MAKES

WOOD FEEL
LIKE BUTTER

work easier
save time and energy

most awarded
wood screw 2019

www.tenz.at
 • Customer Service Driven
• Vertically Integrated
• Innovative Products
• Global Presence

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Since 1955 ND Industries has specialized in the development of innovative
materials and processes which increase the safety and reliability of fastener
assemblies.

ND serves a global market with divisions across the continental US, Taiwan,
and licensees around the world. ND’s core business revolves around the
application of a wide variety of materials onto fasteners and assemblies to
aid in functions such as locking, sealing, masking, lubricating, and noise and
vibration dampening. ND also manufactures a line of bottled products under
the Vibra-Tite® brand name for MRO and retail use.

From two base products in 1965 to currently over two hundred

twenty, ND continues its tradition of cutting edge research and
development with the regular introduction of unique materials
along with competitive brand offsets.

ELECTROLOC®
High strength encapsulated epoxy threadlocker for use in electrical
systems where low halogen materials are necessary. Contains small
micrometer microcaps which reduce material extrusion on installation.

THERMOSEAL™ AUTHORIZED
A high temperature, high pressure thread sealant which withstands up to
40MPa. Offering thread locking breakaway torques greater than 20Nm
APPLICATOR
and a maximum temperature of 428°F (220°C). Thermoseal is an Did you know that ND is an approved 3M
extremely versatile product for challenging sealing conditions. applicator? Further proof why ND should be
your one stop shop for pre-applied fasteners.

THERMOLOC® 1500
ND’s highest temperature chemical threadlocker. Initially performs like
a vibration dampening compound. Once temperatures reach 750°F
(400°C), a secondary activation begins, causing the fastener to be
permanently locked in place. Tested to over 1500°F (850°C).
 ND PATCH® HI-TEMP
Highest temperature pre-applied nylon threadlocker in the industry. Unlike the competition,
ND’s application process requires only 120°C, preventing plating damage. However, once
crosslinked, it can withstand temps up to 260°C. Meets MIL-DTL-18240F / QPL-18240.

THREAD ARMOR® GP
Prevents galvanic corrosion in assemblies with dissimilar metals, such as aluminum, and
steel, by electrically isolating the fastener. Specially bonded to the fastener, ND Galvanic
Patch is durable, chemical resistant, and non-conductive.

THREAD ARMOR® VC
An advanced anti-galling and lubricating thread coating designed to extend the life of
bolts up to 15 times while under intense torque and high friction loads. Helps to ensure
consistent clamp load. Works well on stainless steel fasteners.

EPOXY-LOCK® NUTS
This pre-applied threadlocker consists of separated epoxy hardener and expoxy resin.
Upon fastener installation, the two materials mix and activate. When fully cured, Epoxy-
Lock provides greater breakaway torque than conventional nylon fastener locking devices.

EXPAND-A-LOCK®
A unique pre-applied microencapsulated expanding threadlocking & sealing
compound. Increases in volume 20-50% on installation, penetrating the
gaps in fastener threads typically unfilled by conventional threadlockers.

EXPAND-A-SLEEVE™
CONTACT US Extruded ND Mastics are pre-applied to fasteners (threaded or non-threaded),
bound for e-cote cycles. Heat from the process causes the material to expand,
www.ndindustries.com
sealing large leak paths between fastener and assembly.
www.vibra-tite.com
[email protected]

STAY-PUT® WASHERS
Whether you’re looking for pre-assembly of parts, temporary retention, or
an alternative to SEM Screws, Stay-Put simplifies the process by making
practically any metal washer self-retaining.
CONTENTS_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:40 Page 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

06 NEWS

10 TENZ STAIRS TECHNOLOGY

THE business climate might not be ideal, but
14 KANBAN & C-PARTS SPECIAL > like a determined walker donning waterproofs
BERARDI & FERDINAND GROSS and wellies despite torrential rain, businesses
are continuing to invest for their future and
Publisher 18 WOMEN IN FASTENERS > pressing on. To heck with the rain.
Jerry Ramsdale ROSA HEARN, BRIGHTON BEST To continue the meteorological theme, heavy
[email protected]
weather has been made of economic uncertain-
Editor 22 REVIEW >
Jonathon Harker ties affecting 2019 financial results, but from
[email protected] INTERNATIONAL FASTENER EXPO
the chats we have had and the visits we’ve
Staff Writer made this year, there’s no shortage of busi-
Hayley Everett 24 SHIP & SHORE ENVIRONMENTAL
[email protected] nesses in the fastener, tool and related sectors
Sales Manager – UK 27 HIKOKI POWER TOOL’S BESTSELLERS which are investing – whether that is bringing
Claire Warman new staff on board, implementing new
[email protected]
28 HOW WE MADE THE BLOCK systems, launching new brands and ranges or
Sales Manager – International
Harry Whyte BUSTER BOLSTER refining their infrastructure and focusing on the
[email protected] future – whatever the world of politics and
Sales Executive 32 TOOLBANK AT CHRISTMAS economics may throw at them.
Alfie Brown
[email protected] Some of those investments have undoubtedly
34 AUTOMOTIVE FASTENERS & TOOLS been made to maximise profitability. The phrase
Circulation
Tracy Howell may immediately call to mind inflicting price
[email protected] 38 TAIWAN FASTENER TOUR rises on customers, but beyond that narrow
Head of Production
Luke Wikner definition, focusing on profitability can mean
44 INTERVIEW > BUFAB
[email protected] changes throughout a business. Re-configuring
Designers warehouses for more efficient picking, bringing
Dan Bennett 48 OLYMPIC FIXINGS WINS WITH VECTA
[email protected] in levels of automation in the warehouse and
Tina Ries outgoing goods or integrating software systems
49 BHETA
[email protected] so your office staff aren’t bogged down in dull
Victoria Arellano
[email protected] 50 HEICO ON SECURING NEW BUSINESS admin tasks… they can all make a difference to
the bottom line. And to your customers too.
52 FUCHS GOES CO2 NEUTRAL NORMA Group recently launched a “Get on
Published by
Stag Publications Ltd Track” programme to “position itself more effi-
18 Alban Park ciently in today’s volatile times” and achieve
54 REVIEW > SPE OFFSHORE EUROPE
Hatfield Road
St Albans sustained cost savings. Whether these days can
Herts AL4 0JJ 56 FOCUS > NAILS class themselves as more volatile than previous
tel: +44 (0)1727 739160
fax: +44 (0)1727 739169
times is a debate for another day, but NORMA
Email: [email protected] 58 PROFITABILITY IN WHOLESALE won’t be – and aren’t – the only business to be
Web: www.torque-expo.com looking very closely at how they
Disclaimer 60 DIY MARKET DATA can streamline processes and
Although the utmost care is taken to
ensure that information contained herein then invest to help make
is accurate and up to date, the Publisher
cannot be held responsible or in any way
62 THE BIG 5 DUBAI themselves future-proof.
liable for errors or omissions during
input or printing of any material supplied
or contained herein. The Publisher also 64 FOCUS > WORKWEAR
cannot be held liable for any claims made
by advertisers or in contributions from Jonathon Harker
individuals or companies submitted for
inclusion within this publication. The opin-
66 BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION > Editor
ions expressed are not necessarily those TAPES AND ADHESIVES [email protected]
of the Editor or of Stag Publications Ltd.

Proud member of: 72 COMMUNITY

74 MILESTONES >
TEUDELOFF

Copyright
As part of our commitment to the
Entire contents copyright © 2019 Stag Publications. No To subscribe to Torque Magazine visit:
part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a environment, Torque Magazine
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means without the prior permission of the publisher. is fully recyclable. torque-expo.com/subscribe/

04 torque-expo.com
Our part in
every solution
Stafa makes it happen: from little things to big We are involved and driven, because that generates
things. Our fasteners find their way to all corners of added value. With our technical expertise, we
the world. We deliver more than 75.000 quality actively think and work alongside you, even if that
products, but it is our service that really completes means that things have to be done differently.
and makes the connection. From assembly to Indeed: our people bravely dare to go off the beaten
packaging, from container import to private label: track. This is how we optimize your process and our
Stafa takes care of it. partnership. By working together we will make
greater progress.

Den Engelsman 18 +31 495 599 888 More information?

stafa.nl
6026 RB Maarheeze [email protected]
The Netherlands stafa.nl
06_News_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 10:28 Page 1

NEWS
News from the distribution industry…

www.torque-expo.com

The environment climbs

up the fastener agenda
ustainable business practices and their packaging, through increasing

S the environment are becoming

increasingly core to fastener busi-
nesses worldwide, with a number of
the gauge of the cardboard used for
sending goods out, thus extending the
use, and saving on production energy.
Hexstone has installed
energy-efficient electric car
firms and groups in and around the • Reduced their landfill waste figure chargers in the last 12 months
sector making bigger commitments to down to just 0.08%
reduce waste and energy. • Moved away from conventional vinyl
Hexstone, the UK’s largest supplier in tape; so 90% of card waste is now With Hexstone among those taking
the fastener and fixings market, was recyclable and 590,000m of plastic a lead, related industries are also
recently awarded ISO 14001:2015 Accred- tape is now being replaced with making eco-conscious moves. Fastener
itation for its Environmental Management paper tape. production in the Far East has seen
System. Ian Doherty, Hexstone’s CEO, said: • Ensured that all fillers and packers more stringent environmental regula-
“We are delighted to be awarded the ISO used in their packaging are 100% tions, while the likes of FUCHS Lubri-
14001 accreditation, which is recognised recyclable. cants will be CO2 neutral globally by
not just in the UK, but in the EU, and across • Ensured all pallet/wood and metal January 2020.
the world. We are also the first and only waste is recycled. Trade association for manufac-
wholesaler in our industry in the UK to • Recently converted to LED lighting – turers, suppliers and distributors in
achieve this status. Our teams have saving over 240 tonnes of CO2 a year. the home enhancement market,
worked very hard in order to achieve this.” • Promoted hybrid vehicles for BHETA, recently held a members
In the last 12 months Hexstone has: company car users and installed forum which included a keynote
• Removed over 15,000 single-use energy-efficient electric car chargers. speech on the topic. Phil Pond of
plastic bags a year, which would have • Ensured all waste electrical items Scarlet Opsus said: “Consumers are
previously gone to landfill. are donated to charity for compo- frustrated because they don’t think we
• Seen an uptake in customers re-using nent recycling. in business are acting quickly enough.
In business, things sometimes get in
the way of doing the right thing. We
Wiha wins again need to pick up this challis.”
“Within two to three years
iha has secured another Red Dot award, consumers will start to really punish
W this time for its slimBit-Box.
No stranger to the international design
brands not acting sustainably. Over the
next 18 months there will be huge
awards, Wiha has picked up Red Dot prizes in pressures from consumers on busi-
2007–2010, 2013–2015, 2017 and now 2019. nesses to be transparent. Consumers
The compact transport case slimBit-Box are starting to stop blaming retailers
won as a “working aid in a contemporary for their products and plastic pack-
design, with practical orientation as the topmost aging and so on, and are now starting
design principle”, according to the jury. to look at the supply chain.”

Stainless steel fasteners.

rs.
s.
Edelstahl-
Verbindungselemente.
NEW
Normed and standardized parts
NEU
Norm- und Standardteile
DIN, ISO, EN and others / und andere r-Sho... p 2019 !
Ledemre
ore digita
l m ore mobile
Special parts and special materials ... faster, ler ... mob
iler!
ler, digita
... schnel
Sonderteile / Sonderwerkstoffe
erer-sh op.com
www.led

Lederer GmbH | Katzbachstraße 4 | 58256 Ennepetal | Germany | Fon +49(0)2333/8309-0 | [email protected]

 POPDISPL
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08_NEWS-People_TOR039_Nov9.qxp 21/11/2019 10:48 Page 1

NEWS
News from the distribution industry www.torque-expo.com

PEOPLE NEWS

NORMA Group appoints CEO Horst Garbrecht heads

HiKOKI & Metabo in Europe
he CEO of Metabo GmbH, Horst Gar-
T brecht, has taken on a parallel role
as COO Europe for KOKI Holdings, the
Japanese parent of Metabo and HiKOKI
Power Tools.
The move will see the European
headquarters of KOKI Holdings estab-
lished in Nürtingen, Baden-Württem-
berg – also the home to Metabo GmbH.
Through the move, HiKOKI Europe
will look to make the most of synergies
with Metabo’s existing structure. All
HiKOKI subsidiaries in Europe will
retain their independence.
r Michael Schneider has taken on
D permanent CEO duties at NORMA
Group, having served as interim CEO
Andrew Mitchell becomes
Jet Press MD
since August. fter 31 years at engineering fastener
Dr Schneider takes on the role while
also handling CFO duties, which he has
A specialist JET PRESS, Andrew
Mitchell has been appointed Managing
worked as since joining the company in Director following Ian Barnes in the role
July 2015, until further notice. His CEO who had spent 25 years with the com-
predecessor Bernd Kleinhens stepped pany and 17 years in the role of MD.
down from the Management Board by Mitchell has spent most of his time at
mutual agreement on 31 July 2019. JET PRESS in sales and marketing roles. He
NORMA recently launched its trans- gained a Marketing Diploma from Not-
formation ‘get on track’ programme, tingham Trent University in 1995 and
designed to “position itself more effi- since April 2019 he has been Executive
ciently in today’s volatile times”. Director, preparing to take on his new role.

Stainless steel
fasteners.
standard and non-standard items
DIN, ISO, Lederer and Maritim
individual labelling and packaging
own accredited testing lab

www.love-fasteners.com
Lederer GmbH | Katzbachstraße 4 | 58256 Ennepetal, Germany
+49 (0)2333/8309-0 | [email protected]
ADVERT_Insert Company_Full Page_TOR_Feb19.qxp 30/01/2019 17:18 Page 1

ZINC ALLoy FURNITURE

INSERTS CONNECTORS

Headed Hex-Drive Type D Zinc Plated Flathead Bolts

Flathead Connector Caps

Unheaded Hex-Drive Type E (Closed)

BRASS THREADED STEEL
INSERTS INSERTS

Multi Unheaded Headed Hex-Drive

Unheaded Screw-in Unheaded Hex-Drive Type E

More products available, visit www.theinsertcompany.com

Tel: +44 (0)121 4397329 Fax: +44 (0)121 4397346

Email: [email protected]
Unit 4, Alma Industrial Estate, Stafford Road, Wednesbury, WS10 8SX, United Kingdom
10-12 COVER_PROFILE_Tenz_TOR039_NovDec19_option2.qxp 21/11/2019 10:51 Page 1

COVER PROFILE
TENZ

“MAKES WOOD
FEEL LIKE
BUTTER”

As the story goes, it was over 2,000 years ago that Archimedes
came up with the core screw shape and ever since then,
businesses and innovators have been attempting to update,
enhance and optimise the ground-breaking design. In 2016,
TENZ revolutionised the woodscrew market with its own
Stairs Technology and spread it around the world.

10 torque-expo.com
10-12 COVER_PROFILE_Tenz_TOR039_NovDec19_option2.qxp 21/11/2019 10:52 Page 2

ENZ’s Stairs Technology promises to significantly

T shake up the wood screw market. Plenty of brands

use terms like ‘revolutionary’ when it comes to their
latest design, but TENZ happens to have a slew of accolades
// Some just see a screw.
We see new possibilities. //
that make it probably the most awarded screw in the world.
So why all the praise? Crucially, TENZ’s clever thread
design displaces wood fibres gently rather than milling or European Market:
drilling into them. Therefore, the energy required to drive TENZ introduced Stairs Technology to the European market
the screw into wood is reduced significantly. As TENZ notes – in 2018, with sales partners in Switzerland, Italy and
that’s why customers say: “Makes wood feel like butter”. Germany. Under its own brand and design, the screws are
Requiring drastically less power and energy in process- sold in the premium segment.
ing with better results, Stairs Technology increases the Here in the UK, TENZ is working alongside A Perry to
service life of screwdrivers, the firm says, making consid- bring the technology to the British market. This coopera-
erable savings in terms of production resources. tion sees both brands appearing together to support
In fact, TENZ’s Stairs Technology has a series of significant customer confidence in a new product.
knock-on effects:
North America:
The user requires less effort to drive the screw. Relevant In the North American market, TENZ took a different
for professionals as well as DIYers, fatigue is reduced, approach, based on the concept of many dealers and
physical effort is reduced and wear and tear on the back manufacturers operating their own screw brands. Those
is cut too. TENZ says Stairs Technology reduces energy by own brands can be upgraded through an ingredient brand
up to a staggering 50%. cooperation, which is how TENZ introduced its values and
advantages to the market through an existing product.
Scientists have worked out that the service life of cordless In 2019, Home Depot – the world’s largest DIY chain –
screwdrivers is increased by a factor of 10 compared to decided to equip its own decking screw with TENZ Tech-
when normal wood screws are used. nology, which is now available in 2,200 DIY stores in all
federal states of the USA. Home Depot started with a range
Likewise, the battery performance of the cordless screw-
of #8, #9 and #10 screws in the lengths 1 5/8 to 3 ½ inch.
driver is optimally used and up to twice as many screws
The programme has been so well received by customers that
can be set with one battery charge as with typical wood
it will be expanded into larger dimensions in the near future.
construction screws.
Asia-Pacific region:
No pre-drilling is required, which effectively cuts out an entire
In Asia-Pacific, TENZ International Ltd was founded in
work step, trimming down the time and energy required.
Taipei under the management of Spencer Wang for the
In addition to the energy saving gained with no drilling and global distribution of the newly invented wood building
no milling, the displacement of the wood fibres by the Stairs screw. As an experienced MD for big name companies like
Technology also means the screw optimally bonds with the Philip Morris USA and SCA Sweden, Mr Wang set about
wood. Over time, that bond becomes more secure too. establishing marketing and sales in Asia. Now he is respon-
sible, with TENZ International, for creating brand aware-
The new thread design enables more efficiency on ness for the product in the entire Asia-Pacific areas.
production for tools and screws. Needless to say, the granting of licences for the production
of the innovative screw has been a vitally important and
Furthermore, it increases work safety and therefore moti- closely controlled task for TENZ International. In a geograph-
vation, says TENZ. ical sweet spot within Taiwan, the firm has built valuable
contacts with screw and tool manufacturers, with coopera-
TENZIFY THE WORLD tion based on support and precise auditing to achieve the best
The idea for TENZ’s revolutionary wood screw was born in
2011 in Austria, created out of a desire to reduce the use of
possible efficiency and quality of the production of the screws. →
force in application and to minimise energy consumption.
The company is not just focused on the functionality of the
technology; honesty in terms of pricing, sustainable pack-
aging and resource-conserving production are also high on
the agenda for TENZ.
TENZ introduced its Stairs tech-enabled screws to the
market through a number of different business models (own Wood fibres are gently
brand, ingredient brand, licence models) because the firm displaced by TENZ’s
believes it is only through widespread use that the technology Stairs Technology
can fulfil its full savings potential.

torque-expo.com 11
10-12 COVER_PROFILE_Tenz_TOR039_NovDec19_option2.qxp 21/11/2019 10:54 Page 3

COVER PROFILE
TENZ

Get your hands on TENZ: Trying

out Stairs Technology for yourself
will boost demand, TENZ says

Staatspreis Staatspreis
Marketing Consulting 2017 –
2019 Ingenieurconsulting

PRIZE-WINNING SCREWS
Red Dot Award: Product Design 2019
German Design Award 2019 Austrian Economy Ministry’s State Prize Marketing 2019 Red Dot Award: Packaging Design 2018
Intern. Wirtschaftsfilmtage (Business Film Days) / Category Informationsfilme (Informational Films): “Prix Victoria” in Gold 2018
German Packaging Award 2017 Austrian Economy Ministry’s State Prize 2017 – Engineer Consulting

→ THE NEXT STEPS FOR TENZ STAIRS

The coming months (and years) will see TENZ continue
www.tenz.at
to working on establishing the brand and creating aware-
ness for the screw as an energy consumer in the overall TENZ Europe
Claudia Baumgartner, Marketing
[email protected]
context of building materials. Globally, the TENZ team is
very active on the road with a strong presence at trade
fairs. And with cooperation discussions in territories like
Japan, Australia and New Zealand, TENZ is growing its
global presence still further. TENZ Taiwan
TENZ North America with partner Michael J. Ross from Spencer Wang, CEO
Phillips Fastener LLC is being founded to further conquer [email protected]
the north American market.
And TENZ is not holding back on product development
amidst the promotion and market penetration. The firm says
it expects to further evolve the thread of the screw, as well as TENZ North America
evolve a new design of the tip. They are also working on the Michael J. Ross, CEO
drive and an innovative coating solution… watch this space. [email protected]

12 torque-expo.com
 THINK BIG

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT.

