EuroFasteners January 2024

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Industry and technology news from the world of fasteners

ISSN: 2633-9706 print

ISSN: 2633-9714 online Photo by: Roberto Shorin, Unsplash

Contents January 2024

Diary of events

8-11 January 2024 Steel Fab Trade exhibition Sharjah, UAE Organisers: Expo Centre Sharjah www.steelfabme.com 5-7 March 2024 AMI Cables Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: AMI www.ami-events.com 25-28 March 2024 Global Industrie Trade exhibition Paris, France Organisers: Global Industrie www.global-industrie.com 15-19 April 2024 wire Düsseldorf Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire.de

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Corporate News

Products

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15-19 April 2024 MACH 2024

Trade exhibition Birmingham, UK

Organisers: The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) www.machexhibition.com

11-13 May 2024 China (Guangzhou) International Metal and Metallurgy Exhibition Trade exhibition Guangzhou, China Organisers: Guangzhou Julang Exhibition Design Co Ltd www.julang.com.cn

Shows correct at time of publication, please check to ensure the event is going ahead

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January 2024

Corporate News

New tension springs centre in Poland Since 2016, Alcomex has been growing its share in tension springs for residential doors. In preparing a sales forecast, the board of Alcomex Springs Group determined that sales of tension springs are expected to quadruple in the coming years.

Following completion of this conversion work, additional tasks such as the installation of the piping air system and the transfer of two air compressors from Hall D began. In addition to the expansion in Poland, Alcomex has initiated closer cooperation with colleagues from the Czech Republic, as some production will be transferred from there. A training session took place in Brno, where employees familiarised themselves with the production process for tension springs, which will be transferred to the new centre. Production equipment was moved to the new centre, followed by the transfer of additional machines and tooling equipment from the Czech Republic. The new tension springs centre in Poland enables Alcomex to deliver products to customers all over Europe.

The new Alcomex facility in Poland

Based on this projection, the decision was made to split the company’s production of door springs into separate units for torsion and tension springs. To accommodate this growth, a new location was invested in to enable the production and assembly of tension springs. A lease agreement was signed for a 5,320m 2 warehouse and office space in a building with a total area of approximately 38,500m 2 . The building, known as ‘Hall B’, is located in Marki, Poland, just 500m away from the company’s current location.

the warehouse area into a primarily production area for tension springs. The conversion work included extension of the main electrical switchboard to meet the energy requirements; installation of suitable lighting in the production area; installation of 14 skylights with ventilation function, a weather control unit and a sprinkler system; and construction of new forklift charging stations equipped with gas detection and sprinkler system. Radiant heaters were installed to create a comfortable working environment, and existing office rooms were converted into changing rooms and social areas.

Alcomex Springs Group www.alcomexsprings.com

In February 2023, work began to convert

Participating in regional renewable energy support initiative

(watt-peak), covering an area of 4,500m 2 , to maximise solar energy utilisation. Marposs will consume 86 per cent of the electricity produced, improving the company’s energy independence. Marposs SpA www.marposs.com

An initiative promoted by Italy’s Emilia Romagna region and co-funded by the EU aims to support businesses’ efforts to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to the advancement of renewable energy in the area. The installation will use 1,720 bifacial photo- voltaic panels, each offering 928,8 Wp

Work has begun to install photovoltaic panels at the headquarters of Marposs SpA, demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental innovation, and reflecting the company’s values in pursuing cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

Bulten establishes operation in India through joint venture company

Private Ltd, and therefore involves only limited investment costs for Bulten. Bulten has a 51 per cent holding in the newly formed joint venture company. ZJK has previously been a partner to Bulten for the manufacture of micro screws in China, and Radium is a newly formed company owned by people experienced in India’s fastener industry. Bulten also operates in India through the newly acquired distribution company Exim Mfr & Enterprise. Bulten AB www.bulten.com

Anders Nyström, president and CEO of Bulten. “India is a growing market for this segment, as many international manufacturers of electronics are locating more and more of their Asian production in India. This is the driver behind our new operation in India, and we plan to begin production during the first half of [2024].” The operation will be based at a new production plant currently being constructed in Jamnagar, in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The aim is to be fully up and running during the second quarter of 2024. The building will be leased by Bulten Radium Industries

Identifying for domestically produced micro screws among international customers in the electronics sector with production in India, Bulten is setting up manufacturing operations in India through a newly formed joint venture company. Bulten Radium Industries Private Ltd has been established alongside two partners: Radium Fasteners Private Ltd and ZJK Precision Parts HK (ZJK). “Our ambition is to increase sales, primarily of micro screws, to companies in the electronics industry,” said increased need

