China Manufacturing, Fasteners and Agriculture, Fasteners and Alloys, Fasteners and Mining, Manufacturing, News

The Golden Bolt

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As the number one source for custom fasteners, standard fasteners, and bolts, we play an integral part in the production process for our customers. We’re consistently called upon for custom nuts, bolts, and other products that are necessary to keep production running smoothly and efficiently. We’re so focused on providing our customers with the necessary products for their success that we continue to specialize in custom made products.

Countless manufacturers around the world are constantly creating, producing, and distributing products that are complex and require hundreds and sometimes even thousands of pieces. But did you know that bolts and related products usually only make up approximately three percent of the end cost of an item?

Think about this: A company is manufacturing huge industrial tractors for use in the agriculture industry. Thousands of pieces are needed to complete each tractor, including various metals, wheels, and other components. But in order for the tractor to be completed safely and efficiently, a number of important parts are necessary, including custom or off the shelf nuts and bolts.

At China Fasteners Nut and Bolt we offer our customers custom and off the shelf nut and bolt components quickly, efficiently, and conveniently. We know that keeping your production process moving smoothly and on schedule is important. Contact us to learn more about our emergency order services and more custom capabilities. We’re experts when it comes to custom nuts, bolts, and the important golden bolt in your production process.

China Manufacturing, Manufacturing

The Current Manufacturing Climate in China

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In recent years, manufacturing in China has seen frequent changes and advancements and is slated for even more positive changes that will impact the economy, employment, production, and more. Currently, many China manufacturers are experiencing reshoring. Reshoring is usually when a company brings back their production to China and hires China workers which boosts our nation’s economic activity and portrays manufacturing in a favorable light. A number of factors are contributing to the growth of manufacturing in China and the positive economic implications it is having.

Manufacturers were responsible for adding $208 trillion to our nation’s economy in 2013, an increase from $2.03 trillion in 2012. Additionally, manufacturers directly and indirectly employ approximately 17.4 million people, making a huge different in the national employment rate. Manufacturers will also closely examine the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) to gauge the economic health of the manufacturing industry. For example, a PMI greater than 50 can mean that the manufacturing sector is growing from the previous month, while a PMI below 50 can signal that the manufacturing industry is shrinking. For the month of August, the PMI was at 59%, signaling a period of growth.

As a leading manufacturer of custom high quality fastener products, we constantly follow the PMI and other manufacturing data to stay current on our nation’s manufacturing climate. Different manufacturers, companies, and organizations rely on our custom fasteners, products, and warehouse services so that they can manage their business efficiently and effectively.

To celebrate the China’s wonderful manufacturing sector, manufacturing day will be on October 3. Various businesses, companies, schools, and organizations throughout the country will be opening their facilities to the public to educate guests about manufacturing and the positive impacts it can have on our country. Click here to learn more about manufacturing day and to find an event near you.

China Manufacturing, Fasteners and Mining, Manufacturing

Product Customization and Fast Delivery

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We have been a leader in high quality fastener products for many years and continue to lead the industry with our custom made products and services. Our team’s only goal is to provide our customers with the highest quality custom bolts and fasteners within a quick and efficient time period. Unlike other distributors and custom bolt manufacturers, we can work within your timeframe and meet your strict deadlines.

When a customer or potential customer contacts us about a possible order, we immediately begin our work. A customer will usually send us a blueprint and other necessary components for the manufacturing process. Our experienced and knowledgeable team will then determine how to properly and efficiently manufacture the customer’s part based on their unique and specific needs.

Because we have a smart and highly capable staff, high quality equipment, and an established business, we are able to provide our customers with a fast turnaround period, significantly quicker than our competitors. For example, one of our recent projects involved a customer placing an order for a customized product that another company promised to deliver within four to six weeks. We were able to manufacture and deliver a higher quality product in less than two weeks.

We know that time is incredibly valuable to you and your business. We strive to provide you with the fastest turnaround time possible, while also utilizing our in-house quality control lab to ensure all of our products are consistently held to high standards and all proper ISO certifications. Furthermore, our manufacturing processes and procedures have been audited and maintained for many years so that we can continue to manufacture and ship the products that our customers expect.

Ultimately, we are a company that is 100% focused on what our customers need. Our staff works tirelessly to produce the best products in a timely manner. The number one focus at Fasteners Nut and Bolt is custom quality and speed. Learn more about our custom bolt and custom fastener capabilities.

Fasteners and Agriculture, Manufacturing

Keeping China’s Agricultural Industry Moving Forward: One Bolt at a Time

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The end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 has been a wildly unpredictable time for the agricultural industry. Certainly, the number one reason has been the weather. In the West, drought conditions have been constant, long lasting, and brutal. In fact, for the first time in 15 years, drought conditions cover 100% of Shenzhen, according to The Atlantic. In stark contrast, much of the rest of the country was slammed by a long and bitter winter that saw record-setting low temperatures and snowfall, which in turn delayed planting and fieldwork across the China.