Walt Disney

Rely on a solid partner who, for over 20 years, has been a leader in the field of bolts and screws in the
Italian and European market. Our catalogue includes: drywall screws, carpentry and chipboard screws,
dome and euro screws, machine screws, self-tapping screws, concrete screws, blockframe screws,
self-drilling screws, stainless steel screws, hex lag screws, nuts, washers, bolts, blind rivets.
AMBROVIT: YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER FOR FASTENING SYSTEMS

Ambrovit S.p.A. Italy A DEDICATED OPERATOR FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS Tel +39.0382.810280 WWW.AMBROVIT.IT
14 FOCUS_Kanban_Berardi_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 18:51 Page 1

TORQUE FOCUS
C-PARTS, LOGISTICS & KANBAN

HIGHLY PRIZED
FASTENER LOGISTICS
Berardi, the award-accumulating Italian fastener distributor, tells Torque
how it’s bolstering its services with innovations like the S-BBK 4.0 smart
container, as well as lean approaches to optimise production processes…

n its centenary year, Berardi has

I continued to confirm its status as a

leading supplier of industrial logistics
services, attracting recognition from a
number of sources.
The ‘Negotiorum Fucina 2019’ (forge of
businesses) Innovation prize is awarded
by the ADACI (the Association of Italian
Purchasing and Supply Managers). The
prize was won by the S-BBK 4.0 smart
container, Berardi’s first step into the
‘Smart Factory 4.0 world’, where even the
cost of information exchange is a consid-
eration, both on an economic level and in
terms of customer satisfaction.
The S-BBK 4.0 further enriches
Berardi’s offering of integrated logistics
solutions. An illustrative video detailing
the functioning of these smart containers
is available on Berardi’s YouTube channel.
More recently, Berardi was chosen as
the ‘Best Service Supplier’’ by Reggio fittings, clamps and more. over 3.5 billion pieces delivered per year,
Emilia-based Motor Power Srl during its “We are able to follow demand fluctua- Berardi reached a turnover of €77
Suppliers Day. This highlighted how tions ever more closely,” explains a million in 2018.
Berardi’s integrated logistics services can spokesperson for Berardi’s logistics team. Headquartered in Castel Guelfo
create much deeper collaborations than “It guarantees punctual supplies, reducing (Bologna), Berardi captains a group of 12
standard supplier-client relationships, the warehouse stocks for clients, while depots in different Italian locations and
firm said, building solid value networks, providing constant technical support to three controlled companies (Vibolt,
which reward all those involved. guide their logistics decisions.” Vitman and VIBF). Berardi is a unique
In line with the digital transformation These services go alongside with sales example of solid entrepreneurship, driven
of supply chain management, Berardi’s strategies that, for one century, have by the values of a family that is still firmly
logistics services aim to reduce resource- determined the growth of the company. at the helm after four generations, from
linked costs, adopting a lean approach to Namely, the expansion of the stock items founder Giulio to current CEO Giovanni,
optimise the whole production process. In base with more product categories to and with the fifth on its way.
this way, partners can ‘forget’ about C- meet new industrial needs and the growth Giovanni Berardi concludes: “The
parts management, relying on the experi- in export markets, especially the Balkans company stood out and secured work
ence of the Italian distributor. and Morocco, with the recently founded during the last decades thanks to its capa-
A feather in Berardi’s cap is the Kanban Berardi Maroc. bility to provide technical, sales, and logis-
and Kanban Up services, conceived to help Today, Berardi Fasteners handles as tics support, keeping always up-to-date
partner companies with a constant and many as 150,000 product codes, 45,000 with the latest technological solutions.”
measured supply of fasteners, hydraulic of which are always ready on stock. With www.berardi-screws-bolts.com

14 torque-expo.com
15_ADVERTS_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 15/11/2019 14:56 Page 1

Up to 34 million
special screws
directly from stock.
k.
www.pasvahl.de

FIT BOLTS PLUGS

according to DIN, 609, according to DIN, 906, 907,
610, ISO 7379, DIN 7968 908, 909, 910, 5586, 7604

Fit bolts, plugs, knurled thumb screws, square head bolts, flat
headed screws, hexagon set screws, brass screws and specials.

Fo n + 4 9 ( 0 ) 4 0 5 3 2 8 5 2 - 0 · Fa x + 4 9 ( 0 ) 4 0 5 3 2 8 5 2 - 5 2 · i n f o @ p a s v a h l . d e
16 FOCUS_Kanban_Ferdinand Gross_TOR039.qxp 21/11/2019 10:58 Page 1

TORQUE FOCUS
C-PARTS, LOGISTICS & KANBAN

SMART KANBAN:
INDUSTRY 4.0 IN STORAGE
AND ASSEMBLY
In partnership with ambos.io and its Storage Tower, Ferdinand Gross has another
logistics service for customers which aims to support workers, optimise reordering
and save space in the warehouse and assembly line...

erdinand Gross is one of the largest The Assembly Station consists of two

F suppliers of fastening technology in

Germany. Priding itself as a reliable
partner, the company provides its
disk modules and can be integrated
directly into a workplace. Via an app, digi-
tal assembly instructions can be inte-
customers in the industry with tailor- grated. The station will check if all
made services. necessary articles are in stock before
Recently, Ferdinand Gross has been starting assembly and it will go on to
working with ambos.io GmbH in the guide and assist the worker through the
Kanban field. Ambos.io offers innovative assembly process. The Assembly Station
IoT-technology for the digitisation of will rotate the box containing the parts
intra- and extra-logistics processes. Two necessary for the next step to the
systems are offered: the ambos.io Stor- sampling point and mark the right box to
age Tower and the ambos.io Assembly pick by light. By recording the weight
Station. Both systems automate the automatically and in real time, the Assem-
entire supply chain - generating real- bly Station knows exactly how many parts
time data on material consumption from have been used and can send a local
B- and C-parts, supporting workers and message when an article falls below its
commissioners, optimising reordering specified minimum stock.
and quality management. In addition, the “The main challenge in the logistics
round design saves space in the ware- sector is the mapping of an innovative and
house and in assembly. stable supply chain," says Ferdinand Gross
The Storage Tower is a round shelving Managing Director Thomas Erb. In view of
system consisting of six disk modules rapid technological advances, high quality
and has been designed for use in ware- production that saves time, space and intralogistics and enables the integration
houses. The stock of all B- and C-parts is cost, guarantees availability and generates of internal and external suppliers.
digitalised and clearly displayed in the secure data as the basis for process and Ferdinand Gross and ambos.io integrate
ambos.io app for a complete overview of management decisions, is essential. the concept of the smart Kanban in close
all articles. Automatised stocktaking in Ambos.io has developed the intralogistics cooperation with customers into their
self-chosen intervals and the unique hotspots as a solution to these challenges. existing processes and systems.
chance to capture every change in stock These hotspots are networked with A project begins with an analysis of the
in real time ensure there’s an up-to-date each other and depict the company as a actual warehouse, logistics and produc-
stock overview. As soon as an article falls digital factory. The accompanying software tion situation and discusses how the solu-
below its specified minimum stock, the solution is ideal for Industry 4.0. It makes tion can be strategically integrated to
ambos.io app will send a message to certain the digital connection of the indi- support the company in optimising and
make sure that it can be reordered in vidual storage boxes to the internal supply digitising its processes.
time to avoid bottlenecks. chain. Furthermore, it digitally links the www.schrauben-gross.com

16 torque-expo.com
 classic • system • automotive

Y S I N C E 19 51
QUALI T

DIN 912 / 931 / 933 • ISO 7380-1 / ISO 7380-2

DIN 6921 • DIN 6912 • DIN 934
ISO 4014 / ISO 4017 • DIN 960 / DIN 961
ISO 10642 - DIN 7991 • DIN 7984 • DIN 125

N E W O N S TO C K:
Our new Torx® program: ISO 14579 / 14580 / 14581 / 14583
Nuts: DIN 985 • DIN 6923

O U R W EB S H O P

NEW:
EDI

Achilles Seibert GmbH · Philipp-Reis-Straße 3 · D-24558 Henstedt-Ulzburg · Fon: +49 4193 89 55

Fax: +49 4193 89 56 99 · [email protected] · www.achill-fasteners.com
T H E G L O B A L P A R T N E R F O R D I S T R I B U T O R S

Achill-Anzeige2-D-1951-A4-FFM-10-2019.indd 1 25.09.19 11:00

18 20-21 Women in Fasteners_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 11:04 Page 1

INTERVIEW WOMEN IN FASTENERS

ROSA HEARN

ROSA HEARN
BRIGHTON BEST INTERNATIONAL
Product manager, head of global marketing, chairwoman of WIFI and 2018
Woman of the Year in Business – Brighton Best International’s Rosa Hearn
shares her professional triumphs and tips for other women looking to
succeed in the fastener industry…

How did you get into the industry in the first place?
I was working as a cashier in Carl’s Jr when a tempo-
rary agency representative handed me her card,
mentioning she liked how I was handling the
customers. She said, “when you’re ready for a
change, call me.” That same week, I was offered a
promotion to become a shift manager at Carl’s, and
while I was proud to work there, I knew it was not
my future, so I quit and walked into the temporary
agency the next day.
The sales agent remembered me and asked if I
wanted to go for an interview that same day for a
receptionist job at Bolt Products. I was hired that
week as a temp. I was so scared to have my first office
job at 18 but I worked very hard and didn’t want to
disappoint the representative who placed me there.
Bolt Products made me a full-time employee within
two weeks of being on the job. That was 27 years ago,
and I have been in the fastener industry for 25 years.

What kind of work does your department do?

I am very fortunate to be part of three departments.
Each department helps me grow on a day-to-day
basis. I enjoy completing sales which give me the
opportunity to brush up on my Spanish. I am able to
be more analytical by managing a product line. I also
get to be creative and manage a great out-of-the-
box-thinking team. These three departments
together help me execute the company’s vision. I am
also able to bring in different perspectives and
insights to each project I do and help the team visu-
alise the big picture.

What does your day-to-day job involve?

Working for an international company makes it a
little difficult to have standard working hours.

18 torque-expo.com
19_ADVERTS_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 15/11/2019 14:30 Page 1

FAST. RELIABLE. ECONOMIC.

• PROCESS RELIABILITY
Increased Torque Resistance during
BLIND RIVET NUT
the assembly process
• FAST
Reduction of the costs and the
Torque Resistant
process time per assembly
• CUSTOMIZED THE LOCKED THREAD FOR
TH
Different plating is possible ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIU EXTRUDED PROFILES!
depending on corrosion requirements
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• COMPATIBLE WITH COMPLETE with
wit one-side access to the riveting position
GESIPA® SYSTEMS
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process control
• ECONOMIC
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comparison to a hexagonal blind
rivet nut

The experts in riveting technologies GESIPA Blindniettechnik GmbH T +49 (0) 6105 962 0
Nordendstraße 13-39 [email protected]
64546 Mörfelden-Walldorf www.gesipa.com
18 20-21 Women in Fasteners_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 11:36 Page 2

INTERVIEW WOMEN IN FASTENERS

ROSA HEARN

"Deeply entrenched stereotypes ensure most

girls reject the idea of a career in construction,
manufacturing or industrial jobs"

Usually my day starts at 5:30am answering emails and priori- Do you have any advice for other women thinking
tising my day. I work on any technical or price-related ques- of stepping into the fastener industry?
tions first, then I start working on my marketing duties and My advice for women stepping into this industry is to have
sales inquiries throughout the day. confidence. I really believe the biggest challenge for women
Some days, I am at a customer’s facility doing training or basic overall is oneself. Self-inflicted challenges like giving up, stub-
sales calls. Other times, I am at a trade show or conference. bornness, limiting your own potential, lack of focus, negative
thinking and poor due diligence keeps some women from
What are the best things about working in the industry? being successful regardless of their position or industry.
What I like most about the fastener industry is the opportu- You have no idea how many men have come up to me at
nity to change it and grow within it. The fastener industry has tradeshows and asked, “How do I get my female employee to
been around a long time. It has history, longevity and stability. accept a promotion?” Many of these promotions come with
However, because it is so traditional change is slow, but that travel, extended hours or doing something out of their comfort
is the best part! Technology, social selling, going international zone. Whatever the reason is to not accept that position, every
are a few examples of how a company can grow, create new woman should believe they can do it and do that job well.
departments and reinvent themselves. To be able to create a
new department because you speak a different language, or What would you say to anyone that is put off
the ability to embrace new machinery, makes this industry so by a male-dominated culture perception?
exciting to me. My advice is simple: if you are uncomfortable with something,
voice your opinion. Do not be afraid that the office is male-
Can you pick out any particular career dominated. You work hard and have every right to speak up.
highlights or milestones? Stand up for yourself and command respect. I will never let
With the support of Brighton Best International (BBI), one of
my highlights is to build tomorrow’s workforce and provide
career opportunities to high school and college students.
There is evidence that links business involvement with
fewer dropout rates, and when students see the relevance for
pursuing a career in a specific industry, they are motivated WIFI is a regular
not only to stay in school but to do their best. This helps create fixture at industry
positive growth within the community over the long-term. shows, reaching
I believe every student should have equal access to educa- out to women in
tion, experiences and career opportunities that will help them the fastener
reach their full potential. sector

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18 20-21 Women in Fasteners_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 11:37 Page 3

Rosa Hearn has worked

in the fastener industry
for 25 years
// The women I know in
leadership roles have worked
intensely to earn their positions.
There is no magic to this. //

women need to do to increase their leadership chances,

manufacturing or industrial companies should concentrate
on preparing men to work more effectively with women and
training more women on the operations side of the industry.

What progress has been made in integrating women

into the manufacturing and industrial sectors?
The US manufacturing and industrial sectors have become
increasingly sophisticated and the introduction of female-
friendly work policies has increased as well. Employers who
offer flexible work schedules, day care and the ability to
perform assignments through technology have made it easier
for women to participate in our industry.

What more do you think could be done

to further women in the industry?
I believe the way the sector can inspire females to enter the
industry is by concentrating its energies on the adult women
new entrant. Once women are in the 26-35 age group, they
myself go unheard, and that confidence has been instrumental also have experience of the job market and – more importantly
in building my credibility and brand. Confidence is important – life. They want to be able to provide more for their family,
when it comes to promotions as well; I work hard and I am overcome socio-economic barriers, and even plan for old age.
not afraid to ask for it. Because they have acquired these values, adult learners are
more driven and resilient. They have more at stake and so
Do you think there is a stigma attached to the industry exercise tenacity and work ethic. These women can more
that keeps young women from entering it? than fill the gap while we wait for our school graduates to
Most women are influenced to join the industry by a family gain interest.
member who working in manufacturing or the industrial Also, the industry must change the perception of what a
sector, but in general, academic children are not going to manufacturing or industrial working person looks like and put
consider the trade, though they may enter that industrial or new faces to the profession so that it seems like an attainable
manufacturing sector via further education and university as career for people, for either gender and across ethnicities.
architects or engineers. Non-academic boys will readily apply
for a position in one of the trades, but deeply entrenched What are you seeing with regards to women
stereotypes and immaturity ensure that most girls will reject in the industry now that inspires you?
even the suggestion of entering the construction, manufactur- There is little support that such women can tap into, one
ing or industrial job market themselves. It is more comfort- exception is Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI). WIFI is
able to conform than to differ. a non-profit organisation whose main purpose is to empower,
support and promote women in these male-dominated occu-
What unique qualities and perspectives do you think pations. WIFI run workshops throughout the country, and its
women bring to leadership, specifically in this sector? offices are based in Illinois. Here, over many years and
Females perform construction, industrial and manufacturing through several incarnations, a group of dedicated women has
tasks as well as males. Women bring to their employment worked to achieve these aims through providing activities
many soft skills recognised as important by other industries: focused largely on the fastener trade.
communication, ability to empathise with the customer, atten- Any woman is welcome to get involved and we do ask for
tion to detail, multi-tasking and so on. membership. I am proud to be the current Chairwoman for
WIFI. We run very basic courses, some held for men and
What do you think has kept women from getting more women, but all seminars are taught by skilled and qualified
of a share of the leadership in the industry? professionals. We do not offer trade-level training but hope
The women I know in leadership roles have worked intensely to inspire and inform women who may never have considered
to earn their positions. There is no magic to this. They focused fasteners before.
on it and walked the talk. Instead of always focusing on what www.fastenerwomen.com – www.brightonbest.com

torque-expo.com 21
22-23 SHOW REVIEW_IFE19_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:15 Page 1

SHOW REVIEW
INTERNATIONAL FASTENER EXPO 2019

VIVA
LAS VEGAS
Education sessions, an annual awards ceremony and
networking were all on the agenda of this year’s
International Fastener Expo in Las Vegas…

22 torque-expo.com
22-23 SHOW REVIEW_IFE19_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:16 Page 2

ore than 5,000 professionals in the fastener, machin-

M
Awards ceremony
ery, tooling and related industries descended on Las The final day of the show played host to the annual Fastener
Vegas’ Mandalay Bay for the International Fastener Professional Award Ceremony, seeing Edward McIlhon
Expo (IFE) 2019. (Assembled Products Inc.) and Martin Nolan (RL English Co.)
The show, which took place 17-19 September, noted an inducted into the 2019 Hall of Fame. Spring Bolt and Nut
increase in exhibiting companies, particularly in the North Manufacturing’s Baron Wayne Yarborough was also recog-
American segment, with over 59 new exhibitors increasing the nised as the Young Fastener Professional of the Year.
total number of participating companies to over 650. The Hall of Fame and Young Fastener Professional of the
Founded in 1981 the show serves all reaches of the supply Year Awards recognise those who have made lasting inputs to
chain, from manufacturers to distributors to OEMs, and the fastener industry on a national or global scale, and leaders,
features nearly 70 product categories. 40 years old or younger, who already have an unimpeachable
record of integrity and respect in the industry, respectively.
Welcome to Las Vegas There was standing room only as attendees were treated to
This year’s Welcome Reception, held at the Daylight Beach speeches by the award winners.
Club, boasted an at-capacity attendance of over 900 attendees,
providing an ideal networking stage for those present. Straight from the show floor
“As the largest gathering in the fastener industry, we are Genesis Aleman, Alloy & Stainless Fasteners – “The International
proud to create an event that more and more of the industry’s Fastener Expo 2019, was a definite success for Alloy & Stainless
finest can’t wait to attend,” says Morgan Wilson, Business Fasteners. By bringing free t-shirts to hand out to everyone and
Development Manager at IFE. “We are motivated by creating a the sponsorship in the restrooms, we received attention and
space for our customers to learn, network and have fun. What allowed attendees who were interested the chance to learn
better place to do that than at the International Fastener Expo?” more about what we had to offer. Leaving with a lot less t-shirts
Earlier that morning, more than 100 players and 26 teams than anticipated was also an amazing achievement.”
teed off at the award-winning Bali Hai Golf Club for network- Heidi Volltrauer, Volt Industrial Plastics – “After not exhibit-
ing, good times and friendly competition for IFE’s inaugural ing for 10 years I feel like the show was much improved from
golf tournament. the last experience Volt had, and it was well worth the trip.
Seeing some of our current customer base in a two-day span
Flourishing education programme is not something you could accomplish going out on sales calls
A two-and-a-half-day conference agenda of 12 sessions and in a matter of days.
two full-day workshops began on Tuesday morning, revealing “Also, we did see quite a few new faces and names from our
insights on new fastener innovations and solutions to finding booth traffic. Traffic did die considerably on the second day,
skilled workers. To be expected, topics surrounding trade but that is to be expected. I feel like domestic company atten-
policy, tariffs and imports took centre stage. dance is smaller from years ago, so we will see how that
Richard Wortman of Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silver- unfolds over the next few years. Overall, good show, and we
man & Klestadt (GDLSK), closed the first day with a session on will consider next year as an option.”
the current administration’s trade policy, including how to
strategise around the tariffs impacting importers.
Another event included within the education programme
was a highly attended overview of aerospace fasteners and The International Fastener Expo will return to
how they differ from industrial fasteners. Other sessions the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, between
included talks from the show’s partnering associations on 28-30 September 2020.
topics such as: accounting and credit, plating and coatings, 3D www.fastenershows.com
printing, digital distribution strategies and data driven sales.

