Blog

IN THE NEWS the Week of June 20th, 2022

WATCH ‘IN THE NEWS’ NOW: (7:38)

In Acquisition News…

Endries International, a fastener distributor located in Brillion,WI has purchased Store Room Fasteners, a 38-year-old business based in Montgomery, AL. Financial terms were not disclosed. Company president Steve Endries said in a statement that “Endries is thrilled to welcome Store Room Fasteners into our family,” Tim has built an organization that mirrors what Endries was and is. The methodology and approach both companies follow is very consistent. We look forward to working with our new team members to improve our overall market offerings.”  @Endries_Int

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the 41st edition of the International Fastener Expo which will take place in Las Vegas, NV October 17-19th. The IFE is Largest B2B expo of Industrial Fasteners and Tooling & Machinery in North America. Since 1981, the event continues to bring together the manufacturers and master distributors of fasteners and other related products and services with distributors and sales agents in the entire supply and distribution chain. MAKE SURE TO Register by June 27 to save with the early bird discount rate!

IFE Exhibitors! With more than 300 companies already registered, space is running out to exhibit at this year’s expo. Don’t miss your opportunity to make an impact at the largest B2B expo for #fasteners, tooling & machinery! Go to https://fastenershows.com/exhibitor/exhibit-inquire/ to book your space!

GET REGISTERED early and SAVE with early-bird rates!  http://bit.ly/3mPpTTW

In 3D Printing News…

Fastener News Desk has special coverage of some ground breaking research from the University of Limerick in Ireland. Their School of Engineering as successfully manufactured 316L Stainless Steel bolts. They felt that the gap between how aerospace bolts have been designed and produced over many decades could be optimized by employing the advantages offered by AM technology. Read more:

In Fastener News…

The May seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) was essentially unchanged vs. last month, remaining in modest growth territory at 52.7. Container and import logistics constraints and slowing growth were consistent themes among respondents.

The pricing indices were also stable but at very high levels, as higher import costs and raw material pressures continue to drive out-sized fastener pricing. The Forward-Looking Indicator (FLI) was also consistent with last month at 55.4, as higher employment levels offset a weaker six-month outlook. Growth and overall market conditions in May were stable m/m, with the overall index indicative of continued but moderating growth.

Hear more about this month’s FDI in the NEW Episode of Fully Threaded Radio. It’s episode #177 titled the Other Show. Tune in now at FullyThreaded.com!

Fastener Industry Scholarships:

Women in the Fastener Industry Association is offering two great scholarship opportunities!

WIFI honors the memory of Ann Bisgyer Wolz, co-publisher of Fastener Industry News with a scholarship for opportunity to become a Certified Fastener Specialist with the Fastener Training Institute. Deadline for applications is June 28^th.

WIFI honors the memory of Joanne Goodman Sherman, co-owner of Industrial Rivet and Fastener with the Joanne Sherman THORS eLearning Scholarship which is currently accepting applicants! Application deadline is July 1.

Get more info about the scholarship opportunities and apply today at https://fastenerwomen.com/scholarships

 In Fastener Event News …

The National Fastener Distributors Association will host the 2022 NFDA Annual Meeting and Executive Sales Planning Sessions® (ESPS®) starting tomorrow and runs thru the 23^rd. For more info go to NFDA-Fastener.org

The Fastener Training Institute’s Fastener Training Week in-person training class is scheduled for August 22-26 in Chicago. The advanced technical training program is offered in partnership with Industrial Fastener Institute and is for fastener distributors, manufacturers, and end-users.

Fastener Training Week, hosted by the Mid-West Fastener Association, offers five intensive days of education and plant tours as part of the FTI Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) advanced technical training program. Attendees will be eligible for the Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) designation.

Save the dates: August 21-26th for the Midwest Fastener Association’s FSTNR WEEK! Get involved in a Charity Bed Building Event that benefits the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Organization, plus A Fastener seminar, golf outing and lots more! 👉 Registration and more info: http://MWFA.net

Twitter: @MWFA_News @ShpBeds

🏆 The International Fastener Expo Fastener Hall of Fame recognizes professionals who have made significant and enduring contributions to the fastener industry. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the IFE Hall of Fame Awards! Who do you think should be honored with this prestigious award this year? To nominate go to FastenerShows.com. The deadline to submit nominations is July 30th. Twitter: @FastenerShow

The stories featured in this week’s episode of IN THE NEWS can be found at Fastener News Desk or in our Twitter feed @FastenerNews and on LinkedIn in the Fastener News Group!

