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TS:  Michael, you and I have seen each other at trade shows and in passing for many years and you always invited me to come visit your plant for a tour.  So, I am glad I finally got an opportunity to visit Perigee Manufacturing and I thank you for the tour.  Now, let’s share a bit more about the company with readers who have not had the chance to visit.

Michael Topolewski (MT): Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity.

TS:  You introduced me to your Dad out on the production floor though I am sure I’ve met him in the past at a trade show.  So let’s dive into the history of Perigee Manufacturing.  If I am not mistaken you are the 3rd generation operator of Perigee Manufacturing.  Fill us in on the origins of the company.

MT: In the early 1920s, my great-grandfather, Richard Topolewski, worked for Federal Screw Works, eventually becoming the Plant Superintendent.  Thereafter, he decided to start his own fastener manufacturing business – Top Screw & Nut – late in the 1920s.  This was at the beginning of the Great Depression; his very first automatic screw machines were purchased from a fire sale (literally), which he placed into service in his garage, repaired into working order, and subsequently began employing all of his brothers.  Top Screw & Nut operated until the United States entered into World War II, after which time all the men of age employed there left for war service.  After they returned from the war, Popular & Special Nut was founded and operated until the 1960s.  My grandfather, Patrick Topolewski, who had worked for both Top Screw & Nut and Popular & Special Nut, decided to start his own fastener manufacturing business in 1965, when Perigee Manufacturing Company, Inc. began its operation.  Michael Topolewski, Sr. joined the company in 1977, and under his guidance, grew the business considerably in the 1980s and 1990s. After college, I joined in 1999, & thereafter my brother, Tim, joined in 2004. So, we are a 4th generation fastener manufacturing family and are currently in the 3rd generation at Perigee Manufacturing.

TS:  I think people who are a bit familiar with Perigee Manufacturing probably associate you with nut manufacturing.  But, you are not a cold formed nut manufacturer, you make machined parts.  Tell us some more about the various products you produce.

MT: Historically, Perigee Manufacturing is well known for the manufacture of specialty nuts milled from bar stock; these are typically per print specials, precision machined, requiring tight tolerances, high strength, high temperature, exotic materials, and/or with features not found commercially off the shelf.  Nut slotting has always been our specialty, both for our own machined from bar product, as well as for customer supplied product (cold formed nut blanks).  However, we also produce a wide variety of automatic screw machine parts, as well as CNC turned and milled and CNC Swiss turned components such as bolts, bushings, fittings, pins, plugs, screws, spacers, sleeves, & washers.  We manufacture much more than just specialty, slotted, and castellated nuts.

TS:  I could see on the plant tour you do some secondary operations too.  What secondary operations are you able to complete in house?

MT: We have a robust complement of secondary manufacturing machinery, including slotting, tapping, broaching, burnishing, crimping, locking, cross-drilling, etc. The vast majority of our parts cannot be completed in one machining operation due to their complexity; many require several machining and post-machining operations, including heat-treating, plating, and/or performance testing, such as all-metal aerospace locknuts. Having extensive secondary operations is key to the types of parts we manufacture.

TS:  Aerospace is a very hot market these days and it looks like it will remain strong in the upcoming years.  You are well situated to service this market and enjoy this ride.  Talk a bit about the markets you serve and also what opportunities you are seeing in the Aerospace market.

MT:  As a well-established AS9100-certified domestic fastener manufacturer, we have seen significant growth over the last decade given the consolidation (M&A activity) and competitor challenges (debt service, workforce issues, etc.) within the supply chain in the aerospace & defense market.  Currently, aerospace comprises 40% of our total sales.  We have and will continue to invest heavily in our operations – most importantly; in our personnel, on the production floor, and within our quality department, to continue to expand and serve this industry.  Our perspective is this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity in the aerospace fastener market, and we intend to fully capitalize on it. We also supply parts to automotive, auto aftermarket, agricultural, industrial, heavy truck, marine, oil & gas, and other markets.  It is true, fasteners hold the world together.

TS:  Are you personally involved in any Aerospace market associations?

MT: I am a technical advisor on the National Aerospace Standards Committee (NASC); this committee convenes and collaborates to draft and revise the various Aerospace standards.  In addition, I am a member of the SAE Fastener Committee and am currently working to draft a revision to one of the long-established standards used every day within the industry.  I feel it is important to provide input and insight to these committees from the perspective of a 4th-generation precision machined component and fastener manufacturer.

TS:  This is more of a general question but what opportunities or challenges do you see ahead as a domestic manufacturer?  Many people do not think tariffs affect domestic producers but have they had an affect on how you operate at Perigee Manufacturing?

MT: I see both opportunities and challenges at present.  The opportunities are more overt; creating a more even playing field for domestic manufacturers such as Perigee Manufacturing to increase market share due to a more competitive market with tariffs in place on foreign manufactured products. There are challenges, however.  For instance, we use some raw material grades in bar stock form that are not currently produced in the United States.  As such, our cost to purchase these materials has markedly increased due to tariffs.  In the near- and long-term, perhaps our domestic material producers will invest in steel-making factories to produce these materials, but any such help is likely years away, if it does in fact materialize to any great extent.