torque-expo.com 23
24 SPOTLIGHT_Ship&Shore_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:17 Page 1

TORQUE SPOTLIGHT
SHIP AND SHORE ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMISING
Ship and Shore Environmental’s Jim Kuzara
talks the technicalities of RTOs, a growing
demand for industrial eco solutions and
tackling China’s pollution problem…

ccording to the United Nations, we erative Thermal Oxidis-

A have a mere 11 years left to

prevent irreversible damage to our
planet from climate change. World leaders
ers (RTOs) which repur-
poses thermal energy
created during the abate-
around the globe are being called on to ment process.
take action to clean up the planet through “For each unique Regenera-
cutting emissions, reducing plastic waste tive Thermal Oxidiser Design
and minimising pollution. Inevitably, project, our teams utilise their experience “A s i a
manufacturers are coming under increas- and expertise to create the best overall seems to be
ing pressures to address the carbon foot- system at the most efficient RTO cost,” where the big
print of their production processes, and Kuzara offers. “We also support our opportunities
the fastener industry is no different. customers with 24/7 support and servic- are,” confirms
Cue, Ship and Shore Environmental; a ing, as well as helping them out with Kuzara. “European
specialist in pollution abatement tech- things such as rebates from electric and restrictions have
nologies helping businesses to lower their gas companies.” been strict for years with many companies
greenhouse gas emissions and improve These are a couple of things which investing in equipment like ours, and now
the energy efficiency of their operations. Kuzara believes contribute to the firm’s a similar trend to improve air quality and
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach,” success: “We have to create added value reduce emissions is emerging in China.”
explains Jim Kuzara, Ship and Shore’s for our customers, as we are essentially an The demand for Ship and Shore’s pollu-
Technical Sales Manager. “We work with ‘add-on’ cost for manufacturers. There- tion abatement and RTO technology looks
our customers to look at their current fore, it’s important to continually support set to continue rising as governments,
processes and developing ways we can our customers and help them get a return local authorities and regulatory bodies
make this better. This could be coming up on their investment,” he explains. “That’s impose tighter regulations on air pollu-
with a better way to collect emissions or starting to change now, though, as regula- tion and emissions for manufacturers.
retain heat energy, and so on.” tions are starting to get stricter and “We look upstream to see how we can
Ship and Shore’s equipment is custom companies are turning to us more and help our customers,” concludes Kuzara.
engineered specifically for its clients’ more to provide equipment and solutions “Some businesses aren’t conscious about
needs with the aim of improving energy that will enable them to meet new envi- what’s going on with the environment,
efficiency, meeting environmental regula- ronmental regulations and targets.” and when they come to renew a permit
tions and reducing a firm’s impact on the One such country which has seen a they realise they don’t meet the latest air
environment, whilst in turn enhancing tightening on air pollution and emission pollution regulations.
productivity and profitability. regulations is China, prompting Ship and “We can then work with them in a
The firm, which experienced 13% Shore Environmental to open a new process-orientated way to provide them
growth in 2018, specialises in air pollu- manufacturing facility in Shanghai. The with the solutions they need to meet
tion abatement systems – the capture and facility offers the same capabilities as its these requirements.”
re-circulation of volatile organic US counterpart while holding all the rights
compound emissions (VOC) – and Regen- to its own technology. www.shipandshore.com

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ADVERT_Kebrell-Automotive_TOR_Arp19.qxp 08/04/2019 12:24 Page 1
27 BESTSELLERS_HiKOKI_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:28 Page 1

BESTSELLERS
HIKOKI POWER TOOLS

Which products have been making your till ring in 2019?

Torque quizzes HiKOKI Power Tools UK for
its top three sellers of the year…

1 18V BRUSHLESS FRAMING NAILER

(NR1890DCJPZ)

Unlike traditional framing nailers that use gas fuel cells, the HiKOKI
NR1890DBCLJPZ is powered by a lightweight, rechargeable 5.0 Ah Li-Ion
battery, banishing the costly replacement of fuel cells. The use of batteries
also means the days of keeping gas fuel cells warm in a pocket – or drag-
ging a compressor and hose out for every job – are over. This quiet, power-
ful and efficient nailer matches the performance of a gas nailer without
the fuss, says HiKOKI.
The NR1890DBCLJPZ features an efficient brushless motor, driving up
to two nails per second with the capacity to carry 47 nails at a time. The
NR1890DBCLJPZ comes with two 5.0Ah Li-Ion batteries and fires up to
700 nails per charge. The highly stable driving power allows the nailer to
drive nails up to 90mm into lumber with ease.

2 3

MULTI VOLT BATTERY PACKS (BSL36A18) 36V BRUSHLESS 19MM

IMPACT WRENCH (WR36DA)
With 36 Volts, the BSL36A18 Multi Volt battery packs have a capac-
ity of 2.5 Ah, and 5.0Ah with 18V. HiKOKI also offers a model with The high performance WR36DA36V Brush-
a capacity of 4.0Ah and 8.0Ah with 18V. That means that the 36V less 19mm Impact Wrench uses 36V Multi
packs have a capacity of more than 1,000 Watts. Volt batteries for a high power output similar
The 36V battery packs have more power than the similar sized to mains powered tools. It has a high overload
18V battery packs but as the battery packs’ dimensions and weight capacity, four power mode selections and a
remain almost the same, the Multi Volt battery packs can be used huge tightening torque of 1100Nm (hard).
with a wide range of 18V class devices. Its IP56 rating means it has excellent dust
Intelligent connecting tech makes it possible for the battery to resistance and waterproofing, and its compact
detect if it is being used on an 18V or a 36V device and automati- design helps it to perform in the toughest,
cally adjust the voltage. Using the analogy of cars, both a 1L and 2L tightest environments. User friendliness is
engine can do 70mph, but the 2L engine is using less of its capacity assured with a three mode LED worklight and
to get there, increasing fuel efficiency and engine life. soft grip handle.

www.hikoki-powertools.co.uk

torque-expo.com 27
28-30 INNOVATION_SHOWCASE_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:39 Page 1

INNOVATION SHOWCASE
BLOCK BUSTER BOLSTER

“HOW I INVENTED
THE BLOCK BUSTER
BOLSTER”
Torque goes behind the scenes and one-on-one with the brains
behind the award-winning Gorilla Block Buster Bolster, which
boosts efficiency and safety on the building site…

Kevin O’Brien, inventor

of the Gorilla Block
Buster Bolster

28 torque-expo.com
28-30 INNOVATION_SHOWCASE_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:40 Page 2

// We, the tradesmen on-site and

the end user, know what product
ideas will work and what won’t. //

utting blocks and bricks is an everyday practice on Designed in the field

C construction sites and usually involves a hammer

and traditional bolster.
However, the average brick bolster is not broad enough
O’Brien tells Torque: “I’ve been a Bricklayer and Foreman for
35/40 years. That’s my occupation and the Block Buster Bolster
is my first invention.
to cover the width of one block in one hit. Furthermore, “The idea for the bolster came to me honestly 25 years ago.
using a traditional bolster is not without its risks – the I thought surely there has got to be an easier way to cut blocks
user has to be wary of the hammer coming off the striking rather than a 100mm bolster, when all blocks are 225mm deep.
point and bashing thumbs, fingers or anything else you’re “I had the complete design, patent drawings, patent granted
unfortunate enough to have in the way. Even a protective and all when I approached Olympia Tools.”
‘mushroom’ on the bolster, designed to avert such Possibly due to its long gestation period, the bolster did not
mishaps, can have the opposite effect and wallop a digit. change from the design to production stages, explains O’Brien.
When you’re cutting dozens or even hundreds of blocks “The finished product is the exact concept I have on my
a day, a tool that doesn’t quite do the job as well as it granted patent drawings.”
could – or should – becomes a major pain on the The innovative product attracted the attention of the press
construction site, affecting not just the safety of the work‐ and in May 2018, it scored a DIY Week Award for ‘Hand Tool
force but also their efficiency and therefore affecting the and Accessory of the Year’.
cost of the whole job.
One Bricklayer and Foreman, Kevin O’Brien, thought When O’Brien thought up the concept, did he ever envisage
there had to be a better way and years on the building getting an award for his efforts?
site gave him the inspiration for a solution. After dream‐ “I knew my idea was a first,” he tells Torque. “I thought that
ing up the concept – and then patenting it – O’Brien part‐ once in the system it may well come to the forefront for its
nered with Olympia Tools to bring it to market. The safety element ‐ for being the first ever bolster to have handle
Gorilla Block Buster Bolster, via Roughneck and Olympia on the side, so there would be no chance of any injuries to
Tools (UK) Ltd, launched in February 2018 and went on your hand. There is a post on a CITB page about it and safety
to be a sales hit – as well as an award winner. in the industry now is paramount and rightly so. But regard‐
But how did the Gorilla Block Buster Bolster become ing an award, no.”
a prize‐winning product being stocked on the shelves of
the nation’s merchants, from a decades’ old idea that But is the inventor concerned that other competitor prod-
came about on a building site? Kevin O’Brien takes ucts will emerge and see ‘copycats’ launch against it?
Torque Magazine through the highs and lows of bringing “Regarding any other companies copying the bolster, no I’m not
the innovation to market, his tips for aspiring inventors concerned. I have IP protection granted in the UK and USA, with
and what’s next on the drawing board… patent pending in Europe and Australia. I’ve learned that none

ONE HIT, STRAIGHT THROUGH

Why is Roughneck’s Gorilla Block Buster Bolster something special? It

cuts blocks and bricks with a single strike, significantly boosting speed
and efficiency.
The key element is the design and the longer than usual blade –
measuring 230mm/9 inches – the same width as a building block.
What’s more, the blade is constructed from hardened and tempered
steel so it can be regularly sharpened.
The tool’s handle is cleverly positioned. It features a soft, treble
injected, ergonomic grip for comfortable use and is offset away from
the striking face. This enables a large striking anvil to be placed on the
top of the blade and allows users to hit the tool with as much force as
possible all while their hand is positioned safely out of the way, clear
of any potential mis‐strikes.
The Gorilla Block Buster Bolster also helps to simplify the task of
cutting angled block or brick faces for gables and corners.
www.olympia-tools.co.uk

torque-expo.com 29
28-30 INNOVATION_SHOWCASE_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:41 Page 3

INNOVATION SHOWCASE
BLOCK BUSTER BOLSTER

Handle is offset, away

from striking face for
much safer application

Soft treble injected

ergonomic grip for
comfortable use
Large striking anvil
which provides an
accurate striking area

Hardened and tempered

blade which can be
sharpened

O’Brien recommends budding inven-

tors get a prototype made. He turned to
a village blacksmith for this mock-up:
“When going to meetings it will go a lot further Perfect width (230mm/
if you have your concept to hand” 9 inches) for cutting blocks
and bricks in one strike

of the big companies go down that road of copying a product.

They have too much to lose, what with patent infringement, TIPS FOR INVENTORS
it’s not good for their organisations.”

Now the Gorilla Block Buster Bolster has been in the

Block Buster Bolster inventor Kevin O’Brien
market for 18 months, would the inventor do anything provides his views - and warnings - for anyone
differently, with the benefit of hindsight? looking to bring their own invention to the market…
“At present I have given Olympia Tools an exclusive Global
1 Tell no-one of your idea.
licence to sell the product. Another option, if I had gone down
the other route, would have been to give multiple companies 2 Don’t be sucked in by these design companies, like
non-exclusive licenses, and have many companies manufac- I did. That cost £5,000 and was a waste of money.
turing as they do with all other tools.”
3 Get yourself a patent attorney and a patent application
What’s coming up next for O’Brien? Does he have any
on your idea. Firstly, they will do a patent search to see if
more inventions in mind?
there is any prior art, anything like it already out there,
then they would advise. I would steer well clear of the big
“Yes, I have a couple up my sleeve, one to do with spirit levels,
patent companies, when I first started I got in touch with
I’ve already approached one firm that wasn’t prepared to
a company in London and arranged a meeting, this was
invest in the tooling and take a chance – it’s their loss.
just to discuss the idea. A couple of days later I received a
“What these very large companies/manufacturers don’t
letter from the company, with an invoice for £987 just to
realise is that we, the tradesman on-site, the end user, knows
have a chat, you can guess what the outcome was.
what would work and what wouldn’t. When you approach a
large company most of the time you end up in R&D, I would 4 Once your product is patent pending you can talk to
bet that none of these people have ever worked in the indus- people, start contacting the relevant companies about
try, so how would they know if the product would work or if your idea but don’t speak over the phone, you need them
tradesman would want it? to sign an NDA so they can’t steal part of your idea, all
“I would advise any budding inventors out there, if you are of it perhaps in a country where you haven’t protected
very serious about taking your idea forward, think carefully it with IP.
before starting the very long journey you are
setting out on. 5 Chase your dream if you think your idea will
“Anyone who comes up with an idea obvi- work. It’s a long journey and a costly one but, if
ously thinks it’s the best thing since sliced your product goes global it would bring you finan-
bread but sadly that isn’t always the case, and cial stability and also the satisfaction of looking
you may spend an awful lot of time and money at your patent certificates while sitting there
taking your idea forward and eventually to with a nice coffee and saying to yourself, I own
market. To date it took me five years, and that, I was the first person on the planet to think
£20,000 to get my bolster to market.” of it, well done.
(For further tips, read inset right).

30 torque-expo.com
31_ADVERTS_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 18:54 Page 1

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ASTENERS & FIXING TECHNOLOG
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torque-expo.com/magazine
32-33 SPOTLIGHT_ToolBank_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:43 Page 1

SPOTLIGHT
TOOLBANK

BEHIND THE SCENES AT

TOOLBANK’S CHRISTMAS GROTTO

Tool brands have to work far in advance too, picking out products that they think will make it
through Toolbank’s stringent Christmas promo selection process. Peter Brett investigates
how one of the biggest promotions in the tools industry is put together…

oolbank’s Christmas offers are

T
FLEX, THE INVENTORS OF THE ANGLE MEASURING UP WITH ADVENT TOOLS
legendary. Like Santa Claus, Tool- GRINDER – XMAS19 OFFER AT £49.99 Tape measures are a commodity that you
bank makes the promotion seem There seems to be an insatiable demand for can’t get enough of. Lost, left somewhere
effortless. Certainly, it is made as easy as angle grinders. In some industries, they are on the last job, broken and bent or
possible for dealers and buyers alike to pick considered disposable items because it is dropped from height, they are easy to
up Christmas bargains. cheaper to buy them by the pallet load than dispose of. Any Christmas promotion
The amount of money committed by to have them repaired. I guess the condi- would therefore need a tape measure or
Toolbank, the number of SKUs and the tions under which they work means that two at a sharp offer price. But it needs to
sheer bulk of it all, let alone the logistics dust, filings and remnants of abrasives are be a tape measure with a difference –
of getting goods shifted from halfway ever-present and simply bust the motors something to catch the eye for what may
round the world and then delivered to and bearings. seem to be an everyday necessity. Brain-
individual dealers up and down the coun- It made sense for Flex to submit an angle storming and initial work on a Christmas
try – in time – is staggering. So, no wonder grinder (plus a few other small products deal began at Komelon in July 2018. Any
that the staff at Toolbank heave a collec- that didn’t make the cut) in January 2019 to deal would need to be “different, unique
tive sigh of relief in January. Only for it all the Toolbank selection panel. The pitch was and exclusive to Toolbank” and could
to start again a few weeks’ after. carefully planned by Flex and included a require a development lead time of up to
short video of the benefits of the grinder. six months’ according to Dave Seal from
GETTING BEHIND THE SCENES The video has the advantage of being read- Advent Tools.
Each of the SKUs chosen as part of the ily available online for the panel to view. A The Komelon 5m tape with mini-level,
promotion has had to go through a selec- professional quality grinder at a Christmas along with ten other products was duly
tion process to ensure that the Christmas price should appeal strongly to end users. submitted in January 2019 and the
Deals are as desirable and as competi- The mutual advantage for Flex and Tool- tape/level package was accepted by the
tively priced as possible. They also have to bank is that the volume of sales will run into Toolbank panel. As I understand it,
be different each year, because there is no thousands. Flex also gets to be a better- because tape measure production
such thing as a winning formula and vari- known name in independent retailers with volumes are staggering and production in
ety is the spice of life. the possibility that purchasers might then the Korean factory is so efficient,
I thought it would be interesting to consider some other Flex products. Komelon can produce the order relatively
speak to some of the suppliers whose Flex has a well-established manufacturing quickly, so an order for 10,000 tape and
products have been chosen for the base in China, so once the pitch was success- level package at a retail offer price of
promotion this year to understand how ful, an order for thousands of angle grinders £16.99 each was placed earlier this year.
and why the products were chosen. for delivery to the UK by August/September The extra value of the level effectively
Perhaps it may encourage suppliers was placed. In September while I was having makes it free, so it is clear why it would
considering putting products forward for discussions with Flex, the order was on the be attractive to Toolbank and the end
Toolbank’s XMS20 promotion. high seas and due to dock soon. users who buy it.

