FALL 2023

In the Fall 2023 issue of
6 DISTRIBUTOR NEWS
8 FASTENER SCIENCE: PRECISION, ACCURACY AND
SIGNIFICANCE IN MEASUREMENT
Rob LaPointe
10 DIFFICULT FASTENING APPLICATIONS – PART 3: MIXED
MATERIAL JOINTS
Laurence Claus
12 THREAD-CUTTING SCREWS AND SELF-DRILLING SCREWS
FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS
Bruno Marbacher
14 WHAT DISTRIBUTORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STRUCTURAL BOLTING
Guy Avellon
16 [COVER FEATURE] ABBOTT INTERFAST:
MANUFACTURING INNOVATION
26 CYBERSECURITY: MANY FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ARE
DOUBLING-DOWN ON RISK TRAINING
Joe Dysart
28 METALLURGENT TEST LAB: A NEW SERVICE-ORIENTED
TESTING FACILITY
30 ROTOR CLIP’S INDUSTRY LEADING WEBSITE PROVIDES
NEW FUNCTIONALITY
32 THE CONNECTED WORLD
Dennis Cowhey
36 IFI BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Dan Walker, Managing Director
38 IFE 2023 TO HOST THE FASTENER INDUSTRY THIS
OCTOBER 9-11 IN LAS VEGAS
40 ECONOMIST TELLS NFDA: POST-COVID LET-DOWN
APPEARS TO BE SOFT LANDING
John Wolz
42 PEGASUS SUPPLY GROUP: EXPANDED PRODUCT LINES AND
IMPROVED SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE US & CANADA
44 ESCAPING THE CHAOS: WHY EMAIL IS LOSING ITS
GRIP ON DOCUMENT TRANSFER
Paul Decker, Co-Founder, SmartCert ®
46 6e AND 6E PITCH DIAMETER ALLOWANCES PROVIDE
SPACE FOR HEAVY COATINGS
Larry Borowski
48 EDSON MANUFACTURING: RIVETING THE INDUSTRY
50 STAFDA’S UPCOMING 47TH ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW
Georgia H. Foley, CEO
52 DISTRIBUTORS MOVE FORWARD WITH MARKET CHANGES
BROUGHT BY PANDEMIC
Jim Truesdell
54 RIVETING SOLUTIONS: COLLABORATE WITH YOUR RIVET
MANUFACTURER FOR SUPERIOR TOOL PERFORMANCE
Steven Sherman
56 ALL IS QUITE ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Chris Donnell
57 UNICORP IS AN AUTHORIZED
ROTOR CLIP ROTOREXPRESS ®
PARTNER
58 MWFA HOSTS ‘SCREWED UP OPEN’ GOLF OUTING
Nancy Rich
60 WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN 2030
Nelson Valderrama
62 GROWERMETAL: MORE THAN 7,000 WASHERS TO
SUIT THE NEEDS OF THE GLOBAL MARKET
64 IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?
Robert Footlik
66 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO CHERRY RIVETS?
Mike Eichinger
68 PLANNING YOUR 2024 MARKETING BUDGET: A ROADMAP
FOR SUCCESS
Joe Shoemaker
70 IS IT ILLEGAL TO TRACK YOUR EMPLOYEES’ ACTIVITIES
WHEN THEY’RE WORKING FROM HOME?
72 ISO 27001: SAFEGUARDING THE FASTENER INDUSTRY’S FUTURE
Scott Mersch
73 UC COMPONENTS ADDS TO ITS PRODUCT LINE
74 MENTORING FASTENER EXPERTS – AN APPORTUNITY
Justine Urban
76 UNTHREADED: A PREDOMINANTLY
FASTENER-RELATED LESSON
Eric Dudas
78 SPIROL CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF HELPING
CUSTOMERS THRIVE!
Christie Jones
80 THE IMPACT OF INFLATION
Roman Basi
82 MFDA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Rob Rundle
84 INDUSTRIAL FASTENER & SUPPLY: HELPING YOU
KEEP IT TOGETHER
Dennis Cowhey
88 INTERCORP: HOW CAN AN EXPERT-GRADE FASTENER
SUPPLIER CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
90 MW INDUSTRIES, INC: EMBRACING GROWTH, EFFICIENCY,
AND CUSTOMER-CENTRICITY
92 MW INDUSTRIES, INC. 24TH ANNUAL CUSTOMER
APPRECIATION CRAWFISH BOIL
94 PAUL REILLY TO PRESENT VALUE-ADDED SELLING
SEMINAR TO MWFA MEMBERS
Nancy Rich

volume 46 // issue #4
96 FTI NEW CLASS: FASTENER FUNDAMENTALS – THE NUTS
AND BOLTS FOR FASTENER PROFESSIONALS
Jo Morris
97 SEMS AND SPECIALS ADDS NEW 2-DIE HEADER TO LINE UP
98 NFDA PANELISTS: 2022 RECORD SALES – SOME
NUMBER SLIPPING THIS YEAR
John Wolz
99 SUBSCRIPTION FORM
100 NEFDA 34TH SCHOLARSHIP GOLF OUTING
Laura Murphy
102 NEFDA GOLF OUTING PHOTOS
104 VOLT INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS: VOLT 2.0 IS ALMOST READY!
105 NFDA SCHOLARSHIP FOR FASTENER TRAINING WEEK
Amy Nijjar
106 BAY SUPPLY LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE BAY-AUTO-QUOTE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
108 MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION NAMES FRANCESCA
LEWIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Nancy Rich
109 SUNCOR STAINLESS HAS DEVELOPED A NEW LINE OF
STAINLESS LASHING RINGS
112 IT’S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER FOR THE NCFA
Mike Robinson
113 NCFA WINE TASTING EVENT PHOTOS
115 TEST YOUR DRYWALL SCREW IQ…DAGGERZ STYLE!
124 WIFI ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
144 FASTENER INDUSTRY WEB LINKS
150 HOUSTON HOSTS THE SFA CONFERENCE AND EXPO
156 MWFA ‘SCREWED UP OPEN’ GOLF PHOTOS
159 PAC-WEST: JOIN US IN COER D’ALENE SEPTEMBER 14-16
Amy Nijjar
161 NFDA ANNUAL MEETING PHOTOS
162 MFDA’S 25TH ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE
Rob Rundle
175 MAFDA: CONNECTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE
FASTENER INDUSTRY
Chuck Halpin & Justin Myers
186 NFDA: JOIN US IN SCOTTSDALE IN OCTOBER FOR THE
2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMIT
Amy Nijjar
199 DON’T MISS OUR FIRST ISSUE OF 2024!

6 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
WCL’s brand has shifted significantly since 1957.
In our second generation of ownership, led by brothers
Lee Harper, CEO and Craig Harper, President - we are
a growing force in the fastener industry.
WCL is reaching new heights by embracing
an enhanced team culture guided by our current
management team, Craig Harper, along with Dena
Beaty, Operations Manager and Holly McDaniel,
Sales Manager; together, they bring over 125
years of combined service and knowledge to the
ever-changing fastener industry.
Our focus on quality originally led WCL to
become AS9100/ISO9001 certified in 2011
and we maintain those certifications today. Our
scope is both manufacturing and distribution
of fasteners for commercial, medical, aviation,
space, and defense industries.
Relationships are why WCL remains a leader
in the fastener industry. We connect with you;
our customers on so many levels; we drive their
success through the solutions we provide. Our
message is that we are more than washers to the
fastener world and our expansion will continue to
concentrate on a variety of C-commodity items for
both mil-spec and commercial industries.
When you partner with WCL, the process is simple:
¤ We will ask questions.
¤ We will listen to your needs.
¤ We will rise to your challenges.
¤ We will communicate with you openly.
¤ We also believe that collaboration is king.
And to truly build a partnership together, we will
align goals, delivery schedules, and operations.
We know at the heart of business, both parties
are equal and equally important.
Our dedication to our customers has always
been and will always be at the forefront of our
business model.
For more information contact WCL a by Tel:
1-800.331.3816, Fax 626-369-9805, email: info@
wclco.com or visit them online at www.wclco.com.
See our ad on page 117
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MW Industries expands its wire form
manufacturing and range of products through the
acquisition of Western Wire Products Company.
MW Components, a leading provider
of precision components, has acquired Western
Wire Products Company, a wire forming leader with
a diverse product line, effective June 9th, 2023.
MW Components already has a strong presence
in the spring and wire form industry through existing
manufacturing specialists including Century
Spring, Fox Valley Spring, Maryland Precision
Spring, and over a dozen other locations known for
their high-quality, precision metal components.
The combined company will offer an increased
selection of stock, standard, and custom wire
forms including cotter pins, hitch pins, and
spring pins along with a wide array of highly
engineered precision metal components. We
are thrilled that Western Wire is joining the MW
Components portfolio and hope to strengthen
Western Wire’s service and 100+ year history of
entrepreneurship.
MW Industries, Inc., headquartered in
Rosemont, IL, has been a leading provider of
highly engineered springs, specialty fasteners,
machined parts and other precision components
for more than 50 years. The company excels
at rapid prototyping and design of hard-to-make
products made from specialty materials. MW
Industries serves more than 23,000 customers in
over 35 countries. Its 45,000+ products are sold
through a combination of direct sales, catalogs and
distributors to original equipment manufacturers
and aftermarket customers in aerospace, medical,
electronics, energy, agriculture/construction,
transit, heavy trucks, automotive replacement,
industrial, consumer products, and military.
For more information contact MW Industries
online at www.mw-ind.com. For more information
about Western Wire, visit westernwireprod.com.

8
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Rob LaPointe EXPEDITE TESTING SERVICE
Rob LaPointe is a noted authority in materials and fastener technology. With extensive experience in the
management and science of materials testing laboratories combined with master’s degrees in physics and
education, he excels at bringing solutions to the client. Working specifically in the fastener testing industry,
he has developed expertise in mechanical, nondestructive, metallurgical and chemical testing. With a
background of 20 years in physics education, Rob is effective at communicating complex ideas in a simple
and understandable manner, communicating well with clients enabling them to make informed decisions
about their products and business. Rob is President/CEO of Expedite Testing Service, 11645 Riverside Drive,
Suite 127, Lakeside, CA 92040. Tel: 619-736-7872, Cell: 909-254-1278 or visit www.expeditetest.com.
FASTENER SCIENCE: PRECISION, ACCURACY AND
SIGNIFICANCE IN MEASUREMENT
All measurements contain errors. It may seem
like this statement contains errors, but there has never
been a measurement that didn’t include error inherent in
the measuring tool, as well as possible error in the use
of the tool. Errors are part of every measurement and
must be recognized, qualified, and communicated if the
measurement is to be valid and useful.
If you’re like me, you may have had the idea that
there are properties of nature that are pure, absolute,
and completely unassailable. Things like the speed of
light in a vacuum, Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation,
and the effectiveness of a speed bump being inversely
proportional to the rate you travel over it. Joking aside,
there are certain values in our current understanding
of nature that seem to be fixed, and in that sense,
appear to be absolute. These are called constants and
FIGURE 2 ALBERT EINSTIEN
DEVELOPED THE THEORIES
OF SPECIAL AND GENERAL
RELATIVITY
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
most often are derived
from theory and then
measured to support
or reject the theory. As
long as the evidence that
nature provides supports
our theories, we consider
them to be valid. If a
particular property of
nature is predicted by
theory and that theory
produces a value for the
property, this provides
us an opportunity to test
the theory. When the
property is measured,
the measured value
is compared to the
theoretical value to
support, modify or reject
the theory.
In the case of the
speed of light in a vacuum,
all measurements of this
theoretical value have
confirmed the theory.
Newton’s Universal Law
of Gravitation hasn’t
fared so well. Although Newton’s laws work very well
in low-gravity situations, like the surface of Earth and
space travel, they don’t work well at all in high-gravity
environments such as near neutron stars and black
holes.
FIGURE 1 DIAGRAM OF OLE
ROMER’S OBSERVATIONS OF
JUPITER’S ECLIPSE OF THE
MOON IO IN OPPOSITION AND
CONJUCTION
For these environments, we must rely on the
overarching theory of General Relativity, which provides
results comparable to measurements in both low-gravity
and high-gravity environments. As for the relationship
of the effectiveness of a speed bump verses the rate
at which you travel over it, I’ll leave the validity of this
theory to your own experiments and conclusions.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 114

10
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Laurence Claus
Laurence Claus is the President of NNi Training and Consulting, Inc. He has 25 years of
experience with a medium sized automotive fastener manufacturer, holding positions
including Vice President of Engineering, General Manager, Director of Quality, Director
of New Business Development and Applications Engineer. In 2012 he formed NNi
offering technical and business training courses as well as technical consulting, expert
witness and consultation work. He can be reached at 847-867-7363 or by email:
Lclaus@NNiTraining.com. You can learn more about NNi at www.NNiTraining.com.
DIFFICULT FASTENING APPLICATIONS - PART 3
MIXED MATERIAL JOINTS
In the 2015 model year Ford boldly released it is
new, all-aluminum body Ford F150. In combination with
high-strength steel frame members, this new model
shed nearly seven hundred pounds when compared
to its predecessor. This solution has proven to be a
successful move for Ford and one that many industry
experts felt might pave the way for a wholesale
exodus from steel to aluminum. However, that has
not happened. Although an excellent way to lighten a
vehicle, it is also an expensive approach and one that
many tighter margin vehicles simply cannot absorb.
Therefore, most automotive OEMs have instead adopted
a mixed material strategy. Today, newer automobile
bodies are a mix of mild steel, aluminum, magnesium,
high-strength steel, ultra-high-strength steel, and
carbon fiber components. Unfortunately for the OEMs,
however, this incorporation of different material types
obsoleted many of the traditional fastening methods
and has become the genesis of many new and creative
fastening elements and techniques. Even with this
surge in fastening innovation though, some of these
challenges remain today with only one or two viable
fastening solutions.
Although this article will focus on car body structures,
it should not be considered a unique challenge to just
the automotive industry. In fact, these challenges can
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
be generalized across all industrial segments and a
tremendous amount can be learned from the adoption
of these new technologies in automotive.
This segment will conclude the three-part series on
challenging fastening applications that all distributors
should be aware of. As customers become more
dependent on suppliers to provide special expertise,
it is important that distributors be aware of the
challenges facing their customers and the potential
solutions that exist to address them.
The Trends
Perhaps like no other market segment, automotive
has become absorbed in lightweighting. The reasons
are quite simple, the lighter their product the better gas
mileage or battery range a vehicle gets. Lightweighting
is also one of their best investments, with greater
returns for each dollar invested than many of the
other technologies and innovations being explored
to improve gas mileage or range. Thus, the OEMs
are motivated to explore any new material or way of
combining materials that will accomplish this goal.
The result is that automotive bodies today are a mix
of new lightweight materials combined to often form
more lightweight and rigid structures than vehicles of
the past (Figure 1).
CONTINUED ON PAGE 116

12
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Bruno Marbacher
Dear Reader, this concludes the series of “thread
shaping screws”. If the material is too hard or too brittle
for thread forming, thread-cutting screws must be used.
These screws produce chips. We included self-drilling
screws as they also produce chips.
Bruno Marbacher earned his mechanical engineering degree in Switzerland, he also holds a
business degree. He started out as a tool and die maker (poly-mechanic) and over the years he
has held various management positions in quality and engineering. During his time in America
he has developed and given numerous seminars on topics related to the proper use of mechanical
fasteners and machine elements, and assists engineers in solving fastening/assembly issues. His
has groomed and directed many young engineers in fastening/assembly technology. He now
offers his 40 years of experience through writing and lecturing.
THREAD-CUTTING SCREWS AND SELF-DRILLING
SCREWS FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS
Thread Cutting Screws
What differentiates thread-cutting screws from thread
forming screws is how they produce the mating thread.
A thread-cutting screw has a shank slotted point that
cuts the material and produces the thread as it is driven
in, creating chips that fall out of the hole. The shank
slot minimizes chip production. Some screws feature a
drill-like fluted point that is designed to penetrate hard
substrates. Thread Cutting Screws come with sharp
edges at the tip, along with a chip cavity or cutout line for
clearing the cut material.
One can install them using a power screw driver. . As
one drives a thread-cutting screw into an object, it will
remove some of the object’s material.
Thread cutting screws cannot be used in soft plastics.
Their cutting cavity fills up with plastic immediately and
makes it ineffective. High radial pressure is formed which
deforms or even bursts the work piece.
Thread cutting screws should basically only be used if
the fastened joints are never loosened again, except for
repairs. If the screw is not carefully started, in an already
existing thread, it is likely to cross thread.
The harder the mating material, the finer the thread
profile must be.
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
The coefficient of friction of the hard thermosets is
low. Also, the material surrounding the cut thread does
not spring back like a formed thread. Therefore, the
resistance to vibration of normal thread-cutting screws is
marginal.
In automobile manufacturing where there are clamped
parts made of temperature resistant thermosets, good
resistance to vibration is required. Flank angles that are
smaller than 30° are beneficial. However, they can no
longer be cost-efficiently manufactured.
The Different Types of Thread-Cutting Threads
Thread Profile - Points For Metals
Type D and G (former
Type 1): A thread cutting
screw with single flute for
general use. Produces a
fine standard machine screw thread for field replacement.
Type D and G thread-cutting screws have machine screw
threads, a blunt point and tapered threads. The primary
difference from Type F is that Type D Screws contain only
one cutting edge.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 118

14
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Guy Avellon
Guy Avellon has been in MRO and Fastener Distribution for over 30 years, in such positions Sales
Engineer, Chief Engineer, Manager of Product Marketing, Product Engineering & Quality and
Director of Quality & Engineering. He founded GT Technical Consultants where he performs failure
analysis, lectures on fastener safety, works for law firms and designs/audits Quality systems. He is a
member of SAE, is Vice Chairman of the ASTM F16 Fastener Committee, Chairman of the F16.01 Test
Methods Committee and received the ASTM Award of Merit in 2005. Guy can be contacted at 847-
477-5057, Email: ExpertBoltGuy@gmail.com or visit www.BoltFailure.com.
WHAT DISTRIBUTORS NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT STRUCTURAL BOLTING
Structures do not have to be only buildings and
bridges; they are anything larger than a PC board that
is assembled outside of a mass assembly line. This
would include cranes, lift trucks, wind turbines, storage
tanks, amusement rides, etc. Each structure has special
assembly needs to assure safety and performance of the
finished product.
The only accurate method of producing a predictable
amount of clamp load is by measuring the actual stretch
of the fastener. This may be achieved by several different
means and products that produce a low amount of error.
Those methods include load cells, load washers, load
indicating cap screws, ultrasonic transducers and even
the turn-of-the-nut method.
Load cells are used on site to ‘qualify’ the projected
performance of job-site bolts and nuts. This, of course,
is used in conjunction with a digital or click-type torque
wrench. This method, like others, does not guarantee
installation performance due to some external variables.
However, the per-cent of errors are low.
Load indicating washers, or Direct Tension
Indicators (DTI) are quite simple to use, are a bit
expensive but very useful on critical assemblies. Their
accuracy is only as consistent as the operator.
Ultrasonic transducers are also an extremely
accurate means of measuring the stretch of the fastener.
This method is very expensive and is not a permanent
fixture as is a load washer. The transducer head can
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
be moved from one fastener to the next, but the only
drawback is that the head and point end of the cap
screw must be smooth and flat to accept the transducer
head. This would mean grinding off the grade markings
and manufacturer’s identification marks: removing all
traceability of the fastener.
Torque multipliers are very useful and accurate
for large diameter bolts requiring high torque values. As
torque values increase, so does the lever requirement of
the wrench. Torque is measured in the amount of force
(pounds for example) times the distance of the lever (foot
for example). Therefore, we have a pound-foot. Some
torque wrenches are up to three feet long to provide the
leverage needed to tighten the nut or bolt. Beyond this, a
torque multiplier is used.
Torque multipliers are extremely useful when mounting
wind generator platforms or rotating crane structures.
Some units are manually operated while others are either
electric or pneumatically actuated.
Another great tool used in structures is by not using
torque at all, but by turning the nut a certain degree
of rotation. This method works with coarse threaded
fasteners only and on solid metal-to-metal joints whose
joint compression has been removed by pre-tightening
with a short handled wrench. This will not directly translate
to Metric bolts, as the same thread pitch is used on other
metric bolt diameters. Actual experimentation is needed
for a particular size, thread pitch and joint thickness.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 120

26
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Joe Dysart
Joe Dysart is an Internet speaker and business consultant based in Thousand Oaks,
California. A journalist for 20 years, his articles have appeared in more than 40
publications, including The New York Times and The Financial Times of London.
During the past decade, his work has focused exclusively on ecommerce.
Telephone: 631-256-6602; web: www.joedysart.com; email: joe@dysartnewsfeatures.com
CYBERSECURITY: MANY FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS
ARE DOUBLING-DOWN ON RISK TRAINING
Given that punking humans is still one of the easiest
ways for a hacker to penetrate the most sophisticated
of cyberdefense systems, many fastener distributors are
doubling-down on training their employees to be on the
look-out for the latest hacker scams.
“Most security and risk leaders now recognize that
major disruption is only one crisis away,” says Richard
Addiscott, senior director analyst, Gartner (www.gartner.
com), a technology advisement firm. “We can’t control
it, but we can evolve our thinking, our philosophy, our
program and our architecture.”
Granted, most of us know by now that we need to
exercise care when clicking on external links, deciding
whether or not to download an attachment, or offering
up password and other information to someone on the
phone who seems like an employee who simply got
locked-out of the company’s network.
But the plain fact is that despite this common
knowledge, hackers keep tricking many of us into allowing
them to penetrate our business networks in just these
ways to wreak havoc, steal critical company data or hold
an entire system hostage with a demand for a ransom.
This vulnerability has become even more troublesome
in the post-Coronavirus Era, in which millions of employees
worldwide are now ‘remote workers.
In the process, that change also instantly made
innumerable corporate networks at fastener distributors
and other businesses even more vulnerable as remote
employees log onto business computer networks with
non-cyberprotected personal smartphones, personal
digital assistants, laptops and other computerized
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
UNFORTUNATELY, HACKERS CONTINUE TO PLAY CAT-AND-MOUSE
WITH BUSINESS COMPUTER NETWORKS
devices.
Add an increase in hacker break-ins on cloud-based
systems, a jump in hacking attacks orchestrated by
nation states -- and increasing hacker access to tricks
and techniques powered by artificial intelligence -- and it
becomes clear that nothing less than 24/7 vigilance by
fastener distributors will be needed to simply thwart the
cybercriminal threat moving forward.
Fortunately, if you’re looking to refresh or deepen
the cybersecurity training you give to employees to
help safeguard your business, there are a raft of
training service providers that offer a number of different
approaches to realizing that goal.
Some training courses can be completed in an
hour-or-so. Others can be permanently embedded in
a fastener distributor’s computer network, continually
probing employee ability to identify – and avoid – common
hacker tricks.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 122

30
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROTOR CLIP COMPANY INC.
187 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873
TEL 1-800-557-6867 FAX 732-469-7898 EMAIL sales@rotorclip.com WEB www.rotorclip.com
ROTOR CLIP’S INDUSTRY LEADING WEBSITE
PROVIDES NEW FUNCTIONALITY
Rotor Clip is thrilled to announce
the launch of a new website designed
to meet the needs of engineers,
buyers and distribution partners in
search of top-quality retaining rings,
wave springs and hose clamps. With
an extensive range of products, a
user-friendly interface, and exceptional
customer service, rotorclip.com aims
to revolutionize the fastener industry
and become the go-to destination
for all engineering professionals and procurement
specialists.
Engineers and buyers understand the importance
of precision and reliability when it comes to retaining
rings and wave springs. Rotor Clip understands the
diverse needs of the global manufacturing community,
the new website showcases an extensive catalog of
retaining rings, wave springs and hose clamps, ensuring
that customers have access to the most trusted and
innovative products available.
Key New Features Include
[1] Improved Search Functionality: rotorclip.com
provides simple search functionality that enables users to
navigate over 20,000-part numbers. Whether searching
by part number or diameter, results allow individuals to
simply compare, sort and view part characteristics while
requesting free samples to test and quotations. Added
functionality allows for the cross-reference of industry
part numbers, military specifications, DIN numbers and
more.
[2] CAD Functionality: Powerful new functionality
provides all the tools engineers need to make Rotor Clip
the preferred supplier of every ring, spring and clamp.
Over 20,000 standard parts are available for download
with direct insert functionality into every major CAD
system. Accurately depicted wave springs are available
at both free and work height.
[3] User Friendly Interface: rotorclip.com was
designed with engineers and buyers in mind. The
website features a sleek and intuitive interface, allowing
users to easily navigate through the product catalog,
view detailed specifications, educate themselves on
product attributes, features and benefits and make
informed purchasing decisions.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 124

32
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
COMPUTER INSIGHTS, INC.
108 Third Street, Bloomingdale, IL 60108
TEL 1-800-539-1233 EMAIL sales@ci-inc.com WEB www.ci-inc.com
THE CONNECTED WORLD
by Dennis Cowhey
Harnessing The Power Of
Seamless Integration
In today’s interconnected world,
individuals and computer systems
are more connected than ever. Just
like people, computer systems use
various languages and dialects. Among
the numerous ways systems share
information, the most efficient and widely
adopted method is through Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs).
In simple terms, an API is a
software interface that enables two or
more computer programs to interact
and exchange data. It acts as a bridge between different
applications, offering a service that allows them to
seamlessly communicate and collaborate.
The Role Of APIs In ERP Integration Solutions
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems play
a critical role in managing and streamlining various
business processes. To ensure that other programs
can both request and submit information, APIs are an
absolute necessity, granting access to and utilization
of the data stored within an ERP application. These
APIs act as versatile data intermediaries, facilitating the
seamless flow of information between the ERP system
and the applications, whether they are requesting data
or submitting new data.
Imagine an API as the dynamic conduit between the
ERP system and a program seeking specific information.
This conduit not only enables the smooth transfer
of data, making it accessible and usable by other
applications, but also allows these external programs to
interact bidirectionally, requesting and submitting data
as needed.
The Business Edge TM
- A Leading ERP Solution
A prominent player in the realm of ERP software
is The Business Edge TM
by Computer Insights, Inc.
This powerful ERP system is tailored specifically for
distributors of fasteners and industrial supplies. With
a sharp focus on the fastener industry, The Business
Edge TM
empowers companies across the United States
and Canada, ranging from small enterprises with four
employees to large organizations with over 500 staff
members.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 126

36
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS INSTITUTE
6363 Oak Tree Boulevard, Independence, OH 44131
TEL 216-241-1482 FAX 216-241-5901 EMAIL info@indfast.org WEB www.indfast.org
IFI BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM by Dan Walker, Managing Director
The Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) has announced
it is starting the development of a groundbreaking new
apprenticeship program for machine operators that will be
recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. This program
aims to address the pressing issue of workforce shortage
in the fastener manufacturing industry. With an increasing
number of skilled machine operators retiring each year,
the need to transfer their knowledge and expertise to the
next generation has become critical. IFI has partnered
on the development of the apprenticeship program with
the Marshall University Advanced Manufacturing Center
(MAMC), located in West Virginia. Marshall’s MAMC
is well versed in the development of apprenticeship
programs, having successfully written and implemented
multiple such programs in use across the country today.
“The shortage of workers in fastener manufacturing
will not resolve on its own. With each passing year, our
industry continues to lose skilled machine operators to
retirement, and that knowledge must be passed on to the
next generation,” stated Dan Walker, Managing Director
of IFI. “IFI and its members have decided to roll up our
sleeves and create an apprenticeship program for our
industry to help solve this ongoing problem.”
Under the leadership of IFI’s Chairman, Gene
Simpson of Semblex Corporation, the development of
this program represents a significant collaborative effort.
Simpson stated, “An initiative as important as this needs
to be driven by a group like the IFI. Many companies have
their own programs that work well, but these are individual
efforts with a heavy burden and mixed results. By
leveraging IFI’s collective knowledge and resources with
the help of Marshall University’s Advanced Manufacturing
Center (MAMC) the goal is to create a program that will
create consistency and results for use by the entire
industry.”
MAMC’s Apprenticeship Works, the National
Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Partnership
(www.rcbi.org/apprenticeships), assists companies
nationwide in developing and implementing DOL
Registered Apprenticeships in more than 20 occupations.
Apprenticeship Works is funded entirely through a $4.5
million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor –
Employment & Training Administration.
“We are honored that IFI has chosen our proven
apprenticeship model to help develop a pipeline of skilled
talent for this important manufacturing sector,” said
Derek Scarbro, MAMC’s interim director. “The fastener
industry is a critical link in the supply chains of key
sectors, from automotive and aerospace to defense.
Creating a highly qualified workforce is imperative to
strengthening American manufacturing.”
Unlike IFI’s current member training program, which
primarily consists of webinars and day-long instructor-led
training, the new apprenticeship program will provide a
comprehensive framework for training machine operators.
It will involve a combination of hands-on training in a
company’s own facility, utilizing their equipment and
personnel as mentors for the apprentices. The program
will also incorporate online self-paced learning modules
through a partnership with the IFI and the Workforge
online training system.
Apprenticeship programs offer a structured learning
experience with multiple levels of achievement and wage
progression. Participants are paid to learn and gain
hands-on experience in a production environment under
the guidance of experienced operators.
TECHNICAL ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 128

38
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
EMAIL info@fastenershows.com
WEB www.fastenershows.com
IFE 2023 TO HOST THE FASTENER INDUSTRY
THIS OCTOBER 9-11 IN LAS VEGAS
Join more than 650 exhibitors and over 4,500
attendees at the 2023 International Fastener Expo at
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV this October 9-11. The
longstanding and largest B2B Fastener event in North
America will once again convene for 3 days of networking,
education, and inspiration.
Morgan Wilson, Show Director, enthusiastically
announced details for the upcoming show, “We will
have over 100 new exhibitors participating at IFE this
year, 35+ from North America and 65+ internationally.
IFE is focused on growing and diversifying our event
to better serve the entire industry. We’re excited to be
building upon our specialty fasteners, industrial products,
machinery, technology, and other categories.”
Beyond the Exhibit Hall there are various networking
events that offer industrial professionals the opportunity
to connect with their peers. Whether you prefer to hit
the links at the IFE Golf Tournament at the Bali Hai Golf
Course on Monday, October 9, or head to the Daylight
Pool at Mandalay Bay for the fun-filled Welcome Reception
Party that evening; there is plenty of special networking
events at IFE 2023!
Before the official opening of the Exhibit Hall on
October 10, keynote speaker, Jake Hall, the Manufacturing
Millennial, will take to the stage to dive into the topics of
technology, innovation, and how to get your current and
future workforce excited about these advances in the
industry. The education continues with numerous sessions,
panels, and Fireside Chats. This new Fireside Chat format
is an engaging discussion that takes place in the IFE
Lounge and is driven by interactive conversations, real-life
experiences, as well as Q&A. Throughout the education
provided at IFE 2023, attendees will learn about topics like:
SHOW EVENT ARTICLE
¤ Risk Management
¤ Succession Planning
¤ AI, 3D printing and cutting-edge technologies
¤ Cyber Security
¤ Fastener Finishings ... and more
IFE 2023 will also feature a full-day class presented
by Fastener Training Institute and expert instructor,
Carmen Vertullo, and the celebratory tradition of inducting
the 2023 Hall of Fame and Young Fastener Professional
winners at the IFE Awards Ceremony.
“This is going to be one of the largest IFE events in
over 5 years! The Fastener industry remains strong, and
we’re thrilled to help unite the community once again.
Our team strives to continue providing the most relevant
education, networking opportunity and maximize the return
on our attendees’ key objectives,” Morgan concluded.
Register today using the promo code EXIV807362
and receive $50 off!
For more information on attendance, sponsorship or
exhibiting opportunities, visit www.fastenershows.com or
email IFE at info@fastenershows.com.
INTERNATIONAL FASTENER EXPO

40
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
GLOBALFASTENERNEWS.COM
by JOHN WOLZ EDITOR
editor@globalfastenernews.com
ECONOMIST TELLS NFDA: POST-COVID
LET-DOWN APPEARS TO BE SOFT LANDING
Yes, the U.S. economy is headed toward a recession,
but “we can have a soft landing,” economist Patrick Lucas
of ACI Economics told the National Fastener Distributors
Association.
One might expect a crash upon coming down from
the “sugar rush” of massive government Covid spending,
but the U.S. economy is going to be “more like a nap,”
Lucas predicted. The U.S. economy is “headed toward
normalization.”
Growth will be slow this year and “negative next
year,” Lucas forecast. Expect margins to erode.
To prepare for a slower economy, Lucas advised
NFDA members at the association’s 2023 annual meeting
to “lose the losers” among product lines. “Scale back,”
he said.
“Know what is driving your business.” Where are
backlogs? Where are possible order cancellations?
Budget for lower inventory.
“Focus on ‘buy low, sell high’,” Lucas advised.
Grow your share of the market and emphasize
competitive advantages.
Also “focus on talent retention” for growth in 2025.
Inflation is “starting to ease,” ITR finds. “Federal
Reserve tools take a long time to work,” Lucas explained.
Producer prices are “flattening out” and steel scrap
prices are declining, he noted.
The automotive industry is still recovering from supply
chain problems which slowed production post-Covid,
Lucas noted.
There are “favorable trends in utilities,” he pointed
out. However, new machinery orders will be down 3% in
2024, he predicted.
Economists are watching Federal Reserve interest
rate actions for clues. “Higher interest rates drag down
the economy,” Lucas said.
There is “angst” among those who went through the
“Great Recession of 2008,” but Lucas termed the next
“more mild.”
ITR has pushed-back its forecast of a full-fledged
depression from the late 2020s to a 2030 / 2036 period.
Contributing factors include demographics, health care
costs of an aging population, entitlements, inflation and
the U.S. national debt.
Lucas advised having cash available at the end of the
decade.
The U.S. totals 25.4% of the world GDP, followed by
China at 18.1%; Japan 4.2% and Germany 4.1%
Countries with higher economic potential include India
and Mexico, which have younger populations, Lucas said.
Factors boosting the U.S. include a strong
infrastructure and political stability.
¤ Incomes “are doing ‘okay’ now,” ITR finds. Credit
card debt is low. Company delinquencies and bankruptcies
are low. Liquid assets are up.
¤ China is “becoming more of a problem going
forward with mounting risks.” Conversely, Russia is
“hallowed out,” Lucas
¤ U.S. nationalism presents “new business
opportunities” with ‘Made in America’ products.
¤ Best chance to get loans when banks are tightening
credit? Loans for investments in efficiency, Lucas said.
vThe labor market traditionally lags the economy. Today
unemployment is the lowest in 21 years.
The U.S. Infrastructure law is ramping up spending
on roads and bridges, railroads, public transit, road safety
PODs. The law will buffer other declines.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
GLOBALFASTENERNEWS.COM

