EuroWire January 2021

Products

Customised collar nut to reduce construction time

DFConceal has launched a patent- pending product designed to reduce construction time and lower the costs of carriers’ small cell 4G/5G build-out projects. The Collar Nut is a practical alternative to coupler and welding solutions, designed specifically for construction purposes. The patent centres on a signature hardened steel with a tapered collar, sitting inside the holes of the baseplate, with 40 per cent of the strength of each nut being below the top of the baseplate. As the baseplate is tightened, the hardened nut is strong and durable enough to move the softer steel base plate and pole, to allow it to fasten itself and self-correct the threaded rod J-bolt. The product is the result of thorough testing by DFConceal, and is a response to the increasing challenges faced by main cell carriers as 5G projects are launched, requiring carriers to secure permits to modify city infrastructure.

Carriers were forced to bring light poles, foundations and concrete structures up to current codes at great cost. They secured permits, allowed for weeks of scheduling, underwent special welding inspections, and arranged for lane closures and traffic control at each light pole. DFConceal believed there was a better way, and the result was the Collar Nut, which replaces the need for expensive, heavily involved overhauls. The certified installation brings carrier costs down, with just two technicians and no lane closures as opposed to a whole team and several days of construction. Instead of shutting down lanes of traffic for days, DFConceal technicians change four nuts on a light pole. The Collar Nut allows carriers to get faster results at a lower cost. Working directly with installers, DFConceal offers custom steel fabri- “The Standard Fastener programme applies directly to building an agile supply chain based on the 80/20 rule,” said Marc Strandquist, president and CEO of the Americas for Optimas Solutions. “The vast majority of our customers rely on a core group of fasteners. Roughly 20 per cent of those items comprise 80 per cent of their spend. We are focused on delivering those items quickly and competitively so they can concentrate on managing demand. This is another aspect of our Manufacturing Solutions strategy which we have designed as an agile, flexible supply chain that gives our customer what they value most.” Parts available during the launch phase include hex cap screws, hex nuts, socket cap screws and washers. According to Mr Strandquist, there are several features of the programme that manufacturers will appreciate. Ample inventory provides consistent availability and pricing while reducing lead time compared to off-shore suppliers, and

Photo credit: PRNewsfoto/DFConceal

▲ DFConceal’s Collar Nut

cation in-house, with all parts CNC cut, trimmed and hardware pre- installed. The company’s concealment solutions are crafted from performance plastics, catering to the installer and end user. It manufactures concealment products that are standardised and ready-to-go, but that canbe customised for city code specifications, with fast and easy installation. DFConceal https://dfconceal.com an agile pick, pack and ship process ensures fast turnaround and instant online quotes. Overnight, common carrier, air shipping and expedited service options are available, depending on the order size and customer time- line. Blanket PO and online ordering capabilities support planned and unplanned purchasing channels. Vending machine options offer complementary point solutions for usage accountability and automated replenishment, and tech-enabled (OptiTech) just-in-time parts distribution and inventory management solutions are available for customers needing regular cadence deliveries. “We realise that speed to market is critical to our customers,” said Mr Strandquist, “so we are truly embracing our mantra of ‘efficiency up’ with the Standard Fastener programme to far exceed customer expectations.”

Common parts, on-demand Optimas Solutions has launched a Standard Fastener programme that offers on-demand access to common screws, washers and nuts for mainte- nance, repair and production applica- tions with minimal quality docu- mentation requirements. The service is part of the company’s Manufacturing Solutions strategy, and is aimed at better meeting customers’ existing and future requirements.

The programme is designed to provide availability and consistency for typical usage parts, plus more security from running out of stock or when lead times threaten production. Available online at us.optimas.com, the Standard Fastener programme offers a focused selection of 224 common fasteners (screws, washers and nuts), and targets one business day to ship approved orders available from Optimas’s centrally located distribution centres in St Louis, Missouri, USA, and Monterrey, Mexico. The St Louis facility was recently opened and is the distribution hub for all manufacturing consumables.

Optimas Solutions www.optimas.com

EF 6 / 55

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January 2021