TS:  Michael, you are still a young guy.  What does the future of Perigee Manufacturing look like when you stop and reflect on the future?  

MT: Well, I certainly don’t feel young as a multi-generation owner / operator while having been involved in the fastener industry for 26 years, however, I am just as engaged and passionate about our company’s prospects – as well as our industry’s prospects – as I have ever been.  The changes we have seen in recent years (global pandemic, supply chain issues, M&A activity, interest rate effects, and tariffs, just to name a few) are sometimes inevitable, but these changes can also create unique opportunities for growth.  Perigee Manufacturing has booked double-digit percentage increases in sales each year for the last 5-6 years.  As the decision maker for our company, I see tremendous opportunities for high quality, domestically made fasteners and turned components both now and in the near future, and believe we have placed our company in a strong position for this continuation.

Michael Topolewski Jr.

Left to right: Michael Jr., Michael Sr. & Tim Topolewski

* I have a regular column in Fastener Technology International (FTI) magazine, called 10 Minutes with the Traveling Salesman, which can be read online at www.fastenertech.com. Subscriptions to FTI, print and digital editions, are free-of-charge for fastener manufacturers, distributors and users as well as suppliers to the industry.”

TS:  First of all, thank you for taking me on a tour of your facility.  There is a lot of history here.  And it’s kind of funny to me that you are located in the town right next to where my home and office are located.  We’re neighbors.

 I could not help but notice old brochures and signage that showed some of the Seaway Bolt history.  And that seems like a great place to start.  Tell me about the history of Seaway Bolt.

Genevieve Gurnick-Long:  Seaway Bolt & Specials was founded in 1957 by my grandfather, Raymond S. Gurnick, and a partner, with the idea to make ladder bolts. Due to a price war on ladder bolts, they quickly had to pivot into other product lines. With the open die headers that they had, they started producing long length specialty bolts and taper thread pipe plugs which has grown to be our core product line.

TS:  I felt kind of funny getting a tour of the facility when your dad, Raymond L. Gurnick was not in the building.  He has invited me to visit numerous times and I happened to pick the time when he was not there.  I’ll come back again when he’s here just so I don’t feel guilty!

But you are here at Seaway and are the third generation to be involved.  But you were not just a kid coming out of college when you started.  Share with us your path that led you to working at Seaway Bolt.

Genevieve: Gosh it seems so long ago. When I got out of college I applied for over 75 jobs with only a few responses, mostly letting me know I needed more experience. With bills to be paid I asked my father if I could work at Seaway.  He of course let me work at Seaway on a few conditions. First he told me that I was going to have to work twice as hard as anyone else, and that if I did anything out of line my head was on the chopping block. With these conditions in the back of my mind, I started as a quality technician learning as much as possible from some incredible ladies, who helped set me up to become the Quality Manager and help lead a culture change as a wave of retirements hit. Like many young people I questioned if this was really what I wanted to do the rest of my life. So, I decided to explore some other options.  I did not want to regret not exploring other options so, fully embracing my quarter life crisis, I joined the Army Reserve. It was one of the best choices I made for myself as it humbled me, taught me, and instilled greater confidence in myself. After my mandatory time and an officer’s cap in hand I asked my father if there was still a place for me at Seaway. I’ve been back full time since 2020 working whatever job needs to be done, from tool room, to shipping, learning to setup a header, and how to sell our products. Working for the family business has taught me more than I could ever imagined, and it has helped me grow to appreciate my father, and Grandfather’s hard work and sacrifices as well as the hard work of all our employees.

TS:  One thing that really stood out to me was the amount of inventory you carry.  Both finished goods and semi-finished goods.  Honestly, the amount of inventory was impressive. 

 Genevieve: What can I say? We are committed to selling the worlds’ standard of tapered thread pipe plugs with 99.5%+ on time shipments!

TS: Your company is another great example of domestic manufacturing in the US.  And now there are tariffs.  And although tariffs are supposed to affect imported goods it still affects domestic manufacturing indirectly.  How are the tariffs affecting Seaway Bolt?

 Genevieve:   I think Seaway is in the same boat as other small metal manufacturers.  We have seen some glimmer of hope with on shoring quotes but nothing has materialized yet. And like all manufacturers who use CHQ wire in the North America market, we’re struggling with the highest cost wire in the world. . So I think we’re probably like most companies, just taking it one day at a time.

 TS:  So, currently,  we have a great company history and a robust thriving business.  What does the future look like for Seaway Bolt.

 Genevieve: Ohhh the future! I can’t wait. Seaway is doubling down on our engineering, looking to solve problems for our customers. Innovating and finding new ways to make products. I don’t want to babble too much, but we continue to add new machinery and capacity. But, rest assure, as the future arrives Seaway is ready, and committed to our fittings product line, our on time deliveries, and engineering solutions for our customers.

