Fastener Wolrd News

NEWS
Compiled by Fastener World

Association News
Tim Weller Elected as New
BHMA President
Members of the Builders
Hardware Manufacturers
Association ( BH M A)
gathered and approved
the 2023-2024 Board of
Directors during the association’s annual Fall meeting on October
18th, 2023 in San Diego, California. Members who were electedto the 2023-2024 BHMA Board of Directors include Board
President: Tim Weller, Allegion; 1st Vice President: Justin Crotzer,
Dormakaba; 2nd Vice President: Mark McRae, Hager Companies;
and Past President: Mark Bloom, Spectrum Brands HHI.
The new Board members join the Directors: Scott James, CompX
International Inc.; Robert Strong, Dormakaba USA Inc.; Ernie
Mitchell, TownSteel, Inc.; Dick Kreidel, ASSA Abloy Group; andMark Berger, Securitech Group, Inc.
“I'm looking forward to what we will accomplish together,”
noted Weller. “As BHMA nears its 100th anniversary, builders
hardware safety and standards are more important than ever – andour organization has an incredible opportunity to continue beinga leading voice for our industry.” BHMA’s new Board President,
Tim Weller (AHC, CDC, FDAI), Manager of Codes, Standards
and Sustainability at Allegion, brings more than 40 years ofindustry experience where he, amongst many things, is responsiblefor developing the product sustainability strategy to meet market
requirements for Allegion’s products and solutions. Weller is active
in numerous industry organizations such as the Steel Door InstituteNational Fire Protection Association, ASTM International, the U.S.
Green Building Council, and more.

Industry Development
Taiwan CSC's Wire Rod
Price up NTD 800 in Q1 2024
According to Taiwan CSC's report, theglobal steel industry has hovered low for a year
and a half and stockpile in the downstream

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is at a relative low. Steel price and supply
is bound to go higher in the first quarter of2024. Considering the rise in steel-refining
material cost and international steel prices,Taiwan CSC has raised the price for January2024 as appropriate to cope with the increasedmaterial costs. The first-quarter price in 2024
has been reflected in accordance to the statusof downstream industries.

Price adjustments for Q1 2024 by Taiwan CSC
Products

Price Adjustment(NTD per ton)

Wire rod (low/mid/high carbon,
cold headed, low alloy steel)+800

Automotive materials+500

Taiwan's International Carbon Credit
Trading Platform is Now in Official
Operation
In order to assist domestic Taiwanese enterprises to reducecarbon emissions and create a fair, safe and transparent
carbon credit trading system, Taiwan Carbon Solution
Exchange (TCX), jointly invested by Taiwan Stock Exchange
and National Development Fund of the Executive Yuan of
Taiwan, has officially launched its "International Carbon
Credit Trading Platform" on Dec. 22, 2023, with trading
hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, and therelated execution details were also announced, officiallyannouncing that Taiwan has entered a new era of carbon
credit trading.
Unlike other countries having carbon credit trading
platforms that operate on a for-profit business model and inorder to avoid market speculation, the buyers on this platform
are only limited to domestic legal entities (which are only
allowed to hold, cancel, and transfer carbon credits but
reselling) and this platform is not open to the general public,
while the sellers have to be foreign or domestic legal entities.
Carbon credits trading and payments are processed in theform of advance receipts. Carbon credits are sold according toquotations. The unit of transaction is 1 ton of CO2 equivalentand is traded in U.S. Dollars.
For the sellers' part, they are specifically required to meetthe relevant standards for carbon credits (incl. the carbon
credit issuer should be accredited by TCX, the vintage ofthe carbon credits should be within 5 years, and the carbon
credit projects should meet at least 3 of the UN' Sustainable
Development Goals...etc.). TCX hopes that through theestablishment of this platform, it can effectively match supply
and demand, create incentives for enterprises to reducecarbon emissions, and further promote the developmentof low-carbon production technologies and innovative
industries.