SPONSOR: Product Genius Technology. Enhance your website customer experience with the best view for industrial product search. The past two years have certainly been a digital wake-up call for distributors and manufacturers. B2B buyers’ behaviors have gone full on digital! Digitizing data and product information is key to the beginnings of your business’s digital transformation.  Is your product data ready for eCommerce and a great user experience.

Product Genius Technology’s services include, data cleaning and preparation, consulting, and strategizing. Contact ProductGeniusTechnology.com or call 1-800-fasteners to find out how to get started today.

Fastener News Desk is preparing for the grand opening of the Fastener Museum! The online museum will feature a collection of industry memorabilia that dates back over the past decades. We welcome your fastener company to share individual digital images of your memorabilia with us to add to the Fastener Museum and help create the largest online collection of fastener related history.

If you would like to share your company’s events, news or sponsor an upcoming episode of IN THE NEWS or would like to add to the Fastener Museum me: lisa@fastenernewsdesk.com.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk.

Until next week, be well, be safe and Keep it Fastenating.

Tags:

#FastenerExpo #FastenerNews #Fasteners #COVID #SupplyChain #Taiwan #distribution #fastenernews #fasteners #distribution #industrial $FAST #fastenernews #fasteners #workforce #training #fasteners #fastenernews #FSTNRweek #leadership

IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk the Week of June 13th, 2022

IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk the Week of June 6th, 2022

Fastener TV, Featured

It’s IN THE NEWS the Week of June 13th, 2022

In Fastener News…

The May seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) was essentially unchanged vs. last month, remaining in modest growth territory at 52.7. Container and import logistics constraints and slowing growth were consistent themes among respondents. The pricing indices were also stable but at very high levels, as higher import costs and raw material pressures continue to drive out-sized fastener pricing. The Forward-Looking Indicator (FLI) was also consistent with last month at 55.4, as higher employment levels offset a weaker six-month outlook. Growth and overall market conditions in May were stable m/m, with the overall index indicative of continued but moderating growth.

Hear more about this month’s FDI in the NEW Episode of Fully Threaded Radio scheduled to drop this week!

WATCH ‘IN THE NEWS’ NOW: (7:43)

In Acquisition News…

Nucor Corporation announced that they have entered into an agreement to acquire Summit Utility Structures LLC and related company, Sovereign Steel Manufacturing LLC, producers of metal poles and other steel structures for utility infrastructure and highway signage. These companies will become part of a new business unit, Nucor Towers & Structures, serving the utility, transportation and telecommunication sectors. While the acquired companies are ideally suited to service the markets in the Northeast part of the U.S., Nucor’s plan is to establish a nationwide footprint able to service all customers throughout North America.

In Fastener Industry Acquisition News from Overseas…

The Böllhoff Group has acquired Gillis Aerospace, a French manufacturer of #fasteners for the aerospace industry, Böllhoff expands its portfolio in the aerospace sector. In January 2020 the Böllhoff Group had already acquired 40% of the shares in Gillis Aerospace. Gillis Aerospace specialises in the production of special fasteners and bolts as well as surface finishing. Due to the high level of automation, Gillis is especially characterised by high product quality and short lead times. Furthermore, Gillis has its own facilities for surface coating and can therefore offer the complete value chain from a single source with its comprehensive coating know-how. https://boellhoff.com/de-en/news/boellhoff-acquires-gillis-aerospace/

FND would like to thank our SPONSOR: The International Fastener Expo

This year will mark the 41^st edition of the International Fastener Expo which will take place in Las Vegas, NV October 17-19th. The IFE is Largest B2B expo of Industrial Fasteners and Tooling & Machinery in North America. Since 1981, the event continues to bring together the manufacturers and master distributors of fasteners and other related products and services with distributors and sales agents in the entire supply and distribution chain. With more than 300 companies already registered, space is running out to exhibit at this year’s expo. Don’t miss your opportunity to make an impact at the largest B2B expo for #fasteners, tooling & machinery! Go to https://fastenershows.com/exhibitor/exhibit-inquire/ to book your space today!

