile robotics (AMR), the K:Motion Warehouse Control System (WCS), K.Sight CLASS, and voice, vision and mobility systems, businesses have the technology at their fingertips to revolutionise the end-to-end supply chain – from source to doorstep delivery. “Businesses need a partner that offers the technology and support necessary to develop a solution tailored to their unique needs,” notes Sean Elliott, EVP and CTO Software at Körber Business Area Supply Chain. “The pandemic, regulatory environments, and heightening consumer expectations, have forever altered the supply chain industry. At Körber, we are committed to offering and continuously enhancing our unrivalled depth of solutions and dedicated services that differentiate us and our customers. For us, this recognition as a ‘Leader’ confirms our commitment to helping companies with their complex supply chain challenges.”
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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY FASTENING SOLUTIONS FOR ALL INDUSTRIES
The dimensional measurement of fasteners By Peter Standring, technical secretary at Industrial Metalforming Technologies As an engineer, the opportunity to solve a problem provides great delight. Where a solution already exists without knowing the problem – well that poses an additional challenge. Whilst tracking some elusive information online, I recently came across a genuine bona-fide 250 year old mystery known as, Roman Dodecahedrons.
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ated the second to fourth centuries, over 100 of these strange objects have been found – one being this year (example pictured right). They consist of 12 sided pentagons and have face widths between 4cm and 11cm. Holes of various sizes exist at the centres of each face – most faces being inscribed by concentric circles, and/or straight lines. At each of the 20 vertices are mushroom shaped balls of around 6mm in diameter. Virtually all Roman Dodecahedrons found to date are investment cast in a copper alloy and very strangely, have only ever been found in countries on or north of the Alps. Since no documentary evidence or artwork regarding the purpose of these objects has been found, their existence has opened the floodgates to conjecture. For those readers who might be interested in history, and perhaps in solving puzzles, such objects present a true ‘engineering’ challenge.
Dimensional measurement
Whilst following various threads regarding Roman Dodecahedrons, I came across a reference of the Roman use of physical standards. Apparently, in the Temple of Jupiter in ancient Rome resided the Standard Amphora. This, like the standard Metre/Imperial Yard kept in Paris and London respectively, represented the final arbiter on which all commercial matters of such dimensions were determined. Interestingly, one of the many suggestions that have been proposed for the application of Roman Dodecahedrons has been that of GO – NO GO gauges for Roman Dodecahedrons
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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY sizing pipes. Despite what mathematicians and physicists may tell us, the ‘real’ world has only three dimensions. Yesterday has gone, tomorrow hasn’t happened, so we all exist in the here and now. Essentially, time is only a method of determining trends. Using the Cartesian axes X, Y and Z provide rectilinear directions for the measurement of length. Rotation about a point on a plane provides a means to measure angles. The use of 360 degrees into which we divide a circle is simply our adoption of the ancient Sumerian number system which, unlike our use of the base 10, operated with a base 60. Rotation of a circular plane through 180 degrees produces a sphere. All rectilinear measurements are made using comparative methods. In days long gone, the ‘standard’ against which everything was compared could have been: A King’s digit, arm, foot, etc. The length of a stable material having uniform cross section and measured between scribed lines (like a rule). By measuring the distance between its perpendicular ends (as in the standard metre/yard). Today, the accepted international standard unit of length is the metre (m) defined in terms of the speed of light. For a fastener, measuring its length and diameter is easy depending on the accuracy and repeatability required. However, perfection – if that is possible – can only be obtained if it lies within the bounds of acceptable error (the tolerance). Measuring a length using a steel rule can be determined within the thickness of its scribed line. Better accuracy can be obtained if the measuring device has a vernier scale to sub divide the tolerance.
Introducing AI into fastener manufacture could significantly benefit the whole of the supply chain...” With greater accuracy (closer tolerance), what now becomes apparent is the accuracy of the measuring device itself. The ‘rule of thumb’ is that the device which is used to obtain the measurement must be capable of providing an accuracy of at least an order of magnitude (ten times) better than the measurement required. Very soon, the equipment used to provide the measurement itself requires calibration; a service provided by an ‘authorised’ metrology laboratory. Where fastener manufacture involves cold forming, the tooling, either single or multi stage, will require the same ‘rule of thumb’ regarding an order of magnitude increase in accuracy relative to the part being produced. Whilst dimensional tolerance is an absolute requirement for linear measurement, this on its own, is not sufficient to obtain component functionality. For example, where the diameter of a circular long rod or pin may be within tolerance everywhere along its length, it could fail to fulfil its design function if it was bent and jammed inside a mating long hole. It is for this reason that to fully define a component, attributes of geometric form and their ‘tolerance’ must be included. The geometric tolerance of any and every component requires all its surfaces to lie within parallel imaginary surfaces, which define its dimensional boundaries. So, for any flat surface, two imaginary planes are
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created within which the surface must lie. These produce what is known as the maximum or minimum material condition. This is an essential requirement on every component drawing where, in order for it to achieve its function, its surfaces must be parallel, square, concentric, etc, to some datum surface or axis. Failure to ensure such information, including surface finish, material conditions, etc, will severely compromise the manufacture of any design – since those who have to work to a drawing can only guess at what they don’t know and aren’t informed about.
Implications of design tolerance
It is an accepted fact that 95% of the cost of a component is incurred at the design stage. A blanket use of tighter tolerances where nominal values will suffice has zero effect on functionality and can introduce wholly unnecessary costs in manufacture. This can be particularly expensive if the interrelationships between the designated geometric tolerances specified on the component drawing require expensive (and perhaps unnecessary) instrumentation to inspect. Within the fastener manufacturing ladder there are companies that often have a substantial history serving local and wider regions of the same business sector, such as automotive, aerospace, construction, rail, etc. These businesses, producing audited ‘standard’ products, have invested in and meet all the required ‘quality’ certifications demanded by customers. Globalisation, both of their customer base, and the industry they serve, has brought with it significant outsourcing and imports causing major restructuring of their business. Those who survived this turbulence were often targeted for acquisition by overseas manufacturers who sought to refashion their own manufacturing model. The net result of this fastener manufacturing realignment, and the demands required to meet the quality needs, has created a new breed of sharper, more focused producers who have staff trained to operate inside a largely digital environment.
