20
AMERICAN NEWS
“Overall, the record in the preliminary phase of these that there is no reasonable indication of material injury by reason of
investigations refl ects favorable or even improving performance cumulated subject imports of (standard fasteners) from China and
indicators for the domestic industry,” the ITC wrote. “The domestic Taiwan and that no likelihood exists that contrary evidence would
industry maintained substantial and increasing operating profi ts arise in any fi nal-phase investigations.”
from 2006 to 2008, despite slightly declining demand conditions,
signifi cant subject import market share, and signifi cant underselling Nucor Fastener appeals ITC vote
by subject imports from China and Taiwan.” Pressing its case for tariffs, Nucor Fastener appealed the ITC
“In interim 2009, when the domestic industry faced a severe and decision in December. Nucor Fastener attorney Alan Price called the
sharp decline in apparent U.S. consumption, it continued to post a 6-0 vote against tariffs “clearly erroneous.”
positive operating income.” “The evidence clearly showed that the industry’s operating
“We fi nd no signifi cant correlation between subject imports margins dropped by more than 50% and that Chinese and Taiwanese
and any declines in the industry’s profi tability,” the Commission fasteners dramatically undersold U.S.-produced fasteners,” he
concluded. continued. “We intend to vigorously prosecute this appeal and to
“Total U.S. shipments of (standard fasteners) followed similar pursue all of our other options.”
trends, declining somewhat at the end of the period examined In the notice of appeal, Price disagreed with the ITC ruling, saying
consistent with declines in apparent U.S. consumption.” Nucor Fastener provided “detailed evidence of injury.” He noted that
By quantity, the domestic industry’s share of the U.S. market rose U.S. production and capacity utilization decreased by 50%; Chinese
slightly from 2006 to 2008; it was 23.5% in 2006, 23.4% in 2007, and Taiwanese imports grew to 56.8% of the market by “pervasively
and 24.2% in 2008. underselling U.S. fasteners by signifi cant margins”; the U.S. industry
The domestic industry’s net sales, by quantity, declined from lost production jobs, along with declines in shipments, investment,
163.2 million pounds in 2006 to 157.2 million pounds in 2007 and R&D and operating profi t at a time when Chinese and Taiwanese
then increased to 166.0 million pounds in 2008. producers “substantially increased capacity and inventories.”
By value, the domestic industry’s net sales declined from “The U.S. fastener industry and its workers deserve a fair
US$158.2 million in 2006 to US$156.7 million in 2007 and then opportunity to present their case,” Price emphasized. St. Joe,
increased to US$192.5 million in 2008. Indiana-based Nucor Fastener has 30 days to detail its appeal to the
“The record as a whole contains clear and convincing evidence ITC, which would be heard by the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Boeing 787 takes off leaving
fastener complications behind
The fi rst Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off for initial test fl ight on December 15 2009, almost two
and a half years later than expected.
A critical shortage of fasteners, along with installation problems, delamination of the carbon-fi ber-reinforced plastic composite during
is part of the fuel-effi cient Dreamliner’s storied delays in development structural testing.
still mentioned in media coverage of the fi rst test fl ight. A shortage of fasteners plagued production of the Dreamliner
“The lightweight carbon and titanium plane, promising to save test planes at the start. Boeing announced an initial six-month delay
airlines million of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs, has been and promptly replaced the head of its 787 program and deployed
hampered by a shortage of bolts, faulty design and a two-month engineers into the fi eld to help suppliers boost production. The test
strike, and it still has a long way to go before it proves to be a aircraft had to be delivered with temporary fasteners.
success,” Reuters reported. Months later came the news that Boeing was scrambling to
As recently as mid-2009 Boeing engineers were adding fasteners replace other fasteners that had been improperly installed. That
to strengthen wing supports that showed a design fl aw resulting in problem was traced to an engineering error.
Fastener Fair Stuttgart
ranks with top US show
For decades Fastener Industry News has reported on fastener trade shows worldwide and this year FIN found a
major change: In 2009 Fastener Fair Stuttgart outgrew the U.S.-based National Industrial Fastener Show/West.
In October a total of 5,993 people entered the doors at the 2009 feet compared with 60,200 net square feet for the 2009 NIFS/West.
Fastener Fair Stuttgart in Germany compared with 3,943 registrations NIFS’ largest booth total was 829 in 2007 – equivalent to 82,900 net
for the November NIFS/West in Las Vegas. FFS even topped NIFS’ square feet.
record total registration of 5,620 set in 2007. NIFS reported registrations from 36 countries against 70 for
There were 625 exhibiting companies at the show in Germany Fastener Fair Stuttgart. However, Europe totals many more individual
compared with 497 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. countries than North America’s U.S., Canada and Mexico. FFS
Stuttgart net exhibit space totaled at least 107,600 net square reported 83% of visitors came from 27 European Union countries.
Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 61 January 2010
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