EuroFasteners January 2022

ISSN: 2633-9706 print

ISSN: 2633-9714 online Photo by Michael Dziedzic, Unsplash

Contents January 2021

Diary of events

4-8 April 2022 MACH

Trade exhibition Birmingham, UK Organisers: The Manufacturing Technologies Assoc www.machexhibition.com

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9-13 May 2022 wire Düsseldorf Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire.de

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17-20 May 2022 TOLexpo Trade exhibition Paris, France Organisers: Global-Industrie www.tolexpo.com

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25-28 May 2022 Lamiera Trade exhibition Milan, Italy Organisers: CEU-Centro Esposizioni Ucimu SpA www.lamiera.net 7-8 June 2022 Wire Expo Trade exhibition Dallas, Texas, USA Organisers: The Wire Association International Inc www.wireexpo22.com 26-29 September 2022 wire China Trade exhibition Shanghai, China Organisers: Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute Co Ltd Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai Co Ltd www.wirechina.net

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5-7 October 2022 wire Southeast Asia Trade exhibition Bangkok, Thailand Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf Asia www.wire-southeastasia.com

As with all shows, and with the continuing coronavirus pandemic, please check to ensure the event is going ahead

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Corporate News

▲ A selection of the products available fromMW Components Photo credit: MW Components

MW Components launches streamlined e-commerce experience

Standard and speciality materials, more than 40 finishes and optional services such as passivation are also available for a variety of parts, as well as free CAD downloads and 3D drawings. With engineering being increasingly time critical, MW Components offers fast turnaround times. The majority of stock parts available from OnDemand offer same-day shipping, while custom quotes have a turnaround as fast as one to two business days. MW Components www.mwcomponents.com

The site combines more than one million parts from brands such as Century Spring, Accurate Screw Machine, RAF Electronic Hardware, Servometer and Maudlin into a single location. Customers can select and purchase prod- ucts from across the MW Components portfolio, simplifying the component sourcing process. e-commerce inventory includes a wide range of components and related parts, including stock spring designs, fasteners, shims, electrical contacts, metal stampings, tubing products and bellows. The MW OnDemand

MW Components, a precision compo- nent manufacturer based in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, has launched a new e-commerce experience. MW OnDemand is a one-stop online resource that streamlines the discovery- to-delivery process of precision compo- nent supply, with tens of thousands of standard items in stock, intuitive search to make finding them easy, and rapid order delivery. MW OnDemand is available through the MW Components website, where customers can also request custom manufacturing services.

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artist tereh

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Corporate News

Bufab acquires Component Solutions Group Bufab has entered into an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares in the US company Components Solutions Group, Inc (CSG). CSG, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is a distributor of fasteners and other C-class components to the North American market. It also owns three subsidiaries – two in Ohio and one in Kentucky. CSG was founded in 2000, and has been mainly owned and run by its current president, Ernie Riling, and his colleagues and minority owners Matt Coy, Ken DeCrane, Thomas Girgash and Rick Clark. Under their leadership, CSG has expanded into a technically oriented supply chain partner with customers across many industries. that CSG is joining the Bufab Group,” said Johan Lindqvist, Bufab’s acting president and CEO. “Over many meetings in the past years, we have gotten to know the company well, and see great similarities to Bufab in the solution-oriented, entrepreneurial approach to creating customer value.” Mr Riling added, “By joining Bufab, we will be able to continue to improve our customer offering, grow our business and strengthen our team. It will be business as usual, with the same high ambition level, but now as a part of a globally leading organisation. I am pleased to continue as president and CEO at CSG, and together with the whole CSG team I look forward to the cooperation with Bufab.” Nucor Fastener to expand with acquisition of coil processing facility “It gives me great pleasure to announce

