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 9th Fastener Fair Global, international exhibition for the fastener and fixing Industry, ended last week after three successful show days at the Messe Stuttgart exhibition center in Germany. Almost 11,000 trade visitors from 83 countries attended the event to discover the latest innovations, products, and services from all areas of fastener and fixing technology and to connect with other industry professionals from various manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Fastener Fair Global 2023 welcomed around 1,000 exhibitors from 46 countries, filling up halls 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the exhibition venue. Covering a net exhibition space of over 23,230 sqm, a 1,000 sqm increase compared to the previous show in 2019, exhibitors presented the complete spectrum of fastener and fixing technologies: industrial fasteners and fixings, construction fixings, assembly and installation systems and fastener manufacturing technology. As a result, the 2023 edition represents the biggest Fastener Fair Global to date.

After 51 years of success operating as a single location in Spokane, Washington, Empire Bolt & Screw announces the opening of a second warehouse distribution facility in Summerville, SC.

President and CEO Ron Stanley stated, "After receiving requests from various customers needing more localized inventory, we listened and started the process of setting up a distribution warehouse in South Carolina. We are already seeing the advantages of having inventory closer to our customers due to the logistical challenges of shipping freight across the country. Under the direction of chief operations officer, Jennifer Sturm, our new service facility was established within four short months at a location 2,600 miles away from our Spokane headquarters."

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.

A group of fastener industry veterans gathered recently in Naples, FL to celebrate Jim Ruetz earning his PhD. Pictured from left to right are:

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.

• 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.

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., 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.

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 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:

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)