Global Fastener News

September 24, 2012 FIN – Sales for early 2012 rose 20% for Birmingham Fastener’s manufacturing and distribution operations, and a significant part of the increase is a demand for domestic fasteners.

“These are exciting times to be a domestic manufacturer,” vice president Brad Tinney told GlobalFastenerNews.com. “There are good things in the future.”
What is a key reason?  “More and more people are ordering, ‘domestic’,” Birmingham general manager Leland Brown explains.
“The ‘Buy America Act’ has altered the market. Now orders are written for U.S. products.”
“Business is good,” vice president Brad Tinney declared.  Sales had dipped in 2008, but have “worked back up since.”
Founded in 1980 as a distributorship by president Howard Tinney, Birmingham Fastener expanded into manufacturing by the end of the 1980s.
Brown added people say “‘I want to support the U.S.’ l like the sound of that.”
And buyers are looking at documentation, Brown added. He recalls earlier in his career when “no one asked for documents and test reports.”
Department of Transportation inspectors are asking for the documents, he noted.
Brown envisions the domestic trend is going to continue as China’s costs are going to rise rapidly 2015.
“Their people are wanting more pay,” he observed. “Shipping costs are up.”
With domestic orders up, Birmingham Fastener is planning a $2 million expansion of its facility in the Pratt City area of Birmingham.
The company will receive Enterprise Zone tax credits from Alabama for the expansion.
Birmingham Fastener also recently updated its entire computer software system for all companies and operations, Brown said.
Brown and Howard Tinney both started at Southeastern Bolt and Brown joined him at Birmingham Fastener.
“My first desk was on saw horses,” Brown recalled.
“Howard and I have a simple philosophy,” Brown explained. “We want to do business the way customers want us to do it. Howard always says, ‘If it makes sense plus dollars, then do it’.”
Brown believes Birmingham Fastener was ahead of other companies on quality issues.  “We made our salespeople memorize ASTM specifications,” he told GlobalFastenerNews.com.
“Our people know standards – especially outside salespeople who sit in front of engineers.”
Today Birmingham Fastener has manufacturing operations in Birmingham, and distribution centers in Alabama, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Birmingham Fastener is headquartered at 931 Avenue W, Birmingham, AL 35214. Tel: 205 595-3511 or 800 695-3511 Web: bhamfast.com
Affiliated companies: Alabama Aerospace, Birmingham Fastener Manufacturing Inc.; Dallas Fastener; Hanceville Distribution Center; Houston Aerospace; Huntsville Fastener; Prosouth Fastener; and Texarkana Fastener. ©2012/2014 Fastener Industry News.
For information on permission to reuse or reprint this article please e-mail: FIN@GlobalFastenerNews.com

Birmingham Fastener Plans $2 Million Expansion

August 31, 2012 FIN – Birmingham Fastener Inc. plans a $2 million expansion of its Pratt City facility to meet rising demand, the Birmingham Business Journal.
The new equipment is expected to help create up to 15 new jobs.
Sales for 2012 have risen 20% for Birmingham Fastener’s manufacturing and distribution operations, and part of the increase is a demand for domestic fasteners, GlobalFastenerNews.com reports.
“Business is good,” vice president Brad Tinney told GlobalFastenerNews.com.
The company reportedly will receive Enterprise Zone tax credits from the state to support the expansion.
“The City of Birmingham is pleased to retain Birmingham Fastener and see it expand in the Pratt City community,” Birmingham Mayor William Bell stated.

Founded in 1980 as a distributorship by president Howard Tinney, Birmingham Fastener expanded into manufacturing by the end of the 1980s.
Birmingham Fastener has manufacturing operations in Birmingham, and distribution centers in Alabama, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Birmingham Fastener is headquartered at 931 Avenue W, Birmingham, AL 35214. Tel: 205 595-3511 Web: bhamfast.com ©2012/2014 Fastener Industry News
For information on permission to reuse or reprint this article please e-mail: FIN@GlobalFastenerNews.com