SHORT TAKES: EFC International, Fastener Connection, Lightning Components, Fastenersclearinghouse.com, WCL Co.

John Wolz

” EFC International launched EFC-Marine.com as an “online encyclopedia for specialty marine components,” the company announced.
EFC is expanding in supplying the marine industry. Founded in 1983, EFC in a master provider of engineered fasteners, clamps, installation equipment and specialty components. EFC has branches in Chicago and Atlanta and is headquartered at 1940 Criagshire Rd., St. Louis, MO 63146. Tel: 314 434-2888 or 800 888-3326 Fax 314 434-2902 Web: efc-intl.com

” Will Rodriguez is back in the fastener industry with The Fastener Connection Inc. after acquiring the Houston and two Tennessee branches of Dallas-based Lightning Components Corp.
Rodriguez started in the fastener industry in the warehouse of Coast Fasteners while he was a college student. Rodriguez, Scott Turner and Vince Marcheschi co-founded Rainbow Fastener Corp. in 1984. They sold Rainbow to Distribution Dynamics Inc. and Rodriguez left DDI in 1999 to travel, hunt and golf. ” I guess the fastener industry is in my blood,” Rodriguez said of his return.
Today Fastener Connection has “a lot of the same employees, same customers and same products as Rainbow did,” he added.
Rodriguez was president of the Southwestern Fastener Association in 1992.
Fastener Connection has branches in Dayton and Fayetteville, TN, and is headquartered at 14820 Tomball Pkwy., #100, Houston, TX 77086. Tel: 713 895-8000 Fax 713 895-8090
Founded in 1997, Lightning distributes imported fasteners and Class C components. Lightning Components remains headquartered at 720 Industrial Blvd. #500, Grapevine, TX 76051. Tel: 817 442-8990 Fax 817 410-9505 E-mail: sales@lightningcomponents.com

” Fastenersclearinghouse.com launched the second version of its surplus inventory online exchange, operations manager and a principal Eric Dudas announced. In addition to an updated look the new version features a request for quote system.
“Distributors are in the fastener business, not the database business, so the first challenge we had was to offer a simple way for them to get their inventory online,” Dudas explained.
Launched in 2006, Fastenersclearinghouse.com is a search engine for surplus fasteners based in Naperville, IL. Tel: 877 332-7836 E-mail: support-fch@fastenersclearinghouse.com Web: fastenersclearinghouse.com

” WCL Company is marking the 50th anniversary of its founding by R.L. “Bob” Harper. He knew lock washers from working in the family business, Harper Manufacturing of Toledo, OH. Harper had been stationed in the Navy in California during World War II and “sensed the industrial potential of the area.” Harper moved his family there and incorporated West Coast Lockwasher Company on June 19, 1957. He soon hired close friend Robert Rollo to help manage the growing company.
To mark its 50th year, WCL published a calendar of fastener facts, special events, prizes and awards offered though out 2007, including a drawing for customers on June 19 and “free UPS” days.
WCL remains a family business run by Harper”s sons, Lee Harper and Craig Harper and Rollo”s son, Bob Rollo. Kelly Cole is vice president of sales. WCL has expanded its product lines to threaded fasteners and plastic assembly components, washers and nuts and is located at16730 E. Johnson Dr., Industry, CA 91744. Tel 626 968-5523 Fax 626 369-9805 E-mail: info@wclco.com Web: wclco.com \ �2007 FastenerNews.com