Issue: 115 (Jan - Feb 2019)

It is only two months until Fastener Fair Stuttgart and the excitement is already building within the industry. To ‘whet your appetite’ even further, we have an extensive preview of some of the new products and companies that visitors can expect to see during the show – as well as a full exhibitor list.

Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2019 is the world’s leading exhibition for the fastener and fixing industry and will take place from 19^th – 21^st March 2019 in halls 1, 3 and 5 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Grounds in Germany. This year promises to be bigger than ever and with it conveniently located close to Stuttgart airport, it is well worth a trip to connect with the industry.

One company that will have a big presence at Fastener Fair Stuttgart, is also the focus of our Cover Story – INDEX Fixing Systems. Based in the north of Spain in La Rioja, the company has established itself as an industrial supplier of fixing systems – selling products in 95 countries via distribution partners. We spoke to Oscar Cañas, export manager at INDEX Fixing Systems, who talks about the recent developments at the company and how growing alongside its customers has enabled it to become a benchmark in the fixing sector.

As always, we also have a host of exclusive articles, including a face-to-face interview with new BIAFD Chairman Guy Stanhope, managing director of Phil Holden Fasteners Ltd, who is the first owner of an independent UK fastener distribution business to hold the position in fifteen years.

Plus, Jun Xu, president of Brighton Best International, reflects on ten years since a consortium of investors – led by Robert Shieh of the Ta Chen Group – acquired Brighton Best. Jun Xu also looks at prospects for the future.

Other insights include how a significant period of investment from Puehl GmbH & Co KG has helped it to completely restructure its organisation; Sales Director Kevin Broome explains how The Insert Company’s large stockholding has been the key to its success; and R+FK Schulte KG focuses on its ability to produce parts quickly and cost-effectively with ‘Made in Germany’ quality.

To add to this, I visited WAFIOS Umformtechnik GmbH, to speak to Managing Director Jens Gutsche about his first twelve months at the company and what plans the company has for the future.

Finally, with the global space industry booming, we look at how this growth is impacting the demand for top quality fasteners. Plus, Ceramco looks at how ceramic fasteners can be a critical product line for the aerospace sector.