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artist tereh

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January 2024

Corporate News

Global bolts market to reach $11.44bn by 2030 Research And Markets has added a new report to its library, titled “Bolts market, by type, by grade, by application, and by geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America) – size, share, outlook, and opportunity analysis, 2023-2030.” high-performance bolts with enhanced features to maintain competitiveness

• Growing environmental awareness, resulting in demand for sustainable and eco-friendly bolts through the use of recycled materials and energy-efficient processes • Customised bolt solutions tailored to specific applications in various industries • Demand for bolts with monitoring capabilities and sensor integration in smart cities and infrastructure projects • The influence of global economic conditions on demand for bolts in construction, manufacturing and other sectors • Additional revenue streams generated by offering after- market support and maintenance services, such as replacement bolts and technical assistance • Strict adherence to safety and quality standards in industries such as aerospace and defence, affecting bolt manufacturing practices and certifications • Changes in global trade dynamics and supply chain dis- ruptions, impacting raw material availability and production efficiency • Opportunities arising from rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in emerging economies for bolt manufacturers to establish a presence in these regions Research and Markets www.researchandmarkets.com

The global bolts market is projected to experience substantial growth, with an expected value of $11.44bn by 2030, up from $8.29bn in 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7 per cent during the forecast period. The market encompasses the manufacturing, distribution and sale of bolts and fasteners used to securely join components in industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace and infrastructure. It is influenced by economic conditions, industrial growth and technological advancements, resulting in a continuous demand for bolts. Several key factors are expected to drive the growth of the global bolts market: • Ongoing and planned infrastructure projects worldwide, including investments in transportation networks, renewable energy installations, smart cities and commercial buildings • Innovations in bolt manufacturing technologies, such as automation and precision engineering, leading to improved production efficiency and product quality • Technological advancements prompting companies to offer

Auveco expands presence with acquisition of ClipLizard Systems

the experience for current and future channel partners. The acquisition reflects the commitment of both companies to invest in growth, adding new product lines, technology and resources to better support their customers.

The collaboration opens new channels to market for both Auveco and ClipLizard, providing access to a broader product portfolio. The companies expect increased opportunities for new product introductions. Distributors can expect a wider product selection and accelerated innovation to meet the needs of end users. Both companies offer customer service, online tools and technical support to enhance

Automotive fastener and body hardware aftermarket specialist Auveco has announced its acquisition of ClipLizard Systems, headquartered in Spencer, Indiana, USA. and fasteners to paint, body and equipment (PBE) distributors. Its Materials Manager licensed software solution enhances PBE inventory management. ClipLizard distributes Systems sources and automotive clips

Auveco Products www.auveco.com ClipLizard Systems, LLC www.cliplizardsystems.com

Würth appoints CEO of MRO, safety and metalworking division

Würth MRO, Safety, and Metalworking, a division of Würth Industry North America, has appointed Bastian Rottenberg as chief executive officer. Mr Rottenberg succeeds Eric Wilk, who recently announced his departure from the company. Mr Rottenberg will fulfil his new role while concurrently acting as chief information officer of Würth Industry North America. He previously served as chief operating officer and head of department IT operations and IT support. Larry Stevens, EVP Würth-Line Industry, said, “Bastian will take on this new role with the same dedication and passion that he has consistently demonstrated throughout his time at Würth. I am confident that Bastian will continue to drive our company’s growth and success, building upon the strong foundation.” Würth Industry North America www.wurthindustry.com

Bastian Rottenberg

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Products

Bumax chosen for Einstein Telescope project Swedish specialist fastener manufacturer Bumax has been selected to supply premium fasteners to ETpathfinder, an R&D facility at Maastricht University (Netherlands) for testing and prototyping innovative concepts and enabling new technologies for the Einstein Telescope (ET).