I have a regular column in Fastener Technology International (FTI) magazine, called 10 Minutes with the Traveling Salesman, which can be read online at www.fastenertech.com. Subscriptions to FTI, print and digital editions, are free-of-charge for fastener manufacturers, distributors and users as well as suppliers to the industry.”

Well folks, here it is.  We are on the Eve of one of our most longstanding, yearly anticipated trade shows.  IFE.  Fastener Show West.  National Industrial Fastener Show.  Vegas Show.  While there are times you feel age catching up with you, a lot of people probably think of themselves as younger than they actually are.  With that in mind, how many of you remember the Columbus Show?  Not a single member of the Young Fastener Professionals can say they remember it.  Or very few, I suppose.  And while it does feel like a long time ago there are many memories of that show that don’t feel that old.  But, they kind of are.

And now, the Vegas Show is moving.  Next year it will be in Phoenix.  I have not heard if that is a one year deal or a multi year agreement or if the show is going to be traveling each year.  Someone might know but I have not heard.

And, even the Vegas Show has changed over the year quite a bit.  From Paris to the Convention Center near the Venetian.  A one year side show at the, what was it, the Westgate?  My biggest memory from that is hanging out in the suite where Elvis stayed thanks to my friends at Screws Industries.

While a lot of us consider our show to be big I think we probably pale in comparison to a lot of tech or auto shows.  Now we compete with an NFL team and many other attractions and I am guessing our show just does not have the fire power it once did.  Even being down at the Mandalay Bay feels like we are isolated and shoved down to the end of the strip.  Maybe it is time to move on to a new city.

I wonder about the international exhibitors that come to the show.  Do tariffs change anything?  I’m guessing it does for some companies and not so much for others.  Many international sources still are less expensive than domestic, even with the tariffs.  And, it could depend on the products.  Most companies probably consider the long game and are anticipating some changes in tariff policy either in the short term or maybe four years down the road.

Regardless, this is the last trip to Las Vegas for a while.  I would not have guessed a few years back that I would be looking at 2026 and thinking I would be attending Fastener Shows in Phoenix and Charlotte.  Fastener Fair has plans for 2027.  I guess we will be finding out what IFE has in mind.

So, all of you folks who have said you hate going to Vegas need to start making plans for 2026 and show up in Phoenix.  Either IFE listened to you or Las Vegas just got too difficult to work with for a show the size of our show.

See you all next week.  Looking forward to it.

TS:  Bob, you’ve been in the hose clamp business for many years now.  But, everybody starts somewhere, right?  So, how did you first get started in hose clamps?

Bob Ward (BW): I have been involved with hose clamps for about 38 years, since 1986. At that time I was just out of school and I was working in a very junior position in the Detroit sales office for a US based automotive parts manufacturer that had a factory in Canada. One day when I was visiting the Canadian factory, I saw some equipment in storage and asked what that equipment was for. They explained to me that it used to make hose clamps, they then showed me a small building where they had a few other machines operating making hose clamps. They asked me if I could sell hose clamps to the car manufacturers in Detroit.

TS:  OK, so now let’s travel back through history and share with us your path to where you find yourself today.

BW: I had some good luck with my first employer and we built a significant business quickly that led to building a new factory within a few years. Soon after completion, the new factory was at capacity, it quickly became clear that while we had a small committed team, the parent company did not see the hose clamp business as a core business and was not willing to make additional investments to further grow the business. By that time, I had been bitten by the bug, I was in love with the fastener business and I was participating on an SAE sub committee that was writing hose clamp standards. I was approached by a German hose clamp manufacturer that wanted to enter the North American (NA) market and asked me to lead the effort. Eventually, I agreed to join them so long as they agreed that I could go after new opportunities and not poach customers from the company that I helped to build.

During the 17 years that I was with the German company I had the pleasure of working with customers in many different market segments all over NA. We introduced dozens of products to 100s of customers in the NA market. I was fortunate to work with a great team of people all over the world that I considered colleagues and friends. Eventually the owner of the company retired and sold the company to PE. The new PE owners asked for my commitment to stay for a year and try working with the new management/owners. Looking back, while it was a tough year I value that time because I learned a lot that helped me to start a new company. The people at the PE company were good business people but they totally changed the business strategy. While I respected the right of the new owners to make the changes, it was not pleasant being the face of the company to so many customers and delivering the message over and over that how we did business in the past was not how we were going to do business going forward. Furthermore, the new owners shifted to a market consolidation strategy and my experience was always growing business organically. After that year it became clear to me that I wanted to look for something new and I resigned in 2007 without a clear plan for my future.

