When I receive my copy of Fastener Technology International I usually turn immediately to the Fastener Focus section and look for my most current 10 Minute interview. This edition it was an interview with Dan Hill, CEO, Wurth Industry North America, Executive VP, Wurth Group. I cannot thank Dan enough for taking time to do the interview.
However, this time as I skipped along the pages I kept running into a similar theme, industry consolidation. Here’s a sampling of what I saw:
Bufab Agrees to Acquire Component Solutions Group
White Cap Acquires Tri-Supply & Equipment
LISI Aerospace Acquires B&E Manufacturing
Martin Fastening Acquires Capital Bolt & Screw
Falcon Acquisition Enhances Trifast N. American Footprint
Clarendon Specialty Fasteners Acquires Aircraft Hardware West
S.W. Anderson Acquires M.E. Martin
LindFast Acquires Solution Industries
……..all of those appeared in the Fastener Focus section BEFORE I got to my interview with Dan.
Since then, Brighton Best International acquired Vertex. Yesterday or today I saw where B&F Fastener Supply acquired Mid States Specialty out of Moline, Illinois.
And, pretty much every company that is not selling these days has the ambition to double its size in the next 3 or 4 or 5 years. As much activity as there has been we have not seen the end of this. And money is so cheap right now. Everybody has their foot on the gas pedal.
Between supply chain issues, Covid concerns, consolidation, and other stuff I’m probably neglecting to mention, 2021 has been one of the most interesting years in the fastener industry I can remember. Lots to talk about at the Fastener Fair Show in Cleveland next month. If you are in town the Monday night before the show please join the NCFA down at Punch Bowl Social in the Flats. Things starting around 6:00. Also, Elgin Fasteners is opening up the doors of its Telefast Division for tours starting at 2:00 p.m. on that same Monday, November 8. You’ll get a firsthand view of nut manufacturing. See you there and I suspect there could be more news developing between now and then.