EuroFasteners March 2024

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Industry and technology news from the world of fasteners

ISSN: 2633-9706 print

ISSN: 2633-9714 online

Contents March 2024

Diary of events 5-7 March 2024 AMI Cables Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: AMI www.ami-events.com

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Corporate News

Products

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25-28 March 2024 Global Industrie Trade exhibition Paris, France Organisers: Global Industrie www.global-industrie.com

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15-19 April 2024 wire Düsseldorf Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire.de

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 11-12 June 2024 Wire Expo Trade exhibition Uncasville, Connecticut, USA Organisers: The Wire Association International www.wirenet.org

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

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Corporate News

€1mn investment doubles hot coiling capacity Spring and pressing manufacturer Lesjöfors Group has seen an increase in demand for its large-diameter spring product range, and has consequently invested more than €1mn in the purchase of an additional hot coiling line. Expanding its spring manufacturing capabilities across applications in industries such as energy, rail, mining and power generation, the investment not only doubles hot coiling production but also sees the return of the hot coiling manufacturing process to the town of Lesjöfors in Sweden. Ola Tengroth, CEO of the Lesjöfors Group, said, “Our heavy springs product range – the larger wire size market – has been rapidly expanding across our portfolio. This latest investment is in direct response to customer demand, enhancing our hot coiling capacity and capabilities in line with market growth, ensuring we continue to deliver the quality, industry-leading turnaround times and customer service we excel at.” The investment has involved parties from all over the world. The line was purchased from South Africa; bespoke refining Fastener Expo Shanghai 2024 Fastener Expo Shanghai (FES) will be held in the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai, from 20 to 22 March, with an exhibition area of 60,000m 2 , 1,000+ exhibitors and 20,000+ visitors – both domestic and overseas.

Hot coiling spring manufacturing

elements were added with specialist additions from China; and personnel had skill shared across these countries as well as in the UK, Finland and Sweden. 1,500m 2 of the factory in Lesjöfors has been adapted with specialist equipment to facilitate the new line, to maximise efficiency and production processing. Spring manufacturing originated in Lesjöfors in 1852, and in the following years the group’s spring expertise expanded around the world, with hot coiling geographically diversifying to specialist teams and facilities in Finland. This new investment and expansion of hot coiling production into Sweden returns the hot coiling legacy. Lesjöfors AB www.lesjoforsab.com

fastener products, testing, warehousing logistics and product sales. The 14 th edition of Fastener Expo Shanghai will incorporate more than 50 conference activities for promoting inter action between exhibitors and visitors. FES 2024 will be held at the same time and location as Ecotech China. Shanghai Ebseek Exhibition Co, Ltd https://fastenerexpo.cn Spirol was co-founded in 1948 by Herman Koehl (Hans’s father), Hans Prym and Walther von Conta. The families of those three founding members are still involved with the company, with two represented on the board. Spirol www.spirol.com

brings together fastener manufacturers from home and abroad, and also exhibits fastener-supporting equipment, moulds, wires and other products, providing a one-stop purchasing platform for fastener industry personnel. As a global fastener business platform, Fastener Expo Shanghai aims to satisfy the purchasing and trading demand of end-users, fastener manufacturers and traders, including fastener raw materials, moulds, manufacturing equipment, “As both a shareholder and director, I feel we are extremely fortunate to have planned for this natural succession and seamless transition to the chairmanship,” said Spirol non-executive director Peter von Conta. “With Jeff, we undoubtedly have the leadership in place that will continue the unwavering commitment to our vision and values needed to ensure Spirol’s continued success for generations to come.”

Organised by Luosi.com and Shanghai Ebseek Exhibition Co, Ltd, Fastener Expo Shanghai has been developing and expanding over 14 years, with the purpose of being professional, efficient, open and innovative. The exhibition

Spirol elects new chairman The board of directors at Spirol International Holding Corporation has appointed Jeffrey Koehl as the fastener manufacturer’s new chairman.

