9/27/2011 11:54:00 PM
HEADLINES
SHORTTAKES: Chandler Products, Field Fastener, Gemcor, Hi-Tech, Industrial Rivet, Leland Powell, Manasquan, Jergens, Sererra Consulting, Simpson Mfg., and Telefast

Chandler Products, a division of Elgin Fastener Group, appointed Ron Siedler military sales specialist. 

After retiring in 2010, Siedler returns with more than 20 years sales and management experience. 

Chandler manufactures cold-headed fasteners, specializing in small to medium production orders and close tolerance cold headed parts for the diesel engine, transmission, locomotive and military markets. Chandler is located at 1491 Chardon Rd., Cleveland, OH 44117. Tel: 216 481-4400 Web: chandlerproducts.com

 

Field Fastener was named to the 2011 INC. Magazine 5000 list of U.S. companies. Field was ranked 3,944.

Field Fastener statistics include a three-year growth rate of 34%, with 2010 revenue of $24.8 million, up from the $18.6 million listed in 2007. Field has 55 employees. 

Founded in 1976 by Dick Field, the distributorship was acquired in 1990 by brothers Bill Derry and Jim Derry.

This spring Field Fastener broke ground on a $3.5 million, 43,000 sq ft addition to its Rockford, IL-area headquarters.

Field Fastener supplies fasteners, inventory management and technical support in 15 countries to 900 customers. Field is headquartered at 9883 N. Alpine Rd., Machesney Park, IL 61115. Tel: 815 637-9002 Web: fieldfastener.com

 

Gemcor opened a joint venture office located in Beijing. The 50/50 JV was formed with the AVIC Beijing Aeronautical Manufacturing Technology Research Institute.

Gemcor also announced a 27,000 sq ft addition to its 80,000 sq ft facility in Buffalo, NY.

Avic – Gemcor Automatic Riveting Technical Service Co. Ltd. will provide local after-sales technical service for Gemcor’s customer base in China. The JV will also carry spare parts for use during warranty periods and routine maintenance.

“As our installation base continues to grow in China, it is important we have the infrastructure in place to support these important customers,” Gemcor CEO William Mangus explained.

Gemcor has been supplying its automatic fastening systems used in the manufacture of aircraft to China for more than 20 years. The market has been growing due to increased manufacturing of airframe assemblies for such companies as Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier. In addition, China is introducing its own C919 single aisle domestic passenger aircraft.

Allen (Pete) Grum of Rand Capital Corporation, which holds 7.14% of Gemcor stock, noted Gemcor’s continued growth “was part of their strategic initiatives and recognition at the importance of Chinese customers.”

In the past four years, China has accounted for an average 40% of Gemcor sales.

Gemcor’s fastening systems are engineered and manufactured in suburban Buffalo, NY. Their systems are used to fasten or rivet the skin to aircraft. Gemcor ships systems to the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Russia and Europe.

The addition is to the facility Gemcor moved to in 1996. With the help of $583,000 in local tax breaks, the $3.1 million addition will reportedly create 11 new jobs by 2013. The company currently employs 55.

Founded in 1937, Gemcor is a privately held company. Investors include Rand Capital Corporation, Erie Country Industrial Develop Agency, and Cygnus Management Group. Gemcor is headquartered at 100 Gemcor Dr., West Seneca, NY 14224. Tel: 716 674-6300 Web: gemcor.com

 

Maryland-based Hi-Tech Fasteners Inc. is expanding into Canada. The fastener and electronic hardware distributor launched Hi-Tech Fasteners–Canada, with a Toronto sales office.

“Given how much our sales in Canada have grown the past few years, it was clear to us the time was right to enter this marketplace on a full-time basis,” said Hi-Tech Fasteners president Tom Waller.

General manager Mark Mertz named Steve Hill as Canadian sales manager. Hill had been with Rush Electronics Ltd.

“In opening a new venture such as this, we felt it was important to tap someone with detailed knowledge of the products we offer and the Canadian marketplace as a whole,” Mertz said.

Hi-Tech Fasteners is a stocking distributor for engineered fastener, electronic hardware, and mechanical component lines for the electronics, telecommunications, medical, computer, aerospace, instrumentation, and other high-tech and commercial industries.  Hi-Tech is headquartered at 4940 Winchester Blvd., Frederick, MD 21703. Tel: 301 831-1277 Web: hitechfasteners.com

 

Joanne Goodman Sherman, co-owner of Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co., is being honored as a 2010/2011 Professional Woman of the Year in Manufacturing by the National Association of Professional Women. NAPW has more than 200,000 members.

Sherman is in the third generation of the Goodman family to lead the firm that her grandfather founded in 1912. 

Sherman was still a teenager when she began to work in her family’s business in 1974, working part-time throughout high school. Today she is the secretary and treasurer of the company that she now co-owns with her brother. 

During her tenure, Sherman has overseen the expansion of Industrial Rivet’s product line, helping the company grow into a global distributor with eight international locations and 10 U.S. distribution centers. 

She is the firm’s administrative and operational executive and is responsible for its brands and copyrights. She is an ISO certified internal auditor.