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence
The golden key to the current world of ‘instant’ is information. The bringer of the ‘golden key’ is AI. Go to your web browser and without it being requested, an AI package of your browser’s choice, will ask you to ask it a question. My own attempts to seek answers to very obscure questions has resulted in providing only child like responses, which I already knew. The reason, because all AI systems are simply only rapid learning processes. A very recent example has been the US$40,000 prize won by a student for finding a method to read text written on a Roman Scroll and buried in the first century volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. His methodology, to view an image and then get the AI program he wrote to repeatedly improve it until it was legible. In short, like all methods of analysis, it requires data to work on. In fastener manufacture almost ever ything is produced in batches. Fully automated systems, where possible, are preferred to those involving humans. Once set-up and running under controlled conditions, an automated system will only stop (fail) when: It has nothing more to process. Its power is cut off. The ‘measured’ product being produced and monitored trends toward its statistical warning or action limits. A breakage or jam occurs. A human operator will experience the same situation and produce the same result but being a free spirit could also introduce all manner of unnecessary uncontrolled variations into what, in essence, is a simple system. Introducing AI into fastener manufacture could significantly benefit the whole of the supply chain through the analysis and prediction of likely occurrences. Focusing only on the manufacturing side, this could and should begin with a deep dive into the ‘as received’ input material. All material suppliers have their own ‘operational tolerances’, which
begin with material specification, processing routes, property data, etc. To ensure their own comfort zone, every supplier desires such tolerances to be as wide as possible and will increase the price if the customer requires them to be tighter. It is an acknowledged fact that the wider the tolerance band of elements within a material, and/or the greater the variation in the processing route, the higher the probability of obtaining variability of the product. For their part, fastener manufacturers – like all businesses – seek to extract the maximum value from their labours for the minimum input cost. This often means pushing the envelope on machine use (higher force, larger size, faster speeds), labour skill sets, set-up times and maintenance downtime. All progressive fastener companies apply in-process monitoring to record the manufacturing process. By introducing AI to analyse this data, a detailed blow by blow ‘real time’ account of the underlying strengths and weaknesses of the system will be revealed automatically. This will show, in startling clarity, where efficiencies exist and most importantly where they can be gained. This includes greater qualification of the input material; direct processing evidence of a machine/setter’s performance in meeting both quality and output targets; the sensible revision of component drawing tolerances to match its ‘in-service functionality’; ease/cost of inspection; and the on-line sharing of quality improvements gained by the implementation of AI. Actions taken on these aspects will produce greater control and improvement of any system.
Conclusion
In the days when industrial towns shut down for their annual holidays, it could be a lonely place to live if you didn’t go away. In an increasingly digital world, the same could be said for those reluctant to accept the inexorable changes taking place. For all fastener manufacturers, the goal to be able to make a batch size of one as cost effectively as a batch of thousands, is something to strive for and which realistically may never be reached. However, the customer requirement for zero defects is here and obtained through judicious use of 100% inspection. If AI methods could be used and trained to achieve this goal through process improvement, then both quality and profits would increase. AI might also reveal the answer to a puzzle which this author came across at a fastener workshop many years ago. The technical director of a company hosting the meeting gave a non-confidential presentation to a group of his peers from other ‘competing’ fastener companies. In the
presentation, they said they “introduced a new coil to the machine and found it wouldn’t run satisfactorily”. ‘What did you do then?’ he was asked. “What we always do,” he replied. “We turned it round and used the other end and it ran well.” This answer was accepted by sagely nods from many of those attending. However, when asked by this author why this should be, no one, including the wire producers who were also present, could explain. As for my take on the Roman Dodecahedrons? Remember, none have ever been found around the Mediterranean, only on or north of the Alps. As an engineer, I wondered how I might produce a similar component using the lost wax process and having access only to rudimentary tools. Whilst reading this, please take a moment to consider how complex the geometry of a dodecahedron is (these are hollow) and the measurements that would be needed to achieve it. It is worth noting that in Roman times moving goods by water was ten times less costly than moving them on land. Also, very clearly, there would be few commercial ventures that considered taking wheeled transport from the rest of the Empire over the Alps. Julius Caesar stated that people in Gaul had fast chariots and from archaeology we know that bronze and iron age folks north of the Alps were fine craftsmen. From gathering information off the web concerning the hole size of around 80 dodecahedrons, I found 46% were in the range 12mm – 16mm diameter and 44% between 10mm – 12mmm and 18mm – 24mm (typical of a bell shaped distribution). In terms of the range of hole size per dodecahedron, 12% are within 9mm between largest and smallest, 68% within 17mm and 20% within 26mm. From this data and without the use of AI (as yet), my own suggestion (you will read it here first) is that Roman Dodecahedrons were used as a gauge by wheelwrights to determine the size of lynch pins required to keep a wheel on its axle (between 97mm to 113mm diameter). Long ones would be required to pin wheels to rotatable axles or shorter ones to fix the position of wheels on to fixed axles. The smaller 12% range holes for use on lighter vehicles, 68% for general purpose vehicles and 20% for heavy goods over rough terrain. And the 20 small balls? Well, they could have three purposes. One to prevent damage to the centre hole, second to have something to stand on, thirdly and most importantly, to provide a means of grip for the wheelsmith’s hands, which might be covered in animal fat. Whilst it is perfectly possible that these strange objects may have had a non-utilitarian cultural existence as decorative or religious objects, if they did fulfil a practical function, then the laws of probability suggest their application could have been for the process of creating yet another of mankind’s most ubiquitous products – a fastener. Remember the traditional ten in one dog bone (dumbbell) shaped hexagonal spanner used for bicycles – well, they are still made and sold today.
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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
Exploring the universe with Bossard’s expertise Here we speak to Jürgen Eixler, head of engineering at Bossard AG, as part of the Bossard Group, about how the company has collaborated with Beyond Gravity to deliver exploration payload projects for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane missions. What are the products Bossard has supplied as part of your collaboration with Beyond Gravity and how have they been used?
“We have delivered more than one million parts to Beyond Gravity and we also help project development with our logistics systems and engineering services. Bossard does not only deliver standard parts, such as screws, nuts, and different materials, we also supply a lot of bespoke articles, which are specially produced for Beyond Gravity. This is mostly done in collaboration with Beyond Gravity, who sends us a design of a certain part and we aim to optimise this part with the manufacturer. In the end, our customer gets the part they are looking for, thanks to our high-quality requirements. Every product is important in the Beyond Gravity projects, as each item must be able to fulfil specific requirements in order to play its part in each mission being a success. One such product are special pins – ball lock pins – which are used in all the payload fairings for the Ariane flights. These pins are specially designed to allow the protective capsule to break away from the satellite once the rocket has reached the outer atmosphere. This process is very important, as it ensures the satellite remains undamaged during the launch process, but then allows the protective shell to break open and the satellite to begin its mission.”
