INSTANT EXPERT â FASTENERS & FIXINGS
fasteners & fixings
tty oking pre lo is d n la a in New Ze rtunities s o g p in p n o e t w s e hn et for fa along wit t u The mark b . – t n te reports mome t e e h n t u t r a B y s s health llenges. Je a h c w e n e come som
n o y r o g e t a c A
First things first: most key players in the fasteners, fixings and chains category are reporting some fairly healthy trends. While there have been ups and downs in the last six months, there does seem to be an overall feeling of optimism for the present and the near future. Even those with fairly flat rates of growth are happy to report that no news is good news. But, for those with good news to report, growth is being put down to a number of factors, including the Christchurch rebuild (or repair, depending on who you talk to) and recent investment in the Auckland housing market. This in turn has created increased demand for products, with those able to provide what people need, when they need it, coming off best. Glen Dobler at Manufacturing Supplies Ltd (MSL) explains that having the right stock on hand for their customers has been a priority which has been proven right again and again: “In our traditional area of bolt nuts and wood screws, sales have been firm and improved in certain areas, purely because of the amount of stock we have committed to carrying.” Dobler feels that MSL’s 35 years of local experience has helped inform this decision: “One of the benefits of being a New Zealand company means our owner puts his money back into stock because he knows the long term value of the marketplace. And
INSTANT EXPERT – FASTENERS & FIXINGS • As the market picks up, concern for quality is increasing in the commercial sector – but what is the residential builder’s outlook? • Stockholding issues notwithstanding, having stock on hand will be an advantage in a flighty market. • What price a move towards promotional activity seeking advantages around issues of quality rather than price? • A highly risk averse construction industry is showing some resistance to new technologies in fasteners & fixings even though they may offer lower cost and higher quality solutions. • Bottom line? Not all fasteners & fixings are created equal…
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we’ve noticed that if you aren’t carrying stock you aren’t meeting your customer’s requirements. So, by increasing our stock dramatically over the last 6 months, we have gained sales as we’ve been able to supply our customers, while others have run out.” Pryda’s Robert Turner has been seeing steady growth in fasteners over the last 6 months, with an all-time record amount of sales for the company in May. He attributes this mostly to new housing investment in Auckland which has seen frame & truss booming. Christchurch has also been a major influence on sales, although progress has been slower than originally expected. “There are still hold-ups in Christchurch which are delaying things longer than expected and we have heard about building consents being held up as there is still a lot of repair work going on down there as well,” Turner says. More at
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fasteners & fixings
? p u & p u e th
Lorraine Fitzpatrick from Winstone Wallboards is another to report good returns over the last half year. “Many of our product categories are showing good growth, and I think this is down to our commitment to supplying products that are tested, competitively priced and sustainable,” says Fitzpatrick. So although business seems to be doing well, this is no time to put your feet up. More business means more demand after all. Fitzpatrick continues: “An important topic facing the building industry at large would be around productivity and the availability of skilled labour as the market improves. Industry is looking to manufacturers to lead the way in developing products that are innovative and smart to improve the way we do things which deliver better, faster results.” More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
NEW PRODUCTS FOR A NEW MARKET One thing that everyone I talked to agrees on is that having high quality and innovative new products on hand has paid off in a market where residential house construction is booming, whether it’s in Christchurch or Auckland. “We have been introducing new products to the range around the construction area and that’s increased our sales,” says MSL’s Glen Dobler. “We’ve introduced products that have met very specific needs in the current marketplace which have been especially picked up in the building area. The home building
market has picked up as well and that has really lifted our sales up.” Work in Christchurch may have also created an increased awareness of the value of quality products for every aspect of
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secure construction. Herb Kuhn from Simpson Strong-Tie says: “Since the Christchurch earthquake we have been able to supply a range of epoxy products to repair existing buildings within that area and we are heavily involved with this and the contractors there who sell that kind of product.” Kuhn adds that the New Zealand market has been “fairly buoyant” for the company which opened its New Zealand division 18 months ago after recognising potential growth in concrete fixing anchors here. While Christchurch appears to still be primarily in the “repair” rather than “rebuild” stage, Herb Kuhn has seen demand for new fastening products from those on the coal face: “In the next few months we may bring in connectors that are designed in California specifically for seismic regions and the demands they require and this has the support of US design engineers based in Christchurch who know what happens to buildings before and after earthquakes in seismic zones.” But Kuhn has also found that it hasn’t been plain sailing getting this type of fastener accepted in New Zealand, with legislation hindering rather than helping this: “There are a number of organisations in New Zealand that seem reluctant to move away