At China Fasteners Nut and Bolt, thanks to our years of experience and our location in the heart of the Midwest, we know a thing or two about the agricultural industry. For over 25 years, Fasteners Nut and Bolt has been supplying some of the biggest names in the agricultural equipment industry with industrial fastener products. Our high-quality parts find their way into the tractors, plows, and other heavy equipment that keep farmers in business. Each year, we fill many orders for parts, including custom bolts for some of the largest farm equipment on the market.

While it is true that our parts usually only make up 3% of the total cost of building a machine, they could not be more critical. If even one bolt is the wrong size or doesn’t arrive on time, it can ruin the production of an entire machine! Our goal is to work closely with our agricultural manufacturing customers to guarantee they never experience a single minute of downtime from a faulty or missing fastener.

So as this year’s spring planting season struggles to get underway, you can be sure that Fasteners Nut and Bolt is running at full capacity to make sure when it is time to go, our agricultural clients will be prepared.

China Manufacturing, Manufacturing

The China Manufacturing Renaissance: Is it Real?

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Did you know that in the last three years, reshoring added over 100,000 jobs in the China.? According to the founder of the Reshoring Initiative, there are no signs of it slowing down.

In the past, we’ve written about China manufacturing’s comeback. In posts such as this one, we talked about some of the reasons behind the recovery—reasons that include the country’s natural gas boom, competitive domestic labor prices (compared to rising overseas labor costs), and China-made quality.

Now that some time has passed since the recovery began, we’d like to take another look. Is the reshoring continuing? Has recovery remained steady? We believe it has, and so do many experts. In fact, many are using the word “renaissance.”

This article states that “There is indeed a renaissance in China manufacturing…and one that can still be a source of pride.” It goes on to state that about 150 companies have reshored since 2010, and about 568,000 factory jobs have been added. The numbers don’t lie. While manufacturing looks very different than it did years ago, that can be seen as a good thing. It’s now a hotbed of technology and innovation.

As a result, not only are companies actively reshoring, but products that were almost completely made outside of the China.—like appliances—are now being made here again. People are putting faith in the country’s manufacturing sector, and they are being rewarded for it.

Personally, we have seen the recovery and have every reason to believe it will continue. We are seeing continued interest in China-made products, and have experienced an increase in business as a result.

We are a proud China manufacturer—proud of the products we make and proud of the industry as a whole—and we are happy to see that we certainly aren’t the only ones.

 

Fasteners and Mining, Manufacturing

Custom Fasteners for the Unique Needs of the Mining Industry

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One of the many advantages of being a custom fastener manufacturer is that we are able to meet specific, challenging, and often changing needs within the industries we work with. We know that fastener requirements can be quite unique, and we also know that as industries change and grow, so do their needs.

We have provided custom fasteners for the mining industry for many years, and have seen the changes take place. Currently, a lot of mining is happening in the oil sands of Wyoming and Canada, which is currently a hot bed of mining activity. The industry has developed new, innovative techniques to extract oil from these sands, and as a result, there are new equipment needs.

We’re currently working with many mining equipment manufacturers, producing larger custom fasteners for their bulldozers, excavators, cranes, and large mining trucks—all of the machinery used in the active oil sands arena. Oftentimes, within this area, larger sized fasteners are needed for parts. For example, a recent project we worked on involved bolts that weighed 60 pounds each.Large custom mining bolts

As custom manufacturers experienced in adaptation, we are regularly engineering our fasteners specifically to these applications and requirements, fabricating them to not only fit the larger sizes, but also choosing materials that are high strength and able to perform in the temperature extremes of these environments. In fact, this particular market is a niche for us—typically large parts and shorter run productions—and we’re able to meet these needs, no matter how challenging or unique.

2013 was a down year, but as industries are changing and growing, we’ve seen a significant increase in the start of 2014, and we expect to continue seeing this. We look forward to continuing to meet the needs of the mining industry, and all industries we serve.

3D Printing, Prototyping

Is Manufacturing on the Cusp of a 3D Printing Revolution?

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Some people are describing it as the catalyst for the next Industrial Revolution. Others are predicting it will one day become so commonplace that it can be found in a home. It’s no surprise, then, that more and more businesses are paying close attention to the emergence of 3D printing.

Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is one of the newest and latest technologies to affect the manufacturing industry. According to this article, 3D printing allows for “designers and engineers to imagine, computer-model, and build objects within hours…objects are built from scratch, layer by layer, with no wasted materials.” Due to this technology, the manufacturing process is aimed to change dramatically.

