Preparations are underway for the 4th edition of Fastener Fair Italy, the biennial event dedicated to the fastener and fixing industry. The event will kick off on October 29th in Milan, in hall 3, at CityLife - Allianz MiCo. Starting today, online registrations are open for free access at this link.

This is an unmissable two-day event dedicated to fastening and fixing technologies, where national and international producers and distributors will showcase their products, equipment and services. At the show, attendees can expect to see the latest innovations and technological advancements in the industry.

Scott McDaniel of Martin Fastening Solutions has been elected as the 2024-2025 president of the National Fastener Distributors Association. Ed Smith of Wurth Revcar will serve as vice president, Christian Reich of Goebel Fasteners will serve as associate chair, and Jim Degnan of S.W. Anderson will remain on the Board as immediate past president.

Melissa Patel of Field, Angela Philippart of AFC Industries, and Christian Reich of Goebel Fasteners have been elected to serve on the Board of Directors effective June 12, 2024. 

Martin Supply is pleased to announce that we have been recognized with the 2023 Supplier Excellence Award from Hunter Engineering Company. This prestigious accolade places us among only 11 businesses to receive this honor, underscoring our commitment to excellence and quality. Having last received this award in 2021, we are particularly proud to have reclaimed our position on the list through dedicated efforts.

“This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team”, said Kevin Cozine, Vice President, Fastening Sales. “We will continue to strive for excellence and uphold the high standards that this recognition represents.”

Fastener Training Week, the flagship fastener training program from Fastener Training Institute (FTI), returns to Chicago this year from August 19 to August 23.

The event will be held at the Lincolnshire Marriott and hosted by the Mid-West Fasteners Association (MWFA) as part of their annual FSTNR Week.

Martin Supply, one of the nation’s leading providers of custom-tailored solutions for maintenance, repair, operation, and production supplies, proudly announces its acquisition of Trinity Hardware Headquarters (THHQ) from Agrisolutions (AGS), a leading global manufacturer of wear parts, components, and accessories. Based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, THHQ specializes in the supply of standard and custom components through catalog distribution, customized inventory management programs and product delivery services. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Martin Supply's dedication to bolstering its presence within the fastening market and growing in this geographic region.

Commenting on the acquisition, Douglas Ruggles, Co-CEO of Martin Supply, stated, "We are excited to welcome THHQ to Martin Supply. This acquisition aligns seamlessly with our mission to deliver unparalleled quality and service to our valued customers. We are committed to upholding the legacy of excellence that THHQ has established."

The National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA) is honored to announce that the 2024 recipient of its Fastener Professional of the Year award is Marc Strandquist.

In his nomination of Marc, Doug Ruggles stated “I don’t know anyone who has had a broader impact on the industry driving professionalism, growth, and a commitment to giving back. He was beloved by his team and customers because of his ability to connect with them and truly care for their goodwill.”

The Fastener Training Institute (FTI) will offer two training classes during the Fastener Fair Conference at Fastener Fair USA in May. Each class will be presented by Laurence Claus, Industrial Fasteners Institute’s Director of Education and Training. 

• The Making of Fasteners & the Cost Drivers Behind this Engineering Marvel, is planned for Tuesday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In this full-day class, Claus will take students into the fastener manufacturing world to explore why these sometimes-underappreciated components are complex engineering marvels. Topics will include fastener production methods (cold heading, hot heading and screw machining); the advantages and disadvantages of each manufacturing method; and thread rolling, grinding, machining, heat treatment and plating. 

Martin Supply, a leading provider of custom-tailored solutions for maintenance, repair, operation, and production supplies (MROP) in the industrial and construction markets, proudly announces its 90th anniversary. Established in 1934 by Louis Martin in Sheffield, AL, the company has achieved unparalleled growth and transformation, now led by the third and fourth generations of the Martin family.

From its modest origins, Martin Supply has undergone a remarkable evolution, expanding its footprint to encompass 48 distribution centers and integrated sites across the United States, while also conducting business internationally. Over the course of its 90-year journey, the company has continually evolved to meet the dynamic needs of its customers, transcending its role as a mere product supplier to offer a comprehensive suite of services. The company's dedication to “helping companies operate better" has earned it a well-deserved reputation for quality and reliability.

Sherex Fastening Solutions, a PennEngineering® Company and global leader in engineered fasteners, tooling, and automation, is proud to announce its relationship with Southeast Sales & Engineering as its new sales representative.

Southeast Sales & Engineering is a professional manufacturer’s representative specializing in the transportation and industrial markets in the southeastern United States, including Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, the Carolinas, Mississippi, and Virginia. Led by president Bo Oliver, Southeast Sales & Engineering brings over 20 years of experience working with manufacturers to find the right fastening solutions for their applications.

The Fastener Training Institute (FTI) is pleased to announce Würth Industry North America (WINA) will continue as sustaining sponsor in 2024. 

FTI is the leading nonprofit provider of fastener product and technical training with content-rich and expertly instructed courses. WINA is a division of Würth Group, the world’s largest industrial distributor. The partnership between FTI and WINA is now in its sixth consecutive year. 

Sherex Fastening Solutions’ Optisert, the best performing round body rivet nut on the market, was recently awarded as a winner of the 2023 Fastener Innovation Awards by WorldwideFastenerSources.com.