What were the challenges when designing fasteners for Beyond Gravity? How can Bossard help the company face these challenges? “When going to space, one of the main goals is to reduce weight, as each payload costs a lot of energy. You always have to try and reduce the weight of the payload to its minimum. To do this, we start with the sources of the raw material, ensuring that all the materials we use are of very
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high-quality. We also always check certifications of the manufacturer, as there is only a small group of manufacturers that we source from when developing parts for aerospace applications. For Beyond Gravity specifically, we offer a lot of friction tests. We do this because for the Ariane projects we work with titanium, which compared to other materials, such as steel, is a very lightweight metal and therefore ideal for numerous applications. For the titanium we use special coatings to protect from corrosion and galling. However, there is limited knowledge on how this coating and material performs, as unlike a normal zinc plated screw, for example, which are used in many industries such as rail, titanium isn’t a widely used metal, so the tests we perform are extremely important. When we tighten the screw with the washer and the nut we have to know which contact points generate the most friction. We perform the friction tests so that during application, we know the correct torque to use in order to achieve the correct preload. This is a very important process, as friction influences around 80% of the process when applying the torque and achieving preload. Through these extensive friction tests, we help Beyond Gravity go to space, as safe and as light as possible. We also have an engineering department that helps our customers throughout the design process, to optimise the product and ensure it will perform in its given application. We also offer test services, which ensure that parts perform under certain stresses. Plus, we can offer educational services, which helps teach how to correctly assemble components, such as the right torque to use. The final aspect is we oversee the entire manufacturing process, so we go to the manufacturing facility to see how they assemble the parts, what tools they use, and from here we can help optimise those processes.”
What are the benefits to the end user when working with Bossard?
“Bossard is a ‘one stop shop’. If you imagine yourself going to a supermarket and you need different kinds of products, you go there and buy everything in one place. This is the unique selling point of Bossard, that the customers can come to us and say ‘I need this type of screw or nut’ and Bossard finds the right solution for the customer – saving them time and resources. Another benefit is that the end user has the opportunity to use our engineering services, which is a big advantage – as most of our competitors do not have this type of engineering department. We are also very strong in our logistics systems. It is through these services that we can help our customers find the right solution and find the best high-quality products. We bring our products to the customer, at the right time and in the right place, so there is never an issue with missing products or delays.”
What opportunities for Bossard do you see in the future?
“We see huge potential in the aerospace sector and Bossard is definitely already a key player in this market. In the future we want to expand on that and look ahead to exciting times and a growing market. Bossard has also recently been tasked with delivering fasteners for the payload fairings of the Ariane 6, the ESA’s next generation of launch rockets. The company intends to continue playing a key role in supplying fasteners not only to Beyond Gravity, but to the aerospace industr y as a whole.”
THE WORLD OF
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Y E A R S SCHRODER www.schroederschrauben.de
APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY SPIROL expands fastener installation equipment line SPIROL has announced the expansion of its robust fastener installation equipment line by introducing the new Model CP pneumatic compression limiter installation machine.
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he Model CP can install one compression limiter into one assembly, or simultaneously install multiple limiters into several different assemblies at the same or at different heights. The pneumatic compression limiter installation machine can be easily adapted to a variety of applications through the use of quick change tooling that enables the operator to reconfigure the machine to the desired platform within a matter of seconds. Easy to use and built to last, while the base machine offers reliable installation of compression limiters into plastic assemblies, the Model CP can be upgraded for heightened inspection and error proofing with the addition of optional enhancements – including HMI (Human Machine Interface), vision sensing, fixture identification, force monitoring, as well as a machine table. This new offering complements SPIROL’s Model CM manual compression limiter installation machine and the larger Model CL and extra large Model CLX installation machines. www.spirol.com
Rail fasteners for high-speed China In its latest success on the country’s rail network, rail fastener specialist Vossloh has been commissioned to supply rail fastening systems for selected sections of two high-speed lines under construction in central China.
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unshan-based Vossloh Fastening Systems China, a subsidiary of German parent Vossloh AG, will be responsible for the work, as it has with previous contracts in China. One of the lines is almost 300km long and will link Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, to the automotive stronghold of Shiyan in Hubei Province. The other line is about twice as long and, once completed, will shorten the journey time between the megacities of Chongqing and Wanzhou, in central China, noticeably. China’s high-speed rail network is expanding at great speed and will increase from around 42,000km, currently, to more than 70,000km by 2035. For its part, Vossloh has been supporting this rail infrastructure expansion for the past 17 years. Oliver Schuster, Vossloh’s CEO, said the company has “been a respected partner in China for many years and especially in the construction of high-speed lines”, and is “delighted to continue contributing to the expansion of this country’s forward-looking infrastructure”. Deliveries for the latest contract are scheduled for H2 of 2024.
APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
Strainlabs partnering with Vossloh Strainlabs is one of the first innovative technologies on a new integration platform developed by Vossloh. The ambition is to transform the railway industry, drive digitisation, and bring together data driven solutions related to railway infrastructure through ‘Vossloh Connect’.
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ccording to Michael Fransson, product manager at Strainlabs, a growing interest in larger IoT bolts, particularly M22 – M27, has been shown by customers – especially in industries such as railway and general production. “We listened to their needs and initiated the development of this range expansion earlier this year.” Vossloh Connect brings together innovative solutions to customers on an integrative platform – with Vossloh customers being able to monitor Strainlabs bolts and Strainlabs also being added to the portfolio of the international sales force. ”Strainlabs brings innovation in connected bolt technology to the platform,” says Pierre-Henri Bougeant, head of digitalisation at Vossloh. “With Strainlabs one can monitor the integrity of rail infrastructure with unparalleled precision, gathering ‘real time’ data on the stress and strain experienced by crucial components. This enables proactive maintenance and enhances the overall reliability of the rail system.” Bolt security is a vital part of public safety. Structures are often exposed to extreme conditions and temperatures, including dynamic loads and vibration. It is time consuming and inefficient with reactive and time-based maintenance. Strainlabs can support industrial digitalisation including the enablement of ‘real time ‘data, predictive and condition-based maintenance. “Most industries experience challenges in aspects of technology, operations, and business models, when tr ying to implement third-party digitalisation. Furthermore, the industrial IoT landscape is still somewhat fragmented. Vossloh has created a genius platform, which simplifies processes for railway costumers to navigate and progress their digitalisation,” comments Csaba Madru, CEO and co-founder of Strainlabs. “Through this partnership we have the potential, together with Vossloh, to drive a legacy industry forward with efficient and sustainable maintenance methods.”