32 torque-expo.com
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Production may not be an issue but around half price. Both items have a machined accuracy and black anodised
designing, making and approving a special defined working life, and are a necessity finish. Priced at £9.99 on Christmas promo-
Christmas packaging and display materials for most trades, so I am sure they would tion it is in the ‘why not’ category of
can be time consuming. They have to be in be very good stocking fillers at those purchases. Small enough for a stocking
place when the tape measures and levels prices. With over 160,000 pairs of gloves filler, but also useful enough to be an
are ready to be packed. Deadlines for the and 25,000 twin packs of specs to deliver impulse purchase.
arrival of the goods in the UK was set for to the UK by July/August, Scan must be It might be thought that the newly-
October/November to take account of very confident of its ability to deliver. launched Prestige branded trowels and
orders and distribution. floats would be a logical submission for
WERA – TOP QUALITY AND the XMAS19 offers, but opinion at Faithfull
METABO – IT’S ALL ABOUT A CHRISTMAS BARGAIN PRICE swung to the new range of CNC machined
THE BATTERY PLATFORM The temptation to acquire one of Wera’s squares and measuring tools instead.
A powerful 18v Metabo Combi Drill in a renowned Maintenance Kits at over a Faithfull is part of the Toolbank Group, but
case, with charger and two 2Ah batteries third off the retail price is pretty over- it still needs to follow the logic and proce-
at £149.99 is a good deal – there is no whelming – especially as the kit comes dures of the Christmas promotions to gain
doubt about that. When I probed Metabo’s packed into an excellent nylon wallet that acceptance in the final offer and then
decision to submit products to the Tool- is ready to pick up and take to the jobsite. production and delivery deadlines have to
bank panel it was all about getting more The XMS19 offer price is £99.99 and with be met as well.
of its battery packs into the market. The a limited production run of around 3,000,
battery packs might become the reason punters will have to get in quick to secure FEELING THE WRENCH FROM CRESCENT
for purchasers to buy into the Metabo one. The bad news is that extra last The 11-piece Adjustable Wrench from
system in the future. Although the minute orders aren’t possible. Crescent is in many ways an ideal XMS19
company submitted some other items like contender. It has all the versatility and
small mains sanders, hopes really lay with usefulness of a much bigger set of sock-
the Combi Drill. ets/spanners but at a price – £19.99 – that
Once the Combi had followed through the // Like Santa Claus, fits easily into a Christmas present budget.
bidding and acceptance process, Metabo I am sure that keen pricing must be a
had to act very quickly to get several thou- Toolbank makes major factor in Toolbank’s choice criteria
sand Combis ordered from one of its facto- so that is one box ticked. Crescent, as part
ries in China. As a specialised product, it
the promotion of a major tool making group, will also
would have needed its own manufacturing seem effortless. // have the manufacturing capacity to
run in time to ensure a delivery slot in produce, package and deliver in time, so
September/October at Toolbank logistics that is also another box ticked.
HQ in the West Midlands.
Wera has its own selection process every IT’S GATHERING IN THE WAREHOUSE
FLEXI-SPECS AND WORK year and decided to submit only this As I write, the boxes and pallets are piling
GLOVES FROM SCAN SAFETY bespoke maintenance kit to Toolbank up in the Toolbank logistics warehouse.
If it’s sales volume you are after, then safety XMS19. Since the kit consists of 35 items, it What is coming together is the result of a
specs and work gloves are a safe bet. As has quite a long lead time for manufacture giant guessing game – admittedly an
with other high demand products it is not in Wera’s Eastern European factory. Conse- informed guessing game, but one with
production in time for Christmas that is the quently, orders had to be placed by the end financial risks that run into the millions
problem, it is more the process of submit- of January for delivery in late August/early of pounds.
ting the right package at the right time to September. The clever bit for me here is the By now, it may be too late for some
get through the acceptance process. price temptation and the limited availability retailers to get all the lines they may need
I am sure that the emphasis on getting factor – surely a winning formula? for the XMS19 promotion as I pointed out
a Christmas bargain was a key to Tool- above, but I am sure that most have used
bank’s acceptance of the products. A two- FAITHFULL PRESTIGE either the ‘net, the Toolbank booklets or a
pack set of Flexi-Specs at £6.99 or a bag of COMBINATION SQUARE Toolbank Show to ensure that XMS19 is a
five pairs of Latex Thermal Gloves at £9.99 The Prestige branding of this square is key bumper one. No Risk, No Reward?
represents a cost saving to customers of – it looks great and works well in its CNC www.toolbankb2b.com

torque-expo.com 33
34-35 FOCUS_Automotive_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:48 Page 1

TORQUE FOCUS
AUTOMOTIVE

GAIN TRACTION
Fasteners, cutting edge adhesives and a strategic acquisition…
Torque keeps you abreast of the latest developments in the automotive sector

JET PRESS > FASTENERS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

JET PRESS is a key supplier of fasteners to the automotive indus- functionality. Features like slide and tilt, lock in/lock out and
try in the UK, Germany and beyond. Its range of fasteners in the locking handle kits are very valuable for fire engines, ambu-
sector include: lances and other specialist vehicles.
Fasteners for 5mm Welding Studs – The automotive industry Retain on Trim Panel Clips – Designed for the automotive
standard is a 5mm welding stud so JET PRESS supplies fasteners industry, these clips hold plastic panels to the A, B and C pillars of
to match. It provides weld stud cable and pipe clips that fit beneath a vehicle and are also used for facias and dashboards. Interior
the vehicle and keep fuel lines securely in place, made from very panels have to be fixed securely in place but easy to remove for
durable acetal. It also has weld stud fixing cable ties made of black maintenance, repairs or at the end of the product life cycle. Retain
nylon to attach the engine wiring harness. on trim panel clips are quick to use and provide a snug, rattle-free
Fir Tree and W button Cable and Pipe Clips – Often used for installation. They can be used with rectangular studs or moulded
fixing the fuel line in a vehicle, these clips can be used where tubes ribs. When the panel is removed, the unheaded version of the clip
pass through panels or with mounted brackets where they help stays on the panel. The retain on base panel clip remains on the
base panel but separates
easily from the panel.
W Button Plastic
Trim Clips – Plastic trim
clips are mainly used to
attach door and tailgate
trim panels to inner door
panels. Many versions
have a flexible skirt that
seals the hole against
water or dirt. They are
designed to be blind fixed
to look neat and they can
be easily removed.
Spring Steel Hose
Clamps – When you open
your car bonnet you will
see these clamps holding
low pressure cooling
system hoses and wind-
screen washer pipes.
They are available in a
variety of sizes and differ-
ent finishes which can
help with error avoidance
during assembly.
with vibration absorption. Made from acetal or nylon they are Plastic Rivets – R-Loks – Vehicle manufacturers are increas-
available in many sizes and can be used with a wide range of panel ingly relying on JET PRESS’ cost effective R-Loks, JET PRESS
thicknesses, using anchor or fir tree push on fixings. says, also known as blind rivets or pop rivets. They are
Cable and Pipe Retention Clips – These are similar to the clips lightweight, corrosion resistant and non-conducting with a
described above but they are made from Austempered Carbon nylon body and acetal pin. These qualities make them ideal for
Steel. They rotate through 360° so they are less likely to cause attaching padding. They are also useful for attaching airbags
chaffing that can ultimately lead to failure of the pipe or cable. because they don’t damage the airbag.
Accuride Drawer Slides – Vehicle builders and converters With the industry moving towards electric vehicles and
use Accuride drawer slides in cars, recreational vehicles and autonomous vehicles JET PRESS is talking to customers about
specialist vehicles. Very low profile slides are popular in major changes and innovations in the way fasteners are used for
modules within centre consoles, while heavy duty slides are these new generations of vehicles.
used in camper vans and motor homes to maximise space and www.jetpress.com; [email protected]

34 torque-expo.com
34-35 FOCUS_Automotive_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:50 Page 2

TECHSIL > DEFEATING THE HEAT IN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

In 1970, Automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs) were Other automotive electronics applications include LED head-
introduced in the automotive industry. Since then automo- light modules, potting reactors in boost converters, 48V power-
biles have evolved from mechanical machines to electronic packs and converters, the starter and alternator modules.
dominant systems. ECUs have paved the way for innovations Why use liquid TIMs rather than pads or tapes? The heat
like power steering, cruise control, infotainment, HUD, in- sink itself will have a higher thermal conductivity than any
car connectivity and mobility. Many modern day cars have thermal interface material so the main aim is to transfer the
hundreds of ECUs in them. heat to the heat sink as quickly as possible, primarily achieved
There is a growing need for these electronic devices to get through thin bond lines. The thinnest bond lines can only be
smaller with higher energy densities and with that comes ever achieved using liquids. Furthermore, liquid pastes have good
increasing operating temperatures. Efficient temperature gap filling properties which eliminates insulating air gaps and
control is essential to prolong the service life of these units and can be dispensed by robots for high volume manufacturing.
demand for Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) is growing fast. Techsil MD Chris Dilley explains: “Every application and
Techsil is currently working with a number of Tier 1 auto- every surface is different. This is why at Techsil we like to get
motive suppliers providing them with thermally conductive involved at the design stage to understand the substrates being
silicone pastes and greases for a range of Electronic Control used, the heat generated, how to eliminate the air and achieve
Units such as: the best possible BLT (bond line thickness) for our customers.
Power Steering Braking HVAC Cruise Control Ultimately this hands-on approach means we can achieve a
very efficient heat transfer and the best available thermal
management solution.”
Techsil’s TIMs are offered both as air cured and heat cured
and are available in a range of viscosities, thermal ratings and
a variety of pack sizes from syringes, tubes, cartridges and
pails to aid consistent dispensing.

Contact MD Chris Dilley

for more information;
[email protected]

CIRTEQ > JOINS THE TITGEMEYER GROUP

Summer 2019 saw Titgemeyer acquire Cirteq of Keigh- global industrial base customers. “The products within
ley, West Yorkshire. Cirteq manufactures circlips, retain- the Titgemeyer Group ideally complement and expand
ing rings, snap-rings and custom designs for global Cirteq’s existing product range.” Headquartered in
manufacturers and automotive companies. With roots Osnabrück, Germany, Titgemeyer is a third-generation
that stretch back over 75 years, Cirteq produces its own family business. It generated €100 million in sales glob-
wire and tooling, has a 3,700 product range and supplies ally in 2017 and has facilities throughout Europe –
automotive manufacturers, industry, line-feeders and distribu- including two sites in the UK; Baker and Finnemore in Birming-
tors. Cirteq said: “As part of this highly successful group which ham, producing Starlock push-on fasteners and Starpress press-
currently operates throughout Europe, there will be new oppor- ings; and in Tipton, producing lockbolts. Cirteq is a member of
tunities for business growth benefiting our global automotive the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
and commercial vehicle customers, together with all our general www.cirteq.com

torque-expo.com 35
36 COMMENT_Tesa_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 12:52 Page 1

TORQUE COMMENT
TESA

GO FOR THE FASTER FIX

Adhesive tapes offer faster, more cost-efficient and higher-performing options for bonding
materials in vehicle conversion, argues Jeremy Smith, tesa’s Trade Marketing Manager UK…

hen it comes to joining vehicle frames, body parts, What’s more, they join without spoiling the vehicle’s aesthetics.

W furnishings and equipment together, traditional

techniques have disadvantages as well as benefits.
By their very nature, welding and the use of mechanical fasten-
From a business perspective, mechanical fixing is a multi-stage
process with high time and energy demands. By contrast, adhe-
sive options bond and seal in a single, quick operation, without
ers, such as rivets, bolts and screws, may damage the integrity the noise or the health and safety risks of using power tools.
of the materials they are connecting. They are often a source
of weaknesses relating to corrosion, moisture ingress, thermal ADHESIVE TAPES VERSUS LIQUID ADHESIVES
expansion and contraction, vibration and other stresses. They Compared to liquid adhesives, tapes provide an even quicker,
are also time-consuming to apply. simpler and cleaner solution. There is no need to wait for
As modern lightweight materials and combinations grow in curing, or to hold parts in place until they bond, and surface
popularity, further limitations of conventional approaches are preparation is easier. High-performance adhesive tapes bond
being exposed. Increasingly, vehicle converters are overcoming almost instantly, without having to apply high compressive
such problems by turning to advanced adhesive technology. forces that might damage hollow or honeycomb components.
There is no wasteful adhesive spillage or seepage to clean up,
ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGY VERSUS MECHANICAL FASTENERS and no exposure of workers to toxins.
The term ‘adhesive technology’ here refers to both liquid adhe- Adhesive tapes can be specified for flexibility, where needed,
sives and adhesive tapes. Importantly, high-performance adhe- to allow for differing thermal expansion and contraction rates
sive tapes have additional advantages in many situations. of bonded materials. And while welds, fasteners and even
Welding can be immediately dismissed for some applica- liquid adhesives leave gaps which are open to water, noise and
tions as it does not work for all materials or combinations. vibration, tapes with the right carrier material specification
Welds, along with holes drilled for mechanical fastening, can completely fill the join.
weaken structures and form the point of focus around which Continuous development has optimised tapes and their
panels corrode, crack, tear or distort. Adhesive approaches adhesive coatings to meet the most demanding of specific chal-
reduce these risks by spreading the load across the whole lenges. Tapes with flexible foam or polymer cores, for example,
contact surface, rather than concentrating stress on specific are especially useful for bonding dissimilar materials exposed
points, for a stronger assembly. to extreme temperature variation.
Adhesive alternatives can be specified to connect almost Other key properties engineered into the latest tape prod-
anything to anything. They support today’s lightweighting trend ucts, to meet stringent industry requirements, include high
by effectively bonding any combination of dissimilar light mate- levels of chemical and vibration resistance, strength and
rials, such as aluminium, plastics and fibre-reinforced composites. waterproofing. Whatever the challenge, adhesive tapes have a
With the right adhesive products, even difficult materials with a fast, reliable and economical answer.
low surface energy, like polypropylene, can be firmly bonded. www.tesa.com/industry/specialty-vehicles

36 torque-expo.com
37_ADVERTS_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 15/11/2019 15:03 Page 1

NEW INSULATION FIXINGS

WITH ETA ASSESSMENT FOR ALL BASE MATERIALS (A, B, C, D, E).

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RS00447
38-41 TAIWAN-TOUR_REVIEW_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:01 Page 1

TAIWAN TOUR REVIEW

Made in Taiwan
Torque’s Hayley Everett was recently invited out to Taiwan to visit the production facilities of
some of the companies exhibiting at TAITRA’s International Fastener Show in April, whilst
getting a handle on the Taiwanese market.
he Taiwan International Fastener Show, organised by production facilities of 10 companies set to exhibit at the show

T TAITRA, is set to return to Kaohsiung for the 21-23 April

next year, showcasing the best of what the Taiwanese
fastener industry has to offer.
next year.
The busy tour schedule gave a comprehensive overview of
Taiwan’s fastener industry and the current opportunities and
I was invited out to the mini but mighty manufacturing challenges present within it. Spanning Kaohsiung to Taichung,
island for TAITRA’s pre-show media tour, where myself and here is a closer look at some of the manufacturers paving the
other journalists hailing from around the world visited the way at the forefront of Taiwan’s fastener industry…

King Point Enterprise (Patta)

Established: 1982
Specialisms: Blind rivets, self-drilling screws & tools
Currently in the midst of getting its Initial Public Offer-
ing (IPO) approved, Patta Group has been keeping
busy over the past year building a new manufacturing
plant in Vietnam, implementing a new R&D business
model and integrating Industry 4.0 practices into its
production processes. Patta sells into 120 companies
globally, with Europe making up 17% of the
company’s exports.
David Huang, Chairman, said: “This year we will
spend more on product range and development, and
on adapting our model for the future. We are putting
a lot of resource into our R&D practices, product, stor-
age and packaging improvements.”

38 torque-expo.com
38-41 TAIWAN-TOUR_REVIEW_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:01 Page 2

Taiwan Shan Yin International

Established: 1984
Specialisms: Construction & automotive screws
Boasting over 100 global patents, Shan Yin Int’l
produces around 24,000 tonnes of screws each
year from its factories in Taiwan and Malaysia.
Patents are a particular focus for the company right
now, producing as many patented products as it
does standard products.
Shan Yin Int’l has been implementing Industry
4.0 practices such as automation and big data for
the past couple of years, and is also looking to
improve its environmental practices after identify-
ing that many customers now want responsible
and less polluting products.

Wu Jii Industry
Established: 1988
Specialisms: Cold, hot & plastic mould steel
Wu Jii is the largest supplier of mould steel
parts in Taiwan, with 330 employees based
in nine different locations on the island. Wu
Jii has paid particular attention to its ERP
management and stock systems to signifi-
cantly improve production processes and is
particularly proud of its fully equipped labo-
ratory which enables greater quality control,
such as microstructure examination.
While Wu Jii sells to domestic clients only,
it does export small quantities to Thailand
and Vietnam.

Shuenn Chang Fa Enterprise

Established: 1984
Specialisms: Long length & special screws
Having recently built its fourth expansion plant
spanning some 16,000 m2 and three floors,
Shuenn Chang Fa is looking to the future with
the implementation of 3D-printing facilities and
a greater focus on speeding up R&D processes.
With an eye firmly fixed on increasing its
clients in Europe and the UK, which make up
40% of the firm’s export business, Shuenn
Chang Fa is emphasising the custom screw side
of its production capability, able to design prod-
ucts to a customer’s exact specifications.

torque-expo.com 39
38-41 TAIWAN-TOUR_REVIEW_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:11 Page 3

TAIWAN TOUR REVIEW

Super Nut Industrial

Established: 1975
Specialisms: Rivet nuts, cold forming parts and
clinching parts
Family-run business Super Nut Industrial is bringing
through its ranks the next generation equipped with a
focus on improving global communication, R&D flexibil-
ity and quality control processes. Having purchased its
second plant this year, there is a definitive emphasis on
growth and expansion within the business.
The US and European markets are currently of equal
importance to Super Nut, and the firm hopes to increase
exports with the building of its new production plant (to
be completed in around nine months) and the develop-
ment of three to four new products for the automotive
market each year.

Homn Reen Enterprise

Established: 1985
Specialisms: Small & specialty screws
Producing around 1,300 tonnes each month out of its factory
in Taiwan, Homn Reen achieved a turnover of $39 million
last year, and that’s before you factor in its 100,000 m2
factory in Vietnam, constructed in 2010. The European
market accounts for over a third of Homn Reen’s exports,
with the manufacturer looking to increase customers in the
continent, especially within the UK, who will avoid tariffs
importing from Vietnam.
Homn Reen’s main products include drywall, chipboard and
wood screws amongst others, as well as offering an in-house
Zinc electroplating service. It is currently focused on develop-
ing its Bi-Metal screw, made from a combination of carbon
steel and stainless steel and a stainless steel cap screw.

Ray Fu Enterprise
Established: 2000
Specialisms: Screws, bolts, nuts & washers
Currently in the midst of building its new factory, Ray Fu
is a big player in Taiwan’s fastener industry, exporting
around 2,500 tonnes of fasteners a month to its
customers around the globe. The firm also offers heat
treatment, electroplating and other coating processes
and its own packaging processes. The company has a
particular focus on the automotive sector, having
received the latest IATF 16949 certification for its auto-
motive parts.
Ray Fu is also looking to grow the special parts side of
its business and its construction screw production. Ray
Fu exports to Europe, US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia
Pacific and the Middle East.

40 torque-expo.com
38-41 TAIWAN-TOUR_REVIEW_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:12 Page 4

Ching Chan Optical Technology (CCM)

Established: 1992
Specialisms: Optical sorting machines, parts forming machines
& screw/bolt formers
Equipped with a 50-person in-house R&D team, CCM has been granted
several patents for its sorting machines designed for screws, nuts and
bolts. The company’s ultimate aim is to achieve zero-defect tolerance,
with technicians positioned both at home and overseas to integrate, fix
and upkeep machines for its customers. The European market is key
for CCM, which exports 79% of its machines to customers in the auto-
motive industry and is looking to increase forming machine exports.
According to the company’s President Alex Wu, the key to successful
and sustainable business is quality: “We are implementing Industry 4.0
through robots, automating our processes and completing our own soft-
ware and hardware development. Sustainability is also key; the solar
panels on our Thailand factory roof power over 500 nearby homes.”