Upcoming Fastener Events include …

The National Fastener Distributors Association will host the 2022 NFDA Annual Meeting and Executive Sales Planning Sessions® (ESPS®). The meeting will take place at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Minneapolis, MN. June 21 – 23, 2022. For more info go to NFDA-Fastener.org

Fastener Training Week, hosted by the Mid-West Fastener Association, offers five intensive days of education and plant tours as part of the FTI Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) advanced technical training program. Attendees will be eligible for the Certified Fastener Specialist™ (CFS) designation.

Save The Week for the Midwest Fastener Association’s FSTNR WEEK! Happening August 21-26th. Get involved in a Bed Building Event that benefits the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Organization, plus A Fastener seminar, golf outing and lots more! 👉 Registration and more info: http://MWFA.net

Twitter: @MWFA_News @ShpBeds

🏆 The International Fastener Expo Fastener Hall of Fame recognizes professionals who have made significant and enduring contributions to the fastener industry. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the IFE Hall of Fame Awards! Who do you think should be honored with this prestigious award this year? To nominate go to FastenerShows.com. The deadline to submit nominations is July 30th. Twitter: @FastenerShow

The stories featured in this week’s episode of IN THE NEWS can be found at Fastener News Desk or in our Twitter feed @FastenerNews and on LinkedIn in the Fastener News Group!

SPONSOR: Product Genius Technology. Enhance your website customer experience with the best view for industrial product search. The past two years have certainly been a digital wake-up call for distributors and manufacturers. B2B buyers’ behaviors have gone full on digital! Digitizing data and product information is key to the beginnings of your business’s digital transformation.  Is your product data ready for eCommerce and a great user experience.

Product Genius Technology’s services include, data cleaning and preparation, consulting, and strategizing. Contact ProductGeniusTechnology.com or call 1-800-fasteners to find out how to get started today.

Fastener News Desk is preparing for the grand opening of the Fastener Museum! The online museum will feature a collection of industry memorabilia that dates back over the past decades. We welcome your fastener company to share individual digital images of your memorabilia with us to add to the Fastener Museum and help create the largest online collection of fastener related history.

If you would like to share your company’s events, news or sponsor an upcoming episode of IN THE NEWS or would like to add to the Fastener Museum me: lisa@fastenernewsdesk.com.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk.

Until next week, be well, be safe and Keep it Fastenating.

Tags:

#FastenerExpo #FastenerNews #Fasteners #COVID #SupplyChain #Taiwan #distribution #fastenernews #fasteners #distribution #industrial $FAST #fastenernews #fasteners #workforce #training #fasteners #fastenernews #FSTNRweek #leadership #succession

RELATED CONTENT:

IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk the Week of June 6th, 2022

IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk the Week of May 30th, 2022

Fastener TV, Featured

SPECIAL COVERAGE 

INTRODUCTION TO THE METAL PLASTICITY AND ADDITIVE GROUP: The Metal Plasticity and Additive Group in the School of Engineering of the University of Limerick conducts basic applied research and consultancy in the thematic of metals and structures.

PROJECT: Design and Optimization of Additively Manufactured Bolts for Strength Enhancement of Aluminum Lap Joints

INTERVIEW: Paul Boreham – Master of Engineering by Research at the University of Limerick.

Q & A

Q: Please introduce yourselves and tell us how you became interested in the idea of 3D Printed bolts.

A: My name is Paul Boreham, and I am a current Master of Engineering by Research student here at the University of Limerick. I am a recent first-class honors graduate in Design and Manufacture Engineering also from the University of Limerick (UL). Originally from Loughrea, Co. Galway, I have been working and living in the suburbs of the University for the past five years. I am a current member of the Metal Plasticity an Additive Manufacturing group, in the School of Engineering, which is led by Dr. Kyriakos Kourousis. The group actively engages in research in additive manufacturing (AM) and plasticity modelling and characterization for a variety of metallic materials. My interest in the AM industry as a whole began at a young age, having excellent facilities in our secondary school, St Brigids College Loughrea, was a huge influence in my love for AM. The AM industry, as we all know, is growing exponentially and we saw that the literature had a huge gap in terms of 3D printed bolts.

Q: Can you tell us what inspired your team to undertake this research into additive manufactured bolts?