from 3604 as a standard Building Code and reluctant to embrace new technology because we’ve been doing it one way so long.” Herb Kuhn is careful to stress that the commercial construction sector is an entirely different bag of nails – with the large numbers of people at risk within a single office building, seismic strengthening has become a priority. Not so with residential construction however. “Unfortunately with residential it still comes down to ‘we need to make it as cheap as possible’. And if you are adding just another two or three hundred dollars to make a domestic house seismic
Clash of the Titans NZ Nails is now offering new stainless steel wood screws from Titan Fasteners. Titan’s Star Fix wood screws are made from premium 316 grade stainless steel for optimum corrosion resistance and feature a coarse thread and T20 head recess for increased drive torque. Star Fix screws are available in 8g x 20, 25, 32, 40, 45, 50 and 65mm and come in boxes of 400 screws per with a screwdriver bit included. www.nznails.co.nz
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in its design criteria according to what the US has physically gone through with earthquakes over the years, what effect is that really going to have to the overall cost?” When asked if an increase in the structural strength of houses across the board in New Zealand is worthwhile, Kuhn thinks there is room for improvement. “Christchurch has just gone through the earthquake and New Zealand also has some relatively strong winds so we think we have a lot more to offer in terms of sticking to our real motto which is ‘building safer structures more economically’ and that’s ultimately our aim.” NEW TECHNOLOGY – WICKED WITCHCRAFT? Another area that has seen some resistance from the construction sector is chemical fastenings.
“Our biggest challenge is getting uptake from builders with short attention spans. They have been doing things one way for 20 years and it works fine so if something doesn’t capture their attention in 10 seconds then forget it” Adrian Pearson at Henkel New Zealand has been promoting a new range of Loctite chemical anchors to the New Zealand market over the last 6 months and has found that, while reception has been very positive, for every convert there is a diehard sceptic. “I think people are a bit scared of this product as they don’t know what it can actually do or they just think it’s witchcraft. So our biggest challenge is getting uptake from builders with short attention spans. They have been doing things one way for 20 years and it works fine so if something doesn’t capture their attention in 10 seconds then forget it.” So the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality might be alive and well in some sectors, but if the builder down the road is doing the same job faster and safer than you, then surely something has to change? “Some builders don’t realise that it actually works better for them, especially if it’s a timber frame building that needs to be fixed down to a concrete slab. And there are a couple of things you can do with it that are different to standard mechanical bolts. It definitely means improved point loading in concrete slabs with means greater strength and less risk of breakage,” says Henkel’s Adrian Pearson. Despite the best intentions, price is always an issue however. Are people willing to fork out the extra bucks for another product? “In a lot of cases it can actually work out cheaper,” he says. “We worked out that banging in a mechanical bolt off the More at
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fasteners & fixings
Honey, where’s the trailer? Recognising that when towing a trailer there’s a thin line between success and total disaster, Chain & Rigging Supplies has just released its High Tensile Galvanised Dee Shackle for light trailers. The shackle complies with the Land Transport Safety Authority rating of their existing 8mm trailer safety chain for the perfect towing setup. The shackle is marked with the standard NZS5467 and has a maximum towing mass of 2 tonnes, a minimum breaking load of 6 tonnes and actual breaking load of 8.10 tonnes. The new Dee shackle has an 11mm pin diameter with an opening of 23mm. www.chainandrigging.co.nz
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shelf works out at around four dollars per bolt but if you use this system you can save on that.” Pearson is keen to point out that chemical anchors can also be used very successfully in conjunction with mechanical options and can help to address issues such as thermal expansion or contraction. There have also been rumours circulating (among sources that prefer to remain nameless) that some city councils may prefer the use of chemical anchoring in future builds. Considering this, along with the potential savings in efficiency and performance, the benefits of being on the front foot with products of this nature might be well worth the extra time and effort. QUALITY – ALL ABOUT THE FINE PRINT As I said earlier, the increased ranges of products from companies in the fastening category has been met with an enthusiastic response from builders with plenty of work on their hands. The problem is that an influx of new products in a busy, bullish market can also create opportunities for inferior products and copies to slip through the cracks. Glen Dobler for one says that MSL has increased its range of roofing screws, brick ties, fasteners and bracketry and that
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Look for the yellow strip to ensure you're getting high-quality Quik Drive® fasteners.