42
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
PEGASUS SUPPLY GROUP
9580 East 150th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060
TEL 1-888-603-1233 EMAIL info@pegasussupplygroup.com WEB www.pegasussupplygroup.com
EXPANDED PRODUCT LINES AND IMPROVED
SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA
Currently comprised of four companies, Pegasus Supply
Group brings together distributors and value-added assemblers
offering a wide range of products and accessories for the
fastener, electrical, electronic, industrial, and aftermarket
industries throughout North America.
Pegasus members are Cable Tie Express, Merithian
Products Corp., Thermosleeve USA, and Alta Electronics,
and available products include cable ties, heat shrink tubing,
connectors, switches, wire harness assemblies, work lights,
extension cords, cord reels, 12volt automotive products, and
leak detection tools and dyes.
The company’s focus across all brands is on quality, customer
service and support, and just-in-time delivery for building longlasting
partnerships with customers.
“By combining our resources with this umbrella
organization, we substantially expand our ability to serve
customers through better sourcing and a broader range of
product lines,” said Tim Bagley, Vice President of Pegasus
Supply Group. “We are proud to offer top quality products,
competitive pricing, and excellent service to customers
throughout both the U.S. and Canada.”
Pegasus Supply Group Member Companies
Established in 1995 and
headquartered in Indiana,
Cable Tie Express is a
prime source for a wide range of conventional and specialty
cable ties, mounting products, heat shrink tubing, and wire
connectors, serving distributors and carrying one of the largest
stocks of inventory in the U.S. www.cabletieexpress.com
Merithian Products Corp. is a
trusted supplier of high-quality
products, unique and convenient
packaging, and excellent service
to a wide variety of industries and businesses including
manufacturing, HVAC, and automotive. Established in 1992
and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Merithian is a
one-stop shop for maintenance and repair solutions. Top
product lines include wire and cable management solutions;
Alert work lights, extension cords, and cord reels; Black +
Decker, Stanley, and DeWalt 12volt automotive products;
and industry leader LeakFinder and Tracerline leak detection
tools and dyes. www.merithian.com
Thermosleeve
USA is the leading
supplier of heat shrinkable products with more than 20
years’ experience in the industry, offering a comprehensive
range of heat shrinkable tubing in various colors and shrink
ratios. Products are used in the aerospace, automotive,
communications, constructions, electrical, electronic, energy,
military, oil and gas, and utility markets in Europe, North
America, South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
www.thermosleeve-usa.com
Alta Electronics is a
respected supplier of highquality
interconnect products
and custom services headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Established in 1983, Alta takes pride in connecting with
customers and suppliers to create tailored solutions
for manufacturing and assembly of wiring harnesses,
prototypes, cable assemblies, component kits and
component distribution to suit a variety of electrical and
electronic specifications. The company also offers a variety
of additional value-added services including inventory
management, replenishment systems and stocking
programs.
www.alta-electronics.com
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
PEGASUS SUPPLY GROUP

44
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ARAMID TECHNOLOGIES
2200 E Williams Field Rd, Ste 200, Gilbert AZ 85295
TEL 480-680-7242 EMAIL info@smartcert.tech WEB www.smartcert.tech
ESCAPING THE CHAOS: WHY EMAIL IS LOSING ITS
GRIP ON DOCUMENT TRANSFER By Paul Decker, Co-Founder
Introduction
For decades email has been the go-to option for
companies seeking a quick and convenient way to share
important documents like RFQs, contracts, and quality
documentation. However, as technology advances and
cyber threats become more sophisticated, it has become
clear that email is no longer the most efficient or secure
way to transfer documents. In this article, we will explore
the increasing limitations and risks associated with email
as a document transfer tool and why modern cloudbased
tools, like SmartCert, which was co-founded by
fastener industry veteran Lyndon Lattie to help companies
exchange quality certifications, are becoming the new
industry standard. By breaking down the worsening
problems with email, we will take a closer look at how
these platforms make document transfer safer, more
efficient, and reliable.
The Changing Landscape Of Document Transfer
Over the years, email has transformed the way we
communicate and conduct business. It has provided
a platform for rapid exchange of information, enabling
global connections with the click of a button. From sharing
important files with colleagues to sending vital contracts
to clients, email has become an indispensable tool in
our daily lives. However, the sheer volume of emails we
receive daily, combined with the ever-growing threat of
cyber-attacks, has raised concerns about its efficacy and
security.
The risk of overlooking and forgetting about essential
documents in overflowing inboxes is growing. Cluttered
email folders make it easy to miss an important email
CO-FOUNDERS LYNDON LATTIE AND LONNI KIEFFER ARE
WELCOMED AS NEW MWFA MEMBERS BY GEORGE HUNT III AND
JAKE DAVIS.
and despite improvements, it remains challenging to
search for and retrieve crucial files, leading to potential
delays and frustrating requests to resend documents.
Additionally, email’s limitations on file size can be
a significant obstacle. Moreover, cybercriminals are
constantly developing new and sophisticated phishing
techniques, targeting unsuspecting recipients through
deceptive emails. The consequences of falling prey to
such attacks can be devastating, particularly for smaller
manufacturers and distributors. As a result, businesses
are recognizing the urgent need to explore more secure
alternatives to email for document transfer.
The Rise of Cloud-Based Solutions
Amidst the challenges faced by email, cloud-based
document transfer solutions have emerged as a modern
and efficient alternative. Among these, SmartCert, which
helps fastener companies exchange quality certifications,
or “certs,” stands out as a simple to use emerging
technology that addresses the shortcomings of email and
modernizes the way important documents are exchanged.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 130

46
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Larry Borowski President
GREENSLADE & COMPANY INC.
2234 Wenneca Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76102
TEL 817-870-8888 FAX 817-870-9199
EMAIL sales1@greensladeandcompany.com WEB www.greensladeandcompany.com
6e AND 6E PITCH DIAMETER ALLOWANCES
PROVIDE SPACE FOR HEAVY COATINGS
Many of the newer, high-performance corrosionresistant
finishes are thicker than older standard
fastener finishes such as commercial electroplated
zinc with clear or yellow chromate. To achieve equal
corrosion resistance, the new finishes containing
trivalent chrome are applied thicker than the hexavalent
chrome finishes they are replacing.
The heavier application of finishes on threaded
fasteners results in more problems related to thread
interference in assembly. Thread fit cannot be ignored
when high performance finishes are required. The
design and manufacturing solutions to this dilemma are
to either make the internal thread pitch diameter larger,
the external thread pitch diameter smaller, or to revise
both the internal and external thread pitch diameters
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
to provide the extra room needed to accommodate the
heavier finish build-up between the mating threads.
Several suppliers of threaded fasteners have
addressed the heavy coating-thread interference
problem by making the internal threads to the thread
class “6E” instead of “6H” and the external threads to
the thread class “6e” instead of “6g”. The use of the
combination of “6E” and “6e” class threads instead
of the most common combination of “6H” with “6g”
thread classes provides approximately four time the
space to accommodate plating and/or coating buildup.
Internal thread class “6E” provides a plating
allowance whereas the more common thread class
“6H” does not provide any.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 132

48
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
EDSON MANUFACTURING, INC.
10 Venus Drive, Wolcott, Connecticut 06716
TEL 203-879-2529 EMAIL sales@edsonmfg.com WEB www.edsonmfg.com
EDSON MANUFACTURING:
RIVETING THE INDUSTRY
Edson Manufacturing is a leading manufacturer
in the fastener industry. Originally a 600-square-foot
establishment, the company expanded over the years
and was acquired by Marson Corporation in 1974.
In 1997, Lee Gaw and John Famiglietti took over,
turning it into an employee-owned enterprise. They are
committed to in-house manufacturing and offer various
fasteners, blind rivets, and structural rivets serving
diverse industries. Their expertise and ISO 9001:2015
registration ensure top-notch quality and excellent
customer support. Edson Manufacturing’s precision,
adaptability, and passion for innovation sets them apart
as industry frontrunners.
Edson Manufacturing: Riveting The Industry
Choosing a US manufacturer brings numerous
advantages that spell success for your business. With
stringent quality control and adherence to regulations,
you can trust the superior craftsmanship of US-made
products. Supporting domestic manufacturing also
contributes to the local economy and job market growth,
fostering a sense of social responsibility. Proximity allows
quicker response times and reduced shipping costs,
promoting easier collaboration and communication.
Emphasizing sustainability and ethical practices, US
manufacturers align with your values. Working with a
US manufacturer ensures reliability, premium quality,
and a positive impact on your business and the broader
community.
Choose Edson for your application needs with
confidence in several key ways:
¤ In-House Manufacturing: Unlike competitors
relying solely on outside manufacturing, Edson
Manufacturing is committed to in-house production. By
stocking raw materials and supplies, they can maintain
quick lead times and respond rapidly to customer needs.
This approach gives them greater control over the
manufacturing process and ensures consistent quality.
¤ Employee-Owned Company: This employee
ownership model fosters a strong sense of pride,
commitment, and dedication among the team members,
translating into excellent customer service and product
quality.
JOHN FAMIGLIETTI AND LEE GAW, OWNERS WITH JACK
(HEAD OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS)
¤ Extensive Capabilities: Edson Manufacturing
boasts a wide range of capabilities in the fastener
industry. Their expertise includes multi-die cold heading
machinery, deep drawing presses, stamping presses,
and assembly machines. Edson manufactures a diverse
product line.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 134

50
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SPECIALTY TOOLS & FASTENERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
PO Box 44, 500 Elm Grove Rd., Ste. 2I0, Elm Grove, Wl 53122
TEL 1-800-352-2981 EMAIL info@stafda.org WEB www.stafda.org
STAFDA’S UPCOMING 47th ANNUAL
CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW by Georgia H. Foley, CEO
The Specialty Tools
& Fasteners Distributors
Association (STAFDA) will
be holding its 47th Annual
Convention & Trade
Show, November
5~7 in downtown
San Antonio, TX, at
the Henry B. Gonzalez
Convention Center. The line-up of
educational speakers,
including keynote speaker -
TV’s favorite contractor, Mike Holmes - along
with other meeting details is posted to
STAFDA’s website (stafda.org).
Several new things are being introduced
at the San Antonio meeting based on input
from STAFDA’s manufacturer members.
Exhibitors may showcase a new product in the
STAFDA Power Aisle on Saturday, November 4 from 1 - 5
p.m. and again Sunday morning, November 5 from 7 a.m.
- Noon. The Power Aisle coincides with main arrival times
and it will be open to distributors only. “New Products”
must have been introduced to the market after STAFDA’s
2022 San Diego in late October. Items truly must be
“new” and not just repackaged, enhancements made to
an existing product, or a rebranded item. Exhibitors may
rent a lead retrieval unit or create a QR code to keep track
of leads. Only one new product is allowed per exhibitor
and there is no charge to place an item in the Power Aisle.
Because STAFDA’s Trade Show is a buying show,
exhibitors are encouraged to use a variety of tactics to let
distributors know what STAFDA-only show specials, new
products, or prize drawings they’ll be making available in
San Antonio. That’s what STAFDA’s ShowMo Promo is all
about!
Exhibitors may upload brief video promos to
showcase their products. The video(s) will be highlighted
on the interactive floor plan on STAFDA’s website and
Convention app. Exhibitors may login at any
time and change the video(s) if they’d like
to demo another product or unveil a new
special.
All show specials, prize drawings,
and new products will also appear on the
expanded Exhibitor Listing on STAFDA’s
website, stickers denoting what a manufacturer is offering
will be placed at the entrance to their booth, and beside
the company’s listing in the on-site convention program.
There was a request for private meeting rooms on the
show floor so STAFDA is providing Business Appointment
Centers (BACs) where exhibitors may reserve time in 30
minute increments to meet with their distributors. Some
companies prefer to do business away from their booth
yet not take people off the show floor. The BACs fill this
need. Each BAC will be a furnished 3 meter x 3 meter
room with a locking door. There is no limit on how many
blocks of time can be reserved by an exhibitor.
SHOW EVENT ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 134

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 51

52
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Jim Truesdell
James Truesdell is Chairman of Brauer Supply Company, a distributor of specialty
fasteners, insulation, air filtration, and air conditioning with headquarters in St. Louis.
Mr. Truesdell is adjunct professor at Saint Louis University and Webster University.
An attorney and frequently published writer, he is the author of “Total Quality
Management: Reports From the Front Lines”.
DISTRIBUTORS MOVE FORWARD WITH MARKET
CHANGES BROUGHT BY PANDEMIC
Through the pandemic many hard goods distributors
kept up business as usual with safety protocols dictating
in-person interactions. While the bulk of society was
buttoned down and sheltering in place, distributors
needed to put essential goods on the shelves, to deliver
material to contractors who were keeping the wheels of
civilization turning, and to provide supplies to service
providers who were on the front lines. This function could
not be done remotely with every distribution employee
calling it in from their home. The physical goods had
to be moved from point A to point B and that required
warehouse people, truck drivers, and counter personnel
and others who received the material and filled orders and
put it in contractors’ pick-up trucks or delivery vehicles to
send it off to job sites and retail shelves.
Distributors now find themselves a couple of years
later dealing with the fallout and changes from the
pandemic experience. There are a lot of technological
leaps forward and market changes that came about
because of the pandemic experience, but wholesalers
are finding themselves at an increased disadvantage in a
number of areas:
[1] A significant number of talented workers have
decided they like working remotely, and companies
whose business requires them to have people on site
in plants and offices are losing out on talent. Applicants
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
are bypassing jobs which requires them to commute and
show up regularly at a company location.
[2] The nature of the supply chain itself has changed
as customers are demanding faster order completion. A
small number of large on-line sellers have centralized the
distribution function for universal ranges of products. This
could threaten specialty retailers and their wholesalers
with obsolescence.
[3] Customer service from the many manufacturers
and support service providers with whom distributors deal
has sometimes plummeted as many of these providers
have gone remote or hybrid in their own offices. This often
means response time is stretched out when a distributor
needs prompt information or help in resolving problems.
How are Distributors Dealing With
These New Realities?
Though “hands on” businesses do need people
on-site every workday they can introduce new elements
of flexibility to their work environment. This may not
be a stretch for the many family businesses who often
treated their workers as one big family, allowing people
to attend to family needs and emergencies as long as
job responsibilities were being met. As the working world
became more competitive and demanding, some of those
“patriarchal” management styles faded.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 136

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 53

54
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Steven Sherman Co-Vice President, Industrial Rivet
Steven Sherman, a fourth-generation Co-Vice President deeply rooted in the industry
from childhood. With an impressive 26-year tenure, Steven has mastered every
aspect, from hands-on roles like header operator, to product engineering, application
engineering, sales, and management. He attended UCSB for engineering and business.
Currently chair of the IFI Technical Committee and serving on the board.
RIVETING SOLUTIONS: COLLABORATE WITH YOUR RIVET
MANUFACTURER FOR SUPERIOR TOOL PERFORMANCE
Where rivets are concerned, a fastener distributor’s
goal is to provide customers with reliable permanent
fastening solutions for sheet metal – helping them to
achieve a flawless riveted joint in a single attempt.
However, occasional mishaps do happen – and identifying
the root cause of any riveting issues is crucial to minimizing
downtime. That’s not always easy, given the complexity of
the riveting process. Is it the tool, the rivet, operating
conditions, or lack of proper training? That’s when having
a reputable and knowledgeable manufacturer on your side
becomes critical – one who can provide a comprehensive
set of solutions along with expert guidance and support.
That’s exactly what RivetKing® offers. With more
than 110 years of experience behind us, we’ve found that
starting with proper tool selection and regular maintenance
can go a long way in minimizing disruptions. Here are a
few best practices we share with our customers to help
them ensure optimal tool performance.
Choosing The Right Partners:
Sourcing And Support
Start by choosing high-quality tools from reputable
manufacturers that always have spare parts on hand for
same-day shipment or and/or repair service to ensure
tools can stay operational. These providers typically offer
reliable products combined with a 1-2 year warranty and a
high level of support. It’s best to avoid MRO or DIY riveting
BLIND RIVET TOOLS USED AT HIGH PRODUCTION VOLUME REQUIRE
REGULAR CLEANING TO REMOVE DEBRIS
tools as they may not have the longevity or ideal force and
stroke ratios necessary for all rivet designs. Be sure to
select the correct riveting tool for the specific rivet being
used, taking rivet size and type into consideration.
Partnering with rivet manufacturers known for
producing quality rivets is equally important. This practice
helps ensure that the rivet does not contribute to
any process performance issues. Be sure to choose
a manufacturer who has the ability to test rivets in
application onsite and in lab conditions with a load cell
so if any concerns do arise, they can easily confirm their
quality. The support provided by the rivet manufacturer
can also include training for your sales teams, enabling
them to understand the nuances of rivet assembly and
build their knowledge over time so they can become
experts.
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 138

56
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Chris Donnell
Chris Donnell is the National Sales Director for Scanwell Logistics International (CHI)
Inc., specializing in Supply Chain Management, Inventory Control, Logistics Sales and
Management. Chris excels at selling the “Solution” to advanced program analysis and
implementation. A highly ambitious and effective team leader who thrives on the challenges
of this industry, Chris currently oversees a National Sales and Partnership Program consisting
of more than 100 Sales executives who focus primarily on SCM and Logistics development in
most vertical markets. Contact Chris at 847-228-6789 or email: chrisdonnell@scanwell.com.
ALL IS QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
For years - literally, years - each article I wrote
consisted of gloom and doom highlighting the trials and
tribulations of a pandemic and its impact on the world.
We’ve come so far since then. We have seen multiple
industries ravaged by congestion, high costs and work
stoppages evolve into calmness. I am knocking on wood
here.
The transportation industry, much like most
industries as well as our economy, is in a state
of transition and redevelopment. For the past year,
international trade volumes tumbled. This was due in
large part to companies throughout the globe sitting on
large inventories and sales being suppressed by growing
inflation. Buyers simply stopped buying. Despite being
deeply involved in the transportation industry for the past
30 years, we went through the best and worst of times
within 5 short years.
Fast forward to today and things are starting to
trend upwards in most business sectors. Buying has
been on the rise, our economy seems to have somewhat
stabilized, and companies are talking about growth
again. In 2022 we saw the inflation rate surpass 9%
whereas today that level is hovering around 3%, the
lowest since 2021. I will go through each sector in
greater detail to provide you with information you should
be aware of. I know this much to be true: At the end of
the day, the transportation industry loves chaos.
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
Ocean Transportation (Import/Export)
The past year has been a bumpy road for the
ocean carriers. Import volumes dropped nearly 45%
from the Pacific Rim alone, yet each month there were
indications of growth that never seemed to materialize.
Ocean carriers had to come up with some unique ideas
to remain profitable, and in the middle of all of this,
they were being investigated by the FMC and DOT for
questionable business practices during the pandemic.
Export volumes remained flat-lined as many export
containers were left idle due to the ports continued
struggle with congestion and the fact that ocean carriers
simply weren’t moving enough containers (whether
empty of full) back to the origin where they were needed.
The agricultural industry was decimated due to these
delays and thousands of loads never made it to the final
destination before they were deemed unsalvageable.
Today, the export market is booming, with most ports
returning back to pre-pandemic throughput levels.
Exports saw a significant bump in volume from 1.2%
growth to almost 6% year over year.
As for Imports, we’ve seen a see-saw effect over
the past 12 months. Volumes retracted, buying stopped,
and ocean carriers were left with empty vessels and no
cargo to fill them. They thought reducing rates at breakneck
speeds would entice buying to resume and volumes
to rebound.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 140

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 57
UNICORP ELECTRONIC HARDWARE
291 Cleveland St, Orange, New Jersey 07050
TEL 1-800-526-1389 FAX 973 674-3803 EMAIL sales@unicorpinc.com WEB www.unicorpinc.com
UNICORP IS AN AUTHORIZED ROTOR CLIP ROTOREXPRESS ®
Unicorp Electronic Hardware is proud to announce that
we are now selling retaining rings, wave springs, and hose
clamps through our Electro Hardware affiliate division, as
an official Rotorclip Master Distributor & Rotorexpress®
partner. Electro Hardware is the first Rotorexpress®
partner on the East Coast of the United States.
Unicorp Electronic Hardware also offers custom
designed products. Parts can be manufactured to blueprints
and we can modify all standard products to meet your
specifications. Unicorp can manufacture any type of CNC
and automatic screw machine part. Additionally, Unicorp
provides custom services for complete technical support
that can lead to cost-savings and design improvement. We
offer the largest range of material options and finishes in
the industry.
The Unicorp product lines consist of: Standoffs &
Spacers, Male-Female Standoffs, Male-Male Standoffs,
Jackscrews, Swage Standoffs, Captive Screws and
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
PARTNER
Retainers, Insulating Shoulder & Flat Washers, NAS/
MS Hardware, Shoulder Screws, Plastic Circuit Board
Supports, Nylon Fasteners, Dowel Pins, Thumbscrews
& Thumbnuts, Self-Clinching Fasteners, Cable Ties, 24
styles of Handles, Fixed, Folding, Rack- Panel & Ferrules,
& Retaining Rings.
Since 1971, Unicorp has been a socially and
environmentally responsible leading manufacturer
of American standard and metric precision electronic
hardware, fasteners and handles. We pride ourselves
on our dedication to customer satisfaction and our
commitment to support the needs of our distributors.
Unicorp offers top quality products, fast delivery, excellent
pricing, technical assistance, and manufacturer to
customer print specifications. We are known throughout
the industry as the “oddball king” because we offer the
widest variety of diameters, lengths, and finishes in our
numerous product lines.
UNICORP ELECTRONIC HARDWARE

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION
PO Box 5, Lake Zurich, IL 60047
TOLL-FREE 1-800-753-8338 TEL 847-438-8338 EMAIL mwfa@ameritech.com WEB www.mwfa.net
MWFA HOSTS ‘SCREWED UP OPEN’ GOLF OUTING
By Nancy Rich
The MWFA held their 3rd Annual Screwed Up Open
on May 25th - 26th at White Pines in Bensenville, IL.
This fun casual outing gives golfers a chance to start
off the summer season and get together before August
Golf Outing. Almost 60 golfers came out to enjoy
the day and the networking. Thank you to Bee Clean
Specialties for donating hats and ND Industries for
donating golf balls to our golfers.
The first and second place teams received cash
prizes. The two skilled teams were:
¤ First Place: - Grand River Supply Team
Derek Kuhns, Ryan Kuhns (Ryno Mfg.),
Scott Terill, Ben Mol
¤ Second Place - ND Industries Team
Mike Crouch, Paul Sundstrom,
John Sundstrom, and Scot Wickhham
Thank You To Our Event Sponsors
Upcoming Events
November 2 Value Added Selling Class (Paul Reilly)
December 14
Scholarship Awards
Hall of Fame Awards
Board Elections
Belvedere Banquets, Elk Grove, IL
Holiday Party
Medinah Banquets, Addison, IL
MWFA Welcomes New Members
Packer Fastener, Green Bay, WI
Carver Engineering & Mfg. and Carver Labs, El Cajon, CA
Chicago Industrial Fasteners, West Chicago, IL
Davies Molding, Carol Stream, IL
The outing was followed by the 2nd MWFA Nuts &
Bolts of the year at Church Street where several golfers
along with other from the industry gathered to enjoy
beverages while catching up with their industry friends.
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION

60
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Nelson Valderrama
Nelson Valderrama is the CEO of Intuilize, a software Service platform that specializes
in helping mid-sized distributors transform data into profits. With more than 22 years’
experience as P&L manager executive for major PE firms and industrial distributors.
Nelson has dedicated his career to help business uncover hidden competitive advantages
and unleash the power of data in the new Digital Economy. For more information
contact by email nelson@intuilize.com or visit www.intuilize.com
WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION:
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN 2030
The 2030 company car wasn’t my idea. It came with
my job as the new CEO at Jetson Supplier, Inc. They call
it a “luxury” car, but it’s just an electric subcompact with
two leather seats. Before I came aboard, the company
had leased a fleet of them, all painted the same military
green and bearing the Jetson logo on both sides.
We must live out this lease; otherwise, you wouldn’t
recognize the operation five years into my appointment.
I am a third-generation Jetson but remained reluctant
to take over the static organization. As they negotiated
my new hire package, the Jetson board and investors
agreed to my vision for a growth opportunity. You can
see the results, and more are underway here at the EU’s
high-profile wholesale distributorship.
Welcome To The Future Of Wholesale!
Large video screens cover the lobby walls at Jetson’s
headquarters. They display a continuous loop featuring
people using the company’s products. A kiosk at the
center has replaced a receptionist with a PBX system.
Visitors follow prompts to sign in at the monitor, using
the directory to identify the person they hope to see. The
monitor will invite you to sit and wait comfortably for that
employee to arrive. Or the screen will issue prompts with
which you can schedule an appointment. The system
logs and archives the transactions for security and other
uses.
A trained Customer Host, wearing Jetson-supplied
casual work attire, will greet and escort you to a sleek
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
cart. The host has programmed the vehicle to deliver you
to the people or place that interests you. The cart will
skirt much of the activity in the warehouse, yard, and
docking areas to avoid interfering with the work. This
may be your introduction to future logistics.
Wholesale Distribution Is All About
Movement!
Costs, green thinking, and government initiatives will
accelerate transportation options before the end of this
decade. Tesla, Volvo, and Freightliner have amped up
their campaigns to put cost-effective, battery-powered,
and remote-controlled 18-wheel transport on the road.
You may notice ongoing construction in our logistics
area, adjusting dock heights and installing universal
charging stations.
Inside the warehouse, you may bob and weave
among self-operating pick-and-pull vehicles. These follow
digital directions to locate shelving units, elevate to
reach the product, and pull it from its sleeve. Sensors
built into the shelves push replacement products forward
and send that transaction to inventory management.
Employees drive other electric vehicles to assess
mechanical or electrical malfunctions, resolve software
issues, or relocate misplaced stock. Like all Jetson
employees, these employees carry tablets with
proprietary software specific to their jobs. The tablets
will only operate the next day if locked into a reception
dock at the end of the shift.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 142

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
GROWERMETAL SPA
Via Nazionale 3, 23885 Calco (LC), Italy
TEL +39 039 9535300 FAX +39 039 9535400 EMAIL info@growermetal.com WEB www.growermetal.com
MORE THAN 7,000 WASHERS TO SUIT
THE NEEDS OF THE GLOBAL MARKET
Founded in 1950 by Virginio Cattaneo, Growermetal
is a renowned safety washer manufacturer with a
production that addresses the major areas of the
world. Run by the Cattaneo family since the beginning,
in 2021 the Italian company saw a significant change
in its corporate structure, with the introduction of new
managing professionals that have contributed to the
growth of the business in recent years, bringing the solid
name of the company in different application fields.
Thanks to the high request of Growermetal’s parts
within a variety of sectors, its market has recorded a
constant expansion across Europe and the world, from
the foundation of Growermetal USA, the North American
sales office located in Cleveland (Ohio) in 2014, followed
by the inauguration of Growermetal do Mercosul Ltda in
Curitiba (Brazil) in 2015.
Opening domestic production to the overseas
markets, the company has not only affirmed its role as
a leading European fastener producer, but seized the
opportunity to provide its services globally.
Today, Growermetal’s washers can be found in many
industries, ranging from the railway, aerospace and
automotive sector to power generation, construction,
oil&gas, electromechanical, transportation and earthmoving
machines. One of the main strengths of the
Italian manufacturer lies in its wide product range, which
includes over 4,500 standard washers, manufactured
according to DIN, UNI, ASME, NFE and other international
standards. Divided into two main families of products –
blanked parts and products made of wire – the line
includes washers with internal or external teeth, conical
elastic washers, flat washers, coiled spring washers,
spring washers for railway applications, corrugated
washers, electric terminal washers, spherical washers,
sealing push-in caps and other exclusive designs. All
the parts are available in different materials, including
carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, copper
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
and other alloys and raw materials upon customers’
requests.
But that’s only one part of the opportunities offered
by the company. Growermetal is able to provide exclusive
designs and items according to customers’ drawings
and specifications, thanks to its team of engineers
and experts that study the part, check the feasibility
and manufacture the products in competitive timing.
In addition to standard washers, today the company
manufactures more than 2,500 different special parts,
counting an overall production of more than 7,000 items,
all made in Italy and all produced for the European, US
and Canadian markets.
The in-house production plays a key role in this
service, as it allows Growermetal to deliver surface
treatments, coatings and testing, combined with the
internal tool shop, the R&D laboratory and the fully
automated warehouse. A system in line with the latest
regulations and norms, with a quality management
system certified according to the IATF 16949, EN 9100,
ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
By combining the wide product portfolio, structured
manufacturing processes and flexible and reliable
delivery services, Growermetal has shaped its mediumterm
and long-term strategy. Everything, with a specific
goal: boost business growth, and create value for the
company and for its customers.
GROWERMETAL

64
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Robert Footlik
Robert B. Footlik, PE is a retired Professional Industrial Engineer. With over 50 years’
experience as a Warehouse and Logistics Consultant to a wide variety of clients including
Fastener Distributors, Bob has a wealth of valuable information for our industry and he is
willing to share it. While Footlik & Associates is now closed, his expertise is still available
to his friends and our readers. For friendly advice, a second opinion or just to start a
conversation, he can be reached at robert@footlik.net.
IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?
If your warehouse is really hot right about now,
it is time to think about winter.
Summer heat can enter the building through a
variety of paths. Leaving south facing dock doors open
is one of the most common entry points, but I have
visited Distributor warehouses in the southern US where
they compounded the heat by using exhaust fans in the
north wall to suck make up air, superheated to over 140
degrees Fahrenheit by the black paving, into the building.
Another common heat source is a poorly insulated
or black tar roof. Heat adsorbed by a large flat surface
can raise the temperature just like a street “you can cook
an egg on.” In addition, those uninsulated brick or solid
concrete walls are just a big “heat sink” that slows down
the sun’s heat during the day so that it radiates thru the
walls all night and it is even hotter in the morning before
the sun rises. This is why old brick buildings are cool in
the early summer, ovens in the fall and iceboxes in the
winter.
Once indoors the heated air may have minimal
movement and your staff counters this with fans, large
and small. Ceiling fans intended to mix the air do nothing
to make the people feel better, because they ensure that
the hot air at the ceiling will equalize with the hot air at
the floor. The lower the ceiling height, the faster the heat
gets to the floor.
Quite simply, if summer heat is getting into your
building, winter heat is exiting at an alarming rate. You
will see this effect reflected in the heating bills, but it is
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
not easily observed while standing in the snow looking at
the building. An infrared, thermal camera can be used to
see the heat losses; and where the major negative heat
flows are going when the weather is cold, but your hands
and body are all the only tools required to know what is
important about heat loss in the summer and fall. Touch
an outside wall on a hot day, then go indoors and touch it
again. If the temperatures are close, the wall has thermal
mass, but little or no insulation value. This is why most
buildings constructed before 1980 have energy costs that
can bankrupt your company.
Next, climb a ladder or staircase to visit the upper
reaches of the warehouse. If there is a notable increase
in temperature as you rise, it is because hot air rises.
Technically this is called a “thermocline” and in the winter,
a floor temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit might be
supported by a ceiling temperature 30 degrees warmer.
Even worse, a poorly insulated roof transfers heat to the
outdoors rapidly at elevated indoor temperatures. In the
winter, this effect appears as melted snow that turns to
ice, collects in low areas, expands and literally tears the
roof apart.
A sure indication that there is poor air circulation can
be observed directly. Floor stored palletized materials
in cardboard boxes, or baled packing materials will lean
toward the open dock doors on humid days. Cardboard
absorbs moisture, softens and loses stacking strength.
Aiming a fan at the loads will often drive out the humidity
and the stack will actually straighten up.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 152

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 65
Albolt Manufacturing,
a producer of specialty
fasteners, has relocated
operations from Addison IL, to
a new facility in Rockford, IL.
“The new location provides
a larger, more efficiently
designed facility,” said Albolt
General Manager, Jeremy
Rubens. “With a larger
footprint and more efficiently
designed floorplan, Albolt
now has greater capacity to
produce the unique specialty
fasteners that our customers
need, more quickly.”
Products produced in the
new facility will include specialty
hex bolts, sockets, studs,
nuts, and pins, with a variety
of secondary operations and
additional services all focused
on producing a limitless
variety of specialty fasteners
that are manufactured for
a specific industry, job, or
material. In comparison to
general purpose fasteners,
specialty fastener applications
are limited and very specific.
Albolt Manufacturing was
founded in 2022 to meet
an increasing need for highquality
specialty fasteners,
manufactured for specific
industries and unique uses.
Albolt builds partnerships
with customers through its
people and a commitment to
overserve with speed, quality,
and availability.
For more information
contact Albolt Manufacturing
at 5055 26th Ave, Rockford
IL 61109. Tel: 779-256-6232,
email: sales@alboltmfg.com or
online at www.alboltmfg.com.