Mr Koehl succeeds his father, Hans Koehl, who passed away in November. Until then, Hans had been Spirol’s chairman since his appointment in 1969, though he had retired from active management of the company in 2004.

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artist tereh

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Corporate News

Pursuing precision engineering The latest addition to the team at bigHead Fasteners is Henry Bower, who will serve as the new junior maintenance engineer. In this role, Mr Bower supports the manufacturing lines by designing and manufacturing intricate parts for the production team. particular applications, and these unique components also have to be machined and fitted by the maintenance engineers. Mr Bower’s journey with bigHead began with a temporary stint in production, before he left to study for a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Portsmouth, UK.

On leaving university, Mr Bower applied to bigHead for a permanent role and was taken on in production where, he says, it was satisfying to get back to gaining hands-on experience after the academic rigours of university study. Once a position in engineering became available, “I knew that was where I wanted to be,” he said. “I’d like to learn more about the design and development side of engineering and I feel privileged to be working amongst such revered and experienced engineers.” bigHead Bonding Fasteners Ltd https://bighead.co.uk for installation systems; and Heyco for moulded and stamped products. Sherex’s product lines include rivet nuts, clinch nuts, threaded inserts, Disc-Lock and TEC Series wedge-locking products, and fastener installation systems. PennEngineering www.penn-eng.com Sherex Fastening Solutions www.sherex.com

Components within the production machines often need replacing due to wear and tear, and the maintenance engineers ensure that the tooling for the wide range of bigHead fasteners is kept precise and efficient. bigHead produces specialist and bespoke fasteners that support customers with

“The practical experience I had gained was really useful once I began to study,” said Mr Bower. “It meant that I had already seen how the theories of mechanical engineering might be applied in the real world.”

PennEngineering acquires Sherex PennEngineering has announced its acquisition of Sherex Fastening Solutions, a designer, manufacturer and installer of blind rivet nuts and associated fastening solutions. Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, USA, Sherex has production capabilities worldwide. “We are extremely excited to be bringing the expertise of Sherex to the PennEngineering family. Their entre- preneurial spirit and technical acumen, combined with our Atlas product line and broader PennEngineering capabilities, will strengthen our ability to quickly deliver innovative, high-quality fastening solu- tions to our customers around the globe.”

“When combined with our Atlas® rivet nut brand, the Sherex acquisition positions the company to be the premier provider of rivet nuts worldwide,” said Pete George, CEO of PennEngineering.

PennEngineering’s include Pem, Profil, Atlas and PennAuto for mechanically attached fasteners; Haeger brands

Expanded stock to boost growth West Midlands Fasteners, based in Halesowen, UK, has expanded its stock of imported products to meet increased demand. Competition in the market for fast de livery was increasing with a sharp rise in industrial projects across the UK. As a re sult, West Midlands Fasteners has invest ed in the new imported products, aiming to maximise its sales channels. The com pany has also hired additional staff.

The new imported stock range is part of the company’s plans, as a distributor and stockist of industrial fasteners and fixings, to continue recent expansion it has achieved owing to a new software solution that reduces admin time and purchase returns, while increasing stock quote and delivery turnarounds, along with revenue for the company. Established in 1981, West Midlands Fasteners acquired the Parabolt Construction Fixings brand in 2004. Its nationwide distribution and rapid service on special fasteners and security fixings, combined with a close relationship with major manufacturers such as Lindapter and Rawlplug, is used by a global customer base across the construction, pipeline and engineering industries.

