Issue: 116 (Mar - Apr 2019)

You wait for years for your biggest ever issue and then you have two within six months… Welcome to the Fastener Fair Stuttgart show edition, which at 216 pages is in danger of denting your desk.

One of our main features, and a big attraction at Fastener Fair Stuttgart, is the Route to Fastener Innovation Competition – which once again will be sponsored by Fastener + Fixing Magazine.

The competition is a first-hand opportunity to assess new products and services that exhibitors have brought to the market since the last show. To find out more read the special feature and remember to take a note of the stand numbers or look out for the distinctive Route to Fastener Innovation Competition 2019 logo on participants’ stands during the show.

The winners will be announced on the second day at 14:00, when there will be a special presentation on the Fastener + Fixing Magazine stand (hall 5, stand 2614).

Our Cover Story for March is from Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge and focuses on the significant investment over the last two years from pgb-Europe, as the full service supplier of fasteners, fixings, components, and hand tools, looks to develop new opportunities in the market.

We also have exclusive face-to-face interviews with Mark Belton, CEO at Trifast Plc – as he celebrates 20 years at the group better known in the industry as TR Fastenings; David Dean and Dr Daniel Bossard reflect on how Bossard Group has developed and grown over the last 15 years, as well as the planned succession in April with Daniel taking over from David as CEO; plus Jahangir Doongaji, member of the Hilti executive board, (pictured) explores Hilti Group’s strategy in relation to the Internet of Things.

To add to this, I visited HECO Schrauben to see its production capabilities and how it is becoming a leading screw manufacturer in Europe; I went to Trebur in Germany to find out more about Atotech’s global network of TechCenters; and I met with Precision Technology Supplies to chat about what has been a very busy three years for the UK-based distributor, and how it continues to experience perpetual growth.

There are also a lot of other market insights and industry news articles that will help keep you entertained whether at the show, in the air, or sat in your office.

Say hello
If you do see one of the Fastener + Fixing Magazine team walking around the show (wearing our stylish badges) or walk past our stand (hall 5, stand 2614), please let us know what is happening at your company. We really do want to talk to you, so please feel free to stop us.

Looking after the environment
Finally, for those of you that receive the printed version of the magazine, you may have noticed that the wrapper was slightly different for this issue. That is because we have changed to a biodegradable plastic that will help stop the wrappers going to landfill and help save the environment. This is in addition to our magazine being PEFC certified, meaning it is produced from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.