66
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
BAY SUPPLY A DIVISION OF BAY FASTENING SYSTEMS
30 Banfi Plaza North, Farmingdale, NY 11735
TEL 516-294-4100 FAX 516-294-3448 EMAIL info@baysupply.com WEB www.baysupply.com
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO CHERRY RIVETS?
By Mike Eichinger, COO
If you have bought fasteners before, you have
probably heard of Cherry rivets. The original application
for Cherry rivets has been all but forgotten thanks to the
many times the brand has changed hands, but they were
actually created for aircraft manufacturing.
In many ways, the history of Cherry rivets parallels
the evolution of blind bolts. Cherry rivets were devised
for a specific application, and the design was adapted
for other applications over time. While the original
Cherry rivets are no longer in use, we wanted to offer
a history of the evolution of Cherry rivets and Cherry
Aerospace to provide insight into how fasteners and their
manufacturers can change over time.
The History Of The Cherry Rivet
Carl Cherry is the father of the Cherry rivet. In 1936,
Carl’s stepson worked as a riveter for Douglas Aircraft,
which produced military aircraft and the commercial
Douglas DC-3 at the time. His stepson went to Carl
with a production problem, knowing Carl would be
interested because he was a mechanical engineer with a
degree from MIT. Douglas was having difficulties on the
assembly line. Solid rivets were installed by two workers,
one armed with a hammer and the other with a bucking
bar on each side of the workpiece. Some situations
only allowed for rivet access from one side, requiring
elaborately shaped bucking bars to install the rivet.
This problem was not unique to Douglas, so Cherry
started working in his kitchen to develop a solution. He
experimented with solid rivets, then drilled a hole in
the rivet to accommodate a steel mandrel. Tests and
refinements throughout the summer of 1937 led to a
new rivet design, and that fall Cherry applied for a patent
initially issued in 1939. Carl Cherry then founded the
Cherry Rivet Company in Los Angeles in the year 1940.
The new Cherry rivets could be installed from one
side, i.e., they worked as blind rivets, which made
aircraft manufacturing easier and more consistent. With
the coming of World War II, demand for Cherry rivets
escalated, and the Cherry rivet became the standard
for the aircraft industry.
Capitalizing On Cherry’s Success
Since the Cherry Rivet Company was founded
in 1940, the company has undergone various
transformations.
Towsend purchased the Cherry Rivet Company in
1951, and in 1952 the company moved to Santa Ana.
Textron then purchased Cherry from Townsend in 1959.
In 1995, Textron Inc. also acquired Avdel in the United
Kingdom, and in 1996 Avdel’s aerospace business with
Cherry to create Textron Aerospace Fasteners.
TECHNICAL ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 154

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Joe Shoemaker
Joe is an accomplished strategic marketing leader with over 20 years of executive
leadership experience in industrial manufacturing and B2B sectors. Joe’s expertise
includes brand leadership, product development, demand generation, digital and
social media strategy, messaging and communications strategies, and market
intelligence. He has built global brand strategies for multi-brand market leaders
driving them to prominent positions in their respective markets. Joe can be reached at
36shoe@gmail.com or 330-720-0552.
PLANNING YOUR 2024 MARKETING BUDGET:
A ROADMAP FOR SUCCESS
As we approach 2024, planning a strategic marketing
budget is pivotal to ensuring businesses stay competitive
in an increasingly digital and customer-centric market
landscape. A well-thought-out budget not only outlines the
direction of marketing efforts but also acts as a strategic
tool to align these efforts with broader business goals.
Firstly, it’s crucial to acknowledge the lessons we’ve
learned from the tumultuous past few years. The rapid
digitization and shift in consumer behavior necessitated
by global events have highlighted the importance of agility
and adaptability. This context must inform our budgeting
decisions as we prepare for 2024.
When crafting your marketing budget, start with a
deep understanding of your target audience. Leverage
customer data, market research, and predictive analytics
to gain insights into changing consumer preferences and
behaviors. This will enable you to allocate resources
effectively towards channels and strategies that resonate
best with your audience.
Next, examine your past performance. Which
strategies yielded the best return on investment (ROI)?
Identify successful tactics and consider whether they
will continue to be effective in 2024’s expected market
conditions. These high-performing strategies should
constitute a significant portion of your budget.
In 2024, businesses must be prepared to invest
in emerging technologies and platforms. Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics are
becoming increasingly important tools in the marketing
landscape. Investing in these technologies can provide a
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
competitive edge, enhance personalization, and improve
customer engagement.
Moreover, content will continue to be king in 2024.
It’s crucial to allocate sufficient resources to create highquality,
relevant, and engaging content. This includes
print ads, social media posts, videos, podcasts, and
more. The focus should be on storytelling and building an
emotional connection with the audience, which can drive
brand loyalty and customer retention.
With social media platforms consistently evolving and
introducing new features, maintaining a flexible budget
for social media advertising is crucial. Allocate funds
for experimentation with new platforms and advertising
features that align with your audience demographics.
Don’t sacrifice the tried-and-true print outlets, however,
when doing so. Print remains a consistent way to
communicate with your audience in a way that lasts.
Lastly, ensure there’s a budget set aside for
measurement and analytics. Without accurate data
tracking and analysis, it’s impossible to know if your
strategies are working or if adjustments need to be
made. A robust analytics system will enable you to track
ROI effectively and make data-driven decisions.
In conclusion, planning your marketing budget for
2024 requires a balanced approach between learning
from the past, acknowledging the present, and looking
into the future. The aim should be to create a flexible,
agile, and robust budgeting plan that allows room for
innovation, while driving growth and providing value to
your customers.
JOE SHOEMAKER

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 69
Auto Bolt is pleased
to announce that we
have recently acquired an
additional Formax machine.
Our newest addition will be
the third Formax added to
our Formax family. With this
new equipment, we have
extended our capabilities.
Our FXP54L has the capacity
to run 5/8 (M16) - 3/4
(M20) diameters, Our FX45
has the capacity to run 7/16
(M10) – 1/2 (M12), and our
FX35M has the capacity to
run 1/4 (M6) – 3/8(M10)
diameters, as well as some
blueprint specials that fall
within those parameters
Auto Bolt continues to
invest in their people and
equipment to expand their
offerings and competitive
pricing, striving to remain
a quality supplier to their
customers.
Auto Bolt is a proud
American, privately owned,
domestic Bolt manufacturer
located in Cleveland, Ohio.
Auto Bolt production
sizes range from 1/14“(M6)
to 1-1/8” (M27).
Our product line consists of Hex
Flange Bolts, Hex Cap Screws,
Shoulder and Place Bolts, Wheel
Bolts, Carriage Bolts, Plow Bolts,
12-Point Bolts, Tank Bolts, Pins,
Double End Collar Bolts, Spring Bolts
and many Specials Per Print. We also
offer secondary processes including
Drilling and Grinding, Heat Treatment,
Plating, Passivation,
Patching and Sorting.
Available carbon
steel includes
SAE 1008, 1010,
1018, 1038, 1541
and 10B21 plus
alloy grades SAE
1335, 1541, 4037,
4140, 5140, 8620,
8637 and 8740.
Additional Stainless-
Steel options available.
It’s a good time to be a domestic
supplier and a great opportunity to
partner with Auto Bolt!
For additional information, please
contact Auto Bolt at 1-216-881-
3913, email quotes@autoboltusa.
com, or visit them online at www.
autoboltusa.com.

70
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
WTC BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
TEL 1-877-604-0282 EMAIL info@wtcvet.com WEB www.techforfasteners.com
IS IT ILLEGAL TO TRACK YOUR EMPLOYEES’
ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY’RE WORKING FROM HOME?
Along with the surge of people working from home
or in hybrid situations over the last few years, there has
also been an increase in employers looking for ways to
monitor their employees’ work activities to ensure they
actually ARE working when remote.
This is no surprise given the new “quiet quitting” trend
that has now evolved into “Bare Minimum Mondays” and
“Try Less Tuesdays.” Sadly, some employees are taking
advantage of working remotely as a way of working less.
Of course, not all remote employees are slackers
– but how can an employer know the difference? That’s
where tools like Teramind and ActivTrak come into
play. These are software tools that can be installed on
employees’ workstations and laptops to monitor their
activity, both while in the office and remote.
Not only will these tools provide insights into
productivity and where employees are spending their
time, an employer can also see when someone checks
in to work and leaves for the day. These apps can also
help in ensuring employees aren’t surfing inappropriate
websites during work hours using company resources.
While many people are against monitoring, it’s
perfectly legal in the US, provided this is for work-related
activities on workplace devices. Monitoring laws do
vary by state, so you should always check with an HR
attorney on any employee-related monitoring. While there
is no requirement to gain consent on a federal level,
some states require that you establish consent before
monitoring.
It’s also legal to monitor company-owned devices
outside of work hours, including Internet traffic, search
terms, websites visited, GPS geolocation and content
viewed, to name a few things. If you issue your
employees’ phones, you are legally allowed to monitor
them as well. It’s even legal to monitor your employees’
own personal devices if you have a BYOD (bring your
own device) to work, provided those devices are used for
work purposes.
If you are thinking of rolling out employee-monitoring
software, here are a few recommendations.
¤ Let your employees know you WILL be
monitoring them, and how, before rolling out
any monitoring activities. Being totally transparent
about what you are monitoring and why is important to
establishing and maintaining trust with your employees.
Most people would be very upset to discover you were
monitoring them without their knowledge. While it’s
legally your right (in most states) to monitor without
letting them know, we feel it’s best to be open about this
so they understand what’s being recorded.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 155

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
IMSM LTD.
The Gig House, Oxford Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9AX, England
TEL +44 1793 296 704 EMAIL ScottMersch@imsm.com WEB www.imsm.com
ISO 27001: SAFEGUARDING THE FASTENER
INDUSTRY’S FUTURE by Scott Mersch
Introduction
In today’s rapidly advancing digital age, data security
has become a paramount concern for businesses across
all industries, including the fastener industry. The
risk of cyber threats and data breaches escalates as
the world becomes increasingly interconnected. This
article will delve into the significance of ISO 27001
within the fastener industry and explore the reasons to
keep your data safe. Additionally, we will discuss the
potential costs of a data breach, the implications of
ransomware attacks, and the upcoming requirement that
the Department of Defense (DoD) will have for suppliers.
ISO 27001 And Its Relevance In The
Fastener Industry
ISO 27001 is a globally recognized information
security management system (ISMS) standard. It
provides a systematic approach for organizations to
effectively identify, manage, and reduce their information
security risks. For the fastener industry, which handles
sensitive data, including customer information, trade
secrets, and intellectual property, implementing ISO
27001 is of utmost importance.
Reasons To Keep Your Data Safe
[1] Protection of Sensitive Information: The
fastener industry uses valuable proprietary data, including
designs, specifications, and customer databases. A
data breach could lead to the loss of such sensitive
information, potentially giving competitors an advantage
or exposing customers to risks.
[2] Maintaining Customer Trust: Data breaches
can severely damage a company’s reputation and
erode the trust of customers. When businesses fail to
protect customer data, clients may take their business
elsewhere, leading to significant financial losses.
[3] Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Many
countries have stringent data protection laws and
regulations. Failure to comply with these requirements
can lead to hefty fines, legal battles, and damage to a
company’s image.
The Potential Costs of a Data Breach
Data breaches can have far-reaching financial and
operational consequences for businesses. The costs
involved in recovering from a breach may include:
[1] Financial Losses: A data breach can result
in immediate financial losses due to legal fees,
compensating affected parties, and potential fines from
regulatory authorities.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 158

UC COMPONENTS, INC.
18700 Adams Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
TEL 408-782-1929 EMAIL sales@uccomponents.com
UC COMPONENTS ADDS TO ITS PRODUCT LINE
UC Components, Inc. is pleased to announce new
additions to our offerings including ALLVAR Alloy 30
washers, BUMAX® stainless steel bolts, Kolsterising®,
and custom print prototype capabilities. All go through
our proprietary RediVac® process to ensure every
fastener and seal you order arrives ready to install
immediately. This process reduces surface particulates
and other contaminants by utilizing a multi-stage
cleaning, inspecting, and packaging process done inside
of a top-of-the-line certified ISO Class 5 Cleanroom.
ALLVAR Alloy 30 Washers: Made from a complex titaniumbased
alloy that offers high-strength, extraordinary corrosion
resistance, withstands extreme temperatures, negative
thermal expansion, excellent machinability, and is light weight.
BUMAX® World’s Strongest Stainless Steel Bolts: These
unique bolts offer magnetic permeability, corrosion resistance,
mechanical strength, good ductility, extreme temperature
resistance, superior fatigue resistance, and more.
Kolsterising®: An industry-proven, thermo-chemical,
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 73
WEB www.uccomponents.com
low-temperature, diffusion-based, surface hardening
technology used to enhance certain grades of stainless
steel, cobalt, and nickel-based alloys.
UC Components, Inc. is a pioneer and innovator in
vented screw manufacturing and has been the world leader
in high vacuum hardware since 1974. Today, UC is one of
the leading manufacturers of fastener and seal products
for clean-critical environments of the 21st century, with a
focus on plated, coated, polished, cleaned, and vented
fasteners for High and Ultra High Vacuum equipment.
Our standard RediVac® products include both inch and
metric sizes of center and slot-vented screws, washers,
and nuts. Our vented fasteners promote faster, more
efficient pump-down of vacuum systems. We also offer nonvented
fasteners for through-holes in HV and UHV systems
and other applications. Our RediVac® family also includes
cleaned and vacuum-baked O-rings which are manufactured
from top quality fluoroelastomer materials and available in
a wide range of inch & metric sizes.
UC COMPONENTS, INC.

74
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Justine Urban
Justine is a Senior Sourcing Specialist at Hodell-Natco Industries. She graduated from Kent
State University with a degree in Journalism. Justine has been in the fastener industry for
10 years, starting in Customer Service, moving to purchasing and then in to her currently
held position in the sourcing department. Her role specializes in analyzing print and quote
requests to find the best qualified sources for the best cost to support the customer needs.
Justine is a Certified Fastener Specialist through the IFI.
MENTORING FASTENER EXPERTS -
AN OPPORTUNITY
The Justice League has Superman, the
Avengers have Captain America, the fastener
world has Carmen Vertullo!
We may not be saving the world from aliens and
super villains, but hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion
can be just as scary.
In the Fall of 2022, Carmen had the idea to gather a
group of like-minded people, in the fastener community,
for a unique open-forum group. The goal was to meet
regularly, pass on industry knowledge, and discuss
current ideas and problems across different companies.
We meet over zoom, averaging every two weeks, and
discussions are led by Carmen. They tend to be informal,
but very engaging.
It’s amazing how often we find something we just
discussed in class comes up in a real-world example just
days or weeks after our meetings.
One meeting, we had a discussion on salt-spray
testing. Carmen mentioned how testing must be done
immediately after plating.
The very next week, our company had a customer
with test-reports stating parts failed salt-spray testing.
Remembering our discussions, we did some digging
and sure enough, the testing was not done within the
specified time frame of plating, and they were using very
old parts to send for the testing.
Another discussion on material hardness called to
our attention to always be mindful of the scale being
used when discussing test results.
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
For instance, the print called out the Rockwell
hardness requirement. Our customer had testing that
was simply calling out numbers for the hardness. Upon
further review, we discovered they were using a different
measurement scale and once converted the parts were
within specification.
We have started developing a strong sense of
camaraderie among our fellow “fastener mentees.”
It’s easy to pick up on conversations we might have
had during a meeting when we run into one another at
different fastener social events.
“Hey, did anything ever happen with the magnetic
permeability problem you were having with brass parts?”
Mike Robinson of Star Stainless asked me at the
Cleveland fastener social event.
During the Tennessee Fastener show, teammates
Jamie Clarke and Parker Porosky and were able to catch
up with several members from the mentoring program.
They even joined Carmen for tacos one night in Nashville
to talk Tito’s and hydrogen embrittlement.
One thing people deemed “experts” in the fastener
field can agree on is there is always more to learn!
Continuing to train, research and come together is the
best way to better ourselves.
Next year’s session will begin this Fall. Please
email Carmen at carmenv@carverem.com for
additional information if you are interested in
joining – and be sure to look for the bolt symbol
flashing in the night sky!
JUSTINE URBAN

The future of fastener manufacturing is
changing as Allied Titanium CEO Christopher
Greimes and Allied Titanium board member Dr.
Craig Feied continue the replication of their patent
pending manufacturing process that dramatically
lowers manufacturing time and cost. While the
competition will be spending 4-6 minutes making
a large bolt, this technology allows for bolts to be
made in slightly under a minute. The question then
became, who can we serve. In 2022 Christopher
hired Cameron Truesdell as the VP of Sales and
Marketing, to reach more customers and help
more companies source affordable titanium.
Cameron’s career is rooted in a successful
background as CEO of LTC Financial Partners,
but that did not award the connections required
to find the right sales and marketing team in the
fastener industry. Cameron decided to cold call
Mike McGuire, who recently founded Worldwide
Fastener Sources. He directed Cameron to the
US Fastener Sources Representative Directory.
After doing some research of which industry
leaders were a match for the territories we wanted
to establish ourselves in, the representative
outreach began. Due to the impressive
technology catching their attention, in late 2022
Allied Titanium began working with some of
the industry’s most knowledgeable, noteworthy
professionals. Allied Titanium is pleased to have
North American representation from All American
Systems, Rick Rudolph Associates, NorthStar
Sales and Marketing, Assembly Products, Inc.,
as well as R.L. English Co. and serving the West
is Desert Distribution, Inc. and Sylvie Gagnon, an
Independent Manufacturers Representative (IMR)
in Eastern Canada.
It is always an adventure when preparation
meets opportunity, and this is an opportunity
that will open the domestic fastener market for
competitive international pricing.
To learn more about how we can help with your
titanium requirements and which sales professional
is handling your territory, contact Madisun Truesdell,
National Account Manager at 1400 East Washington
Street, Sequim, WA 98382. Tel: 360-477-6271,
Email: madisun@alliedtitanium.com or visit Allied
Titanium online at www.alliedtitanium.com.
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76
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Eric Dudas Fully Threaded Radio
Eric Dudas co-founded FCH Sourcing Network in 2006 and launched the industry
renowned Fully Threaded Radio podcast in 2010. With business partner and co-host
Brian Musker, FCH operates its widely used digital inventory marketing platform,
and provides data cleansing and formatting services for fastener distributors across
the industry. FCH also produces the monthly Fastener Distributor Index. Apart from
industry punditry, Eric ponders the deeper existential aspects of life driving a tractor
around his small farm in semi-rural northeast Ohio. eric@fastenersclearinghouse.com
UNTHREADED:
A PREDOMINANTLY FASTENER-RELATED LESSON
So there I was in the middle of the clover pasture
with legendary fastener expert Carmen Vertullo, when
it occurred to me that this was one of those perfect
predominantly fastener-related moments.
It had all the essential ingredients. This included
dozens of bolts, nuts and washers. There were sections
of threaded rod we’d cut to size with the grinder, and
screws in various styles and sizes. I’d made countless
walks back and forth to the tool shed, and now half
the equipment in the barn was strewn around the work
area. And as so often happens during these improvised
building projects, there was the inevitable minor screw
up that made the day memorable for an unforeseen
reason.
I’d invited Carm to stop by as I put the finishing
touches on the nearly completed chicken tractor I’d been
building. It’s actually a mobile chicken pen, but they call
it a tractor. That’s because of the wheels, I believe. It’s
rather like when you hear people call a lag bolt a lag
screw, which is really a lag bolt. Or it might be the other
way around.
The point is, I wasn’t sure how I was going to build
on detachable wheels to the 10’x10’ pen so I could
easily maneuver the thing forward each morning to
provide fresh pasture for my 80 or so hungry chicks, who
were at that point just growing their feathers inside the
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
barn. That part wasn’t on the YouTube video I watched
when I’d “designed” my tractor, which is actually a pen.
This had been a learn on the fly experience from
the get go, much like pretty much everything else I’ve
ever tried to do. And despite my near perfect track
record of blundered first attempts, I felt confident that
with a professional engineer by my side, I could quickly
complete this final phase of the building project and get
on with the business of pasturing chickens, which was
another learn as you go undertaking, albeit slightly less
fastener-related.
We decided on the final details of the build during
our second or third trip to Tractor Supply. That’s mildly
ironic since the store name refers to actual tractors and
we were buying supplies to build a tractor that’s actually
a pen.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 167

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SPIROL INTERNATIONAL CORP.
30 Rock Avenue, Danielson, CT 06239
TEL 1-860-774-8571 EMAIL info@spirol.com WEB www.spirol.com
SPIROL CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF HELPING
CUSTOMERS THRIVE! by Christie Jones
SPIROL is pleased to announce
the celebration of their 75th
anniversary. Since SPIROL’s
inception in 1948, the company
has been laser-focused on not
only helping their 15,000 global
customers be more competitive through innovative
fastening solutions, but also in serving their constituents
who have made the company what it is today. This
includes their shareholders, employees, customers, and
their community.
This tenet is in lockstep with the (3) founding
families of SPIROL who after ¾ of a century, are all
still intimately involved with the inner workings of the
company. In the world as it is today, if the shareholders
were only interested in maximizing their return, they
would force the minority shareholder out of the business
or they would sell the organization. However, this goes
against the grain of this family-centric company, and
certainly would not be in the best interest of the rest of
SPIROL’s constituents.
Hans Koehl, the son of one of the founding members,
Herman Koehl, started working for the company when
it was originally called Connecticut Engineering and
Manufacturing Company in 1959. He retired from active
management of the company as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer in 2004 after 45 years of dedicated
service. Although retired from the day-to-day operations,
Mr. Koehl continues to serve as the Chairman of the
SPIROL Holding Corporation, and his son, Jeffrey Koehl,
is now the Chief Executive Officer.
At the time when Hans joined SPIROL, it was a
SPIROL FOUNDERS: HERMAN KOEHL (BOTTOM), WALTHER G. VON
CONTA (LEFT), & HANS A. PRYM (RIGHT)
small company located in northeast Connecticut with
one product, the Coiled Spring Pin, and only a handful
of employees. Today, SPIROL has locations on four
continents and thirteen countries across North America,
South America, Europe and Asia. SPIROL has expanded
its offering to 12 major product lines and produces over
2 billion components a year.
When asked, “What are some of the most influential
changes in the manufacturing industry?”, Mr. Koehl
responded: “From a technological standpoint, the
proliferation of plastics and the electrification of products
throughout various industries has had a profound effect
on our business.”
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 160

80
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Roman Basi
Roman Basi is the President of The Center for Financial, Legal & Tax Planning, Inc. Roman graduated
from Milliken University obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science Degree with a minor in Psychology. He
earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University with an emphasis in Accounting and recevied his
JD degree from Southern Illinois University. Roman is a licensed CPA as well as being a licensed
attorney in Illinois, Missouri and Florida and is in high demand for his expertise in financial, legal
and tax matters. His areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, contracts, real estate law,
tax and estate planning. Visit www.taxplanning.com or call The Center at 618-997-3436.
THE IMPACT OF INFLATION
What exactly is inflation? Inflation is the overall rise
in the prices of goods and services over time. The rising
of prices leads to a reduction of purchasing power.
The rise in the general level of prices often expressed
as a percentage, means that
the dollar buys less than it
used to in prior periods. As
mentioned before, inflation
can have a positive impact
on the economy. In fact,
the Federal Reserve sets an
inflation target. They want a
healthy core inflation rate of
2%, which takes out the effect of food and energy
prices. The central bank wants a little inflation, which
also leads consumers to believe prices will continue
rising. When inflation rises faster than expected,
problems can arise.
Now how does inflation impact business owners?
Naturally, with inflation costs will rise, putting pressure
on gross and net profits. However, the impact of
rising prices will vary for different cost types. The
rising cost of raw materials will erode gross margins
if sales prices are not increased. Keep in mind, the
reduction in gross margins may not be immediately
apparent. This is because an existing stock that was
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
purchased at lower prices will be used first. However,
that inventory will eventually need replenishment. It is
best recommended to use the current or predicted cost
of raw materials when making pricing decisions when
inflation is high. An important
note about inflation is that it
varies by region and country.
It may be possible
for a business to source
materials from regions where
inflation is lower. When the
prices of energy are affected
by inflation, distribution costs
will likely increase. Such rising costs will impact both
shipments to customers and suppliers.
While service providers may be able to avoid
certain negative impacts, they will experience an
increase in the cost of travel. As expected, all overhead
costs will rise under high inflation periods. These rising
prices will begin to eat into net profit that is already
being impacted by raw material and distribution costs.
While it will take longer for inflation to increase the cost
of long-term fixed-price contracts (rent, maintenance
contracts, etc.), you could see significant annual
increases in these costs if inflation remains high for an
extended period.
CONTINNUED ON PAGE 162

82
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
METROPOLITAN FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
233 Rock Road #205, Glen Rock, NJ 07452
TEL 201-254-7784 FAX 201-612-0638 EMAIL mfdaboard@gmail.com WEB www.mfda.us
MFDA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED
by Rob Rundle
The Metropolitan Fastener Distributors Association
(MFDA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023
MFDA Scholarship awards, which were given June 13th at
the MFDA’s Scholarship Dinner in the Sky Room at the
Hilton Hasbrouck Heights.
The MFDA Board of
Directors Scholarship
($3000) & The MFDA
Hall Of Fame Scholarship
($1500)
Alyssa DeLuca, daughter of
Jen Deluca-Stuban of Vogelsang Fastener Solutions (www.
vogelsangfastener.com)
Corporation (www.fastboltcorp.com)
The Tanzman Family
Scholarship ($2500) & The
Barbara Traum Memorial
Scholarship ($1500)
Ashley Werblow, daughter
of Edward Werblow of Fastbolt
The Metric & Multistandard
Components Corp
Scholarship ($2500)
Victoria Weaver, daughter of
Gerald Weaver, Ken Forging, Inc.
(www.kenforging.com)
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
Corp (www.fastboltcorp.com)
The Star Stainless Screw
Corp/Yellow Woods &
Roads Less Travelled
Scholarship ($2000)
Jaden Llerena, son of
Dominic Llerena from Fastbolt
The Bob Rundle Memorial
Scholarship ($1500)
Alex Misevski, son of Bridget
Misevski from Nylok-Aerospace
Division (www.nylok.com)
Along with the generous
donors of the named scholarships listed, the MFDA would
like to recognize and thank the members and friends who
donated to the scholarship drive this year:
¤ Fastbolt Corp www.fastboltcorp.com
¤ Kanebridge Corporation www.kanebridge.com
¤ Ken Forging Inc www.kenforging.com
¤ Michael F. McCormick Assc Inc www.fastenerreps.com
¤ Captive Fastener Corp www.captive-fastener.com
¤ Brewster Washers www.brewster-washers.com
Save The Date
The MFDA looks forward to seeing everyone 26th
annual MFDA Golf weekend, September 9th, and 10th
2023 at the Wild Turkey Golf Club at Crystal Springs
resort. This will be a weekend event not to miss!
METROPOLITAN FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

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84
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS & SUPPLY
SELF LOCKING FASTENERS, INC.
912 Industrial Drive, Aurora, IL 60506
TEL 1-800-787-8248 EMAIL billw@industfastsupply.com WEB www.industfastsupply.com
HELPING YOU KEEP IT TOGETHER
by Dennis Cowhey, President, Computer Insights
Introduction
In the fast-paced world of industrial manufacturing,
efficient inventory management is crucial for ensuring
smooth operations and maximizing profitability. Industrial
Fasteners & Supply, Inc., based in Aurora, Illinois,
has been a leading distributor of fasteners since the
1970s. With their extensive range of products and
innovative Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) program, the
company has been helping businesses across industries
keep their operations running smoothly and profitably.
This article explores Industrial Fasteners & Supply’s
evolution, their comprehensive product offerings, and
the benefits of their VMI program.
A Brief History
Industrial Fasteners & Supply, Inc. began as a
specialized distributor of self-locking fasteners in the
1970s. Over the years, the company’s product line
expanded to meet the diverse needs of their customers,
transforming them into a full-line distributor. Their
extensive offerings now include standard fasteners,
SEMS, thread forming and cutting screws, custom screw
machine parts, springs, wire forms, o-rings, molded
rubber parts, and much more. The combinations are
endless. Pick a Head Style, Drive Style, Washer or
Washers, Screw Type, Finish, and Locking feature.
Bill Weldon was first introduced to fasteners in the
’70s, working for his father, who was a civil engineer and
general contractor. In the ’80s, he moved on to retail
hardware. This is where he became fascinated with the
many different types of nuts, bolts, screws, and anchors.
In the early ‘90s, Bill took a position with Industrial
Fasteners & Supply as the warehouse manager (while
continuing with the retail side). This is when an entirely
new world of fasteners opened to him. As time went
on, he transitioned into sales and developed a Vendor
Managed Inventory program. In 2009 his wife Sharon
joined the team, and they purchased Industrial Fasteners
& Supply. With Sharon’s 30+ years of accounting and
working in distribution, it was a perfect match.
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)
One critical service that Industrial Fasteners &
Supply offers is its customizable Vendor Managed
Inventory (VMI) program. This program is designed to
optimize inventory management for their customers,
providing a range of benefits that contribute to increased
efficiency and improved bottom-line results.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
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86
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
The electronics engineering
team at Valley Forge & Bolt
Mfg. Co. have completed the
first iteration of their SPC4®
Data Logger app.
This milestone is
a critical move in the
company’s continued
advancements in technology
to provide a broader
range of load indicating
solutions. This application,
paired with the SPC4®
406A Electronic Meter, is
a user-friendly solution for
monitoring fastener load in
environments that require a
Bluetooth connection.
“We saw the need to
update the functionality of
our 600A meter,” said Dirk
Halley, Projects Engineering
Manager at Valley Forge &
Bolt Mfg. Co. “Our objective
was to further improve
the user-friendly features
of the meter and take
advantage of this datadriven
environment that we
are seeing customers and
partners move towards.”
The original handheld
406A Electronic Meter
provides an accurate
and convenient method
to measure an SPC4®
fastener, recording the
actual tension within critical
joints. The new application
accessory will further allow
field users to port and
aggregate fastener health
data from any SPC4® to an
Android device and store it
in a configurable array set
up by the customer.
...continued on page 87

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 87
...continued from page 86
After a simple set up
and calibration, users can
configure the app with their
specific equipment and site
details to monitor target
clamp load during both
fastener installations and
routine inspection. This
improved load monitoring
method allows end users to
pinpoint problems, optimize
installation time, reduce
downtime, and share data
with key stakeholders.
This new advancement
will provide numerous
advantages in industries
such as mining, power
generation, as well as
O&G applications. This
application is available on
the google play app store
and is available for purchase
with new SPC4® technology
which can be retrofitted for
a variety of applications.
In practical applications,
SPC4® data is used to
make both installation
and maintenance faster
and more accurate, create
more effective maintenance
schedules and give crucial,
early insight into fastener
and machine behaviors that
might lead to premature
failure. With this foresight
into the bolt loading of
joints, problems can be
corrected before bolt failure.
For more information contact
Valley Forge & Bolt Mfg. Co. Tollfree
at: 1-800-832-6587, Email:
info@vfbolts.com, or online at
www.vfbolts.com.
courtesy of globalfastenernews.com

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90
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
MW INDUSTRIES, INC
2400 Farrell Rd, Houston, TX 77073
TEL 1-800-875-3510 EMAIL sales@mwindustries.com WEB www.mwindustries.com
EMBRACING GROWTH, EFFICIENCY, AND
CUSTOMER-CENTRICITY
As we steadily approach the remarkable milestone
of 50 years in business, we reflect on our journey,
accomplishments, and the values that have guided us
along the way. Our commitment to excellence, adaptability,
and customer satisfaction has allowed us to flourish over
the years. We embrace the future with a renewed focus
on growth, streamlined processes, and a commitment to
our people-centric approach.
One of the critical factors that have contributed to our
success has been the availability of ample land allowing
us to grow and expand, even if it is simply elbow room for
inventory.
This newly constructed space has allowed us to
efficiently store and manage our products, ensuring
seamless order fulfillment and timely delivery to our
valued customers.
Just like fine wine, we believe that a business can
get better with age. Throughout the decades, we have
accumulated vast experience, knowledge, and expertise
in our industry. We have weathered storms, adapted to
market shifts, and honed our skills to stay ahead of the
curve. Our commitment to excellence ensures that we
are well equipped to provide our customers with superior
metal stamping, CNC milling, CNC laser cutting, and small
fabrication, which is all backed by our unprecedented
service. We take great pride in our ability to manufacture
orders while our competitors are still busy quoting. This
advantage demonstrates our commitment to delivering on
time and exceeding expectations.
We humbly invite you to tour our facility anytime.
Take a walk through our production floor, witness our
rigorous quality control measures, meet the dedicated
MW Industries’ employees, who make it all possible, and
then relax with us as we end the day fishing in our stocked
retention pond.
We are immensely proud of the journey that has
brought us here. As we look ahead, we embrace the
future with enthusiasm, ready to tackle new challenges,
innovate, and adapt.
To our loyal customers, thank you for being a part of
our story. And to those we have yet to serve, we invite you
to work with us and experience the spirit and dedication
that sets us apart.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
MW INDUSTRIES INC

MW INDUSTRIES 24th
ANNUAL CUSTOMER
APPRECIATION CRAWFISH BOIL - HOUSTON, TX

94
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION
PO Box 5, Lake Zurich, IL 60047
TOLL-FREE 1-800-753-8338 TEL 847-438-8338 EMAIL mwfa@ameritech.com WEB www.mwfa.net
PAUL REILLY TO PRESENT VALUE-ADDED SELLING
SEMINAR TO MWFA MEMBERS By Nancy Rich
Value Added Selling Seminar
MWFA Members will receive a special membership
benefit on November 2nd. They will have the opportunity
to attend Paul Reilly’s Selling Seminar complimentary,
only paying a fee for lunch and presentation materials
(includes a copy of Value-Added Selling and a full-day
workbook).
Today’s sellers face familiar challenges at
unprecedented levels. Markets are flooded with tough
competitors selling similar products and services. With
the commoditization of products and services, customers
become increasingly price sensitive. Technology has
created even more competition and pricing transparency.
It’s no wonder that selling value remains one of the
greatest challenges facing today’s sales professional.
This tone-setting presentation introduces you to Value-
Added Selling. You’ll learn several ideas that will help you
implement this go-to-market strategy.
In a competitive market, differentiation is key. What
sets you apart from your competitors? Why should
customers buy from you? How can you get them to
return to you again and again? What if I told you that you
can compete aggressively and outsell the competition
while maintaining your profitability? It’s possible through
Value-Added Selling. Value-Added Selling continues to
be a content-rich message of hope. You can compete
aggressively and profitably based on your total value and
not on price. The need for this message has never been
greater.
When participants embrace the value-added message,
they will compete aggressively on the total value of their
solution.
Paul Reilly is a professional speaker, sales trainer,
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
and author. He authored Selling Through Tough Times
(McGraw-Hill, 2021) and coauthored Value-Added Selling,
fourth edition (McGraw-Hill, 2018). Reilly also hosts The
Q and A Sales Podcast, where he answers the most
pressing questions facing today’s sales professional.
Reilly is a long-time faculty member at the University
of Innovative Distribution (UID). In 2020, Reilly earned
his CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation.
Fewer than 18 percent of professional speakers have
earned this designation. Reilly travels the globe sharing
his content-rich message of hope.
Paul attributes his success to his belief in the Value-
Added message.
Non-Members may attend at an additional fee. Watch
for more information at www.mwfa.net.
Essentials Of Metallurgy Seminar
The best education is firsthand. Students attending
the May 24th Essentials of Metallurgy Seminar had
the opportunity to not only hear from industry experts
regarding metallurgy, heat treating, and plating but also
were able to tour facilities.
Morgan Ohare and SWD Inc. were gracious enough to
provide teachers and tours of their plants. Joan Sosinski
and Ed Garcia spoke from Morgan Ohare discussing types
of Heat Treating and their applications. Matt Delawder
and Don Memecek spoke from SWD addressing the
many types of Plating and their applications. Feedback
from students indicated that they really enjoyed the tours
allowing them to see the processes in action creating a
better understanding of what was taught. This popular
class has become an annual class due to the demands
of the industry for education.
MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION

On October 31-November 2, 2023, Matrix
Engineering Consultants and NNi Training
and Consulting Inc. will again be conducting
Fundamentals of Threaded Fastener and Joint Design
training.
The one-of-a-kind Fastener Training Course will
provide participants with an in-depth explanation
of fastener terminology, technology, and threaded
fastener joint design calculations and strategies.
Participants may choose to attend in-person or via a
live on-line stream.
The course will be conducted from the training
facilities of Matrix Engineering Consultants, 12986
Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.
The course will be taught be Laurence Claus,
President of NNi Training and Consulting Inc. and Jon
Ness P.E., Principle Engineer of Matrix Engineering
Consultants.
Mr. Claus has over 35 years of fastener industry
experience, serves as the Director of Training and
Education for the Industrial Fasteners Institute, is
Chairman of the SAE Fastener Committee, Vice
Chairman of the ASTM Fastener Committee F16,
and Subcommittee Chairman for both ASTM F16
and ASME B18.
Mr. Ness is a licensed professional engineer with
over 32 years of engineering and design experience
related to the development of on and off-road
vehicles. He has technical expertise in the design
and validation of bolted joints and has led multiple
root cause investigations of bolted joint failures.
Participants can earn up to 24 Professional
Development Hours with this course.
NNI Training and Consulting is a dynamic,
entrepreneurial ‘knowledge provider’ offering training
and consulting services to small- and mid-sized
companies. Their specific expertise is in cold heading,
fasteners, fastener and application engineering, and
automotive, industrial, and aerospace parts supply.
Matrix Engineering Consultants provides clients
with consistent, quality engineering and consulting
services, aligned to the standards of their clients
and of the industry. They seamlessly collaborate
with their clients to produce world class engineering
solutions.
For more information or to register for the course,
go to www.matrixengrg.com/classes/fundamentalsof-threaded-fasteners-and-joint-design.
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 95