Fastener Wolrd News
Carbon Emission Fee for Evergreen Marine andYangMing Marine Out
Evergreen Marine, YangMing Marine, and a number of large container shipping companies
have notified their customers of the EU carbon emission fee, with Evergreen charging €27,
YangMing charging €24, and CMA CGM Group charging €25 per container (20-foot) for the
Asia-Europe route, which is the largest in terms of scale of operation.
According to the levy announced by Evergreen, Evergreen charges €14 for the return trip to
Europe, €23 for the trip to Mediterranean and USD 9 for the return, while YangMing charges€11 for the return trip from Europe, €18 for the trip to Mediterranean and €8 for the return.
The return trip charges are more than halved because the EU only charges 50% carbon tax on
European exports.
Last year EU planned to have shipping included in the ETS from January 1, 2024, which
requires shipowners or commissioned companies to purchase emission allowances and passthese costs on to shippers and renters, which, as DNV Maritime Vice President Rasmus Stutepointed out earlier, could expose mid-sized shipping companies to millions of dollars in
liability each year. In addition to ETS, regulations such as the Carbon Intensity Index (CII)
need to be considered as having a significant impact on the economic and financial position ofsmall and medium-sized shipping companies.

EU Imposes Harbor Carbon Tax from January 2024
Last year EU planned to include ships traveling to European ports in the ETS
program starting January 1, 2024, which is estimated to bring in US$3.6 billion in theform of carbon emission compensation for Europe in 2024. In other words, shipping
companies will have to purchase carbon offsets for the emissions produced by ships
traveling between two EU ports; for ships traveling between EU and non-EU ports,
they will have to bear 50% of the emission fee.
However, seven EU countries, including Spain and Italy, sent a letter to the European
Commission calling for a suspension of the program to prevent shipping companies from avoiding European routes and shifting trade
to nearby Mediterranean ports such as Tangier in Morocco, or Port Said in Egypt, which are less than 300 nautical miles from the EU
coast. According to the latest estimates by Shipping Consultants, assuming a carbon price of €90 per ton, the ETS cost for a container
shipping between Europe and Asia in 2024 is estimated to be as high as €810 thousand.
Despite the high cost of ETS, it is reported that Maersk, the container leader, made a profit of US$30 billion in 2022. The bill
generated by ETS is only a drop in the bucket when compared with the revenue of international shipping, so it may not have much
impact on the end price. However, some EU countries on the Mediterranean coast, including Portugal, Greece and Cyprus, havepublicly said that the ETS program, which comes into effect in 2024, could shift carbon emissions to other parts of the world, and thatcompanies may take longer routes to avoid stopping at EU ports, and may even increase greenhouse gas emissions as a result.

CBSA Initiates Anti-dumping Re-investigation on Certain
Carbon Steel Fasteners Originated from China and Taiwan
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has initiated a re-investigation to update thenormal values and export prices of certain carbon steel fasteners originating in or exported from
China and Taiwan, and the amounts of subsidy of certain carbon steel fasteners originating in or
exported from China. The products subject to the CITT's injury order (falling within HS codes
7318110000, 7318120000, 7318140000, 7318150010, 7318150042, 7318150045, 7318150049) arelisted as below.
Where an exporter of subject goods does not provide sufficient information to determine specific normal values or does not permit
verification of information submitted, anti dumping duties will be assessed at the rate of 170% of the export price of the subject goods
imported into Canada. Similarly, in cases where the Government of China or exporters in China fail to provide complete and accurate
submissions enabling the determination of specific amounts of subsidy, the amounts of subsidy will be determined in accordancewith a ministerial specification pursuant to subsection 30.4(2) of Special Import Measures Act (SIMA). Exporters that are not the
manufacturer of the subject goods (e.g. trading companies, vendors, etc.) will receive normal values and specific amounts of subsidy
惠達雜誌 Fastener World no.204/2024

