Global Fastener News

EuroTec, Baecker & Prebena Win 2006 Practical World Fastener Innovations Showcase

John Wolz

E.u.r.o. Tec GmbH of Hagen, Germany, won the Fastener Technology New Product Showcase at the International Hardware Fair / Practical World this month in K�ln (Cologne), Germany with a new decking screw system.
The E.u.r.o.Tec Terrassenbau (hardwood decking system) uses two new Terrassotec brand screw designs. One is hardened stainless steel and the second is A4 stainless. Special head design avoids splintering and eliminates the need to pre-countersink. The hardened steel version can handled 60% more torque than normal stainless screws so there is no pre-drilling requirement. Screws also have a reinforced shank to adapt to sideways movement of the decking timber. The screws are combined with Dista-Leite (distance skirting) a plastic strip that fits between decking planks and the base joists to absorb movement in the timber and protect the screws from shearing and allow air movement between timbers. Web: e-u-r-o-tec.de****************************************************************

Fastener group TZ Ltd. bought design firm MQube Design, which will serve as a new product design technology operation in Austin, TX. TZ paid $121,064 in stock and cash.
The Mqube team brings a strong emphasis in consumer electronics, including computers, TVs and handheld communications devices. Mqube will become part of TZ’s Product Design Technology business, which reported revenues of $19 million and earnings of $3 million in 2005.
In other news, TZ received a $1 million order from Textron Fastening Systems to accelerate design, engineering and production of three industrial-strength intelligent fastener products. The two companies have partnered to produce TZ’s Intevia Intelligent Fastenings Systems. Web: tzlimited.com �2006 FastenerNews.com