A: The Metal Plasticity an Additive Manufacturing group in UL, thrives to fill in the gaps between the AM industry and the current manufacturing industry. The group not only works on AM fasteners but other AM areas too! I was lucky enough to work on the AM fastener side. The project idea was from the group leader, Dr. Kyriakos Kourousis, who has a research track record and work experience from the aerospace and defense industry. We felt that the gap between how aerospace bolts have been designed and produced over many decades could be optimized by employing the advantages offered by AM technology. We wanted to help accelerate this new thinking through a dedicated research project.

Q: What is the thought process behind this bolt?

A: The AM fastener that we have enhanced is based off an aerospace industry standard bolt, AN3-4A. This bolt has been identified as an excellent candidate, for the AM technology in place in our research group, as it small, compact, and widely used in the civil and defense aerospace industry, as it is fitted on many aircraft flying today. The advantages of having the bolt so compact, is that we could print numerous variations at the one time using our GE Concept Laser MLab cusing R metal 3D printer. This printer was awarded to UL a few years ago, following a winning proposal from Dr. Kourousis and his collaborator to the GE Additive Education program, competing amongst 500 other Universities around the globe.

Q: Can you describe the methodology behind the print and what 3D Printing technology was utilized in the manufacturing process?

A: The AM technology we are using at the moment is Direct Metal Laser Sintering, or commonly abbreviated as DMLS. We utilize the GE Concept Laser MLab cusing R metal 3D printer. The process behind DMLS is based on a quite simple concept but overall the fabrication technique is extremely complex. At the beginning of the process, a steel build plate that varies in size between machine models is set inside a build chamber. In the chamber, there no more than 1% of oxygen while the atmosphere is controlled with an inert gas. The DMLS printer begins the overall process by ‘sintering’ the first layer of the powder material onto the printing bed (base plate), the first layer can be analyzed to ensure all part files are attached to the base plate correctly. Once the operator is satisfied with the cross-section layer, the process may proceed. The build platform located in the center of the work area is shifted down while the recoater blade creates a new layer of the powder over the build plate. The powder material can be used in the machine numerous times once it has been sieved after every use. So, it’s a quite sustainable operation model as well!

Q: What types of materials are you using to 3D Print the bolts? How do you source materials?

A: At the moment, we are currently working with 316L Stainless Steel for the fasteners, with the metal powder acquired directly from GE Additive. The 3D printer we have has the capability to use other materials also, such as titanium and aluminum, but given the focus of this research project we plan to stay with 316L Stainless Steel for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of different aspects still to explore!

Q: What do you think are the most promising applications for this type of product?

A: The research hopes to fill in the gap not just on AM bolts, but AM fasteners as a whole! The findings will be applicable across numerous sectors for joint enhancement, fatigue life improvement and also catastrophic failure reduction. Applications for future are endless and can be applied directly to medical, aerospace, and military sectors. As we know the powerful capabilities of AM, the abilities to produce customized fasteners for different products is something that will be explored. Our results so far are very promising, for example the strength to weight ratio can be improved, while the microstructure of the sintered material can act as a ‘force’ multiplier. This is as much as I can share at this point though.

Q: Can you tell us about additive manufactured (3D printed) metals? How are they utilized in the modelling and characterization of the mechanical behavior of the bolts? 

A: The list for AM metals is endless with examples such as titanium, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, cobalt chrome, tungsten, and nickel-based alloy all available in powder form in today’s market. Although the process is growing at a phenomenal rate, the overall process needs to be handled with care due to dangers that come with it. As mentioned previously, some of these material can cause a chemical reaction when exposed the oxygen in the atmosphere. Moreover, using certain software available on the

market, such as topology optimization and computer aided manufacturing software, can be crucial in the design and optimization stages for any AM parts, towards drastically reducing the part weight while maintaining structural integrity.

Q: How did the bolts perform under complex loading testing?

A: Our AM fasteners are lighter that the conventional ones, but some build orientations appear to outperform the standard bolts. Other designs we explore, are hollow-type bolts with honeycomb and, what we call, spiral type structuring. To give you an indication, our honeycomb and spiral bolts have increased the strength to weight ratio, from the analysis we have performed so far.

Q: What is the average print time to manufacture bolts for test applications?