96
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Jo Morris Marketing Director, Fastener Training Institute ®
FASTENER TRAINING INSTITUTE ®
1545 N. Columbus Avenue, Glendale, CA 91202
TEL 562-473-5373 FAX 661-449-3232
EMAIL info@fastenertraining.org WEB www.fastenertraining.org
FTI NEW CLASS: FASTENER FUNDAMENTALS – THE
NUTS AND BOLTS FOR FASTENER PROFESSIONALS
Don’t miss an opportunity to grow and develop
fastener knowledge for yourself and your employees. FTI
is proud to introduce a new course that brings the basics
of fasteners and beyond to fastener professionals.
This one-day class includes the best of Fastener
Training Institute’s Fastener Basic Training and Certified
Specialist Training programs. Students will spend the day
learning the must-knows for every fastener professional.
The class is interactive with learning exercises, case
studies, and valuable take-home resources.
Fastener Fundamentals Curriculum
¤ Types and applications of various threaded and
non- threaded fasteners
¤ Fastener standards organizations
¤ Your fastener technical library
¤ Basics of fastener materials
¤ Platings, coatings and corrosion prevention for
fasteners
¤ Best methods for properly tightening fasteners –
there’s more to tension than torque
¤ Dealing with fastener customer complaints – from
small screws to structural bolts
¤ Fastener failure investigation – what you need to
know to sleep at night
¤ Ten things every fastener supplier can do to add
value, reduce risk, and increase profits in the
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
fastener supply transaction.
After mastering Fastener Fundamentals, enroll in one
of FTI’s more advanced, technical skills level classes.
Fastener Specifications & Terminology
is a full-day class that teaches students how to
understand fastener specifications and the consensus
standards organizations that govern our industry
(ASTM, SAE, ANSI, IFI, ISO, ASME and others).
The curriculum includes thorough instruction on the
terms and definitions used in fastener specifications.
Students will study actual specifications and learn
how to identify and meet customer and industry
requirements. If you have ever agonized over how to
meet or understand customer specifications, or ever
wondered when a specification supersedes another
specification, this class is for you.
Understanding the Bolted Joint is also a fullday
class that teaches students about tension, applied
torque and much more. Participants will learn first-hand
how to calculate general torque recommendations, how
to access resources and technical information on bolted
joints, how to determine optimum tightening torque values
for specific applications plus watch demonstrations and
use Skidmore-Wilhelm torque tension equipment. This is
a great training experience in a small group environment
that includes materials and plenty of information to take
back to work.
CONTINED ON PAGE 166

SEMS AND SPECIALS INC
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 97
6483 Falcon Road, Rockford, IL 61109
TEL 1-800-888-7367 FAX 815-874-0100 EMAIL sales@semsandspecials.com WEB www.semsandspecials.com
SEMS AND SPECIALS ADDS NEW 2-DIE HEADER TO LINE UP
Sems and Specials is pleased to announce the
addition of our NP-120 2-die, 3-blow header. This header
can produce up to ½” diameter, up to 5” cut off length.
Sems and Specials already offers one of the widest
bandwidth of cold headed products among North
American manufactures, utilizing single, 3 die and 5 die
headers (.062 to .500” dia, up to 5” long, with midrange
diameters #8-.250” dia, up to 7” long, inch and metric).
We offer a full range of steel and non-ferrous materials,
finished complete with a variety of plate & patch options.
Kelly Charles, VP Sales, notes “The addition of this
2-die header will really round out our product offering.
This machine is particularly good with socket products
and stripper bolts, as well as shorter shoulder bolts.
We are excited to start quoting with this machine and
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
help our customers grow their business.”
Please contact Sems and Specials for a quote
today! We look forward to quoting your sems product,
as well as cold headed, per-print specials.
SEMS AND SPECIALS

98
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GLOBALFASTENERNEWS.COM
by JOHN WOLZ EDITOR
editor@globalfastenernews.com
NFDA PANELISTS: 2022 RECORD SALES -
SOME NUMBERS SLIPPING THIS YEAR
Sales are strong even if off from 2022 records,
but the elephant in the room is inventory, State of the
Industry panelists told the National Fastener Distributors
Association annual meeting.
Lead times are starting to come down, panelist Dave
Monti of Fall River Manufacturing Co. Inc., told the NFDA.
Record 2022 sales topped “two years of unusually large
lead times,” Monti said. Now lead times are starting to
come down.
Part of that is staffing. “A year and a half ago, we
couldn’t hire,” Monti said. About six months ago the labor
supply turned around and today Fall River is fully staffed.
Fall River raised wages for its 67 employees.
However, Monti credits company culture for employees
staying.
Randy Hrdlicka, purchasing manager for master
distributor LindFast Solutions Group, said they have also
raised wages, but agreed that the team also “appreciates
being appreciated.”
Hrdlicka said the fastener industry is still feeling the
residual from Covid. After the post-Covid sales boom,
there have been “small drops per month since April,”
Hrdlicka said.
But is inventory a problem? Cory Wing of Wing-Hamlin
Co., a manufacturers rep firm, asked. After the shortages,
are distributors padding forecasts? “People have short
memories,” Wing commented.
Ed Smith, director of sourcing for distributor Wurth
Revcar Fasteners, said 2022 was record breaking fastener
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
sales. Now customers are beginning to have time to look
at domestic suppliers. “Buyers want more face-to-face
time” and multiple approved sources, Smith said he finds.
There is more price shopping. “The shelves are full,”
Smith said.
Important for steady supply is suppliers, distributors
and customers “communicating and forecasting,” Hrdlicka
said.
A key number to forecasting prices are the steel
costs from Taiwan’s China Steel, Hrdlicka said. There
are “slight declines” in the metals markets, Hrdlicka
noted. Other markets tend to be close to China Steel’s
numbers.
Monti termed domestic fasteners as an “opportunity.”
“We are seeing domestic sourcing up,” Monti said. In
addition to the actual fasteners, buyers are wanting
domestic certifications, he added.
Smith said there is more talk about fasteners coming
from India. Turkey and Poland are also increasing fastener
manufacturing, especially for Europe.
Buyers want less product from Asia, more face-toface
time will suppliers and multiple approved sources,
Smith said. “Our customers are splitting contingency
plans.”
Differentiating yourself as a supplier is important,
Wing said. “Value-added is popular now.”
Monti advised spending time training now. “It doesn’t
help with current cost, but puts you in a better position for
an uptick,” Monti said.
GLOBALFASTENERNEWS.COM

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100
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
NEW ENGLAND FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
PO Box 701, Tewksbury, MA 01876
TEL 816-686-8987 EMAIL nefda@nefda.com WEB www.nefda.com
NEFDA 34th SCHOLARSHIP GOLF OUTING
by Laura Murphy
The 34th NEFDA Scholarship Golf Outing was held
on Thursday, June 1st at Southington Country Club in
Plantsville, CT. This year, over 80 industry professionals
joined together to golf, network, and spend time advancing
the fastener industry. The weather was incredible, and
scores were, too! Prizes were awarded for longest drive,
closest to the pin, and 1st thru 3rd place finishes.
This year the NEFDA awarded $15,000 in scholarships
to member-students. The success of this event and of the
NEFDA Scholarship Program depends on the generosity
of our members, sponsors, and donors. Thank you to
our membership and generous sponsors for providing
the NEFDA the resources to make a significant financial
impact through our scholarship program.
Save the Date! The NEFDA will be back at
Southington Country Club to host the 2024 NEFDA
Scholarship Golf Outing on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
NEFDA 2023-2024 Board
The NEFDA is pleased to announce the new Officers
and Board Members of the association.
President
Morgan Rudolph — Rick Rudolph Associates
Vice President
Rob White — SB&W
Chairman
Katie Hogan — Arnold Supply
Treasurer
Lisa Breton — DB Roberts
Secretary
Laura Murphy — DB Roberts
Board Members
Dan Bielefield — Crescent Manufacturing
Jason Bourque — Bolt Depot
Matt Callahan — Callahan Inc.
Frank Hand — Fall River Manufacturing
Corey Magyar — Smith Associates
Becky Sicignano — DB Roberts
Proxy Board Members
Timothy Thorstenson — SPIROL
Kim Roberts — DB Roberts
For more information on the NEFDA Hall of Fame and
upcoming events, please visit www.nefda.com, contact
Laura Murphy, administrator at nefda@nefda.com or PO
Box 701, Tewksbury, MA 01876.
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
NEW ENGLAND FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 101
NEW ENGLAND FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
SCHOLARSHIP GOLF OUTING - JUNE 1, 2023

104
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
VOLT INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS
700 Hwy 202 West, Yellville AR 72687
TEL 800-844-8024 EMAIL service@voltplastics.com WEB www.voltplastics.com
VOLT 2.0 IS ALMOST READY!
Volt Industrial Plastics is on the final stretch of our
36,000 square-foot expansion. We can finally see light
at the end of the tunnel and can’t wait to utilize the
entire 100,000 square-foot facility.
Increased demand and the ability to continue our
dependable legacy prompted this next chapter in the life
of Volt Industrial Plastics. In addition to more operating
space, we’ve totally updated and changed the entire
entrance, as well as our sign in the front of the property.
With the exteriors almost complete, the finishing
touches are being applied to the inside.
While many things will improve and be new, the
many qualities VOLT is known for will not change. For
years, VOLT has successfully built a growing customer
base because we take pride in everything we design,
manufacture and sell. EVERYTHING will continue to
be built in house - from tooling to parts, they’re all
made right here. Customers will also continue to
receive orders prompt and fast. We know that money
is time and time is money. Volt can usually build a new
tool faster than anyone in the industry. This means
your order of newly designed and created fasteners
will arrive before you know it. Our inventory will also
continue to be huge - if not more amazing due to the
expansion which is providing us more room. The ability
to order fasteners in a variety of custom colors and
materials will still be available. VOLT offers over 120
different materials to meet any specific application
requirements for the customer. We also can color
match most any logo or company color schematic.
Volt 2.0 will be finished in just a few weeks!
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
VOLT INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 105
NATIONAL FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
3020 Old Ranch Parkway #300, Seal Beach CA 90740 TEL 562-799-5509 EMAIL nfda@nfda-fastener.org WEB www.nfda-fastener.org
NFDA SCHOLARSHIP FOR FASTENER TRAINING WEEK by Amy Nijjar
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
The National Fastener Distributors Association
(NFDA) recently awarded a scholarship for Fastener
Training Week, an advanced fastener technical training
program produced by the Fastener Training Institute,
to Garrett Wilson, sourcing and inside sales for NSK
Industries.
Scholarship applicants were evaluated based on
the recommendations from their employers, personal
achievements, work experience, and an essay. Identifying
information was redacted, so that the team evaluating
the applications did not know the names or employers of
those applying.
The next deadline to apply for an NFDA Fastener
Training Week scholarship is June 1, 2024. The application
can be found at www.nfda-fastener.org/fastener-trainingweek-scholarship
For more information about Fastener Training Week,
visit www.fastenertraining.org
See You At An Upcoming NFDA Event
Visit www.nfda-fastener.org for more information
and to register for these upcoming educational and
networking events:
September 28 - CEO and Executive Virtual Roundtables
October 25-27 - The Executive Summit (Scottsdale, AZ)
November 30 - Virtual Program
December 14 – NFDA/YFP Virtual Holiday Party
For more information about NFDA and its activities,
visit www.nfda-fastener.org or contact Amy Nijjar at amy@
nfda-fastener.org or 503-307-1809.
NATIONAL FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

106
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
BAY SUPPLY A DIVISION OF BAY FASTENING SYSTEMS
30 Banfi Plaza North, Farmingdale, NY 11735
TEL 516-294-4100 FAX 516-294-3448 EMAIL info@baysupply.com WEB www.baysupply.com
BAY SUPPLY LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE
BAY-AUTO-QUOTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Bay Supply, the leading Online Marketplace serving
the fastener industry, has announced the launch of its
innovative Bay-Auto-Quote management system. The
new system is designed to streamline and revolutionize
how buyers and sellers interact and transact in the
fastener industry.
When fastener manufacturers register on the Bay
Supply Platform, they’re presented with a variety of
selling options - directly, through authorized distributors,
via Bay Supply as their distributor, or made-to-order.
Regardless of the chosen registration method, Bay
ensures a smooth onboarding process. Our mission
is to build the manufacturer’s entire product catalog,
encompassing all available digital assets (images,
catalogs, specification sheets, flyers, videos) to create
a comprehensive digital branding and sales strategy.
Registered Distributors can select their desired
manufacturers and brands. If these manufacturers
already have a digital catalog on Bay Supply, the catalog
will be instantly syndicated to the distributor’s offering,
eliminating the time-consuming task of catalog creation
from scratch. Distributors can also re-assign SKUs, add
their selling units of measure and pricing, and list any
available inventory.
This seamless process feeds the groundbreaking
Bay Auto-Quote management system. When a buyer
sends a quote request for any number of items, the
RFQ is syndicated to all the registered Distributors or
direct-selling Manufacturers that sell the specific product
categories or brands requested. Instead of searching for
suppliers on various websites, the buyer can send an
RFQ to the entire fastener industry supply chain with a
single click, saving hours of sourcing time.
Upon receiving the RFQ, distributors, direct selling
manufacturers, or MTO manufacturers can quickly
review, edit, and submit their quotes. The Bay Auto-
Quote Management System auto-calculates the quote
response, presenting immediate ship quantities, backorder
quantities, and pricing (including bulk discounts).
Buyers are then notified of the responses to their
RFQs, allowing them to consider, reject or save for future
purchase orders. Through the system’s communication
function, they can submit questions, ensuring effective
communication with sellers.
If an organization requires internal approval, the Bay
Auto-Quote system provides a print function, enabling
buyers to share their potential purchases easily.
Once the purchases have been approved, a single
purchase order can be made for multiple vendors,
streamlining the procurement process.
“The Bay Auto-Quote system is a game-changer for
the fastener industry. It eliminates hours of sourcing
efforts, aligns offers for easy comparison, and enables
a single point of communication with all vendors. More
than anything, it streamlines the process for the buyer,
providing the ability to submit a single purchase order
for multiple SKUs offered by multiple distributors or
manufacturers in a single transaction,” says Mike
Eichinger, COO at Baysupply.com.
Bay Supply is a B2B e-commerce marketplace for the
fastener industry. Each month, over 40,000 sourcing
professionals utilize Bay Supply to procure rivets,
fasteners, and more from the heart of the fastening
industry supply chain.
For more information about the Bay-Auto-Quote system,
visit www.baysupply.com.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
BAY SUPPLY

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 107
The DPA Buying Group,
a member-driven marketing
and networking organization,
welcomes Scott Rouse as VP
of Supplier Development.
Scott will work closely with
the group’s preferred suppliers
to increase sales and profits
with distributor members,
advance product training
programs for distributors, and
rollout a new and exciting travel
incentive program.
Scott comes to DPA with 15
years of accounting, finance, and
operations experience. He has
worked for the nation’s top craft
beer distributor where he grew
and developed the company’s
expansive supplier portfolio.
His areas of expertise include
general-ledger accounting,
account reconciliation, P&L
analysis, cashflow utilization,
financial forecasting, budgeting,
and inventory management.
He also brings experience
in the non-profit senior living
and healthcare space having
managed several prominent
accounts.
“Scott brings a wealth
of financial and business
knowledge to DPA Buying Group
and we’re excited to utilize his
talents as DPA continues to
grow and expand, “ Zachary
Haines, CEO, DPA Buying Group.
The DPA Buying Group is
a North American buying
and networking organization
comprised of more than 1100
distributors and 200 preferred
suppliers.
For more information about
The DPA Buying Group, contact
them Toll-free at 1-800-652-
7826, or visit them online at
www.DPAIndustrial.com.

108
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MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION
PO Box 5, Lake Zurich, IL 60047
TOLL-FREE 1-800-753-8338 TEL 847-438-8338 EMAIL mwfa@ameritech.com WEB www.mwfa.net
MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION NAMES
FRANCESCA LEWIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR By Nancy Rich
The Mid-West Fastener Association (MWFA) Board of
Directors announced today the appointment of Francesca
Lewis, as Executive Director, effective July 1, 2023.
Francesca’s exemplary communication and leadership skills
will assist in the continued growth and
success of the Association.
With an impressive career
spanning over 20 years, Francesca
has thrived in the fields of sales
and account management. Her strong
work ethic, excellent communication
skills, and remarkable ability to build
and maintain relationships have
been instrumental in her professional
success. Through her expertise and
dedication, she has consistently
delivered outstanding results and
fostered long-term partnerships with clients. Her experience
in event planning, growth and development of education,
and client relationships will serve the association well.
Francesca is very excited about her new role, “I can’t
contain my excitement. This opportunity has me buzzing
with anticipation and a sense of adventure. I’m ready to
hit the ground running and make a positive impact.”
Francesca is a dedicated business professional with a
passion for fitness and a love for family. Born and raised in
the suburbs of Chicago, she embarked on her educational
journey at Oakton Community College, where she studied
business. Eager to further expand her knowledge and
skills, she later pursued her studies at DePaul’s School
for New Learning (SNL) in downtown Chicago.
Currently residing in Park Ridge with her husband Jeff
and their two beautiful daughters, Francesca cherishes
every moment spent with her family. As a devoted wife and
mother, she finds immense joy in nurturing her children
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
and creating lasting memories together.
MWFA President Jake Davis had these remarks
concerning Francesca’s appointment, “This entire process
presented many new challenges for the MWFA board, and
I can confidently say that we could not
be happier with the result. I have to
commend the search committee on
their professionalism and the many
hours dedicated to finding the right
fit to replace Nancy Rich. I am so
excited to work with Francesca and
look forward to introducing her to our
amazing and supportive members”.
Outgoing (retirement) MWFA
Executive Director Nancy Rich states,
“I’m looking forward to working with
Francesca as she prepares to lead
the MWFA while continuing its great legacy. I’m confident
Francesca will be a great asset to the MWFA and do an
awesome job.”
Nancy Rich (CBNSA HOF ‘21) will continue to work
alongside Francesca Lewis for the remainder of 2023
as interim Executive Director and will thereafter work
with Francesca Lewis to ensure a smooth transition of
leadership.
Francesca Lewis’s appointment marks the end of
a comprehensive search process led by a dedicated
committee of MWFA Board of Directors and supported
by executive search and leadership advisory committee.
The Search Committee comprised of Bob Baer, Glen Brin,
Jake Davis, Matt Delawder, David Gawlik, George Hunt III
and Nancy Rich led an extensive evaluation of external
and internal candidates for the role. The full MWFA Board
unanimously supported Francesca Lewis’s selection as
Executive Director.
MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 109
SUNCOR HAS DEVELOPED A NEW LINE OF STAINLESS LASHING RINGS
Suncor Stainless® announces the launch of a new
line of heavy-duty lashing rings designed for demanding
tie-down applications. The new series
features bent D-Rings that are angled and
extend beyond the surface. This enables
the user to attach lashing fittings to the
ring without having to lift the ring first,
which allows one handed attachment.
The new product line answers the
challenges that several industries face.
Specifically, the need for versatile, longlasting
lashing rings that are ideal for
numerous applications and have load
capacities that are suited for the small
to large scale applications. These new lashing rings are an
expansion of Suncor’s standard lashing rings and D-Ring
shape product line series.
“Customers asked for the Bent style, so we developed
SUNCOR STAINLESS, INC.
70 Armstrong Road, Plymouth, MA 02360 TEL: 1-800-218-7702
EMAIL sales@suncorstainless.com WEB www.suncorstainless.com
them! These will be a great addition to our existing line of
forged heavy-duty lashing rings”- Patrick Striebel, President
Suncor’s lashing rings come in a variety
of sizes, types, mounting options,
and working load limits to meet the
requirements of many applications. Rings
are forged for strength and components
are made from 316 stainless steel for
added durability in harsh environments.
The new lashing rings are suitable for
securement and tie-down applications,
as long as the specified working load
limits (WLLs) are strictly adhered to. The
WLLs for the series range from 3,000
lbs. to 8,500 lbs. (1,361 kg – 3,856 kg). These industrial
strength lashing rings are ideal for cargo applications such
as overseas container shipments or long-haul trailering
equipment cross country.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
SUNCOR STAINLESS

110
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112
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NORTH COAST FASTENER ASSOCIATION
7737 Ellington Place, Mentor, OH 44060
TEL 440-975-9503 FAX 440-350-1676 EMAIL lgraham@ncfaonline.com WEB www.ncfaonline.com
IT’S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER FOR THE NCFA
by Mike Robinson - NCFA President
On June 22nd, the NCFA held its first ever “NCFA
Cork-SCREW......Cheers to Fasteners” wine tasting event
in Newbury, Ohio at Sharon James Cellars. We had a
great turn out with almost 50 people in attendance that
helped “Cheers” to the Fastener Industry. We had flights
of wine for everyone, some made from grapes grown near
our own Grand River in Ohio, and others straight from
Napa Valley in California. We were able to interact with the
owners of Sharon James and the Vintner answering any
questions. We had plenty of food, corn hole, wine, and fun
for everyone!
The NCFA board recently announced the winners of
our 2023 scholarships. Thank you to our members for the
continued support and participation in our association to
help make these scholarships possible. Please help us
congratulate our winners:
¤ Lisa Rankin from Fastener Industries will be
attending Western Governors University.
¤ Avery Hendl daughter of Frank Hendl at Fastener
Tool & Supply will be attending Miami University in the fall.
¤ Kaylee Parham daughter of Steven Parham
at Solution Industries will be attending Lorain County
Community College this fall.
¤ Halle Graham daughter of Ken and Lisa Graham at
BoltsandNuts.com will be attending Mercyhurst University
this fall.
¤ Vincent Dimora Jr. Son of Vincent Dimora at
Wurth Industrial will be attending Ohio University this fall.
Congratulations to all of the winners!!
Night At The Ballpark
Our “Night at the Ballpark” event is sold out for
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
the Cleveland Guardians August 17th game against the
Detroit Tigers. We will have 75+ Fastener friends at the
game networking and watching our Tribe take down the
Tigers!
‘Screw Open’ Golf Outing
On September 7th, we will hold our annual “Screw
Open” at Valleaire Golf Club in Hinckley, OH. All
attendees will receive a “Swag Bag” filled with goodies
from our member companies, which will include a Yeti
tumbler, logo golf balls, Koozies, and much more! We
will have our long-drive holes where Donnie Kirkwook from
Brainard Rivet and Dan Jiram from BBI will be trying to
defend their titles. We will also have our closest to the Pin
competition where our very own Jackie Ventura and Dan
Finucan will be defending their titles from last year. Dewey
Oxner from Huyett showed he could hit a marshmallow
farther than anyone else last year, we will see if he can
bring home the title again this year in our Marshmallow
Long Drive competition. Registration is now open on our
website https://www.ncfaonline.com/EVENTS. Jump on
there now and reserve your spot! If you’re not a golfer,
join us anyway and fend off other non-golfers for the
coveted warm case of Busch Light provided by our friends
at Fully Threaded Radio!
Save The Dates
September 7th Screw Open Golf Outing @ 11:00am
December 7th Holiday Bash at Pins Mechanical @ 6pm
For more information on the North Coast Fastener
Association (NCFA) or our upcoming events, visit our website
www.ncfaonline.com.
NORTH COAST FASTENER ASSOCIATION

NORTH COAST FASTENER ASSOCIATION WINE TASTING EVENT
SHARON JAMES CELLARS, NEWBURY, OH - JUNE 22, 2023

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROB LaPOINTE FASTENER SCIENCE PRECISION, ACCURACY AND SIGNIFICANCE IN MEASUREMENT from page 8
The speed of light in empty space can be considered a
constant. Although it was first measured by Ole Romer, a
Danish astronomer, in 1676, the theory that established
the speed of light to be a constant and declared a value
for it, wasn’t established until 1905 by Einstein’s Special
Relativity. In Special Relativity, the speed of light is the
proportionality constant between matter and energy in the
famous equation E = mc2, where E is energy, m is matter
and c is the speed of light.
Solving this equation for c, gives us c= √(E/m). This
relationship established the speed of light as a constant
of proportionality that is irrespective of the measured
speed for light.
Although we consider the speed of light in a vacuum
to be absolute in nature, the measurement of its speed
is not. Measuring the speed of light is difficult and
requires much ingenuity and expense to produce and
operate instruments and provide results comparable to
its theoretical value. Ole Romer measured the speed of
light using a good understanding of orbital dynamics, a
telescope, and a basic clock. Romer noticed the time
between successive eclipses of Jupiter’s moon, Io by
Jupiter got longer as the distance between Earth and Jupiter
was getting larger and became shorter as the distance
between the two bodies got smaller. Romer realized that
the relative positions of Earth and Jupiter had no impact
on the orbital period of Io and reasoned that orbital timing
differences were due to the differences in light’s travel
time between the two bodies as their separation distance
changed. This observational discrepancy in orbital period
and its reasoned solution were incredible as it firmly
established a finite velocity for light in a time where light
was thought to travel instantaneously. In fact, Romer
observations were used by Christian Huygens to measure
the speed of light at 131,000 miles per second, not far
from our currently measured value of 186,000 miles per
second (299,000 kilometers per second).
As tools and techniques became better, the speed of
light was ultimately measured in 1972 to be 299,792.457
± 0.001 kilometers per second. It was at this level of
quality that the measurement of length of a meter was
FIGURE 3 TRAVEL TIME FOR LIGHT INSIDE THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
rivaled by measurement of the speed of light using an
accepted length of the meter. Because the value of the
speed of light was measured to within an error of 1 meter
per second, the standards committee’s decided, in 1983,
to fix the speed of light at exactly 299,792,458 m/s
and use this established rate to refine the measure of
distance. Using this established value for the speed of
light, the unit of the meter is measured to be the distance
that light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
When making measurements, there are three principles
that we must understand to correctly communicate our
measurements to others and for us to correctly understand
the measurements that others make. These concepts are
fundamental to measurement and calculations using
measurements. Making measurements and making
calculations using these values is integral to our work in
the fastener industry.
Precision
Precision is the quality of measurement and is related
to the instrument used to make the measurement. To
better understand the implications of this statement,
let’s imagine measuring the surface dimensions of a
table as in Figure 4. We see the accepted length of the
table is 2 meters and its width is 1.5 meters. Now let’s
imagine that we have a stick that we affectionately call
our “meter stick.” Our meter stick does not have any
marks on it, but we can clearly see that its length is
defined by its ends.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 168

INTERNATIONAL FASTENERS, INC.
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 115
Tampa . Charlotte . Chicago . Dallas . Los Angeles . Philadelphia
TEL 1-888-241-0203 FAX 1-888-241-2096 EMAIL sales@daggerz.com WEB www.daggerz.com
TEST YOUR DRYWALL SCREW IQ…DAGGERZ STYLE!
Did you know that International Fasteners, Inc. has
a full line of Drywall Screws to meet the needs of any
Distributor’s professional Drywall Contractor?
Drywall screws come in a variety of finishes and
points and are not just used for drywall anymore. Even
though they are used everywhere and in all types of
construction, they are mainly used in interior applications
and the screws are needed all year long. Work does not
stop due to bad weather once the job has moved inside.
Are you drywall-savvy? Do you know which screws
you need to supply to your customer? The Coarse
thread Drywall screws are used to attach drywall to
wood and are stocked in phosphate, zinc, and yellow
zinc. Daggerz brand Fine thread Drywall Screws are
also available for thin gauge metal requirements in
phosphate, or zinc. The most common use is 1-1/8”
or 1-1/4” screws for 1/2” board and 1-1/4” or 1-5/8”
for 5/8” board. Different lengths of the screws can be
used in multi-layer drywall applications. Hi-Low threads
will work in either wood or metal applications and have
popularity in different segments of the country. Gypsum
into 20-12 gauge steel studs with require bugle self drill
screws, available in phosphate, zinc, or long life Dagger-
Guard Coated for exterior sheathing applications. These
screws also have an ICC Listing for applications requiring
the approval code. For framing, Phillips Pan Framing and
Phillips Modified Truss are available in a variety of sizes
and lengths to get the job done. Premium drill point and
twin lead sharp point assure “walk-free” penetration
every time. And, don’t forget about the Laminating
Screw, which temporarily attaches gypsum to gypsum.
All Daggerz brand drywall screws are packaged in
color coded cartons for ease of material identification
and are also available in 1lb and 5lb tubs.
BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE
INTERNATIONAL FASTENERS, INC.

116
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
LAURENCE CLAUS DIFFICULT FASTENING APPLICATIONS - PART 3: MIXED MATERIAL JOINTS from page 10
support spars, and roof pillars. Also, in areas like side
door cross beams. Although these materials can provide
exceptional strength and rigidity, they are so hard that
they become difficult to connect.
FIGURE 1: EXAMPLE OF TODAY’S MIXED MATERIAL VEHICLE
ARTCHITECTURE
Traditional Fastening Methods
Prior to the onset of this trend to blend mixed
materials, car bodies have been comprised mostly of
mild steel components fastened together. Being ductile,
there are a variety of techniques that are commonly used
to connect the components together into the car body.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum is an amazing one-third the weight of
steel. Clearly when everything is equal, and steel and
aluminum are pitted head-to-head, the steel will always
be stronger. However, when the density is thrown into
the mix to generate what the engineers refer to as
Specific Weight or Specific Strength, aluminum excels
and becomes a great resource in the designer’s toolbox.
Aluminum comes in a variety of different alloys with
those exhibiting the highest strength being considered
“aerospace grade” aluminum.
SPOT WELDING
The simplest way to join mild steel components has
been with resistance spot welding. Since the material
being joined is similar, or even identical in make-up, spot
welding technology is well suited to joining the materials.
Since spot welding involves a weld being formed in a
specific localized region rather than a long continuous
bead, in the same way that rivets are spaced in rows
of repeated fastening element, spot welds are usually
in repeated rows or other configurations and solidly
connect the mild steel sheets together.
MAGNESIUM
Magnesium is actually 33% lighter than aluminum
and a full 75% lighter than steel. As a pure metal it is not
particularly useful, but when alloyed with tiny amounts of
other metals, such as aluminum, it becomes very useful
indeed. Magnesium alloys possess decent strength and
excellent dimensional stability.
HIGH STRENGTH STEEL
High strength and ultra-high strength steel, steels
that possess tensile strengths between about 1000MPa
and 2000MPa, have become very popular. Lightweight
designers like these materials because they are so much
stronger than traditional steels used in car bodies, that
the gage thickness can be significantly reduced while still
delivering higher overall component strength or rigidity.
This is particularly advantageous in areas like roofs, roof
ADHESIVE BONDING
The deployment of adhesives has increased significantly
over the years. Today’s car bodies often rely on many of the
joints being bonded together using chemical adhesives. On
their own, the chemical adhesives are usually not strong
enough to perform as a solo fastening method, but rather
they are normally used in conjunction with other mechanical
fastening methods to provide strong joints.
CLINCH JOINTS
A popular mechanical fastening method is clinch
joining. In this methodology no fastening element is
utilized, rather the process takes advantage of the
ductility of the material. In the joining process a special
set of tools clamps the two components being fastened
while a punch is indented into both surfaces effectively
squeezing them together.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 170

Fastener Supply Company,
is pleased to announce
its acquisition of General
Machinery. The combined
strengths of both companies
will enhance capabilities,
expand product offerings, and
create exciting opportunities
for growth and innovation.
“We are thrilled to welcome
General Machinery to the
Fastener Supply family,” said
Donnie Shrum, President of
Fastener Supply Company.
“This acquisition aligns
perfectly with our long-term
vision and growth strategy.
General Machinery brings
exceptional expertise, a
talented team, and a strong
customer base, all of which will
complement and strengthen
our operations.”
Customers will gain
access to a broader range
of high-quality products and
services, while employees
will enjoy enhanced career
development prospects within
the expanded organization.
General Machinery customers
can continue to expect the
same level of commitment
and service excellence they
have come to rely on, as
the integration process will
be carried out thoughtfully
and diligently to minimize
any disruption. Additionally,
Michelle Hampton will stay on
as Branch Manager.
General Machinery will
operate as a branch of Fastener
Supply Company.
For more information contact
Fastener Supply Company by Tel:
1-800-888-9519, Email: fscclt@
fastenersupply.com or online at
www.fastenersupply.com.
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118
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
BRUNO MARBACHER THREAD-CUTTING SCREWS AND SELF-DRILLING SCREWS FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS from page 12
Type T (former Type
23): A thread cutting
screw in the fine/regular
thread series offering
maximum thread cutting area and excellent chip clearing,
with minimum tightening torques.
Type F: A thread cutting
screw with machine screw
thread with blunt tapered
point, having multi -
cutting edges and chip cavities. For heavy gauge sheet
metal, aluminum, zinc and lead die castings, cast iron,
brass and plastic.
The above point types are covered in ASME B18.6.3,
former ANSI B18.6.4, there is no DIN or ISO standard
covering these screws.
DIN 7513: For thread
cutting screws per DIN
7513, only the metric
thread profile and the
thread properties are specified. The finished internal
thread must be such so that a screw with a regular
plated thread can be used as a replacement screw in
cast iron. The spiral cutting flutes extend from the point
of the screw to its head and are designed to cut their
mating thread during assembly.
Steel thread-cutting screws are used in heavy gauge
sheet metal, aluminum, zinc and lead die castings, cast
iron, brass and plastic.
Stainless screws offer additional resistance to
corrosion, 18-8 more so than 410. When using any
thread-cutting screw, the material in which the threads
are cut should have a lower hardness by at least 10 to
20 Rockwell hardness points.
Thread-Cutting Screws For Thermosets
Special screw threads with cutting shank slot for
thermoset plastics, Thermosets, such as Bakelite,
Epoxides and Polyimides for example, are hard brittle
plastics. The material cannot be formed.
Thread Profile - Points For Thermosets
Type BT (former
types 25): Thread cutting
screws for thermosets
usually have a cutting cavity at the end of the thread.
Cutting grooves in the thread, as is found in thread
cutting screws for hard metals, would fill up immediately
and would no longer function. They are specified in ASME
B18.6.3.
Type Y: This form of
screw thread has widely
spaced threads, blunt,
slightly tapered point and
cutting flutes which extend from the point to the head.
This screw is typically used for thermosets. In a blind
hole application, the length of the hole should be such
so there is room for the chips. Thread-cutting screw type
Y are covered by BS4174.
Thread-Cutting Screw Materials And
Mechanical Properties
Thread cutting screws are fabricated from low
carbon steel, case hardened to meet the performance
equirements. The material requirements are derived from
SAE J933.
Core Hardness. Screws shall have a core hardness of
Rockwell C28-38. Case Hardness. Screws shall have a
minimum case hardness of HRC 45.
Duro PT Screws
Duro PT screw is specially
designed for thermoset, it
has a 30° asymmetrical
thread profile. This thread
form increases the stripping
torque during installation
creating a very safe assembly.
It produces a minimum of
radial stresses in the material. This specific thread form
makes these screws vibration resistant.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 172

120
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
GUY AVELLON WHAT DISTRIBUTORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STRUCTURAL BOLTING from page 14
How this works so well is because the threads of
any standard bolt is a perfect helix. Therefore, when
the mating helix threads of the nut are rotated along
the threads of the bolt, the nut travels in a consistent
linear direction. As the nut rotates against a solid joint
surface, the bolt is being tensioned proportionately with
respect to the rotation of the nut.
This reasoning is derived from Hooke’s Law. Work
is now being done on a ‘linear’ scale: if the nut is
moved the same distance each time, or all of the nuts
in the connection move the same distance, the stretch
of the fastener is reproduced the same amount on each
fastener. This gauged amount of stretch will produce
a clamping force that is greater, more consistent and
is more predictable with any fastener Grade, surface
condition or length of fastener using common assembly
methods.
So, what happens to torque? Torque is still
present; we just do not measure it as such. Torque is
always present in the form of friction as it is the energy
we must overcome in order to move the nut a certain
distance. Torque will not be measured here because we
are more concerned with the distance the nut moves,
not how we get there.
For example: consider using four 1/2-13 Grade 8
fasteners; three are plated, the fourth is not. Of the
plated bolts, one is dry to the touch, one is lubricated
and the last one has a thread nick. If all four bolts
are installed together in a connection and torqued to
the same 105 lb-ft, none of the clamp loads will be
remotely close to each other due to all of the friction
variables present.
The lubricated bolt will be the tightest because
there was a tremendous reduction in friction. This bolt
will probably produce over 18,000 pounds of clamp
load and is just into yield. The dry plated bolt will be
the closest to producing 12,800 pounds of clamp load,
while the one with the thread nick will be around 10,000
lbs. The non-plated bolt will only produce approximately
8,000 pounds due to its rough surface finish. This is
conservatively a 10,000 pound scatter.
If after making sure the joint was soundly
compressed and the bolt head was restrained from
turning and all four UNC bolts were tightened by
rotating the nut using the same angular degrees of
rotation, then all of the fasteners would be stretched
an equivalent amount. This would produce clamping
forces that would only be a few hundred pounds apart,
not thousands.
The difference to the operator is how much
energy he must expend to cause the nut to rotate the
prescribed amount. The non-plated fastener and the
one with the nicked thread will require more ‘torque’
energy to turn the nut the same distance X as the
others. Of course, the lubricated fastener will require
the least amount of effort.
The key element here is that all of the nuts have
been rotated to X, not X-1 or X+2. This is the principle
of the Turn-Of-the-Nut (TON) method.
Structural joints use the ASTM A325 and A490
fasteners. Since Hooke’s Law states that stress is
directly proportional to strain, and using the modulus
of elasticity for steel, we find that if a bolt is stretched
0.001”, per loaded inch, it will produce a load of
approximately 30,000 psi.
Therefore, according to the AISC Manual, the TON
method uses the amount of rotation applied to the
nut as a function of the diameter of the bolt based on
the overall bolt length. This method, as shown in Fig.
1, provides the following three general rotations with
respect to the diameter of the fastener and the joint
thickness.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 174