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Vossloh Connect brings together innovative solutions to customers on an integrative platform...”
Safety to the max SCHNORR® products are always the first choice when metal is being used to meet requirements of movement cushioning - securing through force and form. Original SCHNORR® Safety Washers: • Highly vibration-resistant • Twofold effect from one component • Extensive range Original SCHNORR® disc springs: • Various applications • Best price-performance ratio • Customized solutions
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SUPPLIER TO THE OEM AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY Unit 21, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, Wrexham, LL14 6HA, UK t: +44 (0) 1978 823 900 e: sales@aslgroup.uk.com
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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
Aerospace clamp supplier recognition The Boeing Company has recognised NORMA Group amongst its outstanding suppliers for 2022 with a Supply Chain Performance Achievement certificate for its activities last year in the supply of NAS clamps.
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oeing issues its Supply Chain Performance Achievement awards annually to recognise top performing suppliers, which have demonstrated proactive management of their supply chain quality, readiness, and health, in order to deliver on the aircraft manufacturer’s commitment to advance global sustainability. This year, Boeing recognised 241 suppliers in this way. NORMA BREEZE, part of NORMA Group, supplies Boeing with its NAS clamps for use in aircraft cabin heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. As an aerospace standard product, they comply with AS9100 certification and, due to their specific design, feature a superior strength-to-weight ratio and require specialist cleaning treatment. For NORMA, this latest Boeing certificate follows not only the same award for 2021, but also comes at a time when the group has also maintained its Boeing ‘Premier Bidder Status’, which opens up further business opportunities with the aerospace customer. Guido Grandi, chief executive officer at NORMA Group, said the company was honoured to receive this recognition for the second year in a row, underlining its quality and on-time delivery performance. He offered specific congratulations to the group’s team at NORMA Pennsylvania for what he called “their impeccable performance”.
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Premium wood screw
The Acton six-lobed wide countersunk wood screw type 62328 is designed specially for the installation of terraces, decking, facades and other softwood constructions. Its modern design benefits from all the technical arguments of a «Premium» type wood screw, which allows it to obtain a gain in productivity and complete control of its installation.
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Born from the fusion of riveted insert and selfblocking nut, DEFORM-NUT® SELF-LOCKING is the new anti-loosening deforming rivet: the ideal solution for fixing parts subject to risk of loosening and strong vibrations. DEFORM-NUT® SELFLOCKING can be easily installed on boxes, pipes, sheet metal, profiles and on all those supports that do not allow the insertion of nuts inside them.
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APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY Keeping vandals and thieves at bay Bridges are not just concrete and steel structures; they are lifelines that connect communities, facilitate commerce, and contribute to the overall infrastructure of a region. Ensuring the longevity, safety and functionality of these essential structures is of paramount importance.
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ne often overlooked, yet critical, aspect of bridge maintenance and safety is the use of security fasteners, which, as this article will discuss, as well as offering substantial cost savings and benefits when incorporated into bridge infrastructure, also help fight crime. The Golden Jubilee Footbridge in London, over the River Thames and near the famous London Eye, is just one example of security fastener use in bridging. Here, the structure uses 5-Lobe Pin security fasteners, from Hafren Fasteners, to secure the steel footplates that protect sensitive electrical equipment for lighting systems. These fasteners were selected for their enhanced security level, rated level 2, and their drivers and tools, which are manufactured for precise, high torque applications. The fasteners, in the case of the footbridge, were also selected as they’re made from non-reactive, austenitic A4-70 stainless steel, which offers excellent corrosion resistance, even in marine environments. When it comes to bridge maintenance and repair, this often places a significant financial burden on local governments and transportation agencies, but by adopting security fasteners for bridge infrastructure work, important cost savings can be made in a variety of ways. When using traditional fasteners, for example, which are susceptible to tampering, corrosion, and wear, frequent maintenance and replacement cycles are often required. Hafren security fasteners, however, which are designed with tamper-resistant features and durable materials, are more resistant to these issues, which, in turn, translates to longer intervals between maintenance activities and fewer replacements, thereby significantly cutting down on associated costs. A further associated benefit from the reduction in the frequency of maintenance and replacement activities is that not only does this save money, but it also contributes to a smaller environmental footprint; because fewer materials are consumed, less energy is, therefore, expended in the production, transportation and installation of replacement parts. Enhanced security and protection of these bridging infrastructures are also major issues. Bridges often house valuable equipment, such as lighting, hand/guard rails, electrical components and monitoring systems. These items are susceptible to theft and vandalism, which can disrupt operations, compromise safety and lead to significant financial
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losses. Using security fasteners acts as a deterrent to unauthorised access, safeguarding valuable equipment and preventing potential disruptions. As a result, the overall lifespan of the bridge and its parts are extended, reducing the need for costly replacements. However, without their use, acts of vandalism or equipment theft can lead to service interruptions and even bridge closures, causing inconvenience to the public and hampering economic activities. However, by using security fasteners to protect critical infrastructure, bridge owners can ensure uninterrupted services and maintain the trust of a community. Also, while the protection of key equipment through the use of security fasteners prevents service disruptions, it also safeguards the public and bridge operators; faulty or tampered equipment can often lead to accidents, injuries and legal liability, but by prioritising equipment security, bridge owners also prioritise public safety and, as a consequence, also shield themselves from potential liability claims. All in all, the incorporation of security fasteners – such as those from Hafren – into bridge infrastructure is likely to be a sensible investment with multifaceted benefits. From reducing maintenance and replacement costs, to protecting valuable equipment and preventing service interruption, security fasteners play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency, safety and sustainability of bridge operations. www.hafrenfasteners.com
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T: +44 (0)1634 281200 www.jubileeclips.co.uk
PRODUCTS
THE LATEST PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS TAPES + ADHESIVES FEATURE
The processability of adhesives When specifying an adhesive, its functionality, i.e. whether it will act as an adhesive for the lifetime of the assembly on which it’s used, is the primary consideration for specifiers. However, what’s also important to consider is how the material will work in production, namely, its processability. By considering this factor at the design stage, time, money, and effort, can all be saved. Here, Kevin Brownsill, head of technical learning and development at adhesive specialist, Intertronics, explains some important process considerations for design engineers when specifying an adhesive.
