Greg Rawlings, president of Nylok LLC, was named to the Fastener Training Institute board.
Rawlings has held sales, engineering and management positions over 12 years with the MarmonHoldings company, which is part of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Nylok provides resin, adhesive and lubricant coatings for threaded fastener applications.
FTI managing director John Wachman cited Rawlings’ fastener coatings experience as valuable. Rawlings’ 23-year career also includes tooling engineering. He is vice chair of the Industrial Fastener Institute automotive division.
FTI is a non-profit organization providing beginning to advanced training on fastener products, standards and specifications. Web: FastenerTraining.org

Grainger promoted two executives.
Deidra (Dee) Merriwether, currently senior VP and president of North American Sales and Services, has been named CFO. Merriwether joined Grainger in 2013 as head of North America Finance and became head of U.S. Direct Sales and Pricing in 2017. In 2020, she was named SVP and president of North American Sales.
“Dee is a proven executive with a track record of delivering profitable growth,” stated CEO DG Macpherson. “Her financial expertise and deep understanding of Grainger’s business operations will serve the company well.”
Grainger also promoted SVP and Chief Technology, Merchandising, Marketing and Strategy Officer Paige Robbins to SVP and president of the Grainger Business Unit, comprised of Grainger businesses in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Robbins joined Grainger in 2010 and has led the Global Supply Chain, Branch Network, Customer Service Centers, Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Merchandising and the Grainger Technology Group.
Grainger also announced that Grainger Business Unit will merge all commercial functions for the Grainger brand in North America into a single organization. Web: Grainger.com

Optimas Solutions completed IATF certification for its global operations by adding facilities in India, Mexicali, Mexico, and Lockbourne, OH.
Issued by the International Automotive Task Force, the certification represents the highest level of quality assurance in the automotive industry.
The achievement provides opportunities to secure new business.
“We are one of very few fastener suppliers and manufacturers that have IATF registration, which is well recognized outside of the automotive industry as a premiere level of quality assurance,” stated CEO Marc Strandquist.
Optimas was formed in 2015 when New York private equity firm American Industrial Partners acquired Anixter’s OEM Supply Fasteners division at auction for $380 million cash.
Glenview, IL-based Optimas provides fasteners and c-class components and services to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in the automotive, agricultural, and medical equipment markets.  The company has 1,600 employees in 16 countries, and manufactures in Illinois and the UK. Web: Optimas.com

PennEngineering company PROFIL, which manufactures Mechanically Attached Fasteners (MAF) for the automotive industry, launched a new website at www.profil-global.com.
Available in English and German, the new site provides an enhanced user experience that makes it easy to learn about PROFIL products, installation methods and application usage.
New content features include an interactive search, cost calculator and application overview. Site visitors can also find information on PROFIL global locations and contact information for manufacturing, sales and service.
Founded in 1942, PennEngineering is headquartered at 5190 Old Easton Rd. Danboro, PA 18916. Web: Pemnet.com

TR VIC is buying fastener machinery to increase production for European customers.
The newest Carlo Salvi cold former increases manufacturing capacity of fasteners for the automotive, household and electrical markets. The advanced Carlo Salvi 1 Die 2 Blow Header produces screw blanks as well as solid parts at up to 190 parts per minute.
“With our on-site manufacturing we can add real value to our customers by developing bespoke products – our new machine is a boost to our already impressive manufacturing credentials,” stated sales and operations director Karol Gregorczyk.
Since its acquisition by Trifast PLC in 2014, TR VIC has invested in manufacturing equipment while expanded its workforce while improving processes and upgrading technologies. Web: TRFastenings.com