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122
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
JOE DYSART CYBERSECURITY: MANY FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ARE DOUBLING-DOWN ON RISK TRAINING from page 26
And still others rely on gamification to engage
employees in good cybersecurity hygiene and turn hacker
awareness into a friendly competition.
Here’s a representative sampling of what’s available:
¤ ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training
(www.eset.com/us/cybertraining): This is a good option
for fastener distributors that are looking to dedicate a
small part of one business day to spotlight cybersecurity.
ESET offers a 90-minute course on how to outwit
hackers, which engages employees by inviting them to
enter a gamified environment, where they play the part
of a virtual IT security tech.
There are also other modules that focus on
defeating malicious emails, as well as mini-games where
employees can win badges and reputation points for
excelling at thwarting the bad guys.
¤ CybSafe (www.cybsafe.com): This security
trainer also offers brief, interactive courses tailored to
the various employee roles found at typical fastener
distributorships and other businesses.
The interesting twist with CybSafe: The company
uses artificial intelligence to analyze each employee’s
cybersecurity savvy and then custom-tailors a security
training program best suited to each employee.
¤ Living Security (www.livingsecurity.com): This
software enables businesses to identify where the
cybersecurity risk is greatest within the organization – be
it specific departments or geographic regions.
Once identified, employees there can play
‘snackable’ training modules – one-to-five minutes long
FORTUNATELY, CYBERSECURITY TRAINING SERVICES FOR
EMPLOYEES ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE
– that strengthen their cybersecurity chops.
Focus areas include cybersecurity risks associated
with remote work, data classification, password use and
malicious emails.
This training format is also gamified, which includes
a ‘leaderboard’ that tracks cybersecurity competitions
and gives special recognition to high-scoring employees.
¤ Ninjio (www.ninjio.com): This trainer relies heavily
on short, animated videos – no longer than five-minutesa-piece
-- that brings home the dangers of hacker risk to
fastener distributor employees.
The format, like many of its competitors, is gamified
and includes a leaderboard where employees engaging
in cybersecurity competition can see how they stack-up
against colleagues.
¤ Cofense (www.cofense.com): Fastener distributors
looking to try-before-they-buy may want to check out this
cybersecurity trainer, which offers an entry-level course
for free.
THE MOVE TO REMOTE WORK HAS RESULTED IN MORE
EMPLOYEES LOGGING ONTO BUSINESS NETWORKS WITH
ON-CYBERPROTECTED COMPUTER DEVICES
Cofense relies heavily on short, interactive training
modules, which highlight common cybersecurity risks
and feature questions at the end to ensure employees
have grasped the point of the training.
¤ Proofpoint (www.proofpoint.com/us/products/
security-awareness-training): This trainer places a heavy
emphasis on homing-in on employees who are extremely
vulnerable to malicious emails and then providing them
training content that they can use to get savvier when it
comes to hacker tricks.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 123

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 123
JOE DYSART CYBERSECURITY: MANY FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ARE DOUBLING-DOWN ON RISK TRAINING from page 122
Employees can also use Proofpoint’s ‘PhishAlarm’ to
flag emails they receive they feel look suspicious – and
then receive insights on their picks from cybersecurity
pros at their business.
¤ KnowBe4 (www.info.knowbe4.com): An oldhand
in this space, KnowBe4 offers extremely in-depth
cybersecurity training for fastener distributors and others
that features:
—Web-based training that employees can access
to learn or brush-up on common vulnerabilities
—A look at typical attacker techniques using
simulated attacks
—Ongoing monitoring of employee cybersecurity
hygiene by KnowBe4
Unlike many cybersecurity trainers, KnowBe4 can be
integrated into a fastener distributor’s daily operations
by opting for its random attack delivery service, which
continually tests employee vigilance by sporadically
sending them simulated, malicious emails.
Paired with a monitoring and reporting system, the
service enables managers to easily identify employees
who are extremely adept at recognizing the simulated
malicious emails that KnowBe4 sends them – as well
as spotlighting other employees who need to get more
training on resisting hacker tricks.
¤ Hook Security (www.hooksecurity.co/landing/
hook-security-free-trial): Like KnowB4, this trainer offers
an ongoing test-and-probe service, which sporadically
sends simulated malicious emails to your employees
and generates reports on individual employee response
to those messages.
An interesting approach from Hook: Employees who
fall victim to a simulated malicious email receive instant
training from the system on how to avoid making the
same mistake in the future.
They also receive monthly dashboard reports from
Hook on how they’re fairing – and how they’re progressing
on Hook cybersecurity training modules.
JOE DYSART

124
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROTOR CLIP OUR INDUSTRY LEADING WEBSITE PROVIDES NEW FUNCTIONALITY from page 30
[4] Customization Capabilities: Rotor Clip
understands that engineering projects often demand
tailored solutions. To cater to this, the platform offers
customization options for retaining rings and wave
springs. Users can specify their requirements, and our
team of experts will work closely with them to deliver
precise, made-to-order components that align perfectly
with their unique application requirements.
“We are thrilled to release Rotor Clip’s new website,
a groundbreaking platform designed to streamline the
sourcing of retaining rings, wave springs and hose clamps
for engineers and buyers,” said Craig Slass, Co-President
of Rotor Clip. “Our goal is to offer a comprehensive range
of high-quality products, combined with unparalleled
customer service and technical expertise. We aim to
empower engineers and buyers by providing them with a
user-friendly, one-stop solution for all their retaining ring,
wave spring and hose clamp needs.”
Rotor Clip engineers are always available for
assistance in selecting the right part. Whether it is
a standard or providing free design consultations on
custom parts, we’re focused on providing Application
Driven Solutions®.
For more information, email info@rotorclip.com, call
732-469-7333 or visit www.rotorclip.com.
ROTOR CLIP COMPANY INC.
WOMEN IN THE FASTENER INDUSTRY
PO Box 763, Webster, NY 14580 EMAIL scholarships@fastenerwomen.com WEB www.fastenerwomen.com
WIFI ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Jeannine Ciabottoni, of AFC Industries, is the
FIRST recipient of the Maryann Marzocchi Education
Scholarship. This scholarship will go towards tuition for
her daughter, Brooke, at Clemson University.
Jeannine has been working in the fastener industry for
17 years and was inspired by her Father, who was in the
fastener industry for 45 years. The fastener industry has
provided her with many opportunities and allowed her to
show her daughters that if you work hard, you can achieve
your goals and be successful. Jeannine’s daughter,
Brooke, will be majoring in Language and International
Health. She plans to further her education after Clemson
to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
“My daughter and I are very honored to be the
first recipients of the Maryann Marzocchi Education
Scholarship. I am proud to be part of an organization
that not only provides opportunities for women in the
fastener industry but extends these resources to the
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
families of its members. My daughter is excited to begin
her college career at Clemson University and is grateful
for the generous support this scholarship offers. We
are thankful to Women in the Fastener Industry for this
amazing recognition and look forward to being the first of
many recipients in the years to come.”
- Jeannine & Brooke Ciabattoni
WOMEN IN THE FASTENER INDUSTRY

The Great Lakes Fasteners
Group has acquired
Connection Services Company
of Benton Harbor, MI, and
continues its rapid growth
plans serving manufacturers
in the greater Midwest region.
Connection Services is
a boutique manufacturer of
standard and special U-bolts,
threaded rods, and special
threaded studs. “All of us
at Connection Service are
looking forward to bringing
our two families together,
as we are both hard working
organizations driven to deliver
quality service, a vast array
of products, and be the value
leader for our customers.”
said Todd Adent.
Connection Services will
join forces with the fastener
distribution group formed by
Kevin Weidinger, owner of the
portfolio. The group operates
Great Lakes Fasteners, Nut
& Bolt Fastening Solutions,
and most recently Lakeshore
Shore Fastener and Hodges
Fastener Corporation. The
consortium strives to maintain
the distributors’ local
identities in their communities
yet leverage the collective
strength and size of the
enterprise. Customers enjoy a
vast inventory of standard and
special fasteners plus bundled
lean production services,
including kitting, packaging,
sub-assembly, and managed
inventory programs (VMI).
For more information
contact The Great Lakes
Fastener Group by Tel: 1-800-
589-4578, Email: sales@glfus.
com or at www.glfus.com.
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126
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
COMPUTER INSIGHTS, INC. THE CONNECTED WORLD from page 32
RESTful APIs: Unleashing the Full Potential
The Business Edge TM
offers suites of RESTful APIs,
representing the most modern version of APIs available
since their introduction in 2000. The versatility of these
APIs empowers The Business Edge TM
customers, offering
them a world of possibilities to programmatically interact
with their data, whether they desire a user interface or
prefer seamless automation without requiring human
intervention.
powerful business intelligence analytic software, gaining
deeper insights and making data-driven decisions.
⬡ Excel Integration: APIs enable users to
refresh Excel spreadsheets with live and up-to-theminute
information, ensuring accurate and real-time data
representation.
⬡ Customization: Businesses can create tailormade
production boards and purchasing screens,
optimizing workflows and enhancing efficiency.
⬡ Website Integration: Keep
your website fresh and up-to-date with
live information using The Business
Edge TM
APIs, providing robust and
dynamic experiences for B2C and B2B
customers.
⬡ Support for JSON and XML:
The Business Edge TM
APIs support JSON
and XML data structures for increased
versatility and compatibility.
Key Benefits Of The Business Edge TM
RESTful API Suites
⬡ Seamless Integration: Regardless of the
operating system or database, The Business Edge TM
APIs seamlessly integrate with any modern application,
fostering smooth data flow and collaboration.
⬡ Developer-Friendly: Companies can choose
to develop applications using in-house developers or
leverage third-party developers for specialized projects,
offering flexibility and expertise.
⬡ Customer Portals: The RESTful APIs empower
businesses to create customer portals, allowing clients to
access relevant information and streamline interactions.
⬡
Business Intelligence (BI) Integration:
Companies can easily connect The Business Edge TM
with
Embrace the Power of APIs
In the rapidly evolving world of technology
and business, APIs are the linchpin that connects
disparate systems and unlocks endless possibilities. With
The Business Edge TM
RESTful APIs, companies can elevate
their operations, improve efficiency, and create seamless
interactions with clients and partners.
APIs have become the backbone of modern
interconnected systems, playing a pivotal role in
Enterprise Resource Planning and other essential
business solutions. As we continue to venture into a
more connected future, embracing the power of APIs will
be vital to staying ahead in a world driven by seamless
integration and collaboration.
The Business Edge TM
by Computer Insights, Inc. do
more, in less time, with fewer people. Their fastener
industry focus makes the difference.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 176

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128
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS INSTITUTE IFI BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM from page 36
Manufacturers will benefit from the ability to hire
individuals without prior manufacturing experience and
train them under a recognized and structured learning
program. This will enhance their competency in operating
fastener manufacturing equipment. For apprentices, they
will acquire a transferable skill recognized throughout the
industry, opening doors to employment opportunities while
offering job security, increasing levels of responsibility,
and competitive wages.
The development of the apprenticeship program
is already underway, with IFI forming a dedicated
committee comprising experienced plant personnel and
machinery suppliers. The committee is actively working
towards completing the program within the next 12-18
months, making it available for manufacturers to utilize.
Companies looking to support this industry-wide
initiative and capitalize on the benefits of membership in IFI
are encouraged to join the effort. By becoming IFI members,
companies gain access to valuable resources and contribute
to the future of the fastener manufacturing industry.
About IFI
IFI is the leading voice representing the interests
of the North American manufacturers of mechanical
fasteners and formed parts, as well as the key suppliers
to the industry, fostering their working together to shape
the future of the industry. IFI represents the industry to
its suppliers, customers, the government, and the publicat-large
to advance the competitiveness, products, and
innovative technology of the Member Companies in a
global marketplace.
To inquire about IFI membership, contact Dan Walker,
Managing Director at dwalker@indfast.org or call 216-241-
1482 for details on eligibility and benefits.
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS INSTITUTE

130
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SMARTCERT BY ARAMID TECHNOLOGIES WHY EMAIL IS LOSING ITS GRIP ON DOCUMENT TRANSFER from page 44
Lost Emails
Email: We have all experienced the most common
problem; losing important emails in overflowing inboxes.
The sheer volume of emails we receive, including loads of
spam and promotional messages, makes it challenging to
track, locate, and retrieve essential documents. Dynamic
spam filters also divert important emails and have made
scanning our junk folders a frequent necessity. Finding
older messages buried among thousands of emails is
tedious and time-consuming, leading to wasted time,
requests to resend documents, and customer delays.
When emails are sent to one person, and they forget to
move it to the proper file directory or import it into the right
system, then everyone else who depends on them must
send more emails to find the missing document, causing
unnecessary work and delays.
SmartCert: With SmartCert, the risk of losing
documents in overflowing inboxes is eliminated. There is
no spam or promotional messages, and the fast, intelligent
searching makes it quick and easy to find files.
“You can type in almost anything related to that cert,
and it’ll pop up, which is definitely useful, because you’re
not searching and searching and searching.”
Marci Miranda, Quality Inspector, WCL Company
Inefficient Group-to-Group Communications
Email: When emails are sent to multiple people, often
no one takes responsibility for processing the file, like an
infield fly where several players watch the ball fall to the
ground between them. Quality certs are a prime example.
Colleagues in sales, purchasing, quality, receiving, and
accounts payable need to access certs, or at least know
they have been received. However, it’s nearly impossible
for vendors to know which customer employees should be
copied on an email, and if they send to only one person,
there is a high chance the certs become lost and lead to
others having to email and ask for them to be resent.
SmartCert: SmartCert streamlines group-to-group
communications by giving every authorized employee
access to documents, without relying on any single person.
If a sender updates a document, it automatically updates in
the platform assuring the authorized users are alerted and
can access the most up-to-date version. With SmartCert, the
need for emailing back and forth is eliminated, facilitating
reliable file transfer, and saving time on unnecessary work.
“Customers are having a much easier time with
multiple people accessing certs. They aren’t just relying on
that one person who usually gets certs to plug them into
their system, they all have their own access, and they can
get them as they need them because everybody’s function
is different.”
Holly McDaniel, Sales Manager, WCL Company
File Size Limitations
Email: All email providers implement email size limits
to prevent attackers from using emails with huge files to
crash their servers. When emails and attachments exceed
the allowable size, 10MB is the default on MS Exchange for
example, the email bounces and the sender must split the
email into multiple emails, adding low-value manual work,
creating the potential for errors, and making more work
for the recipients who must re-combine the files. Typical
examples include RFQ or purchasing contracts that contain
drawings, and certs associated with multi-line purchase
orders, PPAPs and FAIRs.
SmartCert: Unlike email, SmartCert does not impose
restrictions on file size. Whether it’s a large RFQ or huge
quality package, users can confidently share and receive
documents of any size, ensuring a smooth and efficient
process.
CO-FOUNDER LONNI KIEFFER WITH HOLLY MCDANIEL
AND MIKE GLYNN FROM WCL COMPANY, AT
PAC-WEST’S TABLETOP SHOW
CONTINUED ON PAGE 178

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 131
KEY BELLEVILLES, INC.
We are the largest Disc Spring Manufacturer!
• Complete size range from .236” to 36” O.D. & 3” Thick
• Largest Raw Material and Finished Inventory in the World
• We manufacture Metric Parts to DIN Specs
• Complete Line of Stainless and Inconel Parts
• 10,000 Different Sizes in Stock
Call toll free from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada at:
Phone: 1-800-245-3600 • Fax: 1-800-847-1672
Key Bellevilles, Inc.
100 Key Lane • Leechburg, PA 15656-9531 U.S.A.
Phone: 724-295-5111 • Fax: 724-295-2570
www.keybellevilles.com • e-mail: sales@keybellevilles.com
Visit Our Website
or Call for a FREE
Engineering CD

132
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
LARRY BOROWSKI 6e AND 6E PITCH DIAMETER ALLOWANCES PROVIDE SPACE FOR HEAVY COATINGS from page 46
The external thread class “6e” provides approximately
twice the plating allowance than does the “6g” thread
class. The illustrations in this article show the size
relationships of the thread classes “6E” to “6H” and
“6e” to “6g”. The illustrations also show that the external
thread pitch diameter sizes must always remain smaller
the “basic” pitch diameter size and the internal thread
pitch diameter size must always remain larger than the
“basic” pitch diameter size to assure a non-interference
fit in assembly. Hopefully the example of M10 X 1.5
providing exact pitch diameter sizes makes the exact
nature of these relationships clearer for the reader.
Unfortunately, neither the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) or the International
Standards Organization (ISO) provide tables for the pitch
diameter sizes for internal thread class “6E” or external
thread class “6e”. That leaves the task of using the
thread formulas to determine the “6E’ and “6e” pitch
diameter sizes to every individual thread component
manufacturer.
In an effort to make the use of the”6E” and “6e”
thread classes easier for manufacturing “before coating”
threads with greater allowance I have compiles the tables
for those thread classes in this article.
The final acceptance of threads after coating should be
determined by using 6H GO plug gages for internal threads
and 6h GO ring gages for external threads. The use of
these class gages for final thread acceptance assures
that thread interference will not occur during product
assembly.
For more information on this or other fastener
technology or quality related issues you can contact
the author via e-mail through the website at
www.greensladeandcompany.com.
LARRY BOROWSKI | GREENSLADE & COMPANY INC

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 133

134
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
EDSON MANUFACTURING RIVETING THE INDUSTRY from page 48
¤ Engineering Expertise: The company has an
engineering department with experienced engineers
with hands-on knowledge. This expertise allows them to
design and develop custom solutions to meet the unique
needs of their customers.
¤ Commitment to Quality: Edson Manufacturing
maintains ISO 9001:2015 registration and continuously
works to improve systems and procedures. They have
a dedicated Quality Control Department staffed with
experienced professionals who conduct extensive testing
and certifications in-house. Traceability is given utmost
importance, ensuring consistent quality.
¤ Customer Support: Edson Manufacturing
takes pride in providing excellent customer support.
Their seasoned sales team has decades of industry
experience, making them knowledgeable partners for
their customers.
¤ Custom Packaging and Private Labeling:
Edson has developed a packaging line with private labeling
and custom packaging capabilities. They understand the
importance of meeting customers’ unique packaging
requirements, providing tailored solutions for branding
and logistics.
¤ Importing Options: While focusing on in-house
manufacturing, Edson Manufacturing offers a full import
line of blind and structural fasteners and rivet setting
tools.
¤ Broad Industry Reach: Edson Manufacturing
serves a diverse customer base across various industries,
including aerospace, automotive, biotech, construction,
marine, medical, military, and more.
Edson Manufacturing is not just a manufacturer but
a partner in the industry. When considering a supplier
for your fastening needs, please remember: Edson
Manufacturing has Precision, Passion, and Perfection, all
in one riveting package!
EDSON MANUFACTURING
STAFDA OUR UPCOMING 47th ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW from page 50
For the first time, STAFDA is offering sponsorships.
Exhibitors may sponsor Convention events and meals
or choose from five levels of General Sponsorships.
Sponsors will have their logos on STAFDA’s website and
app, during their specific sponsored event, in STAFDA
Central, displayed on screen during the General Session,
and listed in the convention program.
Lastly, in the spirit of encompassing the trades, on
Day 2 of the Trade Show, Tuesday, November 7, STAFDA
is inviting members of Texas-based associations serving
the construction/contractor market to attend the Trade
Show. They’ll be admitted on Tuesday only at a special
rate. STAFDA distributors will also be in the hall.
Contractor organizations invited to attend Tuesday’s
Trade Show include: American Subcontractors South
Texas; Associated General Contractors of Texas; DFW
Drywall & Acoustical Contractors Association; Fire
Sprinklers Contractors Association of Texas; Greater
San Antonio Builders Association; Independent Electrical
Contractors of Texas; Mechanical Contractors of Texas;
National Electrical Contractors Assn/Texas Chapter;
Painting Contractors Association of Texas; Plumbing/
Heating/Cooling Contractors Assn of Texas- San
Antonio; Southwest Terrazzo Associates; Subcontractors
Association of the Metroplex; Texas Associated Builders
& Contractors; Texas Glass Association; Texas Iron
Workers Employees Association; Texas Lathing &
Plastering Contractors Association; Texas Masonry
Council; and the Texas Structural Steel Institute.
For more information on STAFDA or the San Antonio
Convention & Trade Show, please visit www.STAFDA.org for
more details.
SPECIALTY TOOLS & FASTENERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 135
International Fastener
Expo (IFE) is excited to
welcome Jake Hall as the
2023 Keynote Speaker.
Before the official opening
of the Exhibit Hall on October
10, the 2023 keynote
speaker, Jake Hall AKA the
Manufacturing Millennial, will
take to the stage to dive
into the topics of technology,
innovation, and how to get
your current and future
workforce excited about these
advances to the industry.
Jake Hall’s keynote
presentation, titled “The
Future of Manufacturing:
Technology and Workforce” will
highlight how manufacturers
are finding success in:
¤ Leveraging automation in
new and supportive ways,
¤ Adapting new types of
automation from Industry 4.0,
¤ Engaging the new
workforce to attract and retain
younger generations.
The International Fastener
Expo (IFE) is the largest and most
diverse gathering of fastener
and industrial professionals in
North America.
For additional information
visit the International Fastener
Expo website online at
www.fastenershows.com.
The Gilchrist Foundation has awarded two scholarships from the
2023 applicants. Congratulations to the recipients. We wish them well
and are pleased to assist them with their education.
¤ Ana Jablonsky Ramco Specialties Inc ¤ Megan Stover Ken Forging Inc
Robbie and Gina Gilchrist established the Gilchrist Foundation Fastener
Scholarship in 2000. Their goal was to return something to an industry
that was very good and supportive to them. The Gilchrist Foundation
invites any person wanting to further their education to apply for the
scholarships. Applicants can be full time or part time students working in
the industry or children of working fastener people. The Foundation has
awarded 78 scholarships since its beginning!
For additional information visit www.gilchristfoundation.com.

136
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
JIM TRUESDELL DISTRIBUTORS MOVE FORWARD WITH MARKET CHANGES BROUGHT BY PANDEMIC from page 52
Now with employees looking for such flexibility in
search of a work-life balance it may be time to return
to that style (though being careful not to deliver it in a
condescending manner). Distributors can communicate
that flexibility to applicants may be a reasonable counter
to their need for remote or hybrid work schedules.
Some companies might look at four day work weeks
on a staggered basis to appeal to the needs of Gen Z and
Millenials. More extensive paid time off policies might
also be called for in the new employment marketplace.
Providing benefits which meet the needs of young parents
could also be attractive. Staggering work hours to allow
parents to match pick-up times for their children and at
least partially subsidizing child care costs could make a
difference. Finally, hiring interviewers should be prepared
to share with applicants why it is in a beginning worker’s
own interest to be part of an in-office culture. It is not
just an old timer’s outdated view of the workplace but,
indeed, it reflects some current feedback. A recent Harris
Poll with Bloomberg shows young workers are concerned
about making connections in their new jobs, receiving
good feedback from supervisors, and are experiencing
difficulty learning the company culture. These concerns
may resonate with young job applicants. Interviewers can
stress the value of the company as a good incubator of
job skills.
Wholesalers are experiencing disruptions in the supply
chain as they have learned that delivery promises cannot
always be relied upon as unexpected crises can arise
both domestically and internationally. International issues
and political situations mean access to certain products
can disappear overnight. This is where independent
distributors can really shine in securing product for end
users. They can and are diversifying their product sources
so they are not held hostage to the problems of a lone
supplier of an item. They are also finding a benefit in
opening up their relationships with key vendors by sharing
data so that bottlenecks in the chain can be foreseen
and alternative solutions readied for ultimate customers.
They are becoming accustomed to using multiple forms
of delivery by land, sea, or air so that transportation
bottlenecks, labor strikes or weather will not leave
product stranded. Sometimes wholesalers can stock up in
advance on anticipated product needs to protect against
possible congestion in the supply chain. In competition
with the dominating universal product on-line sellers they
still provide the product expertise and advice that can help
a buyer make good product selection and receive support
after the sale.
Finally, wholesalers will have to demand great
customer service from their own support providers. When
vendors drop the ball because of their accommodation of
remote work forces the distributor will have to call those
vendors out and be willing to move their business to those
companies who still put their customers’ needs first, not
just caving to the whims and preferences of demanding
workers. Eventually, there will be a return to a modicum
of reality as companies who do not keep their eye on the
customer will lose market share to those whose first priority
is delivering timely answers and solutions to the people
whose dollars make it possible for workers to have jobs.
The post-covid changes in the workplace are actually
playing to the strengths of independent wholesalers
who are adept at fashioning solutions to meet individual
customers’ problems. It may seem that companies like
those in our industry are clinging to old ways by requiring
workers’ on-site commitments, but some of those older
styles are intended to put the customer first. Articles
and speeches are proliferating in response to a social
movement that looks first to the needs and desires of
individual workers. That may be fine if we are willing
to move to a lower level of living, achievement, and
accomplishment. Those who value a successful career as
an important component of a meaningful life will reap the
rewards of self-satisfaction and ultimate freedom that only
our free enterprise system has shown to be possible.
JIM TRUESDELL

Mutual Screw & Supply LLC completed the
acquisition of Harry Migdal, Inc. d/b/a Mutual
Screw, a 75-year-old fastener distributor located
in Rochelle Park, NJ. The company was founded in
1947, serving a wide variety of end-markets with
industrial products and supplies.
“For more than 75 years, the Company has
supplied high quality products to a diverse and
loyal customer base,” said Matthew Pfennig, owner
of Mutual Screw & Supply LLC. “The Company has
impressive multi-decade relationships with key
customers and vendors which have strengthened
significantly over the years. I look forward to
continuing the growth of the business in its next
chapter.”
Mutual Screw & Supply LLC opened its doors
in April of 1947, originally known as Mutual
Screw & Hardware. Started by the father and son
team of Harry & Herbert Migdal, the Company
concentrated on the furniture and dinette industry
in the New York City metropolitan area, eventually
taking the business name of Harry Migdal, Inc. In
addition to manufacturing certain fasteners, the
Company stocked and distributed hinges, levelers,
draw pulls and tools.
As manufacturing began to leave the New York
area, the focus of the business changed to the
distribution of fasteners and related supplies to
hardware stores, lumber yards, and the electrical
supply industry.
The business grew substantially, including
through successful mergers and acquisitions of
the Riteloc Company, All Fasteners, and Universal
Fasteners Service and Supply.
Today, Mutual Screw & Supply’s management
team includes Mark Warner, Herb Migdal’s son in
law who has been in the fastener industry since
1971, and David Kaplan, who grew up in the
fastener industry as his father was an officer and
purchasing manager with the former Atlas Screw
& Specialty Corporation, Elizabeth, NJ.
For more information about Mutual Screw &
Supply LLC, contact them at 68 West Passaic Street,
Rochelle Park, NJ 07662. Call Toll Free: 1-800-222-
0324, Tel: 201-845-5700, Fax: 201-845-5781,
Email: info@mutualscrew.com or visit them online
at www.mutualscrew.com.
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 137

138
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
STEVEN SHERMAN COLLABORATE WITH YOUR RIVET MANUFACTURER FOR SUPERIOR TOOL PERFORMANCE from page 54
JAWS AND PUSHER SHOULD BE SHINING AND CLEAN WITH
REGULAR SIMPLE MAINTENANCE. THE LEFT SET HAS NOT BEEN
CLEANED, AND IS COVERED IN SMUT AND SWARF
Safety First: Proper Use
Purchasing tools with safety devices and strictly
adhering to safety guidelines, such as wearing safety
glasses and never pointing tools at other operators,
creates a secure working environment. Tools should also
only be used for their intended application, never used as
hammers, for instance.
Collaboration: Configuring The Tool
For Operation
It’s imperative to take measures to prevent tool
damage, such as using balancer mounts and providing
adequate support to prevent them from dropping.
Maintaining clean, dry, and lubricated compressed air at
90 psi is also fundamental for maximizing tool efficiency.
Equipping tools with reliable F-R-L units can further
enhance performance as this filters, regulates, and
lubricates the compressed air – preventing water and dust
from getting into the air system and causing damage to
the hydraulic seals and cylinders. Be sure to apply the
right fittings, like couplings, with Teflon tape to prevent air
leaks. Also check nose piece for the correct size, prior to
enabling the operations.
Installing the first few rivets onsite should be
considered a training activity, which is best rolled out
among team members with the goal of streamlining the
production process for enhanced efficiency. Manufacturers
should provide the initial training with the OEM onsite,
alongside the distributor. OEM Training should start with
operators, then line leads, then finally, maintenance
departments.
Part of training should include a cleaning routine.
It is preferable for operators to perform this task, but
maintenance departments may need to handle it in some
environments due to concerns about trust or skill. In such
cases, we recommend operator training provided by the
team leader or the maintenance department. Experience
shows that users who neglect proper cleaning and care
for their tools will likely need to purchase replacements
prematurely which would be a drain on a maintenance
budget.
MOST HIGH QUALITY TOOLS COME WITH A SPECIALIZED
CLEANING KIT USED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 139

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 139
STEVEN SHERMAN COLLABORATE WITH YOUR RIVET MANUFACTURER FOR SUPERIOR TOOL PERFORMANCE from page 138
Roles And Responsibilities Of A World Class
Manufacturer
Clearly define roles and responsibilities to ensure
clarity and effective tracking. Consider the following
suggestions:
[a] Operators: Clean the tool at the beginning of
each shift, take care of the tool, and maximize productivity.
[b] Team Leaders: Make simple repairs to front
end as needed.
[c] Maintenance Departments: Provide training
to operators on cleaning front-end components,
troubleshoot simple repairs, maintain an inventory of
repair parts, and replace them when necessary. Identify
the need for major repairs and route them to authorized
repair centers or manufacturers.
[d] Authorized Repair Centers: Efficiently
process major repairs at reasonable costs, maintain
records of repaired tools, notify the manufacturer of
defects in materials, workmanship, and design, and
facilitate the replacement of authorized warranty repairs
at no cost (excluding parts).
[e] Tool Manufacturers: Keep records of repaired
tools, provide technical guidance to authorized repair
centers, conduct warranty analysis, and track statistics
on defects, ergonomic issues, and safety concerns for
continuous improvement.
The Bottom Line
Embracing these simple riveting tool maintenance
best practices will help optimize tool performance and
minimize downtime. Plus, by partnering with reputable
manufacturers – like RivetKing®, who provides access
to both top-of-the-line tools and high-quality lab-tested
rivets – means you can collaborate with knowledgeable
sales reps, application engineers, and distributors to
troubleshoot and overcome any riveting challenges.
STEVEN SHERMAN

140
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
CHRIS DONNELL ALL IS QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT from page 56
When the buying didn’t increase, they ratcheted up
the number of blank sailings in hopes to maximize the
capacity per vessel and stabilize a market that was in
free-fall. Finally, in April of this year, the industry saw
signs of life, just as importers and manufactures alike
we about to sign their yearly contracts. For the carriers,
this meant going back to the negotiations with higher
costs. Since then, the ocean carriers decided to pass
along multiple rate increases to test the market and
return back to more profitable times. To put things
into perspective, In April of this year, the average 40
ft container from the Pacific Rim to the West Coast
was around $1,000.00 and today that rate is around
$1,500.00. Making matters worse, the carriers intend
to pass along another yet increase around August
15th which would bring the rate closer to $2,000 per
container - double what it was 3 short months ago.
You might ask how the ocean carriers are allowed to
do this. For starters, there are a lot of factors working in
the carrier’s favor. First, we have the on-again, off-again,
potentially on-again port strikes taking place on the
western shores of Canada. This issue has been ongoing
since July 1st and as of July 27th, the union members
again rejected a deal the mitigators approved leaving
the situation in limbo. This has caused many ocean
carriers to by-pass the Canadian ports of Vancouver and
Prince Rupert altogether and divert cargo to Seattle and
Tacoma. This diversion has caused a lot of disruption to
those ports and congestion quickly set in.
Another factor benefiting the ocean carriers is the
drought impacting Central American where the water
levels of Gutan Lake, the man-made lake that was
developed during the construction of the Panama Canal,
reached dangerously low levels, thus limiting the weight
ocean carriers could per vessel to ensure they wouldn’t
beach themselves. This caused many ocean carriers to
restrict the allowable weight per container to around 8
metric tons whereas prior importers were loading upwards
of around 20 tons per container. As you can imagine this
caused a great deal of issues with importers. Importers
were either forced to divide their weight to fall in line with
the carriers demands or use alternative shipping routes
such as the Suez Canal or through the West Coast of the
United States. Remember, the volumes destined for the
East and Gulf Coasts have risen some 30% over the past
few years so essentially importers had to get creative in
their shipping processes and for those carriers which offer
a low drag vessel through the canal, it gave them the
ability to adjust rates to the surging demand.
Last but not least, the last factor in favor of
ocean carriers is the timing of back to school and the
approaching Golden Quarter, the busiest shipping season
of the year. While the National Retailers Association is
predicting a softer shipping season, they still predict a
moderate level of growth over the next several months.
With this anticipated growth, it’s also certain that those
positioned to handle that growth will take full advantage
of the situation meaning importers should expect the
ocean market to continue to see rates jockey back and
forth every 15 days or so until the end of October.
Intermodal (Rail)
The rail industry continues to struggle as lagging
volumes, increased expenditures in labor, and fines
grip the nation’s largest rail carriers. Most carriers are
seeing increased costs for labor in the neighborhood of
16% to 23%. Multiple train derailments are costing the
carriers upwards of more than a billion dollars, the worst
being the derailment and spill of toxic chemicals in East
Palestine, Ohio which as it stands today has cost the
Norfolk Southern Rail a whopping 800 million just for the
clean-up. It is painting a bleak picture to shareholders
who have already seen their earnings erode and the rail
carriers not hitting their earnings projections. Have things
hit rock bottom for the rail carriers? Maybe as Union
Pacific (UP) announced that their Chief Executive Officer
will step down as they start to restructure their growth
plans moving forward. It’s uncertain if the rail lines can
salvage 2023 but that will all depend on how active the
holiday season is and if buying can quickly turn around.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 180

