Issue: 109 (Jan - Feb 2018)

Anniversaries and milestones are often subjective to the company involved – some businesses modestly observe over a century of activity, whilst others celebrate relatively small anniversaries with verve and vigour. It is normally the context and experiences that are key rather than the number itself.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year and we are immensely proud to do so. Since I joined the magazine over 10 years ago, there has been talk of B2B print publications becoming extinct, with everything moving online. However, Fastener + Fixing has gone from strength to strength – due to the unwavering support we have received from our readership and advertisers. 

In addition to the strong print magazine, we have also become more active online through our website and social media – growing our followers and providing exclusive and breaking news as and when it happens, with even more plans for the future.

Our aim is to always gather, expand and disseminate news and insight on the global fastener sector – delivering useful information to every facet of the industry. We believe that a key factor in doing this is by being active in the industry and visiting markets, exhibitions and companies to find out what everybody is experiencing. This is only possible thanks to the support and almost unlimited access given to us by businesses from around the world – so thank you.

In fact, there is no better example of the relationship we have with the industry than the special Janus Perspective we have in this issue. This feature gives a review of 2017 and the prospects and challenges of 2018 for the global fastener market, with a wide cross section of fastener business leaders contributing their thoughts – making for fascinating reading.

Our Cover Story focuses on leading Turkish manufacturer NORM Holding, and looks at how NORM has established itself as an internationally recognised fastener technology leader, and the milestones the group has set itself for the future.

There are also a host of exhibitions to look forward to in 2018. We have previews from EISENWARENMESSE and Fastener Fair India, as well as an interview with Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, global portfolio director metals and flow technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, about what visitors can expect from the wire® and Tube shows. There is also a preview of the Taiwan International Fastener show, as well as an in-depth report from Executive Editor Phil Matten on what it will take for the Taiwanese fastener market to hold onto its crown as ‘the Kingdom of Screws’. 

In Construction Fixings, we have special articles from Barbara Sorgato, general secretary, who provides the latest ECAP News; and John Muir, technical manager at the Construction Fixings Association, concentrates on site testing of anchors, when to test and why. 

To add to all of this, AICHELIN Service highlights its new internet-based company portal and how it can transform every thermal processing plant into a ‘glass furnace’; Nord-Lock focuses on combating corrosion with the right fastening technology; and Gail Friedberg, vice-president of ZaGO Manufacturing Company, talks about the challenges of supplying the aerospace market.