FastenersAsia November 2020

Industry news

Testing and calibration partnership AKO, Inc Torque Specialties has announced a strategic partnership with International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association (IFMSA). AKO has joined the IFMSA with an aim to supplement its continued expansion into the fastener marketplace. complete line of testing and calibration equipment designed specifically for the fastener industry. “With the new launch of products and software we have planned in the near future, joining IFMSA makes perfect sense for us,” said AKO’s new COO, Jim Pagano.

facility in Connecticut. The company receives a large variety of torque tools for calibration on a daily basis. It uses AKO-designed equipment to calibrate torque transducers, hydraulic torque wrenches, torque multipliers, pneumatic torque drivers and click wrenches from 2 oz-in to 150,000 lb-ft, to the highest traceable industry standards. Training for individuals or small groups is available at the headquarters or on-site at the customer’s location. AKO, Inc www.akotorque.com

Located in Windsor, Connecticut, USA, AKO is a manufacturer of torque calibration and testing equipment. With more than 60 years of experience, AKO provides customers with products to support their testing needs. The fastener market has been a cornerstone industry for AKO, where it offers a

“They have the experience and industry knowledge we can capitalise on to leverage our growth in this important market.” AKO also houses an ISO 17025-2017 certified calibration laboratory at its

Optimism over fastener markets with new strategy

Optimas Solutions, a global industrial distributor and service provider specialising in fastening and supply chain solutions, is rolling out a renewed strategy for its Americas market, tailored to an unstable manufacturing landscape affected by COVID-19 and other regional disturbances that have impacted the fastener industry. The strategy focuses on delivering manufacturing solutions for customers looking to gain efficiencies fromworking with fewer, but better equipped, partners for fastener acquisition, inventory management and other manufacturing consumables. The manufacturing solutions strategy is characterised by greater customer intimacy, service innovation, a new sourcing approach, advanced manufacturing, and faster speed in quote to order. Leading this transformation is industry veteran Marc Strandquist, president of the Americas for Optimas Solutions. Mr Strandquist came on board early this year and aligned his team to operate in unique business conditions while positioning the company for growth. “We’ve had to concurrently lead in this moment and get ahead of the curve by investing in our business

to address fast-changing conditions in our Americas marketplace,” said Mr Strandquist. “In the coming weeks, we will be rolling out new offerings, based on feedback from our customers, in the wake of this evolving landscape. Optimas Solutions is an active, innovative and vibrant partner offering stability and trust to customers. These traits are imperative to helping our customers through such challenging and uncertain times.” In support of the new strategy, the company will be making new offering announcements in manufacturing, manufacturing consumables, engi- neering services, e-commerce, and with its OptiTech and other technology- driven platforms. According to Mr Strandquist, recent feedback from Optimas customers shows they are concerned about supply chain disruptions, the stability of suppliers, lack of visibility in parts availability, and a greater need for standard and engineered parts, inventory management solutions and quality services. “Optimas Solutions is unique in the marketplace,” said Mr Strandquist. “While we are a distributor of industrial fasteners and component parts, we also have centrally located cold-form manufacturing to complement and

exceed customer needs as a single source supplier. With an increased emphasis on the customer intimacy, technology-enabled solutions and speed to market, we think this new strategy is going to deliver huge dividends for our audiences.” The strategy includes the strengthening of Optimas’s supplier network. According to Mr Strandquist, in addition to announcements that focus on meeting and supporting customers’ needs, there is emphasis on initiatives that enhance the vendor relationships that are critical to the company’s ability to provide stability and product availability at optimal cost. The renewed focus on supplier relationships is based on collabora- tion, transparency and proactively smoothing the flow of parts to users. “We’ll be re-energising existing offerings and rolling out new services in the coming months that will highlight how much customers are at the core of what we do,” Mr Strandquist emphasised. “We want customers to know us for manufacturing solutions that support their production, product quality and financial goals.” Optimas Solutions https://optimas.com

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Fasteners ASIA – November/December 2020