A: With AM being quite a new process, the time required to create a single bolt (from drawing to production) can be quite long, given the iterations we need to go through before we establish a reliable and consistently produced bolt design. To give you an indication of the print time on our Mlab printer, operated by our industry partner, Croom Precision Medical, we typically print 40-50 bolts in approximately 10 hours.

Q: What would you say is one of the more compelling reasons the fastener industry should pay attention to 3D Printing technologies?

A: The opportunity in this space are endless! The doors are newly opened in the industry and there is a huge gap in the literature. Fastener companies should begin to look and investigate the opportunity into fastener customization and joint enhancement! I believe this project will lay the foundation for numerous future projects along the same principles of AM fasteners. Although the process is quite expensive, the cost of production will continue to decrease as faster processes get released to the market.

RELATED CONTENT: 

Desktop Metal Commences Shipments of Production System P-50 With Inaugural Customer Stanley Black & Decker

3D Printing Helps French Manufacturer Tighten Lead Times for Locking Fasteners

3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing, Fasteners

PODCAST

Look closely at almost anything and you’ll find data—lots of it. But when you push past the calculations, what are all those numbers really saying about who we are and what we believe? CNN’s Harry Enten is on a mission to find out. This season on Margins of Error, Harry teases out big ideas like what accents say about where we live, how much money it takes to be happy, and whether the U.S. should finally switch to the metric system.

Harry goes the extra “yard” to find out why the United States is one of the few countries that hasn’t gone metric. Americans seem more than content in a hybrid world of liters AND gallons. Why can’t we choose one form of measurement? It turns out there’s a lot of national pride and history wrapped up in our inches and pounds — not to mention money and politics.

Transcript: 

why-americans-won-t-give-an-inch-on-metric.48a8e73fae7d9bc85106a29410ba195a

Listen now: https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/margins-of-error/episodes/10ccb8f3-792b-497a-a96d-aea900e14646

Content Source: 

Fasteners

The Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) survey for May, 2022. 

The FDI remained steady last month at 52.7 versus the April reading of 52.6, seasonally adjusted.

Likewise, the Forward Looking Indicator (FLI) showed little movement at 55.4 versus 55.1 the previous month.  Remaining in growth territory, the reading remains strong and marks the 24th consecutive month of positive (+50.0) outlook.

Key Takeaway:

The May seasonally adjusted Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) was essentially unchanged vs. last month, remaining in modest growth territory at 52.7. Container/import logistics constraints and slowing growth were consistent themes among respondents. The pricing indices were also stable but at very high levels, as higher import costs and raw material pressures continue to drive out-sized fastener pricing. The Forward-Looking Indicator (FLI) was also consistent with last month at 55.4, as higher employment levels offset a weaker six-month outlook. Net, we believe growth and overall market conditions in May were stable m/m, with the overall index indicative of continued but moderating growth.

READ THE FULL MAY 2022 REPORT:

FDI_Report_May_2022

We encourage all North American fastener distributors to take part in the FDI. If you are interested in being a more active part of the fastener industry, you can apply to add your company to the FDI survey group. Complete the “Request an Invitation to Participate” form by clicking here. Once verified, you will receive login ID and password information and you will be notified by email every month when the survey period has been opened. – Fastener News Desk

About the Fastener Distributor Index (FDI).

The Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) was developed as a service to the fastener industry by the FCH Sourcing Network in 2012 to be a new benchmark for the fastener industry.

The FDI is a monthly survey of North American fastener distributors, conducted with the FCH Sourcing Network and Baird with support from the National Fastener Distributors Association. It offers insights into current fastener industry trends/outlooks. Similarly, the Forward-Looking Indicator (FLI) is based on a weighted average of four forward-looking inputs from the FDI survey. This indicator is designed to provide directional perspective on future expectations for fastener market conditions. As diffusion indexes, values above 50.0 signal strength, while readings below 50.0 signal weakness. Over time, results should be directly relevant to Fastenal (FAST) and broadly relevant to other industrial distributors such as W.W. Grainger (GWW) and MSC Industrial (MSM).

The FDI Survey website is a resource than can be accessed by anyone, but it can only be updated by registered users during the monthly open survey period, which occurs during the last week of each month.

Tune in to episode #177 (Coming on 6/16) on the Fully Threaded Radio podcast at FullyThreaded.com.