The Einstein Telescope is a next generation underground gravitational wave observatory, being developed to be 100 times more sensitive than current instruments and scheduled for completion in 2035. The telescope will enable scientists to study the precise structure of neutron stars, the birth of black holes and the structure of the universe immediately after the Big Bang. The ETpathfinder equipment is currently being assembled in a cleanroom that includes a large vacuum vessel containing various optics and seismic attenuation structures to isolate the test setup as much as possible from any noise from the outside world. The test setup resides in a vacuum to further remove vibrations carried through the air, and to also minimise interference of air molecules with the optics and lasers. “Because we can’t use any oils or lubri- cants in our cleanroom, regular fasteners just aren’t an option,” explained Mathijs Baars, mechanical engineer at the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef ). fastener alternatives, including titanium-nitride “We investigated various

The ETpathfinder equipment is being assembled in a cleanroom

project – particularly in the vacuum chamber where we will only use Bumax fasteners.” The Bumax 88 bolts and nuts delivered to the ETpathfinder project are electro polished, receive Kolsterising treatment and are cleanroom packed. This avoids particles from the nuts and bolts in the ETpathfinder cleanroom, and Kolsterising increases surface hardness, which further reduces the risk of galling. The ETpathfinder mirrors will be cooled to 8K (-265°C) when they are operational, to ensure optimum performance. Metals typically become brittle at cryogenic temperatures, which makes them prone to sudden failure. However, Bumax 88 fasteners provide resistance to cryogenic temperatures due to their high material quality, low impurities and high-quality finish. Third-party tests have shown that the fasteners retain ductility even in temperatures as low as 0K (-273°C). Bumax AB www.bumax-fasteners.com Roofing screw exports Tianjin Lituo Group, based in China, has more than 20 years of screw production experience, and has been exporting roofing screws since 2009 to over 100 countries, including Chile, Bolivia, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritius, Brazil, Puerto Rico and India. The company also produces and supplies sheet metal screws. Other key products are drywall screws, self-drilling screws and self tapping screws. Tianjin Lituo Imp & Exp Co, Ltd www.tjlituo.com

coated fasteners, but Bumax was the only solution that fully met our requirements while still being cost effective.” Bumax is supplying bolts, washers and nuts in the Bumax 88 stainless steel grade, which offers anti-galling properties. regular stainless steel fasteners, and involves the fastener seizing up with the internal threads as a result of cold welding. In the ETpathfinder project, some parts may need to be disassembled and reassembled more than 100 times over the next couple of decades, so any galling issues would have serious consequences for the project. “The worst-case scenario for us would be if a galled fastener were to weld with one of our custom-made vacuum parts as these would be very costly to replace,” said Mr Baars. “This is why choosing fasteners with anti-galling properties is essential risk management for the entire ETpathfinder Galling is common with

Technical service platform for fastener installation

and an extensive spare parts inventory for swift issue resolution. The pro- gramme emphasises customisable service agreements, technical training programmes and various tooling solutions to optimise manufacturing processes. HaegerCare provides a consolidated support system, offering a single point of contact for all machine needs. Haeger Inc www.haeger.com

Haeger has launched the HaegerCare™ technical service programme for Haeger and Pemserter fastener installation machine users. HaegerCare serves as a resource for individuals using these brands of installation machine, offering services such as maintenance, technical training, inspection, repair services and spare parts provisions. Key features include a 24/7 hotline connecting users to expert technicians,

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artistnd 3000

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January 2024

Products

HMS Victory conservation contract West Special Fasteners has won a historic fastener contract for the conservation of HMS Victory in Portsmouth, UK. The ship, which is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, is undergoing a major conservation project to preserve it for future generations. degradation. Under a protective cover, the ship is drier than it has been in decades, allowing vital work to begin. West Special Fasteners will be working closely with the team at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to make sure that the best bespoke fastener solutions are provided, in order to cater to the many different needs of the ship.

will be adapting to requirements on an on-demand basis. West Special Fasteners www.westspecialfasteners.co.uk HMS Victory’s stern

At the start of the work, HMS Victory was found to be in worse condition than originally thought. now taking place, in time to stop further The conservation work is

A project such as this will need unique solutions. Working with the designers and shipwrights, West Special Fasteners

Threaded insert CAD models added to catalogue E-Z Lok, a manufacturer of threaded inserts for wood, plastic and metal, has launched an online CAD library to showcase its selection of products. The addition of the catalogue will streamline the design and specification process for engineers, MRO and OEMs by allowing them on-demand access to 2D drawings and 3D CAD models. The company’s products can be found in manufacturing and maintenance facilities across all industries. The insert design allows damaged threads to be repaired without the use of specialised installation tools. The on-demand catalogue allows customers to view 3D models and visualise the products, as well as download PDF datasheets. OEMs and other engineering buyers can download the CAD files in a wide variety of native and neutral formats. E-Z Lok www.ezlok.com

Industry & technology news from the world of fasteners

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Jason Smith Rest of World Email: jason@intras.co.uk Tel: +44 1926 834684

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