Short Takes: Brighton-Best, Fastco, Global Fastener, McGuire Fasteners, Spec Products, Vertex, Wurth

Jason Sandefur

” Brighton-Best Socket Screw Mfg. named regional managers Steve Andrasik of Cleveland and Chuck Halpin of Swedesboro, NJ, key account managers for the U.S., vice president of sales Gordon Anderson announced. Brighton-Best also announced it has broken ground for a 30,000 sq ft distribution center in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, Ontario, to provide additional inventory and new products to the Canadian market when it opens in the summer of 2005. Joseph Bolic and Ken Eldridge are district managers for Canada. Brighton-Best recently completed expansion on its Cleveland distribution center to 35,000 sq ft, and it signed a contract for expansion of the Chicago center by 11,000 sq ft to 34,000 sq ft. Founded in 1925 in Cincinnati, Brighton-Best supplies socket screws to distributors from 30 centers around the world and is headquartered at 1665 Heraeus Blvd., Buford, GA 30518-3383. Tel: 678 288-1000 Fax 678 288-1015 Web: brightonbest.com ”

Ron Sonnier is the new vice president for quality at Fastco Threaded Products Inc., CEO Chris Ray announced. Ray also announced that Patrick Henson was added to the Fastco salesforce. Henson has worked for Lindquist Steels Inc. and Siskin Steel & Aluminum. He will operate out of Fastcos Greenville, SC, office. Founded in 1984, Fastco distributes fasteners and type C commodities, specializing in vendor-managed inventory for OEMs. Fastco has branches in Greenville; Louisville; Morristown, TN; and Madison, IN, and is headquartered at 739 Old Clemson Rd., Columbia, SC 29229. Tel: 803 788-1000 or 800 922-9383 Fax 803 788-1004 E-mail: sales@fastco.com Web: fastco.com ”

Global Fastener & Supply Inc. received ISO 9001-2000 certification, director of inside sales Diane Banach announced. Founded in 1985 by Art Salani, Global Fastener distributes fasteners and related items plus assembles and packages fasteners and other parts. Global is located at 5500 S. Westridge Dr., New Berlin, WI 53151. Tel: 262 785-9191 or 800 785-2664 Fax 262 785-9282 E-mail: sales@globalfast.com Web: globalfast.com ”

McGuire Fasteners Inc. is marking 75 years of the McGuire family in the fastener industry. Robert M. McGuire was a traveling tire salesman in 1929 who started a side business selling wheel bolts and nuts, leading to Capital Sales Inc. beginning in the basement of his rooming house in Columbus, OH. His son, Robert O. McGuire, joined the business in the 1930s. Grandsons Mike McGuire and Terry McGuire joined Capital and later started Buckeye Bolt & Nut Co. Capital Sales was eventually sold to Mid-State Bolt & Nut and Buckeye Bolt & Nut Co. to Bamal Corp. Mike McGuire co-founded the National Industrial Fastener Show & Conference in 1980 and American Fastener Journal in 1984. Carol McGuire is now editor and publisher of the distribution-oriented magazine. Mike McGuire has been involved in rep businesses, publishing training, source and reference materials, and a fastener website, fastenersources.com. Terry McGuire now owns and manages Cable Ties Unlimited, a wholesaler of nylon cable ties to the fastener, electrical, construction and industrial distribution markets. Mike McGuire continues with the trade shows and publishing Fastening Product Directory & Resource Guide. Cable Ties Unlimited is headquartered at 4157 Lyman Dr., Hilliard, OH 43026. Tel: 614 921-1820 or 866 455-8437 Fax 614 921-1821 E-mail: terry@cabletiesunlimited.com Web: cabletiesunlimited.com McGuire Fasteners in now headquartered at 27081 N. 96th Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85262. Tel: 480 563-1424 Fax 480 563-1468 E-mail: mmcguire@fastening.com ”

Spec Products Corp. moved to a new office at 3F-1, No. 383 Sec. 3, Jung Hua East Rd., Tainan, Taiwan. Tel: (886) 6 2881655 Fax (886) 6 2882850 E-mail: zephyr.chang@spec.com.tw Web: spec.com/tw President Zephur Chang announced Spec Products added induction H-T items to its capabilities. Chang had been president of QST from 1986 to 2001 and founded Spec Products in 2001 as an engineering and special parts manufacturer and exporter. Spec Products is a licensee for multiple trademark brands and manufactures fasteners to customer prints. ”

After 32 years with Vertex Fasteners, David Hirsch has relinquished the title of president to Mark Alperin. Hirsch will continue as chairman and CEO. Alperin has been with Vertex for 15 years and will continue as COO and oversee daily operations. Prior to Vertex, Alperin was with an investment firm and the Washington Redskins. Vertex, owned by Main Street Resources of Westport, CT, was formed in 2003 from Bell Fasteners, Zelenda Metric and Stillwater Fasteners. Vertex is a master distributor and specialty manufacturer of corrosion resistant standard inch and metric fasteners. Vertex has distribution centers in Atlanta; Charlotte, NC; Chicago; Cleveland; Dallas; East Freetown, MA, Houston, Los Angeles, New Bedford, MA; and Tampa and is headquartered at 327 Pine St. Pawtucket, RI 02862. Tel: 401 725-3880 Fax 401 725-0817 Web: vertexfasteners.com ”

Würth Service Supply Inc. announced third quarter sales rose 129% from the same period of 2003 to $30 million. Sales for 2004 are up 94.2% for the first three quarters. Founded in 1948, Würth Service Supply is now part of the Künzelsau, Germany-based Würth Group, which has more than 45,000 employees in 80 countries. Würth Service Supply has 28 North American service centers and is headquartered at 4935 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46268-0957. Tel: 317 704-1000 or 800 428-4686 Fax 317 704-8469 E-mail: wurth@servicesupply.com Web: servicesupply.com or vmiservice.com\ ©2004 FastenerNews.com