Contact:

Eric Dudas

O: 877.332.7836

C: 630.532.2442

www.fastenersclearinghouse.com

RELATED CONTENT:

FASTENER DISTRIBUTOR INDEX (FDI) | April 2022

FASTENER DISTRIBUTOR INDEX (FDI) | March 2022

Fastener Distributor Index, Featured

The latest news in the ocean, air, rail, and trucking industries

By Chris Donnell

Clients, Friends and Colleagues;

I feel like I’m in the Bill Murray movie “Groundhog Day” where each day brings another challenge that only adds to the complexities facing shippers, importers and anyone in general related to the transportation industry. Make no mistake about it, there are some pressing items which could have a profound impact on the Global Supply Chain. Please see below some of the issues I outline in my newsletter.  

Ocean Carriers, Freight Rates and Ports:  

• The port complex of Los Angeles and Long Beach handled more than 19 million containers in 2021, 16% higher compared to 2020; they are poised to break their record yet again this year as they are forecasting a modest growth of 4% this year. The complex is the nation’s busiest with regards to containerized cargo.   
• There are more than 55 container vessels sitting off the coast of Los Angeles and Long Beach, another 70 at ports throughout the nation however this fails in comparison to the backlog of vessels awaiting to be emptied and filled which are sitting idle off the ports in China. It was reported there are over 270 vessels currently awaiting birthing, the vast majority sitting between the ports of Shanghai and Ningbo.
• Returning containers has been a struggle for the past 2 years however most of those struggles were visible only on the West Coast however this is being a massive issue in several East Coast ports. Right now the ports of New York and New Jersey have hit their capacity for return containers. Most carriers have adopted the policy of duel transactions meaning that in order for you to bring an empty to the port, you must pull a full one. The fall out to this is added costs in the way of Per Diem fees which is passed along to the importer of record or beneficial cargo owner.
• Make no mistake about it, there will be a surge of exports from China to the United States, it’s just a matter of when this will happen. Right now more than 370 million people in some 45 cities within China are under some sort of quarantine process and while some manufacturing has returned, most manufactures are finding it difficult to source raw materials. Making matters worse, the world’s busiest port in terms of containerized cargo, Shanghai, has been under strict lockdown measures for over a month now and once it’s labor force and manufacturing ramp up to full speed, it will unleash an onslaught of cargo which will flood the ports of the United States. The question remains, when?

Air Freight:

• Cargo capacity is starting to rebound, rates while still more than 140% higher than they were pre-pandemic should start to stabilize for the time being. Something to keep an eye out for, the airport of Shanghai is still hindered by the lockdown and most manufacturers who are able to produce shipments are forced to use alternative airports like Ningbo, Hangzhou and others, this is effecting the overall transit times.  
• Nationwide issues are seen in airport terminals and cargo freight stations as they continue to be inundated with cargo and to ensure importers are moving their cargo as quickly as possible, most warehouse locations allocated to the airlines have continued to increase their storage fees. They call in incentivizing the importer. Places like Chicago, Dallas and other locations we’ve seen storage costs surpass $1.00 per kilo per day and these warehouse count weekends and holidays into the allowable 24 hour free time.  

FULL SCANWELL REPORT:

May 2022 Scanwell Newsletter

Intermodal (Rail):

• Our Class I railroads continue to struggle with congestion, moving available slot cars and equipment to the west coast where they are desperately needed. While the nation saw imports grow some 21% last year, container rail traffic dropped by 17%. Now some of that drop was due to the ocean carriers suspending inland movement but there are also issues with labor operation within our nation’s largest carriers.
• Just announced, the FMC has mandated that the Class I railroads provide them with an outline on improvement in order to help ease congestion, reduce excessive charges and move more capacity to where it’s needed.  

Trucking:

• Trucking rates have declined however the cost of fuel has eroded those potential savings and due to the increase fuel costs, loads tended have dropped as it’s becoming too troublesome for truckers, especially owner operators to keep up with the changes.
• Large trucking companies are seeing the largest jettison of labor as more and more drivers are looking at smaller carriers, carriers offering loads closer to home to drive for.
• The number of coercion complaints from drivers have increased some 35% over the same time last year as more and more drivers are being threatened and harassed by their tender owners. This is a major issue the American Transport Association is looking into, more information to follow.

