ANALYSIS
Bernard Berrang president: European Fastener Distributors Association
growing demand from European industry for fastener products. The WTO’s thorough and independent assessment of the
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dispute between China and the EU clearly defined that the European Union needed to bring into compliance both its general anti-dumping processes and the specific provisions of its regulation applying high anti-dumping duties on fasteners imported from China. EFDA awaits decisive action on the part of the European Commission to meet its obligations under international fair and free trade laws. As 2011 developed the growing uncertainty generated from
the European monetary crisis showed an increasing impact on business and overall economic confidence. Even if there is agreement within the Eurozone to resolve the issues facing it, 2012 will be far less predictable and, therefore, another challenging year for the fastener distribution industry. For EFDA specifically, the formal enrolment of the Spanish
Fastener Distribution Association ADESFI to our membership was a definite highlight of 2011. Standardisation is also evolving to higher, more tightly defined
physical properties of fasteners and it can be anticipated that not all manufacturers will comply with the upcoming revised series of ISO 898-1/-2/-6. In May EFDA will organise its triennial Fastener Distribution
he first half of 2011 saw a positive business climate for most fastener distributors in Europe. However, the absence of increased fastener production capacity made it rather complicated to achieve a timely response to the
Conference 2012, this time in Paris. Professor Dr. Wolfgang Franz (president of the Centre for European Economic Research) will speak on the future development of the European economy, followed by a presentation about technical developments and trends. Reports from Taiwan, North America, and Europe will complement these programme highlights. As always, the main objective of this important event will be to exchange experiences and perspectives of our industry. In the past decade the fastener distribution industry in Europe
has undertaken important investments in logistics and supply. Together with its SME structure these are excellent preconditions to sustain effective and high quality service to European industry even in the turbulent times that are certainly ahead of us. The economic outlook for Europe is segmented to some
degree by the distinct economic challenges different countries have to face. However, it is also clear that there are very high levels of interdependence and the actions or inactions of individual economies will continue to have a knock-on effect on the whole of the continent. It is also evident that the global financial influence of Asia is increasing. However, the substance in experienced industrial knowhow and technical competence will continue to reside strongly in Europe, provided that also local production and manufacturing stand their ground. It will, therefore, need wise political decisions to ensure that
Europe as a common market can come through the current crises stronger as before.
Willem van Zantvoort managing director: De Wit BV and Don Quichotte BV
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n 2011 we worked hard to separate De Wit BV and Don Quichotte BV: not only formally but more and more in the way we acted, internally for our colleagues and externally to our customers. This separation was urgent because of
the changing world around us: in order to “survive” we have to focus. Through these new organisations we believe we are more able to support our customers in the way they want us to: supplying reliable, quick, good quality at acceptable and market- conforming prices. More and more we see the change in doing business. It is not
only a good relationship that counts but also the total package. Customers today require combined purchasing and they act sharply and with great knowledge of the market. The financial markets are still (or again) under pressure, which causes a very reluctant atmosphere for investors worldwide, reflected in the decreasing number of new buildings, both private and business.
Mika Rantanen
managing director: Ferrometal OY, Finland Past year – price and stock increases Price increases are the topic of the past year. As we know, it
is a question of raw material increases, but also a question of production capacities and rather high demand. Businesses in general showed strong sales growth but it should be remembered that price increases are part of the sales. A growth rate of 10% or less is actually losing market share. Double-digit growth is a
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minimum to show real momentum. Stock value is another issue linked to price increases.
As a result of fairly good sales development combined with increases in purchase prices inventory built up. With news of economic slow down during the second part of the year, fastener businesses were increasingly worried about working capital and liquidity. Efforts to improve liquidity by inventory clearing at
Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 73 January 2012 The Fukushima disaster and Thai floods did not have direct
implications on our business but gave us occasion to realise in what speed we are “using” our world. Pollution, deforestation, mining at extreme depths, oil wells in the deep oceans: these may all be activities needed for our existence today but not for our children’s world tomorrow. We have to consider how to manage these world-consuming items with tomorrow in mind and if that implies lesser profit: so be it. Looking forward, our customer base expects us to supply in
a correct way. Increasing quality and logistical demands are our challenges for 2012 and we want to face those challenges with an extended staff of good, qualified employees. We will train all our personnel in the next six months in all aspects off quality thinking and with this we hope to consolidate our strong position in the world of fixings. The need for growth is a certainty, both in nails and in nylon fixings. We will do our utmost to achieve our goals.
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