BLOG

Fastener Fair Global 2023 is set for a strong comeback showcasing technological developments in a fast-moving market

After four years, Fastener Fair Global 2023, the 9th international event dedicated to the fastener and fixing industry, returns from March 21-23 to Stuttgart. The exhibition represents once again an unmissable opportunity to establish new contacts and build successful business relationships between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, engineers and other industry professionals from various production and manufacturing sectors looking for fastening technologies.

Taking place across halls 1, 3, 5 and 7 at the Messe Stuttgart exhibition center, over 850 companies have already confirmed their participation at Fastener Fair Global 2023, covering a net exhibition space of over 22,000 sqm. International firms from 44 countries exhibit at the show, representing SMEs and large multinational enterprises from Germany, Italy, China, Taiwan, India, Turkey, Netherlands, the UK, Spain and France. Exhibitors include: Albert Pasvahl (GmbH & Co.), Alexander P A A L GmbH, Ambrovit S.p.A., Böllhoff GmbH, CHAVESBAO, Eurobolt BV, F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG, Fastbolt Schraubengroßhandels GmbH, INDEX Fixing Systems, INOXMARE SRL, Lederer GmbH, Norm Fasteners, Obel Civata San. ve Tic. A.S, SACMA LIMBIATE SPA, Schäfer + Peters GmbH, Tecfi Spa, WASI GmbH, Würth Industrie Service GmbH & Co. KG and many more.

Ahead of the event, Liljana Goszdziewski, Portfolio Director for the European Fastener Fairs, comments: "After four years since the last edition, it is rewarding to be able to welcome the international fastener and fixing industry at Fastener Fair Global 2023. The high turnout of exhibiting companies confirmed at the event reflects an eagerness for the sector to get together face-to-face and participate in the show to allow plenty of business networking activities and enable new sales and learning opportunities in a fast-growing market."

Read More

Fastener Training Week in Cleveland April 3-7

The Fastener Training Institute will host its next Fastener Training Week April 3-7 at the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) near Cleveland, OH. This advanced technical training program is offered in partnership with IFI and is for fastener distributors, manufacturers and end-users.

Fastener Training Week offers five intensive days of education and plant tours as part of the FTI Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) advanced technical training program. After completing this industry training in a small group environment and passing a final exam, attendees are eligible for the Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) designation.“FTI’s Fastener Training Week (FTW) offers fastener professionals a compact yet thorough opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and the eligibility for CFS designation while learning from expert industry leaders,” shared Jo Morris, Marketing Director for Fastener Training Institute.  

Fastener Training Week in Cleveland will cover timely topics such as manufacturing processes, consensus standards and quality control and be taught by leading industry experts Salim Brahimi, IFI Director of Engineering Technology, and Laurence Claus, IFI Director of Education and Training. Participants will also tour manufacturing, secondary processes and testing facilities.

Learn more at fastenertraining.org.

Attend the 2023 Taiwan International Fastener Show Onsite or Online

News from TAITRA about their upcoming conference:

We of the Taiwan Trade Center, Los Angeles (TAITRA) are a nonprofit organization supported by the Taiwan government to promote trade between the US and Taiwan. It is our pleasure to invite you to attend the hybrid 2023 Taiwan International Fastener Show. Possessing a unique industrial cluster that synergizes fastener-related supply chains, Taiwan's fastener industry is perfect for international buyers to find large scale and niche market suppliers through either the physical or online exhibition.

  • 2023 Taiwan International Fastener Show (Onsite): May 3rd - May 5th , 2023
  • 2023 Taiwan International Fastener Show (Online): May 3rd - May 9th , 2023

A FREE Hotel / Flight Reimbursement Travel Incentive is available for qualified buyers, consisting respectively of free hotel lodging (up to 4 nights) for one room / reimbursement on round-trip airfare for one person from your company.

Read More

Jim Ruetz Earns Ph.D.

Congratulations to Jim Ruetz, now known as Dr. James Ruetz, Ph.D. Jim recently graduated with his doctorate from Oklahoma State University. His dissertation titled “Succession Versus Harvest in the Family Business: The Role of Passion and Family Involvement in Exit Strategy” involved 118 family business owners and 33 private equity managers.

Jim thanks those NFDA members who played a big role by participating in his data collection. He will present his findings during the upcoming NFDA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on June 14, 2023.

Martin Inc. Welcomes Marc Strandquist, Executive Vice President, Fastening Solutions

Martin Inc. Welcomes Marc Strandquist, Executive Vice President, Fastening Solutions

Martin Inc., one of the nation’s leading providers of custom-tailored solutions for maintenance, repair, operation and production supplies, welcomes Marc Strandquist to the role of executive vice president, Fastening Solutions Division. In this role, Marc will develop and execute strategic plans, drive efficiency and profitability, create synergy across all Martin business units, while building and leading the fastening team to achieve business objectives.

