Insight

Since it was founded in 1976 Kilton has looked to produce both standard and special fasteners based on its customers’ needs, especially when it comes to the increasingly varied and challenging applications they face.

Kilton’s flexibility and commitment to meeting the requirements of its customers, regardless of how niche or specialised, has enabled it to stand out from its competitors. “When we started our business there was a lot of competition within the European market and we quickly decided to focus on ad hoc solutions and to meet small quantity requirements. Then, when the market moved towards Asia, we dedicated ourselves to also offering niche standard products – available from stock,” explains Kilton Srl. “By focusing on these areas, as well as developing the services we could provide customers, based on their requirements, we have been able to establish ourselves as a highly valued manufacturer based in Europe.”

Kilton’s operations are located in the south of Milan, Italy, with the business running across three separate units – covering 5,000m². “Initially our production was composed of machinery that was designed and built internally and we have continuously developed our equipment and capabilities to meet the needs of the customers,” points out Kilton. “Today, all of our machinery uses advance systems and we are able to control every process during production to minimise the chances of errors or waste. Thanks to the technical expertise we have within the business, we are able to produce high-quality products that reach design and production standards in compliance with international regulations.”

In addition to its production capabilities, Kilton also has a number of warehouses where it can store products and provide customers with a prompt delivery service and scheduled order management. “Having Kilton in your production chain means having a technical partner that is able to offer simple and effective solutions that can be produced and stored within Europe for quick delivery.”

Kilton’s ability to provide products and support was underlined during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Apart from the national lockdown’s the pandemic did not impact us directly. We were still able to meet the needs of our customers, as and when they needed the products. In fact, we saw a lot of customers coming to us asking for supply as they could not get the products from Asia. The low prices in Asia often attract a lot of customers, but I think working with a European manufacturer will become a strategic factor for a lot of businesses going forward, as it offers customers a reliable partner that is close by and able to supply quickly.”

With this in mind, Kilton has been making some investments into renewing its machinery, and adding more staff, so that it can further increase its production capability. “Going forward we will continue to invest in our production and our warehouse – focusing on the M2 – M12 range of the most common and special items required by the market,” states Kilton.

Kilton adds: “We have a very simply and solid management structure that enables us to make quick decisions regarding investment and we can be very flexible when providing a solution to meet customers’ needs. However, in order for a supplier to be good it is necessary to have equally good customers, such as those who plan their needs ahead of time. As a business we have always looked to ensure we have the necessary stock, whether it be the raw materials for production or finished products in the warehouse. By doing this we can stock a customer’s entire programme and ensure we can deliver products as and when they need them. This approach proved beneficial during the pandemic and by working with customers, and by them planning ahead, we can ensure a reliable supply of high-quality products that meet their every need.”