6/1/2009
HEADLINES
SHORTTAKES: Advance Components, Alcoa, Rivet & Eyelet, EFC, David Hirsch, Ifastgroupe, INxSQL, Portland Bolt, Richard Manno, Snap-On Industrial, Solon Mfg.

Advance Components is expanding by adding Cambridge Resources clamps, including pinch clamps, worm gear clamps and pipe clamps.

Founded in 1972, Carrollton, TX-based Advance Components is a master distributor stocking specialty fasteners and 100 million parts, including Tinnerman, AVK and Heyco. Web: advancecomponents.com

Alcoa Fastening Systems promoted Craig Brown to vice president for global aerospace customers & marketing. Brown joined Alcoa in 1983, and in his new role is responsible for worldwide customer relationships, sales and marketing, customer service, and technical support for the aerospace fastening business.

Brown holds an MBA and masters and bachelors degrees in mechanical engineering. He is a Registered Mechanical Engineer and is a director for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association and American Locknut Manufacturers Association.

Brown succeeds Rick Sharpe who is leaving AFS to pursue a new business opportunity. Web: alcoafasteners.com

Bengal Sales was named the New England manufacturers rep for Rivet & Eyelet Technologies LLC, national sales manager Maria Garcia announced.

Headed by Peter Toombs, Bengal is based at 50 Country Corners Rd., Wayland, MA 01778. Tel: 508 358-6698 Fax 508 358-6390

Tewksbury, MA -based Rivet & Eyelet is a domestic and international source for stamped and extruded blind rivets, setting tools and engineered eyelets. Web: riveteyelet.com

EFC International named Fastener Associates Inc. as rep for Florida, president Jim Laarman announced.

Fastener Associates is a stocking rep agency serving Florida fastener, electrical and STAFDA distributors. Brian Crouch heads the agency and is assisted by outside sales rep James Chasser. Fasteners Associates is based at 5110 Adamo Dr., Tampa, FL 33619-3230. Tel: 813 655-0300 Email: brian.crouch@fastenerassociates.com

Founded in 1983, St. Louis, MO-based EFC supplies specialty metal, plastic, electrical component parts to the OEM and distribution markets. Web: efc-intl.com

Former Vertex Distribution CEO David Hirsch has joined Mustang Partners LLC as a managing partner of the private equity firm.

Hirsch founded Vertex in 2003 as the successor to Pawtucket Manufacturing Company. Originally founded in 1882, Pawtucket was one of the oldest fastener businesses in North America.

Hirsch and his family acquired Pawtucket as a bankrupt entity in 1972 and grew it into a major master distributor of corrosion resistant and metric fasteners. Vertex was acquired by DXP Enterprises Inc. last year.

Ifastgroupe named Chuck Schultz regional manager of Ifastgroupe Distribution for the Midwest and Eastern regions, announced Richard Samuel, sales & marketing director.

Schultz started in the fastener industry in 1988 and has held executive roles with Huck Automotive and Alcoa Fastening Systems. He will be based in Mentor, OH, and also oversee the Chicago branch in Carol Stream, IL.

Ifastgroupe also announced sales and marketing team additions: Ed Duchin, who has been with the company 35 years, is now manager for business development; Rick Brown, a certified metallurgist with 26 years in fasteners and the automotive industry, joins in charge of applications engineering; and Peter Kasper, a 25-year fastener veteran specializing in structural fasteners, is customer technical support manager.

Ifastgroupe is owned by Heico LLC and is parent to Infasco, Ingersoll Fasteners, Infasco Nut, Galvano and Ifastgroupe Distribution. Web: ifastgroupe.com

INxSQL announced a software interface with fastenerclearinghouse.com for INxSQL screens to query the FCH database for products and sources, president Robert Reynolds announced. The software also provides capability to send an XML to update the FCH to post overstocked items. The software allows master distributors to market exclusively to distributor customers.

Waterford, MI-based Integrated Inventory Solutions develops software for fastener distribution. Web: Inxsql.com

Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. completed a 30,000 sq ft addition to its plant. The expansion allows installation of a new environmentally friendly hot-dip galvanizing line to replace its 1994 system.

The new line doubles the galvanizing capacity and improves reliability. It also reduces energy costs with the latest furnace and filtering technologies. A new Viron scrubber system filters the air for exhaust.

“The scrubber system was just us doing our part to be environmentally sensitive,” president Jonathan Todd said. “It was not required by any agency, it was Portland Bolt’s way of looking out for the future of others and going the extra mile.”

Founded in 1912, Portland Bolt manufactures construction and industrial fasteners, provides hot-dip galvanizing and stocks a range of bolts, nuts and washers. Web: portlandbolt.com

Richard Manno & Company’s manufacturing operations video is now on YouTube.com. Richard Manno himself describes the operations on the video as the 10-minute presentation moves from the office to the shop, showing the manufacturing of shoulder screws, collars and pins. Web: YouTube.com/watch?v=N9rA7KQxk0M

Richard Manno also launched an expanded website at richardmanno.com. The site now features real time inventory search for standards and specials, cross referencing for identification of major brand part numbers. Online price checking and order placement will be added.

West Babylon, NY-based Richard Manno is a precision machine screw maker.

Snap-on Industrial announced a torque certification program for the global wind industry. Torque certification is particularly sensitive in the wind-power industry because mistakes can be both expensive and time consuming, said Frederick Brookhouse, business and education partnership manager.

The Snap-on torque certification program explores torque theory and proper use and application of equipment. The 16-hour certification course is a component to an existing wind-power technician training course.

Kenosha, WI-based Snap-on Industrial, a division of Snap-on Inc., manufactures clicktype, digital torque & turn, dial wrench, along with full-feature calibration systems and testers for torque applications. Web: snap-on.com

Solon Manufacturing Company is marking its 60th anniversary in 2009. Four fraternity brothers from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland created Solon Manufacturing in 1949.

In the early 1950’s, Solon began manufacturing Belleville Springs. In 1960, Solon moved to Chardon, OH. The Industrial Controls product line was added in the early 1960s.

The Solon Belleville Spring and Solon Industrial Controls divisions “are still going strong today. Both have expanded product lines for various industries and applications.” Web: solonmfg.com ©2009 GlobalFastenerNews.com