NEWS

Anixter’s Open Day in China a resounding success June 2014 and customers on 20th

Anixter celebrated the five year anniversary of its location in Suzhou, China, with an Open Day for its suppliers on 19th

Anixter invited its guests to join it in exploring the history of Anixter’s growth in China, as well as working together towards a successful partnership in the future. Among the guests was keynote speaker, Harvey Chang, the EBU purchasing leader of the East Asia International Procurement Office of Cummins Inc, who delivered the story of Cummins’ success in the area, as well as its 30 year strong partnership with Anixter. After presentations by Anixter’s president and chief executive

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officer, Bob Eck, executive vice president of Anixter OEM Supply – Fasteners, Ian Clarke, and the vice president of sales Asia Pacific for Anixter OEM Supply – Fasteners, Tom Wu, guests were

London Calling! The London Screw Company Ltd, amongst the oldest names in screw manufacturing, has reported new ownership.

to new owners, Richard and Heike Spence. Tom and Pat leave the company in a strong position ready to take advantage of the resurgence in interest in UK made products, and fuelled by the strengthening local and world economies. “This is a fantastic family run business, with the benefits of a good customer base established over many generations,”

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Richard Spence commented. “London is a classic niche player, supplying distributors ‘next day’ with products that Asian producers either don’t want to make or take months to deliver.” Richard added: “We have the business edge with tonnes of readily available stock such as metric/imperial allthreads, machine

screws and hex bolts in a variety of steel and non-ferrous materials. We are ahead of the curve when it comes to fastener production coming back home! The secret is out!! The future for The London Screw Company looks bright in the Black Country...” www.londonscrew.co.uk

Scaling the peaks for charity

Two managing directors of UK fastener businesses have, independently, been hitting the mountain trails for charity in recent weeks.

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avid Furness of Rapierstar Limited trekked to the 4,167 metre peak of Mount Toubkai in the Atlas range, south of Marrakesh in Morocco, in aid of Diabetes UK. He’s pictured (right) with Duncan Robertson, a friend who joined him amongst others in the challenge. David has already raised more than GB£2,000 for the charity. To support him visit www.justgiving.com/David-Furness2 Gary Henderson of Grampian Fasteners stayed closer to home and took on the gruelling

Ben Nevis Challenge on behalf of the Yorkhill Children’s Charity. Pictured at the top of a still snowy Ben Nevis with Gary (second from right) is (left to right) Craig Cameron, Steve Cruickshank and Scott Cruickshank. ‘Team Harris’ completed the course, comprising ascent and descent of Ben Nevis plus 25 miles cycling and 3 miles canoeing, in an extraordinary 7 hours 29 minutes – coming 3rd

out of 113 teams taking part.

For more on the charity and why it is particularly close to Craig Cameron’s heart visit www.justgiving.com/teamharrisbennevis

stablished in 1870, the traditional West Midlands fastener manufacturing company was steered to success by Tom and Pat Flanagan through the tough times of the 1980s and 1990s creating “one of the best kept secret success stories of the millennium”. Tom and Pat have decided the time is right to start a well earned ‘second youth’ and have handed over the company

The Anixter OEM Supply team hosting the Open Day led by Ian Clarke (centre)

he event drew over 150 attendees, comprised of key suppliers and customers across all market segments – local, regional and global. Leading with the theme: ‘Moving forward together’,

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treated to a Suzhou plant tour, as well as a dinner banquet at the Long Court Villa. The evening ended with fireworks to symbolise the bright future that Anixter hopes to achieve with the groundwork that it has laid in its last five years in China.

Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 88 July 2014