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he processability of an adhesive, covers everything from how it is removed from its packaging, to mixing, dispensing and curing. Being able to understand this for a given application, involves weighing up production requirements, such as speed and scale, against the adhesive’s properties. If, for instance, a material meets all of the technical criteria, but can’t be repeatably and accurately applied into a final part of the process, at a speed with which the production team are happy, it’s probably not a good fit for the job. Similarly, if the process can be perfected by hand during the R&D stage, but not easily replicated during automation, it’s unlikely to work in large scale production. But how do specifiers come up with the right adhesive for the job?
Shortlisting materials
Typically, a design engineer will start the specification process by assessing the technical characteristics of a material from its data sheet. While this is a perfectly suitable way to shortlist a handful of candidate materials, it’s important to remember that data sheets are not exhaustive; it’s a combination of knowledge, experience and tests that are needed to establish if the data can be extrapolated for a specific application. This is where a good adhesives’ supplier will understand the full complexity of a project and make recommendations for suitable materials and dispensing technology to be evaluated, based on all of the relevant factors. In many cases, there will be multiple materials that offer the required functionality, and it’s best to trial more than one; an end user may find that two adhesives give similar technical performance, but one offers significantly better process, or implementation, ROI benefits.
Out of the box
Adhesives are supplied in everything from small syringes and vials containing a few millilitres, to large 220 litre drums, and beyond. Not all materials, however, are supplied in every size and packaging type. If the material selected is only available in 10kg batches, but a 1nL shot is actually required, an appropriate alternative to reduce waste, or investing in suitable handling equipment, should be considered. Once it’s been established whether the material is available in suitable packaging, how to apply it is the next consideration. This involves trialling possible dispensing methods, which can be anything from simple time pressure dispensing, to fully automated, volumetric dispensing – depending on repeatability and accuracy requirements. An adhesive’s viscosity often impacts its suitability for an application, both technically and in terms of the process. Some have water-like viscosity, e.g a cyanoacrylate adhesive, others exist as very thick pastes, e.g a thermally conductive silicone. Each extreme can be difficult to
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process for different reasons; while a low viscosity material may cause problems with dripping, a high viscosity material may be a challenge to remove from the packaging or apply to the part. This is where an adhesive supplier can talk customers through which materials will be easy to dispense for specific applications, based on their physical properties.
Production process
There are numerous processing steps that may be required as part of an adhesive project, such as thawing, decanting, warming and mixing. Typically, the fewer steps involved in the process the better, as it reduces labour, risk, as well as costs. If a material requires many processing steps, design engineers can seek an alternative with similar technical properties, but fewer processing requirements. Single part adhesives are easier to dispense and handle than two part ones, which require mixing. UV curing adhesives, for example, enable a fast cure, no mix process, that improves efficiency and overall economy, and can be trialled to see if they offer the required functionality.
Time-based considerations
When it comes to two part materials, such as epoxies, polyurethanes, silicones, and methacrylates, these begin to gel and start to change in viscosity immediately upon mixing. An understanding of how a material changes over time can dictate how it is used. With two part materials, for example, a metering-and-mixing system can be employed at the point of dispense. The working life of the adhesive, i.e. the amount of time a mixed material remains low enough in viscosity to still be readily applied with the appropriate accuracy and tolerance required for an application,
PRODUCTS + TOOLS and whether that working life suits a particular process, should also be considered. In some cases, it may be necessary to modify dispensing technology to allow for certain working life characteristics. For example, if dispensing a two part epoxy that cures in 5 to 10 minutes, using a dispensing system with an automatic purge, to keep fresh material in the nozzle, is advisable. Curing time is another important time-based consideration, with huge variations in the amount of time different adhesives take to cure, from seconds to hours, or even days in the case of slow curing epoxies and silicones. A long cure regime means parts may need to be set aside to cure offline, taking up space and resources like jigs and tooling. Then, there are adhesives with purely thermal cures, which require an oven of sorts, itself incurring an upfront cost and ongoing energy expense. Ideally, the cure time will fit into production speeds and takt times, to avoid creating bottlenecks, or large amounts of work in progress. Rapid curing adhesives, for example, such as cyanoacrylate adhesives and UV curable materials, can be attractive from a process perspective, but are not always suitable from performance, or process, perspectives.
Health and safety
For a team handling the adhesive material, it’s important to consider whether the adhesive will introduce additional health and safety (H&S) requirements. Some processes may carry an increased risk of RSI, where a team member may, for example, have to use excessive force to remove the material from its packaging. One potential solution, in such a case, is to switch from human to a pneumatic system. Alternatively, switching to a different, easier to handle material, is another solution. Whatever the adhesive selection process, it’s essential to always review the latest Safety Data Sheet to establish such things as ventilation
and PPE requirements, and any other pertinent regulations. From 23rd August 2023, for example, users of polyurethane adhesives with a monomeric diisocyanate concentration of >0.1%, require training in its use. If H&S issues are a concern, it’s worth trialling alternative materials; Point One™ structural polyurethane adhesives, for example, use microemission technology and, therefore, require no training. Typically, the fewer processes that need to be done by hand, the better; a machine that meters and mixes through a nozzle, offers better repeatability and H&S than an operator doing it by hand.
Scaling up
An understanding of expected production quantities can impact adhesive choice with regard to cure time, dispensing method, and even packaging; what works for one component might look different as quantities increase. If production is likely to scale up, design engineers may wish to specify a readily automatable material, so higher throughputs and volumes can be achieved. Certain materials can be packaged for both hand application and in bulk, which can make the transition easier. For example, the two part, clear, potting polyurethane, Opti-tec 4200, is available in easy to use 50ml cartridges and also in bulk kits of at least 1kg. An adhesives’ supplier can advise on incremental approaches to fit with a user’s scaling up, investment and future plans. Taking the processability of an adhesive into account at the design stage greatly reduces the chance of hurdles further down the line. By keeping a process simple, through automation and the use of single-part materials with no mixing requirements, as well as fast, in-line cure, and process friendly packaging, can avoid these hurdles – as well as by seeking the advice of an adhesives’ expert early in any new product introduction journey.
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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.
