Fastener helps keep airfreight costs in line
An
Alcoa Fastening Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 11, 2004
A German air cargo container manufacturer reckons that the consistently maintained level of excellent customer service from its UK supplier of fastening systems has helped it regain lost business.
Despite the effects of 11th September 2001 and the conflict in the Middle East, a German air cargo container manufacturer reckons it has regained lost business through a combination of factors most notably, a consistently maintained level of excellent customer service from its UK supplier of fastening systems.
Based in Singen on the Swiss German border Alcan Singen was established in 1972 and is a part of the Alcan Engineered Products group of companies.
Employing 3000 people, the company delivers a wide range of containers, pallets and pallet extenders to more than 150 airlines worldwide - producing a total of 40,000 units per annum.
Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS), with Huck fasteners as its primary brand, engineers high-quality high-performance fastening systems serving a variety of applications predominantly in the truck, trailer, commercial vehicle body builder, auto and railcar markets.
Andreas Manusch, Materials Manager with Alcan Singen Airfreight has been ordering and monitoring the use of Huck fasteners for over 15 years.
He said: "We required a fastener with a definitive pin break and one that could provide a strong clamp force to varying thicknesses of materials".
"And ever since we first tested the strength and durability of the Huck Magna-Grip fastener, which involved releasing a suspended container from 4m to see how it survived an heavy impact, I knew we would develop a long term relationship with AFS".
"The cost was - and still is - cheaper than using nuts and bolts and resulting in a lighter container and a saving in air freight charges".
In recent times, however although the product has maintained its integrity, AFS as a company has played its part in helping to restore sales for Alcan Singen.
Manusch continues: "As with many suppliers to the airline industry, we were hit very hard by recent global events".
"However, the support through precise on-time delivery from AFS enabled us to ensure the service to our customers was first class".
"Consequently, as the market has picked up they have stayed with us".
Ludwig Frank, AFS Customer Manager, Germany said: "This is a fine example of making sure that whilst a company may have excellent products the supporting infrastructure in relation to how the customer is dealt with is equally as important".
"I'm pleased that an important customer such as Alcan Singen has prevailed over a difficult period for the airline industry and that AFS were instrumental in providing the necessary support".
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