Infrastructure and Government:

• The US Trade Representatives are reviewing the current China tariff situation and will decide shortly if they will continue to the section 301 increase tariff.
• In mid-April the Us trade Representatives announced a new exclusion list for the section 301 tariffs, if an importer imports a particular product names on the list, that importer can file to get the section 301 tariff back for shipments between October 2021 and April of 2022. The link for the list https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-reinstates-352-product-exclusions-china-tariffs-2022-03-23/
• The FMC is looking into excessive dwell fees imposed by the ocean terminals, while any resolution to their findings, if any, will be long awaited and their focus I’m sure will be about the overall language within the scope of carrier rights and privileges in reference to excess fees. .

Chris Donnell

National Sales Director

Scanwell Logistics International (CHI) Inc.

2455 Arthur Avenue

Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Tel: 847.228.6789

Fax: 847.228.0451

Mobile: 630-532-4561

E-Mail: chrisdonnell@scanwell.com

Web: www.scanwell.com

Scanwell: The power of our innovation and imagination makes us infinite.

RELATED CONTENT:

Scanwell Monthly Logistics Report | April 2022

Scanwell Monthly Logistics Report | January 2022

Supply Chain

Wayne, Pa. – AD is reporting that it has achieved first quarter records in member sales, member purchases from AD supplier partners, and net distributions. Member sales in the first three months of 2022 were $17.2 billion, an increase of 35% across its 13 divisions and three countries compared to the first quarter of 2021. Same-store sales were up 27%. All 13 of AD’s divisions experienced double-digit sales growth.

Purchases by member companies from AD supplier partners were up 35% to $4.46 billion. Net distributions to its members were up 61% to $347.5 million.

Additionally, 13 independents joined the group in the first three months.

“We are excited to announce a strong start for AD this year coming on the heels of a record-breaking 2021,” AD’s Chairman and CEO Bill Weisberg said. “As we recognize our members and suppliers that kept up last year’s momentum, giving us confidence in another successful year, we welcome our new members who align with our commitment to outperforming the market. I am continuously inspired by our robust community of incredibly resilient and growth-oriented members and suppliers, and I look forward to working closely with them to build upon their success.”

About AD

AD is a member-owned organization, passionate about bringing growth-oriented independent distributors and best-in-class supplier partners together with the purpose to outperform the market and to stay ahead of the competition.

For 40 years AD’s sincere customer-first approach to relationships and our continual investments in innovative support have helped AD to achieve annual sales of $58 billion across nine industries and three countries. With more than 5,000 branches from 845-plus independently owned members, AD is North America’s largest marketing/buying group for construction and industrial supplies.

We leverage our unique economies of scale, robust financial systems and people-first approach to help our independent distributor members outperform the competition and our supplier partners protect their brands and diversify their channel strategies.

Content Source:

RELATED CONTENT:   

AD Industrial & Safety-U.S. division celebrates record growth with AD suppliers at 2022 Spring Network Meeting

Würth digitalizes the trades

digital, eCommerce

Leading industrial maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) distributor connects with digital talent marketplace supporting women in every stage of life including parenthood

RELATED CONTENT: 

Multigenerational Teams in Manufacturing

Würth Industry North America Announces Renewal of Fastener Training Institute 2022 Sustaining Sponsorship

Women in the Fastener Industry (WIFI), Workforce / Skills Gap

Rockford, IL – Field Fastener, a family owned, global supplier of inventory management, technical support services, and complete supply chain solutions for fasteners and other “c” class items, has announced the company’s leadership succession plan. Jim Derry, President and CEO of Field, has announced that Adam Derry will be promoted to succeed him as President, effective immediately. In addition, Chris Pauli will be promoted to Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. Jim Derry will remain the company’s CEO. The new roles reflect the tremendous impact Adam and Chris have had on Field’s growth and culture, and a testament to the confidence Jim and Bill Derry have in their ability to execute on its future growth plans.  

