Corus Opens High-Tech Wire Distribution Center

John Wolz

Editor”s Note: The following column by Phil Matten, editor of Fastener & Fixing Europe, is part of a news column exchange with FIN/FastenerNews.com.

Anglo-Dutch steel manufacturer Corus opened an advanced new distribution facility to store, handle and dispatch damage-critical grades of wire rod for automotive applications. Located in Scunthorpe, England, the highly automated facility reportedly is the first of its kind in Europe for handling this type of premium-quality product. In addition to fastener producers, the US$24 million facility supplies high-grade wire to automotive component manufacturers. Many of the steels supplied are susceptible to surface damage, which can translate into finished product defects.
The new facility addresses the requirement to properly handle damage-critical material while delivering substantial improvements in inventory and order processing efficiency.
The high-bay centre utilizes warehousing technologies developed in the retail supply chain, which have been adapted to cope with the demands of a heavy manufacturing environment.
These include a non-standard size and shape product that is not palletised and may be reach temperatures of 500�C. Corus says the new warehouse will support its continual program to develop more advanced steels and ensure delivery to customers in optimum condition.
Practical World 2006
Koelnmesse, the exhibition centre at Cologne that hosts the two-yearly Practical World DIY and Hardware show, has confirmed that development of four new exhibition halls is on schedule. The new facilities will replace the Rhine halls that were sold to a German TV company. Practical World, which takes place March 4-8, 2006, will be the second major show to use the new halls, ensuring that new-facility kinks have been worked out. Koelnmesse predicts around 3,500 exhibitors similar to 2004 but acknowledges that a number of major brand leaders, including Fischer, ABC SPAX and Bosch Power Tools, will not participate. On the other hand, Asian and particularly Chinese participation has grown dramatically over the last 6 years. That”s a conundrum for Koelmesse, as for many exhibition companies. While considerable resentment from European exhibitors remains, there is little doubt that the strong Asian contingent draws visitors who may be unable to travel to the Far East but prefer the assurance of face-to-face agreement.
Fastener and fixings exhibits will be in the twin-level Hall 5, which is bounded on two sides by tools halls and on the other by the main DIY hall.
For the second consecutive show Fastener & Fixing Europe magazine will be co-operating with Koelnmesse to present a “Fastener and Fixings Innovation Showcase.” The special stand in Hall 5 features new products demonstrating significant new-user benefits. The magazine will preview exhibits in its January issue as part of a special feature on innovation.
New Apex Facility Fully Operational
Apex Stainless Fasteners ranks as one of the top five European stainless specialists. Earlier in 2005 the company acquired the manufacturing equipment and rights to the Aerotight mechanical locking nut. Demand for the Aerotight nut, originally a World War II GKN design, is strong and the operation is running close to capacity to build inventory for Apex, which was the largest distributor of the product prior to the purchase. The relocation has allowed improvements in productivity and extension of the size range up to M24.
Apex”s new central warehouse in West Midlands is filling fast. The 35,000 sq ft building houses a substantial part of the company”s US$8.5 million inventory of product from Asian and European manufacturing sources. “One of our key strengths is having stock on the shelf,” explained Apex”s Paul Lower, “which means, for example, around 14 million M6 stainless nuts right now. In the core metric ranges we are as strong now as any European stainless specialist.”
UK Firm Invests �6.5 million
Aspray Transport, which specialises in next day UK wide delivery for the fastener and hardware sectors, opened its new distribution hub near Birmingham. Managing director Pat Laight outlined a plan to double volumes in the coming 5 years. The highly automated system, specifically designed to cope with so-called “ugly loads” like lengths of threaded bar, already handles as many as 15,000 parcels and 1,000 pallets every night. The system serves a critical function in a market that relies on dependable next day delivery of fasteners.
PSM Opens Czech
Threadlocking Plant
The thread locking and sealing division of PSM International has opened a new facility in Brno, Czech Republic, with easy access to Slovakia, Poland and other emerging eastern Europe markets. The new processing plant handles technologies from Nylok Corp. and Omni-Technik of Germany.
Fastbolt Opens Shanghai Office
Following restructuring, UK-based Fastbolt Distributors has opened an office in Shanghai and recruited a full-time manager. According to Fastener & Fixing Europe magazine, the move reflects CEO Ekkehard Beermann”s belief that the rate of change in the Chinese supply market is too radical to manage remotely, even with Fastbolt”s pattern of regular visits.
“Fastbolt China will rapidly become an integral and crucial element in our quality control process,” explained Beermann, “as well as allowing us to strengthen relationships with key suppliers, and fully evaluate potential new factories.”
Beermann said he was pleased with the new operation and team, which will be linked to the German headquarters via the company”s SAP system. \ �2005 FastenerNews.com