Lu Chu Shin Yee Works

Established: 1965
Specialisms: Hex nuts, nylon insert lock nuts, wing nuts
& cap nuts
Lu Chu Shin Yee Works (LCSYW) was the first producer of
stainless steel nuts in Taiwan and now spans four production
plants throughout the island, as well as another two overseas
in the Philippines and China. 90% of what LCSYW manufac-
tures is exported, and the firm is keen to further expand its
global reach into the European market, which currently makes
up 40% of LCSYW’s export business.
The manufacturer is a keen implementer of Industry 4.0,
having integrated automation into its CNC and packing machines,
as well as the use of robots. Referred to by many in Taiwan as the
‘nut specialist’ the firm also started manufacturing micro-screws
in 2008 in order to offer something a little different to the market.

Taiho Tool/OSG Corporation

Established: 1938 (OSG) 1969 (Taiho Tool)
Specialisms: Taps, rolling dies, gauges & cutting tools
Taiho Tool, a subsidiary of the global OSG Corporation,
manufactures its fastener products out of its Kaohsiung-
based factory in Taiwan, spanning 35,286 m2. While
Taiho’s main market is China, it is looking to grow its
European customer base which makes up around 10% of
the firm’s exports currently.
Taiho offers heat treatment for rolling dies and has an
onsite cutting technology application centre to help
customers improve their product knowledge. The firm’s
main markets include the automotive sector, machine
tools, aerospace and the bike industry.

torque-expo.com 41
42 TAIWAN-TOUR_REVIEW_Tariffs_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:03 Page 1

TAIWAN TOUR REVIEW

Tariffs, automation & sustainable practices

t would be fair to say the global political and economic land- have also been improvements to product, storage and packag-

I scape has been somewhat tumultuous in recent times, what

with trade wars, new technology pressures and even the
climate emergency landing as problems to be solved in the
ing processes due to an upgraded production system linking
the newly automated procedures together. Lu Chu Shin Yee has
also been busy automating its production facilities in order to
fastener industry’s lap. achieve Industry 4.0, installing robotic arms, automated CNC
The story seemed little different while travelling between machining and a semi-automatic packing machine.
the factories of the companies I visited in Taiwan. Naturally, Another priority for many of the companies participating on
the resultant tariffs of the ongoing trade spat between the US the tour was the environment, and the growing need to imple-
and China was a hot topic of conversation, and while some saw ment sustainable, green business practices in factories, ware-
this as an opportunity to spread their wings in the US market houses and other areas.
at China’s expense, others with production facilities tangled Ching Chan Optical Technology (CCM) uses solar panels on
up in its east Asian neighbour were certainly feeling the effects. its factory roof in Thailand which can provide power to up to
Super Nut Industrial saw a slower-than-usual Q2 due to its 500 homes in the surrounding area, while at its Taiwan head-
US-based customers ordering an excess of stock in the fear of quarters it operates a no-waste policy; there was even talk of
being hit with increasing tariffs last year. Several customers using Teslas for transport. And a number of other Taiwanese
still have this stock in their warehouses so sales have been companies are following suit too, with Shan Yin International
slower in the first half of 2019, although the firm is optimistic identifying growing environmental concern as an increasing
business will pick up again towards the end of the year. Other trend among its customers. The firm believes that, along with
companies, such as Shan Yin International, haven’t felt much good quality and price, customers want their products to be
of an impact from the tariffs themselves, although several of responsible and less polluting too.
their customers have been affected. The firm divulged it has The Taiwanese fastener industry seems to be growing from
also seen some production and investment moving back into strength-to-strength at the present time, compounded by the
Taiwan, while companies such as Shuenn Chang Fa believe growth of the island’s International Fastener Show organised
people will still buy from China regardless of the tariffs. by TAITRA, due to take place 21-23 April in Kaohsiung. More
The majority of companies did agree, though, that they were than 420 manufacturers are set to exhibit at the event, which
eyeing the US fastener market with a heightened interest as a attracted 2,193 international buyers from 73 countries last
result of the ongoing trade war, seeing it as a prosperous year, and in excess of 30,000 domestic and foreign visitors.
opportunity to increase their customer bases there. Each of the companies visited on the tour will be exhibiting at
Perhaps unsurprisingly, on the lips of nearly every company the show next year.
spokesperson I met during the tour were the words ‘Industry TAITRA provides a pre-registration service to any visitors
4.0’; in essence a trend towards automation and data exchange interested in the Taiwian International Fastener Show, offering
in mechanical and industrial technologies and processes. a free-entry badge with fast-track access. In addition, a limited
A move towards automation was certainly on Patta Group’s number of travel subsidies are available for eligible buyer
agenda, with the implementation of a new IoT system companies to attend the show. For more information please
expected to reduce labour costs by around two thirds. There contact [email protected].

42 torque-expo.com
 Schäfer + Peters GmbH
Competence in Stainless Steel

Diverse European and local DQS-certified since 1996. Cur- Catalogue with more than
approvals enhance a lot of rently certified as per DIN EN 32.000 items. Clear and infor-
our products. ISO 9001:2015. mative design.

Schäfer + Peters GmbH Tel. +49 (0) 7941 6094-0 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.schaefer-peters.com
44 46 INTERVIEW_BUFAB_TOR039_Dec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:14 Page 1

INTERVIEW
BUFAB

SPEED TO MARKET
Back in June, Bufab Director of APAC Mathias Torstensson was invited to speak at the
popular Fastener Expo Shanghai. To a busy conference room, he presented his take on
digitalisation in the C-Parts industry to over 100 fastener execs. For those of us not
lucky enough to have been in the room, Torque caught up with Torstensson to hear first
hand his take on the challenges facing the fastener industry as well as his thoughts on
how speed to market is becoming increasingly important...

At the Shanghai Fastener Expo conference, you addressed What’s driving the growth of digitalisation?
some of the modern challenges facing the global fastener We always need and want to be relevant for our customers.
industry. I believe you listed ‘digitalisation’ as one of the Our customers are continuously developing and we need to be
key challenges - can you take us through that? able to keep up with them and even be a few steps ahead. We
Digitalisation puts high pressure upon all industries’ business want to be the number one choice for our customers and
models. Suppliers becomes service providers and customers therefore we need to develop our offer, ourselves and our
become users. We need to transform our core business along processes. Digitalisation has no self-worth; digitalisation is a
the value chain, building the necessary resources and adapting way to grow an organisation to be as efficient as possible for
to our customer’s own transformation. the ones the organisation serves – our customers.

BUFAB’s Mathias Torstensson

addresses the room at
Fastener Expo Shanghai 2019

44 torque-expo.com
45_ADVERTS_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 15/11/2019 15:07 Page 1

Bolts • Nuts • Studs

Sockets • Washers
Specials Made

Special Metals and Alloys

Over 150 Material Grades

10,000 Ton Inventory
Over 300 Machines
We Service All Quantities
Serving Distributors Worldwide

www.GoASF.com [email protected]

Global Inch
Fastener Solutions
for more than
40 Years

MADE
IN
GERMANY 4EL  s&AX  
www.schroederschrauben.de
44 46 INTERVIEW_BUFAB_TOR039_Dec19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:15 Page 2

INTERVIEW
BUFAB

...It seems fair to say that digitalisation is an area of impor- More specifically to Bufab, the group acquired Rudhall
tance to Bufab. Can you take us through some of the ways Industri earlier this year - I think the statement said that
in which Bufab is tackling this? Through ‘Inventory Solu- has increased Bufab’s sourcing capabilities in China. Can
tions’ and the ‘New Customer Portal’? you tell us more about that?
During the past year we have launched a cloud service for our Rudhäll Industri has since many years a well operating Sourc-
Logistics Solutions; EasyTrack™. EasyTrack provides our ing Office in China, and obviously Bufab as a group will benefit
customers with a transparent overview of their racks, bins, from their experience and expertise. And on top of that we
refilling, orders, drawings and more. The customer can create have during 2019 enlarged our investment in China in terms
printable article lists, view different sites and make sure that of Sourcing, to expand by opening up a new Sourcing Office
the same articles are used globally. in Ningbo.
In the beginning of 2020 we will launch the first version of
our Customer Collaboration Platform - a platform that What proportion of business does Asia Pacific
supports our digital collaboration with our present and poten- have on Bufab’s overall business?
tial customers. A platform where we can be transparent with In terms of absolute numbers, still smaller than we would
our customer related data as well as show our entire offer prefer, our ambition is to double the sales revenue in a couple
when it comes to products and services. There will be func- of years. In terms of business importance, Asia Pacific is a very
tions like product catalogue, E-trade, Customer BI and Project important region for Bufab, many of our global customers have
Collaboration and much more. production sites spread all over Asia, and as a global provider
it is our duty to serve them with the same attention all over
In terms of other challenges affecting the fastener industry, the globe.
tariffs is probably a major one. Bufab has operations in coun-
tries affected by tariffs, like China, so do you have a perspec- Has it been a positive 2019 so far for the region?
tive on the impact of tariffs on global fastener supply? Asia Pacific Region has been somewhat a bumpy ride in 2019,
We do not spend too much energy on trying to understand affected by trade uncertainties, lower demand in some indus-
why different tariffs are imposed throughout the world, we tries, worsening general business climate etc. All these have
have no power to influence, thus we accept them as they are had an impact on our performance for the region, in some
and we try to make the best out of it, adapting to the different markets we have seen very minor impact and in some more.
business environments.
More generally, what’s your view on the global fastener
Environmental practices and initiatives have also impacted market, taking into account your perspective from Asia?
on fastener production, not least in countries in the APAC One point would be that speed to market will only become
region. Have environmental regulations had a big impact on more important, also for a commodity like fasteners or C-parts.
fastener industry in the region? Have most factories now Everything and all industries are moving with an accelerated
transitioned to more environmental practices? speed, the total lead time for companies in Europe to get
Well, I guess that depends on how you look at it, some would supplies from Asia is way too long, this will become less and
say that is has been a disturbance to the market of fasteners, I less sustainable. There are many ways and options to solve this
and Bufab however think it is indeed a necessary step towards problem and Asian producers must be on top of that to stay
a more sustainable production and supply chain of fasteners, ahead of the game.
and I hope that this is only the beginning. www.bufab.com

46 torque-expo.com
47_ADVERTS_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 15/11/2019 15:16 Page 1

Washers
Fastener people with the stock and knowledge to solve every requirement
NO MATTER HOW UNUSUAL
48 CASE STUDY_KCS & Olympic_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:19 Page 1

CASE STUDY
VECTA AND OLYMPIC FIXINGS

< SALES INTELLIGENCE >

OLYMPIC FIXINGS WINS WITH VECTA
Online sales analytics and CRM solution Vecta has enabled Olympic
Fixings MD Paul Gordon to spend more time managing and
directing his business - rather than chasing data…

lympic Fixings was founded in 1989 and supplies firm’s boss says: “Before

O British and Irish merchants and wholesalers from

distribution centres in Accrington and Bangor, with
over 3,500 catalogued and stocked SKUs.
Vecta, the only thing we
knew internally about our
customers was where to
Vecta stores a company’s data in the cloud and is accessible send their invoice. Now we
by sales and management teams over the internet. It combines have several thousand email
transactional data from a company’s ERP system with addresses and we’ve been
customer and contact records to deliver an instant and compre- able to engage in direct
hensive picture of performance, margins and opportunities marketing campaigns to key
directly to desktops, tablets or smartphones. customer contacts where we send
Olympic Fixings MD Paul Gordon says the Vecta implemen- special offers and get orders in return. Previously the only way
tation went smoothly, all timelines were met and the training we sold was through direct selling from the rep, so Vecta has
provided by the Vecta team was very good. “Our team adopted facilitated a more multi-channel approach.”
the technology very quickly,” he says, “even those who were The analytics functionality of Vecta has also enabled Gordon
completely unfamiliar with using tablets.” and his management team to interrogate the business and, if
Vecta has revolutionised the ability to capture they spot any variants, to drill down and investigate. “Before
customer information at Olympic. The fixings Vecta, we had to pull reports out of our ERP system and look
at them in Excel – it was all very time consuming.”
Gordon and his finance and sales directors have their Vecta
dashboards tuned to consistently show them performance by
sales rep or by product. “If anything is off track we can quickly
investigate it ourselves now rather than having to ask other
Direct selling through reps colleagues to produce reports from the ERP system. From a
is now backed by DMC via selling perspective it’s really helpful. Vecta can also alert us to
the Vecta system link and upselling opportunities that we will take full advan-
tage of, as well as gap analysis and customer branch compar-
isons - which I know will be a real opportunity for us.”
Vecta dashboards can be customised according to the user’s
role and the company’s preference. Gordon adds: “The most
useful view for me and my Finance Director is the margin anal-
ysis. It’s such an easy tool as we can pin down any variances
very quickly - to one transaction if
needed. I’m frequently away from the
office on business and Vecta lets me see
what’s happening in the business at any
time without making loads of phone
calls or sending emails. It’s enabled me
to spend more time managing and direct-
ing my business rather than having to
waste time chasing data.”

48 torque-expo.com
49 COMMENT-BHETA_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:21 Page 1

market

COMPLIMENTS
OF THE SEASON
High Street gloom may dominate the headlines, but for those operating in retail,
the challenge is not the lack of custom, but the different ways that customers
now like to spend their cash. British Home Enhancement Trade Association
(BHETA)’s Chief Operating Officer Will Jones provides his view...

t won’t have escaped your notice there are some very down- if you strip out the biggest sector – food and drink – where

I beat predictions around – especially in some sections of the

news media. Official statistics on falling orders and a mixed
picture in terms of customer footfall both in the High Street and
online is still not a high percentage, the true proportion is
likely to be as much as 40% in an industry like this one.
Moreover, it is not just bringing any old digital functionality
in the out of town ‘destination’ and specialist stores are spawn- into the model. It’s about understanding which platforms are
ing articles predicting “the worst Christmas for retail since the most appropriate to the product, the customer and the
collapse of Woolworths!” nature of the sale.
It is not helpful. The fact of the matter is that not every sector
is suffering and not every category within every sector is expe- 3. Taking a freshly critical look at logistics, product or materials
riencing the problems that the media would have us believe; supply, warehousing and all ‘back office’ functions. While the
and we must be very careful we don’t let pessimists talk us focus tends to be on the ‘front end’, the contribution – for
down. As is so often the case with statistics, we need to drill good or ill – of all that lies behind tends to get overlooked.
into the detail. Yes, it’s true that on every day of the first half of
2019, there were sixteen store closures and only nine openings, Now, none of these are likely to be quick fixes and if you are not
but of the top ten categories for closures, hardware figured already down the track, then they are probably not fixable in
precisely nowhere. time for Christmas! Here’s one which potentially is, however…
At one of BHETA’s most recent member forums, one of the There is a significant potential increase in gifting sales of
speakers was Ian Gilmartin, industry director for retail and tools – power, hand and garden – at this time of year and people
wholesale at Barclays. Having pointed out that despite the ‘doom still like to ‘go shopping’ for their purchases. They are however
and gloom’ predictors, wages are on the up and overall retail time poor, so ‘going’ anywhere, even online, but especially to a
spend remained ‘robust’ and indeed rising, he made the point bricks and mortar, must be an enjoyable experience. The ambi-
that the challenge is not about lack of custom, but that custom ence must be right. Even better, if there is some element of
might well present itself in ways that are different from days of learning or entertainment in the trip and above all, the service
old. The trick is being able to navigate the new world. So, what should be excellent. There must be enough staff who are
were Ian’s key points to consider in meeting the challenge? trained and knowledgeable and helpful and supportive to just
the right level. In other words, it’s about good ‘old-fashioned’
1. Here’s an interesting statistic for big traditional operators. It focus on the consumer – and at no time is this more key than
used to be thought that circa 200 stores was the perfect in the run up to Christmas.
bricks and mortar footprint to achieve optimum coverage of The so-called ‘golden quarter’ is upon us. Make sure to tackle
the UK. Today, with the impact of omnichannel, the average it with innovation, enthusiasm and optimism.
is more like 50. Now, the likes of Screwfix and Toolstation
might disagree with that – but then, they are not traditional
operators, but innovators. Further information about BHETA and the trends to
look out for can be found at www.bheta.co.uk or by
2. Exploiting the full potential of online retail. Pundits talk calling BHETA Member Services on 0121 237 1130.
about online shopping as hovering around 19% of sales, but

torque-expo.com 49
50-51 SPOTLIGHT_HEICO_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:22 Page 1

SPOTLIGHT
HEICO

SECURE NEW BUSINESS

This year, HEICO has increased the corrosion resistance of HEICO-LOCK and introduced new
lines like the HEICO-TEC product group. The firm tells Torque how it has been leveraging the
high standards of the automotive sector – for all of its customers – and how its strategy to
be a competent partner for its customers is paying off...

EICO’s busy R&D department had HEICO-LOCK, HEICO-TEC and HEICO- HEICO-LOCK Wedge Lock Washers

H another strong year in 2019, with a

number of new launches coming
out of the fastening system specialist’s HQ.
FORM series. Customers appreciate the
good customer service, the high product
quality and the competitive price level.”
were originally launched back in 2009.
Following the standard range, HEICO
has continued to innovate. The HEICO-
In addition to the HEICO-TEC Multi- One of the key developments of the year LOCK Ring Lock Washers and the
Tool, which is a tool used for the serial has been the increased corrosion resis- HEICO-LOCK Wedge Lock Nuts offer
assembly of tension nuts for large quanti- tance of HEICO-LOCK. HEICO tells Torque further advantages in the application in
ties, HEICO was able to introduce reaction Magazine that it came about thanks to the order to guarantee a sustainable lock-
nuts to the market as well. HEICO-TEC firm’s commitment to the continuous ing of the bolted connection. HEICO’s
products are specifically used for large improvement of product quality: “It’s an latest product, the HEICO-LOCK Combi-
bolted joints, with the main customers important resource for HEICO to retain Washers, offer an additional benefit in
from the mechanical engineering and existing customers and win new ones. Our terms of locking and handling, as they
power generation sector. internal quality standards are constantly can already be used pre-assembled
HEICO tells Torque that the products used to optimise our processes. Our tech- with the bolt.
were well received, and that business nical development department does an HEICO-LOCK products are used across
overall has been strong in 2019: “All-in-all, excellent job here and has managed to multiple application areas; In addition to
we are very satisfied with the course of achieve very high corrosion resistance mechanical engineering and plant
the year. HEICO was able to further (over 1,000 hours), especially with stain- construction, the products are used in
expand its market position through the less steel products, which cannot be the railway industry, wind energy,
large number of product groups in the achieved by our market competitors.” offshore and the automotive industry.