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 141

142
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
NELSON VALDERRAMA WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN 2030 from page 60
But we are most excited about our robots. Automated
Guided Vehicles (AGVs) do the hard and heavy lifting;
they move, raise, and dump trash, recyclables, and
pallets. Machines with articulated “arms” will pick, pull,
and maneuver light to heavy objects, placing them into
bins or onto conveyor belts. And Cobots or collaborative
robots work side-by-side with employees who assign
the Cobots tasks and help the machines learn from
mistakes. These machines move about the place thanks
to sensors that detect barriers.
We have also outfitted all employees with eyewear.
They may look like safety goggles to you, but they also
receive and send messages. A worker might focus on a
conveyor glitch and receive a tutorial appearing on the
goggles’ lenses.
Hire Now For 2040!
Jetson has pulled off a minor miracle here. The
company employs 248 people today. That represents
ten percent fewer than in 2025, a reduction attributed
to normal attrition. More importantly, the 248 people
process 3.7 more orders than two years ago.
Looking back, this shift to a success trajectory
began with my first employee meeting. They expected
big changes and voiced their concerns. After a pause, I
committed Jetson to:
¤ The opportunity to gather and prioritize those
concerns in collaboration with teams of three in each
organizational sector. Those teams would weigh and
rank the issues quarterly, reporting them directly to me
for resolution.
¤ The acknowledgment that their current jobs would
change or disappear. But every employee would have the
chance to bid on an open position or train for a new one.
The executive level has seen some turnover, but I have
kept my promise to the workforce.
¤ A similar meeting for the following to present an
improved health and wellness program, a more generous
401(k) plan, and a subsidized childcare center on
company property.
¤ A radically different approach to employee
evaluations. Everyone will have real-time access to
confidential information on their performance metrics
and an illustration of their potential career path.
The meeting launched a broader and more relevant
communication posture. So you may notice the video
screens throughout the campus broadcasting company
news of the day, team and individual achievements, and
progress in meeting Jetson’s stretch goals.
Jetson cannot improve its customers’ satisfaction
until it can connect each employee with quality outputs.
We are getting there but will continue to inspire and
motivate by running interference on the baggage they
bring to work sometimes.
Advanced Technology Is The Game Changer!
Offices no longer take up space at Jetson. We gained
20,000 square feet by taking them out. They made room
for break rooms, lockers, additional restrooms, and a
lunchroom. However, automated conveyor belts, shoots,
and sorters occupy most of the space. This also allowed
for the complete reorganization of workflows.
Glass-walled team rooms sit on each side of the
building, and I share a standing desk with supervisors in
each department. A small office adjoins the company’s
lobby, where I can meet with suppliers and guests. But I
work hard to be seen on the floor most of the day.
We have outsourced payroll, recruiting, hiring, and
onboarding. Contractors provide facility maintenance and
repair and food services. We put finance and accounting
functions in the hands of an outside agency but found we
needed a budget-savvy voice, which we placed in Sales.
Plans to relocate sales teams to a building adjacent to
the childcare center coil have gone better. Salespeople
insisted they needed direct access to the warehouse,
inventory, shipping, and the people responsible.
The resistance signaled a need to realign sales
thinking. It took months of work with a consultant to
separate routine tasks in sales from their skills in
building and sustaining relationships.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 143

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 143
NELSON VALDERRAMA WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN 2030 from page 142
And it became clear that most had yet to take
advantage of the substantial technological investment.
We tasked Regional Sales Coordinators
with driving home the unique utility offered by the
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
system installed in 2026. Thanks to these advanced
technologies, salespeople had everything necessary
at their fingertips. The AI/ML model consumed and
processed the company’s historical sales data.
¤ With that core information, the system could
optimize inventory to avoid stockouts and reduce
excess items. This assured better cash flow because it
also anticipated seasonal and customer-critical needs.
¤ The algorithms would process millions of
calculations and integrate the data with customer
behavior, economic and industrial trends, and competitor
activities to optimize pricing.
The AI/ML pulled data from every warehouse
process, procurement results, and delivery output to
eliminate paper, initiate digital purchase orders, and
recommend customer-targeted pricing. Relieved of
administrative tasks, salespeople could focus on their
accountability to increase revenues.
The Future Of Wholesale Distribution Is
Here!
From predicting shifts in consumer demand to
identifying operational inefficiencies, businesses that
leverage big data analytics to make informed decisions
will surpass their competitors. Skills and talent will
redesign the work and drive innovative machines to
sustain profit margins. Only the private sector has the
power to revamp and engage the skills of the current
workforce, leading to higher employee productivity.
NELSON VALDERRAMA

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150
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SOUTHWESTERN FASTENER ASSOCIATION
PO Box 173994, Arlington, TX 76003 TEL 817-269-0436 EMAIL info@southwesternfastener.org WEB www.southwestfastener.org
HOUSTON HOSTS THE SFA CONFERENCE AND EXPO By Becky Buddenbohn
The annual SFA conference opened with a trip to
Minute Maid Park in Houston to watch the Houston
Astros take on the Texas Rangers!
While the group allegiance was divided,
all agreed that it was a great way to kick
off our time together!
The conference, held July 25-27,
2023 at the Springhill Suites Houston/
Downtown, included the General
Business Meeting, sessions on
Cybersecurity and Industrial Plating
Finishes and a Keynote address by Mike
Rose, author of ROE Powers ROI. The
Springhill Suites also hosted the Table-
Top Expo, with over twenty suppliers exhibiting. Many
excellent conversations were had and new connections
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
made.
The group enjoyed a wonderful dinner at McCormick
& Schmick’s once again having time to
connect with new acquaintances and
renew old friendships.
SFA will host its next event at Revolver
Brewing in Arlington, Texas on Thursday,
August 17, and encourages all DFW
fasteners friends to attend the happy
hour from 5:30-8:00!
September 7, we’ll be golfing at
Houston’s Hermann Park Golf course!
Please join us for a day of fun on the
beautiful course of Hermann Park!
Please check the website for details and registration
form. www.southwesternfastener.org.
SOUTHWESTERN FASTENER ASSOCIATION
SOUTHWESTERN FASTENER ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE & EXPO
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 25-27, 2023

152
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROBERT FOOTLIK IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? from page 64
Heat and humidity will also cause packaging or
printing equipment to jam or go out of alignment. Nothing
may be wrong with the infeed mechanisms, only the raw
materials.
All this takes a toll on personnel. When the
warehouse is hot people need to hydrate regularly,
before they get thirsty. Production slows down; everyone
sweats and visits the air-conditioned office more often.
Even worse, mental processes slow, quality suffers and
tempers may flare. These are the hidden costs of heat
gain in the warm months. In the colder months heat
losses can make everyone sluggish and less productive
due to multiple layers of clothing.
Reducing The Heat Gains And Losses
There are many ways to cut heat gain and heat
loss. The simplest in the winter is to lower the
indoor temperature, but there are limits. Human body
temperature balance optimizes in a range of 68-74
degrees. Going too cold will not be viewed as friendly,
caring management. In many offices, the thermostat is
set to 68 by upper management and people add heaters
under their desks. At best, this trades higher electric
bills for comfort and at worst, it becomes a cycle of
turning down the thermostat to offset the expense of the
heaters.
Meanwhile, the building is still losing heat. Replacing
single pane glass windows with “Thermopane” (multipane)
windows will cut the heat loss significantly. So
will simply trapping a layer of dead air next to the glass
using 2-5 mil clear plastic film and duct tape. For larger
expanses, such as a “ribbon” of translucent ribbed
plastic, replacing it with “Thermopane” is expensive.
Replacing the single layer plastic with an extruded
plastic “cardboard profile” material sold at Lowes, Home
Depot, U-Line and other outlets can preserve the light
transmission qualities while cutting heat loss/gain year
around. For even less money there are products for
greenhouses that use a tube of thin plastic film and a
small fan to create the dead air zone.
If the building needs a new roof, adding more
PLASTIC CORRUGATED SHEET, TYPICALLY 6+MM
insulation is a relatively minor expense. In most climates,
buildings older than 20 years often have only an inch or
two of insulation. In the northern US building codes now
require at least 5 ½” of “isoboard” or foam insulation.
Going thicker costs only for materials, the labor expense
is the same. Five and a half inches of new insulation for
a 90,000 square foot building added 20% to the job cost.
Over-insulating to 7”+ added less than 2% more. A new
tenant who used the rental space for overflow storage
with only occasional personnel turned the temperature
down to 45 degrees and had a heating bill that was 20%
of the previous, before re-roofing, 70 degree, shirtsleeve
manufacturing tenant.
State of the art membrane roofs are factory colored
white to reflect heat. Any other color is more expensive,
thereby making the choice easier. Under development
are color changing materials that will reflect heat in
the summer and absorb it in the winter. There is also
a thermal benefit in adding rooftop solar panels that
shade the roof while absorbing and re-radiating heat.
A 104,000 square foot building in New Mexico uses
roof mounted panels that provide up to 95% of the
electricity for much of the year. The light reflected by the
white roofing materials adds to the power generation
efficiency.
TYPICAL MEMBRANE ROOF SYSTEM
CONTINUED ON PAGE 182

154
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
BAY SUPPLY WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO CHERRY RIVETS? from page 66
In 2003, Textron Aerospace Fasteners was combined
with other Textron divisions to form Textron Fastening
Systems, which later became known as Acument Global
Technologies. In 2007, the company was acquired
by Precision Castparts Corporation, and today Cherry
Aerospace continues to sell fasteners to the aerospace
industry as a PCC subsidiary.
Acument Global Technologies’ Avdel group and Global
Electronics and Commercial division were purchased in
2010 and renamed Infastech Limited. Stanley Black &
Decker acquired Infastech and incorporated it into the
Stanley Engineered Fastening group in 2013. Stanley now
owns Avdel and offers a variety of blind rivets, including
POP® fasteners. Ironically, while Avdel and Cherry were
once fierce competitors, they are now owned by the same
company.
Today’s Family of Avdel Blind Rivets
Avdel has become one of the most reliable and
popular fastener brands, partly because some Avdel blind
bolts evolved from Carl Cherry’s original designs. Here are
just a few of the most popular Avdel fasteners available
through the Bay Supply Fastener Marketplace:
Avdel Monobolt
Designed for demanding applications where safety
and performance are a priority, the Monobolt rivet is a
high-strength fastener that provides a sealed joint and a
visible lock. It can be used to fasten metal to plastic and
is made of a corrosive-resistant alloy, making it ideal for
harsh environments.
Avdel T Rivet ®
The T Rivet has a body that slots into three legs for a
secure clamp. The T Rivet creates a strong, weathertight
seal that can handle vibration without rattling, making it
suitable for tasks that require any standard grip rivet.
Avdel N Rivet
The N rivet is a breakstem rivet with a countersunk
head, available in a Zinc Clear Trivalent finish to protect
against corrosion.
Avdel Q Rivet
The Avdel Q rivet has a high shear and tensile
strength with an interference lock for even greater
reliability. It also features a splined stem design that
plugs the entire length of the shell. It is ideal for fastening
metals together, fastening plastic to metals, or for use
with a thin rear sheet.
Avdel E Rivet
The E rivet ultimately became the Avdel Avex rivet,
an aluminum rivet with a multi-grip breakstem fastener
designed for thin sheet materials. It can be used for
metal-to-metal, plastic-to-plastic, metal-to-plastic, and
metal rear sheets.
Avdel KTR Rivet
Avdel Klamp-Tite Rivets (KTR) are structural rivets
with a mechanical lock for added strength at the joint.
They are made of aluminum alloy with a large bearing
area on the blind side so that they can be used with
plastic components, appliances, automobile assembly,
cladding, and related applications.
Avdel Interlock Rivet
Avdel Interlock rivets provide structural strength,
vibration resistance, and multi-grip capabilities, forming
a fully sealed, vibration-resistant joint. This rivet can
close large gaps and has superior shear and tensile
strength, so fewer rivets are needed per assembly.
Interlock rivets are commonly used in automotive and
commercial vehicles, cabinets, appliances, and heating
and ventilation systems.
The rivets developed by Cherry Aerospace before the
Second World War are still in use today in the aerospace
industry. They have provided a design on which other
fastener makers have developed new blind rivets. If you
are looking for a suitable fastener for your next job, check
out the Bay Supply Fastener Marketplace or contact
one of the professionals at Bay Supply. You can also
download the Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to Cordless Rivet
Tools to learn more about blind rivet tools, installations,
and applications.
BAY SUPPLY

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 155
WTC BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES IS IT ILLEGAL TO TRACK YOUR EMPLOYEES’ ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY’RE WORKING FROM HOME? from page 70
¤ Put in writing what is and isn’t allowed
during work hours and on company-owned assets.
If you don’t want employees visiting what you deem as
inappropriate websites and mixing personal activities
with work activities on company-owned devices, let them
know that. If they work from home, set guidelines such
as start and end times for work and how long and how
frequently they can take breaks, detailing when they
need to be available (at work). No one likes getting
a speeding ticket when there’s no speed limit signs
posted. Be absolutely clear on your expectations and put
them in writing so there’s no risk of “You never told me
that…” happening.
¤ Get legal advice before implementing any
kind of monitoring software, cameras or activities.
Laws can change – and with privacy of data becoming
more critical (and a legal hot potato), we suggest
you work with an HR attorney to make sure you’re
not violating anyone’s rights. Recently, the fast-food
restaurant White Castle was hit with a lawsuit that could
cost them up to $17 billion for using fingerprint login
software for their employees to access certain systems.
The lawsuit claims they violated Illinois’s biometric
identification laws by asking employees to use their
fingerprint as a secure way of logging in to their systems
without first gaining consent.
So, while it’s legal to monitor employees, you still
need to be mindful of employment laws and data and
privacy protection of the employees you monitor.
Need help implementing a more secure and productive
remote workplace? Contact WTC to schedule a quick call
to discuss your options and to get ideas on how we can
help you and your entire team be productive and safe, no
matter where or how you choose to work.
WTC BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

MID-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION - ‘SCREWED UP OPEN’
GOLF OUTING, WHITE PINES GC, IL - MAY 25-26, 2023

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 157
Where do you want to
be in the fastener industry?
Women in The Fastener
Industry (WIFI) Mentorship
is the perfect opportunity
to strengthen the skills you
need to succeed. Join the
2023 cohort today to connect
with a highly knowledgeable
mentor who can support your
professional growth and help
you bolt ahead in your career.
The WIFI Mentorship is
here to provide guidance,
motivation and inspire
women in the fastener
industry for personal and
professional growth.
1 on 1 monthly virtual
mentoring meetings with a
highly knowledgeable mentor.
WIFI’s mission is to
provide opportunities for
women in the fastener
industry at all levels of
experience, to unite in order
to educate, mentor and
encourage for the express
purpose of advancing women
in the fastener industry.
Download and fill out
the application at www.
fastenerwomen.com then
email it to mentorship@
fastenerwomen.com.
For more information about
WIFI or for membership details
visit www.fastenerwomen.com.

158
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
IMSM ISO 27001: SAFEGUARDING THE FASTENER INDUSTRY’S FUTURE from page 72
[2] Remediation and Recovery: After a breach,
companies must invest in extensive investigations,
system upgrades, and cybersecurity enhancements to
prevent future incidents.
[3] Damage to Reputation: Rebuilding trust with
customers, suppliers, and partners after a data breach
is a challenging and time-consuming process, often
leading to a loss of business opportunities.
The Costs of Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks are a specific type of data
breach in which cybercriminals encrypt a company’s
data and demand a ransom for its release. The costs
associated with ransomware attacks can include:
[1] Ransom Payment: Businesses that choose
to pay the ransom risk funding criminal activities and
may not receive decryption keys or have their data fully
restored.
[2] Downtime and Operational Disruptions:
During a ransomware attack, systems are usually
rendered inoperable, causing significant downtime that
can hinder productivity and affect revenue.
[3] IT Recovery: Recovering from a ransomware
attack often involves IT specialists, data restoration,
and system reconstruction, incurring substantial costs.
Upcoming DoD Requirement for Suppliers
The Department of Defense is set to implement
new supplier requirements to enhance data security.
As part of these measures, DoD suppliers, including
those in the fastener industry, will be expected to
adhere to the NIST (National Institute of Standards
and Technology) Cybersecurity Framework and possibly
obtain ISO 27001 certification. Failure to comply with
these regulations may result in suppliers losing their
DoD contracts and credibility within the defense sector.
Conclusion
In conclusion, data security is a critical aspect
of business operations within the fastener industry.
ISO 27001 offers a comprehensive framework to
protect sensitive data and build a robust information
security management system. By safeguarding their
data, companies can protect their reputation, maintain
customer trust, and ensure compliance with evolving
regulatory requirements, including those set by the
Department of Defense. As cyber threats continue to
grow, proactive measures to secure data have become
an indispensable investment for any business operating
in the fastener industry.
About IMSM
IMSM (International Management Systems
Marketing) has been providing specialized ISO
consultancy services since 1994. Their flexible and
fixed fee services are provided to businesses worldwide
seeking advice and consultation on obtaining ISO
certification.
Certification is secured by independent assessment
with IMSM’s sister company QAS International, which
has helped over 5,000 businesses achieve ISO
certification.
With a mission to deliver high-quality ISO services,
using the latest technology to organizations of all sizes
and sectors internationally, achieving ISO certification
is simple with IMSM.
IMSM offers a fixed fee, fixed time frame process
to help companies achieve the prestigious ISO
Certifications.
For those interested in ISO certification, Scott Mersch
can be contacted via e-mail at ScottMersch@imsm.com.
Alternatively, visit our website www.imsm.com for more
ISO-related information.
IMSM LTD.

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 159
PACIFIC-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION
3020 Old Ranch Parkway #300, Seal Beach CA 90740 TEL 562-799-5509 FAX 562-684-0695 EMAIL info@pac-west.org WEB www.pac-west.org
JOIN US IN COEUR D’ALENE SEPTEMBER 14-16 by Amy Nijjar
Pac-West’s Fall Conference is happening soon at
the Coeur d’Alene Resort! Register today for amazing
education and networking!
Here are some of the highlights:
¤ Turning Buyers Into Investors and Finding
Balance with Jason Bader
¤ Industry Advice from the OG’s with Andy Cohen,
Russ Doran, Ron Stanley, and Bruce Wheeler
¤ Roundtable Discussions
¤ Dinner Cruise on the Lake
¤ Spouse Paint and Sip
¤ Golf at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course
What’s New? What’s Next?
Fall Dinner Meeting and Vendor Showcase on
September 26. Presenters, Jamie Lawrence of AVK,
Tim Roberto Jr. of Star Stainless Screw, and Jun Xu of
Brighton-Best International will bring us up-to-date with
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
what’s new with stainless steel and carbon fasteners,
along with what we can expect from our suppliers in the
future. Vendor showcase opportunities are available.
Pac-West After Hours Networking Events
November 16 - BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Newark, CA
We can’t wait to see everyone at these fun and
casual events! There is no charge to attend but we do
require an RSVP.
Tabletop Show Scheduled for 2024
It’s not too early to save the dates of March 6-8,
2024 for Pac-West’s Spring Conference and Tabletop
Show at the Westin Anaheim Resort in Anaheim, CA.
Start making plans to bring your family for some Disney
fun! Check our website www.pac-west.org for more
information or to register for events.
PACIFIC-WEST FASTENER ASSOCIATION

160
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SPIROL CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF HELPING CUSTOMERS THRIVE! from page 78
HANS KOEHL (LEFT) & JEFF KOEHL
Given the breadth of markets in which SPIROL
products are used, they are fortunate to have been at the
forefront of these emerging technologies, and have done
a great job at recognizing when to develop products to
meet new requirements and address the change in the
market before they become mainstream. As an example,
SPIROL was the first company to create and standardize
on a Compression Limiter product line to provide and
maintain bolted joint integrity of plastic assemblies.
When asked, “If you had to state one thing that has
led to the continued success of SPIROL, what would that
be?”, Hans quickly replied, “Our shareholders’ willingness
to continuously reinvest back into the business for us to
remain a state-of-the-art manufacturer.”
“There are other key elements that contribute
to SPIROL’s success including: the innovation of our
employees to create value, strong management, strategy
and taking action, good planning, and adherence to our
strategic vision.” One example of a recent key strategic
decision was the acquisition of Ford Aerospace in
the United Kingdom. “Unlike our other product lines,
Precision Shims is a tough product to take globally
because each Shim is custom-made for a particular
application,” stated Mr. Koehl. “The opportunity arose
for SPIROL to acquire Ford Aerospace that would enable
us to produce Shims locally for the UK and European
marketspaces. Given SPIROL’s long-term stability and
financial security, we had the funds to quickly act on this
opportunity and made the acquisition.”
Mr. Koehl went on to say, “It takes money, people
and willingness to grow and expand a company. We feel
a strong loyalty to all of our employees who have made
us who we are today. Our success has enabled us to
create good paying stable jobs and the ability for our
employees to intermingle on a global basis.”
The unwavering financial support of their
shareholders has allowed SPIROL to build a unique
corporate culture where they truly respect and give
back to their constituents. SPIROL offers Employee
Educational Reimbursement programs, a matching
401K, and an employee stock ownership (ESOP) /
money purchase pension plan. In addition, a percentage
of income is allocated every year to fund the SPIROL
International Charitable Foundation that routinely donates
to non-profit organizations whose core tenets align with
SPIROL’s such as the Audubon Society, 4-H, the YMCA,
and local hospitals. The SPIROL Charitable Foundation
regularly grants significant monies to local community
colleges focused on manufacturing and K-12 schools to
support their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math) programs. Annually, the SPIROL Scholarship
Committee, also funded by the SPIROL Charitable
Foundation, offers scholarships to eligible students who
are going on to postsecondary education and pursuing a
degree in Engineering, Basic Sciences or Manufacturing
Technology. Similarly, the SPIROL Kids Scholarship
supports STEM development programs for younger kids
by granting scholarships for children to attend summer
camps focused around the STEM disciplines. In fact, so
strong is SPIROL’s core belief of giving back, that there
is a separate SPIROL Employee Giving Program that is
completely funded by donations from the employees
and whose proceeds go directly to patients receiving
treatment for cancer at local healthcare facilities.
Hans Koehl concluded that he is most proud in how
we “continue to meet our obligation to our constituents
in an exemplary way.”
SPIROL INTERNATIONAL CORP.

NATIONAL FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING, CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 13-14, 2023

162
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROMAN BASI THE IMPACT OF INFLATION from page 80
With the impact of rising inflation on businesses,
consumers will begin feeling the effect as well. This can
lead to pressure from employees to increase wages and
salaries. Businesses that do not adjust pay in line with
inflation often risk losing workers. When the employee
turnover rate is high, recruitment and training costs will
be incurred and a drop in productivity will often occur. This
encourages businesses to increase wages and salaries in
order to retain employees. An erosion of spending power
will affect both businesses and consumers alike. B2B
(business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer)
companies could very well experience a drop in demand.
The degree of the drop in demand will depend on the
sector of products or services. Demand for luxury and
non-essential products will tail off quickly and demand for
low-cost alternatives could rise. As inflation grows higher,
so will interest rates. Consequently, servicing existing
debts will become more expensive. It very well may
become a challenge to obtain new financing. Additionally,
inflation devalues money. As a result, you will be repaying
the capital element of loans at face value with money
worth less than when you took out the loan. Along with
this, businesses will likely see a rise in overdue accounts
receivable (AR).
Customers will have less money to pay their bills and
will try to manage their limited available cash. The effects
of this will be high collection costs, a squeeze in cash
flow, and possibly the need for increased borrowing. As a
result, there could be higher bad-debt risks. High inflation
certainly presents challenges to businesses. However,
the effects of rising prices can be managed. If costs are
controlled, cutbacks are made when needed, and sales
price increases are made in a timely manner, margins can
be maintained.
ROMAN BASI
METROPOLITAN FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
233 Rock Road #205, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 TEL 201-254-7784 FAX 201-612-0638 EMAIL mfdaboard@gmail.com WEB www.mfda.us
MFDA’S 25th ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE by Rob Rundle
The Metropolitan Fastener Distributors Association
(MFDA) announced that their 25th annual Toys For Tots
campaign will culminate this year with a dinner and toy
collection night on Tuesday December 5th, 2023 in the
Sky Room of the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights/Meadowlands
(650 Terrace Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey,
07604) at 6pm. Members and non-members alike are
welcome to attend.
For 25 years the MFDA have been assisting the
Marines of Golf Company out of Picatinny Arsenal in Dover
NJ with their mission of supplying toys for needy children
in the New Jersey area. Last year the Marine Corps
helped to distribute over a hundred thousand toys in this
area alone. Along with the generous toy donations of
MFDA members and friends, the MFDA has also donated
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
thousands of dollars each year to the drive. This money is
critical to the Marines as it is used to purchase toys and
items for pre-teens and teenagers who typically don’t have
toys donated for them. The MFDA would like to make this
25th drive our best yet and could use everyone’s help!
Please visit www.mfda.us for more information, to
register to attend the dinner, and to find out how to donate
toys, money, or both!
METROPOLITAN FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 163
Tel: 1-800-926-1495
Fax: 1-888-526-4566
Email: info@chrislynninserts.com
www.chrislynninserts.com
EMERGENCIES
Question:
Which company is able to help
you out of a breakdown the
fastest?
Answer:
The company that stocks
your needed replacement part.
STOCK!
STOCK!
STOCK!
Chrislynn stocks not only the
standard threaded inserts, but
also many specialty sizes and
pitches. Chrislynn offers repair kits
which include all items to do the
repair correctly and completely.
¤ Correct sized drill
¤ Correct sized tap
¤ Correct installation tool
¤ Instructions
Insert kits available:
¤ American (right & left-handed)
¤ Metric (right & left-handed)
¤ NPT Pipe thread
¤ BSW
¤ BSP
¤ BSF
¤ Spark plug

164
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS & SUPPLY HELP YOU KEEP IT TOGETHER from page 84
Lower Inventory Levels And Elimination Of
Stock Outs
Through the VMI program, Industrial Fasteners &
Supply works closely with its customers to develop a
forecast of their requirements. They create a baseline by
analyzing historical sales data or using customer-provided
projections and determine optimal reorder quantities. This
approach enables customers to maintain lower inventory
levels while ensuring stock-outs are eliminated.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
With Industrial Fasteners & Supply’s VMI program,
customers can experience a significant reduction in
downtime and eliminate quality issues. Having the right
inventory readily available allows production lines to
run smoothly, avoiding delays and costly disruptions.
Moreover, the streamlined inventory management process
minimizes paperwork, invoices, and administrative tasks,
allowing businesses to focus on core operations.
Customization For Individual Needs
Industrial Fasteners & Supply understands that
each customer has unique inventory management
requirements. Whether customers prefer central stock or
distributed inventory among production lines, the company
accommodates these preferences seamlessly. They even
offer multiple location options for a single part, allowing
for precise control and replenishment based on each
location’s needs.
The Role Of Technology
Industrial Fasteners & Supply embrace technology
to enhance their VMI program. They utilize VMI features
from The Business Edge TM
by Computer Insights, Inc.,
which have significantly reduced order processing time
by at least two-thirds. The accuracy and integration of
this digital solution eliminate data entry errors, ensuring
seamless information flow between the company and its
customers.
The VMI program provided by Industrial Fasteners &
Supply serves as a significant selling point, particularly for
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company
gains a competitive edge in the industry by demonstrating
its commitment to technological advancements and
efficient inventory management. Bill Weldon stated,
“Industrial Fasteners & Supply’s VMI program is built on
a solid foundation of integration with The Business Edge TM
ERP system, distinguishing us from competitors who lack
seamless integration capabilities.”
Products
⬡ Anchors
⬡ Bearings
⬡ Bolts
⬡ Cold Heading and Screw Machine
⬡ Cold Heading, Stampings & Fabrication
⬡ Hex Cap Screws
⬡ Machine Screws
⬡ Miniature Screws
⬡ Nylon Fasteners
⬡ O-Rings, Gaskets & Molded Parts
⬡ Pins
⬡ Retaining Rings
⬡ Self Locking Elements
⬡ Sems Screws
⬡ Set Screws
⬡ Springs & Wire Forms
⬡ Tapping & Wood Screws Washers
Services
⬡ Kitting
⬡ Packaging & Bagging Assemblies
⬡ Vendor Managed Inventory
CONTINED ON PAGE 165

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 165
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS & SUPPLY HELP YOU KEEP IT TOGETHER from page 164
bottom line. By embracing technology and customizing
solutions to meet individual customer needs, Industrial
Fasteners & Supply continues to be at the forefront of
the fastener distribution industry.
Conclusion
Industrial Fasteners & Supply, Inc. has emerged as
a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable and
efficient inventory management solutions. With their
extensive product range and their innovative Vendor
Managed Inventory (VMI) program, the company has
successfully helped numerous customers optimize their
inventory levels, reduce downtime, and improve their
More Information
Industrial Fasteners & Supply, Inc
is located at 912 Industrial Drive,
Aurora, IL 60506. Contact Bill Weldon,
Owner, for more information at (800)
787-8248, email: billw@industfastsupply.com or online
at www.industfastsupply.com
com or online at www.ci-inc.com.
Computer Insights, Inc. is located at
108 3rd Street, Unit 4, Bloomingdale,
IL 60108. Contact Dennis Cowhey,
President, for more information at
(800) 539-1233, email sales@ci-inc.
INDUSTRIAL FASTENERS & SUPPLY SELF LOCKING FASTENERS, INC.

166
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
JO MORRIS FTI NEW CLASS: FASTENER FUNDAMENTALS – THE NUTS AND BOLTS FOR FASTENER PROFESSIONALS from page 96
Learn more about Fastener Fundamentals, Fastener
Specifications & Terminology, and Understanding the
Bolted Joint at www.fastenertraining.org. Discounts are
provided to fastener association and IFI members.
Sign up for our newsletters at https://bit.ly/
FTInewsletter and see what’s coming in 2024: classes
on Hydrogen Embrittlement, Structural Bolting, Tightening
Strategies, Failure Investigation, Fastener Testing,
Manufacturing, Thread Inspection, Fastener Standards,
Bolted Joint Design, CAD Fastener Drawings, and
Compliance Issues.
The Fastener Training Institute is a nonprofit
organization that provides beginning and advanced training
on fastener products, standards, and specifications. Its
core purpose is to enhance fastener use, reliability and
safety. Our mission is to make industry professionals
more knowledgeable about the fastening products they
buy, sell, specify or use.
For more information about Fastener Training Institute
email info@FastenerTraining.org, call 562.473.5373 or visit
us online at www.FastenerTraining.org.
JO MORRIS | FASTENER TRAINING INSTITUTE

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 167
ERIC DUDAS UNTHREADED: A PREDOMINANTLY FASTENER-RELATED LESSON from page 76
Once back in the field, we went to work drilling,
sawing, wrenching, and occasionally untangling torn shirt
sleeves from the jagged chicken wire edges. We made
speedy progress and soon had the first wheel brace and
axle constructed and in place.
It almost seemed too easy. We worked as a team
on that first one. I took guidance from Carm as he gently
offered suggestions about where to put the holes for
the main support bolts, which might actually have been
screws. But I didn’t want to slow down progress by
asking him to explain exactly which one we were using for
the same reason I almost named the Fastener Training
Minute the Fastener Training Hour. I just wanted to get
the project done and start raising birds.
One down, one to go.
I should clarify that the comment above refers
to Carmen’s monthly segment on the Fully Threaded
Radio podcast (www.fullythreaded.com). Regular listeners
know that every episode is graced with a tidbit of his
unsurpassed fastener wisdom in the form of a deep
technical lesson on any one of a variety of fastening
topics. The lessons are practical, insightful and inspired
by real world experience. The Fastener Training Minute
segment is always a highlight of the podcast.
You could say that Carm helped us build our podcast
much as he helped me build my chicken tractor that
day. That is to say, on the fly and with no real set plan,
together we devised a way to get a fastener-related job
done while achieving a much larger benefit than the one
we’d initially imagined.
The finished product gets the job done, although it’s
just a little out of whack.
Fully Threaded Radio was first intended
simply to promote the FCH Sourcing Network
(www.fastenersclearinghouse.com). Over time, it became
something much more. What that is exactly, I leave for
listeners to say, but anyone who listens would have to
agree that the podcast provides a wide range of content
to the fastener industry.
We’re also aware that being “predominantly fastenerrelated”,
we have a small amount of latitude to explore
topics that aren’t strictly about fasteners or the industry.
Often, we’re told that’s where the best parts of the
podcast happen. And when we head off the tracks
for a little while, we always return to the thread. So it
only gets a little off kilter that way. That’s what being
“predominantly fastener-related” is all about.
Back to chicken tractor story, by the time we
attached the second wheel assembly it was nearly dark
and we worked quickly, without too much discussion.
Carm had to catch a plane for Pittsburgh, so we grabbed
a quick dinner and I dropped him at the airport.
The next day, I slipped the wheels onto the pen and
in the light of day I could see the second wheel assembly
was off by about 15 degrees. I had assumed Carm was
guiding me again, and he’d assumed I was measuring
carefully after doing the first one together. We were both
working without a plan, in the dark, in that predominantly
fastener-related kind of way.
The pen still didn’t look like a tractor, but it had
wheels. It would still work, just a little off kilter.
Turns out, that’s just fine.
ERIC DUDAS

168
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROB LaPOINTE FASTENER SCIENCE PRECISION, ACCURACY AND SIGNIFICANCE IN MEASUREMENT from page 114
FIGURE 4 A TABLE WITH THE SURFACE DIMENSIONS
OF 2 M X 1.5 M
So, we can imagine that one end is a mark, and the
other end is another mark. The distance between the
marks is one meter. Let’s also establish that the span
between the marks on our instrument (the meter stick)
is its resolution. Our meter stick has a resolution of one
meter. That may sound so obvious that it’s funny, but
keep in mind that most commercially made meter sticks
have a thousand marks on them and a resolution of
1/1000 of a meter or 1 millimeter.
When making a measurement, there is a simple rule
that must be followed. Record your measurement to
the resolution of your instrument and add a best guess
beyond the resolution of the instrument. If our instrument
is one meter long and has the resolution of one meter,
then when we line up the instrument with the long side of
the table and make one edge of the meter stick flush with
the edge of the table, we see that it spans about half of
the table. If we make a mark on the table at the other end
of the meter stick about half-way across the table, we can
realign the meter stick on the mark with the edge of the
stick that was originally flush with the edge of the table.
We should see now that the other end of the meter stick
is flush with the other end of the table.
Recording our measurement to the resolution of one
meter, we write down 2. Then we must add our best
guess beyond the resolution of the instrument. Since the
table seems to be no longer or shorter than 2 meters,
our best guess would be zero. We’ll add a zero to our 2,
making our recorded measurement 2.0 meters.
When measuring the short side of the table, we follow
the same procedure as we did for the long side. When we
make our mark and realign the meter stick, we see that
the meter stick extends off the table. By estimation, we
say that about half of the meter stick is off the table and
half on. When we write down our measurement, we write
down what we see on our instrument with its resolution,
so we put down 1 because the length of that side is
clearly one meter long, as we can see by the marks on
the meter stick. Of course, the side is longer than one
meter, but the extra length is not at the resolution of the
instrument, so following the rule, we write our best guess
of half the resolution of the meter stick, 1.5 meters. On
both measurements, we write down a value according to
the resolution of the instrument and add one guess, 2.0
and 1.5 respectively. The zero after 2 and the five after 1
are our guesses.
FIGURE 5 MEASURMENT WITH MILLIMETER RESOLUTION
METER STICK
Let’s look at the example represented in Figure 5.
We see that this meter stick has marks every millimeter.
Using the resolution rule, we write down everything we
see according to the resolution of the instrument, which is
41.6 centimeters or 416 millimeters. We also must add
a best guess beyond the resolution of the instrument. Let
our best guess be 4/10 of the way from 416 mm toward
417 mm. Our recorded measurement then is 416.4
millimeters. Communicating our measurement in this way
allows others to know the resolution of our instrument (1
mm), because our last number (0.4 mm) is a best guess.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 184

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 169
The Specialty Tools &
Fasteners Distributors
Association (STAFDA)
has launched the
Excellence in Distribution
program’s official website,
ExcelinDist.org. Excellence
in Distribution (EiD) is an
intense 2.5-day program to
be held at the Nashville
Hilton, March 12-14, 2024.
Registration will open from
the new website in mid-
November.
Designed with the
betterment of the industry in
mind, the Excellence school
is open to all professionals
in the construction and
industrial space, not
only STAFDA members.
With an agenda packed
with forward-thinking,
interactive, and practical
workshops taught by highly
qualified and respected
industry speakers,
attendees create their own
curriculum focusing on their
own professional needs.
Topics and speakers
include: A keynote from Dirk
Beveridge on “The Noble
Calling of Distribution,” and
his workshop “The Potential
Equation;” Sales expert Paul
Reilly with “Value-Added
Selling” and Crush Price
Objections;” “Revolutionize
Your Business with AI”
and “Cybersecurity: How
to Stop Today’s Hackers”
from Mike Foster who will
also moderate a “Future
of Distribution Panel”
discussion. Other topics
include “Managing Human
Capital,” “Pricing Strategies,” and
the “Power of Supply Chain”
plus many others. EiD will
end at Noon on Thursday,
March 14, but for those
who want a fun diversion
before heading home,
an optional tour of Jack
Daniels will be offered. Visit
ExcelinDist.org for program
descriptions, presenter
bios, and a full agenda.
Registration will open in
mid-November.
STAFDA members will receive
preferential pricing, but Excellence
is designed to serve the
construction, industrial, electrical,
HVAC, plumbing, LBM, safety,
concrete, or any other market in the
construction channel. It’ll be open
to distributors, manufacturers,
rep agents, general contractors,
industry buying groups, and any
professional who wants to learn
and grow in their career.
For more information, please
contact Cathy Usher, STAFDA Member
Services Director, at cusher@stafda.
org or call 1-800-352-2981.