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Fastener Wolrd News
only to the extent that their suppliers/manufacturers provide sufficient information to the CBSA to permit the determination of normal
values, export prices and amounts of subsidy.
Imperial (inches)

Products

Diameter

LengthDiameter

LengthWood screws#4 to #24 (0.112" to 0.386")

3/8 to 8"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 200 mm

Square and hex lag screws#14 to #24 (1/4" to 0.386")

3/4 to 4"

M6 to M10

20 mm to 100 mm

Sheet metal/tapping screws#4 to #24 (0.112" to 0.386")

3/8 to 8"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 200 mm

Thread forming screws#4 to #24 (0.112" to 0.386")

3/8 to 3"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 75 mm

Thread cutting screws#4 to #24 (0.112" to 0.386")

3/8 to 3"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 75 mm

Thread rolling screws#4 to #24 (0.112" to 0.386")

3/8 to 3"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 75 mm

Self-drilling tapping screws#4 to #24 (0.112" to 0.386")

3/8 to 3"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 75 mm

Machine screws#4 to 3/8" (0.112" to 3/8")

3/8 to 8"

M3 to M10

10 mm to 200 mm

Flange screws

1/4"; to 5/8"

3/8 to 4"

M6 to M16

10 mm to 100 mm

Any importers or exporters who have not received a letter fromthe CBSA, and who wish to provide a response to the RFI areadvised to contact CBSA officers at simaregistry-depotlmsi@cbsaasfc.gc.ca to obtain a copy of the RFI.

Companies Development
Ta Chen Group Invests in Aluminum
Plant in Texas
Ta Chen Group( Ta i w a n) s a i dcarbon steel pricehas been goi ng
u p l a t e l y, a n dstainless steel may follow suit, but it will be until January 2024
before the situation turns clear. What is certain is that businessperformance will be better in H1 than in H2 2024.
Ta Chen Group is continuing on expanding its aluminum
plant in Texas. The group acquired the Texas plant from Alcoa
for USD 350 million in October 2018, invested USD 260 million
in July 2021 to increase the plant's capacity and add the second
cold-rolling line. The cold-rolling line expansion was completed
at the end of 2023 with a capacity up from 18 thousand to 31
thousand tons. Further, the group previously announced anotherinvestment in building a hot-rolling line for USD 131 million
which was completed in 3 years expanding from 13 thousand to
31 thousand tons in capacity.
The group's subsidiary Brighton-Best International (BBI)
sells carbon, steel, stainless steel and alloy steel fasteners which
altogether share 60% of the U.S. market. Its revenue per day
slipped 10% in 2023 from USD 3 million to somewhere between
2.6 to 2.7 million. STAR which is the second largest local
counterpart with USD 70 thousand daily revenue is currently
held by a private equity firm. The private equity firm has lessthan 7 years to handle STAR and it will make for an opportunity
for BBI to acquire STAR and increase gross profit margin by 3
to 5 percentage points from 35%.

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Metric (millimetres)

Fastener World no.204/2024 惠達雜誌

Date

Event

2023/11/30 Initiation of CBSA's re-investigation
responses to CBSA's request
2024/01/02 Importer
for information due
and government responses to2024/01/08 Exporter
CBSA’s request for information due
2024/04/08 Closing of the record
2024/04/15 Case arguments due from all parties
submissions from all parties in
2024/04/22 Reply
respect of the case arguments
2024/05/23 Conclusion of CBSA's re-investigation®

NAFCO to Build Malaysia Plant
NA FCO, a leadi ng Taiwa n-based ma nu fact u rerof fasteners for aerospace and high-end industrial
applications, announced on October 27, 2023 that it plans
to invest in a Malaysian subsidiary in response to thecompany's future operational development and planning.
The initial investment is expected to be approximately
US$5 million and the plant will specializes in the
production of automotive and aerospace fasteners.
Fo u n d e d i n 19 77, NA F C O c u r r e nt ly h a s t wo
production bases in Taoyuan, Taiwan and Jiangsu, China.
The completion of the Malaysian plant will further
enhance its production capacity in the automotive andaerospace fastener fields. The company has also obtainedinternational certifications such as IATF 16949:2016, ISO
9001:2015, AS 9100:2016, ISO 17025, Nadcap, ISO 14001,
ISO 45001, ISO 14064-1:2018, ISO 27001, etc. The qualityof its products has been recognized by many customers
around the world.

