Across a number of industries – in particular the Electric Vehicle (EV) market – TR Fastenings works closely with its customers to simplify their supply chains. We sat down with John Dick, global procurement director at Trifast Plc, to discuss how, through close cooperation and technical know-how, the company was able to create a new fastener solution for use in an Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging unit, whilst also simplifying the customer’s supply chain.
John explains: “In the beginning, our customer approached us needing a safety critical component that was conducting electricity and needed to do so safely - at a cost that would be acceptable to the market. It was quickly clear that a standard fastener was not going to be a solution so we began to work closely with the customer to fully understand the requirements of the EV charging station. The challenge was to find the engineering and manufacturing capabilities to manufacture a safe part to specification, ensuring safety of both the component and the operator.”
However as well as specific material requirements, the design of the part was still under a lot of deliberation. John outlines: “The duration of the design phase took the best part of 12 – 18 months because the connector was under such a high-level of scrutiny for the EV market. Once a prototype had been made and the customer was happy, we actually ended up supplying not only the newly created fastener solution, but the charging and handle unit itself, in order to simplify our customers’ supply chain. The customer was therefore able to reduce its vendor base and very importantly, the product was a quality safe to use product.”
“Our strategy as an organisation is not to just sell a fastener, it is to deliver value to the customer through engineering and supply chain solutions. TR looks at supply chain simplification from both goods incoming from suppliers, as well as how we then deliver the service to the customer. This involves adapting to ever changing customer needs. We have recently started to look at the options of creating the availability of vending, which – whilst not new to the industry – has a slight difference in that TR will be offering vending for very specific needs and high value items.”
“Working with our customers to understand exactly their needs and how to bring flexibility by adapting to requirements in a short space of time – is TR’s strength. TR brings added value to customers’ production.”
Other services include technical drawings and information available to download straight away, as well as technical videos and animations on correct installation processes. John explains: “We have the knowledge and know-how to map out a customers’ production, understand their needs and work with the customer to meet the goal – in the shortest time possible. We have a global engineering team – ready to assist the customer, as well as the capacity to offer call out opportunities, fast delivery times, as well as a quality department.”
John concludes: “There is so much to consider when thinking about fasteners – fasteners really are the unseen heroes. Fasteners are all around us and without them, nothing gets held together. TR offers end-users across a number of industries the full package and is committed to sustainably driving our customers' success by simplifying their fastener supply chain and supporting their technical requirements through world-class engineering and manufacturing capabilities.”
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
