Issue: #134 March 2022

On 17^th January the European Union published the Implementing Regulation that confirmed definitive anti-dumping duties of up to 86.5% on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners in the People’s Republic of China, adding another complication for a host of fastener companies across Europe. 

With there still plenty of difficulty in the market regarding sourcing from Asia, the Insight section has a range of articles from European fastener companies – who believe they are able to help support distributors looking to source these products within Europe.

Firstly, Austrian-based Schmid Schrauben talks about its capabilities when it comes to screws for timber construction and how it has the capacity to adjust production both in terms of quantity and types of products, to meet the needs of the market. Next, we have an article from BENERI on its vast capabilities when it comes to washers and retaining rings. The company has been producing washers since 1958 and is ready to support new customers who might have been impacted by the anti-dumping duties.

We also have an article on Domax and how its new production hall and additional production lines has put it in a good position to meet customers’ needs when it comes to hardened screws. Additionally, there is Belgian washer manufacturer Haemers, who has already seen a big increase in customers during the pandemic period, with European companies appreciating its availability and quick delivery. 

To add to this, there is also an article about Italian manufacturer Kilton, which has been investing in its machinery and staff to meet the needs of its customers for both standard and special fasteners; Śrubena-Unia discusses the reintroduction of its investment strategy and how it hopes to further develop its significant and wide ranging production capabilities; and Dell’Era underlines why it has an international reputation for high-quality fasteners.

There are also articles from Technopartner, Growermetal, Bodegraven Metaal, UPIVEB, Nögel and adunox®, all highlighting the investments and developments at their companies. 

Our Cover Story focuses on Fabory Group and its 75^th anniversary. I had the pleasure of speaking to Franciso Terol, CEO at Fabory, about the Group’s development, especially over the last 10 years, which have been key in its development – enabling it to focus on digitisation, as well as investing in its business footprint – both through strategic acquisitions and its new automated warehouse. 

We have a host of other features and articles across every section of the magazine, including in our Testing section, where we have articles from Instron – introducing its new series of universal testing systems; Cesar Certini, owner of CERMAC Srl focuses on pendulum impact testing machines; plus Wilfried Blechmann, head of Kistler’s Fastening Technology Business Line, explains the key points in quality assurance for fastening technology.