The global market for Industrial Fasteners is forecast to reach US$81 billion by the year 2018, according to a recent report from Global Industry Analysts. Key factors fuelling market growth include potential growth in construction, electrical and electronic sectors. Fasteners are also in high demand in the manufacture of electrical oriented products, such as wiring devices, home appliances and construction equipment.
The global industrial fastener market staged a dramatic comeback after the dismal market conditions prevalent during the global economic crisis, the report notes. Fastener production in China is projected to surpass domestic demand in the next couple of years. Despite the fact that manufacturers in the US produced more fasteners in terms of value in 2009, Chinese suppliers would be able to surpass US record production levels, thereby becoming the leading manufacturers of fasteners in the world, the report predicts. However, manufacturers based in developed regions including Japan, Western Europe and the US will continue to lead the production scenario for highly-engineered fasteners.
Bolts represent the largest product segment in the industrial fasteners market. Growing demand for upgrades, add-ons to existing houses, apartment complexes, and other buildings are major factors propelling growth in this product category. Non-threaded standard and high performance fasteners are forecast to experience the highest demand in the next few years.
Tucks ticks the boxes as top supplier
Tucks Fasteners and Fixings says it has earned an impressive reputation in the Irish hardware industry through its extremely high service levels which include same day delivery in Dublin, next day delivery guaranteed in the 32 counties of Ireland and an extremely high and consistent availability rate of over 97%.
The business’ wide range of products includes a new range of colour coded pre-pack fasteners and fixings and Wera and Knipex professional hand tools have also recently been added to the Tucks range. “Customers are looking for more than just a supplier. They are looking for a strategic partner, one who has been around for a long time and one who will be around for a long time. Tucks Fasteners and Fixings ticks all the boxes and is assured of remaining the No. 1 Supplier in Ireland,” said Gary Hogan, MD of Tucks Fasteners and Fixings.
The company’s staff includes an experienced team of sales professionals, a merchandising and installation team backed up with six internal sales staff and a marketing team focused on delivering bespoke marketing campaigns and graphic design to meet customer needs.
Wide choice from John Murphy Ltd
Irish suppliers offer a wide choice of fastener products. John Murphy (Castlerea) Ltd. provides a broad range of fasteners and fixings. Service levels are maintained at above 98% across the range on a next day delivery basis to 32 counties in Ireland, the company says. The business offers a wide range of brands in areas such as tool accessories (Heller/Flexovit), joist hangers (Simpson Strongtie), wood preservative (Protim), ironmongery (Henderson Hardware), plugs (Thorsman/Plasplugs) and tools (Allgrip/Paslode/Sonco/Sigma). John Murphy (Castlerea) Ltd has a pre-pack ‘Bonus Bag’ range to cater for the DIY approach to fasteners and fixings. This customer friendly approach gives the consumer the exact quantity they require rather than forcing them to buy surplus items in a pre-pack that they don’t need.
New developments include a John Murphy (Castlerea) Ltd online B2B ordering tool for shops to be able to order directly online. This will be rolled out in winter of this year.
A spokesperson for the company commented: “We are watching developments in the fasteners and fixings sector very carefully. While the removal of anti-dumping duties occurred in February this year, many Chinese manufacturers who previously have been restricted from supplying Europe are now not geared up to provide the quality assurance required by Irish and European markets. Hence any cheap deals could be a false economy, if things go wrong. There is also the risk of retrospective imposition of duties. Steel prices in China are also increasing in addition to the uncertain currency markets. Hence, we believe that customers will need steady, reliable suppliers to help them through these turbulent developments.”
Rawplug launches SafetyPlusII
Rawlplug has recently launched a new high performance mechanical anchor, SafetyPlusII, which provides Option 1 ETA for cracked concrete, the latest in a long line of innovative products.
The new, environmentally-friendly R-CFS is a cartridge-free system where the resin is contained in a foil sleeve. Three types of resin are available, including vinylester styrene-free and polyester styrene-free, depending on loading and structural requirements. It is an economical system due to the fact no plastic cartridge is required, according to Rawlplug, so waste material is insignificant. A new gun is available that is easier and more comfortable to use.
The Rawlplug trade range offers innovative solutions for both builders merchants and DIY stores, with colour coding, durable anti-tamper packaging and barcoding for correct pricing. The Rawlplug trade range contains high-quality certified products with rawlbolts, throughbolts and hammer-in fixings holding European Technical Approval.
A Rawlplug spokesperson added: “Over the last 12 months we added more categories to the range to allow retailers replace the current bins system in-store.”
TIMco C2 screw range extended
TIMco, one of Ireland’s leading importers and wholesale suppliers of screws, fastenings, fixings, nails and power tool accessories has further extended its range of award-winning C2 screws.
The range of C2 screws available across Ireland now includes the popular C2 Multi-Purpose screw, the C2 Exterior Screw, the C2 Decking Screw, the C2 Flooring Screw and the Tongue-Fix Screw as well as the C2 Multi-Purpose trade case.
The screw’s innovative design enables it to rapidly penetrate materials, while ribs in its head allow the screw to cleanly countersink and securely clamp timber together.
“The C2 screw boasts other core benefits including patented twin cut technology that ensures a rapid ‘pickup’ and a reduction of splitting. The twin cut technology also produces a 43% quicker screw time and half the torque of other screws bringing time and energy savings to users,” a spokesperson commented.
