Fastener distributors are integral players in the supply chain that link manufacturers of fastening components (screws, nuts, bolts, etc. Usually, distributors do not manufacture fasteners and other Class C components themselves, but rather act as intermediaries connecting OEMs to hundreds of fastener sources). The National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA) is a non-profit trade association that serves the North American fastener industry. The director of content, Will Lowry, spoke with Nick Ruetz, of AIS, and president of the NFDA, about the way in which the US market has faced the challenges of recent times two years.
As a Fastener Supplier near Cambridge MA, Nick Ruetz shared his insights on how the US market has navigated through recent challenges. In addition to bolt brokerage, fastener dealers often sell construction supplies that include items such as hand tools, drills, wrenches, helmets, ladders, buckets, etc. Fastener dealers perform tasks such as sending small orders to job sites several times a week and filling screw containers on a regular basis. From production to maintenance of fasteners in the automotive, industrial, aerospace and retail sectors, we offer fastening solutions that adapt to your needs. Whether you need a comprehensive fastener management solution or need to fulfill a specific order, Hollingsworth provides you with the expertise and support needed to meet their needs.
Another area where a fastener supplier must be evaluated is their ability to develop solutions that improve an application, reduce manufacturing costs, add industrial engineering to reduce the number of SKUs in a machine, or perform other cost-reduction activities. In short, a full-service fastener supplier can help equipment manufacturers rethink fastener applications in their products to provide better production and performance while reducing costs. Purchases of fasteners are usually large in volume and fasteners are often the lowest-cost parts used in product manufacturing or maintenance and repair operations. In this case, the key is to evaluate the ability of a fastener supplier to be flexible and to offer a wide range of services to meet all the needs of the equipment manufacturer, so that it can eliminate complexity, save time, reduce waste, reduce costs and improve efficiency and reproducibility.
Standard bras are fairly simple, while ordering custom bras can be much more complex. Fastener distributors primarily purchase standard fasteners in bulk to resell to industrial users; but many also offer engineering solutions for items manufactured according to drawings or secondary processes such as painting, patching, assembling kits and assembling. Typically, non-standard construction fasteners have a large diameter, longer length, or greater strength than common mass-produced fasteners. When working with existing distributors or looking for new ones, equipment manufacturers should evaluate a full-service fastener supplier in five key areas: risk reduction, inventory optimization, improved operations, quality and electrification, and environmental considerations.
However, most contractors and construction-related companies that regularly purchase fasteners choose to purchase their standard fasteners from a dealer and work directly with a manufacturer to meet their non-standard bolt needs. The following frequently asked questions will address the differences between fastener distributors and screw manufacturers and will provide information on when to consider turning to each type of company for the purchase of fasteners. In addition to selling standard-size screws, fastener distributors also market non-standard fasteners by buying products from manufacturers and reselling them to end users, such as original equipment manufacturers, contractors, steel manufacturers, and other construction-related companies. Dealers offer both SAE fasteners (grades 2 and 5) and for use in equipment, automotive and OEM-type applications, as well as ASTM fasteners which are most often used in construction.
For companies that don't buy bras on a daily basis, one of the most difficult things to do is look at a list of bras and determine which will be a standard item in stock and which will need to be custom made. If you normally use a fastener dealer to provide you with the fasteners and they tell you it will take a week or more to deliver them, that should be your reason for calling Portland Bolt. However, when you consider the essential role fasteners play in your manufacturing, construction, or service business, it's clear that working with the best possible industrial fastener dealer is an advantage. We also collaborate with the Young Fastener Professional Group to educate the next generation of fixation professionals through mentoring.
and training. While the actual bras you buy are usually standard, your experience working with different vendors can vary greatly. Unlike fastener distributors, bolt manufacturers such as Portland Bolt specialize in producing fasteners that aren't available in the market.