Industrial Rivet manufactures, distributes and imports rivets and is headquartered at 200 Paris Ave., Northvale, NJ 07647. Tel: 201 750-1040 Web: rivet.com

Leland Powell Fasteners named Greg Cool quality assurance manager. Cool has 29 years in fastener manufacturing, including with Emhart, Bollhof Rivnut and Talma Fasteners.

Leland Powell is a part of Elgin Fastener Group, which was acquired in August by equity firm Audax Group.

Leland Powell manufactures standard and semi-standard fastener solutions for industries including lawn & garden, appliance, furniture and commercial trailer applications. Leland Powell is located at 8160 Highway 45 South, Martin, TN 38237 Tel: 731 587-3106 Web: lelandpowell.com

 

Manasquan Premium Fasteners expanded its product offering by adding Starborn Industries and Simpson Strong Tie products plus 6 Lobe star drive stainless steel screws for wood and composites.

Founded in 1987, Manasquan distributes stainless steel fasteners to the residential, commercial and marine construction industries and is located at 1129B Industrial Pkwy., Brick, NJ 08724. Tel: 800 542-1979 Web: manasquanfasteners.com

Jergens Inc. president Jack Schron Jr. named Patrick Rienks general manager of the Tooling Components division, succeeding Sean Stapulionis.

Previously Rienks was vice president/general manager for Crane Pumps & Systems’ Industrial, Commercial, and Plumbing Groups. He also was vice president of sales, marketing & engineering at Weir Minerals and held several manage-ment positions at Ingersoll-Rand. 

Founded in 1942 as Glenn Tool & Manufacturing by Jack Schron Sr. and Christy Schron, today Jergens manufactures 80% of its products at a 130,000 sq ft plant on a 4.7-acre former abandoned rail yard in Cleveland. The Specialty Fasteners unit manufactures Kwik-Lok pins, threaded inserts, fastener hardware, spring-loaded devices, toggle clamps, handwheels, handles and knobs. 

Jergens is headquartered at 15700 S. Waterloo Rd., Cleveland, OH 44110-3898. Tel: 877 486-1454 Web: jergensinc.com

 

Sererra Consulting is launch ing a new fastener distribution software named CloudTurn, technical consultant Carmen Vertullo announced. 

CloudTurn is tailored for fastener distribution from Sererra’s flagship software, NetSuite. CloudTurn is Internet-hosted and thus available beyond the office computers.

Vertullo explained that G-mail and Yahoo are “cloud-based” services. “G-mail is a cloud – there is no software,” he explained. “You don’t own the software. It is hosted on the Internet. You buy it like electric power instead of having a generator in your building.”

CloudTurn also runs other distributor services such as quality management and can be cust omized.

Vijay Saha is CEO of Sererra. Taha Raja of FMW Fasteners of Houston has used CloudTurn for two years and is a partner. Julie Bodine is marketing manager.

Vertullo operates a fastener engineering consultant firm, SimplyBetter, and became involved through a consulting role with FMW.

Sererra Consulting LLC is located at T wo Park Plaza #200, Irvine, CA 92614. Tel: 949 480-2368 Web: sererra.com

Simpson Manufacturing Co. named Tom Fitzmyers chairman, succeeding founder Barclay Simpson.

Simpson becomes chairman emertitus and continues on the board and is the largest shareholder.

Fitzmyers has been with Simpson since 1978 and has been CEO since the company went public in 1994. 

Karen Colonias is the new president and CEO. She was CFO involved in strategic business plans and acquisitions. In 27 years with Simpson, her roles included engineering manager, vice president for engineering, and vice president/ branch manager. Colonias has a degree in engineering and an MBA.

Terry Kingsfather will continue in his role as CEO of the Simpson Strong-Tie subsidiary of Simpson Manufacturing.

Simpson is headquartered at 5956 W. Las Positas Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94588. Tel: 925 560-9000 Web: simpsonmfg.com

Telefast Industries Inc. is marking its 25th anniversary with an open house on October 9, 2011.

Founded in 1986 by Jeff Ferry and Kathleen Ferry, Telefast has grown from a one machine, five-employee company to more than 60 machines and 50 employees.

In 1907, Jeff’s great grandfather, Thomas Ferry, pioneered the cold forming process and founded Ferry Cap & Set Screw Company in Cleveland. Thomas’ son Edward William Ferry established E.W. Ferry Products in 1935. This company was the first in the world to head stainless steel screws.

Kathleen’s grandfather, John. C. Wasmer, founded Wasmer Bolt & Nut in 1927 and Lake Erie Screw Corporation in 1946.

Following the death of Jeff Ferry in 2002, Jeff Hepner, former Lake Eric Screw vice president of sales, joined Telefast as president. Leo McNeely, former operations manager at Cuyahoga Bolt & Screw, took the same role at Telefast.

In 2007, George Wasmer, former president of Lake Erie Screw Corp., became an active investor in Telefast.

Founded as a manufacturer of internally threaded fasteners, Telefast initially supplied distributors. Today Telefast supplies industries including construction, automotive, government, agriculture and aftermarket/MRO. Telefast is located at 777 W. Bagley Rd., Berea, OH 44017. Tel: 440 825-0011 E-mail: info@telefast.com Web: Telefast.com ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com