Advance Components launched a new company logo now displayed on its website: AdvanceComponents.com.

The new logo is described as “part of the ongoing evolution of our brand. Our business has grown and developed during the last 45 years, and while times have changed, our commitment to our customers has not.” The new logo “points to where we’re going with a future-forward plan to provide our clients with custom products, analytics and solutions to maximize their profitability.”

Founded in 1972, Advance is a master stocking distributor of specialty fastener products and provides engineering solutions and is headquartered at 2920 Commodore Dr. #100, Carrollton, TX 75087. Tel: 972 446-5500


AZ Lifting Hardware named Desert Distribution Sales as rep for Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah.

“We have managed Arizona and surrounding states direct from out headquarters in Phoenix since our founding,” president Chuck Smith said. “As we’ve grown our ability to cover the market becomes a challenge and the benefit of having professional representation was obvious.”

Founded in 2001 by John Wachman, Desert Distribution’s team includes Colorado-based Jo Morris and California-based Beth Van Zandt. The rep agency’s clients also include AVK Industrial Products, Parker Fasteners, Cable Tie Express, Stelfast Inc, ND Industries and Handles Unlimited. Desert Distribution is headquartered at 26902 N. 162nd St., Scottsdale, AZ 85262. Tel: 480 390-2577 Email: sales@DesertDistribution.com Web: DesertDistribution.com

AZLH supplies eye bolts, turnbuckles, clevises / yoke ends, rod ends, shackles / hooks, rope / chain hardware, stainless steel and custom products and is headquartered at 7150 W. Roosevelt St. C-101, Phoenix, AZ 85043. Tel: 888 936-1466 Web: AZLiftingHardware.com


B&F Fastener Supply is constructing a 20,000 sq ft facility a block away from its current St. Augusta, MN, branch which opened in 2008.

“Our St. Cloud Market has seen tremendous growth, we needed to grow in size to fit more product, for more customers,” B&F sales VP Ryan Shaw told WJON-AM. “It’s been a really great move for us and we’re excited about the future.”

Founded in 1988, B&F distributes to OEMs, MRO and construction customers from 16 locations in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas and is headquartered at 7100 Sunwood Dr NW, Ramsey, MN 55303. Tel: 763 710-2429 Web: BFFastenerSupply.com


Band-It marked its 80th anniversary by launching a new website: Band-It-Idex.com.

Band-It was founded in 1937 in Colorado by Holbrook Mahn to provide fastening for his friend, Charlie Gates of Gates Rubber Company.

Today Band-It designs and manufactures clamping and banding systems, brackets, ties and accessories for the aerospace, automotive, energy, government, hose, oil & gas and utility industries.

“We are extremely proud of our heritage as a world class manufacturer of fastening solutions,” Band-It president Bill Reeves said. “As we move into our 81st year, we will continue to support our partners in solving their most complex fastening applications.”

Band-It is a a unit of Idex Corporation, a global designer and manufacturer of engineered fastening solutions. Band-It has worldwide operations and sales offices and is headquartered at 4799 Dahlia St., Denver, CO 80216. Tel: 800 525-0758


Fastener Technology International magazine is 40 years old. The first issue was dated January 2, 1977, as a section of Wire Technology, which then-president Ray Zirkle described as a “magazine-within-a magazine.” It became a separate publication at the beginning of 1978. Zirkle sold Fastener Technology to Huebner Publications of Ohio in 1981.

Subsequently the magazine was owned for 18 years by John Jones and Mary Jones – who had been Huebner employees – and then acquired in 2006 by Job Lippincott.

FTI is now headed by publisher Chip Lippincott and is based at 1741 Akron Peninsula Rd., Akron, OH 44313. Tel: 330 864-2122 Web: FastenerTech.com


Innovative Components added Jennifer Jindrich and Rose Severino to customer service and Kelly Cannon on marketing.

Founded in 1992 by Mike O’Connor, Innovative Components is marking its 25th anniversary. O’Connor was mowing in high grass and one of the lawnmower handlebar knobs fell off. He couldn’t find it but later ran over the knob, ruining it and the lawnmower blade. That led to the question, “Why can’t they make plastic knobs that don’t vibrate loose on lawnmowers?”

After minutes working with an engineer, O’Connor came up with a design that topped one million in sales in nine months. 