Eventually I decided that I would stay in the hose clamp business because I was in my mid 40s, and hose clamps is what I knew about. I had ideas to start my own company and focus on small to medium sized customers that I knew were being underserved. IFE was a distributor and agent for my former employer that was focused on the Nordic countries. Over the years I had worked closely with IFE on some projects with Swedish customers and we had a lot of success working together. When they heard that I had resigned they reached out to me and asked if we could work together in the future. We decided to get into the hose clamp business together. Since the market had seen tremendous consolidation of hose clamp manufacturers we thought the market would be looking for a competitive challenger. We started IFE Americas in 2008 and launched a range of products under the IFE brand.

TS:  You are the President of IFE Americas.  Can you tell us what the IFE stands for?

BW: IFE stands for Ingoneriesfirma Fritz Egnell which is Swedish for Engineering Company Fritz Egnell. Fritz Egnell was the great grandfather of my business partner, Patrik Egnell. He started IFE 120 years ago. The first product IFE designed was a marine engine he called PENTA. IFE became an engine manufacturer and made marine engines under the brand name PENTA and soon after started producing automobile engines for VOLVO cars. During the financial uncertainty in the 1930s, VOLVO decided it was not a good idea to depend on an outside supplier for the most important component of its growing automobile company so they bought the engine production business from IFE.

TS:  Tell us about your business partner and others at IFE who help you on this growth path you have found yourself in the last several years.

BW:  While I had been involved with starting and building new companies all of my career, I always worked as an employee. Financing the new venture was always looked after by a large parent company.  When I had the vision to start my own company, I think I was naive about the capital that would be required and the sacrifices that we would need to make.  IFE was a long established company and offered to work together and support me.  When we started IFE AMERICAS in 2008 within a few months we had a financial crisis.  Even though it was very difficult in 2008, we all stuck with the project.  Patrik Egnell the youngest in the Egnell family was my regular contact, his background was in finance and has acted as our CFO. Not only did IFE GROUP support IFE AMERICAS financially, Patrik and I work closely together and we talk many times each week. We meet together in person 3 or 4 times each year. We try to meet once in North America, once in Europe and at least one time somewhere else in the world each year. While everybody knows that it is not a good idea to go into business with friends, Patrik and I were business partners first but we have become good friends along the way.  Eventually, Patrik and I bought out the other silent partners so today it is just he and I that own IFE.

CAILLAU, a French hose clamp manufacturer played an important role as they trusted IFE to set up and manage a company for them in North America for the last 10 years. Today we also cooperate with CLAMPCO and they have been an important and valued partner for IFE.  We have important partners in Asia too but these companies are not known to a Western audience.

Inside the company we are fortunate to have some core long term employees in Bob Morgan, Karen Uhley and Hristijan Georgievski. Each of these people have made important contributions to IFE AMERICAS. Recently we have added new team members to support our growing business and I am hopeful that we can say the same for each of the new team members in the future.

TS:  I do not normally jump into technical information during my interviews but I think I would like to go in that direction with you.  You are your happiest when you are doing an engineering sales call and when you are problem solving.   What are the biggest issues you see in the hose clamp industry and how people use them?

BW:  My previous employer sent me to many customers to solve technical problems on many occasions.  Over the years I have seen many joint failures and it is not just one or two issues. One of IFEs benefits is that we have a very large range of products along with the know-how and experience to utilize these products to solve technical issues in our customers applications. More than that we understand that for a joint to work correctly all of the mating components need to work together. I would like to say we have magic clamps that can solve every issue but sometimes we find an issue with a hose or spigot that makes up a joint with our clamp. Another issue we often see is incorrect installation processes, most companies pay attention to torque but since hose clamps go on soft joints, assembly speed plays a critical role to get a leak free joint. I find it rewarding when I can draw on my experience and help our customers solve technical issues.

TS:  You carry American style clamps, German style, Swedish style clamps.  Why are there so many different styles and what should a customer consider when either specifying or buying a specific hose clamp?  Are certain styles used predominantly in certain industries?

BW: IFE did not develop these worm drive hose clamp designs. The American style hose clamp is the slotted band clamp that has been around for 100 years. The Europeans developed refined hose clamp design by making a non-slotted band design and rolling the edges of the hose clamps so they do not damage the hose. The Germans developed a design that functions very well and is economical to produce in large quantities, we consider the German clamp the best value design. The Swedish also went with a non slotted design with rolled edges however they tend to use thicker band material and the threads are rolled on the exterior of the band so the inside diameter is smooth. The Swedish also went with a more expensive stronger housing design.  The housing is formed from a tube and it is very strong.  We only sell the Swedish style clamps in all 316 stainless steel and we mostly sell these clamps into the marine industry. The Germans, British and Swedish all wrote national standards around domestically made clamp designs.  It should be noted that each clamp design has strengths and weaknesses. We are happy to work with our customers to suggest the right clamp for the application considering price targets and performance requirements.

TS:  I almost hesitate to say this but, from speaking to you, I almost get the impression that Covid and the Supply Chain issues at that time was a positive thing for IFE.  Some folks found you as they tried to fulfill their need for hose clamps.  True?