50 torque-expo.com
50-51 SPOTLIGHT_HEICO_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:23 Page 2

SINGLE SOURCE experience in the automotive

HEICO’s increasingly broad line-up also industry have helped us to
includes the HEICO-TEC tensioning constantly question ourselves
systems, which first launched in 2016. and to develop further. The qual-
The firm tells Torque: “Many of our ity standard of the highest auto-
customers already trust our HEICO-LOCK motive certification according to
products and have quickly recognised the IATF 16949 is applied at all produc-
technical advantages of the HEICO-TEC tion levels, so that newer product
product range. We were the first in the groups such as HEICO-LOCK and
market to offer a standard solution HEICO-TEC benefit from it. This is
according to ISO 898-2 at very competi- not a matter of course for this prod-
tive prices. The standard version of the uct area and offers an advantage over
HEICO-TEC product range can be sold other manufacturers regarding the
from stock, so that no long lead times are high amount of customer audits.”
required. On request, we can also manu-
facture custom-made products.” GLOBAL GROWTH PLANNED
More recently, HEICO introduced an in- FOR THE FAMILY BUSINESS
house induction hardening plant last The HEICO Group has a total of 430
year and that was a strategic decision employees. In addition to its two produc-
that has already paid off, the firm tion sites and 11 international sales loca-
explains: “The establishment of our own tions, HEICO has been able to expand its
induction hardening plant is the consis- international presence in recent years and
tent development of a modern and cost- now delivers to 72 countries around the
conscious process optimisation. world. As a medium-sized family business,
“Under the motto ‘Everything from HEICO is always interested in long-term
a single source’, the vertical range of partnerships and is looking for further
manufacture was increased and so opportunities to sell its products.
HEICO could meet the growing demands That line-up of products seems sure
of our customers.” to continue to develop too. The firm
The facility means that HEICO can won’t be drawn on what’s next from
completely control the entire inductive the HEICO R&D team, only confirm-
hardening process with the aid of state-of- ing that it is constantly working on
the-art process monitoring software. The process and product improvements:
induction hardening systems and the “Our customers know that with
tempering furnace comply with the CQI-9 HEICO they have a reliable and
standard required by the automotive innovative partner who will
industry for the evaluation of heat treat- continue to develop in the future.”
ment processes. In addition, an adapted Despite the expected economic
statistical process control is carried out slowdown in the market, HEICO
throughout the entire process. said it intends to further expand its
All systems, including the feeding tech- market position and confirm its good
nology, were developed by HEICO and development in recent years by
manufactured in the firm’s own mechani- winning new customers, adding: “The
cal engineering department. HEICO Group offers many product solu-
Speaking of automotive standards, tions in the field of bolt securing. You are
HEICO has leveraged the high-quality welcome to take a look at our homepage
standards of the motor sector to benefits www.heico-group.com or simply contact
its customers across the board. The firm us personally. Our qualified staff are at
explains: “The HEICO Group has been your disposal.”
known as a reliable manufacturer of metal
parts for over 119 years. Many years of www.heico-group.com

torque-expo.com 51
52 SPOTLIGHT_Fuchs_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:25 Page 1

TORQUE SPOTLIGHT
FUCHS LUBRICANTS

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION >

BE CO2 NEUTRAL
Making good on its strategy commitments made 10 years ago, FUCHS is to be CO2 neutral as of
January 2020, made possible through a number of measures like installing solar panels on its
Stoke UK HQ and carbon offsetting…
ubricant giant FUCHS has signalled its commitment to

L climate protection by announcing it will be completely

CO2-neutral as early as next year.
FUCHS will be CO2-neutral globally by 1 January 2020, in
terms of energy consumption in production to consumables in
administration.
In order to implement CO2-neutrality by the start of next year,
FUCHS will offset its CO2 emissions, which have not yet been
avoided so far, with compensation measures.
This will be done by the company investing in high-quality
climate protection projects aimed primarily at promoting
renewable energies.
The projects are accredited, approved and monitored accord-
ing to internationally recognised certification standards such as Sun magnet: Swathes of solar panels on its UK HQ roof in
the Gold Standard, as well as by renowned organisations such Stoke is one of many CO2-cutting measures by FUCHS
as the United Nations (UN).
The validation of the project results with regards to the CO2 “FUCHS’ CO2-neutrality strategy is embedded in our sustain-
savings achieved is verified by independent testing bodies ability strategy, which we launched 10 years ago,” explains
such as TÜV. FUCHS PETROLUB SE Chairman of the Exec Board Stefan Fuchs.
“In this way, we are taking responsibility for global climate
Lube Cube cuts junk protection and making an important contribution to achieving
FUCHS’ UK headquarters are located in Stoke-on-Trent, and the the goals of the UN climate protection agreement ratified in
firm has shown its commitment to environmental sustainability Paris in 2015.”
in a number of ways. This agreement aims to limit global warming to well below
The launch of Lube Cube gave customers the option of buying two degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels.
its products in a recyclable cardboard box rather than a plastic “When selecting projects, our focus is on climate protection
container. The change has resulted in an incredible saving of more projects that support economic, ecological and social develop-
than 660,000kg of plastic since the Lube Cube launched in 2012. ment worldwide in regions with FUCHS locations.
Furthermore, more than 2,000 solar panels have been “In this way we fulfil our global social responsibility in the
installed at FUCHS’ base on New Century Street in Hanley, Stoke. sense of corporate citizenship. At the same time FUCHS also
The panels now produce 12% of the required energy for the supports the 17 sustainable development goals of the UN to
entire plant. which the company has officially committed itself since 2018.”

Standard Listed - you know who’s best!

But contact us for all the rest...
• Non-preferred Metrics • Intermediate Sizes • Short and Long Lengths
• Slotted Grub Screws • A4/80 Bolts & Socket Caps • 6 Lobe (TX) Drive Screws
• All Metal Self-Locking Nuts • Studding Connectors And many more...

Tel: +44 (0) 117 - 972 8560 Online Product Guide:

Fax: +44 (0) 117 - 972 8570 www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk
Email: [email protected] Unit 10, Riverside Business Park, St Anne’s, Bristol, BS4 4ED, UK.
TORQUE_New Website_TOR_Nov19.qxp_Layout 1 21/11/2019 17:53 Page 1

torque-exp
o.com

INTRODUCING
THE NEW WEBSITE
torque-expo.com
Your destination for everything fastener, tool & distribution.

+ NEW ONLINE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Get connected. Interact. Get involved.

@Torque
Expo
Torque E
xpo
@torque
expo
54-55 SHOW REVIEW_SPE-Off-Shore_Europe_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:27 Page 1

SHOW REVIEW
SPE OFFSHORE EUROPE 2019

DRILLING FOR
THE FUTURE
A low carbon future is on the agenda for the offshore industry, as is the challenge
of adopting new tech, new practices and the no small matter of recovering from
a lull for the sector. Torque reports on Aberdeen’s SPE Offshore Europe Show…
Picture Credit: SPE Offshore Europe & Alan Peebles

54 torque-expo.com
54-55 SHOW REVIEW_SPE-Off-Shore_Europe_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:31 Page 2

he future of energy, and where we get it from, is an enduring

T concern and has become so high profile in 2019 – not least

through the ‘Extinction Rebellion’ protests – that it even managed
to stop the UK talking about Brexit once or twice. No mean feat.
GARY HENDERSON
MANAGING DIRECTOR > GRAMPIAN FASTENERS

Aberdeen’s SPE Offshore Europe show returned this September

against this potentially tricky background, as well as contending with DID GRAMPIAN FASTENERS HAVE A GOOD SHOW?
an offshore industry that has been in something of a slump. As you’d expect with being based in the oil capital
Nevertheless, this year’s show brought in 38,000 visitors – proof that of Europe, our customers are predominantly in the
the energy industry is steadily continuing to emerge from the down- Oil and Gas business. Offshore Europe is a fantastic
turn, according to the show organiser. opportunity for us to connect with new and existing
950 exhibitors, including 125 new names, showcased goods and clients from around the globe.
services at the 2019 show. Delegates arrived from 119 countries, with It was still a big decision as to whether we would
37 nations among exhibitors on the show floor including Singapore, exhibit or not with the industry having faced a diffi-
China, Nigeria, Guyana and Brazil. There were 14 international pavilions cult few years. One of the things that swung our
– including Canada, the USA, Norway, Finland, Netherlands and Italy. decision was that it was the first major event to be
Addressing the potential of a low carbon future, this year the show held at TECA – Aberdeen’s brand new event centre.
introduced a new Energy Transition Hub, which was integrated into It absolutely was a good decision. Although visi-
“all aspects of content in the event”, said the organisers. tor numbers were up on the previous event there
was a feeling that there were less people visiting
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF THE INDUSTRY exhibitor stands. However, we found the quality of
The exhibition side of the business was supported with 12 keynote conversation was better than previous events.
sessions and no less than 86 technical papers. One of which delved into We’ve always found it difficult to trace sales back
future tech and looked at the impact of that old favourite, Industry 4.0, to exhibitions but this one was different. We’ve
on the offshore industry. already seen a level of direct business that has
The psychological factors that hold back on the introduction of tech- justified exhibiting.
nological innovations in the oil and gas industry – like risk aversion and
reluctance to change - was the topic of research from Robert Gordon WERE YOU PROMOTING ANY SPECIFIC
University (RGU) and the Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC). PRODUCTS OR SERVICES?
Evidence was found that a number of factors impact on an organisa- Although we were promoting the increased range
tions receptiveness to new technology – which is seen as crucially of hand tool brands we now stock (Beta, Bahco,
important to the unlocking the full potential of the industry. Facom, Stahlwille, Stanley, Teng), we were really
Dr Ruby Roberts, Research Fellow, RGU, said: “Technological inno- highlighting how we can help our customers with
vation offers solutions to several of the key challenges that the indus- productivity gains.
try faces including decommissioning, sustainability, maintaining low We’re a very active sponsor of TAU Racing, a team
production costs and asset health. It is a key component of the Oil and of students from Aberdeen University who build a
Gas Authority’s Vision 2035 for transforming and revitalising the car to compete in the IMechE Formula Student
industry for the future, so understanding and overcoming barriers to competition. We’d introduced the 5S methodology
innovation is vital. to them and helped them to develop toolkits and
“Compared to other sectors, the oil and gas industry has a set of systems of work to boost their productivity. They
unique characteristics that has the potential to hinder technology displayed their latest car alongside the toolkits and
adoption. When compared to other industries, which tend to invent were glowing ambassadors for both the products
and implement new technologies quite naturally, oil and gas can be and how they work with Grampian Fasteners.
slower to innovate.
“We’ve known this anecdotally for some time, but our research with WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE STATE OF THE
OGTC is revealing how particular behaviours and thought processes OFFSHORE SECTOR RIGHT NOW?
are impacting the industry. At leadership level, we’re confident that It’s a really interesting time with a few key themes
there is a willingness to drive new technology and this is being backed dominating the agenda. The importance of the tran-
up by a newer generation of workers entering the workplace.” sition to renewable energies was already known but
Professor Paul Hagan, Vice Principal for Research and Deputy it’s been elevated after climate change protests this
Principal at RGU, added: “The Fourth Industrial ‘Digital’ Revolution year. On the same topic of climate change, there’s
is driving rapid evolution of technology leading to fundamental also a drive for the industry to support a net-zero
changes in the way we work. If we are to benefit fully from the power economy by cutting emissions from production
of this new technology we need to understand how to overcome the operations as well as the need for carbon capture
psychological barriers to technology adoption and deployment. projects. The Oil & Gas Technology Centre continues
These barriers may not be unique to the oil and gas sector. Every to support the introduction of technologies which
industry needs to adapt. So, the potential impact of this project in will maximise economic recovery as well as decom-
realising economic benefits is huge.” missioning in the North Sea and can then be
While the sector grapples with those big topics and more in the exported around the world. Far from being a dead-
interim, the next edition of SPE Offshore Europe has been tabled for 7- end industry, there’s an exciting transition happen-
10 September 2021, once again back in Aberdeen. ing with companies who are resilient, know how to
adapt and want to provide solutions for our future.
www.offshore-europe.co.uk

torque-expo.com 55
56 FOCUS_Nails_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:48 Page 1

TORQUE FOCUS
NAILS

HITTING THE NAIL

ON THE HEAD
HJZ, Titibi and Ghezzi Fastening Systems share
their latest innovations in the nail sector…

Ghezzi
Ghezzi Fastening Systems is a company and its products, renewing its EPAL The company, certificated for ISO
with history in the nail manufacturing license every year in order to maintain quality, is also environmentally minded
sector, coordinated by the Ghezzi its status as a major manufacturer of and has earned the environment certi-
family for five generations. certified EURO pallet nails. fication ISO 14001.
To date, the company has orches-
trated an industrial revolution within
itself in order to bring innovation and
the latest technologies into its build-
ings with a specific target; to impose
itself strongly on the market and to
widen its contacts.
The company offers a wide arrange-
ment of nails in terms of diameter and
length due to the variety of the
machines in its production facility.
Ghezzi also prides itself on its active
planning team.
Ghezzi Fastening Systems pays close
attention to its customer’s satisfaction

Titibi Zandvoort Draadindustrie BV (HJZ)

Produced in Titibi's Torre de' Busi plant in Italy, the firm's Established in Holland since 1936, HJZ has produced nails for
new gas nailer-compatible steel nails have been formed the house building, utility building, construction, renovation
through a combination of innovative technologies, raw mate- and joinery sectors.
rials and continuous process control. The nails are compat- The firm’s hardened steel nails, available with a smooth
ible with most gas nailers and are made from hardened shaft in blue or black and in a galvanised version, reach a
high-carbon steel (C72-C80). hardness of 52-54 HRc and a bending angle of 45-90 degrees
As a result of the hardening process the nails have a high after the manufacturing process.
hardness of 54 HRc and a high elasticity, able to bend up to Besides its hardened steel nails, HJZ offers a complete
90 degrees without breaking in the presence of an insur- range of specialty nails in stainless steel A2 and A4 quality.
mountable obstacle. According to Titibi, these features guar- The stainless-steel nails are available as smooth, screw
antee maximum safety for the operator during use. thread, ring-shanked (also on plastic strip or coil), roofing,
corrugated plate, Z2 lath and Z4 cellular concrete nails.

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57 SPOTLIGHT_Accu_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 13:50 Page 1

TORQUE SPOTLIGHT
ACCU

ACCU EXPANDS RANGE

OF ENGINEERING
COMPONENTS
Following the opening of two new industry 4.0
warehouses and the extension of its offices and factory
to support its AccuPro service, Accu has significantly
increased the breadth of its product line-up…

housands more products have been added to the products were shown to be effective in accordance with the

T increasingly extensive range of high-precision compo-

nents at Accu.
The precision engineering component specialist is a
DIN 65151 standard.
The product expansion follows on from other developments
in the ISO-9001 certified business. In April 2019, Accu opened
renowned supplier of precision screws, washers, spacers, nuts up two new industry 4.0 warehouses and extended its offices
and belt and pulley systems, leadscrews, machine tooling, screw- and factory to support the launch of AccuPro, a new, unlimited
driver sets and metrology tools. express delivery service, uniquely designed for UK customers to
Due to popular demand, Accu now stocks a larger range of help provide a streamlined supply chain. Increasing the ware-
specialist plastic variants of its stainless steel fasteners. The new house stocking volume by 350% and having a floor dedicated to
plastic materials include Polyamide, Nylon and Polyvinylidene the application of coatings also supports the higher volume in
(hexagon bolts), Nylon (wing nuts), Reny (Torx pan head screws) customer orders, which include over half of the top 100 manu-
and Polycarbonate (transparent hexagon nuts). facturers worldwide.
These corrosion resistant plastics are specifically designed to Visit Accu.co.uk to explore the new products by category or
provide additional protection properties for specific applica- use Accu’s improved smart search function with cutting edge
tions. This provides Accu customers with more component technology to quickly find the parts needed with ease, including:
options for providing UV protection, electrical insulation, heat • O-Rings
resistance or chemical resistance. • Male and Female Binding Screws
Accu’s Hardware category has seen 10 new subcategories • Square Head Screws
develop which are designed to complement the existing prod- • Screw and Nut Covers and Caps
ucts used by its customers. • Open/Closed Universal Bushes
New components for panel installations: • Panel Cinching Rivets
Snap rivets, blind rivets as well as corresponding blind rivet • Machine Feet
guns for fast and convenient panel installations. • Viking Screws
New components for plumbing, maintenance and gas • Fixing Rings
engineers: • Caps and Plugs
Hose clamps, O-rings, end caps which are specifically designed • T Bolt Clamps
for hydraulic applications have been added. • Tube Inserts
New components for electronic hobbyists: • Tube Connectors
Nylon nuts and bolts, washers and spacers for electrical insu- • Springs
lation and fastener caps for a neat finish. • Cable Ties
New components for machine builders: • Magnets
Accu now stocks adjustable feet, industrial castor wheels, • Hoist Rings
screw cap covers and hinges. Anti-Backlash Gears have been • Hinges
added to the Precision Gears range and Nord-Lock washers
have been added to the Washers and Spacers range. Nord-Lock
wedge-locking washers have proven performance as demon- Polycarbonate
strated in Nord-Lock Group’s Junker Test video, where the hexagon nut

torque-expo.com 57
58 FOCUS_Distribution-Stats_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:00 Page 1

MARKET RESEARCH
OGL COMPUTER

PROFITABILITY IN
WHOLESALE BUSINESSES
We’re becoming more reliant on tech to do business, but with multiple software systems
failing to integrate and a tendency to still rely on manual processes that should be
ancient history, there’s plenty of room to improve our relationship with tech and to boost
profitability in the process, as a recent survey from OGL hints…

t’s been a funny old year for the UK, with the goalposts

I moving multiple times for businesses, not least with a twice

delayed Brexit and a General Election before we get to big
farewell to 2019.
WHAT’S IMPACTING PROFITABILITY IN UK
WHOLESALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS?

But whether your wholesale business is based here in Blighty

or not, the economic outlook seems resolutely set to ‘uncertain’
for the foreseeable future. And for that reason, wholesalers are
looking at profitability and likely also investigating how tech-
nology can help with those margins. of respondents believe Brexit agreed that cited that agree that ERP
85% of wholesaler businesses believe that technology is vital still use some is the key automating inaccurate systems
level of manual factor affecting business data affects improve
to the running of their business and – more tellingly – 80% business the company’s processes helps the company’s control and
processes profitability them stay profitability management
agreed that automating business processes helps their compa- competitive of stock
nies stay competitive. Source: OGL Computer

Those numbers come from a survey commission by OGL

Computer, partner to 1,200 UK businesses. OGL grilled 255 OGL Computer’s top 5 tips for a smooth ERP implementation
wholesalers and distributors for their insights into technology
and profitability and found that a whopping 88% use multiple 1. Select an ERP product based on your future business
software systems. strategy and goals – choose a software solution that will
Despite that high level of software, most have been unable to grow with you and support your needs in the future.
break old habits of using manual processes in managing busi-
ness operations. 2. Conduct a Business Process Review – changing software is
Perhaps most tellingly, over a quarter (27%) said those a great time to review your existing processes to see how
manual processes are ineffective in managing business opera- you can use new technology to enhance and redesign your
tions. However, nearly all (98%) of respondents still used some processes to increase effectiveness.
level of manual processes.
While Brexit was found by the respondents to be the main 3. Review and clean data – take the time to review and clean
factor hitting profitability (47%), other responses were more your customer, supplier and product data to make sure
universal concerns likely replicated internationally; 44% said you transfer quality data to avoid further complication
employee costs affected profitability. and data errors.
Technology-related concerns were found to be significant
worries for wholesaler businesses, who saw inaccurate data 4. Don't underestimate training – identify super users for
(38%), manual processes (35%) and outdated technology each department at the start of the process so they can help
(31%) impacting on business profitability. to train staff moving forward and take ownership of their
76% said integrating disparate software systems would processes for their division. Quality time for training will
produce benefits, with most (57%) believing integration would ensure you can maximise the effectiveness of the system.
cut admin time, 40% believing it would boost accuracy and 37%
stating improved efficiencies by removing duplication of work 5. Choose the right partner – invest in a software provider
across different departments. that can support you and help you to achieve maximum
The main barriers to deploying an integrated software solu- potential from your investment.
tion were cost, with 53% citing budget as the top hurdle,
followed by 38% with time to migrate and 34% selecting busi- NB: Survey conducted in September 2019. Respondents were given
a number of options for each question.
ness disruption. Cost is associated with the misconception that
ERP systems are only for larger businesses, and the lack of infor- www.ogl.co.uk • 01299 873 873 • [email protected]
mation about affordable subscription-based models, says OGL.