Innovative Components initially shared space with a tool & die maker in Long Grove IL. Today Innovative Components’ Schaumburg plant totals 25,000 sq ft and has 100 employees. A decade ago Innovative Components added a plant in Costa Rica.

Almost all products are made with polypropylene made from recycled plastic parts, including automotive battery casings.  Recycling company grind parts into small flakes and create purified pellets nearly identical to newly-created pellets. In 2016 Innovative Components’ recycled content exceeded 82%.

Innovative Components utilizes recycled plastics in manufacturing knobs, pins, thread identifiers, latches, and nylon tip fasteners. Innovative Components is headquartered at 1050 National Pkwy., Schaumburg, IL 60173. Tel: 847 885-9050 Web: knobsource.com


Safety Socket LLC received audit certification to ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D,  sales & marketing VP Steve Payne announced.

Currently only 247 companies in the world – 152 in the U.S. – have attained this accreditation, according to the International Aerospace Quality Group. Safety Socket is the only high-strength aerospace fastener manufacturer in the IAQG listing.

“By utilizing the most up-to-date quality management system, Safety Socket will continue to provide superior manufactured product and documentation to our customers in the aerospace and commercial markets,” Payne said.

QA manager Jessica Dishman noted AS9100D provisions “promote employee awareness and protect the supply channel from counterfeit product.”

Safety Socket is a domestic fastener manufacturer of high-strength, made-to-print fasteners for distributors to aerospace/military and commercial OEMs. Founded in 1931, the third-generation fastener manufacturer was acquired by Chetrum Capital LLC in 2004. Safety Socket is located at 49 Prairie Pkwy., Gilberts, IL 60136. Tel: 224 484-6222 Web: SafetySocket.com


Southco Asia, a subsidiary of Southco, appointed Joaquin Tam as GM of Greater China. Tam will report to Jay Lu, managing director, Asia Pacific at Southco.

Based in Hong Kong, Tam will also lead Southco’s Asia Pacific Diversified Technologies business. Tam has more than 25 years of leadership experience. Prior to joining Southco, Tam was GM of Southern China.

Founded in 1899, Southco designs and manufactures engineered access solutions including latches, locks, hinges and fasteners, and is headquartered at 210 N. Brinton Lake Rd., Concordville, PA 19331. Tel: 610 459-4000 Web: southco.com


Wrentham Tool Group named Jim Russell as president. Russell will report to Ken Hurley, CEO of Phillips Screw Co., which owns Wrentham Tool.

“As we continue to accelerate the growth rate of the company, with increased new product offerings and expanded sales coverage worldwide, it was the right time to build our strategic resources,” Hurley said.

“(Russell) brings a wealth of experience in engineering and product development, manufacturing, quality assurance, technical sales and marketing management, strategic planning and finance.”

Russell has 21 years of manufacturing plant management experience. Most recently, he was the operations VP for Parallel Environmental Services Corp.

Wrentham Tool also promoted Jessica Smith to sales manager. Smith has been with WTG for three years and in sales and customer service for 30 years. She will continue her marketing and advertising administrator duties.

Finance VP Wes Stoskopf said Smith’s new role “is another step forward in evolving the company not only with expanding product line but also in developing a larger and more diversified customer base.”

Founded in 1948, Wrentham manufactures fastener tooling and gage technology to defense, aerospace, automotive, medical, and hi-tech industries.

Wrentham is located at 155 Farm St., Bellingham, MA 02019. Tel: 508 966-2332 Email: customerservice@wrenthamtool.com Web: wrenthamtool.com


Wyandotte Industries has named Jackie Ventura of Ventura Industrial Products as rep in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky, sales manager Dan Duffield announced.

Ventura has 30 years experience in the fastener industry including as an independent sales rep and manufacturers rep plus with IfastGroupe. Ventura Industrial is based at 9520 S. Skyland Dr., Macedonia, OH 44056. Tel: 330 467-0102 Email: JV@JackieVentura.com Web: JackieVentura.com

Founded in 1959, Wyandotte Industries manufactures special nuts, nylon insert locknuts, screw machine and CNC engineered components. Wyandotte is a third generation, family-owned business located at 4625 13th St., Wyandotte, MI 48192. Tel: 734 283-1870 Email: info@Wyandotte.com Web: wyandotte.com