BW: While the pandemic was difficult for many people including my wife and I, it is true that the global supply chain crisis that followed certainly created opportunities for IFE. I will always remember a conversation I had with my business partner, Patrik Egnell, during the chaos in the beginning of the pandemic. I recall it was during the time when everything was shutting down and we were wondering what would happen next. He commented we will have opportunities as a result of this, and I responded, “opportunities? I just hope our business survives”.  He was more right than me! I think we were able to support many companies with the inventory we had, more importantly we were able to demonstrate our commitment to our core value of always doing the right thing to support our current customers by expediting and flying parts to keep customers supplied with parts. As a result of our actions we strengthened relationships with existing customers and forged relationships with new customers.

TS:  Looking into your crystal ball, what do you see going on at IFE?

BW: At the moment we are working on a project to build a new factory in Thailand that will give us additional capacity and decrease our operational risks. We are focused on continuing to grow our business in North America and growing our footprint where we can do business with customers in Western Style economies. Finally, it is important that we continue to build our team as some of our more senior team members approach retirement age.

TS:  When you’re not living and breathing hose clamps, what does Bob Ward like to do in his free time?

BW: My adult children live in Tennessee, Illinois and my youngest is in University close to home in Michigan but hopes to move to Northern California to work in the tech industry when he completes his studies. My wife is originally from Mexico and she has a very large family back in Mexico. I travel a lot for business so in the summers we like to stay close to home in Michigan as much as possible and enjoy our beautiful Midwestern summers while hosting visits from family and friends (we were happy to have guests in our home from April through September this year). This past winter my wife and I lived for 3 months in Mexico so she could be closer and spend more time with family and friends. One of my long-time friends lives in Nebraska with his family and as I mentioned, I consider many of the people I have worked with around the world over the years as good friends.  When I am not working and traveling for work, I like to spend my time hosting visits or traveling to see friends and family.

Bob Ward

Hristijan Georgievski

Patrik Engell

Karen Uhley

I have a regular column in Fastener Technology International (FTI) magazine, called 10 Minutes with the Traveling Salesman, which can be read online at www.fastenertech.com. Subscriptions to FTI, print and digital editions, are free-of-charge for fastener manufacturers, distributors and users as well as suppliers to the industry.”

TS:  OK, let’s address the elephant in the room.  “Washer Werks”, not “Washer Works”.  Where did that come from?  How did you guys decide to use that spelling?

Mike Neumann (MN):  Back in 1994 when my father and I started the company we wanted to promote the Made in USA concept.  Obviously, that is where the All American comes from.  We also,  being of German heritage,  liked the idea of adding a German spelling of the English word Works which is Werks.  

TS:  Let’s circle back to a proper starting point.  Mike Neumann, you run All American Washer Werks, a stamper and manufacturer of special washers.  How long have you been with All American and how did you get started there?

MN:    I’ve been here since the beginning.   My Father Fred, and I started the company in 1995 getting back to what we knew best, and that was manufacturing  washers and specialty stampings.

TS:  Tell us about AAWW.  What are the primary products that you specialize in?  MN:  AAWW is a manufacturer of washers and stampings and we are ISO 9001:2015 certified.  Our market niche is primarily in the specialty washer segment.  Which begs the question:  How do you define specialty washer? Most people in the fastener industry know what standard washers are.  You know the USS and SAE variety.  For the most part, these come from off shore sources.  These usually are offered with standard materials and finishes.  But, there are engineering applications that require non-standard materials and finishes and that is where AAWW comes in.  And it’s not just the difference in materials and finishes that make a specialty washer.  Often, an engineering application requires different OD, ID, and thickness combinations that are not offered off the shelf. AAWW has a full service,  on site tooling department that supports the manufacture of specialty washers and stampings.  We carry Millions of Pounds of Raw Material as well as a large inventory of finished goods.   This combination of manufacturing ability and inventory gives AAWW the ability to deliver products in a timely and cost effective manner.  

TS:  How is the washer marketplace these days?  Or, for that matter, how do you see the fastener marketplace?  Have you been staying busy or have you seen things slow down at all?  

MN:  The first half of the year was very busy.  So far in Q3 business has been a bit less brisk.  It definitely has slowed down from Q1 and Q2 but is still moving along.  A lot of people correlate this to being an election year.  Normally, I would just say that is an excuse. However, this time around I’m not sure.  I guess we will find out soon.  

TS:  There are a couple topics that come up a lot when speaking to domestic manufacturers.  The first one is regarding the labor talent available to operate the equipment.  That always seems to be a challenge and quite possibly will be a bigger challenge in upcoming years.  The other topic is competing with import product.  Sometimes the product has to be made in the USA or maybe the quantities are too small to import.   I guess I am not asking you a question specifically but I would be curious to hear your thoughts on both topics.