The innovative Optisert was chosen as a winner because of its incredible performance against spin-out. Its proprietary combination of an engineered knurled body and underhead wedge design helps it grip into the base material to prevent it from spinning. In softer materials, like aluminum, plastics, and composites, the spin-out performance matches that of a full hex body rivet nut.

Fastener Training Institute (FTI) is excited to announce a four-part webinar series for its Fastener Basics course. 

Students can learn over lunch and complete the training across four Thursdays this spring - March 28, April 25, May 30 and June 27. Each webinar will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time and will include time for audience Q & A.  

Craig Beaty of Beawest Fasteners has been elected as the 2024 president of the Young Fastener Professionals. Christian Georgievski of IFE Americas will serve as vice president, and Mallory Nichols of Advance Components will remain on the Board as immediate past president.

Nihar Sinha of AmeriSteel Fasteners has recently been elected to the YFP Board of Directors. Continuing on the YFP Board are Jake Glaser of Sherex Fastening Solutions and Zech Williams of Wurth Revcar Fasteners.

The YFP Board is laying the groundwork to provide YFP involvement and support to all areas of the industry. If you are interested in volunteering, mentoring, or being added to the YFP email list, please email Amy Nijjar at [email protected].

Click here for more information on YFP.

Fastener Training Institute (FTI), the leading source for ongoing fastener education, is planning its next Fastener Training Week in Cleveland, OH, April 8-12. The training will be held at Brighton-Best International. 

“We are excited to welcome our next class of Fastener Training Week students,” shared Jo Morris, Marketing Director for Fastener Training Institute. “Knowledge builds confidence and leads to a safer industry. FTI is committed to providing continuous opportunities for all levels of fastener education,” she added. 

The Gilchrist Foundation scholarship application is available at: http://www.gilchristfoundation.com

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.

PennEngineering^® announced today the acquisition of Sherex^® Fastening Solutions, a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and installation of blind rivet nut and associated fastening solutions.

Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, Sherex is the premier technical provider of blind rivet nuts, with strong application expertise, and production capabilities worldwide.  Sherex has achieved an impressive growth trajectory and continues to grow through technical solutions selling, providing best total installed cost solutions along with industry leading rivet nut capabilities.

SPIROL International Holding Corporation Board of Directors announces the unanimous decision to appoint Jeffrey F. Koehl as Chairman of SPIROL International Holding Corporation.  Jeff joined the company in 1997, and has been serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SPIROL International Corporation since his appointment in 2010. 

Jeff succeeds his father, Hans H. Koehl, who passed away on November 30, 2023.  Serving as Chairman of SPIROL International Holding Corporation since his appointment in 1969, Hans retired from active management of the company in 2004 after 45 of dedicated service.  Hans’ vision, dedication, and passion led to the transformation of SPIROL from being a small, family-owned business in Northeast Connecticut into a world-renowned manufacturing company with locations on 4 continents and in 13 countries.  It is impossible to put into words the unparralled contributions that Hans made to SPIROL over the last 64 years – most importantly the education, coaching and mentoring of his son, Jeff, in preparation for him to be his successor.

DECEMBER 19, 1934 – NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Hans passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Christina, son Jeff, and close friend Russ on November 30, 2023.  Born in Stolberg, Germany to the late Herman Koehl and Maria Altdorf Koehl, Hans immigrated with his mother, father and two sisters, Gerda and Emmy, to the United States in 1948 and settled in Woodstock, CT.

Shortly after starting school in the US, Hans quickly mastered the English language and skipped ahead two grades within his first year at The Woodstock Academy.  After graduating from Killingly High School in Dayville, CT, Hans went on to earn his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with distinction from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 1956, and his Juris Doctorate from Stanford University in 1958.  While at WPI, Hans was a member of the men’s soccer team, and he participated in Masque (student led dramatic theater organization), the Peddler (yearbook for the graduating class) and the Debating Club.  He was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity where he served as President his senior year. 

Eurolink FSS is pleased to announce the addition of two new manufacturer sales representative firms to our already amazing nationwide sales force. Beginning January 1, 2024, these strategic partnerships will significantly enhance our presence in the West, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain states, and help us to improve service for our valued clients in these regions.

With a commitment to excellence and a proven track record in driving sales growth, Budd Sales (Tom Buddenbaum) and Desert Distribution (John Wachman, Jo Morris, & David Palmquist) bring a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to our expanding network. Their dedication to customer satisfaction aligns seamlessly with our core values, and we are confident that these partnerships will contribute to mutually beneficial relationships. We look forward to the increased opportunities and collaboration that these partnerships will bring, ultimately delivering unparalleled service and support to our customers in their represented states.

Martin, one of the nation’s leading providers of custom-tailored solutions for maintenance, repair, operation, and production supplies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott McDaniel as Executive Vice President. In this pivotal role, Scott will spearhead the development and implementation of strategic initiatives for Martin’s Fastening business unit to optimize operational efficiency and profitability, and foster synergy across all Martin business units.  Scott will also provide leadership as a key member of Martin executive leadership group, all aimed at achieving the Martin's overarching business objectives.

Scott has a wealth of experience and expertise in the distribution industry, with a remarkable 25-year career dedicated to the Fastener OEM/C Class Component Sector. His extensive background includes executive roles at prominent companies such as Anixter International, Wurth, and Optimus. Scott's leadership acumen, combined with his profound industry knowledge and a well-established professional network, uniquely positions him to make a significant impact on the vision and future success at Martin.