Fastener Wolrd NewsNew Joint Venture Between
Mitsuchi and SUMEEKO in
Discussion
Mitsuchi has held detailed discussions on establishing a joint venture with Taiwan's
TPEx listed company SUMEEKO Ind. Co., Ltd. The company's board of directors
passed a resolution on October 31, 2023 and decided that the basic guidelines of
the joint venture are as follows. The specific details will be adjusted after a formal
agreement with SUMEEKO is reached in the future.
1. Background
Mitsuchi has manufacturing plants in Thailand, the United States and China, andhas been producing and selling auto parts for Japanese auto parts manufacturers in
the respective regions. SUMEEKO, which has no business relationship with Mitsuchi,
is planning to manufacture fasteners locally for American EV manufacturers. In theprocess of expanding global orders, Mitsuchi is in line with SUMEEKO's intentions.
In September, the two parties began discussions to establish a joint venture with
Mitsuchi's production base MICA in Tennessee, U.S.A. After multiple discussions,
Mitsuchi decided to establish a joint venture with SUMEEKO under the following
framework, and will coordinate subsequent details after obtaining the formal consent
of SUMEEKO.
2. Basic Guidelines
The joint venture (hereinafter referred to as the "New Company") will be jointly
owned by MICA and SUMEEKO at a ratio of 3:7 and will use part of the land andbuildings owned by MICA as its production base. The new company's premises areleased by MICA. The new company will be a joint venture and produce fasteners for
U.S. automakers.
3. Future prospects
If this transaction materializes, the impact on Mitsuchi's consolidated results forthe year ended June 30, 2024 will be minimal. However, Mitsuchi believes it will help
improve operating performance.

TriMas Appoints New General Manager of Its Allfast
Fastening Systems
Business
TriMas announced the appointment ofWilliam “Bill” Carrigan to the positionof Allfast Fastening Systems General Manager, effective December 1, 2023. He willreport directly to Vitaliy Rusakov, recently hired as President of TriMas Aerospace.
Carrigan has a proven record of success in elevating performance within the aerospacefastener sector. He has held operating positions of increasing responsibility at leading
aerospace companies, including Howmet Aerospace, previously a division of Arconic
and Alcoa, and Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing. Throughout his career,
Carrigan has consistently driven revenue growth and performance improvement,
while committed to operational excellence. He earned a dual undergraduate degree in
Operations Management and Management Information Systems from the University of
Wisconsin.
“With a proven track record in the aerospace fastener industry, Bill brings a breadthof leadership experience and industry expertise, making him a valuable addition to our
Allfast team and TriMas Aerospace group,” said Thomas Amato, TriMas President andChief Executive Officer. Allfast Fastening Systems is a leading global manufacturerof solid and blind rivets, blind bolts, temporary fasteners and installation tools for theaerospace industry with content on substantially all commercial, defense and generalaviation platforms in production and in service.
TriMas Aerospace, TriMas’ second largest reportable segment, is a leading designer
and manufacturer of a diverse range of products, including, but not limited to,惠達雜誌 Fastener World no.204/2024

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Fastener Wolrd News
highly-engineered fasteners, collars, blind bolts, rivets, ducting andconnectors for air management systems, and other highly-engineeredmachined parts and components, for use in focused markets within
the aerospace industry.

locking washers. Today, no other global supplier offers
CE-marked securing washers, and that Nord-Lock now
accomplishes the feat puts the company in a unique positionin the building and construction industry.