MN:  Yes, of course.  AAWW has been very blessed in having employees that have been here 20 years or more.  We utilize their experience to train the next generation that ensures continuity in our manufacturing process.  We have been competing in this marketplace since our beginning.  We seem to fit into the supply chain quite well.  

TS:  Are there certain markets where you are particularly strong?  

MN:  Fortunately, our products go into many different markets and AAWW isn’t interested in focusing on any one market.  Our customer base is very diversified including Agriculture Industry, Automotive, Military, Lawn and Garden, Construction, Appliance and HVAC, Energy, Aerospace, Heavy Truck, Small Engine and many others.  

TS:  What does the future look like for AAWW?  MN:  The future’s so Bright…. We all wear shades 😊 We are coming up on 30 years in business in 2025 and looking back I would say that we have done a great job.  Looking in the next 30 years… wow.  Starting a business is such a challenge and growing a business is also such a challenge.  AAWW is equipped to move forward.  We have so much young talent coming up and taking their place in the business.  Much like when my Dad and I started the company.  He was the wise one that guided and knew how to run a business.  I was the one that provided the energy and new ideas to get AAWW off the ground.  I am very proud of the people working at AAWW and know that we keep providing a great product with a great reputation.     TS:  What does Mike Neumann like to do when he isn’t making washers? Over the years so much of my time has been devoted to AAWW, but lately, I have decided to take a little more time for my family and myself.  Recently, I am blessed to be a grandfather to a new granddaughter Clara, and a new grandson Azaia.  So, I am taking more time to be with them and the rest of my family.  I am also playing a few more rounds of golf, the boat captain for the Neumann water ski team, and am planning a snow ski trip out west.

Mike Neumann

Note from TS:

I have a regular column in Fastener Technology International (FTI) magazine, called 10 Minutes with the Traveling Salesman, which can be read online at www.fastenertech.com. Subscriptions to FTI, print and digital editions, are free-of-charge for fastener manufacturers, distributors and users as well as suppliers to the industry.”  

Thanks very much to Big Bolt for the tour during the fantastic Mid-West Fastener Association Fastnr Week.  The staff gave tours and were wonderful hosts.  Seeing one of the Big Bolt Bears in the lobby caused me to think about how I used to see these carved bears in the lobby of some of Big Bolt’s largest customers.  It made me wonder where they all are today.  I was told that there were about 30 of these carved bears delivered to customers.  Does anyone know where they are today?  My memory tells me there used to be one at Flexalloy in the Cleveland area.  Maybe Suburban Bolt, but not sure.  If you know I would be curious.  Better yet, take a picture and send them in.

Talk about your customer “give-aways”!!

TS:  Take us through the journey of how you entered the fastener industry and how you got to the position you now hold with MW.

Madan Mathevan:  I began my career in the fastener industry in 1998 as an Assistant Manager at Sundaram Fasteners Ltd. Over the years, I progressed through various roles that expanded my knowledge and expertise in manufacturing processes, tool design, and project management. My journey included significant positions at companies like Danaher Tool Group, Southco, Inc., and Sussex Wire, Inc. In 2019, I joined MW Components, where I held roles with increasing responsibility, including General Manager and Vice President. In June 2023, I became the President of the Fastener Division, overseeing multi-site leadership, revenue growth, and full P&L responsibility.

TS:  What all is included in the fastener division?

Madan:  The Fastener Division of MW Components includes a comprehensive range of products and services, such as internally threaded fasteners, externally threaded fasteners, pins, dowels, and connector pins. Our division comprises six cold heading companies and two machining companies, all ISO or AS certified. We serve diverse markets, including aerospace, defense, heavy trucks, automotive, medical equipment, drug delivery, industrial electronics, agriculture, furniture, bathroom plumbing, transmission, and earth mover equipment. Additionally, we offer capabilities such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Analysis, and Rapid Prototyping to ensure optimal product design and performance. We are uniquely set up to take orders from 500 pieces to multimillion pieces.

TS:   What are the other divisions of MW Components?

Madan:  MW Components is a diversified company with several divisions beyond fasteners. These include precision manufacturing, springs, wire forms, and engineered components. Each division specializes in different product lines and serves various industries, but they all share a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

TS:   How did the purchase of Elgin Fastener in 2023 come about and why was MW interested in Elgin?

Madan:  The acquisition of Elgin Fastener in 2023 was a strategic move to expand our capabilities and market reach. The combination of Elgin Fastener Group with MW Components allows us to offer a broader range of stock fasteners and custom manufacturing capabilities, making us the leading specialty fastener manufacturer in the U.S. This acquisition increases our product portfolio, adding unique capabilities and enhancing our engineering bench strength with over 100 engineers from across MW facilities. Furthermore, integrating with MW Components provides additional support for our business and employees, leveraging MW’s HR, IT, procurement, marketing, and finance platforms. This consolidation also helps us be more competitive by optimizing purchasing efforts and leveraging MW’s extensive sales and marketing support to grow our business.