Read More

Dave Fretz Retires from Hanger Bolt & Stud

Member news from Hanger Bolt & Stud: 

David Fretz has announced his retirement from Hanger Bolt & Stud Co, after nearly 35 years. Initially heading up the sales and marketing effort of our fastener division, Dave quickly assumed a major role in the design and marketing of our emerging line of automatic Drill n’ Drive machines. More recently, his efforts have helped build our HBS wire drawing operation which now overshadows our fastener footprint. His sound leadership in our organization and the industries we serve will be greatly missed. We wish you well Dave!

SPIROL Launches New SPIROL.com

SPIROL recently launched their new and improved corporate website: SPIROL.com. The new corporate website is a culmination of over 74 years of engineering knowledge and experience in the fastening, joining and assembly arena. Simple to use and easy to navigate, the new SPIROL.com makes it effortless to connect with SPIROL’s global locations, request technical support, submit an RFQ, as well as purchase product through their integrated eCommerce website: Shop.SPIROL.com.

Available in 10 languages, the new SPIROL.com has a specific Fastener & Assembly Resource Center for easy access to:

Read More

Invitation to Attend Taipei Building Show: Dec 8 - Dec 11 (Onsite)

NFDA Members are invited to attend the 2022 Taipei Building Show:

We of the Taiwan Trade Center, Los Angeles (TAITRA) are a nonprofit organization supported by the Taiwan government to promote trade between the US and Taiwan. It is our pleasure to invite you to attend the 2022 Taipei Building Show. The largest building show in Taiwan and the best opportunity for meeting Taiwan suppliers and exploring new products.

2022 Taipei Building Show (Onsite): December 8th - December 11th
(Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1&2)


Read More

Fastener Fair Global 2023: Live exhibition returns to Stuttgart in March

Four years after the last edition, Fastener Fair Global, the International Exhibition for the Fastener and Fixing Industry, returns from 21 – 23 March 2023 at Messe Stuttgart in Germany to bring the industry together face-to-face. At its 9th edition, Fastener Fair Global is the largest exhibition worldwide specifically dedicated to presenting and promoting fastener and fixing products and technologies. 

In advance of the exhibition, there are already 780 exhibitors confirmed from some 40 countries across the world, with the strongest representation from German, Italian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Turkish and Indian firms. Over 21,170 square metres of net exhibition space has already been booked, covering halls 1, 3, 5 and 7 at the Messe Stuttgart Exhibition Centre. Among those exhibiting at Fastener Fair Global are Alexander P A A L GmbH, Böllhoff GmbH, Carlo Salvi S.p.A., Eurobolt BV, F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG, Fastbolt Schraubengroßhandels GmbH, INDEX Fixing Systems (Técnicas Expansivas S.L.), INOXMARE SRL, Lederer GmbH, MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co. KG, Norm Civita San. ve Tic. A.S., Obel Civita San. ve Tic. A.S., PGB EUROPE NV, Pühl GmbH & Co. KG, SACMA LIMBIATE SPA, Schäfer + Peters GmbH, SPAX International GmbH & Co. KG, Tecfi Spa, TOBSTEEL GmbH, WASI GmbH and Würth. 

Read More

MSC Industrial Supply Co. Acquires Tower Fasteners

MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE: MSM), a premier distributor of metalworking, maintenance, repair, and operations supplies to industrial customers throughout North America, today announced that it has acquired Tower Fasteners, a Holtsville, New York-based valued-added distributor of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) fasteners and components. 

Under the equity purchase agreement, Tower will continue to operate under its current name after becoming an MSC company. Mark Shannon, President of Tower, will continue to lead the business, which has approximately 100 associates. Tower’s revenue in calendar 2021 was approximately $35 million. MSC’s acquisition of Tower, made through its All Integrated Solutions (AIS) subsidiary, expands the company’s presence in the OEM fastener market, which it entered in 2018 with the acquisition of AIS, a leading value-added distributor of industrial fasteners and components, MRO supplies and assembly tools based in Wisconsin. 

Read More

Big Bolt Acquires Delta Secondary

Big Bolt expands its presence in the strategic secondary services growth category.

Big Bolt, LLC (“Big Bolt”), one of the largest specialty fastener manufacturers in the US, announced it has acquired Delta Secondary, LLC (“Delta”), an Illinois-based manufacturer of fasteners and provider of secondary services.

Read More

Take the Family Business Survey

NFDA Members,

My name is Jim Ruetz. Through our family businesses -All Fasteners & All Tool Sales (now All Integrated Solutions (AIS)- div of MSC Industrial, I’ve been an active member of the NFDA since 1995.

