Issue: 107 (Sep - Oct 2017)

Back to fasteners

The summer holidays are over, the beach is long forgotten, and once again it is back to work… and we have the perfect issue to help fully immerse you back into all things fasteners.

Before the holiday period I spent a week in Italy visiting several manufacturers and learning more about developments in the Italian market. Based on this trip, we have exclusive articles from Colombo Special Fasteners and its continued steady growth after the acquisition of Tecno Fasteners; INOXDADI underlines its capabilities in special materials; we find out more about titibi® and how it has established itself as a key name in the nail industry; and Dell’Era showcases the advanced technology it uses to meet the specific needs of its customers.

Another trip to Italy involved Executive Editor Phil Matten, who visited SACMA Group for our September Cover Story. As always, a tour of SACMA’s head office in Limbiate gave a fascinating insight into the Group and its unswerving dedication to manufacturing perfection.

In the Construction Fixings section, there is a special interview with Dr Stefan Nöken, member of the executive board of Hilti Group (pictured left), who gives an incisive vision on how digitisation of the construction process will affect all its stakeholders in the coming decade. We also invited a selection of companies to give us their thoughts on European Technical Assessments/Approvals and the importance of certification to the construction market.

This issue also includes a special feature on coatings, lubrication and locking technologies with articles from Dr Matthias Hock, worldwide business development manager CRC at Atotech Deutschland GmbH – who focuses on electrolytic zinc, zinc alloy and zinc flake solutions; MacDermid Enthone concentrates on technical drivers for high performance fastener coatings; WASI outlines its partnership with Lubo International B.V; Mark Thurber, CEO at Maelstrom Chemical Technologies LLC, gives an insight into coatings for high-tech engineering; and CONDAT highlights its new solutions for high-duty lubrication. There is also a exclusive interview with Masahiro Nakashimada, president and CEO at Nakashimada Engineering Works Ltd, who explains how the Japanese company has combined tradition with technology.

Other articles include a technical piece from Arconic Fastening Systems and Rings that examines ‘Welding vs fastening’ and how vibration resistant, direct tension lockbolts change the equation; a case study focuses on TOGE Dübel, in partnership with Nord-Lock Group, bringing the Nuremberg metro in Germany up to date; and finally Daniel Starbuck, director at Star Fasteners (UK) Ltd, discusses the challenges of working within the rail industry.