TS:   What is going on with your plans to consolidate and integrate the companies?

Madan:  We are actively working on consolidating and integrating the companies acquired to optimize our operations. This involves streamlining processes, leveraging synergies, and aligning our teams to work more efficiently. The consolidation will help us reduce redundancies, improve production capabilities, and enhance our ability to deliver high-quality products to our customers. Our Telefast Quality bolt consolidation is complete, and now Telefast has the capability to manufacture bolts up to M16 in diameter and 10″ in length. Our Addison Fastener building will be ready to move in by August 30. Our machines will be moving into the Addison manufacturing building in three waves and should be complete by January 2025. Our goal is to create a cohesive and agile organization that can respond quickly to market demands and innovate continuously.

TS:  Once Addison Fasteners is up and operating, how many manufacturing facilities will MW have within the Fastener Division?

Madan:  Addison Fasteners’ expansion includes the incorporation of Hi-Performance Fastening Solutions (HPS), All Star Fasteners, and Holbrook Fasteners into the Addison location, a 198,000 sqft manufacturing facility. Warehousing, shipping, and sorting will be handled at the current Holbrook building, which will be called the Addison Fastener Warehouse and Shipping. After this consolidation, we will have 8 companies under the Fastener Division capable of manufacturing external fasteners from M0.5 to M16, lengths from 1mm to 2200mm, and internally threaded fasteners from M4 to M20. We also offer machined fastener solutions like inserts and standoffs.

TS:  Is there anything else you want to share with us about upcoming activities at MW?

Madan:  We have several exciting initiatives in the pipeline at MW Components. In addition to expanding our manufacturing footprint, we are investing in new technologies and automation to enhance our production processes. Our Addison Fastener location is set up in a way to take orders from 500 pieces to multimillion pieces due to the unique way we have organized our manufacturing process. Furthermore, we are exploring new markets and applications for our fastener products, ensuring that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

TS:  What trends or developments do you see in the fastener marketplace that you either find interesting or that concern you?

Madan:  The fastener marketplace is constantly evolving, and several trends are particularly noteworthy. One significant development is the increasing demand for lightweight and high-strength materials, driven by the aerospace and automotive industries’ need for improved fuel efficiency and performance. Additionally, customers are seeking faster delivery times, often less than three weeks, and competitive pricing with overseas suppliers. The unique way we have organized our fastener division enables us to meet these demands effectively. The rise of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing is also transforming our industry, enabling greater automation, precision, and data-driven decision-making. While these trends present exciting opportunities, they also require us to continuously innovate and adapt to stay ahead.

TS:  Any hobbies or interests that the average fastener person would not know about you?

Madan:  I have a lesser-known talent that surprises many: I’m quite adept at cooking tandoori food. Over the years, I’ve mastered the art of blending spices and marinating meats to create authentic, flavorful dishes that are a hit at any gathering. Additionally, I’ve been dabbling in baking for a couple of years. While my baking experiments often don’t turn out as planned, they always end up bringing a good laugh to our household, making the process enjoyable and a fun learning experience for me.

In 2014, the Young Fastener Professional (YFP) association teamed up with the Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) to create a program called the fastener “30 Under 30”.   The YFP was founded by Ryan Kertis and it was his coordination with the FIC that led to establishing the program.  The program ran in 2014 & 2015 and then it was put on pause as so many young fastener professionals had been recognized in those two years.   Candidly, there were only so many young people entering the fastener industry and they feared that by running the program again they would run out of worthy candidates.

Also below are the rules that were used to choose the 30 Under 30.

Recognize any names???????   Is it time for the Fastener Industry Coalition to revive the program?

Thanks to www.fastenernewsdesk.com I was able to retrieve the information on this program.  Here is the link that I got from their site that helped me to retrieve this information:

https://fastenercoalition.org/30Under30.html

CLASS OF 2015

CLASS OF 2014

RULES FOR CHOOSING THE 30

A committee of five people will choose the 30 Under 30.  The committee will be comprised of members of the Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) and the Young Fastener Professionals (YFP).

Criteria used to choose the 30 will include information submitted on the application forms.  Because we are not using measurable indicators such as GPA or things used by scholarship committees, the decisions will be largely subjective.  For this reason, we are electing to have five committee members, or five different points of view.

Although there are no measurable indicators, some of the things we would ask the committee members to consider would include the following:

–  Length of time at their current position

– Position within their organization (president or other officer, national account manager, regional account manager, lead programmer, or any other designation that indicates they have exceptional responsibilities at their company)

– Any measurable progress noted (cost saving initiatives, sales increases, demonstrable efficiency increases, etc.) in their statement/essay.

–  Bio Information – whether this is a personal application submitted or an application submitted by a sponsor, this portion will weigh heaviest on determining who will be named in the 30

With five committee members, there will be no ties.  Each member of the committee will see each application for review.  Committee members who work with any of the nominees will not be allowed to vote on those applicants unless there is a 2-2 tie from the other committee members.   At this time a dictated point system will not be put into place as it is not fair to set constraining parameters on such a new program.  After this first time of selecting 30 under 30, the application will be reviewed by the committee to determine if changes need to be made.

