Insight

As an agile and resilient company BBA is able to rapidly adapt to new opportunities and changes within the market, which puts it in a very strong position, especially after increasing its production capabilities – including adding cold forming machinery to produce components in large diameters and very long lengths. 

BBA explains that the investment into expanding its cold forming and tapping possibilities was in response to winning several high volume rivet nut applications, as well as responding to the growing need of customers to use ‘big’ cold formed components. “Due to lightweighting of structures in general, customers are forced to use expensive reinforcing elements that must be inserted and welded into the structures to provide areas of local strength within it,” explains Paul Hanratty, managing director at BBA Srl. “Our new cold forming capabilities mean we can make cost-effective reinforcing elements that crucially can be riveted anywhere into a structure, unlike welded solutions, offering huge process cost savings and increasing customers design flexibility.”

A specialist in rivet nut and rivet nut stud manufacture, BBA has a reputation for manufacturing innovating solutions, with the company producing the patented Bulge Control Technology (BCT) rivet nuts, which it says are perfect for achieving high strength performance or where applications use fragile or delicate sheet materials that are challenging to fasten. “As a technical innovator and cold forming specialist, we can deploy our resources to make similar products that have entirely different application uses,” underlines Paul.

Worldwide solutions

In addition to the Italian market, BBA has already committed to investing in increasing its sales exposure in Germany, eastern Europe and the USA – with its activity partly funded by the Italian state. “We are entirely grateful for the support from the Italian government and our efforts in these different markets is now coming to fruition,” mentions Paul. “We are seeing significant growth in real terms, including in our project pipelines and exposure to new potential customers. Next on our horizon is the Korean Peninsula, where we are actively developing some new exciting applications.” 

BBA is already supplying some large volume applications in the European automotive sector – with the company able to meet the stringent quality levels required. “In most cases, our customers are installing our parts using semi or fully automated systems,” points out Paul. “These machines do not suffer variation in the rivet nuts they install and stop every time a part that is not dimensionally correct is presented, as well as for those that do not conform to the pre-determined setting curve, which proves our products are able to achieve the highest level of quality.”

Paul continues: “We can achieve this level of quality thanks to us religiously adopting an ethos of continuous improvement. In addition, our ability to design and build our own production machines in-house, together with machine tools, means we understand our capabilities very well. Knowing where our strengths and weaknesses are in the manufacturing process, we are well prepared to address the issue or ensure appropriate process controls are in place to detect such issues.”

A fastener specialist

As a European manufacturer BBA is clear that it needs to differentiate itself from other businesses by remaining committed to technology, innovation, quality and service. “Adding value to the customer is fundamental and therefore developing brand awareness and customer loyalty is critical. We believe that for the engineered fastener market, the trend of customers seeking to secure their supply chain by sourcing from European manufacturers, versus purchasing parts that originate in the Far East, is strengthening, and for good reason – such as long transit times, availability of shipping containers, the shipping costs, as well as potential for delay when sourcing from the Far East. These can be mitigated to some extent by maintaining higher levels of stock, but that too is costly and risky. However, political volatility, such as the potential of trade tariffs, embargoes, and ultimately the potential of conflict, are significantly less easy to cope with. The issues in the Middle East, South China Sea, Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan, could easily result in serious disruptions of fastener supply. To this end, it would be irresponsible of larger fastener consumers and distributors to not have established a robust European sourcing policy.”

Paul concludes: “BBA is often regarded by customers as a fastener consultant supporting those who are seeking advice not only on rivet nut applications but for general engineered fastening solutions. Overall, we aim to add value to our customers’ businesses and can work together on solutions. We offer real technical innovation, providing customers with problem solving solutions and product performance often beyond expectation. By adding value to our customers, and making them stronger, we benefit hopefully with long-term relationships that provide stability and consistency for all concerned.”