Brighton-Best, Parker Fasteners
Announce Strategic Partnership

The CE marking is a requirement for anyone supplying
products to the building and construction industry within
the European Union (EU), ensuring that products comply
with the EU’s rigorous safety and quality regulations. The
milestone of attaining the CE mark reinforces Nord-Lock’s
reason for existence – protecting customer investments
and keeping people safe. By implication, it also reassures
the already established perception of Nord-Lock being
the given partner when safety and reliability really matter.
"We are thrilled to introduce CE marking for our wedgelocking washers, reinforcing our commitment to delivering
excellence in engineering and design. This achievement
demonstrates our dedication to compliance and safety,
providing our customers with a competitive edge in theiroperations." – Graham Souter, Vice President and head of theNord-Lock Business Unit.

Brighton-Best International and Parker Fasteners announced theformation of a strategic partnership, starting in 2024, on Oct. 10,2023. This partnership is likely to revolutionize the fastener industry
by having quicker lead times. Parker Fasteners, a manufacturer with astrong foothold in the U.S. domestic market, has been operational forover a decade and has earned a reputation for being customer-centric.
Brighton-Best International has been in business for nearly 100 years
and is known for nationally high levels of stock. The agreement
will focus on promoting the expansion of BBI’s stainless steel lines.
The partnership is expected to support distributor companies toexpand their reach and increase their revenue and product offering ofstainless steel.

Specialinsert® Honored with ‘Chiave A
Stella’ Award
Sp e cia li nser t ® has
won t he honorable
mention i n t he 20 23
edition of the ‘CHIAVE A STELLA’ Award, as ‘Best Example
of a Technological Solution in the Digital Field’. The Prize, now
in its 15th edition, is open to all micro, small and medium-sizedenterprises in Piedmont. It is awarded annually through a call for
entries promoted by API Torino, Fondazione Magnetto and thenewspaper ‘la Repubblica’, in collaboration with the UniCredit Bank,
the Turin Chamber of Commerce and CONFAPI Piemonte, and withthe scientific support of the Turin Polytechnic and the School ofManagement and Economics of the University of Turin. The initiative
is of primary importance because it aims to promote Piedmont’s
small and medium-sized entrepreneurs and their ability to generate
wealth and knowledge on the territory in a responsible manner.

Strengthens
Its Industryleading Position
with Unique CE Marked Securing Washers
When Nord-Lock, part of the Nord-Lock Group, introduced theinnovative wedge-locking technology in 1982, the company swiftlyrose to its current market-leading position as the global leader forbolting solutions. Now, the company is once again breaking new
ground by announcing the addition of CE marking to its wedge-

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Fastener World no.204/2024 惠達雜誌

The biggest upside of these washers now carrying the CE
marking is that any building and construction business, in
any EU market, can seamlessly reap the renowned benefits ofthese washers when compliance with regulations is assured
throughout the assembly process. With a locking mechanismthat uses tension instead of friction, Nord-Lock washers keepbolted connections tight and secure. Even when subjected
to severe vibrations or dynamic loads, operators can rest
assured that their bolts will stay in place.

250 Guests in India at fischer’s FirstInternational Expert ForumThe fischer Group of Companies held its first International
Expert Forum in India on 24 November, 2023. The familyowned company organised the all-day event in the capital
New Delhi together with its Indian subsidiary. Around 30
journalists from various specialised media in the country
attended the forum. The forum focused on the constructionindustry, including earthquake safety, fire protection andstandards, and brought together experts from all over theworld. The speakers and more than 250 guests in the packed
hall focused their questions on future construction trends,
various innovative construction methods and the importanceof connections in various areas of construction.
Professor Konrad Bergmeister, who heads the Institute ofStructural Engineering at the Vienna University of Natural
Resources and Applied Life Sciences, said: "fischer hasorganised a very successful forum here in India. It will
attract attention in the construction industry throughout
the country and will certainly increase demand. The mixof construction industry, planning engineers and science
was very successful." Professor Akanshu Sharma from