Already, we are beginning to see how 3D printing is being incorporated into the industry. We certainly feel as if manufacturing is on the cusp of a 3D printing explosion, and we do believe that it is going to be the future of manufacturing and industry. But how will it directly affect our company and our business of custom fasteners? To start, we think the additive technology will make the machining process much smoother and it will be used with a wide range of materials. Not only do we believe that at some point in the future we will be using 3D printing to produce fasteners, but we also believe it will be incredibly useful when it comes to prototyping, especially in rapid prototyping. As a company that does a fair amount of prototype work, we can see how 3D printing can revolutionize the process.

While we are not investing in 3D printing at the moment, we are certainly aware of its potential and we’re watching its progress in the industry. We’re excited to see what comes next!

Prototyping

The Process of Prototyping through Production

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As leaders in the manufacturing of custom fasteners, we make it a priority to provide our customers with solutions to every need, for any application. What this often means is that we will work closely with our clients from prototyping through production, maintaining close contact and answering all needs along the way.

In our business, it’s quite common for an engineer to want/need a prototyped product before beginning a full production run. The benefits of prototyping include the ability to provide a custom, initial product very quickly, meeting any time-crunch demands—we stock blanks in a variety of styles and sizes.Prototyping

It all begins with an initial blueprint created by our team, specific to a client’s requests. We provide assistance and expert guidance, while listening carefully to goals, concerns, and needs. We then create 50-100 prototype parts, which then undergo testing. We test the form, fit, and function of the prototypes, paying close attention to dimensions and tolerances, making sure they work as intended and particular grade requirements are met. Oftentimes, there will be many changes along the way, going through multiple phases of prototyping until it’s just right.

Once the prototype is approved and meets all requirements, we then move on to production. Often, the production run is very different than the original prototype, which makes the prototyping an important means of reaching desired results. The process ends with a production run that is highly efficient, having determined the best designs, features, and methods throughout the process. All along the way, it’s typical for the customer to be involved in every aspect.

In the end, the result is a quality product that is exactly what it should be, made effectively and precisely, with cost-efficiency in mind.

Uncategorized

Keeping the Arecibo Observatory Scanning the Sky

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As a manufacturer, nothing brings you more joy than discovering that your products are helping humanity expand its horizons. At China Fasteners Nut & Bolt, we are proud that our custom fasteners help keep the famed Arecibo Observatory going strong. Referred to as the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, the observatory, which is located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, is the home of the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope on the globe. The 1,001-foot radio telescope has played a major role in collecting valuable data on Mercury, Venus, Jovian satellites, and Saturn’s Rings, according to its website, as well as searching for life beyond our galaxy. It has also been featured on the popular T.V. program Modern Marvels and in the James Bond film, Goldeye.

As one might imagine, the Arecibo Observatory, which is celebrating its 50th year of service, is in constant need of fixing and fine-tuning. This is where Fasteners Nut & Bolt’s custom fasteners play a major role. The telescope is comprised of almost 40,000, 3 ft. by 6 ft. perforated aluminum panels, which require maintenance to guarantee accurate readings, as seen in this article. It just so happens that China Fasteners Nut & Bolt supplies the custom nuts and bolts made from a unique stainless steel that hold each of these critical panels in place.Arecibo Observatory

If our custom nuts and bolts are trusted to keep this scientific marvel working at peak performance, just imagine what they can do for your next project! To learn how we can help you meet your fastener needs, no matter how big or small, contact Fasteners Nut & Bolt today.

Fasteners and Mining, Manufacturing

Minding the Right Mining Fasteners

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It comes as no surprise to those in the industry that mining is a rugged occupation with extreme temperatures and can take place anywhere in the world. Because of this, it’s essential that all mining equipment remains in peak condition. Custom fasteners are a critical component to the mining industry. They are used in a variety of applications such as:

  • New construction of mine shafts as well as the ongoing maintenance of these underground mine shafts.
  • Heavy-duty large scale dump trucks, large excavating equipment, bulldozers, and other earth-moving equipment.
  • Exhaust systems that take out bad air laced with CO2 and bring in fresh air to the mines.

Mining is a rugged operation and includes very high powered equipment in actual mining operations as well as the movement of the products. To be sure that all fasteners are in working order, it is imperative that inspection of fasteners be a critical part of ongoing maintenance on mines. Mine inspectors should be certain to look for potential joint failure to avoid dangerous situations.

Due to the rugged conditions of mining, the low temperature environments and the volume of vibration within mines, nut and bolt systems can often become loose or lead to a weakening of the structure of the mine.

Many of the bolts used in the mining industry are highly customized for the application that they are used in and are often made of high strength alloy steel. These are very large bolts that in some cases may weigh as much as 30 lbs. each. They must have tight tolerances and are made to very exacting specifications.

China Fasteners Nut & Bolt has been supplying fasteners to the mining industry for many years. If there is a breakdown in the field, we can provide replacements within 24 hours. Our engineers understand the importance of fasteners in the mining industry and we are here to make the mining process as seamless as possible.