Issue: 143 (Sep - Oct 2023)

Life is full of surprises and the same can be said about the fastener and fixing industry. Recent years have shown that even the most stable supply chains can be impacted by external factors, which are out of any company’s control. Whilst the market might be getting back to some sense of normality, the next anomaly that turns everything upside down is just around the corner. So, what has your company done to add further support to its supply chain?

A lot of companies have taken steps to ensure at least some of its production or suppliers are based close by, with the ability to step up if needed. With that in mind, we have a special Made in eastern Europe feature that showcases some of the companies that can do just that.

Companies involved within the feature have a wide array of machinery and capabilities that enable them to cover a range of products, including nylon and steel anchors, construction fasteners, screws, wood connectors, bolts, pins, threaded rod, HV and SB bolts, nails, hinges, latches, brackets, garden fittings, self-forming and self-taping screws, rivets, as well as special parts and even heat treatment lines, plus much more.

The feature underlines that these businesses have been investing in their machinery capabilities and capacity in order to further support existing European customers and become a vital part of new customers’ supply chains.

Alongside this insightful feature, as always, we have several articles that you will just not find anywhere else. Firstly, there is an exclusive interview with Dr Daniel Bossard, CEO of Bossard Group, who discusses how the group works with customers to provide the optimal fastening solutions and services. Next up, we have an intriguing article from SCHNORR® GmbH that highlights the growing enquiries it receives for a DIN standard that simply doesn’t exist and how the German manufacturer is trying to educate customers. To add to this, there is another exclusive interview, this time with Johannes Wilfried Huber, senior vice-president for the diamond systems business at Hilti Group, who talks about the crucial role of productivity and process improvements within the construction sector and how Hilti can provide solutions and support.

Our Cover Story focuses on Ambrovit Srl and how the Italian leader in fastening systems has doubled its warehouse and service – enabling the company to further raise the bar of efficiency when it comes to the supply of fasteners.

There is still so much more, including an interview with new EIFI President Paolo Pozzi; ECAP and CFE, in separate articles, discuss some of the complications with the impending new Construction Products Regulation, and what it will mean for the construction sector; and SurTec International GmbH explains how it aims to become a single source for matched coating systems; plus an excellent European Technical Assessment feature and Rail application feature. Enjoy.