Fastener Wolrd News
Purdue University in the USA said: "Events like the 'International Expert Forum' are offundamental importance for India and its construction industry. fischer will benefit agreat deal from this forum here in the country."Dr. Oliver Geibig, Managing Director Business Units and Engineering at fischer,introduced the fischer Group of Companies to the guests and said: "It is a greathonour for me to welcome so many industry experts here with us at fischer in India."
Mayank Kalra, Managing Director of fischer India, said: "At fischer India, innovation,
responsibility and reliability are essential in the construction industry. We are all about
empowering our customers to achieve their construction goals with us." Uday Shikhare,
Technical Director, fischer India, moderated the event and said, "We are honoured andoverwhelmed by the response to fischer's first International Expert Forum in India."

Optimas to Develop
Fastener Manufacturing
Facility in Monterrey
Mexico to Support Regional Sourcing Strategies That
Minimize Supply Chain
Optimas Solutions, a global industrial manufacturer/distributor and service provider,announced it will open a cold form manufacturing plant in Monterrey, Mexico in thesecond half of 2024. The Mexico production center will complement world-class fastener
manufacturing facilities in Wood Dale, IL, and Droitwich Spa in the United Kingdom
and continue the company’s near-shoring efforts to minimize supply chain risk.
“More than ever, resource availability has given way to accessibility in the form ofregionalization,” said Daniel Harms, CEO of Americas. “Our expanding localization
strategy enables us to be more agile with our manufacturing and sourcing capabilities
for industrial customers and suppliers. ” “We took great care to design our Mexico
facility to mirror our capabilities at our manufacturing operations in Wood Dale so theycan effectively play off each other,” said Ricardo Alonzo Rodríguez, vice president andgeneral manager of Optimas in Mexico. “This ensures customers and suppliers haveaccess to the same engineering, tooling, manufacturing and quality processes regardlessof where we produce the fasteners.
Optimas Solutions is one of only a few companies with in-house cold forming in the
US, UK, and now, MX, which complements global distribution for fasteners and C-Class
parts procurement. By working with a full-service distributor that is also a manufacturer,
industrial producers can take advantage of multiple procurement paths and be supported
by automated replenishment services, predictive analytics, engineering creativity, acertified quality management system and existing carrier relationships that ensure
reliable delivery. “The ability to dual source adds significant strength to a customer’s
procurement strategies because you can combine the breadth and depth of sourcing withthe ability to manufacture more complex parts locally,” said Harms. “With fluctuations
in demand occurring at an ever-increasing rate, procurement specialists depend on
business partners that are flexible to meet production requirements.”

Through Joint Venture Company

Bulten Establishes
Operation in India

Bulten is establishing manufacturing operations in India through a newly formed
joint venture company – Bulten Radium Industries Private Ltd. – alongside two partners:
Radium Fasteners Private Ltd. (Radium) and ZJK Precision Parts HK (ZJK). The driveris an increased need for domestically produced micro screws among internationalcustomers in the electronics sector with production in India.

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"Our ambition is to increase sales, primarily of micro screws, to companies in the electronics industry. India is a growing market forthis segment, as many international manufacturers of electronics are locating more and more of their Asian production in India. This is thedriver behind our new operation in India, and we plan to begin production during the first half of 2024,” says Anders Nyström, President
and CEO of Bulten.
The operation will be based at a new production plant currently being constructed in Jamnagar, in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
The aim is to be fully up and running during the second quarter of 2024, and to have about 50 employees. The building will be leased by
Bulten Radium Industries Private Ltd. and therefore involves only limited investment costs for Bulten. Bulten has a 51 percent holdingin the newly formed joint venture company. ZJK has previously been a partner to Bulten for the manufacture of micro screws in China,
and Radium is a newly formed company owned by experienced players in the fastener industry in India. As well as the newly started JV
company, Bulten also operates in India through the newly acquired distribution company Exim Mfr & Enterprise.

