The Gilchrist Foundation has awarded two scholarships from the 2023 applicants. Congratulations to the recipients, we wish them well and are pleased to assist them with their education.
They are as follows and their sponsoring companies:
The Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) has announced it is starting the development of a groundbreaking new apprenticeship program for machine operators that will be recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. This program aims to address the pressing issue of workforce shortage in the fastener manufacturing industry. With an increasing number of skilled machine operators retiring each year, the need to transfer their knowledge and expertise to the next generation has become critical. IFI has partnered on the development of the apprenticeship program with the Marshall University Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC), located in West Virginia. Marshall’s MAMC is well versed in the development of apprenticeship programs, having successfully written and implemented multiple such programs in use across the country today.
"The shortage of workers in fastener manufacturing will not resolve on its own. With each passing year, our industry continues to lose skilled machine operators to retirement, and that knowledge must be passed on to the next generation," stated Dan Walker, Managing Director of IFI. "IFI and its members have decided to roll up our sleeves and create an apprenticeship program for our industry to help solve this ongoing problem."
Fastener Training Institute (FTI) is partnering with International Fastener Expo (IFE) and hosting a day-long fastener training class on Monday, October 9. IFE runs October 9-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fastener Fundamentals - The Nuts and Bolts for Fastener Professionals, will be instructed by Carmen Vertullo, Fastener Consultant and Trainer of Carver Labs. He will teach the basics of fasteners and beyond to industry professionals including the best of Fastener Training Institute’s Fastener Basic Training and Certified Specialist Training programs.
The National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA) recently awarded a scholarship for Fastener Training Week, an advanced fastener technical training program produced by the Fastener Training Institute, to Garrett Wilson, sourcing and inside sales for NSK Industries.
Scholarship applicants were evaluated based on the recommendations from their employers, personal achievements, work experience, and an essay. Identifying information was redacted, so that the team evaluating the applications did not know the names or employers of those applying.
Jim Degnan of S. W. Anderson has been elected as the 2023-2024 president of the National Fastener Distributors Association. Scott McDaniel of TR Fastenings will serve as vice president, Mike Robinson of LindFast Solutions Group will serve as associate chair, and Nick Ruetz of AIS will remain on the Board as immediate past president.
Fastener Fair Mexico will take place September 7-9, 2023 at Expo Guadalajara.
Fastener Fair Mexico is the only business platform that brings together the growing fastener and fixing industry in Latin America. For more than 5 years, the show has helped to strengthen the industry by exhibiting products from manufacturers and distributors, and being the ideal space to create business networks with professional buyers from Mexico and Latin America.
Fastener Training Institute (FTI) is excited to announce the next Fastener Training Week in Chicago, IL from August 21-25. The event will be held at the Lincolnshire Marriott and is hosted by the Mid-West Fasteners Association (MWFA).
FTI’s advanced technical training program is for fastener distributors, manufacturers and end-users and is part of FTI’s Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) advanced technical training program. It combines small group classroom education, discussions and hands-on exercises along with plant and testing facility tours and networking opportunities. At weeks-end, students test for CFS designation.
Mid-States Bolt & Screw Company, also known as “the dedicated fastener people”, is celebrating 50 years of business on May 24th, 2023!
Mid-States Bolt & Screw Company has an extensive inventory of nuts, bolts, and screws. The saying goes, “If we don’t have it, we can find it, if we can’t find it, it doesn’t exist.” Fasteners are used in different applications and are needed across many industries. The diversity of their uses and the industries that use them are a key element of our company’s stability and longevity.
SPIROL is pleased to announce that Ford Aerospace Ltd based in South Shields, UK will be joining the SPIROL group of companies.
Ford Aerospace was founded at Tyne Dock in 1910 by Robert Ford, and the family business has most recently been led by the founder’s great-grandson, Chris Ford. The company specializes in manufacturing high precision metal components and sub-assemblies for the aerospace, industrial, and high-technology sectors. It’s been a leading supplier over its 113 year history dating back almost as far as the first recorded flight in 1903 by the Wright Brothers.
The National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA) is pleased to announce that Carmen Vertullo of Carver Engineering and Manufacturing (San Diego, CA) is the 2023 recipient of its Fastener Professional of the Year award.
The Fastener Professional of the Year award was created by NFDA to honor individuals and companies that make a substantial positive impact on people’s lives. Past recipients include:
Martin Inc. is excited to announce the appointment of Kevin Cozine as the new Vice President of Sales for Martin Fastening Solutions. In his new role, Kevin will be responsible for expanding the market share of Martin Fastening Solutions and collaborating with the sales team across all of Martin's lines of business.
Kevin brings extensive experience in operations and sales leadership to his new role. He most recently served as the Director of Operational Excellence at Optimas Solutions, where he led the growth of new customer engagement and expanded the customer engagement team's analytical coverage. Kevin has also held leadership positions at MSC Industrial Supply Co. and H&D Distributors, where he developed and grew key accounts.
Join us at Fastener Fair USA 2023! Register for FREE as our guest and visit us in booth #844. Click here to sign up with our discount link.
Fastener Fair USA is the only exhibition in the U.S. dedicated to the full supply chain–distributors, mechanical and design engineers, purchasers, wholesalers and OEMs. From automotive to aerospace, construction to HVAC, furniture to appliances, fastener professionals from every segment of the market find the latest products they need at Fastener Fair USA.
The Fastener Training Institute (FTI), the leading nonprofit provider of fastener product and technical training, is excited to announce Würth Industry North America (WINA) will continue as sustaining sponsor in 2023. This will mark the fifth year of partnership between the two organizations.
“Würth’s continued support is instrumental to our ability to offer frequent and robust educational opportunities which enhance knowledge, safety and reliability across the fastener industry,” said John Wachman, Managing Director for FTI. Thanks to Würth’s support, FTI will continue to offer an extensive menu of in-person fastener training classes taught by leading industry expert instructors, as well as live webinars and an on-demand Online Learning Library (OLL).
Field has announced that it has merged with Mid-State Bolt & Nut Company, a full-line fastener distributor headquartered in Columbus, OH. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mid-State Bolt & Nut Company, who was founded in 1946, brings value to the OEM marketplace through creative and efficient supply chain solutions for fasteners and other direct materials.
This strategic partnership will enhance their combined position in North America by expanding the products, services, and geographical footprint in which they service customers. Both companies become stronger by being together, and more equipped to support current and prospective customers while providing technical services to drive short and long term cost savings.
Attend the 2023 Taiwan International Fastener Show onsite or online. To register, scan the QR code below or contact [email protected]
You're invited to attend Sourcing Taiwan 2023 – Taichung. This will be a procurement meeting event that connects buyers and suppliers from various industries including machinery, hardware, and hand tools. It will be held in person on April 27th in Taichung, Taiwan.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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!
