INSIGHT
Elisabet Österlund director,
global sales & marketing, Nord-Lock
International AB.
Talking synergies and pre-engineering
In August Nord-Lock heralded the acquisition of Superbolt and P&S as a giant step in its vision to be the undisputed global leader in bolt securing. Little more than six weeks later Nord-Lock afforded this magazine a unique access to senior commercial and technical managers to explore the implications of the merger.
Place: Nord Lock Research & Development Centre, Saint Priest, France
Maxime Thonnerieux global research &
development director, Nord-Lock
International AB.
Origins: Nord-Lock washers were first produced in Sweden in 1982 by then privately owned company Nobex. Originally developed in the United States Nobex acquired the rights to the locking washer concept and brought it to Mattmar, near Östersund, in Central Northern Sweden, where it continues to be produced. In 1994 the business was sold to its main Swedish
distributor, a subsidiary of Investment AB Latour, to which Nord-Lock continues to belong. Initially a relatively small element of the Nobex business, the Nord-Lock washer system took time to gain market recognition, with much of the marketing through personal networking. From the beginning the potential for Nord-Lock outside
Norbert Schneider Dipl.-Ing. TU
head of engineering and proxy holder,
P&S Vorspannsysteme AG.
Sweden was recognised and Nord-Lock developed significant export markets, particularly in Germany and Italy. It opened its own subsidiary in the United States in 1998, followed later by the UK, France and Finland. Four years ago Nord-Lock began a systematic vertical integration of its business. The primary consideration was to ensure effective service and consistency of support to customers operating globally. In 2008 Nord-Lock acquired its distributor in Germany, already trading as Nord-Lock GmbH. It also acquired similar channel businesses in Benelux and Japan, and later in Italy. In Poland, Czech Republic, Norway and Switzerland, Nord-Lock opened its own companies. Nord-Lock now has seventeen subsidiaries worldwide, including centres of technical excellence in North America, Europe and Asia. The group employs 330 people. In addition to the Nord-Lock washer programme delivered in both steel and four stainless steel grades, Nord-Lock manufactures wheel nuts and has just launched the combi bolt, both ranges incorporating the same locking washer principle. Superbolt was invented to solve a persistent bolt loosening
problem on large scale steel processing machinery built by the Steinbock Machinery Corporation. Rolf Steinbock was inspired to try replacing one large torque with a number of smaller torques, developing the multiple jackbolt system that remains at the heart of the Superbolt system. With rented
www.fastenerandfixing.com 103
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