SHORT TAKES: Amalga, Bisco, Fastenal, Fastener Quality Center, Freedom Fastener, Industrial Fasteners, Rivet & Eyelet, Begyn, Needleman & Co., Southeastern Sales, TR Formac, Trifast

John Wolz

Amalga Corporation launched a new website at amalgacorp.com, owner Bryant Lind announced.
Lind founded the employee recruiting firm in 2006 after more than 20 years working in the fastener industry.
Amalga specializes in the fastener and industrial distribution markets and is located at 65 Drakes Meadow Lane, Arden, NC 28704. Tel: 828 687-3510 E-mail: bryantlind@amalgacorp.com\ �2007 FastenerNews.com

Bisco Industries promoted Tim Stauffacher to Eastern regional manager. Stauffacher will be responsible for managing the Midwest, the Tri-States and the Mid Atlantic, and will report to COO Don Wagner. Stauffacher joined Bisco in 1999, was promoted to facility manager in 2001, and became area manager in 2003.
Founded in 1973, Bisco Industries distributes electronic components and fasteners through 35 facilities. The company is headquartered at 1500 N. Lakeview Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807. Tel: 714 876-2400 Fax 714 876-2410 Web: www.biscoind.com

Fastenal Co. named LeLand Hein, 46, executive vice president in charge of business units based out of distribution centers west of the Mississippi River in the U.S. and west of Ontario, Canada. He joined Fastenal in 1985.
Steven Rucinski, 50, was named executive vice president in charge of business units based in Mexico, Europe, and Asia. He has been with Fastenal since 1980.
Reyne Wisecup, 44, is the new executive vice president for human resources. She joined Fastenal in 1988 and has served on the board of directors since 2000.
Fastenal named James Jansen, 37, as executive vice president of internal operations, including product and merchandising development. He has been with the company since 1992.
Fastenal operates 2,150 stores in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Singapore, along with 13 North American distribution centers. The company is headquartered at 2001 Theurer Blvd., Winona, MN 55987. Tel: 507 454-5374 Fax 507 453-8049 Web: www.fastenal.com

Fastener Quality Center opened its doors in the Puijang section of Shanghai with a traditional Chinese celebration. Ferdinand Gross, a fifth generation German fastener company, and European-based importer Fastbolt opened a joint venture testing lab.
CEO Gerald Herring described the opening as a “milestone in the strategic development of the two companies, which while longstanding trading partners are entirely non-competitive.”
Fastbolt chairman Heinz Storch emphasized that the two companies share a common goal in achieving excellence through reliability and integrity. Fastbolt CEO Ekkehard Beermann spoke of the necessity for importers and distributors to invest more in inspection and the need for quality control at the source in China to help both exporting manufacturers and importers in eliminating product defects.
The testing lab is available to third parties.
The FQC lab is located at Mechanical Technology Consultancy Co. Ltd., West Part, 1st Floor, Building 8, No. 67, Lane 1768 LiYue Road, PuJiang Town, MinHang District Shanghai 201114, China. E-mail: info@fqc-shanghai.com Web: www.fqc-shanghai.com

Mike Scharringhausen and Vicki Scharringhausen opened Freedom Fastener Inc.
Mike Scharringhausen is a 25-year veteran of the fastener industry and is third generation in the industry. His grandfather, Ed Ledwon, operated Available Screw & Bolt; his father, Larry Scharringhausen, operated Liberty Fastener; and his uncle Paul Scharringhausen ran Midwest Bolt of Kansas City.
Freedom Fastener distributes semi-standard fasteners to OEMs in the Midwest and is located at 869 E. Schaumburg Rd. #149, Schaumburg, IL 60194. Tel: 847 891-3686 or 877 477-3525 Fax 866 662-2651 E-mail: mike@freedomfastener.com or info@freedomfastener.com

Rick Steinke was promoted to general manager of Industrial Fasteners Inc. Steinke joined the firm in 1984 and most recently was operations manager.
IFI Inc. manufactures industrial grade, galvanized and plated engineered fasteners. Salem, OR-based IFI has distribution centers in Portland and the Midwest. The mailing address is P.O. Box 12968, Salem, OR 97309. Tel: 503 588-8304 or 800 821-8169 Fax 503 588-2379 Web: www.ifibolt.com

Rivet & Eyelet Technologies LLC named Begyn, Needleman & Company as manufacturers rep for New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and eastern Pennsylvania, CEO Patrick Brooks announced.
Begyn & Needleman is headed by Al Begun and Marvin Needleman. The company mailing address is P.O. Box 1458, Island Heights, NJ 08732. Tel: 732 286-6808 Fax 732 286-9717 Web: www.bnreps.com
Rivet & Eyelet manufactures blind rivets, eyelet products, setting tools and semitubular/solid rivets and is located at 1215 Main St. #110, Tewksbury, MA 01876. Tel: 978 851-2700 or 800 853-7011 Fax 978 851-4488 E-mail: sales@riveteyelet.com Web: www.riveteyelet.com

Jonathan Hodges acquired Southeastern Sales & Associates from Fred Cooper. Hodges is the son of Drillco co-owner John Hodges. The agencies will rep fastener, drill bit and construction products.
Cooper founded the rep agency in the 1970s.
The rep agency is now located at 1353 Riverstone Pkwy. #120-327, Canton, GA 30114. Tel: 404 663-0791 Fax 678 454-1632 E-mail: jonathanhodges@Ellijay.com

TR Formac, the Asian subsidiary of Trifast plc, opened a new China headquarters and warehouse.
Trifast CEO Steve Auld, Asian managing director Steven Tan, Dr Michael Teng and Chinese general manager Phua Yong Sang cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Auld told Fastener & Fixing Europe that the Shanghai operation has more than doubled sales in the last two years. TR employs 55 people at the new office and warehouse and 40 others in six other China locations.
Teng will succeed Tan, who will retire as TR board director and managing director in Asia at the end of 2007. Ten years ago TR acquired Ten”s Singapore-based Formac company. The Singapore manufacturing operation has continued to grow, and has been joined by TR”s SFE manufacturing subsidiary in Taiwan and a new plant in Suzhou, China.
Founded in 1973, TR is a manufacturer and distributor of industrial fasteners and components. TR has six manufacturing plants in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and the UK and 30 distribution sites in 16 countries in Europe, North America and Asia. TR is headquartered at Trifast House, Bellbrook PK, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 1QW UK. E-mail: info@trfastening Tel: (44) 800 731-5553 Fax (44) 800 525-230 E-mail: info@trfastenings.com Web: www.trfastenings.com