The West Midlands Fasteners warehouse

As a result, the company recognised the need to switch to an alternative software solution that offered a faster way to pro duce quotes for customers. OGL Soft ware recommended its Profit4 business and stock management software – an ERP (enterprise resource planning) sys tem designed to help merchants digitally transform their operations by supporting multi-channel selling. West Midlands Fasteners sales manager Leon Cunnington commented, “Stock control on our previous system, Sage 200, was not as quick or as accurate as needed so, due to the office team being stretched with increasing customer

demand, we knew we had to switch from Sage to a more efficient software. […] Using Profit4, we can identify the exact bin location for individual products, which makes life easier. We use it in the warehouse for stock transfers, which are now done in just a few clicks. Using Profit4, we can check whether the stock item requested is available for same- day delivery, if that’s what the customer wants, or whether we need to order it in.” West Midlands Fasteners Ltd www.westmidlandsfasteners.com OGL Software Ltd www.ogl.co.uk

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Products

Induction heating for spring applications

are critical to avoid steam pockets, material cracking and decarburisation. The machine is equipped with precise equipment to control the heating, holding time and quenching parameters. Induction heat treatment offers several advantages over traditional heating methods. The rapid heating and cooling cycles allow for an efficient process that is more economical and environmentally friendly, resulting in reduced cycle times, lower energy consumption and increased productivity. The rapid heating from the induction coils coupled with the machine’s electronic and mechanical control technology allows the springs to heat uniformly in a matter of seconds, which reduces decarburisation levels, maintaining the material’s surface quality and wear resistance. also plays a pivotal role in tailoring the microstructure of materials, leading to enhanced mechanical properties and performance. During induction heat treatment, the raw material undergoes various phase transformations, such as austenitisation, followed by precisely controlled quenching to achieve the desired microstructure. These changes Induction heat treatment For applications that require extra bearing surface for the mating component, the CL6100 headed compression limiter has the same features as the CL6000, with the addition of a head. Spirol is simultaneously launching the CL8000 brass precision machined compression limiters, and CL8100 headed brass version, for applications that require a galvanic alternative to aluminium. Spirol offers several different standard types of compression limiter to meet specific application requirements and assembly methods. The current Series CL600 and CL800 lines are being replaced with the enhanced CL6000 and CL8000. Benefits of the new lines include:

Melling Performance Springs (MPS), based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, UK, has invested in specialist induction heat treatment equipment that will pro vide increased design and manufactur ing capabilities for the most demanding compression spring applications. Induction heat treatment is an efficient and precise method of hardening springs made from strategically selected materials. The process improves the mechanical and physical properties of the spring material. During induction heat treatment, an alternating current is passed through a set of parallel copper coils, creating a rapidly alternating magnetic field. When a spring is placed within these induction coils, the magnetic field induces eddy currents within the spring material, generating heat due to resistance. This localised heating allows for precise control over the heating process, resulting in uniform and consistent heating. Once heated to an exact temperature, and held for a specific time, parts are then rapidly cooled using an exact concentration of a specialised polymer-based coolant at a controlled temperature. These quench parameters Compression limiters are designed to reinforce high stress joints in plastic assemblies where bolts are used to connect two components to each other. They protect the plastic from excessive compression by absorbing the load when the bolt is tightened to the recommended tightening torque. This ensures the durability and reliability of the joint throughout the product’s lifespan. The CL6000 is machined from 2024 grade aluminium, which provides a combination of strength, corrosion resistance and machinability. The CL6000 aluminium compression limiters are claimed to be 40 per cent stronger while being a third of the weight of similar

Induction heat treatment improves the mechanical and physical properties of the spring material

in microstructure directly impact the mechanical properties of the material, including hardness, tensile strength, toughness and wear resistance. The increased hardness, coupled with optimised methods of shot peening, allows Melling Performance Springs to increase the levels of compressive residual stress induced into the material. These improved levels of compressive residual stress enhance the material and provide a beneficial counterbalance to the tensile residual stress. This enables MPS to manufacture higher stressed parts that allow for reduced weight/ active mass; improved natural frequency giving superior harmonics; improved fatigue performance, wear and relaxation resistance; and reduced chance of premature failure. Melling Performance Springs Ltd www.mellingperformancesprings.com • Precision – enhanced control of critical features and better geometric dimensioning and tolerancing make the series suitable for highly automated or moulded-in assembly processes • Retention – superior knurl formation and control result in more consistent and robust retention performance in post-mould assembly processes • Product range – a larger selection of standard products to meet expansive application requirements and preferences The new compression limiters are available in a wide range of standard sizes, in both aluminium and brass, and in headed and non-headed configurations. Spirol www.spirol.com

Precision-machined compression limiters Spirol has introduced the new Series CL6000 lightweight, lead-free, aluminium precision-machined compression limiters. compression limiters manufactured from brass.