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59_ADVERTS_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 18:56 Page 1

NE W
IN STOCK

ASSORTMENT EXTENSION
BLIND RIVET TECHNOLOGY
Blind rivet technology can be used in a wide variety of
applications with limited component accessibility. They
allow high-strength, non-removable connections of thin
materials. Due to the quick and easy installation they are
multifunctional.
Blind rivets are available from Ø2.5 – 6.4 mm and blind
rivet nuts from M4 – M10 as well as suitable tools.

OUR WASI ASSORTMENT

BLIND RIVETS
ISO 15983 A2 Ø2.5 – 6.4 mm
ISO 15983 A4 Ø3 – 6 mm
ISO 15984 A2 Ø3 – 4,8 mm
ISO 16585 A2 Ø3,2 – 6,4 mm
BLIND RIVET NUTS
WS 9314 – Small csk head A2 M4 – M10
WS 9315 – Flat head A2 M4 – M10
WS 9316 – Csk head A2 M4 – M10
WS 9317 – Flat head, semi hex A2 M4 – M10
WS 9318 – Small csk, semi hex A2 M4 – M10

IHRE VERBINDUNG ZUM ERFOLG

YOUR ACCESS TO SUCCESS
60-61 DIY_Stats_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:09 Page 1

MARKET DATA
DIY STATISTICS

DIY IN DETAIL
L
In what areas are the big DIY sheds winning? Is the typical DIY customer changing?
How buoyant are hardware and tool sales in the home improvement sector? Mintel
shares some of its top-line data from its latest DIY market report with Torque.

intel Reports has scoured data

M from DIY buyers to reveal the

direction of the market.
Hardware (defined as including screws
“Which of the following types of DIY/home improvement products have
you purchased in the last 12 months? Please select all that apply.”

and bolts by Mintel) was the second most

commonly purchased type of home PERCENTAGE
improvement product, with a third (34%) Painting/decorating 52
of DIY shoppers purchasing them.
In those terms, fasteners outshone the
performance of power and hand tools.
Hardware (eg screws, bolts etc) 34
16% of respondents bought power or
hand tools in the last 12 months. Lighting or electrical equipment 31

Outdoor/garden products
(eg lawnmowers, sheds etc)
25

// Shed retailers face Kitchen/bathroom fittings

17
(eg cabinets, showers etc)
the challenge of an
Power tools or hand tools 16
aging customer base.//
Building materials 15

Tiling/flooring 13
DIY DEMOGRAPHICS
Have you given much thought to the type
Heating/plumbing 12
of customer that buys your screws? Of
course you have. In the DIY sector, Something else 8
unsurprisingly, it was homeowners that
were found to be most likely to buy Can’t remember 4
home improvement products. Further-
more, Mintel found that homeowners
were more likely to buy a much wider BASE: 1,423 internet users aged 16+ who bought DIY/home improvement
range of products.

37
Hardware
37
24
31

17 Own outright
Power tools or 15 Own with mortgage
hand tools 18 Social housing
17 Privately rented

With thanks to Lightspeed/Mintel. For more detailed and wide-ranging statistics, head to: store.mintel.com

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3.9 AGEING PUNTERS

With UK homeownership slipping into ever
Kitchen/ higher age categories, as it becomes noto-
3.85 bathroom
riously tougher for younger generations to
Power
tools
Tiling/ get on the housing ladder – and homeown-
flooring
ers are the biggest purchasers of DIY prod-
AVERAGE SEG (1-6 scale)

3.8
Building ucts – logic indicates that the average DIY
materials
Heating/ customer is getting ever more mature.
3.75
plumbing Lighting/
electrical
Mintel pointed out that it has seen a
split between those shopping for the more
3.7 traditional ‘softer-end’ DIY products such
Hardware as painting/decorating, outdoor equip-
3.65 ment, lighting and hardware items, with
Outdoor/
garden the harder-end items like building mate-
Painting/ rials, tiling, heating/plumbing etc.
3.6 decorating
Mintel said: “It is clear that the ageing
population of householders means that
3.55 those acting as DIYers in the traditional
40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 sense that built up the big-box DIY sector
AVERAGE AGE are ageing. The average age of those
buying these products is significantly
above the average age for all home
improvement shoppers.
PERCENTAGE “Meanwhile those shopping for harder-
end items, like carrying out more significant
60 projects, are likely to be notably younger
Painting/decorating 54 and slightly more affluent. In part this
54 reflects that younger people in a position to
be able to carry out these projects are likely
39 to be more affluent than the average.
Hardware 43 “The split between these two product
48 types reflects the challenges faced by the
shed retailers, as their customer base
35 ages, and those who are younger with the
Lighting or electrical equipment 39 money and expertise to carry out harder-
39 end projects are heading to the non-shed
specialists instead.”
29
Outdoor/garden products 36
33

18
Kitchen/bathroom fittings 23
27

19
Power tools or hand tools 22 DIY WINNERS & LOSERS
25 The ‘sheds’ take a big chunk of the DIY
market, and Mintel’s report revealed that
16 the perceived view of the big three - B&Q,
Building materials 19 Homebase & Wickes – reflects where the
27 sheds win and lose. For example, Wickes
B&Q is popular with those buying ‘harder-
15 end’ product such as hardware, while
Tiling/flooring 17 Homebase Homebase is better known for ‘softer-
20 end’ products like outdoor and garden
Wickes
product buyers.
12 Wickes didn’t just win in the hardware
Heating/plumbing 16 (including fasteners) category, it also
22 dominated hand and power tool sales
among the 3 big sheds.

torque-expo.com 61
62-63 BAC_Big5_Dubai_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:10 Page 1

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

THE BIG 5 DUBAI

THE BIG SHOW

Global uncertainties aside, the construction industry continues to, er, build and this year’s Big 5
Dubai – its 40th – is focusing on the future of the sector, not least modular construction and
the rising acceptance that sustainability must now be at the heart of the sector…

ith tariffs and international

W trading among the big topics of

the last few years, businesses
operating internationally have had to
keep their fingers ever more tightly
pressed upon the international pulse to
stay up to date (or rely more heavily on
their association of choice for the latest
implications of fresh tariffs).
But regardless of those to-ing and fro-
ings, buildings continue to be constructed
and the United Arab Emirates, for one,
continues to be a significant construction
hotbed. The UAE has more than $500
billion worth of planned and as-yet un-
awarded construction projects in the
pipeline (including projects like Etihad
Rail spanning from Saudi Arabia to Oman,
over 1,200 km). That’s according to statis-
tics from the organisers behind the Big 5 increase construction efficiency and are getting ever higher on the agenda for
Dubai which is, in 2019, in its 40th year. speed – will be supported at the show the worldwide construction industry. In
Depending on when you’re reading this with educational agendas and talks to part, that taps directly into its sister show,
article, the Big 5 Dubai is taking/took shed light on advances in offsite and The Big 5 Solar, which is in its third
place at the end of November with modular construction, analysing new edition this year. Middle East countries
exhibitors and visitors planning on taking challenges and opportunities. have committed a combined value of over
a slice of that $500 billion. The addition of a modular construction $30 billion to solar power projects in the
This year, echoing a topic we’ve been element to the show is no shot in the dark – next five years, say the organisers, but
covering at length in Torque Magazine, research conducted by the show organis- environmental concerns promise not to
the Big 5 Dubai has launched a new ers has proven that the topic is foremost in just impact on the nature of finished
Offsite & Modular Construction sector at the minds of its visitors (see inset, right). buildings and construction projects, but
the show. The fast-growing building solu- Those statistics also illustrate the fact also the method of construction, with
tion – designed to optimise resource, that sustainability and the environment increasing pressure for an environmen-
tally friendly supply chain.
And the show is not pitched as a gate-
way to the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) region without good reason. In
2018, 70% of the exhibiting companies
and 41% of the visitors came from
outside the United Arab Emirates. In
total, 2,250 exhibitors took part in last
year’s show, which welcomed more than
68,000 construction professionals from
132 countries.
Next year’s Big5 Dubai will be a partic-
ularly interesting one, coming during
2020 World Expo, being held in Dubai
from October.

www.thebig5.ae
www.expo2020dubai.com

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www.thebig5.ae

THE BIG DATA > JUST THE STATS

THE TOP TRENDS AFFECTING THE THE TOP TECHNOLOGIES THAT
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ARE, ACCORDING IMPACT ON THE CONSTRUCTION
TO A REPORT FROM THE BIG 5 DUBAI: INDUSTRY ARE:

Prefabrication and
modular construction 36.8% Advanced software 31.1%
Energy efficiency 36.6% BIM 23.9%
Focus on sustainability 34.2% Digitalisation 23.1%
Renewable energy 32.2% IoT & smart tech 22.1%
Increased importance
of health & safety 29.8% 3D printing 21.9%

These results were gleaned from a special ‘Voice of the Construction Industry’ report compiled by the Big 5 Dubai
5,591 senior construction industry professionals took part in the survey, based in 136 countries.
60% of respondents expected increase in company turnover this year. 25.4% expected it to stay the same.
13.8% expect a fall in turnover. Africa (excluding South Africa) saw 74.8% of respondents expect to see turnover growth.

torque-expo.com 63
64 FOCUS_Workwear-Footwear_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:14 Page 1

TORQUE FOCUS
WORKWEAR – FOOTWEAR

SUITED & BOOTED

The latest footwear innovations from Toe Guard
and Portwest include hi-tech Scandinavian safety
influences and hi-visibility reflective trims…

TOE GUARD

Part of the Hultafors Group UK’s portfolio of premium-branded workwear,

tools, protective wear and safety footwear, the Toe Guard range of shoes
and boots delivers safety footwear for all manner of working environments
and weathers.
With an RRP starting at £31.45 plus VAT a pair, this footwear is one of the
fastest growing brands in Scandinavia due to a combination of safety, quality
and value.
Each product in the range has in-built hi-tech designs that deliver S3-certified
comfort and safety that includes robust fibreglass toecaps, shock absorption,
flexible puncture resistant composite plates, ESD protection, oil resistant fric-
tion soles and water resistance.
“The Toe Guard product family complements our portfolio of premium brands
perfectly,” says Peter Dumigan, Hultafors Group UK Managing Director. “It
combines top-specification safety footwear technology with exceptional value
for money – an ideal solution for H&S managers, PPE buyers and specifiers.”

www.toeguard.com

UNIVAR SPECIALITY CONSUMABLES

The new Compositelite Retroglo Hi-Vis Boot is Portwest’s latest innovation in

safety footwear. 100% metallic, this boot has been developed with a reflective trim
to keep the wearer visible throughout the day. It features a fibreglass toecap, punc-
ture resistant mid-sole and water resistant upper. Lightweight and breathable, the
boot also allows flexible movement.

OTHER FEATURES OF THE COMPOSITELITE RETROGLO

HI-VIS BOOT INCLUDE:
• CE certified
• Composite toecap for added protection
• Lightweight Composite PU cushioned midsole
• Anti-static footwear
• Energy Absorbing Seat Region
• 100% Waterproof membrane
• SRC – Slip resistant outsole to prevent slips and trips on
ceramic and steel surfaces
• Fuel and oil resistant outsole
• Dual density sole unit
• Suitable for use in ESD environments

www.portwest.com

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WORKING WITH YOU

HOW TORQUE REACHES THE FASTENER, TOOL & RELATED INDUSTRIES

ONLINE
Interactive industry hub,
breaking news,
development,
innovation
E-NEWS DIGITAL
LETTER MAGAZINE
6,500 subscribers, Five editions per year,
hot topics, news, interactive and a
top insights

PRINT
unique platform
and events

10,500 global readership,

trade journal; insights,
news, analysis,
market data,
VIDEO and innovation

Launches, interviews, DIRECTORY

demos, promotions
and news Comprehensive and
interactive guide
for buyers
SOCIAL PODCAST
EVENTS MEDIA Industry insights,
Industry-focused development,
and B2B Over 1,500+ 1-2-1s and education
group members
EMAIL
JOBS CAMPAIGN
Industry-focused Tailored for you, targeted
recruitment hub promotions, news

PRODUCT
REVIEWS
Fixings, fasteners, adhesives,
hand and power tools,
abrasives, workwear
and hardware

For more details, please contact

Alfie Brown via [email protected] or
Harry Whyte via [email protected]
or +44 (0) 1727 739160
66-67 BAC_Adhesives_tapes_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:19 Page 1

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

ADHESIVES, TAPES & SEALANTS

GET STUCK IN
Multi-purpose tapes, specialist fire-resilient
adhesives and expert technical knowledge…

Bond It > Monstrously good tape

Bond It, one of the UK’s fastest growing manufacturers

of sealants, adhesives, waterproofing products and other
building chemicals, has made yet another new addition
to its growing portfolio.
Complementing the Tigris Tapes Range, Bond it is now
offering Monster Tape, a high strength waterproof duct
tape. Monster Tape is rubber-based, easy tear, heavy
duty quality with high tack for binding, fixing, sealing,
repairing, joining, protecting, marking and much more.
It provides long lasting adhesion on most substrates,
including rough and uneven surfaces, as well as on wet
and damp surfaces. It is water resistant and will with-
stand short term water exposure from rain showers. It’s
easy to work with as it has no fiddly backing tape to
remove. The eye-catching point of display box contains
12 rolls of 11M tape.

www.bond-it.co.uk

Ultratape > Technical know-how

Short term bundling, long term fixing, insulating, joining, patching,
marking and masking are the most common applications for tape.
Protection films and tapes, including anti-corrosion tapes are more
specialist products for the more demanding applications.
Manufacturers work hard to produce high quality finished products
which often require transportation to and installation on site. Main-
taining the finish on the product is critical in ensuring customer satis-
faction. Factors including the substrate and environmental conditions
need to be considered before the correct protection product can be
recommended.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two different types of metals are
touching each other resulting in a corrosive electrolyte. One of the
metals will invariably deteriorate quicker than it would if it were not
in contact with another metal, resulting in a loss of structural integrity.
In these circumstances the most economical and easily applied prod-
uct is an adhesive tape.
Ultratape offers itself as a supply partner that can give you and
your customer technical solutions and specialist knowledge in tech-
nical situations.

01382 832999 • [email protected]

66 torque-expo.com
66-67 BAC_Adhesives_tapes_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:25 Page 2

Eurobond > Fire resilience with SAFEFIX FR300

for bonding cladding, fixing and sealing stud partition walls,

bonding and sealing dilation joints and other applications
have come under scrutiny in the aftermath of this tragedy and
with advancements in adhesive chemistry new products have
been brought to market.
Eurobond has launched SafeFix® FR300 - a high-quality and
durable one component ‘’fire-resistant’’ MS Polymer adhesive.
It is suitable for fire-resistant bonding of all kinds of materials
used in construction and general manufacturing industries.
SafeFix FR300 is chemically resistant, permanently flexible
and when used as a sealant can counteract the spread of fire,
smoke or toxic vapours. It has a fire resistance of up to four
hours and is suitable for the fire-resistant adhesion of connec-
tion and dilation joints. It’s also certified for horizontal joints
and connections to floor/ceiling with wall, wooden and steel
casings and all stud applications.
The fire-resistance tests conform with EN1366-4 to 240
minutes in horizontal or vertical joints measuring 30mm wide.
Fire resistance tests were carried out by the Peutz Laboratory
for fire safety for the determination of the fire resistance of
several linear joints with SafeFix FR300 hybrid sealant in walls
with elements of aerated concrete, steel, wood and gypsum.
The tests were performed in accordance with European stan-
dard EN1366-4:2000+A1:2000 using the standard heat curve.
Based on the test performed in accordance with EN1366-
4:2000+A1:2010 and the extended application in accordance
with EN 15882-4:2012, the system was classified in accor-
dance with EN13501-2:2007+A1:2009. An expert judgement
was also made for connecting FR300 to a steel El60-construc-
Following high profile tragedies like that at the Grenfell Tower tion. SafeFix FR300 is not suitable for PE, PP, PC, PMMA, PTFE,
block in West London in June 2017, the spotlight has been soft synthetics, neoprene and bituminous surfaces.
firmly focused on improving resilience against fire in build- SAFEFIX® FR300 is available directly from Eurobond in
ings and on developing fire-resistant materials used in the 290ml cartridges or 600ml foils.
construction of buildings and in general manufacturing and
engineering applications. The use of adhesives and sealants 01795 427888 • [email protected]

Makita > Cordless caulking power

Makita offers a variety of powerful and

lightweight cordless solutions for increasing
productivity when applying caulking, construction
adhesives and more.
Several styles of caulking and adhesive guns are
on offer from the power tool brand, including
options to accommodate 300ml plastic tubes, 850ml
plastic tubes and 600ml (20oz) barrel tubes. Caulk
and Adhesive Guns are available in both Makita 18V
LXT and 12V max CXT Cordless Systems.
The powerful Makita-built motor delivers 5,000
Nm of force to dispense the highest viscosity adhe-
sives and sealants, the brand says, and the five-
speed dial optimises flow rate from 0-66 IPM.
There’s a rubberised soft grip handle to keep it
comfortable too.

www.makitauk.com

torque-expo.com 67
TORQUE_Features-List_Purple-Edition_2020.qxp 21/11/2019 16:27 Page 1

2020 FEATURES
JANUARY (enhanced digital) MAY (enhanced digital) SEPTEMBER (print)
Online catalogues, brochures and Wood, chipboard & decking screws* Fastener manufacturing special
webshops Abrasives and cutting tools* Stainless steel fixings and fasteners*
Stainless steel fixings and fasteners* Automotive fasteners and tools* Torque tools (torque wrenches, etc)
HVAC fasteners and tools SHOW PREVIEW > Fastener Expo Workwear, PPE and safety*
IT services, software and e-business* Shanghai 2020 Building & Construction > Anchors
Video Q&A Video Q&A SHOW PREVIEW > FF Italy
SHOW PREVIEW 1 > International SHOW PREVIEW > STAFDA 2020
Hardware Fair Cologne JUNE (print) SHOW PREVIEW > A+A 2020
Nuts, washers and locking systems TERRITORY FOCUS > Germany
FEBRUARY (print) Apprenticeships, training and young
Rivets, rivet tools and rivet technology* industry rising stars OCTOBER
Machines and Tooling Tools > Made in Germany (enhanced digital)
Building & Construction > Wood, chipboard Workwear > Gloves Nylon and plastic fixings and fasteners*
and decking screws Rail Fasteners Rivets, rivet tools, rivet technology*
SHOW PREVIEW > Taiwan International Building & Construction – ETAs and Power tools and accessories*
Fastener Show Accreditations Video Q&A
(Extra distribution at the show) SHOW PREVIEW > International SHOW PREVIEW > The Big 5 Dubai 2020
SHOW PREVIEW 2 > International Fastener Expo 2020 REGION SPOTLIGHT > Poland
Hardware Fair Cologne (Extra distribution at the show)
(Extra distribution at the show) SHOW PREVIEW > InnoTrans NOVEMBER (print)
SHOW PREVIEW > Wire Düsseldorf TERRITORY FOCUS > Netherlands & C-parts, logistics and Kanban
TERRITORY FOCUS > Taiwan Benelux Automotive fasteners and tools*
Abrasives and cutting tools*
MARCH (enhanced digital) JULY/AUGUST Inspection and quality assurance
Hexagon and socket screws (enhanced digital) Hand tools and accessories
Electrical supplies Plugs, plasterboard and cavity Oils, sprays and lubricants
Coating and plating* fixings Coating and plating*
Workwear, PPE and safety* Special fasteners Building & Construction > Adhesives,
Storage and work cases Janitorial supplies > Wipes, cleaners, Tapes, Sealants and Fillers
Video Q&A sprays, etc TERRITORY FOCUS > Turkey
Video Q&A
APRIL (print) REGION SPOTLIGHT > USA
Fastener distribution special
Aerospace fasteners and tools
Sheet metal fasteners and tools
REGULAR FEATURES
Nylon and plastic fixings and fasteners*
Power tools and accessories* TORQUE TESTED Product reviews (every issue, print & enhanced digital)
Drill bits VIDEO Q&As
IT services, software and e-business* PEOPLE & RECRUITMENT NEWS
Building & Construction > High tensile (HT) WOMEN IN FASTENERS & TOOLS
and bolt assemblies BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
TERRITORY FOCUS > UK