This program is designed to recognize and encourage the young employees of our industry to make the fastener industry a long term commitment because they can be part of a better future for the industry.

TS:  I have always been interested in how the fastener industry works in other countries.  Over the years I have interviewed someone who ran a fastener distribution company in Ireland.  I did an interview with a distributor in Puerto Rico.  I have interviewed several suppliers and manufacturers from other countries. But when I saw your recent career move it caught my attention.  I now had a guy I knew making a major move with a worldwide fastener distributor, Wurth, and he would be selling into both Africa and Asia!  That was different.

So, what exactly is your new role with Wurth?

Dee Ward:  I am the Senior Vice President for the Würth Group. I am responsible for the Würth Industry companies in Asia-Pacific & Africa. This comprises 12 companies in 11 countries. My region spans from South Africa, Turkey, India, and Northern China to Australia.

TS:  Where is home?  Where do you work out of?

Dee:  I currently reside just outside of Orlando, Florida. We have called this home for over 9-years. This summer, I will relocate with my family to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I will be based out of our Würth Industry Services Malaysia office. This provides a central location within the region for me to travel quickly, work in local time zones, and be more hands-on with each of the business units.

TS:  I have always been interested in how the fastener industry works in other countries.  Is it similar to the U.S. distribution/supplier model? 

Dee:  Yes, it is similar to the U.S. distribution/supplier model. There are typically more local, country-specific distributors within the region who only focus on customers within their geographic area. This reduces import duties when they are not in free trade zone.

TS:  Are the suppliers the same in other companies or do they have a fairly different supplier base?  For instance, do many U.S. produced fasteners get sold in Africa? 

Dee:  There are instances when a U.S. supplier will distribute into other areas of the world. This is primarily driven by imperial dimension fasteners being readily available from a U.S. distributor versus needing to be manufactured. The required volume and MOQs from the manufacturers are often too large for many distributors, so they procure from the U.S. who already has stock. Another example would be secondary processes that are difficult to source in other parts of the world which are readily available and can be secured quickly in the U.S.

TS:  Where do they get most of the product they use in Asia and Africa?

Dee:  Manufactured parts from Asia are still the dominant source for all areas of the world. However, each country has local manufacturers who are often able to meet customer requirements and lead times.

TS:  In addition to wracking up miles on major airlines, how are you dealing with the travel that you must be doing?  It’s not like you’re covering a multi-state region or something.  You must be a long distance from all of your business locations.

Dee:  The past several months have been a whirlwind. But it has been a good whirlwind! My goal was to visit all of the companies that I oversee prior to our move to Kuala Lumpur. I will have completed this goal before our move in June. It has been an incredible experience so far. I am extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity, and I look forward to working closely with our company leaders to continue to drive our business forward within the region.

TS:  What is the most interesting difference when dealing in the fastener industry in Africa?

Dee:  South Africans face many hardships which are primarily driven by political unrest. In addition, water and electricity shortages are common within the country. However, our company in South Africa continues to show incredible success amidst these hardships. There is an overwhelming positivity with South Africans which is contagious. They are able to recognize the challenges, understand that business must continue, and they remain highly optimistic about the future. It is truly inspiring.

TS:  How about selling into Asia.  In the U.S. we import so much product from Asia but it interests me to hear from your perspective how it is to sell into Asia.  What are some of the biggest differences that you see?

Dee:  There is not a major difference than what it looks like here in the U.S. Obviously, reduced lead times due to proximity is advantageous. However, MOQs from the manufacturers and production lead times remain equal across the globe. Quality and engineering is of utmost importance to OEMs in most of Asia. This is why Würth invested in building the Central Distribution Center (CDC) in Haiyan, China. Our quality lab is state-of-the-art and houses a wide array of equipment for use across the globe. In addition, the CDC boasts many automated logistics functions which allow us to house and supply large volumes of inventory quickly to our customers.

TS:  How does your family feel about relocating to Kuala Lumpur?

Dee:  Laura and I have three teenage sons. My oldest is 19-years old and will remain in the U.S. to attend Firefighting Academy in Florida. My middle son is 17-years old and will finish his senior year of high school in Kuala Lumpur. My youngest son is 14-years old and will begin his high school journey in the fall. Everyone is excited for this incredible opportunity and grand adventure! Our family lived in Brazil from 2010-2013, so my wife and I were able to quickly recognize that Malaysia would be a good fit for us. Our sons are excited to attend school, experience the Malaysian culture, and explore all that Kuala Lumpur has to offer an expat family. In addition, my wife is also thrilled and has been overwhelmingly supportive during my recent extended travels back and forth to Asia until our upcoming move. This opportunity will continue to shape who we are as a family in addition to who I am as a leader for the Würth Group.