INSIGHT
Adding value by going the extra mile
As he takes up the reins as general manager of Icon Fasteners, Andrew Plows discusses how investing in improving service and offering during the recession will keep companies in good stead and ready for the recovery when it eventually arrives, while also delivering the best for customers.
the right solutions. Working with skilled, flexible suppliers who are prepared to go the extra mile for their customers will pay dividends all round in terms of delivering on service and performance. For example, Icon Fasteners is the UK’s leading supplier of
I
high grade alloy fasteners and in particular, we pride ourselves on our bespoke services for meeting customers’ individual needs. These include drilling and special finishing of standard fasteners to meet their specific requirements. In addition, with today’s 24 hour society where time is always of the essence, fast turnaround is something that many customers demand from their suppliers and speedy service is key to our philosophy and offering.
“ At Icon we continually strive to make sure we’re offering the best possible service for our customers by simply giving them what they want at the right price.”
During these difficult economic times, undoubtedly it is
companies who put the needs of the customer first that tend to keep ahead of the competition and indeed, survive. At Icon we continually strive to make sure we’re offering the best possible service for our customers by simply giving them what they want at the right price.
n these challenging times and with budgets continuing to be squeezed, a high level of service with quality, bespoke product provision are factors that add value and can make all the difference to securing and keeping customers seeking
Bespoke finishing services Icon Fasteners is able to offer a wide range of bespoke finishing services to its customers including the following:
• Electroplating - Probably the most widely used finishing method whereby zinc is electro-plated on to a base material. This process can also include corrosion resistance by use of a conversion coating or passivate.
• Mechanical plating - Involves pre-degreased components being placed in a drum with a mixture of glass beads and zinc powder. The beads ‘cold weld’ the zinc to the parts which can in turn be passivated to provide varying levels of corrosion protection. The process will then prevent the risk of hydrogen embrittlement occurring, which can cause premature failure in components, particularly if they are made from high tensile steel.
• Organic - Organic coatings can also be used and this involves colour pigments being bonded with a heat curing polymer to offer good corrosion and controlled lubricity high wear resistance, while also preventing hydrogen embrittlement.
• Phosphating - Is aimed at products requiring a lower level corrosion protection and is used as an undercoat prior to painting and with the addition of oil, increased protection can also be achieved.
• Hot dip galvanising - By immersing products in molten zinc with in a temperature range of 440°C – 470°C, this will provide a coating thickness of 40 microns and in turn, high correction protection.
68 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 75 May 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164