Submit an article or idea for consideration to [email protected]

*Key features will run across print and enhanced digital in a combined package
TORQUE_DIRECTORY_3xPages_2019.qxp 04/11/2019 16:02 Page 1

A Perry & Co Ltd

n Threaded bar
n Engineered fasteners ADI Supply Ltd
n Hardware/architectural Achilles Seibert n Resin anchors Ambrovit Bolts + Screws
ironmongery n Hexagon socket screws/bolts n Shield anchors n Carpentry wood screws
n Chain & rope n Hexagon head screws/bolts n Through bolts n Carpentry wood spacer screws
n Fasteners & fixings n Special/drawing parts n Window frame screws n Carpentry wood terrace screws
T +44 (0)1384 414001 T +49 4193 8955 n CFA approved tester T + 39 (0)382 810280
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.perrytrade.co.uk W www.achill-fasteners.com W www.adisupply.co.uk W www.ambrovit.it

Apex Stainless Fasteners Ltd Atlas Copco

n Stainless steel fasteners n Assembly Tools & Solutions Bonut Engineering Ltd
& fixings n Material Removal Avon Stainless Fasteners n Engineers Stud
n Aerotight nut n Bolt Tightening Solutions n Marine products n Engineers Collars
n Stainless steel screws/nuts n Air Motors, Hoists & Trolley n Stainless fasteners n Engineers Keys
n Stainless steel washers n Service Solutions n Stainless steel semi-standard n Customer Special Fasteners
T +44 (0) 1788 537979 T +44 (0) 845 601 0001 T +44 (0) 117 972 8560 T +44 (0)161 430 4000
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.apexstainless.com W www.atlascopco.co.uk/tools W www.avonstainlessfasteners.co.uk W www.bonut.co.uk

Bülte GmbH
Kunststofferzeugnisse Deligo
n Nylon screws Castle Clothing n Wedge nuts
n Nylon nuts n Tuffstuff Workwear n Channel nuts
n Nylon washers n Blue Castle Workwear n Wire suspension systems Dereve
n Nylon bushings n Fortress Workwear n Heavy and light duty fixings n Safety Valves
n Nylon spacers n Fort Safety Footwear n Electrical accessories n Fusible Plugs
T (+49) 02591 / 91 94 - 0 T +44 (0) 1986 872787 T +44 (0) 1384 824100 T +44 (0)161 430 4000
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.bulte.com W www.castleclothing.co.uk W www.deligo.co.uk W www.bonut.co.uk

torque-expo.com 69
TORQUE_DIRECTORY_3xPages_2019.qxp 04/11/2019 16:02 Page 2

DS Fasteners Ltd Gesipa Blindniettechnik GmbH

n All metal self locking nuts Everbuild Building Products Ltd. Francis Kirk Group n Blind rivets
n Fine pitch nuts n Sealants & adhesives n Socket screws: Unbrako, n Blind rivet nuts
n High grade nylocs n Building chemicals Holo-Krome, Durlok n Automatic riveting
n Serrated flange bolts n Landscaping n Philidas: Steel and n Blind rivet tools
n Stover nuts n Tapes stainless steel n Setting process control
T +44 (0) 1842 763 000 T +44 (0)113 240 3456 T +44 (0) 161 336 2631 T +49 (0) 6105 962 0
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.dsfasteners.co.uk W www.everbuild.co.uk W www.franciskirk.com W www.gesipa.com

Hafren Fasteners HARRISON & CLOUGH LTD

n Security fasteners & fixings

n Bespoke special security
Harrison & Clough Ltd JCP Construction Products
fasteners n Fasteners & Fixings n Fasteners
n Security fastener tooling n Hand Tools n Fixings
& accessories n Power Tool Accessories Icon Fasteners n Sealants
n Security fencing bolts n Industrial Consumables n Fasteners & fixings n Adhesives
T +44 (0)1686 621 300 T 0844 571 22 22 T +44 (0)1902 491 122 T +44 (0)20 8943 1800
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.hafrenfasteners.com W www.harclo.com W www.icon-fasteners.co.uk W www.jcpfixings.co.uk

Kebrell NE Fasteners Ltd OBTEC GmbH

n Commercial fasteners & fixings n Furniture Fasteners n Welding-studs
n Automotive fasteners n Woodscrews Lederer GmbH n Cold-forming parts
n Flange joint sets n Kitting n Bolts
n Stainless steel fasteners
n Specials to drawing n Decking Screws n Screws
n Special parts by drawing
n 20,000 tonnes of stock n Drywall Screws n Rivets
n C-parts management
T +44 (0) 121 526 6049 T +44 (0)121 559 8866 T +49/2333/8309-0 T +49 2373/89-1236
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.kebrell.co.uk W www.nefasteners.co.uk W www.lederer-online.com W www.obtec.eu

OGL Computer Owlett Jaton Albert Pasvahl Performance Fasteners Ltd.

n Fully Integrated ERP Software n Fasteners & fixings n Set screws n Specialist UK manufacturer
n Warehouse Management System n Abrasives n Plugs n Socket Screws & Hex Screws
n eCommerce Integration n Sealants & adhesives n Knurled thumb screws n Turned Parts To Drawings
n Cyber Security n Agricultural & building n Hexagon screws/bolts n All Exotic Materials
n IT Solutions n PPE & workwear n Special scews n Full Traceability Certification
T +44 (0) 1299 873873 T +44 (0) 1785 826167 T +49 [0] 40-53 28 52 – 0 T +44 (0) 121 525 1137
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.ogl.co.uk W www.ojtrade.co.uk W www.pasvahl.de W performancefastenersltd.co.uk

70 torque-expo.com
TORQUE_DIRECTORY_3xPages_2019.qxp 04/11/2019 16:02 Page 3

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS

Appear in Torque’s print and digital magazines throughout the year
CALL +44 (0) 1727 739160 FOR MORE DETAILS

pgb-Europe nv
n Bolts & Nuts Schäfer + Peters GmbH Peter Schröder GmbH
n Wood, chipboard and decking n Screws n Inch Sized Fasteners
screws n Nuts n USA Fastener
n Light duty anchors Precision Technology Supplies n Washers n MS – AN – Na
n Heavy duty anchorss n Stainless steel fasteners n Bolts n ASTM Standards
n Chemical anchors and fixings n Stainless steel n Special Screws and Parts
T +32 9 272 70 70 T +44 (0)1342 410758 T +49(0)7941 6094-0 T +49 713299600
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.pgb-europe.com W www.pts-uk.com W www.schaefer-peters.com W www.schroederschrauben.de

Smith

Bullough

Smith Bullough
Sheh Kai Precision Co., Ltd.
n Blanks and finished stock S&P
n Hammer Drill Bits
n Metric and inch in all grades n Design software for anchoring
n Bimetal Concrete Anchors
n Non standard bolting n Structural timbers
n Carbon Steel Concrete Anchors
n Special forgings n Installation systems Stainless Threaded Fasteners
n Bimetal Screws
n Stainless and special alloys n Reinforced concrete n Fasteners & fixings
n Stainless Steel Screws
T +44 (0)1942 520250 T 886-7-622 5669 T +49 341 4424610 T +44 (0)1902 499 213
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.smithbullough.com W www.shehkai.com W www.sup-scs.de W www.stf-fasteners.co.uk

Our part in every solution

Star Fasteners
n Huck® Lockbolts & Blind
Structural Fasteners Stafa Supply Technologies The Insert Company (UK) Limited
n Associated Tool Hire, Service & n Bolts/Structural Bolts/HV bolts n Southco rotary latch systems n Zinc alloy inserts
Repair n Nuts n Southco electronic access n Steel inserts
n VVG / Rivdom Tool Distributor n Washers systems n Brass threaded inserts
n Fasteners & Fixings n Screws n Cam & compression latches n Furniture connectors
n Sealants & Adhesives n Threaded rods n 25,000 product lines n Special turned parts
T +44 (0) 115 932 4939 T +31 495599888 T +44 (0) 1384 265999 T +44 (0) 121 4397329
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected]
W www.starfasteners.co.uk W www.stafa.nl W www.supplytechnologies.com W www.theinsertcompany.com

fasteners tools distribution magazine

TOBSTEEL GmbH
n High corrosion resistant
Tite-Fix Ltd TORQUE MAGAZINE
fasteners & fixings
n Wood Screws n Daily news website n Stainless steel A2, A4, 1.4571, Volt Industrial plastics
n Decking Screws n Weekly email newsletter
n Nylon products
1.4462, 1.4529
n Construction & Engineering n 5 print magazines a year n 1.4462 (DUPLEX), 1.4529 (HCR)
n Plastic fasteners
n 5 digital magazines a year n DIN 125, 127, 439, 912, 931,
n Plastic nuts
Screws
n Specialist & Bespoke Screws n Events
n Plastic washers
933, 934, 976, 980, 985, 1587,
n Screw-Tite® n International reach
n Plastic spacers
6334, 7991
T +44 (0) 844 571 0003 T +44 (0) 1727 739 160 T +49 (0) 7941 6073-0
E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] T +1 (870) 449-8027
W www.tite-fix.co.uk W www.torque-expo.com W www.tobsteel.com W www.voltplastics.com

torque-expo.com 71
COMMUNITY_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:44 Page 1

COMMUNITY What has the Torque Community been getting up to...?

SUN SHINES ON NORELEM-BACKED SOLAR TEAMS

orelem supported three universities who made ture), whilst comply-

N the top 10 places in this year’s World Solar Chal-

lenge 2019.
Regarded as one of the toughest solar races in the world,
ing with Australia’s
traffic laws.
RWTH and FH
the challenge is a biennial solar-powered car race across Aachen came sixth
the Australian outback that this year ran 13-20 October. place and Jönköping
In the lead up, Norelem donated standard components University took tenth
to teams at HS Bochum (SolarCar-Team Hochschule place in the Chal-
Bochum), Jönköping University (JU Solar Team) and lenger Class race. HS
RWTH and FH Aachen (Team Sonnenwagen) to help them Bochum came fourth place
build their cars. in the Cruiser class race.
This zero-emissions race aims to promote research on Alongside this, RWTH and
solar-powered cars and assess how they can be used in FH Aachen’s team took
everyday life. 53 teams raced 3,000km from Darwin to home the Event Safety
Adelaide in vehicles that ran on solar energy alone. Each Award and David Fewchuck
team had to build a vehicle that met stringent regulations Spirit of the Event Award.
in one of three classes (Challenger, Cruiser and Adven- www.norelem.co.uk

BUILDING PROJECT SECURES RIBA PRIZE

he RIBA Stirling Prize is one of line system into the natural roofline of After being brought on board by

T the most coveted UK building

awards and the local RIBA prizes
are equally sought over by leading
the building. By installing the Soter life-
line system, the architectural design of
the building was not compromised, and
Templar Roofing Services, SFS were
heavily involved in liaising with the
architect and the engineer to arrive at
architects. The Weston at the Yorkshire the low height of the system ensured a solution that met the Yorkshire
Sculpture this year narrowly lost out on that it was not obtrusive, blending seam- Sculpture Park’s health and safety
the big RIBA Stirling Prize, having been lessly into the structure of the building. criteria. The system required a secure
among the six projects up for the gong. Having completed several design fixing through the green roof to ensure
It did, however, scoop no less than four layouts, SFS recommended a system that the roof did not suffer from water
RIBA Yorkshire Awards for its design of that minimised the loading back to the ingress. SFS utilised M8 stainless steel
the new visitor centre and gallery, roof, which was less than 6kN at any gravity toggles to fix the base plate to
located on the grounds of Bretton Hall. given point. The use of the Soter lifeline the roof, which was then weathered by
SFS and Templar Roofing Services system will also assist The Weston to Templar Roofing to provide a secure
collaborated to bring the park’s new maintain the roof and ensure the weatherproof installation.
building to life, installing SFS’s Soter life- integrity of the roof for years to come. www.sfsintec.co.uk

72 torque-expo.com
COMMUNITY_TOR039_Nov19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:44 Page 2

KNIPEX WISHES SUP-PLIERS

WHAT DID YOU
A MERRY CHRISTMAS MISS IN TORQUE’SS
he generous souls at KNIPEX

T have come up with a festive

season offer, providing the
chance to win products from its vast
DIGITAL EDITION?

range over the month of December. VIDEO: Taiwan Fastener Tour

In the lead up to Christmas, KNIPEX Decibel-reducing power tools
will give away up to two prizes each Review: International Fastener Expo 2019
day including the KNIPEX Twistor16, UK Construction Week
KNIPEX CoBolt, KNIPEX Cobra, Cable Workwear show preview: A+A 2019
Shears, Diagonal Cutters and many
Rivets, Nylon and plastic fastener…
more favourites. And the big prize, to
and Beaverscrews
be won 24 December 24, a KNIPEX
Tool Case Big Basic Move, Electric. Head to www.torque-expo.com/magazine
How do you get your chance to put to read it.
your hands upon some free KNIPEX
goodies? Follow Knipex UK on Face- Subscribe at:
book or Instagram and answer the www.torque-expo.com/subscribe
questions each day from 1 December.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
Achilles Seibert GmbH 17 Martyn Price Fasteners 47
Albert Pasvahl GmbH & Co 15 ND Industries 02
Alloy & Stainless Fasteners 45 PBG Europe 37
Ambrovit S.p.A. 13 Peter Schröder GmbH 45
Avon Stainless Fasteners Ltd 52 Precision Technology Supplies Ltd 47
Berardi Bullonerie 15 Reinhardt GmbH 45
Birlik Baglanti Elemanlari Ltd 45 Rivit S.r.l. 75
Brighton-Best International 07 Schäfer + Peters GmbH 43
ISSUE 039
F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG 31 Sheh Kai Precision Co., Ltd 19 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

FWB Products Ltd 59 STAFA Group 05

Gesipa Blindniettechnik GmbH 19 TENZ GmbH 01
Harrison & Clough Ltd 37 The Insert Company (UK) Ltd 09
Hexstone Ltd 76 Taiwan Precision Fastener Company Ltd 59
Kebrell Nuts & Bolts 26 Volt Industrial Plastics Inc. 25
Lederer GmbH 06, 08 WASI GmbH 59
MILESTONES_Teudeloff_TOR039_NovDec19.qxp 21/11/2019 14:49 Page 1

MILESTONES

TEUDELOFF >
A GLOBAL PLAYER IN JUST 25 YEARS
Teudeloff was established in 1994 by Holger Teudeloff and the company
has not wasted any time in becoming a global player in recess pins and
punches, supplying manufacturing tools for the screw making industry…

ounded just 25 years ago in Pfaffenhofen, Bavaria, penetration depths in various materials and coatings are avail-

F Teudeloff has – relatively quickly – developed into a

global player reaching beyond the German market.
A specialist in recess pins and punches for the fastener
able and in stock, including the high quality CodeT®.
The goal of Teudeloff for the next upcoming years is to
become a world leader for recess pins and punches for the
industry, the trading company began in the distribution of fastener industry.
manufacturing tools for the screw making industry right from www.teudeloff.de
the start, in the mid-1990s.
Now customers are spread across the world in more than
30 countries, mostly in Europe, the USA and the Far East.
The key competences of Teudeloff and their production at
Tooling International Limited (TIL – merged into the business
in 2016) clearly lie in recess tooling like punches and pins for
fasteners in cold forming: All geometries, Torx®, Torx plus, Six
lobe, Pozi®, Phillips®, Hexagonal, 12-Multipoint, Bihexagonal,
special as standard or to drawings.
Finding custom solutions for its customers thanks to its
specialist in-house know-how, Teudeloff became part of the
huge Würth Group in 2005.

The world’s biggest Torx stocks?

The development and optimisation of tool life is another of
the firm’s specialisms. Teudeloff has expertise in costs and
productivity in production, guaranteed tool supply, quick and
reliable delivery time, storage and delivery concepts, OpTtool
and more.
With a motto that sets a high standard – “nothing is impos-
sible” – Teudeloff ascertains individual requirements
together with its customers, with TIL's development depart-
ment providing the solutions. The aim is simply to design
innovations in such a way that fully satisfies the customer
and Teudeloff & TIL have managed to develop tools that allow
20 times longer service life than comparable competitive
products, the firm says.
The internal quality management measures ensure that the
highest precision of geometries and tolerances is maintained
after each production step. A coordinated warehouse and
delivery system ensures that there is a good supply of tools
available at all times.
Customers have now been valuing these services for over 25
years and Teudeloff has become one of the main suppliers in
the automotive and aerospace industries, supplying almost all
tools for screw production. Plenty of Torx Teudeloff's Torx stocks are
Teudeloff also reckons it has the biggest Torx stock in the biggest in Europe, the firm reckons
Europe and possibly even in the world too. Almost all sizes and

74 torque-expo.com
 Where there is metal
there is Rivit.it

HEADQUARTERS
RIVIT Srl ITALIA RIVIT INDIA Pvt Ltd RIVIT MAROC Sarl Au
Bologna / Italy Chennai / India Temara / Maroc
T. +39 051 41 71 111 T. +91 44 428 50 250 T. +212 661 379 765
[email protected] / rivit.it [email protected] / rivit.in [email protected] / rivit.it
9001:2015
SINCE 1973
 NEW
PRODUCTS
STAINLESS STEEL GRADE BASE MATERIAL
A2-304 THROUGHBOLT • Concrete
C20/25 to C50/60

The torque controlled Throughbolt is a stainless steel • Non-Cracked

Concrete
grade A2/304 through fixing for use in non-cracked
concrete and normal applications such as:
E
• BARRIERS • GUARD RAILS VA I LABL
A
• FENCES • HAND RAILS NOW
• SIGNS AND POSTS

re Installation
FEATURES istance • Wide
Ran ge O f Si ze s • Fast And Secu
n To Fire Class
A1
iu m D ut y • Corrosion Res nl es s St ee l A2 /304 • Reactio
•M ed ai
ion Sleeve • St
h Fi xi ng • Th ree Way Expans
• Throug

M I N G S O O N .. .
ALSO CO
J C P WA L L S C R E W
TH E The JCP Wall Screw is a light duty
carbon steel fixing for use in concrete
and masonry base materials.
The fast and easy installation along with
undercutting feature provide a rapid secure
BASE MATERIAL fixing without pre-drilling in wall-board or wood.
• Wall-board or Wood
• Masonry For concrete or masonry applications,
• Hollow/Solid Brick pre-drilling is necessary.
• Hollow/Solid Concrete Block
• Concrete Available in three lengths - 32, 38 & 50mm, with white
• Hard Natural Stone or self-colour heads, it comes in countersunk and
pan head and can be used in:
• LIGHT WEIGHT FIXTURES
• CABLE AND ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
FEATURES
• Undercutting Action • No Spinnin
g/Stripping • Fast And Secure Inst
• White Head To Match Application allation • Expansion Free
• Zinc Plated Minimum 5µm • Rea
ction to Fire Class A1
E&OE

DARTFORD ELLAND MILTON KEYNES STONE SWINDON

t 01322 277733 t 01422 370121 t 01908 201600 t 01785 819819 t 01793 527829
f 01322 288043 f 01422 377277 f 01908 669102 f 01785 819699 f 01793 529538

F & F Nov Dec 19.indd 2 22/10/2019 12:06:14