New and unparalleled REYHER screw and washer assembly Full load-bearing capacity with combi drive (ASK/ISR) Performance and strength class can be customized CONU, the counter nut Flat surface now also on the nut side Self-locking with maximum load bearing capacity F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG Haferweg 1 · 22769 Hamburg · Germany Phone +49 40 85363-0 contact@reyher.de · www.reyher.de
PRODUCTS + TOOLS TAPES + ADHESIVES FEATURE
Adhesive innovation for projection and automotive lighting Industrial adhesives manufacturer, DELO, has developed a new adhesive for automotive lighting applications, the DELO PHOTOBOND OB4189. The product is resistant to yellowing and, with its high aspect ratio, is particularly suitable for bonding microlens arrays, such as those found in headlights and projection systems.
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ith light considered among the most important elements of automotive design and differentiation, microlens arrays are a key player to these developments. They project LED light, which sits behind a very short focal length, providing sharp images and individual geometries – resulting in their increasing use as optics in headlights and projection systems, due to their small installation depth requirements. For increased efficiency, such microlenses are often made of optically-pure polymers, in other words, adhesives, and are then fixed to a housing. With a high viscosity of 75,000 mPa·s, DELO PHOTOBOND OB4189 enables a high enough aspect ratio for the bonding process, with the adhesive retaining its shape, rather than flowing, after dispensing, which is important for bonding microlens arrays. It is also extremely resistant to yellowing, which has been proven in 500 hours of lifecycle simulations at 140°C. This resistance is essential for such optically demanding applications. The modified acrylate used in the new product is solvent free and has been developed for a temperature application range of -40°C to +120°C. It has a compressive shear strength of 30MPa on polycarbonate and 25 MPa on PMMA and can be cured using UV light at 365Nm wavelength and visible light at 400Nm wavelength. The typical exposure time at 400Nm with a layer thickness of 100μm is five seconds. This enables high precision active alignment processes for optical components and low cycle times in automated production. “With DELO PHOTOBOND OB4189, we added a high viscosity and extremely yellowing resistant product to our portfolio of temperature and humidity resistant active alignment adhesives, that is precisely tailored to the requirements of microlens arrays,” says Christoph Appel, product manager for automotive LED at DELO.
TAPES + ADHESIVES FEATURE
Electrically insulative two component epoxy features high elongation Master Bond has launched a two component, low viscosity epoxy system for bonding, sealing, coating, and encapsulation. The Master Bond EP21LVFL also combines good flexibility with a solid strength profile.
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t is curable at room temperature, with a long working life of 120–160 minutes at 75°F (23.9°C) for a 100g batch. The new adhesive also features a flowable initial mixed viscosity of 10,000 cps – 14,000 cps. This epoxy also generates low exotherm making it suitable not only for bonding and coating, but also for sealing and potting applications. Especially useful in bonding substrates with different coefficients of expansion, such as metals, composites, glass, ceramics, rubbers and plastics, EP21LVFL also has a high elongation of 120% – 150%, a low tensile modulus of 1,500 psi – 2,500 psi, and a shore D hardness of 40 – 50. The product offers excellent electrical insulation properties with a volume resistivity exceeding 1,015 ohm-cm and a dielectric constant of 2.95 at 60 Hz. It also has a tensile strength of 1,200 psi – 1,400 psi and a lap shear strength measuring 900 psi – 1,100 psi. The two part epoxy is capable of withstanding rigorous thermal cycling, vibration, mechanical stress and shock, and offers a non-critical, one-to-two mix ratio, by weight or volume. Its Part A is clear and Part B is amber clear. EP21LVFL cures more rapidly at elevated temperatures. Optimal performance properties can be achieved by curing overnight at room temperature followed by 4 – 6 hours at 125°F – 150°F (51.7°C – 65.6°C). The product is available in a variety of packing options, including half pint, pint, quart, gallon and five gallon kits, as well as in premixed and frozen syringes and dual cartridges for gun dispensers. The new epoxy can also be formulated in different colours.
PRODUCTS + TOOLS TAPES + ADHESIVES FEATURE
Special adhesives for medical wearables Wearable patient monitoring devices, such as wireless monitors that transmit patient information to healthcare providers, are being used in increasing numbers. They must be reliable and durable, while also safe for direct-to-skin contact. In-line with this, Panacol has developed a broad portfolio of specialty adhesives for this purpose, which meet the stringent demands imposed by medical device manufacturers.
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o be able to provide a complete bonding solution, Panacol teamed with metering equipment manufacturer, Scheugenpflug, and UV equipment manufacturer, Dr Hönle. As a result, a system concept, that enables precise metering for the dispensing of low volumes of UV adhesives with integrated LED UV, was identified and tested successfully. These new medical device adhesives exhibit excellent adhesion to commonly used medical grade substrates and are tested for biocompatibility in accordance with ISO 10993-4/-5/-10/-23 and USP Class VI protocols. They also include LED curable UV acrylates and UV epoxies, which provide the shortest curing cycle times for high volume production. Fluorescing versions are available to enhance quality control relying on in-line vision systems. Also included in this group are electrically conductive adhesives and conventional thermosetting epoxies, which offer connectivity and attachment solutions for PCB and electrical component assembly. Several epoxy selections are available with high ionic purity, which is essential to minimise the risk of corrosion on the PCB. Also, Panacol’s silver filled electrically conductive adhesives can often replace solder joints. The curing or hardening of Panacol’s UV acrylate and epoxy adhesives can be achieved in seconds due to their formulation, with LED curing systems from Dr Hönle optimising the curing process. This ensures the shortest curing cycle time and the highest throughput. In the tested system concept, Hönle’s LED Spot 40 IC, with a wavelength of 405Nm was used. The compact design of this LED head allowed it to be integrated with the DosPL DPL2001 dispensing head into Scheugenpflug’s DispensingCell DC803, multifunction robotic cell, which permits components to remain in one position for both dispensing and UV curing processes – thereby minimising parts handling and reducing risk of component movement, contamination and adhesive migration. The integrated system concept ensures the adhesive bonding process is performed to the highest quality standards with the greatest efficiency.
PRODUCTS + TOOLS The same systainer® organisation with a new textile face With the Systainer³ ToolBag M, TANOS has once again lived up to its reputation as an innovative and quality manufacturer. The new systainer® features a modern design and includes a multitude of compartments, loops, and removable tool inserts made of abrasion resistant fabric, making the bag a flexible organisation system for any workflow.