The acquisition will be financed within Bufab’s existing credit facilities. The purchase price paid upon closing of the transaction amounts to $26mn on a cash- and debt-free basis. A performance- related purchase consideration of a maximum of $10mn may be paid in 2023-2024, conditional on a significantly improved profit. Bufab was founded in 1977 in Småland, Sweden, and now has operations in 28 countries. The company offers a full- service solution as supply chain partner for sourcing, quality control and logistics for C-parts (screws, nuts, etc). Bufab Group www.bufab.com new facility will allow Nucor to better serve the automotive cold heading quality (CHQ) market. The Shelbyville facility will allow the Nucor Engineered Bar group to offer processed coil for demanding automotive CHQ applications. Nucor Fastener, which has been operating since 1986, produces alloy steel hex head cap screws, heavy hex bolts and nuts, and Tru-Tension ® assemblies. Nucor fasteners are used in markets including auto- motive, machine tools, farm implements, construction and military applications. Nucor Corp www.nucor.com diverse industries around the world. With experience in highly technological, cus- tom-made solutions and a flexible manu- facturing capacity, Lesjöfors is a partner for all spring requirements. The group, owned by Beijer Alma – a listed com- pany on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, comprises almost 40 manufacturing and sales companies in various countries. As a long-term and committed spring innova- tor, the group continuously grows with a good profitability, both organically and by acquisitions. Lesjöfors AB www.lesjoforsab.com

Ola Tengroth, president of Lesjöfors, commented on the decision: “Divesting a company is an exception in our operation. We have made several acquisitions in recent years which, in most cases, have strengthened the group and contributed with attractive profitability. The decision to divest S&P follows a careful evaluation and is based on the fact that S&P has limited synergies with our other companies. We are convinced that S&P will have a favourable development with its new owners.” The Lesjöfors Group provides a wide range of springs and pressings to customers in assets,” said Joey Loosle, general manager of Nucor Fastener. “Adding bolt-making capability to the Shelbyville facility will help expand our offerings to the automotive, heavy truck, industrial/MRO and structural fastener markets.” By recycling steel in electric arc furnaces, Nucor is among the cleanest steel producers, with greenhouse gas emissions that are one third of the global steelmaking average and nearly one fifth of the average blast furnace steel producer. Nucor’s fastener products are made with 97 per cent recycled content. Along with recently announced upgrades at the Nebraska engineered bar mill, the

Nucor Corp is expanding its fastener division with the acquisition of an existing coil processing facility in Shelbyville, Indiana, USA. The facility includes an automated clean and coat line, two STC ® furnaces and wire drawing capabilities. In addition to coil processing, the company will be expanding its fastener manufacturing capabilities by installing bolt-making equipment at the Shelbyville facility. This new operation will initially employ approximately 33 team members, with the potential to double those jobs as it reaches full capacity. “We are excited to grow our fastener division with the acquisition of these

Lesjöfors divests S&P Federnwerk Lesjöfors has entered into an agreement to divest 100 per cent of its shares in S&P Federnwerk GmbH.

S&P Federnwerk is a German spring manufacturer with customers mainly in the automotive and agricultural industries. The company has been part of Lesjöfors since 2013 and generated sales of approximately MSEK 110 in 2020. The decision to divest S&P was made following an evaluation of various strategic alternatives for the company, as its profitability has been unsatisfactory for Lesjöfors.

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Corporate News

Swedish fastener specialist expands into US market As part of a strategy to increase its pres- ence in the North American market, Bumax, a Swedish manufacturer of high- strength stainless steel fasteners, has appointed Bo Andersson to a newposition as business development manager for the USA. Schönox, Akzo Nobel and Sika. In his new role as business development manager for to contributing to the expansion of the company’s footprint in North America. I am especially excited about the prospects we have here in our American manufacturing market – in particular our ability to offer the world’s strongest stainless bolt.”

Bumax manufactures stainless steel fasteners in a variety of steel grades to provide safety and reliability in demanding applications. The company is headquartered in Åshammar, Sweden, and has offices or distributors in more than 30 countries on four continents. Bumax www.bumax-fasteners.com Erocarb SA Erocarb SA has more than 40 years’ expe- rience in extrusion crossheads and tooling for the cable and tube industry. The com- pany’s product catalogue can be adapted to most extrusion fields, such as insula- tion, sheathing/jacketing, filling-sheathing, triple-layer CV lines, fluorinated products, flat-ribbon insulation, and medical or irrigation tubes. Read the full story in the March issue tool to line up several rows of deck boards in one turn. The clips are available in 90ct and 450ct pails, which include T-15 driver bits and the Never-Miss guide. A Camo warranty backs Edgexmetal Clips to match the longevity of the boards and substructure when installed according to Camo guidelines. Camo Fasteners www.camofasteners.com AEI Machines AEI Machines rigid stranders meet various safety and conformity certifications, such as CE and CSA. With a focus on technical advancements in the stranding process, AEI has translated its understanding of stranding, technology and machine building to machines that are designed for performance and resilience. Read the full story in the March issue