170
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
LAURENCE CLAUS DIFFICULT FASTENING APPLICATIONS - PART 3: MIXED MATERIAL JOINTS from page 116
Normally the resulting joint is sort of like an
intertwined dovetail configuration so that the two joined
sheets cannot separate. Like a spot weld, a clinch joint,
if properly assembled is strong and permanent. The only
way to disassemble this joint is to destroy it.
RIVETS
The latest in rivets for car bodies and other similar
types of applications are self-piercing rivets. These rivets
do not need a pilot hole. Their cylindrical bottom is
usually hollow. Once it pierces the sheets to be joined,
the geometry of the bottom tool influences how it flares,
leaving a fastening element that in cross section resembles
the flared-out root of a tooth. Producers of these products
have continued to innovate and get them to work in more
challenging applications, although they generally begin to
become less feasible above about 800MPa.
SCREWS
The previous article in this series spoke about
fastening thin sheets with screws. The thinner the
sheet the more challenging it is to find a screw that
really works. Therefore, although listed as a traditional
fastening method, this one is rarer because of the
difficulty in obtaining a good joint. Of course, as the
previous segment also highlighted, there are some new
innovative fasteners, such as EJOT’s FDS® screw, which
can pierce and extrude added joint length. This additional
engaged thread results in robust joints. Traditional
tapping screws that rely solely on engaging thread in the
thickness of the sheet will invariably provide weak joints
with little margin in the installation process.
HEMMING
Hemming is a practice where two sheets are joined
by folding a flap from the outer layer over the inner layer
and crimping them together. Common example areas
where one might see hemming is when the inner and
outer stampings of the door, hood, or trunk are married
together. These are strong joints but limited to the
perimeter of the part only.
Challenges
In prior years when almost all components were of
the same material, these previously discussed joining
methods worked well. However, the evolution to mixed
material structures has created an entirely new set of
challenges. Some of these include:
¤ Mixed material structures are difficult or even
impossible to weld. Successful welding requires
predictable and consistent material properties and
performance. In just one example, when two distinct types
of materials possess different melting temperatures and
other material properties, the welding process is derailed
and may become difficult or impossible.
¤ Adhesive bonding alone does not supply enough
strength and always requires some time to cure in-place.
Thus, adhesives make excellent complimentary partners
with other joining methods, but usually not good standalone
solutions.
¤ Often the space, location or design of the structure
does not allow access to both sides. This becomes
extremely problematic for those fastening methods
that require a tool on both sides of the connection, for
example spot welding and self-piercing rivets.
¤ Another challenging hurdle is when the material to
be joined is higher in strength than what is feasible. For
example, when joining an aluminum part to a 1800MPa
ultra-high strength steel component, the aluminum part
is easy to pierce or deform but the ultra-high strength
steel component is like piece of military armor and
completely unforgiving.
¤ For most applications, the method must be
capable of being scaled into production volumes. A
couple of years ago I saw an interesting presentation of
an experimental “explosive welding” technology. It was
indeed a very intriguing idea but likely not feasible in high
volume production settings.
¤ Assemblers are always looking for shorter
assembly times. Therefore, any fastening method that is
to be employed in production must possess as short an
assembly cycle as possible.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 185

172
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
BRUNO MARBACHER THREAD-CUTTING SCREWS AND SELF-DRILLING SCREWS FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS from page 118
In the case of a symmetrical thread tooth with a total
angle of 30°, one flank has a 15° inclination. If the 30°
tooth is asymmetrical, the angle of the load flank is 30.
It produces more frictional resistance when tightening
the screw. The stripping torque becomes higher, and the
screw is less easily stripped out during assembly. Its
resistance to vibration is better when it is assembled.
Whenever the design is light and thin-walled, special
screws with sharper threads, such as the Duro PT screw,
are strongly recommended.
DELTA PT DS (DuroSet)
DELTA PT DS
(DuroSet) screws
are a new type of
screw for plastics,
they are furnished
with special grooves
on the thread crest,
these grooves are
pronounced at the screw point and taper off towards
the screw head.. Thus enable cutting the mating thread
into thermosets. These screws may also be used for
thermoplastic, only one screw type for thermosets and
thermoplastics. These grooves are especially apparent
at the point of the thread and taper off towards the
screw’s head. Delta PT screws DS offer a high stripping
torque.
Material and Mechanical properties - The Duro
PT screws are made from low carbon steel and are case
hardened.
The Delta PT DS screws are made from steel and are
through hardened.
Boss Geometry
The pilot hole diameter for these screws should also
be determined through application tests simulating
practical situations. Presumably, it will be in a range of
0.85x the thread diameter, the depth would be about
2-3x the thread diameter.
Since the plastic is usually very brittle, the outside
diameter of the boss must be made larger than in
thermoplastics. Boss diameters in the range of 3x the
thread diameter have been established. A counterbore,
diameter of 1.1-x d at the upper end of the boss is also
strongly recommended.
It is important that there is enough space at the base
of the hole to leave room for any chips.
Self-Drilling Screws
Self-drilling screws are technically thread-forming
screws, but because they drill the pilot hole, they
produce chips. There is a drilling point at the end of the
thread. They drill the hole for subsequent tapping of the
mating thread.
The point is either milled
during manufacturing, or
cold headed (cold formed).
Self-drilling screws are
commonly used in roofing
applications in combination
with a watertight neoprene
sealing washer, and for
attaching metal roofing and
siding panels to metal stud
framing.
When selecting the suitable drilling screw, it is
important to consider the minimum and maximum
thickness of the sheets.
The screw can only work if the drill point has fully
protruded on the backside of the sheet (sheets), before
thread forming can begin. If both sheets have to be
drilled through, the point must protrude the bottom
sheet, before thread forming can begin in the top one.
“Blind hole assemblies” are therefore not possible
(screw thread must go all the way through).
Drilling produces friction, which produces heat. A drill
point that generates a great deal of heat will fail quickly.
This can be controlled by the amount of force applied
when drilling as well as the speed (RPMs).
CONTINUED ON PAGE 173

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 173
BRUNO MARBACHER THREAD-CUTTING SCREWS AND SELF-DRILLING SCREWS FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS from page 172
The cold-headed drill points are sharp. This point
prevents a spiral wandering off, when it is placed
slightly off-angle. The drilling process can be started
easily.
However, if the point has a small web (chisel edge -
similar to drills), the rotating point will wander off when
it is placed on the work piece. The “web” is practically
only found in very long, milled drill points, which are too
long to be cold headed.
Self-drilling screws are useful for drilling a wide range
of materials like metal sheets, aluminum, stainless
steel, wood and timber. They are widely used for
electrical, insulation, roofing, construction, cladding
and HVAC applications.
Self-Drilling Screws With Wings
The self-drilling screw with a long drill point and
wings is called the wing-teks screw.
Wing-teks screws are installed in multiple steps, At
first the point drills through the wooden board. Next
the bore-wings enlarge the drilled hole up to the thread
diameter. Thus, the screw thread can rotate freely in
the wood.
The underside of the screw’s head is furnished with
reaming cutters, they mill a countersink into the soft
wood so that the head of the screw is flush with the
surface of the wood.
The Wing Teks® screws are used to fasten timber
floors, fences and composite boards to metal.
Self-Drilling Screw Materials And Mechanical
Properties
Self-drilling screws are usually made of case-hardened
steel. They may also be made of 410 Stainless Steel.
This is to ensure that the drill point is harder than the
metal it’s going into. 410 Stainless Steel is ideal for
self-drilling screws because it maintains the corrosion
resistant properties of Stainless steel but can be
heat-treated up to a hardness of 40 HRC. Material,
mechanical and drilling properties of self-drilling screws
are covered in ISO 10666, and SAE J78
Self-drilling screws made of 300 series austenitic
stainless steel A2 (AISI 304) get their hardness through
intense strain-hardening. For this reason, they can only
be assembled into aluminum parts.
Marutex screws are special self-drilling screws made
of stainless steel. Marutex screws are made with a
special material that has 2% molybdenum added to
410 stainless. Molybdenum is a significant component
of AISI 316 (A4) stainless steel that provides extra
corrosion resistance.
The hardness permits drilling through steel without
problems.
The drill point then makes contact with the metal
part and drills a pilot hole in it. The 2 bore-wings are
sheared off when they make contact with the metal
frame. Now the screw thread can form its mating thread
in the metal frame.
In Conclusion
What screws works best for a given application,
has to be established through application testing.
Consulting with an application engineer will help setting
up appropriate design parameters and installation
procedure.
BRUNO MARBACHER

174
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
GUY AVELLON WHAT DISTRIBUTORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STRUCTURAL BOLTING from page 120
First, if the fastener length is no larger than four
times the diameter of the fastener, the nut is turned 1/3
of a turn or 120˚ after the nut has been snug tightened.
Longer fastener lengths and their rotations are noted in
the drawings below.
Tightening the bolt to the TON method of 120º, as
in Fig. 1 for example, will stretch the bolt into yield as
shown in Fig. 3. By doing so, the bolts will produce a
maximum amount of clamp load with a minimal amount
of clamp load scatter.
Longer fastener lengths and their rotations are
noted in the drawings below.
By looking at Figure 2, we can see the relationship
of the helix thread to the stretch of a bolt using standard
torque methods and the turn method. A torque value may
stretch the bolt to less than 90º whereas using the turn
method to rotate the nut 90º will have produced a much
higher clamp load.
Since the fasteners are into yield, they can never
be reused again. This is also the principle of Torque-
Turn-to-Yield (TTY) used by engine builders and others to
maximize the load of the joint and minimize load scatter.
First, the joint must be set rigid so all of the initial
compression is removed. After this, the fastener is
assured to be placed into immediate stretch while
turning the nut. The TTY method uses a pre-torque to set
the joint, the TON method uses a short handled hand
wrench to ‘snug’ the nut until it is felt the joint has come
together and any joint compression is removed.
A gain, these assembly methods place all the
fasteners into yield. This same method used for ASTM
structural fastener grades (ASTM A325 and A490) can
be used for their strength equivalents of the SAE J429
Grades 5 and 8. The A325 or Grade 5 has a longer
elastic curve than the 150 ksi A490, so both grades can
use the same turn.
GUY AVELLON

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 175
MID-ATLANTIC FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
3211 West 9th Street, Trainer, PA 19061
TEL 610-430-8615 (Lubker Distribution) EMAIL info@mafda.com WEB www.mafda.com
MAFDA: CONNECTING ALL ASPECTS OF
THE FASTENER INDUSTRY by Chuck Halpin & Justin Myers
The Mid-Atlantic Fastener Distributor Association
celebrates our 20th anniversary! Started in 2003 as
an association targeting suppliers, distributors,
manufacturers, reps and service providers to the fastener
industry, the MAFDA is one of the first fastener associations
to welcome all companies as voting members, to help
navigate the entire industry towards our shared goals. As
we celebrate our anniversary we would like to share our
recent events and future goals and programs, to further
our initial idea of bringing success to all companies
involved, along with all of their families. Our aspirations
grow with our association and we welcome everyone in our
industry to join us in planning the next 20 years.
To further facilitate the overall growth of the industry
the MAFDA participates in the FIC (Fastener Industry
Coalition). The FIC (fastenercoalition.org) consists of
the 13 main fastener associations across the country.
Together the associations have pooled some of their
resources and offer support to plan and run educational
events at the local levels to make sure our grass roots
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
programs offer education and bench-working opportunities
to beginners in our industry but also continuing education
to our veterans. The MAFDA, through the FIC has partnered
with Reed Exhibitions to promote the Fastener Fair. In
addition to a show that is closer to our territory, that
would allow attendance at a fraction of the cost, we see
a show that is multi-national and brings together not only
distributors and suppliers but also manufacturers and end
users, further supporting our own goals. Remember that
if you are a member of the MAFDA the MAFDA will cover
your cost of the Fastener Fair ticket.
Be sure to contact us! MAFDA.com
The MAFDA has continued to expand and has hired an
administrator to assist the membership with any inquiries,
facilitate attendance at meetings and assist the board with
meeting arrangements. Natalie Barr has been appointed
as administrator and will be handling all arrangements for
the MAFDA moving forward. Please feel free to contact her
at nbarr@ramapo.edu with any questions or concerns. Our
scholarship program has thrived over the two decades it
has been running.
The association
has awarded over
$300,000 to over 140
aspiring students and
entrepreneurs, allowing
them to further their
education or embark on
their dream careers.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 183

176
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
COMPUTER INSIGHTS, INC. THE CONNECTED WORLD from page 126
“Intuilize empowers fastener distributors with
valuable insights to improve their operations and enhance
profitability. By leveraging predictive analytics and
machine learning models, Intuilize enables distributors
to anticipate customer demand with unprecedented
accuracy. This advanced technology eliminates the need
for manual data analysis that would have taken months
or even years.
Integrating Intuilize into Fastener Distributors using
The Business Edge TM
is a seamless process. Intuilize’s
experts flawlessly integrate their AI software with the
wholesaler’s business operations and The Business
Edge TM using Computer Insights, Inc.’s suite of RESTful
APIs. Say goodbye to outdated spreadsheets and
welcome a modern, intelligent Pricing Optimization
solution. With the power of AI, distributors can now
ensure that every quote is as effective as those
generated by their top salesperson. AI’s advanced
algorithms and data analytics examine market demand,
customer behavior, competitor pricing, and historical
sales data to offer personalized and optimized pricing
recommendations for each product in your ERP or CRM
system. This intelligent pricing and sales optimization
ultimately improve win rates and margins. With AI
driving the sales engine, the Sales Team can now focus
on nurturing relationships and closing deals that fuel
distributor growth and scalability.
The APIs available with The Business Edge TM
by
Computer Insights, Inc allow us to seamlessly connect to
live data, freeing up our time to focus on creating value.”
Nelson Valderrama, CEO
@ Intuilize
www.intuilize.com
“APIs from The Business Edge TM
allow us to build
secure, fast, and agile custom reporting for distributors
allowing for a better understanding of their business.
Watershed Data Group is a fractional data and analytics
office dedicated to assisting companies and their team
members turn data into an asset. Combining data from
The Business Edge TM APIs with data from other APIs lets
business leaders create unique datasets to use within
their businesses. For example, adding US PMI data
to a distributor’s TBE data allows business leaders to
compare their business with macro-economic indicators
facilitating better business planning.”
John McClelland, President
@ Watershed Data Group
www.watersheddatagroup.com
“The Business Edge TM
RESTful APIs work great
with our e-commerce website. They allow a seamless
transition for website orders to our server quickly and
efficiently. One of the best business decisions we have
ever made is implementing The Business Edge TM
Computer Insights, Inc. They are always updating and
bringing on new ideas and innovation.”
Rick Johnson, Executive Stewardship Officer
@ RC Fasteners & Components, Inc.
www.rcfastener.com
Start Saving Time &
Money
For more information about
The Business Edge TM
contact
Dennis Cowhey, President,
Computer Insights, Inc. 108 Third Street, Bloomingdale, IL
60108. Tel: (800) 539-1233, email: sales@ci-inc.com or
visit them online at www.ci-inc.com.
by
COMPUTER INSIGHTS, INC.

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 177

178
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SMARTCERT BY ARAMID TECHNOLOGIES WHY EMAIL IS LOSING ITS GRIP ON DOCUMENT TRANSFER from page 130
Cyber Security
Email: Security risks associated with email, such as
phishing attacks and malware infections, have become
increasingly sophisticated and challenging to combat.
Cybercriminals constantly target businesses, attempting
to breach their systems and steal sensitive information. If
hackers persuade an employee to click on a link, malware
can infect a company’s network with ransomware, shut
down the entire company and force management to make
a terrible decision between paying exorbitant ransom and
losing important digital files. This problem shows no signs
of abating, with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
(IC3) receiving over 300,000 complaints related to phishing
scams in 2022 alone.
Even though most fastener companies don’t possess
highly classified information, they are a prime way to
infiltrate sophisticated customers, like aerospace tier
suppliers, which have been subject to a new serious attack
during Q2.
“When I get an email with a document, even if I know
the sender, I call them to verify they sent it and if it is safe
to open. That’s a ridiculous waste of time.”
Dr. Rocky Pinheiro, Global Vice President of Quality and
Innovation, PennEngineering.
SmartCert: SmartCert prioritizes security by limiting
access to verified company accounts and their authorized
users. By preventing unknown senders from using the
platform, SmartCert mitigates the risk of phishing attacks,
malware infections, and data breaches, providing a safe,
protected environment. SmartCert is also built upon the
Microsoft Azure platform, which encrypts all documents.
These features ensure that sensitive information remains
confidential and protected from unauthorized access.
Integration With Existing Processes
Email: Emails live in their own email programs,
like Outlook, which do not easily communicate with
other business applications like ERPs and CRMs. Some
have rules, but configuring and maintaining them is
cumbersome and unreliable. Third party connectors require
basic programming skills, putting them beyond the grasp
of most small and midsize companies. All of this means
CO-FOUNDER LONNI KIEFFER, ALONG WITH BRANDI BERTOIA,
INXSQL AND BRAD BUREL, ADVANCE COMPONENTS SPEAKING
AT AN IFE SESSION.
that companies rely on manual human work to initiate an
internal process or workflow when an email is received,
leading to slower turnaround times, reduced reliability and,
as a result, less efficient business operations.
SmartCert: SmartCert delivers seamless integration
with existing processes. SmartCert offers a one-click way
to paste links to certs in your ERP or CRM. For higher
volume or more IT intensive customers, it offers a library of
APIs that enables integration into existing tools. SmartCert
also has out of the box integrations with INxSQL and The
Business Edge, enabling users of those ERPs to turn on
SmartCert with the flick of a switch.
Conclusion
As the limitations and security risks of email become
increasingly evident, the need for secure and efficient
alternatives for document transfer becomes more
critical. Modern cloud-based solutions like SmartCert are
revolutionizing the landscape of document management,
addressing the challenges faced by email and streamlining
workflows. With SmartCert, businesses can confidently
share and collaborate on important files while ensuring the
security and integrity of their documents. As technology
continues to advance, embracing cloud-based platforms
like SmartCert marks a pivotal step forward in achieving
efficient and secure document transfer for a fast-paced and
digital world.
SMARTCERT BY ARAMID TECHNOLOGIES

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 179

180
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
CHRIS DONNELL ALL IS QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT from page 140
The only transportation related industry facing tougher
times than the rail would be the trucking industry but more
on that later.
Air Freight (Import/Export)
The air freight market continues to show signs of
sustainable growth as we venture into the holiday season.
We are all eagerly awaiting the new releases of the latest
technologies from the Pacific Rim such as cell-phones,
televisions and computers and these commodities
dominate the air import market. Air import freight rates are
fairly stable at the moment as they seem to have settled
into a place both beneficial to the buyer, seller and the
airlines themselves. Fuel costs remain low for the import
market as well, but the airlines are anticipating a busier
4th quarter than last year so we expect to see air rates
increase during this time.
Much like the ocean export market, the air export
market is seeing huge gains as many countries are
taking advantage of the current valuation of the US dollar
as well as the extensive inventory levels the US has to
offer. Over the past 3 months we’ve seen the export
market show increases of 15%-20% in cargo volumes
which bodes well for our countries manufacturing sector.
With this growth one would expect the air market rates
to increase, however, they have remained extremely low.
In many cases we are seeing air freight rates (excluding
accessorial fees) well under a dollar per kilo.
Domestic Tucking (Drayage, FTL And LTL)
Many people don’t understand the importance of
the domestic trucking industry and the footprint it has in
our daily lives. While most look at trucks as clumsy, slow
moving vehicles who are notorious for getting in our way
at the worst possible time but it’s important to realize
that more than 90% of all packages being delivered in
the United States are moved by truck in some form or
another. Any disruption in this industry affects us all. Over
the past year, tens of thousands of our beloved truck
drivers have lost their jobs. Transport volumes continue
to erode and the rumors surrounding multiple strikes from
union shops and the teamsters have put a big hole in one
of the most important arteries of transportation we have.
The most recent news within this industry is the
potential strike between the Teamsters and UPS. As
of the time of this writing, things are looking favorable
between the parties but we all know that this can change
rapidly. The question is, have those who use UPS
positions themselves to minimize any type of disruption
but reaching out to other companies that specialize in
this type of small package deliveries? Another massive hit
to the industry was the announcement that the nation’s
3rd largest LCL carrier, Yellow Freight, will close its doors
on July 27th and file for bankruptcy. The impact of this
closure will certainly impact the industry as it will result in
a layoff of more than 20,000 drivers and another 10,000
clerical and operational staff. The industry will have a
hard time absorbing these employees. Without those
drivers, companies which move LCL cargo will find costs
increasing due to the spike in demand versus available
labor. It’s truly tragic, especially with an industry already
suffering with driver shortages. The closure of Yellow is
only one in a long line of companies filing bankruptcy this
year.
One positive outlook for the trucking industry is
the growth in exports and imports from Mexico which
exceeded forecasts for the first 6 months of the year.
Overall, the growth exceeded the 3.3% growth expectation
coming in at 3.7% in preliminary data. Forecasters are
predicting much of the same growth for the remainder of
2023.
In closing, while the global supply chain is making
strides to correct itself and return to pre-pandemic
normalcy, we’re still not out of the woods. It may appear
that the industry is quiet, with everything happening in the
world right now: wars, trade tensions and what some call
a global recession, it will be interesting to see what the
remainder of 2023 and what 2024 will bring.
CHRIS DONNELL

182
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROBERT FOOTLIK IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? from page 152
Insulating interior warehouse walls is expensive
and disruptive. Clearing a contractor working area in an
active operation is never easy and probably unnecessary.
A better solution is “out-sulation.” There are several
exterior wall-covering systems available that will enhance
the building value while adding 2” or more of high
efficiency foam. Those stucco walls you see on hotels,
retail stores, shopping centers and office buildings are
often a composite system using firing strips with sheets
of foam between and a covering of special exterior
drywall coated with white or colored elastomeric cement.
For an existing brick or block building this offers an
entirely new look with the added benefit of preventing
heat transfer into or out of the building. Again, the foam
is the cheapest component of the system and it can
be carved to provide decorative patterns or features.
“Outsulation” can also be an effective alternative to tuckpointing
or other repairs provided the wall is structurally
sound.
To evaluate this, you could wait for colder weather
when the heat is turned on. Climb the same ladder or
stairs to the top of the warehouse and you might feel a
major temperature difference. With the thermostat set
for 68 degrees at the floor level, the upper part of a
warehouse (over 12’ high) may be considerably hotter.
This is especially true if individual gas-fired or hot water/
steam “unit heaters” heat the building. Typically, the
heaters are ceiling hung, often arranged to provide a
clock-wise airflow towards the dock. Bad idea, worse
practice.
Unit heaters normally have a 1/6 horsepower or
less propeller fan that moves air over a heat exchanger
coil and then directs it down. This might work in a small,
low ceiling space, but in a warehouse the air never really
circulates and definitely doesn’t reach the floor. Hence,
the “thermocline” where cool and warm air meet, but do
not mix. This can also be observed in the winter when
snow and ice are brought into the building by vehicles or
forklifts and there is still ice on the floor the next day.
TYPICAL COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT HOTEL USING “OUTSULATION”
Now You Are Equipped To Really Cut
Energy Expenses
Reducing heat gains and losses has an often
overlooked major bebefit. With less heat lost, a new,
considerably smaller, high efficiency heating system can
be installed.
TYPICAL UNIT HEATER (MODINE)
To compensate for the limitations of unit heaters,
ceiling fans are recommended to promote mixing the air.
These can be small, relatively inexpensive “barn heaters,”
or huge multi-speed fans that run slowly in the winter and
run at a higher speed for cooling in the summer.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 190

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 183
MAFDA CONNECTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE FASTENER INDUSTRY! from page 175
As one of the main programs the MAFDA has
focused on, we have tracked many of the recipients
of the benefits and see success as company owners,
professionals in varied fields and the vast majority
having a career in their chosen field. The return from the
program has been overwhelming and we look forward to
expanding our reach over the next two decades! One of
our goals is to make sure all of the families involved
in our organization has access to higher education or
career development.
The calendar for 2023 has been quite full with
past social events at both the Flyers Game and a
Phillies game. Our gatherings have provided fantastic
opportunities for suppliers, importers and distributors
to come together and build stronger relations. First,
we witnessed the Flyers’ triumphant victory against the
Montreal Canadians with a final score of 3-2 ending in
a thrilling shootout. Moreover, the Phillies’ impressive
8-3 win against the Detroit Tigers in June made for an
unforgettable moment for baseball fans.
The 20th Annual Anniversary Golf Outing at the
Downingtown Country Club, with a fantastic attendance,
turned out to be a beautiful day with lots of golf contests
and prizes. The day culminated with a full dinner and
scholarship awards being handed out. Families were
proudly in attendance to see the children receive their
awards and begin a new future.
As we look forward to the upcoming months, we
are excited to share details about our annual Christmas
party. Once again the MAFDA is going all out with a full
cocktail hour with butlered hors d’oeuvres, a four hour
open bar, a full three course sit-down dinner and a
desert course to top the feast. Mark your calendars for
December 14th at the Gold Ballroom, Mendenhall Inn.
A photographer will be there to offer free pictures to all
to mark the occasion, and prizes will be awarded after
dinner.
To gather more details and confirm your attendance,
please reach out to Freddy Barr fbarr@stelfast.com or
Justin Myers. justinmyers@coburnmyers.com
Located just minutes from our Christmas party
is Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. We suggest
attendees reserve timed tickets far in advance to see
the memorizing Christmas lights and decorations before
joining us for dinner at 6:30pm.
For your convenience, tickets can be purchased at
longwoodgardens.org.
We sincerely appreciate all of our members for
being an integral part of our association’s success. You
active participation and engagements are what makes
these events so enjoyable. As we continue to grow and
improve, we warmly welcome your ongoing support and
involvement.
Thank you for being a part of the Mid-Atlantic
Fastener Association, we look forward to seeing you at
the Christmas party!
MID-ATLANTIC FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

184
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROB LaPOINTE FASTENER SCIENCE PRECISION, ACCURACY AND SIGNIFICANCE IN MEASUREMENT from page 168
While measuring the table in Figure 4, if we
upgrade our meter stick to one with better resolution,
we can make a more precise measurement. Let’s
upgrade to millimeter resolution like the instrument
in Figure 5, and we can add a thousand times
greater precision to our measurements. Assuming the
accepted dimensions of the table are exactly 2 meters
and 1.5 meters, our new measurements should be
2.0000 meters by 1.5000 meters. Writing this in
millimeter units, these same measurements would
be 2000.0 mm and 1500.0 mm. You can see that
these measurements have the same precision as the
measurements made in Figure 5.
This is really cool, because whenever we see a
measurement, whether it’s the length and width of
a table or the magnetic moment of an electron, we
know the precision of the instrument used to make the
measurement. By the way, the magnetic moment of an
electron is now measured to a precision of 1.3 out of
10 trillion. As you can imagine that level of precision
required an expensive meter stick.
Accuracy
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to an
accepted value. At first, this may sound similar to
precision, but it’s really very different. Although the
measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron
is both very accurate and very precise, it is only by
comparison to a theoretical standard that enables us to
see its accuracy. The magnetic moment value can also
be derived from theory (Quantum Electro-Dynamics) and
the measured value can be compared to the theoretical
value.
Can measurements be precise and not accurate?
Yes! Figure 6 shows an example using darts. We can
interpret the clustering of the darts as precision. The
tighter the cluster, the higher the precision. The distance
between the darts is like the distance between marks
on our meter stick. Closer spacing means greater
resolution. Figures 6B and 6D both have high precision,
with 6D being slightly better than 6B. But what about
the accuracy of 6B and 6D? That depends on what is
accepted as the correct value of the measurement. If
the accepted value is the center of the dartboard, then
clearly, 6D has both high precision and high accuracy.
If the accepted value was the upper-left section of the
dartboard, then 6B would have both high accuracy and
high precision.
What can we learn from figures 6A and 6C? It is
easy to see that neither 6A nor 6C have high precision
because the darts are spaced far apart. But what about
their accuracy? If the accepted value is the center of
the dartboard, then 6C is highly accurate, although with
low precision. 6C is highly accurate because the darts
are evenly spaced around the accepted value and thus
indicate correctly what the accepted value would be.
Using the center of the dartboard as the accepted value,
figure 6A is neither accurate nor precise.
Significance
Now that we understand a little about precision and
accuracy, we have some context to understand what
significance is as it relates to measurement values used
in calculation.
FIGURE 6 ARRANGEMENT OF DARTS TO ILLUSTRATE
PRECISION AND ACCURACY
FIGURE 7 A CIRCLE SHOWING THE PROPERTIES OF DIAMETER,
RADIUS, AND CIRCUMFERENCE
CONTINUED ON PAGE 189

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 185
LAURENCE CLAUS DIFFICULT FASTENING APPLICATIONS - PART 3: MIXED MATERIAL JOINTS from page 170
¤ In most of these applications it is important that
the top sheet can be pierced rather than depend on prepunched
or pre-drilled pilot or clearance holes.
¤ In today’s environment, often more than two
sheet stacks exist. When there are three or more
sheets that must be connected, the complexity of that
joint increases exponentially.
¤ Pairing of dissimilar materials can trigger an
unfavorable galvanic interaction. Therefore, designers
of these new joints often must utilize adhesives or
sealers to provide di-electric capabilities or design other
protections against the dissimilar coupling into the
system.
¤ Joints must be cost effective, especially in the
world of high-volume assembly.
interesting fastener called the FDS® screw. This
screw utilizes a mechanism known as “flow drill
screwing”. By turning a specially designed screw at
extremely high RPMs, the point locally heats up the
material allowing it to be pierced at low axial loads and
“flow” the pierced material forward. What this does is
create an extrusion or boss below the bottom sheet
which significantly increases thread engagement and
dramatically improves installation performance in these
thin sheet couplings (Figure 2). This screw also only
requires single sided access. That is a huge benefit
when it is otherwise impossible to get a tool located
on the opposite side of the joint. However, like the selfpiercing
rivet, as material strength begins to inch up,
this may no longer be a viable solution.
Solutions
The above list of challenges at first glance appears
to be very daunting. In fact, it is. Mixing materials
creates a complicated set of variables that can exhibit
some or all the challenges listed in the previous
segment. So, what are some of the solutions?
SELF-PIERCING RIVETS
Although self-piercing rivets were listed as a
“traditional” joining method, in reality improvements
and innovation have made them a popular solution
to many of these challenges listed in the previous
section. Unlike welding that requires uniformity of joined
material, because they are entirely mechanical, they are
not limited to joining mixed material components if
they are capable of piercing and forming the materials
they are joining. Recent developments have resulted in
versions capable of utilization in higher strength steel,
although once one of the materials intended to be
joined reaches strengths around 800MPa to 1000MPa,
self-piercing rivet success becomes uncertain.
FLOW DRILL SCREWING
A number of years ago, EJOT innovated an
FIGURE 2: EJOT FDS® SCREW PIERCED THROUGH 2 ALUMINUM
SHEETS- NOTE THE FORMED BOSS BELOW THE BOTTOM SHEET
COMPOSITE FRICTION FASTENERS
Perhaps one of the most challenging of all joints
is the combination of aluminum to ultra-high strength
steel (steel in the range of 1200-2200 MPa). This is
an interesting combination for designers because by
marrying these two materials together they may be able
to achieve significant weight savings without having to
compromise strength and rigidity. To solve this problem
EJOT developed its EJOWELD® technology. EJOWELD is
a complete system technology that delivers a specially
designed unthreaded component to the site of the
connection.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 188

186
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
NATIONAL FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
3020 Old Ranch Parkway #300, Seal Beach CA 90740
TEL 562-799-5509 FAX 562-684-0695 EMAIL nfda@nfda-fasteners.org WEB www.nfda-fasteners.org
JOIN US IN SCOTTSDALE IN OCTOBER FOR
NFDA’S 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMIT by Amy Nijjar
We have a great educational program lined up for
the NFDA 2023 Executive Summit, October 25-27,
at The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in
Scottsdale, AZ.
Culture: How to Make It a Competitive
Advantage
Presented by Bill Kaiser, Culture Wise
The famed management professor, Peter Drucker,
once said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”.
According to Bill Kaiser at CultureWise (a leading
consulting firm dedicated to fostering the development
of company culture as a competitive weapon), there are
five ways a vibrant company culture boosts the bottom
line:
[1] Improving retention and recruitment
[2] Reducing burnout
[3] Inspiring innovation
[4] Boosting efficiency and productivity
[5] Elevating the customer experience
In this session, you’ll get an overview of a process
to convert your company’s unique cultural characteristics
into a series of behaviors that can be taught and
reinforced. Bill Derry, Chairman of Field Fasteners, will be
on hand to share how this approach has benefited Field.
Hacked? Don’t Hesitate, You’re Next! Panel
Program
Panelists include:
¤ Jerrad Douberly – Threaded Fasteners
¤ Scott Longfellow – Huyett
¤ Doug Ruggles – Martin Supply
¤ Nick Ruetz – AIS
ASSOCIATION ARTICLE
Cybersecurity risk is real, and it is dangerous.
Scott Longfellow will lead a discussion with panelists
as they recount their experiences on the bad end of
cyber extortion. Each will talk about their experiences
as victims of ransomware attacks, in some cases
costing seven figures in paid ransoms and for
consultants, legal, and security experts. Longfellow
will discuss technology and behavioral measures that
thwart unrelenting criminals including multi-factor
authentication, immutable backups, air-gap servers,
user awareness training, and managed defensive
devices and services.
The panel will review the structures, costs, and
benefits of cyber insurance. There will be a Q&A
opportunity for members to vet their own concerns and
issues.
Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
Presented by Jim Derry, Field Fastener
What is this and what does it mean? This session
will review the basic architecture of data models and
data modeling. Data analytics is more than “what
gets measured, gets done.” There is a process to
synthesize data and a process to ensure that user
communities can benefit from the use of data to drive
better results. Once a dataset is defined, do you build
the models yourself, or outsource?
Jim Derry, the NFDA’s Fastener Professional of the
Year in 2020, is the Chief Executive Officer of Field
Fastener and a subject matter expert. Prior to Jim’s
work in the fastener industry, he was an executive at
Harris and worked in the deployment of technology to
business applications.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 187