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he open design of the new systainer³ ToolBag M highlights convenience and f lexibilit y, accommodating even awkwardly shaped tools that protrude from a conventional toolbox. As a fully compatible member of the systainer® family, the Systainer³ ToolBag M fits seamlessly into customers’ existing organisational systems of all systainer ® generations, as well as bott shelving solutions. This ensures the highest level of safety and convenience, even in a mobile workshop. “Many craft businesses now prefer more visually appealing and at the same time practical solutions in consultation meetings, during initial inspections and property analyses, as well as on ‘digital construction sites’. Especially when it comes to transporting technical equipment such as tablets, smartphones, or sensitive electronic measuring devices – in addition to the most important tools, which means the classic toolbox is not always the first choice. Nevertheless, the storage systems used should be compatible with existing products so that the investment is also economically sustainable,” says Norbert Jehle, product manager at TANOS. The new Systainer³ ToolBag M masters this balancing act effortlessly. Made of high-quality 600D polyester fabric, the tool bag impresses with its high durability and UV resistance in daily use. A supplementary polyurethane (PU) coating also protects against moisture and small leaks. This makes the textile material extremely easy to care for and the bag retains its high-quality appearance for many years.
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The most flexible systainer® ever
Despite the vast differences in requirements from trade to trade, they all have one thing in common – no two days and no two jobs are the same. The intelligent concept of the Systainer³ ToolBag M meets this challenge. Pre-assembled inner pockets and tool inserts can be individually positioned or removed using Velcro connections – both loaded and unloaded. In a few simple steps, the new solution transforms from a bag to a perfectly organised storage system for all hand tools. “This is where the true strength of the Systainer³ ToolBag M becomes apparent. The user designs the interior of the bag according to his or her personal needs, in order to have the right tool immediately at hand during the actual work,” Norbert Jehle continues. Several pockets on the outside, with and without zippers, provide additional, clearly arranged storage space while a ‘slip in’ business card pocket keeps business cards neat and protected. When it comes to ergonomics, the new Systainer³ ToolBag M from TANOS also has a lot to offer. A 2K soft grip carrying handle guarantees comfort even when wet, sweaty or heavily loaded, and the user always has a firm grip on it. An adjustable carrying strap with shoulder pad also allows back friendly transport. Plus, when the strap is securely placed over the shoulder, the user has both hands free to safely reach the job site even with one’s tools via a ladder. In addition, the systainer³ ToolBag M is economically a sustainable solution. Thanks to the built-in systainer® base plate, the new product line is compatible with all systainer® generations and can be directly integrated into the bott shelving solutions. The front facing fabric includes a flap that can be used as a handle to facilitate inserting and removing the ToolBag M from the van equipment. www.tanos.de
D S Fasteners Ltd,17 Napier Place, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 3RL
NEW
E FROM AVAILABL R 2023 E B M E DEC
Systainer3 ToolBag M Flexible organisation in top design Learn more: www.tanos.de/en/products
• Durable • Mobile • Customized • Adaptable • Compatible • Well-organized
Systainer3 – The new generation – More than just a box!
PRODUCTS + TOOLS
The use of two nuts to prevent self-loosening Here Dr Bill Eccles of Bolt Science discusses whether a thin nut or a thick nut should go next to the joint when using two nuts to lock a thread.
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had been of the opinion that when two nuts were being used to lock a thread, the thicker of the two nuts should go next to the joint. I had this as one of the ‘tips for the day’ on some software and a couple of years ago was taken to task that this was wrong. The thin nut should go next to the joint. My reasoning was that nut heights had been decided by establishing the least height that would ensure the bolt would break before the threads started to shear. So if you wanted to get the maximum preload into the fastener then the thick nut should go first so that thread stripping was prevented. If you put the thin nut first, the preload would be limited by the thread stripping (whose failure may not be obvious at the time the nuts were tightened). Putting the thin nut on top of the thick nut, I thought, would assist in preventing the thick nut self-loosening. I had also seen that using two nuts was a popular method on old machinery – and the ones that I had seen all had the thin nut on top of the thick nut. The correct procedure, I was told, was to put the thin nut on first, tighten it to 30% or so of the full torque and then tighten the thick nut on top of it to the full torque value. You have to take care that the thin nut does not rotate when you are tightening the thick nut. The tightening of the thick nut would impose a preload on the joint equivalent to that which would be obtained from approximately 70% of the tightening torque. The idea is that the bolt threads engaging on the thin nut disengage so that the thick nut takes the preload by taking up the backlash on the threads of the thin nut – the thin nut being jammed against the thick nut. This helps to prevent self-loosening and improves the fastener’s fatigue performance by modifying the load distribution within the threads. Doing it the other way, thin nut on top of the thick nut, does not jam the parts together sufficiently. Two years on and I am still unconvinced. I am still asked the two nut question but I always tend to recommend other more modern ways of locking the threads. I think that the reasons that I am not easy with the method is that it is too reliant upon the skill of the person tightening
164 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
The correct procedure, I was told, was to put the thin nut on first, tighten it to 30% or so of the full torque and then tighten the thick nut on top of it to the full torque value.” the joint. There is also the amount of backlash in the threads (you could strip the threads of the small nut if it was a tight fit) and the preload will be down on what it could be as well. For more information visit: www.boltscience.com/pages/twonuts.htm
Updated version of ISO 4032
The ISO 4032 standard on hexagon regular nuts and ISO 4033 on hexagon high nuts, which are replacing the previous 2012 standards, have recently been updated. Several changes have been made to the ISO 4032 standard – including the introduction of additional property classes and thread sizes; the addition of duplex stainless steel nuts D4 and D6; as well as the addition of property Class 80. The ISO 4032 standard also includes Annex A that relates to historical nuts. The nuts being referred to are nuts to the former DIN 934 nut standard that was withdrawn in 1992. A warning has been added: ‘These historical nuts should not be used for new or critical applications (e.g tightening near or above the yield limit, dynamic loading)’. This emphasises the point that DIN 934 nuts are not as strong as the equivalent ISO nut.
PRODUCTS + TOOLS Sockets and bits and the roles they play Sockets and bits are small yet critical components that are often overlooked in the assembly process. They sit between the tool and the fastener and play important roles in tightening procedures, in safety, and with long-term costs.