“We see the USA as a strategic focus market for Bumax with huge potential for our premium stainless steel fasteners in a variety of industries,” said Lars Holm, managing director at Bumax. “We will increase our efforts to capture new clients and new projects in North America, in sectors like marine, oil and gas, energy, defence, pulp and paper and construc- tion, where durable and high-strength fasteners are increasingly required. “We are planning an aggressive expan- sion of our geographical footprint over the coming years, and this will take us toward our ambitions of doubling turno- ver within the next five years. The North American market plays a key role in our expansion ambitions.” Mr Andersson has a background in technical engineering, marketing, sales and management, for manufacturing companies such as Design inWood, Casco

Bo Andersson

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the USA, hewill be responsible for growing the American market and ensuring Bumax continues to provide customer service. He will be based in Miami, Florida, USA. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Andersson said, “I am happy to be part of the Bumax team and look forward

Double awards win for Edgexmetal Clips National Nail’s Camo Edgexmetal Clips have won prizes in two different awards programmes: Hardware & Building Supply Dealer (HBS) magazine’s 2021 Golden Hammer Awards, and the 2021 Pro Tool Innovation Awards. Fastener category. Recognising innovative construction products, the awards are judged by a panel of general contractors, electricians, carpenters and media professionals.

The 2021 PTIA judges summed up Camo Edgexmetal’s top features:“Current hidden fasteners for grooved deck installations on metal substructure are slow, hard to use and expensive. Time is money, and now you can save more time with Edgexmetal Clips – one-pass fasteners for installing grooved boards on any 14-18GA metal framing, including Fortress Evolution.” Like Camo Edgex Clips for wood-framed decks, Edgexmetal Clips require no partial installation and allow contractors to line up rows of clips and boards at any angle to efficiently fasten in a single pass. The included Never-Miss™ guide speeds up grooved deck installations. Contractors can also fasten with the Camo Drive™ stand-up fastening tool, and can use the Camo Lever ® board-bending and locking

Judged by HBS magazine’s editorial staff, the Golden Hammer Awards highlight the home improvement industry’s “best of the best” products. Camo Edgexmetal Clips were designed to reduce installation time when fastening grooved deck boards onto metal framing. “Our Camo innovation team is proud to have our Edgexmetal Clips selected as a winner of HBS Dealer’s 2021 Golden Hammer Awards,” said National Nail CEO W Scott Baker. “As more deck builders rely on metal framing, Edgexmetal Clips provide a faster, more efficient clip system that addresses the material and labour shortages faced by contractors today.” The clips also won the 2021 Pro Tool Innovation Award (PTIA) in the Hidden

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Products

▲ The MoistureShield Aegis Clip is available in both stainless and carbon, for wood and metal frames

New clip for composite decking line

screws. The clips are available in buckets containing either 90 or 450 fasteners. The symbols on the package identify frame and screw compatibility, and both buckets include a T15 star driver bit for wood and metal frames. Accessories sold separately include the Starter Clip Pack and Finisher Clip Pack, each with 25 starter clips and 25 screws (estimated for 250-square-foot deck). Aegis Clips will initially be launched in the USA. MoistureShield www.moistureshield.com

Aegis is backed by a lifetime warranty against loose deck boards. “We are continuously looking for solutions that help our MoistureShield deck builders get the most seamless installation possible,” said Matthew Bruce, vice president of sales – MoistureShield. “We recognise more pros are using metal deck frames, and Aegis Clips accommodate both wood and metal with strength and stability.” With Aegis, deck builders can choose the type of screws that work best in various environmental conditions, with the option of carbon or stainless steel pre-inserted

The MoistureShield Aegis Clip™ offers a 90° installation process for grooved boards, designed to be used on both wood or steel joist systems. Made fromglass-reinforcedpolypropylene for strength and durability, Aegis Clips feature bevelled edges and pre-inserted screws, with teeth that fit into the groove to help control lateral movement. The clips are approved for metal, ACQ joists and all other pressure-treated joists. The 90° installation process makes installing and replacing boards easy, with a tight fit for added stability and consistent 3 / 16 " spacing between deck boards.

