Riley to Pac-West: How to Determine Fastener Testing Needs
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Anixter Fasteners History From the Stock Review section of GlobalFastenerNews.com: Anixter began building its fastener business in 2002 by acquiring Pentacon for $111.4 million. After Pentacon, AFS bought Walters Hexagon in 2003, DDI in 2004, Infast in 2005 and MFU in 2006. In 2007 Anixter bought UK aerospace fastener distributor Eurofast SAS for $27 million and fastener distributor Total Supply Solutions for $8 million. In 2008, Anixter paid a combined $78.8 million to acquire two fastener operations: Wood Dale, IL-based QSN Industries Inc. and sister company, Quality Screw de Mexico SA and $20.7 million for Sofrasar SA of France and $19.4 million for Germany-based Camille Gergen. In 2009, Anixter Pentacon and Anixter Eurofast were combined into Anixter Aerospace Hardware. The Chatsworth, CA-based division had facilities in Texas, Canada, the UK and France. Two years later, Anixter sold its Aerospace Hardware Division — primarily threaded fasteners — for $185 million.
How many tests do you need to run?
How many pieces do you need to test?
“Go talk to your customer,” Element Materials Technology general manager Jim Riley advised the Pacific-West Fastener Association.
“One test? Two tests? Ultimately determination of testing is what is going to keep the customer happy.”
Testing can be more than just certifying a part. It can verify if a part meets the specification requirements or determine if one part is “better” than another.
The answer may be in the specifications, drawings, purchase order, SAE J429 or customer drawings.
Some specifications are clear on testing, Riley noted.
The first step in determining test need is to look at the purchase order. If you have questions after checking the P.O., “go get clarification from the customer.”
There may be times when your laboratory can be a “go between for you,” Riley suggested. Suppliers may want to refer a customer to lab specialists to determine appropriate testing. The testing experts may be able to assure customers.
Are customers insisting on more testing than necessary?
“Most of the time when they hear the price” they accept specifications, Riley finds. Web: element.com
Editor’s Note: Riley is scheduled to conduct sessions on fastener testing during the Fastener Training Institute’s June 23-25, 2015 Aerospace Fasteners program in LaMirada, CA, and September 8, 2015, Product Training Program in Pico Rivera, CA.
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