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ore than 1,400 different high-quality sockets in various versions, lengths, and displaying other useful features, are available from manufacturer Atlas Copco. The company says that durable sockets and bits cut down on operating expenses over time, as well as their ergonomics and safety features helping to improve productivity. However, to produce industrial sockets and bits, high grade alloy steel is used; steel alloy with a high carbon content gives a fastener drive a high-level of hardness and strength. The alloyed, quenched and tempered steels are versatile and are mainly used in machine, automobile and vehicle construction. High-levels of strength and toughness mean the sockets can last longer and withstand greater stresses. Today, an increasing focus on ‘safety first’ is also underway and in response to this need for improved operator safety, Atlas Copco’s Rotaction socket concept with freely rotating sleeves has emerged. This covers tool-to-socket and extension-to-socket connections that significantly improve operator safety and prevent accidents such as pinched or cut fingers that might be experienced while tightening a joint. The product also minimises the risk of scratches and marks on painted surfaces, lowers friction, and increases resistance to abrasion.
Professional fasteners for carpenters and furniture industry
PRODUCTS + TOOLS
Cordless riveter range launched
Italian industrial fastener specialist, Rivit Srl, has launched a new line of battery powered riveting tools featuring powerful brushless motors and long-lasting batteries. These riveters are designed specifically to set blind rivets and rivet nuts of different sizes and materials in a wide range of settings – offering the versatility required to meet the needs of both professionals and DIYers.
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he range consists of two battery powered riveters for blind rivets – RIV710 and RIV720 – and two tools for placing rivet nuts – RIV730 and RIV740. The two models dedicated to blind rivets feature an ergonomic soft rubber handle for operator comfort and have an 18V / 2Ah / 36Wh battery and a 100V – 240V / 50Hz – 60Hz battery charger. They can install blind rivets in steel and in all the main steel alloys and are equipped not only with a practical container for collecting the cut mandrels, and a pull start button, but also a battery charge level indicator and a light to illuminate the application area. The RIV710 places blind rivets with diameters from 2.4mm up to 4.8mm, while RIV720 places blind rivets from 2.4mm up to 6.4mm, thanks to the provision of an interchangeable clamp-opener kit. The battery powered riveters dedicated to rivet nuts are also equipped with a soft and ergonomic handle to facilitate the operator’s grip, a practical button to start the tool, an LED light system, and a touch panel that allows users to adjust and select the best function for their needs. These two models also feature an 18V / 2Ah / 36Wh battery and the 100V – 240V / 50Hz – 60Hz battery charger, but they differ in maximum force and size of the rivet nuts they can place. Nevertheless, RIV730 is ideal for rivet nuts from M3 to M8, (although M10 is possible if comprising aluminium), and delivers 20,000 Newton; RIV740 reaches 28,000N and will set rivet nuts from M3 to M12. This new range of products come in dedicated carrying cases, with a wide range of accessories, two batteries, and is covered by repair and maintenance services, which guarantee fully qualified support to the customer.
Telescopic ratchets and torque wrenches The controlled tightening of wheel bolts is a key part of changing wheels, and with seasonal wheel changes often carried out by drivers, these can either be done professionally in a workshop, or – using the right high-quality tools – by someone experienced working by themselves.
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n this regard, GEDORE red’s ½ inch 2C telescopic ratchet (R60010027) is suited for loosening wheel bolts before removing the wheel. It can be extended in five stages from 460mm to a maximum of 600mm and allows the transmission of additional force via the extended lever arm. Subsequent wheel replacement and retightening, meeting manufacturers’ precise torque requirements, can be done using GEDORE red’s ½ inch torque wrench (R68900200), which is certified to DIN EN ISO 6789. The R68900200 also has a measuring range from 40Nm to 200Nm and is suitable for changing wheels on most vehicles, although after a change it’s recommended the nuts be tightened again, once 50km to 100km has been driven, as they could work loose again. Even if the actual wheel changes were carried out at a professional workshop, private users can also do this check easily using the GEDORE red torque wrench.
168 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 144: NOVEMBER 2023
Smith Bullough
Your Non-Standard is our Standard!
METRIC & IMPERIAL SPECIAL FASTENERS Huge Range of Metric & Imperial Blanks Grades 4.6, 8.8, 10.9, 12.9; R, S, T, V, SAE8 UK’s largest stocks of BSF & BSW Special Head Shapes
HIGH STRENGTH INSERTS
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Precision engineered in metric and imperial thread forms
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Extensive stock of inserts, kits, taps and tooling Tel: 01942 520250
sales@smithbullough.com www.smithbullough.com
For further information contact: Tel: 01530 416888 | Email: sales@wti-fasteners.co.uk
www.wti-fasteners.co.uk
PRODUCTS + TOOLS Pound-thru screwdriver set introduced A new pound-thru screwdriver set, part number 56148, has been launched by Kamasa Tools – adding to its portfolio of screwdrivers. The new tools have been designed to provide professionals and DIY enthusiasts with a convenient solution for releasing seized fixings, effortlessly.
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ith the pound-thru feature, the screwdriver can be struck with a hammer – providing an additional force to help release stubborn fixings during the application of torque. This design ensures that users can tackle even the toughest jobs with ease and efficiency. The tools’ strong polypropylene handles feature thermoplastic rubber (TPR) inserts that offer excellent grip and, crafted with user comfort in mind, the handles can also be used for extended periods without causing discomfort or fatigue. Magnetic tips grip the screws securely for safe retrieval. The set includes a range of sizes to cater to different fixing requirements with the PzDrive screwdrivers in Pz1 x 80mm and Pz2 x 100mm sizes, while the Phillips screwdrivers are available in Ph1 x 80mm and Ph2 x 100mm sizes. For flathead screw applications, the set offers 4.5mm x 90mm, 5.5mm x 100mm and 7mm x 125mm screwdrivers. The screwdriver blades are manufactured from durable materials, with chrome vanadium used for the PzDrive and Phillips blades, and SUP 11 carbon steel for the flathead blades. To ensure convenient storage and easy access, the Kamasa pound-thru screwdriver set, which is now available for purchase at leading tool retailers and online stores, also comes with a wall mounted storage stand – allowing users to keep their screwdrivers organised and readily available.
Looking to connect with engineers and specifiers? FastFixTechnology.com provides comprehensive, in-depth coverage of the fastener engineering advances to engineers, designers and production managers
Need this? Get this – directly from stock! We are the specialist in high-quality fasteners made from stainless high-grade steel and special materials. We are used to extreme conditions and face the toughest challenges on a daily basis. We never lose sight of our aim to give the customer just what they want. And we always offer that little bit extra.
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AS IF YOU NEEDED ANOTHER REASON Since we already know our wedge-locking washers are the go-to bolting solution when safety really matters. But here’s one: the CE marking, and you’ll only find it on our washers. This means that independent, third-party bodies ensure the highest quality performance while you’ll enjoy a seamless process of complying with EU regulations.