Deepening Supply Chain Relationships with Taiwan,
Adolf Würth Holds Supplier Day 2023
The Würth Group, which has more than 400 companies and 85,000 employees in more than 80 countries and supplies more than
125,000 products such as fasteners, tools, DIY products, assembly materials, and industrial parts and components to customers in various
industries, gave a Supplier Day event on Nov. 10, 2023 at the new site of its Taiwan branch located in Zuoying, Kaohsiung.

The support and cooperation from Taiwan fastener suppliers has always
been the key to the Würth Group's stable revenue and growth year after year.
Therefore, a number of executives from the Würth Group's parent company,
reps from the procurement/quality/products/R&D departments of the Group's
overseas subsidiaries and affiliates, Managing Director Andreas Dierolf of Adolf
Würth GmbH & Co. Taiwan Branch, CEOs of Würth Taiwan Co., Ltd. and Würth
Industry Taiwan Co., Ltd. were all present to interact with 90 partner suppliers andalmost 250 guests from the fastener industry. Executive Director Axel Limberg ofDelegate of German Industry & Commerce Taiwan and Chairman Tu-Chin Tsai of
Taiwan Industrial Fasteners Institute also attended the event.
The Supplier Day was the first large industry networking event of Adolf WürthGmbH & Co. KG Taiwan Branch after it moved to the new location in Zuoying. In
addition to food and wine, two workshops and seminars on the topics of "Helping Suppliers to Implement Würth's Online Quality System"and "CBAM Requirements, Implementation and Impact" were held in the hope of deepening the exchange of information and close
cooperation between Würth and its Taiwanese suppliers.
Managing Director Andreas Dierolf of Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG Taiwan Branch particularly praised the Taiwanese suppliers
as one of the best in Asia in terms of service, quality and innovation. In the opening speech he said, "This is the 6th Supplier Day inKaohsiung in the 11 and a half years since the establishment of Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG Taiwan Branch. We’d like to thank everyone
for their support and understanding. The success of our bilateral cooperation is mainly due to the support of the fastener specialists present
here, who continue to produce and supply us with high quality fasteners, and we’re able to assist you in the sale of fasteners produced allover the world. We’re truly grateful for the partnership and the long-lasting friendship we have enjoyed with you."
The Würth Group says that the fastener industry has had a tough year due to the slowdown in the global economy and regional wars, but
is confident that it will be able to see the light of day in close cooperation with its suppliers.

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Acquisitions
Auveco Expands
Presence withAcquisition of
ClipLizard Systems
Au ve c o , a l e a d i n g fo r c e i n t h e
automotive fastener and body hardware aftermarket,
proudly announces its recent acquisition of ClipLizard
Systems, headquartered in Spencer, IN. This strategic move solidifies
Auveco's position in the Collision and Paint, Body, and Equipment(PBE) markets. ClipLizard Systems, recognized for its innovationand commitment to quality, specializes in sourcing and distributing
automotive clips and fasteners to PBE distributors. Their licensed
software solution, Materials Manager, enhances PBE inventory
management. The successful transaction, finalized on November 1st,2023, marks a pivotal moment for both companies.

“There are times when you just know it’s a solid match as
we share the same drive and grit to make it happen for thecustomer,” states Kevin Weidinger, President of the Great Lakes
family of distributors. “Frontier has great talent, a diverse groupof loyal customers, and matches our core values perfectly!”“We are excited to add Frontier to our Nut & Bolt Fastening
team in Buffalo!” continued Weidinger. Beginning Monday,
December 4, 2023, Frontier Fastener has integrated with theexisting Buffalo-based Nut & Bolt Fastening Solutions nestledon historic Connecticut Street. Nut & Bolt is a prominent
brand in the fastener distribution group owned by Kevin
Weidinger. The group operates Great Lakes Fasteners, Nut &Bolt Fastening Solutions, Lakeshore Shore Fastener, Hodges
Fastener Corporation, and Connection Service Company. The
group is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with distribution
and manufacturing centers in Ohio, New York, Michigan, andWisconsin.

