Issue: #137 September 2022

With a plethora of challenges currently impacting companies around the world, this edition of Fastener + Fixing Magazine underlines how companies within the sector are still investing in order to grow their capacities and capabilities – to meet the needs of new and existing markets.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in our Insight section, with a host of companies discussing recent investments. Firstly, DIV Group reports on how it is financial restructuring in order to take advantage of the recent anti-dumping duties introduced by the European Commission. Next, nail manufacturer Litnaglis emphasises its recent investments in order to drive efficiencies at the business even higher; and we find out why Gecko International is expanding its production to meet customers’ needs.

Also in the section there are articles on Growermetal and its full coating service; Triplefast Middle East celebrating 20 years of operation in the United Arab Emirates; and ForgeFix points out the steps it has taken to develop the products and services it can provide as a specialist supplier of fixings and fasteners; plus, Nick Ruetz of AIS, and president of the National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA), tells us how the US market has handled the challenges of the last two years. 

Another article that is about investments is our Cover Story, which concentrates on Polish manufacturer Klimas Wkręt-met and how, to ensure it builds on its global identity, it has committed to ongoing investments in its production, new offices, as well as its people – even during the current market challenges.

In addition to a multitude of articles on investments, it is also great to see that more face-to-face exhibitions are returning, with our Exhibitions section including previews on EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair Köln in September, FASTENER POLAND® in October and Fastener Fair Italy at the end of November. The latter of which we will have a full preview for in our November edition, alongside a special Made in Italy feature.

In Construction Fixings we have an exclusive interview with Tassilo Deinzer, member of the executive board at Hilti Group – responsible for the Fastening & Protection Business Area, where we discuss the role of the CPR and ETA system within the construction sector. To add to this, we also have an exclusive interview with Sebastian Wall, president at the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA) about the proposed revision of the CPR and the potential impact on the fixing sector. 

Next up we have the Coatings, Lubrications + Locking Technologies feature in Manufacturing Technology. Articles include Pasquale Cozzolino, tier 1 manager EU GMF – region Europe/India GMF at Atotech, talking about coating solutions for woodscrews; Cavin Ciaciuch, chemist at ND Industries Inc, highlights the capabilities of the ND Microspheres® TA Series of
pre-applied threadlocking materials; and DÖRKEN showcases its new contactless, precise and digital measuring process that can record different component surfaces. Also within Manufacturing Technology there is an interview with Andrew Kalnow, CEO at National Machinery, about developments at the global leader in advanced cold and warm forming machinery, process technology, and customer support products and services.

Other articles include Jason Bader, Principle at The Distribution Team, looking at the changing role of outside sales; SMT Srl, the independent testing laboratory and mechanical workshop, focusing on yield strength and how there are different yield values that are required by different standards; and Nord-Lock Group analysing how smart products can redefine bolt maintenance.