In 1990, Jim and Bill Derry acquired Field from Dick Field. Since that time Field has seen aggressive growth; achieving an 18% average growth rate per year due to its world class culture and staying customer centric. Field currently has operations in Rockford, IL, Tyler, TX, Florence, SC, Troy, IL, Monterrey and Monclova, Mexico, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Under Jim’s leadership, Field grew beyond $100 Million, and rolled out the 30-Fieldamentals, which is at the heart of Field’s culture. As CEO, Jim will focus on key customer relationships, acquisitions, and facilitating strategic planning. 

“It has been an honor and privilege to lead the Field Team for the past 8 years, I have had the best job on the planet!  It is the right time for a leadership change; Adam & Chris have been preparing for this change for years and are both ready to take over. The organization is also ready, our Culture is better than ever, our value proposition has never been stronger, and the future is very promising for Field. Adam & Chris will do a great job leading the Team going forward.”      

 Adam Derry will take over as President of Field on May 31st, 2022. In this role, Adam will provide strategic direction for the entire organization, ensuring Field achieves its financial and organizational objectives. Adam will have overall accountability towards Field’s operating plan, and ten-year strategic plan, as well as protecting and enhancing the Field culture as it continues to grow. Adam joined Field in 2006 and has been most recently serving as the Chief Customer Officer since 2018, and on its board of directors since its inception in 2015.  

 “What an honor it is to follow in the footsteps of my Dad and Uncle, and lead this incredible company. The impact and legacy that Bill and Jim have made on the Field team, our customers, and in our communities is immeasurable. We believe strongly that we are well positioned to continue our growth, and that our best days are ahead. We have a strong culture, a compelling value proposition, and have a clear vision that our team is bought into. Chris Pauli is a highly respected executive that knows our business extremely well, and I could not be more excited to partner with him.”  

 Chris Pauli will take on the role of Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. In this capacity, Chris will be responsible for multiple functional areas including, operations, finance, account management, sourcing, implementation, information technology, our South Carolina, Texas, and Mexico locations, and our Taiwan sourcing and quality office. Chris also serves on Field’s Board of Directors.  

“I am honored to serve our team in this new role. I am excited to work with Adam as our new President and the entire team to continue to grow this great company to new heights in the years to come. I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities Bill and Jim have provided me over the past 18 years. Adam and I have one of the best and brightest leadership teams I have ever had the chance to work with and I am certain they will help us achieve all our strategic goals and improve the lives our team members, their families, and the communities we serve.”  

Adam Derry   

Adam joined Field in August 2006 in a technical sales capacity and has been focused on sustaining double digit profit growth ever since. In Adam’s most recent role as Chief Customer Officer, he was responsible for sales, marketing, implementations, project management, engineering, quality, VMI/onsite services, and executing Field’s acquisition strategy. Field’s mission statement is to have everyone who interacts with us, LOVE us! Customer love played a significant role in helping Field achieve $100 million in 2019 and will continue to be a focus as Field grows to $300 Million by 2030. Adam has served on several boards, including serving as the President of the National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA), the board at Hope for Haitians, and the board of directors at Field. Adam has a bachelor’s degree in both Marketing and Management from the University of Iowa. He studied International Business during a six-month study abroad program in Turin, Italy. Prior to joining Field, Adam worked in a sales and marketing capacity for PSI Systems North America. Adam is married to his beautiful wife, Sara, and has four children. 

Chris Pauli   

Prior to coming to Field, Chris served as CFO for an aviation management/repair and real estate development company and a wholesale distribution company. Before his CFO roles, Chris worked for a large public accounting firm providing audit, tax, consulting, and acquisition assistance to clients.  

Chris Pauli joined Field in 2004 as the CFO overseeing finance, human resources, and information technology. During his time with Field, Chris has been instrumental in directing a building expansion, a new ERP system implementation, multiple acquisitions and integrations and handling legal issues and real estate holdings. Chris managed the establishment of our South Carolina facility and ERP system conversions related to acquisitions in both the US and Mexico. Our Mexico and Tyler, TX facilities have reported to Chris for several years and for the past year he has also overseen operations, account management and sourcing. Chris also manages our team member benefits, insurance and banking relationships. Chris has served on various community boards while CFO of Field. Chris has been married for 27 years to his beautiful wife Jen. They have two fantastic daughters, a great son-in-law and one granddaughter. 

Content Source:

RELATED CONTENT:

Field Fastener Named to Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces for 2021

IN THE NEWS with Fastener News Desk The Week of August 30, 2021

Fasteners