WINTER 2017

158
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Fastener Library donated to Rock Valley
College Cold Forging Manufacturing
Center
Fastener veteran Mike McGuire became
very interested upon hearing about the new
vocational training program for the fastener
industry.
Mike has stated for several years now that
one on the biggest problems or challenges
for the American fastener manufacturer was
a skilled trained working force. He continued
“When I was in high school fifty years ago
we had what we called “Industrial Arts” and
the girls had “Home Economics”, both which
are not taught today in our school system.
There is now a serious gap with the Baby
Boomers having a skilled work force! Rock
Valley College along with several local fastener
manufacturers are trying to close this gap and
return Rockford, Illinois back to being one in
the top 10 metropolitan fastener producing
area in America.
The fastener library collection includes
what Mike believes to be one of the most
comprehensive available and covers the
fastener industry from standards, dimensions,
technical data, engineering and fastening
applications.
Leading authors include Jim Speck, Julius
Soled, John Bickford, Joseph Shigley, Pat
Rapp, Dr. Lou Raymond, Guy Avellon, Thomas
Doppke, and Robert Parmley among others and
the Industrial Fastener Institute (IFI) standards
books.
A complete set of 48 fastener training
posters were also included.
The Dean of the Technical & Engineering
Program has already commented on how
interested several professors are upon
receiving the collection and using the books for
reference and developing training programs.
Mike, finished with an emotional comment
stating “I hope that this donation is just a start
and others in the fastener industry can contribute
other materials to help build and strengthen this
program and our fastener industry.”