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artistnd 3000

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Products

Boker’s adds 369 washer sizes to growing selection During 2021, Boker’s, Inc added tooling for 369 new non-standard flat washer sizes to its range. With the addition of the new sizes, Boker’s offers an expansive line of more than 32,000 non-standard washer, spacer and shim sizes that are available to customers worldwide with no tooling charges. 0.08" to 12", with a wide range of inside diameters, to help design engineers, production managers and procurement in sourcing washers for emerging and established markets. The company can also accommodate flexible production quantities, offering short, medium and long runs.

In addition to flat washers, other shapes and styles are available in metallic and non-metallic materials. Metallic materials include low-carbon steel sheet, various spring steels, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper and nickel silver. Non-metallic materials include ABS, acetal, polyester, nylon, MD nylon, polycarbonate, fibre, polyethylene and various NEMA grade phenolics. Boker’s, Inc www.bokers.com

The new tool additions further expand Boker’s made-to-order offering for an increasingly wide range of applications and industries. Custom manufacturing with stock tooling is available for customers and OEMs in industries from aerospace and aviation, to electronic measurement and testing, renewable energy, medical, and outdoor recreation, to deliver precision for their applications. For instances where there is not a tool that meets the exact specifications needed, Boker’s in-house tooling department can quickly produce one as required.

Boker’s has added 369 new sizes to its portfolio

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Boker’s non-standard precision washers are manufactured in more than 2,000 commonly specified or difficult-to- find material options. The range of sizes includes outside diameters from

Spirol products now available online in Canada Spirol’s coiled spring pins, slotted spring pins, disc springs and threaded inserts for plastics are now available in Canada on the combination e-commerce and CAD solutions platform shop.spirol.com. shop.spirol.com enables customers to safely and conveniently purchase stand- ard products in small quantities using a credit card or PayPal account. Bulk quan- tities are available at a discounted rate. A material certification or a certification of compliance may be added to each order. models of Spirol’s engineered fasteners directly from shop.spirol.com. Drawings and models will be available for each product line as they are offered.

Spirol will continue to add more product lines, languages and currencies to shop. spirol.com over the next year. Spirol https://shop.spirol.com

The website debuted in 2018 with the flagship coiled spring pin product, and has since expanded with other languages and the ability to purchase in different currencies, including the Canadian dollar.

In addition purchasing products, visitors can download 2D drawings and 3D

The right tool to remove mangled, corroded screws The new Screw Biter™ impact extraction screwdrivers from Crescent have been designed to provide a dedicated tool for extracting damaged, corroded or frozen screws. and uses that force to turn the screw 12 degrees. Screw Biter is available in Phillips #2 and ¼" slotted styles.

“This is another one of those categories, another one of those user problems that has seen little to no innovation in decades,” said senior product manager Jarrett Wolf. “We took on the challenge, and the result is something truly innovative. Finally, there’s a screwdriver that can actually remove screws that exist in the real world – that are beat up, worn down or frozen. With Screw Biter, you can quickly break screws loose and move on to the next one.” Ordinary screwdrivers do not allow for the torque needed to break frozen screws free. The Screw Biter’s design features a spring-loaded handle; once the screwdriver is aligned with the stubborn screw, a hammer strike to the steel end- cap activates the internal mechanism

Crescent’s includes adjustable wrenches, hand tools and sets, Crescent Wiss ® snips, scissors, shears, knives and trade tools, Crescent Lufkin ® measuring tapes, rules, wheels and chalk reels, Crescent Nicholson ® files and saws, Crescent HK Porter ® heavy-duty cutting products, Crescent Jobox ® on- site, flammable liquid and truck storage products, and Crescent Apex ® power tool accessories. Crescent Tools www.crescenttool.com product line

▲ The Screw Biter impact extraction screwdriver turns blunt force into torque to remove worn screws

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Products

Next-level hex keys make quick work of fasteners in tight spaces

Gearwrench has launched a new line of professional hex keys that are suited to demanding needs. The range includes standard L-keys, folding hex key sets, and T-handle hex key sets, providing a comprehensive offering for use with a variety of fastener types and sizes. Flimsy hex keys can bend and get damaged easily with heavy use in everyday applications. The alloy steel composition of Gearwrench hex keys provides increased strength and resists rotational distortion. Chamfered edges guide the keys into the fastener more easily, so the work does not stall. Gearwrench hex keys are available with standard hex and Torx ® heads, and also with a ball end feature that delivers 25° access in hard-to-reach areas. Short- and long- arm options provide the right length and the right leverage for any space. The comfort-grip handles of the fold-up hex key sets and the T-handle hex keys improve grip, reduce hand fatigue, and allow for added torque. The ratcheting T-handle hex key uses a ratcheting mechanism.