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artistnd 3000

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Products

Fastener order for prototype reusable rocket French spacecraft designer and manufacturer Opus Aerospace has selected premium screws from Swedish specialist fastener manufacturer Bumax for its new sub-orbital rocket and future vehicles designed to send satellites into space.

Opus decided to use Bumax 88 screws to secure the two domes of a prototype cylindrical fuel tank for the Mesange sub-orbital rocket. The domes must have high-strength screws as they are a critical part of the rocket under extremely high pressure. “We already offer our customers various space systems services and are currently conducting pilot tests for the different parts of our new fully reusable rocket,” said Safouane Benamer, CEO of Opus Aerospace. “We’re planning a test launch of our Mesange rocket in early 2024, which will pave the way for us to launch sub-orbital payloads of up to 1,000kg and orbital payloads of 250kg. We’ll scale up our offering step by step.” Ignacio Amundarain, launcher mechanical engineer at Opus, said, “Our initial calculations showed that standard stainless steel fasteners simply wouldn’t cope with the loads. We have already tested and validated the design of our fuel tank with Bumax 88 on the ground with even more demanding pressurisation tests than we can expect in normal conditions. We are confident that this will ensure the safe operation of our fuel tank.” Properties of Bumax 88 fasteners include high strength, corrosion resistance, low-temperature resistance and reliability. The enhanced properties are achieved through a combination of unique manufacturing processes and the highest quality European steel.

Photo courtesy of Opus Aerospace

Bumax 88 screws will be used in Opus Aerospace’s Mesange rocket

88 that will be used for other important applications on the prototype rocket. These include securely fastening the fuel lines from the fuel tank. Bumax managing director Lars Holm commented, “Our premium fasteners have been chosen for many scientific high profile projects and products, including CERN, ISS and the Einstein Telescope project. When the stakes are high and you need the best and strongest fasteners in the world, you opt for Bumax.” Bumax AB www.bumax-fasteners.com Opus Aerospace www.opus-aerospace.com

Opus Aerospace has obtained an excess supply of Bumax

From screws to blind rivets and nails Lituo is a Chinese manufacturer of screws. Its screw factory was established in 2000, and initially traded under the name Tianjin Lituo Hardware Products Co Ltd. company has become a professional fastener manufacturer for customers around the world.

surpass international standards to ensure durability and reliability. The company specialises in providing customised fastener solutions, working with customers to tailor products to specific requirements in construction, automotive and other sectors. Alkama Fasteners www.alkamafasteners.in fastener supplier for global distributors. The company states that its screws, nails and blind rivets, available in various materials and sizes, have a bright and smooth finish, resistance against corrosion, dimensional accuracy, and high torque strength and hardness. Tianjin Lituo Imp & Exp Co, Ltd www.tjlituo.com

With various production lines and advanced industrial technology, Lituo manufactures self-tapping screws and self-drilling screws. It also offers other fastener products, such as nails and blind rivets, making it a comprehensive

The product lines gradually expanded, from screws to blind rivets and nails.

After 20 years of development, the

Stainless steel machine screws Alkama Fasteners stainless steel machine screws, made to DIN standards, are designed to prevent rust, fatigue and failed joints.

A wide selection of sizes, head styles and drive types ensures the right fit for any project, from delicate woodwork to heavy-duty industrial applications. Alkama Fasteners holds ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management. From raw material selection to final inspection, its stainless steel fasteners

They are manufactured from high-grade AISI 304 or AISI 316 steel to deliver corrosion resistance and strength, regardless of weather, environment or project demands.

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