Issue: 124 (Jul - Aug 2020)

Five months after most of Europe went into lockdown because of Covid-19, it’s only now that countries are taking tentative steps back into a normal way of business.

Our special Fastener Distribution feature – through contributions from national associations in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK & Ireland, as well as from leading companies within the sector – gives an excellent insight into how different markets have been influenced by the coronavirus and what plans are afoot to enable them to not only manage the situation but to also implement plans for growth in the future.
Other interesting topics within the feature includes the importance of investment; the role digitisation will play in the future; as well as how the dependency on ‘just in time’ services may need to change going forward.
Our Cover Story for July focuses on omniTECHNIK, a market leader in pre-applied coatings for thread locking, clamping and sealing. I spoke to Managing Director Sebastian Thau about how omniTECHNIK uses its patented microencapsulation process for adhesives in its reactive precote® products.
In our Construction Fixings section, we have an article from Hilti Group that looks at the requirements for structural steel and cladding applications and how the Group’s product range has developed to meet the needs of customers. There is also an article from Owlett-Jaton, recently named as a master wholesaler for Blind Bolt, which focuses on how the constructional cavity fixing is changing the way specifiers work.
To add to this, in the Manufacturing Technology section, there is an article from Alberto Gonzalez Ortiz de Urbina, from Spanish-based TEMSA Group, which concentrates on the challenges of being a tooling and dies manufacturer and how TEMSA’s production and services have developed in order to deliver solutions to customers.
More articles include: Jungheinrich UK Ltd looking at the role of automation in intralogisitcs; Nord-Lock Group’s SC-washer providing safety in a giant crane system; and Paolo Cattaneo, managing director at Growermetal Srl, reporting on how the Grower Teenkeep® performs in a new helicopter test.

Fastener Talk
As well as producing the July edition of the magazine, we have also been busy behind the scenes launching a new podcast – Fastener Talk – which will focus on the news and developments within the fastener and fixing industry.
Available to stream and download on all major podcast services, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, the podcast will include exclusive interviews with industry leaders, key industry news, market analysis, and opinion pieces from companies within the market.
To find out more visit www.fastenerandfixing.com/podcasts and don’t forget to subscribe to ensure you keep
up to date with what is happening within the industry.