New professional hex keys from Gearwrench

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Select ball end L-key styles are available with a grip feature that securely holds fasteners during installation or removal. Gearwrench www.gearwrench.com

Investments in line with smart factory future Lesjöfors is continuing to invest and advance how it manufactures, to prepare for the industry’s future. A new Bruderer machine in the UK is one step in this direction. connected machines, production systems and devices. The data collected by these intelligent and automated machines can be used to create reports on areas for improvements and ongoing issues, and for being proactive to live demands.

relationship with Bruderer UK goes back more than 15 years, and this will be the third new machine we’ve taken from Adrian Haller and his team. The Swiss stamping technology is the best in the world when it comes to precision, achieving tolerances and delivering flexibility, and this new BSTA 410-110B2 will be the real jewel in the crown of our new press shop.” The investment in automated machinery has streamlined processes and allowed the company to remain fully operational throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The company sees the installation of the new equipment in the press shop as being critical to the expansion and long-term investment in the latest machinery and technology. European Springs & Pressings is also in the final stages of a bespoke £700,000 project involving the construction of a 6,000-square-foot press shop that will deliver approximately 20 per cent efficiency gains, along with a more streamlined production process. Lesjöfors AB www.lesjoforsab.com European Springs & Pressings Ltd www.europeansprings.com

The emergence of smart factories, machine learning and connectivity has added a new dimension to manufacturing facilities worldwide. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, “smart factory” has quickly adapted from an initial concept to mainstream manufacturing. Smart factories are the driving force of digitalisation in modern-day manu- facturing. A smart factory can refer to a digitalised shop or facility that operates by

A combination of technologies connects smart factories, including big data analytics, cloud computing, AI (artificial intelligence) and Industrial IoT (Internet of things). Each plays a part in combining physical and digital tasks so that the smart factory process can oversee and fully integrate every system to streamline performance and operations. The British Lesjöfors company European Springs & Pressings has installed a BSTA 410-110B2 and high precision servo feeder to help increase press shop capacity. The automated press and tool monitoring technology gives production speeds of up to 1,600 strokes per minute and a fully adjustable stroke between 16 and 47mm. The high-speed press is used for almost every manufactured pressing.

▼ The new Bruderer press has been installed at Lesjöfors company European Springs & Pressings

Stuart managing director of European Springs & Pressings, commented, “Our McSheehy,

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Manufacturing Technology

▲ Hairpin production on the newWafios Speedformer

New e-mobility campus to accelerate transformation of modern drives

128 years of expertise in wire processing technologies and more than 45 years of CNC technology know-how. With this technology, the wire is a moving object that needs to be shaped, and the material is guided and processed so that defined and reproducible components are created. The newly developedWafios Speedformer is software controlled and can produce a wide variety of parts without the need to change tools. It can achieve a cycle time of 1 to 1.3 seconds per part. Wafios AG www.wafios.com

including the development of machines, the customer centre, production of prototypes and sample parts, and commissioning of machines. The company’s dedication to electro mobility began more than five years ago, with the development of bending technologies for busbars and subsequently also for hairpins as a central module for the production of stators for electric motors. Sales in the prototype manufacturing sector alone have multiplied in the last three years. The development of a unique hairpin bending technology was the result of

Wafios AG is to establish an e-mobility campus on the premises of the former Südwerk in Reutlingen, south of Stuttgart, Germany. A €10mn investment has been approved by the company’s supervisory board – €5mn for sample part and prototype production machinery, €3mn for the modernisation of buildings, and €2mn for infrastructure and workplace measures. The campus will comprise a total area of 1,800m 2 , with additional space available if needed. Wafios’s activities in the e-mobility sector will be pooled at the e-mobility campus,

Graphics bigstockphoto.com Artist Youra_P

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