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 187
NFDA JOIN US IN SCOTTSDALE IN OCTOBER FOR NFDA’S 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMIT from page 186
Derry will walk participants through the history of
the development of data analytics. He will describe the
learning journey and processes to help management
define what data they have, what data they need, and
what data they can use. Derry will share several real-world
examples from his own stewardship of the process at
Field and will invite audience participants to share their
own experiences.
There will be a brief discussion on the impacts of
artificial intelligence and near-term potential future uses.
China Invades or Blockades Taiwan? If So,
When? How? Why? How Would the World
React?
Presented by Donald Critchlow, Center for
American Institutions at Arizona State
This session will examine in depth one of the most
critical and vital risks that the fastener industry has ever
encountered: war in Taiwan or a naval blockade of trade.
Donald Critchlow is the Katzin Family Professor and
Director of the newly established Center for American
Institutions at Arizona State University. He is the author of
many books including Revolutionary Monsters: Five Men
Who Turned Liberation into Tyranny (Regnery, 2021) and
In Defense of Populism: Protest and Democracy (University
of Pennsylvania Press, 2020. He has written for NewsMax
magazine, the New York Post, Claremont Review of Books,
and other prominent conservative outlets. He is frequently
interviewed by major international news outlets. He has
lectured throughout Europe, as well as in China and Brazil.
For more information and to register for the event go to
www.nfda-fastener.org.
NATIONAL FASTENER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

188
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
LAURENCE CLAUS DIFFICULT FASTENING APPLICATIONS - PART 3: MIXED MATERIAL JOINTS from page 185
Like “flow drill screwing” the fastener component is
rotated at extremely high rpms allowing it to pierce the
top aluminum sheet and friction weld itself to the ultrahigh
strength steel sheet below (Figure 3). The resulting
joint is a high strength, robust connection.
Summary
Thin sheet, mixed material and simple mixed
material joints are some of the most challenging fastener
engineering problems facing the industry today. The
good news is that innovations in the last ten to twenty
years have provided several solutions to these complex
problems. For many distributors that specialize in more
traditional fastening connections such applications may
seem like rocket science and not something that
they need to worry about. However, as more products
and customers desire to mix materials together for
lightweighting or other functional reasons, having some
FIGURE 3: EJOT EJOWELD® COMPONENT PIERCED THROUGH
ALUMINUM SHEET AND WELDED TO ULTRA-HIGH STRENGTH STEEL
knowledge of the challenges and available solutions that
exist is simply good practice.
LAURENCE CLAUS

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 189
ROB LaPOINTE FASTENER SCIENCE PRECISION, ACCURACY AND SIGNIFICANCE IN MEASUREMENT from page 184
Significance is all about carrying the proper level of
precision through a calculation. Let’s use an example
to illustrate the need for following a standard protocol
for significance. Figure 7 shows us three properties of a
circle, the diameter, the radius, and the circumference.
Let’s begin by measuring the diameter of the circle
using a meter stick with a resolution of 0.001 meters
or 1 millimeter.
Let’s imagine that we measure the diameter to be
0.7845 m or 784.5 millimeters. With that measurement,
we need to find the area of the circle. The area of a
circle is given by the formula A = πr2, where A is the
area, π is a constant of proportionality and r is the
radius. We see from Figure 6, that the radius is half the
diameter.
To use the formula, we must divide our measurement
in half to find the radius.
on the calculator. We can notice that although the
calculator gave us a correct answer, the value has more
precision than we had when we made the measurement.
The answer suggests we used a meter stick with marks
every 1/10 millimeter.
How can dividing by 2 increase our precision? The
correct answer is that it can’t. If we use the value
given by the calculator, we’ll mistakenly add precision
to our measurement. Should we round the answer to
four digits after the decimal (0.3922 m)? Yes. Or we
can wait until we get our final answer and evaluate
and adjust the significance. I prefer to assess the final
answer for significance. On a side note, if you thought
that the rounded value should be 0.3923 m, your gradeschool
teacher taught rounding incorrectly. Mine did
too. See ASTM E29 for a rounding refresher.
Moving on in our calculation, we now must square
the radius and multiply by . I’ll use the full calculator
value through the calculation, so we have,
on the calculator. Oh no…more precision. Don’t worry
about it now, we’ll take care of it in the end.
Be sure to use the key on your calculator to get
its full significant value in the calculation. We consider
both π and the number 2 in our calculation to be
infinitely significant, so they don’t increase or reduce
our precision.
Now we must evaluate and adjust the precision of
our answer based on the precision of the measured
value that was used in the calculation. Ignoring 2 and
π, we only have the measured value of the diameter at
0.7845 m. We can see that there are four numbers with
significance in our measurement, therefore our answer
must have the same significance. Rounding our answer
to four significant digits, we get 0.4834 m2 for the area
of a circle with the diameter of 0.7845 meters.
Paying attention to the precision of numbers
through calculation and applying proven techniques
to preserve their native significance is essential to
correctly communicating to our colleagues, vendors,
and customers. In our day-to-day function working with
fasteners, we read and process a lot of numbers that
are derived from measurement. It’s essential to our
work to understand the precision of a measurement
by simply looking at it and to have an idea about the
quality of the instrument that was used to achieve
the measurement. This knowledge helps to refine our
understanding of standards, drawings, specifications,
and test results.
For questions or additional information on the content
of this article, or for other advice, you are welcome to
contact me at robl@expeditetest.com or visit our website
at www.expeditetest.com or call (619) 736-7872.
ROB LaPOINTE / EXPEDITE TESTING SERVICE

190
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROBERT FOOTLIK IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? from page 182
MACROAIR FAN COMPANY
Ceiling fans can help control the air movement,
eliminate thermoclines and cool the people, but they
do not add heat in the winter and with a high (30+ feet)
ceiling it is often better in the summer to let the heat
rise to the ceiling, then release it to the outdoors at night
using exhaust fans, in conjunction with powered sidewall
louvers. A major problem with large fans occurs that are
mounted below the lighting. As the fan blades move,
they block the light and this causes a stroboscopic effect
that some people find quite disturbing.
Roof mounted warehouse heating systems have
become popular for new, high cube buildings. Typically,
these packaged units sit on special vibration pads to
reduce noise and are located directly above columns or
engineered structural supports. Fan sizes and capacities
can be considerably larger (5+ horsepower) and the air is
forced downwards to get the heat to the floor. Return air
is often directly vented from somewhere near the supply
ducting.
“Roof Top Units” (RTU’s) offer considerable flexibility
in terms of sizing, redundancy, fuel and cooling. This
is well-proven technology with reliable hardware that is
exposed to the worst weather. Most repair problems are
the result of water infiltration or the failure of electronic
components baked at high temperatures. Without return
ducting from floor level it is also possible to create
thermoclines that are then eliminated with large ceiling
mounted fans.
For new construction, not retrofitting, under slab
radiant heating systems using electric or hot water
for heating have been tried and found lacking. The
problems include slab movement breaking wires or
tubing, concerns with drilling holes for pallet rack legs
and other equipment and the “hysteresis” effect where
a day starts out cold and then the temperatures rise as
the floor is still radiating heat. Over the years, our supply
house clients who sold these systems and put them in
their own warehouse frequently abandoned them after a
few years of high utility bills.
Overheat radiant systems that warm the people and
inventory have proven to be a better heating choice. Most
use a long, black iron pipe as the radiator, with a flame
burner at one end and an induction fan at the other,
blowing out the side of the building. When the system
is properly designed, on a cold day the heat loss to the
outdoors will be minimal. As a looped system this type of
radiant heat is ideal for a long, narrow space with celling
heights of less than 18’. Since there is no air movement,
a ceiling fan might still be necessary to circulate the air
and keep the products at a uniform humidity.
TYPICAL ROOF TOP HEATING/COOLING UNIT
TYPICAL TUBE TYPE RADIANT HEATER
CONTINUED ON PAGE 191

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 191
ROBERT FOOTLIK IS IT HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? from page 190
uniform temperatures top to bottom, front to rear the
winter ceiling temperatures are usually 20 to 30 degrees
lower than the same space with unit heaters. Couple
this with a well-insulated roof, and utility bills are lowered
significantly.
JOHNSON AIR ROTATION HEATER WITH AIR FILTERS
One of the better retrofit ways to replace unit heaters
is with a an air rotation furnace that sits directly on the
floor and draws air in at floor level, heats it with a heat
exchanger and discharges the air at high speed from
ductwork at the top of the building, near the roof. A single
unit can serve over 3,000,000 cubic feet of warehouse
space and the exact placement is not a factor. An air
rotation unit can even be located outdoors to save space
(at the expense of heat loss and maintenance) or even
serve two adjacent spaces by placing it next to and thru a
demising wall.
While not usually fitted with an air conditioning coil,
a time clock control of the fans during the summer can
help manage heat gain. Air filters on the intakes clean the
air of dust and dirt. This makes the space healthier and
cleaner year around. Continuous air circulation is even
more important in high humidity climates or on rainy days.
Floor storage stacks will remain straight and materials fed
into production machinery will feed better. Ceiling fans are
therefore superfluous.
Typically heated with a gas or liquid fired burner,
some of the hot exhaust radiated from the “chimney” is
captured and recirculated within the building. Machinery,
forklifts, lighting (even LED) and occupancy that generates
heat adds to the efficiency of the air rotator. And, with
Summer Is Definitely The Best Time
To Think About Heat
Investigating heat losses, evaluating new heating
equipment and implementing changes before the heating
season makes a lot of sense and can generate a lot of
dollars in savings. The real goal, however, is to always
have the optimal environment for the people and inventory.
I once designed a building in northern Canada for
an operation staffed by the provincial champion hockey
team. Not a single warehouse worker had a full set
of teeth. When it was announced that the warehouse
temperature would be 55 degrees at minus 10 the room
split into two factions, pro and con. The workers who
were against the specifications argued that, “We are so
virile and manly that we do not need heat. It is an insult
to our manhood.”
Those in favor said, “You misunderstand, the heat is
for the inventory to prevent condensation and damage.”
With that, everyone sat down and the meeting continued
with smiles all around.
There may be a lesson in this for your operation
when you propose, sell and implement some sorely
needed changes.
ROBERT FOOTLIK

advertisers index
# B
3Q, INC. 131
Premier fastener sourcing and distribution. ITW
Shakeproof – Made in The USA double coil lock
washers, split lock washers, clevis pins and bolts.
Painted head screws. Mill shipments – Import.
Tel (630) 405-8492
Email: sales@3Q-Inc.com
A
ABBOTT INTERFAST FRONT COVER, 16
Leader & innovator in the fastener industry,
is an ISO certified and ITAR registered
manufacturer and supplier of standard and
special products manufactured using various
methods including but not limited to automatic
screw machine, CNC, cold heading, plastic
molding and stampings. We have customers
throughout the USA and around the globe, but
primarily service the North American Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) market.
Tel (847) 459-6200
www.aicfast.com
ACS MANUFACTURING, INC 123
Formed spring steel fasteners
Tel (888) NUTS-R-US
Email: info@acsmanufacturing.com
ALBANY STEEL & BRASS 71
Specialty Tapping Screws - Swageform
Tel (312) 733-1900
Email: sales@albanysteel.com
ALFA TOOLS ® 125
Hole-Making, Threading, Screwdriving. Our
Tools Make Fastening Happen!
Tel (800) 253-2532
Email: sales@alfatools.com
ALL AMERICAN WASHER WERKS 75
Quality producers of washers and stampings
Tel (847) 566-9091
Email: sales@washerwerks.com
ALL ELECTRONIC HARDWARE 135
Designing, Manufacturing and Distributing
Quality Plastic Hardware, Tools and
Accessories to the Fastener, Electronics,
Electrical and General OEM Industries.
Tel (800) 778-7234
www.aehonline.com
ALLOY & STAINLESS FASTENERS 86
Supplies special metal fasteners in over 150
material grades with over 25 coatings and platings
using over 300 machines with a 10,000 ton
inventory and Emergency 24-7 On Call Service.
Tel (713) 466-3031
Email: info@GoASF.com
ALPHA-GRAINGER MFG. CO. 25
Electronic hardware, captive screws,
shoulder screws, spacers & standoffs
Tel (508) 520-4005
www.agmi.com
ALUMINUM FASTENER SUPPLY 102, 103
The only exclusive aluminum fastener supplier
of made in the USA products. 6,500 line items
in stock with same day shipping. It’s all we do!
Tel (800) 526-0341
Email: info@alumfast.com
AMERICAN BELLEVILLE 67
Belleville Washers, Belleville Springs, Disc
Springs, Flange Washers, precision-machined
custom components. Stamping, CNC lathe
and mill machining, grinding, heat treating.
Tel (440) 721-8350
Email: lriga@AmericanBelleville.com
AMERICAN IMPERIAL SCREW CORP. 81
Push on hats, push on bolt retainers, locknuts,
self-treading locknuts and washers, regular
washer locknuts, push-on retainer fasteners
and wing nuts, adhesives and metal anchors.
Tel (800) 431-2391
Email: sales@discountscrews.com
AMPG
INSIDE FRONT COVER
INSIDE BACK COVER
Domestic manufacturer of shoulder screws,
button head sex bolts, flat head sex bolts,
prairie bolts, non-standard flat washers, and
machined specialties from stock.
Tel (317) 472-9000
Email: sales@ampg.com
AUTO BOLT 69
American cold-heading bolt manufacturer
serving many industries including
automotive, truck/trailer, heavy
construction, agriculture, military, material
handling and more.
Tel (216) 881-3913
Email: quotes@autoboltusa.com
BARBAROTTO INT’L MACHINERY 133
High speed counting units, weigh scales,
vertical and horizontal bagging machines,
carton forming and closing, palletizing,
material handling and more!
Tel (888) 988-8703
Email: fred@barbarottomachinery.com
BAR STOCK SPECIALTIES 110
Metal bar processing; drawing, peeling,
grinding and cutting. Long length stainless
bar to 60ft.
Tel (713) 849-0055
Email: info@GoBarStock.com
BAY SUPPLY 3
Have you joined Bay Supply’s Marketplace Yet?
Join the 400+ Manufacturers and Distributors
already connecting with 44,000 Sourcing
Professionals FOR FREE! We’ve developed
the most powerful RFQ software application
available in our industry. Join today!
Tel (800) 718-8818
Email: help@baysupply.com
BRADLEY COATINGS 39
Our proprietary applications of thread
lockers, sealants and nylon patches are
renowned for their effectiveness and
reliability. We use brand names you can
trust including Loctite Driloc and 3M Scotch-
Grip, Precote, all applied in our quality
assured processes.
Tel (800) 201-7381
Email: coatingpros@bradleygoc.com
BROOKVIEW BOLT 165
Your first choice in custom machined parts
and fasteners. Now distributing the MasTek
Screw engineered by Broadstar Futura.
Tel (518) 732-2881
Email: sales@brookviewbolt.com
BRIGHTON-BEST INTERNATIONAL
OUTSIDE BACK COVER
Socket & square head set screws, hex keys,
L-Nine products, Grade 8 hex head, shoulder
bolts, pipe plugs, dowel springs, nuts &
metrics, hand tools and full stainless line.
Tel (800) 275-0050
www.brightonbest.com

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B
BRIKKSEN STAINLESS 33
Full line of stainless-steel inch and metric.
Tel (800) 962-1614
Email: sales@brikksen.com
BRYNOLF MANUFACTURING INC. 141
Manufacturer of cold-headed fasteners,
rivets, drill screws and bolts. Your source
for quality American Made Cold Headed
Fasteners.
Tel (877) 237-4554
Email: info@brynolfmanufacturing.com
BTM MANUFACTURING 51
Leading domestic manufacturer of bent
and threaded products. U-bolts, J-bolts,
studs, anchor bolts, spade bolts, eye bolts
and bent/threaded product to custom
specifications.
Tel (800) 369-2658
Email: sales@btm-mfg.com
C
CABLE TIE EXPRESS 43
America’s premier cable tie source since
1995. Conventional cable ties, specialty
cable ties, mounting bases, cable clamps and
wire connectors. Protection and insulation
products.
Tel (888) 603-1233
Email: sales@cabletieexpress.com
CAVALIER INDUSTRIAL SPECIALTIES 87
Manufacturers machined parts per drawing,
quality detailed fasteners, and custom
manufactured studs. We support customers’
requirements with CNC machining, upset
forging and thread rolling.
Tel (713) 983-0055
Email: sales@GoCAV.com
THE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL,
LEGAL & TAX PLANNING, INC. 128
Thinking of buying, selling or transferring your
business? The center is the one-stop shop for
all of your business needs.
Tel (618) 997-3436
Email: rbasi@taxplanning.com
CHICAGO HARDWARE & FIXTURE CO. 155
Mfrs of Wire Rope and Chain Fittings, Industrial
and Marine Hardware and Allied Products
Tel (847) 455-6609
Email: info@chicagohardware.com
CHRISLYNN THREADED INSERTS 163
Professional thread repair. Same day
shipping, no minimums.
Tel (800) 926-1495
Email: info@chrislynninserts.com
COMPONENT PACKAGING 67
Kitting, hand packaging, and assembly. We are
passionate about packaging - it’s what we do!
Tel (417) 624-9395
Email: nickm@componentpackaging.com
COMPUTER INSIGHTS 19
The Business Edge – The simple solution with
a proven step-by-step method for unlocking
your fastener company’s potential.
Tel (800) 539-1233
Email: sales@ci-inc.com
CRAFTECH INDUSTRIES, LLC. 153
Providing high performance plastic solutions
for your prints, parts and engineering
problems for over 50 years. Product design,
engineering, prototyping and manufacturing.
Proudly made in the USA.
Tel (800) 833-5130
Email: info@craftechind.com
CRESCENT MANUFACTURING 27
Over 60 years of manufacturing expertise in
the field of miniature screws and miniature
fasteners, Crescent offers distributors an
established source for Aerospace, Military,
Commercial, and Special Engineered needs.
Tel (860) 673-2591
Email: sales@crescentmanufacturing.com
D
DARLING BOLT 195
Supplier of US, metric and stainless-steel
fasteners including nuts, bolts, screws,
washers, hardware assortments and
specialty auto body fasteners.
Tel (800) 882-0747
Email: sales@darlingbolt.com
DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 199
Tel (800) 356-1639
Email: tracey@linkmagazine.com
E
EDSON MANUFACTURING, INC. 49
US manufacturer of stamped and extruded
blind rivets, structural specialty eyelets. 302,
304, 305, 316 alloy, Monel, aluminum,
steel, stainless, copper, brass, mill spec/
IFI/DFARS/ISO 9001 reach compliant. A
complete line of import fasteners/ rivet nuts/
hand and pneumatic tools.
Tel (203) 879-2529
Email: CustomerService@edsonmfg.com
ELECTRONIC HARDWARE
CORPORATION 157
Your premier manufacturer of clamp knobs,
handles, ratchet handles, and custom
assemblies. Largest selection of control
products and industrial hardware.
Tel (631) 752-1950
Email: sales@echknobs.com
ELGIN FASTENER GROUP 2
EFG is the largest American-made singlesource
supplier of specialty fasteners in
the nation, helping grow your business with
just-in-time operations, consistent quality and
a streamlined ordering process. 1.6 billion
parts shipped annually!
Email: quotes@elginfasteners.com
E & T FASTENERS, INC 111
Molded, machined, and stamped plastic
fasteners - Uts, bolts, washers - Kynar, Teflon,
PVC, Nylon, and Polypropylene. Low minimums.
Tel (800) 650-4707
Email: eric@fastenercomponents.com
EXPEDITE TESTING SERVICE 187
Fast and efficient testing solutions. Delivering
excellence, on-time.
Tel (619) 736-7872
www.expeditetest.com
E-Z LOK 53
Thread inserts for metal, wood and plastic
Tel (800) 234-5613
Email: sales@ezlok.com

advertisers index
F
FALL RIVER MFG CO., INC. 21
Manufacturers of Stainless steel & nonferrous
fasteners
Tel (800) 275-6991
Email: sales@fallrivermfg.com
FASCOMP ELECTRONIC HARDWARE 181
Male-female standoffs, female standoffs,
male-male standoffs, spacers, shoulder
screws, captive screws, thumbscrews, swage
standoffs and spacers, handles and ferrules.
Tel (407) 226-2112
Email: sales@fascomp.com
FASTAR, INC. 107
Coiled and Slotted spring pins, dowel pins,
cotter pins, taper pins, grooved & special pins
Tel (845) 369-7990
Email: fastar@optonline.net
FASTENER WEBSITE LINKS 144
FCH SOURCING NETWORK 95
(Tel) 877-332-7836
Email: eric@fastenersclearinghouse.com
FIXI SRL 47
Specialized in fastening systems and related
tools. Threaded inserts, blind rivets, self-clinching
fasteners, fasteners for plastic, wire inserts, inserts
for tubes and inserts for stone and solid surfaces.
Tel (011) 707-2398
Email: info@fixi.it
FORD FASTENERS, INC. 15
Celebrating 60 years of providing 410
stainless steel screws, sheet metal screws,
self-drilling screws, self-piercing screws, and
EPDM bonded sealing washers.
Tel (800) 272-3673
Email: info@fordfasteners.com
G
GF&D SYSTEMS 177
‘One-stop’ for grease fittings and accessories.
Couplers and hose whips, grease fitting
caps, grease guns, custom designed fittings,
assortments, private labeling, custom kitting.
Tel (800) 360-1318
Email: sales@gfdsystems.com
GLOBALFASTENERNEWS.COM 166
GOEBEL FASTENERS, INC. 7
Innovative fastener solutions: blind rivets, selftapping/drilling
screws, toggles, strapping, wing
seals, tools & safety and insulation accessories.
Tel (713) 393-7007
Email: sales@goebelfasteners.com
GRAPHIKA CREATIVE 193
Marketing solutions tailored for the Fastener
Industry. Web, digital, email marketing,
exhibitions, point of sale and corporate
branding. Graphika - your off-site, in-house
comprehensive marketing department.
Tel (224) 489-9533
Email: lee@graphikacreative.com
GREENSLADE & COMPANY, INC. 179
Fastener inspection equipment, innovative
gage design, and dimensional calibration.
Tel (817) 870-8888
Email: sales@greensladeandcompany.com
GROWERMETAL USA, LLC. 63
Growermetal USA, an American branch of
a leading European washer manufacturer
since 1950, provides standard washers
(ASME, AREA standards) and customized
special blanked parts.
Tel (440) 773-4948
Email: info@growermetal-usa.com
H
HANGER BOLT & STUD CO 129
USA Hanger bolts, studs, dowel screws, pins.
Tel (800) 537-7925
Email: sales@hangerbolt.com
HANSON RIVET & SUPPLY CO. 61
Rivets, threaded inserts, riveting tools,
riveting machines, washers
Tel (800) 777-4838
HILLSDALE TERMINAL 110
U.S. manufacturer of solderless crimp terminals
and also carry a line of wiring accessories. Our
manufacturing capabilities include a full line of
crimp terminals, non-insulated, brazed seam, vinyl,
nylon, heat shrink and instant tap connectors.
Tel (800) 447-3150
I
ICS FLANGE 41
Stocks flange bolts and nuts in Grade 5, 8, 8.8
and 10.9 in steel and stainless in any finish.
Tel (800) 231-0360
Email: matt.daleiden@
innovativecomponentsales.com
IDEAL SUPPLY, INC. 133
One of the largest Monel® fastener
inventories in the world to meet your
customer’s military & commercial
requirements to ASTM/MIL-SPEC.
Tel (847) 961-5900
Email: idealsupply@idealsupplyonline.net
INDUSTRIAL RIVET & FASTENER CO. 55
One name, one number, one source for
rivets and RivetKing FreeSet Series.
Tel (800) BUY-RIVET
Email: info@rivet.com
INTEGRATED PACKAGING 139
Parts are electronically counted, heatsealed
in our poly-bags, and labeled with
identification information on every bag, with
accurate optical counting mechanisms and
printers for SKUs.
Tel (847) 439-5730
Email: sales@integratedpack.com
INTERCORP 1
Your expert-grade fastener supplier for
the professional advantage. Premium selfdrilling,
drywall, needle-point, pole gripper,
stainless steel, outdoor, concrete, cement
board, woodworking and special application.
Tel (800) 762-2004
www.intercorpusa.com
ISC – INTERCONTINENTAL SALES 83
Fastener and Building Related Products.
Same day shipping, free private labeling, no
minimums
Tel (800) 741-4278
Email: info@isc-sales.com
INTERNATIONAL FASTENER EXPO 38
October 9-11, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV. 500+
Exhibitors at the Largest B2B Expo for Fasteners,
Tooling & Machinery in North America.
www.fastenershows.com

advertisers index
I
INTERNATIONAL FASTENERS, INC. 115
Daggerz construction fasteners. Self-drill,
drywall, deck, wood, concrete, clip, needle
point screws, post frame and aluminum
industry screws, EDPM bonded washers,
bits & threaded rod.
Tel (888) 241-0203
Email: sales@daggerz.com
INxSQL SOFTWARE 59
Full-featured, easy-to-use ERP distribution
software designed and optimized for the
Fastener Industry.
Tel (877) 446-9775
Email: sales@inxsql.com
K
KEN FORGING 34, 35
Domestic manufacturer of eyebolts, nut
eyebolts, rod ends, turnbuckles & fittings, eye
nuts, pad eyes, D-rings, c-clamps & screws,
swivel hoist ring. Custom forgings up to 250 lbs.
Tel (888) 536-3674
Email: sales@kenforging.com
KEY BELLEVILLES, INC. 131
The largest Belleville manufacturer in the world
with customers in over 100 countries. We have
the largest finished inventory in the world.
Tel: (800) 245-3600
Email: sales@keybellevilles.com
KINTER ® 93
X-mas tree clips, binder posts and screws, binder
rings, steel barrel bolts and screws, wall anchors.
Tel (800) 323-2389
Email: sales@kinter.com
L
THE LAB MATERIALS TESTING 99
Quick 96-hour-turnaround on testing orders.
Mechanical, metallographic, chemical, and
non-destructive testing.
Tel: (909) 944-2777
www.TheLabMT.com
LELAND INDUSTRIES INC 179
Manufacturer of bolts, nuts, screws in
carbon or stainless. Custom threading and
specials. U-Bolts and Anchors.
Tel (800) 263-3393
Email: info@lelandindustries.com
LINDFAST SOLUTIONS GROUP 29
Bringing you the world’s Best Brands in
fasteners. By any measure, by any size, by any
finish, by any quantity and in any material.
Tel (800) 328-2430
www.lindfastgrp.com
LOSS PREVENTION FASTENERS
AND TOOLS 159
When the fastener needs to be high security
tamper resistant anti-theft. All makes and styles
of security nuts, bolts, screws and anchors.
Tel (888) 584-6283
Email: sales@LPfast.com
M
BRUNO MARBACHER 188
With over 40 years of experience in the
fastener industry, and a recently retired
Director of Application Engineering, Bruno
is available to assist and resolve critical and
lingering fastening/assembly/quality issues.
Email: brunomarbacher4@gmail.com
MAR-BRO MANUFACTURING 85
Domestic manufacturer of standards, specials,
MS and NAS fasteners. Specializing in A286,
12 pt flange and hex flange fasteners.
Tel (602) 278-8197
Email: sales@mar-bro.com
MEHTA TRADING INTERNATIONAL 127
The complete MILL stainless fastener source.
Tel (972) 642-1012
Email: corp@mehtati.com
METRIC & MULTISTANDARD 13
Providing quality metric industrial products
and exceptional customer service since 1963
Tel (800) 431-2792
MW INDUSTRIES, INC – TEXAS 91
Washers, special fasteners, and metal stamping
for over 45 years. ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Tel (800) 875-3510
Email: sales@mwindustries.com
N
NEWCO PRODUCTS 95
JIS indented hex flange bolts, 7603 metric sealing
washers, JCIS micro screws, pan & flat head phil and
many more products. Over 35 years in business.
Tel (818) 341-9216
Email: info@newcoproducts.com
NORTH EAST FASTENERS (NEF) 11
AS9100 certified, supplying IFI, ANSI, MS, NAS,
NASM, AN, DIN, JIS, JCIS high quality fasteners
for commercial, military and aerospace.
Tel (860) 589-3242
Email: nef@nef1.com
NOVA FASTENERS CO. INC. 119
Anchors, screws, nuts, washers, rivets, pins,
inserts, rods. Serving industry since 1948.
Tel (800) 645-1234
Email: info@nova-anchor.com
P
PIVOT POINT 37
Pins - clevis, cotter pins, quick release,
locking - wire rope lanyards, stock and
specials and award-winning inventions
Tel (800) 222-2231
Email: mail@pivotpins.com
PROSPECT FASTENER 51
Master distributor for Rotor Clip, Driv-Lok,
KMC Stampings, SPIROL, Davies Molding
and Kerr-Lakeside. Our products are made
by American manufacturers.
Tel (800) 822-6080
Email: sales@prospectfastener.com
R
R2 PRECISION MACHINING 121
Industries served: defense, aerospace, energy,
waterworks and infrastructure. Machined
parts to print, milling, turning, prototypes. Hot
forging, grinding, heat treat and roll threading.
Tel: (844) 940-9000
www.R2Precision.com
R & D FASTENERS 127
Specializing in hot forging standards and specials.
Tel: (800) 884-8712
www.rdfast.com
RHS STAINLESS 149
Stocking a full range of domestic/DFARS
stainless pitch diameters and standard
diameters. Non-standard and custom lengths
are also available. Supplying nationwide.
Tel (610) 997-7604
Email: sales@rhsstainless.com
W.J. ROBERTS CO. 89
Spacers and standoffs. Hex and rounds
3/16 to 5/8 diameter. Standoffs in brass,
aluminum, steel and stainless steel.
Tel (781) 233-8176
Email: sales@wjroberts.com

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R
ROTOR CLIP 31
The only manufacturer of every style of
Retaining Ring (tapered section, constant
section, spiral rings). Wave Springs and Self-
Compensating Hose Clamps. We offer a full line
of inch, metric, DIN, ANSI and JIS parts. Also
support assembly through installation tooling,
including applicators, pliers, dispensers, and
automated assembly equipment available.
Tel (732) 469-7333
Email: info@rotorclip.com
R&R ENGINEERING CO. 65
Bent bolts, wire forms. Quality
craftsmanship.
Tel (800) 979-1921
Email: sales@randrengineering.com
S
SCREW & SUPPLY CO. INC. 137
Tamper-resistant security screws made in USA.
Tel (800) 223-1316
Email: customerservice@screwsupply.com
SEMS AND SPECIALS 97
Your trusted source for sems and specials
since 1991. A cold forming manufacturer
of fasteners, we offer a diverse portfolio of
products ranging from standard commercial
fasteners to custom specials and ending
with Class II military hardware.
Tel (800) 888-7367
Email: sales@semsandspecials.com
SETKO FASTENERS 141
Domestic manufactured and imported
socket products. Standards or specials. Mill
shipments and blanket orders. Zinc plated
sockets, nylon patches, drilling, etc.
Tel (630) 800-6377
Email: sales@setkofasteners.com
SHEAR-LOC PRODUCTS 75, 171
The original instant thumbscrews. The
ultimate socket head cap screw accessory.
Over 5000 combinations. Inch and Metric.
Tel (800) 775-5668
Email: sales@shear-loc.com
SPIROL 79, 169
Coiled and Slotted Spring Pins, Solid
Pins, Disc Springs, Alignment Dowels and
Bushings, Spacers, Compression Limiters,
Threaded Inserts and Shims.
Tel (800) 321-4679
Email: info@spirol.com
STAR STAINLESS SCREW CO. 45
Sockets, screws, nuts, bolts, washers, rod, pins,
full line of mil-spec fasteners and more. Star
Stainless is a division of Lindfast Solutions Group.
Tel (630) 595-3440
www.starstainless.com
SUBSCRIPTION FORM 99
SUPERIOR WASHER & GASKET CORP. 23
Your “single source supplier” for Made in
the USA washer and gasket products for the
last 50 years.
Tel (631) 273-8282
Email: swg@superiorwasher.com
SUNCOR STAINLESS 109
Quality Industrial and Marine Hardware.
Stainless steel: chain, shackles, blocks,
turnbuckles, and pad eyes. Eye bolts and
eye nuts and forged lifting hooks. You can
count on Suncor for customizable products!
Tel (800) 394-2222
Email: sales@suncorstainless.com
T
TAMPER-PRUF SCREW, INC. 77
Leader in Security Screws since 1974.
Tel (562) 531-9340
Email: sales@tamperpruf.net
TORTOISE FASTENER CO. 101
Slow moving hex heads. Stainless, brass,
silicon bronze, aluminum, nickel-copper and
alloy 20 hex.
Tel (800) 691-8894
TUTTLE MANUFACTURING 197
Anchors, bent bolt specials, spade bolts,
acme threaded bars.
Tel (847) 381-7713
Email: tuttlemfg@gmail.com
U
UC COMPONENTS 73
Clean-Critical Fastener and Seal Solutions.
HV, UHV, Cleanroom Ready Fasteners and
seals. RediVac® clean-packaged screws and
O-rings. Custom products and prototypes.
Tel (408) 782-1929
Email: sales@uccomponents.com
UMETA OF AMERICA 89
Complete lubrication equipment, grease
fittings and accessories line. Made in
Germany for over 80 years. OEM quality and
ISO 9001 certified.
Tel (704) 966-0724
Email: usa@umeta.com
UNICORP 57
Manufacturer of electronic hardware,
fasteners and handles since 1971.
Tel (973) 674-1700
Email: sales@unicorpinc.com
V
VIRGINIA FASTENERS 143
Specializing in HDG timber, hex, carriage,
lag bolts, tie rods, nuts and washers.
Tel (800) 368-3430
Email: sales@vafasteners.com
VOLT INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS, INC. 9
US made plastic fasteners, all types &
quantities, custom molding since 1992.
Over 100 million parts in stock.
Tel (800) 844-8024
Email: sales@voltplastics.com
W
WCL COMPANY 117
Specializing in fastener solutions since 1957.
Leading supplier of mil-spec and commercial
fastener products such as lock washers, flat
and spring washers, threaded fasteners,
plastic components and customer specials.
Tel (800) 331-3816
Email: sales@wclco.com
WILLIE WASHER MFG. 151
Domestic manufacturer of fender, spring,
tab and flat washers,
Tel (847) 956-1344
Email: sales@williewasher.com
Z
XL SCREW CORPORATION 83
Importer of standard fasteners - hex cap screws,
bolts, nuts, locknuts, sheet metal screws, selfdrilling
screws, washers and anchors, metrics
and mill shipments. Over 14,000 imported
products in stock. America’s finest quality
imported threaded fasteners since 1968.
Tel (800) 323-7367
Email: xlw@xlscrew.com