Auveco CEO, Jeff Gilkinson, expressed enthusiasm, stating, "Thepartnership with ClipLizard aligns seamlessly with our values ofinnovation and exceptional service. This strategic fit will bolster
our ability to serve customers across North America." Ray Wilhoite,
CEO of ClipLizard, echoed this sentiment, saying, "Joining forces
with Auveco allows us to combine our strengths, offering anenhanced product and service portfolio to our channel partners."
The collaboration opens new channels to market for both Auveco
and ClipLizard, providing access to a broader product portfolio.
The companies foresee increased opportunities for new productintroductions by leveraging core best practices.

The consortium strives to maintain a distributor’s local
identity and presence in their communities yet leverages
the collective strength, size and abilities of the enterprise.
Customers enjoy a vast inventory of standard and special
fasteners plus bundled lean production services, including
kitting, packaging, sub-assembly, and managed inventory
programs (VMI). Headquartered in Cleveland (Twinsburg),
Ohio – The Great Lakes Fastener Group is a full-line fastener
distribution and manufacturing company that offers its clientsa comprehensive portfolio of standard, metric and made-toprint fasteners, packaging services and innovative inventory
solutions. The group maintains a quality management system tothe ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 standard.

Founded in 1916, Auveco has grown to become a predominant
provider of automotive fasteners, serving thousands of wholesale
distribution customers. ClipLizard, founded in 2003 by Ray Wilhoite,
has developed a loyal following through its extensive portfolio of
specialty clips and fasteners, catering to the needs of body shops.

Acquires Alliance
Nut & Bolt

Great Lakes
Fasteners GroupAcquires Frontier
Fastener

Alliance was founded in 1978 by Leon and Kevin Oshman.
From the beginning, the business set out with a passion andcommitment to provide the marketplace with an unparalleledlevel of customer service. In 1999, Kevin purchased his father's
stock, securing complete ownership, and embarked on ajourney of growth. Today, that passion, commitment and drivefor growth remains core to Alliance, which operates facilities in
Salina, Kansas, and Okarche, Oklahoma.

The Great Lakes Fasteners
Group has acquired Frontier Fastener, Inc. of Buffalo, New York,to continue its rapid growth plans serving manufacturers and othercustomers throughout the Northeast. Frontier Fastener has been a
Western New York fastener favorite for over 50 years serving a wide
variety of customers across many segments. Frontier specializes in
special fasteners designed to customer specifications. Paul Kramer
has been with Frontier for over 50 years, having started working
alongside his father. Paul's career started with odd jobs around thewarehouse, and he worked his way to becoming President.
“Aligning with the Great Lakes Fasteners Group just felt like anatural fit for me and the Frontier team,” said Paul Kramer, Frontier
President. “Kevin and the Great Lakes team care deeply about
their customers, just as we do, and together shared several fastenerstories, including heroics performed for our customers!” “I am alsodelighted to stay on and be able to expand the products and services
we now have available with Great Lakes,” continued Kramer.

Alliance Nut & Bolt's major fulfillment offerings include
vendor-managed inventory, dock-to-dock managed inventory
and kitting solutions. Rick Ambrosier, a 20-year veteran withthe company, will continue in a leadership position as branchmanager. Kevin Oshman will remain with the company duringa transition period. Endries is a leading distributor of fasteners
and Class-C parts serving industrial original equipment
manufacturers and the Industrial marketplace worldwide.
From its headquarters in Brillion, Wisconsin, and 11 U.S.
and international distribution centers, Endries provides over
500,000 SKUs to its customer base. Endries operates primarily
through a vendor-managed inventory model, managing
C-part categories for its customers across diverse industrial
end markets. Endries partners with customers through robust
replenishment systems that provide products and support
services, which are critical to maintaining the manufacturing
process.
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