Bakfin pushes on
09 June 2016
Established in 1850, Baker & Finnemore Ltd (Bakfin) has survived the test of time and grown to become one of the UK’s premier pressings manufacturers – recognised globally for the exceptionally high-level of quality it offers in the Starlock® push on fastener range, as well as other bespoke pressings.
Bakfin began life manufacturing fountain pen nibs as its main product line and was at one time the sixth largest producer of pen nibs worldwide. However, in the late 19th century along came the ballpoint pen and the need to diversify. Bakfin went on to begin producing a whole range of different pressings, mostly on fly presses. The company’s success at satisfying specific customer demands helped to quickly establish it as a world class manufacturer, making a huge variety of different pressings for various applications.
In the 1950s Bakfin was asked to produce a fastener that could be pushed onto a round shaft in one direction, grip into it, be irremovable, and support relatively large loads. Thus the Starlock® push on fastener was born. Having the right foresight to see the potential in such a product meant Bakfin was able, over the course of a decade, to establish an imperial range (1/16 inch – 1 inch) of Starlocks to support UK manufacturing. In the early 1960s Bakfin successfully established a metric range (1.5mm – 25mm) to support manufacturing in continental Europe and in doing so also established key European distribution partners.
Fast forward to 2016 and Bakfin is still world-renowned as the original manufacturer of the Starlock push on fastener, selling almost 500 million globally each year. They comprise of the original range and many more variations that have been developed alongside customers to satisfy specific demands for their applications and assembly processes. Now part of the Titgemeyer Group of companies, Bakfin continues to push for future success and has invested substantially to ensure it is using the most advanced technologies for every process.
At its factory, still located in Newall Street, Birmingham, Bakfin boasts in-house facilities including a tool room, press shop, heat treatment plant, scour/deburr and finishing facilities. Keeping all of these processes in-house enables absolute quality control, evidenced by the company’s extensive portfolio of accreditation to automotive, aerospace and defence standards, as well as environmental and health and safety. These include ISO 9001, TS 16949, AS 9100, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
