SHORT TAKES: Alcoa, Continental Midland, GKS Inspection, Jacobson, Porteous Fastener, Powers Fasteners, Republic Engineered, Stelfast, Vertex

Jason Sandefur

” Alcoa Fastening Systems named Pete George vice president of aerospace operations in North America and Europe. George, who joined AFS in September 2004 as COO/AFS Europe aerospace operations, will remain based at AFS” European headquarters in Cergy, France.
AFS president Olivier Jarrault emphasized George”s global aerospace operations.
“In the past twelve months, his operational leadership has been a key factor in the improvement of AFS Europe Aerospace service levels with Airbus and the increased rate of returns of the AFS European Aerospace division.”
For 25 years George held senior project management, quality, continuous improvement and operational management positions with Boeing.
Alcoa Fastening Systems designs and manufactures fastening systems, specialty fasteners, components, and installation systems for aerospace and commercial product assembly. The fastener division of aluminum producer Alcoa has 6,000 employees and manufactures at 26 locations in 7 countries. AFS is headquartered at 3000 W. Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505. Tel: 949 641-8800 Fax 949 641-5100 Web: alcoafasteners.com

” The Continental Midland LLC facilities in Park Forest, IL, and Valparaiso, IN, received ISO/TS16949-2002 certification, CEO Robert Kaminski announced.
Continental Midland manufactures cold headed automotive grade fasteners, including externally threaded fasteners, engineered fasteners, shoulder bolts and other specialty fasteners. Standard fasteners include machine screws and weld studs. Continental Midland is headquartered at 24000 S. Western Ave., Park Forest, IL 60466. Tel: 708 747-1200 Fax 708 747-9338 E-mail: Bob.Kaminski@contmid.com Web: contmid.com

” GKS Inspection Services Inc. received a certificate of excellence from TRW Automotive for a perfect record of on-time deliveries and is marking its 25th anniversary.
Founded in 1981, GKS Inspection Services is a division of Laser Design Inc. and provides dimensional measurement and 3D laser scanning services. GKS has offices in Minneapolis, India and Korea and is headquartered at 45333 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170. Tel: 734 582-9600 or 800 346-3898 Fax 734 582-9610 E-mail: info@gks3d.com Web: gks3d.com

” Jacobson Mfg. LLC received certification to the new version of ISO/IEC 17025, sales manager Stan Rhodes announced. Jacobson was previously certified to ISO/TS16949:2002, a program for low PPMs.
Jacobson produces standard and custom-designed threaded and non-threaded components. Tubular and internally products range from 5/32″ to 1″ diameter, with tapping capabilities up to 1″ diameter. Jacobson is located at 941 Lake Rd., Medina, OH 44256. Tel: 330-721-6308 or 330 725-8853 Fax 330 723-4510
E-mail: Stanley.Rhodes@jacobsonmfg.com Web: jacobsonmfg.com

” Porteous Fastener Company announced two new branch locations and four personnel changes.
The Atlanta branch moved to a 70,000 sq ft facility at 4205 Newpoint Pkwy. #200, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5528. The high-bay warehouse provides for additional inventory and customer staging areas. Kenny Rogers remains regional manager and Christopher Boest branch manager.
The Dallas branch will move to a 56,000 sq ft building in December. The address will be: 5375 FAA Blvd. #100, Irving, TX 75061-3601. E-mail: Atlanta@porteousfastener.com
Kathleen Conner was promoted to area sales manager. Conner is based in Kansas City and will cover Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Southern Illinois. Succeeding Conner as Dallas branch manager is Angela Ellison, who was promoted from inside sales.
Porteous named Bret Swan director of warehouse operations for both corporate and branch functions.
Last month Bob Porteous was promoted to executive vice president and COO in charge information technology, sales, warehouse operations and inventory control. CEO Barry Porteous will continue as president in charge of strategic development ad acquisitions.
Bob Porteous described the branch changes as part of “upgrading our infrastructure” and said more new buildings are on the drawing board for 2007. “It”s necessary if we are going to continue to grow and take good care of our customers.”
Porteous is a master distributor and importer with 16 North American branches and is headquartered at 1040 Watson Center Rd., Carson, CA 90745-4227. Tel: 800 426-6887 Fax 310 835-0415 E-mail: sales@porteousfastener.com Web: porteousfastener.com

” Powers Fasteners Inc. opened its first Asian office with a 10,000 sq ft facility in Thailand, president Jeffrey Reid Powers announced. The new 10,000 sq ft facility is located at 80/89 M004 Petchakasem Rd., Bangkae, Bangkok, Thailand. Charlee Surakavanichakorn is managing director.
Approximately one-third of Powers sales are outside the U.S. Powers has two Canadian locations, eight in Australia and New Zealand, one in Venezuela and one in the Netherlands.
Founded 85 years ago as the Rawlplug Company, Powers manufactures mechanical and adhesive concrete anchoring systems; powder actuated and gas-fired fastening systems and accessories for the construction and plant maintenance markets. Powers has a manufacturing plant in Hudson, MI, 28 U.S. regional sales locations and is headquartered at 2 Powers Ln. Brewster, NY 10509. Tel: 914 235-6360 Fax 914 576-6483 E-mail: info@powers.com Web: powers.com

” Republic Engineered Products Inc. received ISO/TS 16949:2002 certifications, CEO Jaime Vigil announced. The ISO/TS certification was developed by the International Automotive Task Force with the International Organization for Standardization to replace the QS 9000 quality system requirements for automotive products.
Republic produces steel for fasteners, forgings, hand tools, machine tools, appliances, automotive, bearings, converters, farm machinery, off-highway equipment, pumps and valves & fittings. Republic operates steelmaking centers in Ohio, New York, Indiana and Ontario and is headquartered at 3770 Embassy Pkwy., Akron, OH 44333-8367. Tel: 330 670-3000 or 800 2323-7157 Fax 330 670-3106 E-mail: info@republicengineered.com Web: republicengineered.com

” Stelfast Inc. named Donna Garcia to a new sales role in its New Jersey. Donna has 25 years experience with importers. Garcia will work with Ralph Faustino in serving Mid-Atlantic and Northeast customers from the New Jersey office. Garcia”s contact: Tel: 877 619-7963 Fax 732 739-3019 E-mail: dgarcia@stelfast.com Faustino: Tel: 877 999-7027 Fax 610 534-5664 E-mail: rfaustino@stelfast.clom
Founded in 1972, Stelfast is an international manufacturer and importer of commercial and industrial fasteners. Stelfast has warehouses in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Houston, Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal. U.S. operations are headquartered at 22979 Stelfast Pkwy, Strongsville, OH 44149. Tel 800-729-9779 Fax 440-879-0044 Web: stelfast.com

” Vertex Distribution appointed Don Smith product manager overseeing development and marketing of new products outside the master distributor”s traditional corrosion-resistant, standard-inch and metric items. Smith has two decades of new product development and sales & marketing experience in the electrical, juvenile and lawn & garden industries.
“Since December of 2005, we”ve carefully considered and explored the product needs of our current customers beyond the realm of our threaded fastener lines” said Vertex president Mark Alperin. “The introduction of our blind rivet lines in February and resulting sales growth is one successful example of this business strategy, which has prompted us to consider other class-c components.”
Vertex Distribution is a North American importer of corrosion resistant, standard inch and metric fasteners plus blind rivets. Vertex, owned by Watermill Ventures Ltd of Waltham, MA, has facilities in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Tampa and Taunton, MA, and is headquartered at 327 Pine St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Tel: 401 726-2400 E-mail: sales@vertexdistribution.com Web: vertexdistribution.com \ �2006 FastenerNews.com