TR Press Release. TR Fastenings to showcase self-clinch and enclosure products at Blechexpo. October 2017

Transcription

1 TR Fastenings to showcase self-clinch and enclosure products at Blechexpo October 2017 Stand th November 2017, Stuttgart, Germany TR Fastenings (TR) will be showcasing its extensive range of self-clinch fasteners and its new enclosure hardware range at Blechexpo, Europe s leading international trade fair for sheet metal working in Stuttgart, Germany from 7th-10th November. Demand for TR s self-clinch fasteners has increased by more than 40% over the last five years, driven by an extended product portfolio and the addition of new materials and sizes to existing ranges. TR Fastenings has actively promoted these products via its global Master Distributor network, which has also contributed to the growth in sales. TR s comprehensive self-clinch range includes a variety of studs, nuts, stand-offs and panel fasteners and now includes the latest additions in the self-clinch products; the clear-hole, un-threaded standoff, that can be used for spacing and stacking; the TRPF11 Panel Fastener, available in different screw lengths and a retainer which offers positive-stop during installation; TRTFH self-clinching studs for applications in sheets as thin as 0.51mm; and TRTSO self-clinching standoffs for sheets as thin as 0.63mm. TR also manufactures self-clinch studs for the automotive industry, with the majority of products made bespoke to drawings. This dual role of manufacturer and distributor sets TR apart, allowing it to offer automotive customers a seamless service from design to delivery. TR will also be exhibiting its new range of enclosure fastener products at the show, including locking systems and components, hinges, quarter turn locks and latches. The Blechexpo fair takes place on a two-year cycle in the state trade fair centre in Stuttgart (Landesmesse Stuttgart) alongside the Schweisstec trade fair for mechanical and thermal joining. This pairing makes the show the only event in the world that deals with the complementary technologies of sheet metal processing and joining 1

2 TR Fastenings to showcase self-clinch and enclosure products at Blechexpo October 2017 technology. The fair has gained in popularity and success over recent years and now ranks second in the world on the list of trade fairs for sheet metal processing. Peter Henning, Director of TR Kuhlmann, TR s operating business in Germany, will be attending the fair and comments: Blechexpo is one of Germany s most important sheet metal trade shows, and it takes place in an area of the country which is well known for sheet metal production. As well as boasting a large number of sheet metal companies, the Stuttgart region is also home to over 500 Tier1-4 automotive firms, many of which TR supplies to. With our expertise and focus on self-clinch fasteners, and given our status as the leading distributor of these products in Europe, it s vital that we have a presence at this show. The demand for selfclinch products in Germany alone is over 50,000,000 and the show is a fantastic opportunity for us to further our reputation in the country and make valuable industry connections. 2

3 TR Fastenings Enters World of 3D Modelling with Brand New Product Animations 2017 Global fastener firm TR Fastenings is upgrading its online product catalogue with the introduction of exclusive new 3D models and animations to its website. The models and animations, which allow users to move the product images around and see how they are installed and used with other materials or components, are hosted on Sketchfab.com, a VC-backed platform which acts as an online library for 3D models and virtual reality (VR) content. TR embarked on the project in 2016, and so far there are 68 interactive animations and 553 product animations online. TR will be adding new models to the site over the coming months and aims to have a 3D interactive model for each one of its 800 products uploaded by the end of The videos not only show the products in a new and innovative light, but are also extremely useful for sales and customer service teams needing to demonstrate how the fasteners work to existing and prospective customers when they are not in the same location. The interactive models are more effective than static images, as customers can move around the model and see the product in detail from any angle. With regards to the animations, the files are much smaller than traditional videos and work on any device. No plug-ins are required and the animations have been designed with all browsers in mind. Keith Gibb, Head of Web Development at TR, comments 3D models are becoming more and more popular and we are very excited about offering this feature to our customers, partners and visitors to our website. The interactive element is invaluable when demonstrating products remotely, and the hosting technology provided by Sketchfab is a real find. This is a huge step for us and we are thrilled to be leading the charge in terms of engineering companies using this technology to showcase our products. 3

4 TR Kuhlmann passes Kongsberg Automotive VDA 6.3 audit with a score of 96% September 2017 TR Kuhlmann, the German business of global fastenings manufacturer and distributor TR Fastenings (TR) has successfully completed an audit by leading vehicle parts provider Kongsberg Automotive (KA) The audit, the first automotive appraisal in TR Kuhlmann s history, assessed the firm against the German VDA 6.3 standard, which looks at the quality of specific products and components. TR Kuhlmann achieved an A ranking with a score of 96% in recognition of its excellence in manufacturing, distribution and consultancy capabilities when supplying to Tier 1 and 2 automotive businesses. Full service provider to Tier 1 automotive suppliers TR is a full service provider to the automotive industry, supplying over 50 billion fastener components to over 5000 companies globally, largely tier 1 businesses supplying major automotive OEMs. After being introduced to TR Kuhlmann and issuing initial RFQs, KA became interested taking the firm on as a supplier and organised the audit, which took place in April Now that the audit has been passed with such a high score, the two companies are now working towards a potential partnership. The importance of VDA 6.3 in the automotive industry The success of TR Kuhlmann follows a move by the wider TR group to work towards adopting VDA 6.3 standards throughout its automotive operations. In recent years, TR has noticed an increased focus amongst its global automotive customers on the German VDA 6.3 standard, In response, TR has invested in specific training for its Supplier Quality Managers, resulting in them being fully certified to assess products and suppliers against VDA requirements. Peter Henning, Director at TR Kuhlmann, comments: The shift in focus towards VDA 6.3 as a preferred standard for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers has been noticeable in recent months, and having received the invitation to undertake the KA audit, we were thrilled to be able to rise to the challenge and show our capabilities and strengths in this sector. We are delighted with the high score we achieved and are now looking forward to the exciting prospect of working further with KA in the coming months and years. 4

5 TR Fastenings New Website: The Go-to Resource for Engineers 2016 TR Fastenings is a major manufacturer and supplier of mechanical fasteners for the automotive, electronics, telecoms, domestic appliance and general industrial sectors, with an annual output of 50 billion components worldwide. As a leading global assembly partner, TR fully understands the requirements of engineers and its new website provides them with an essential resource. Designed for ease of navigation and functionality throughout, the website features an online catalogue of TR s portfolio of products, an extensive Engineering Knowledge Base plus details of the key services and technical support available to its customers from engineering and design through to specification, manufacturing, quality and logistics. Extensive product portfolio TR s website carries an online catalogue of over 45,000 products, which is constantly being added to. These range from TR s own branded range of fasteners, including Hank self-clinch fasteners and rivet bushes, self-locking nuts, inserts and screws for plastic, blind rivets and rivet nuts, plastic fasteners and cable management products, to screws, nuts, washers and specially manufactured parts. Combining a new modern design with a powerful search tool, it has never been easier to find the product required. Users can simply search for the product or product range required using any number of search terms and choose from a range of items available and related technical information. Once the product and size needed has been selected, users can view, send or download a dynamically generated 2D drawing for the part that includes all related dimensional data, download the related 3D model in a number of formats and save the part to the enquiry basket. In addition, the website carries an extensive Engineering Knowledge Base, which includes: A comprehensive range of 2D/3D fastener models available to download Step-by-step animated installation guides Tooling requirement and related technical information Detailed performance data Material and finish specifications Fastener standards and comparison tables Looking ahead, the TR Fastenings website will be continually updated with more products and features, including a customer portal and specialist technical articles. 5