Issue: 138 (Nov - Dec 2022)

In homage to the famous line from the classic film ‘The Italian job’ we have looked to ‘blow the cover off’ this issue, with it reaching a mammoth 198 pages – with a large part of the content focused on the Italian fastener market.

Firstly, we have our biggest ever Made in Italy feature, covering every aspect of the fastener and fixing sector. As part of this feature, I travelled to Italy and had the privilege to site down with Sergio Cattaneo, CEO EMEA at Fontana Gruppo. We discussed the group’s 70^th anniversary; how it is still proud to be a family business; and how it is using innovation, research and production as part of long-term vision. 

During my trip I also had the pleasure of interviewing Jody Brugola, president at Brugola OEB Industriale SpA, about new developments at the business and how it has continued to invest in its capabilities, and sustainability, for the future.  

To add to this we also have articles from Bontempi Vibo and how it is continuing with its industrial growth plan to achieve €80 million in revenue by 2025; Growermetal talks about sustainability and its Greenmetal Project; and Marco A Guerritore, editor in chief of Italian Fasteners Magazine, asks what can be done about the rising energy costs.

To go with the Made in Italy feature we also have a preview of the upcoming Fastener Fair Italy show, scheduled for the end of November. After such a long time without a European trade show dedicated to the fastener and fixing industry, there is certainly a lot of excitement about the sector being able to meet face-to-face again. Within the preview we have details about the show, an exhibitor list, as well as previews from exhibitors on the latest developments at their company. 

To round up our Italian coverage, our Cover Story is focused on Ambrovit SpA and how it continues to strive towards service excellence, with a host of investments ensuring its stays at the forefront of the fastener sector.

Other articles include two excellent pieces within our Construction Fixings section. First, we have Barbara Sorgato, secretary general at the European Consortium of Anchor Producers, who’s article is entitled: ‘The new generation of Eurocodes is coming soon’. We also have an article from Ulrich Bourgund and Thomas Holland-Letz, of Construction Fixings Europe, which gives the manufacturers’ view on the ‘qualification of construction fasteners under the current and future CPR’. 

There is also a host of other insights and articles, but, unfortunately, I don’t have space here to cover them all. Therefore, make sure you give every page a read and be careful with that cover…