58
ANALYSIS
“The outlook for 2010 is one “Financially strong companies
of slow demand recovery, will have more business and
with many changes still to greater customer confi dence.”
work through the system
M. Fatih Uysal
Norm Fasteners Co., Turkey
that will impact some
Looking back over 2009 it was dominated by the global crisis,
more than others.”
and the loss of production for all product types destined for the
automotive sector. The anti-dumping against Chinese fasteners was
Geoff Hopwood very important for the European producers especially in a year of
president,
production crisis.
Fastener Fair Stuttgart was very well organised at the new
European Fastener Distributors Association exhibition centre, and demonstrated strongly that the fastener and
fi xing industry was still on its feet. The attendance of machine
2009 was a remarkable year of challenge and change, and to
producers and raw material suppliers made the show more interesting.
some extent confusion and chaos. Our wider industry has traditionally
The industry learnt that companies must not be bound to a single
been steady, perhaps unexciting and with relatively slow evolution,
sector like automotive, especially since fasteners and fi xings are used
which has left it poorly prepared to cope with the turmoil of 2009.
in so many different sectors. We also learnt it is critical to save some
Some events, like the global economic downturn, have been
of the company assets for the crisis days; global sales can go down in
outside the control of our industry. Others, including the anti-
a very short period and companies must be prepared for hard days.
dumping duties and new standards, have been of our own making,
Companies with their own assets will grow and invest more in
largely driven by some EU producers for their own commercial
new cost-effective products. Producers will no longer be bound to
interests. Whilst such self-interest is understandable, it can create
problems for distributors and customers alike.
one or two sectors or to limited types of products.
The industry leaders, both producers and distributors, have
The older companies need to adopt new fl exible and profi table
a responsibility to steer a sensible course in the interests of all
management procedures. Small companies will shut down or join the big
customers. I am left feeling that much more could and should have
groups. There will be more organised supply nets instead of supply chains.
been done over the last couple of years to look after customers’
All companies must be more customer-oriented and will need to
interests and this aspect deserves greater attention to ensure the
achieve production fl exibility according to customer demands.
highest levels of service and effi ciency.
Fastener technologies will develop to provide new products that
There has been and will continue to be widespread damage and
are lighter and stronger, more cost effective and easy to assemble.
disruption for the partial benefi t of a handful of EU producers. There
Zero PPM rules will be more important for cost saving assembly.
are unintended consequences that are unlikely to prove to be in any
Environment friendly coatings with greater corrosion resistance will
one’s interest. There has already been signifi cant structural change in
be more important.
the global industry and this looks set to continue.
In 2010, the fi rst quarter will be a little down for the automotive
Problems for established businesses will create opportunities for new
sector but it will not be as badly affected as 2009. The distribution
players; while not always desirable, that is inevitable and legitimate.
sector will be in a good situation.
The outlook for 2010 is one of slow demand recovery, with many
Financially strong companies will have more business and
changes still to work through the system that will impact some more greater customer confi dence. The general business overview for the
than others. The issues brought into sharper than ever focus are the fastener and fi xings industries is positive for 2010 because all sectors
need to serve customers effectively and to control costs. are now ramping up and the economy looks more stable.
“The priorities should be to look for added value. Just
do what one is good at. Get close to the customer. The
biggest danger is concentration of customer power.”
Ramon Ceravalis
general manager, Groupo Celo, Spain
The recession was strong and smaller companies have been adapting become shorter to ensure good pricing and
unprecedented. Orders decreased 30% to better to the crisis situation. Financial muscle good margins. Technologies will evolve but
40% depending on the customer segment. is what matters now. there will not be dramatic changes.
However, no major market restructuring has This industry will continue to be healthy, The 2010 outlook will hopefully be
occurred - yet? The recession, together with though, once the waters are calmed. stable. There will be growth in Asia and
effects of anti-dumping, made us expect a However, I foresee much more confl ict Eastern Europe, although these regions were
restructuring of the competitive situation of interest between manufacturers and also severely hurt by the crisis.
that has not happened – we expected more importers. Who has the customer has the The priorities should be to look for added
mergers, acquisitions or closures. power, and too many factories have thought value. Just do what one is good at. Get
The fastener industry has to learn that only about manufacturing. close to the customer. The biggest danger is
big is not better. From my perspective Global supply chains must inevitably concentration of customer power.
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