Global Fastener News

SHORTTAKES: Atlantic Fasteners, Kimball Midwest, Republic Engineered Products Inc., SFS intec, Solon Manufacturing Co., Rivet & Eyelet Technologies

Millitech Inc. awarded its 2008 certificate of appreciation for service excellence to Atlantic Fasteners. Atlantic supplies commercial and mil-spec/aerospace fasteners to Millitech.
“Atlantic Fasteners surpassed our award requirements,” said Richard Shepard, supply chain and contracts manager at Millitech who presented the award to John Kraus, vice president of sales at Atlantic Fasteners. Shepard noted that Atlantic’s average rating was 97% for quality, on-time delivery and accurate documentation for seven of the last eight quarters. Only suppliers with an average rating above 95% for at least three of the last eight quarters are eligible for the award.
The Atlantic team includes Midwest milspec/aerospace sales manager Steve Graff and commercial division customer service rep Linda Smith. Email: sgraff@atlanticfasteners.com or llsmith@atlanticfasteners.com
Massachusetts-based Millitech provides millimeter-wave technology and manufacturing expertise to the military and aerospace markets.
Atlantic’s military-aerospace division also earned the Gold Medalist Supplier award from the U.S. Government’s Defense Supply Center of Richmond, VA, two years in a row.
Founded in 1981, employee-owned Atlantic Fasteners is a global ISO 9001:2000 certified supplier of 16,795 commercial and aerospace/mil-spec fasteners, plus tools, lubricants, adhesives, paint, power transmission, bins and cabinets. Atlantic is headquartered at 49 Heywood Ave. (P.O. Box 1168), West Springfield, MA 01090-1168. Tel: 413 785-1687 or 800 800-2658 Fax 413 785-5770 Web: atlanticfasteners.com

Kimball Midwest completed expansion of its Dallas distribution center from 40,000 sq ft to 65,000 sq ft, divisional sales manager Jesse Tatum announced.
The branch is located at 1202 Avenue South, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. Tel: 972 975-2777
Kimball Midwest reported third quarter sales rose 22%. The company attributed growth to an expanded sales team and enhanced market penetration.
Founded in 1923, Kimball Midwest is a nationwide distributor of maintenance hardware supplies from centers in Nevada, Texas and Ohio. Kimball Midwest is headquartered at 4800 Roberts Rd., Columbus, OH 43228. Tel: 800 233-1294 Fax 614 219-6101 Web: kimballmidwest.com

Republic Engineered Products Inc. announced that Westmet International began representing its Cold-Finished Bar Products Division on Dec. 1, 2008, in the western U.S. and western Canada.
Fullerton, CA-based Westmet is a manufacturer’s rep that specializes in servicing the metals community in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Westmet was founded in 1981. Web: westmet.com
Westmet “understands the value-added sector of the steel bar industry and can further position us as a leader in the cold-finished bar products market,” stated Republic CEO Jaime Vigil.
Republic produces steel for fasteners, forgings, hand tools, machine tools, appliances, automotive, bearings, converters, farm machinery, off-highway equipment, pumps and valves & fittings. Republic operates steelmaking centers in Ohio, New York, Indiana and Ontario, and employs about 2,500 people.
Republic was acquired in 2005 by Industria CH, S.A. DE C.V., a Mexico City-based steel producer and processor, and Vigil became CEO in 2006. Republic is headquartered at 3770 Embassy Pkwy., Akron, OH 44333-8367. Tel: 330 670-3000 Fax 330 670-3106 Web: republicengineered.com

Switzerland-based SFS intec opened a fastener finishing plant in the Waterdown suburb north of Hamilton, Ontario. The 35,000 sq ft plant has 38 employees finishing stainless steel and carbon steel self-drilling fasteners for construction, truck and trailer and roofing customers.
Jim Urquhart is vice-president and general manager of Canadian operations. The plant is located at 40 Innovation Dr., Waterdown, ON L9H 7P3 Canada. Tel: 905 847-5400 Fax: 905 847-5366
North American SFS president Michael Mullen told the Hamilton Spectator that the new plant is located close to customers. “When we can customize our products closest to the time of sale, it lowers our costs by reducing unnecessary inventory.” The finishing plant can turn around an order in a day, an advantage over offshore manufacturers, Mullen said.
Founded in 1960 as cold forming company SFS Presswert Heerbrugg AG, today SFS intec is a manufacturer and supply partner of precision cold formed components and specialty fasteners at 14 plants with 3,014 employees in Europe and North America. SFS reported 2007 sales of EUR 518 million (US$670m).
In the U.S. SFS has plants in Medina, OH, and Wyomissing and Reading, PA; and distribution facilities in Durant, IA; Lawrenceville, GA; Houston; and Sacramento, and is headquartered at Spring Street & Van Reed Rd. (P.O. Box 6326) Wyomissing, PA 19610. Tel: 610 376-5751 or 800 234-4533 Fax 610 376-8551 Web: sfsintecusa.com
SFS also has distribution facilities in South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Australia, Iran, Japan and China. Its global headquarters is located at Rosenbergsaustrasse 10, CH 9435 Heerbrugg, Switzerland. Tel: (41) 71 727 62 62 Fax (41) 71 727 53 07 Web: sfsintec.biz

Solon Manufacturing Co. launched a new website, including enhanced search feature by washer type (Belleville spring, flange washer and disc spring), material and washer size. Solonmfg.com also features technical documents, FAQs and white papers written by Solon chief engineer George Davet. There is a “quick quote” section, literature request form and product information.
Founded in 1949, Solon Manufacturing engineers and manufactures Belleville springs and industrial pressure controls and is located at 425 Center St. (P.O. Box 207), Chardon, OH 44024-0207. Tel: 440 286-7149 or 800 323-9717 Fax 440 286-9047

Rivet & Eyelet Technologies LLC is a new Sphere 1 Inc. preferred supplier, CEO Patrick Brooks announced. Sphere 1 is a North American cooperative of over 100 tool and fastener distributors with 445 locations.
Rivet & Eyelet supplies stamped and extruded blind rivets, setting tools and custom engineered eyelet products and is located at 1215 Main St. #110, Tewksbury, MA 01876. Tel: 978 851-2700 Fax 978 851-4488 Web: riveteyelet.com �2008 FastenerNews.com