Read More

LindFast Acquires Star Stainless Screw Co.

LindFast Solutions Group (LSG), a leading master distributor of specialty fasteners in North America, today announced the completion of its purchase of Star Stainless Screw Company (Star). Together LSG and Star will be even more effective at meeting the needs of their diverse customer base, ranging from stainless to inch, to metric, to value-added services, and more.

"We believe the combination of LSG and Star will give our collective customers unparalleled ability to meet all of their fastener needs with one company," said LindFast CEO Bill Niketas. "With Star's 14 branches and distribution centers across North America and the 16 locations we have, this collective footprint will allow our customers to access product even more efficiently than in the past."

Read More

Follow NFDA on LinkedIn

The National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA) has for many years enjoyed two LinkedIn opportunities: an account and a group page.

We’re going to make things easier for everyone by consolidating into one presence, the group page. 

Read More

Obituary: Ed McIlhon

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Ed McIlhon. We’d like to share with you the obituary lovingly written by his family.

Edward (Ed) James McIlhon journeyed peacefully to Heaven on July 11, 2022. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 52 years and his four children every step of the way.

Read More

Budd Sales to Represent Sherex in 4 States

Sherex Fastening Solutions, a global leader in engineered fasteners, tooling, and automation, is proud to announce its relationship with Budd Sales Company, an engineered fastening specialist, to be a sales representative in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Budd Sales, owned and operated by Tom Buddenbohn, has over 40 years’ experience working with manufacturers to find the right fastening solutions for their applications. Sherex’s wide-range of quality fastening products, including rivet nuts, clinch nuts, threaded inserts, wedge-locking washers and nuts through its Disc-Lock® and TEC Series® product lines, and the tooling to install these fastening products, makes the match an ideal fit for Budd Sales. 

Read More

Field Announces New President and Executive Vice President

Field Fastener, a family owned, global supplier of inventory management, technical support services, and complete supply chain solutions for fasteners and other “c” class items, has announced the company’s leadership succession plan. Jim Derry, President and CEO of Field, has announced that Adam Derry will be promoted to succeed him as President, effective immediately. In addition, Chris Pauli will be promoted to Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. Jim Derry will remain the company’s CEO. The new roles reflect the tremendous impact Adam and Chris have had on Field’s growth and culture, and a testament to the confidence Jim and Bill Derry have in their ability to execute on its future growth plans.

In 1990, Jim and Bill Derry acquired Field from Dick Field. Since that time Field has seen aggressive growth; achieving an 18% average growth rate per year due to its world class culture and staying customer centric. Field currently has operations in Rockford, IL, Tyler, TX, Florence, SC, Troy, IL, Monterrey and Monclova, Mexico, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Under Jim’s leadership, Field grew beyond $100 Million, and rolled out the 30-Fieldamentals, which is at the heart of Field’s culture. As CEO, Jim will focus on key customer relationships, acquisitions, and facilitating strategic planning.

Read More

Mid-States Bolt and Screw Co. Helps Out Ukrainian Families in Need

NFDA member Mid-States Bolt and Screw Co. recently stepped up to fill 320 backpacks with supplies and send them to families in war-torn Ukraine.  Click here to read the full article.

EU duties will disrupt fastener supply chain

“In proposing duties of up to 86.5 percent on Chinese fasteners, the EU is creating a permanent supply problem for the European industry thereby putting ‘Made in EU’ at risk. The excessively high duties will hit European companies at a time when they are already suffering from massive supply problems. It is completely incomprehensible that the European Commission wants to make the supply situation even worse under these exceptionally difficult circumstances." This was the response from Volker Lederer, President of the European Fastener Distributor Association (EFDA), to the Commission’s disclosure of its conclusions from the AD676 anti-dumping investigation issued on 14 December 2021.

The European Commission intends to impose an anti-dumping duty on imports of screws and other iron and steel fasteners originating in the People's Republic of China. A duty of 39.6 % is planned for a limited group of Chinese fastener exporters. However, the general duty rate is to be a whopping 86.5 percent. The Commission initiated the investigation on 21 December 2020, following a complaint lodged by European fastener producers. According to the Commission, the duties are to be imposed by 17 February 2022 at the latest. Before that, the governments of the EU Member States will vote on the definitive measure.

Read More

The Growing Impact of Freight Recovery

From the NAW Blog:

There is a silent but growing profit drain leaking away at wholesale distributors this year, and according to experts, it’s likely to double next year and beyond. For the average distributor with an EBIT of four percent, it could potentially reduce their profitability by 60 to 150 basis points, or 15 to 25 percent. However, for a select group of companies, it will increase profitability by the same percentages. What’s going on here?

Read More