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Simpson Strong-Tie, the Innovator in Collated Screw Systems Simpson Strong-Tie® Quik Drive® auto-feed screw driving systems eliminate the need to handle individual screws, turning repetitive fixing into an opportunity to increase efficiency, minimize waste and save time. The systems are easy to use, durable and designed for a wide variety of specific applications for fast, precise and consistent fixing. Extensions enable stand-up driving for appropriate applications, making work faster and more comfortable. The tools feature quick-loading screw strips, a patented auto-advance mechanism and a precise countersink adjustment that prevents overdriving screws resulting in professional performance and finish. Only Simpson Strong-Tie® Quik Drive® collated screws are engineered specifically for your Quik Drive system, ensuring optimum performance every time. For more information, call (64) (0) 9 477 4440 or visit www.strongtie.co.nz.
Simpson Strong-Tie New Zealand 28 Arrenway Drive Albany 0632 Auckland 0632 (64) (0) 9 477 4440 www.strongtie.co.nz
fasteners & fixings
Anchor me – chemical fixing solutions
Deck it – deck it good! Manufacturing Supplies has stainless well covered this year, starting with the new Fortress Fasteners Deck It T304 grade Stainless Steel decking hardware range. Designed for New Zealand conditions and to meet the needs of all professionally constructed timber decking and sub floor structures, the Deck It range includes high quality stainless steel decking screws, joist hangers, product nails, nail plates and Z nails. Another addition to the Fortress range of stainless products is The Ultimate Brick Tie. With two size options covering a broad range of cavity widths from 40mm to 80mm, The Ultimate Brick Tie is available in premium hot dipped galvanised (with 20% more coating thickness than AS 2699.1:200 requirements) and T316 Stainless Steel options. Enhanced features include a 15° angle for reduced water entry, 3-stage mortar locking system and secondary water stop feature. Rated and stamped “Earthquake Heavy”, The Ultimate Brick Tie offers superior grip tension for in and out of plane movement and comes with a 50year durability guarantee. The Ultimate Brick Tie and the Deck It range both meet NZS 3604:2011 requirements for timber framed buildings. www.fortressfasteners.co.nz
Henkel is now offering a revamped set of Loctite chemical anchors for the New Zealand market. The CF920 Vinylester is an economical universal chemical anchor designed as an alternative, or complement to mechanical fixings, with performance properties that significantly outperform New Zealand Building Code requirements and a new formula giving a 25% faster curing time than previous versions. For truly heavy load bearing structures, Loctite offers the CF1100 Epoxy Specialist chemical anchor which now cures up to 66% faster than before, even underwater. Both Loctite products fit standard cartridge guns and are compatible with stainless steel, galvanised and corrosionresistant steel, cracked and uncracked concrete, solid masonry and stone. Vinylester can also anchor hollow brick assemblies. Available in 250ml tubes for Loctite CF1100 Epoxy and 165ml and 300ml tubes for CF920 Vinylester. www.henkel.com
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fasteners & fixings
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this has been met with an enthusiastic response from the trade, especially the stainless steel products. “Some of the galvanised products are not being used as much because they are being superseded by stainless steel throughout the market place which is about longevity and the NZS3604 building standard. And a lot more of the tradespeople we are interfacing with are telling us that stainless is a preference to them because it takes away the long term concerns of galvanising and has a much longer lifetime and that is a concern for tradies who want to introduce quality into their products.” But what does it means when someone says their product is stainless steel? Is that all you need to know? For Darren Liu from BBI Fasteners this is a major area of concern for his business and the market in general: “Overall the market is concerned that about 90% of nails in New Zealand come from overseas now and the quality really varies. You can go from really cheap crap up to above NZ Standard quality. And from a consumables point of view nails are just nails and they can’t really tell the difference.” Robert Turner at Pryda has similar concerns: “The thing about the type of product we sell is that it’s a little hard to tell ours from our opposition’s and some imported products have definitely copied our and our competitors’ designs.”
“An influx of new products in a busy, bullish market can also create opportunities for inferior products and copies to slip through the cracks” Nigel Cartwright from Toolware Sales and Herb Kuhn from Simpson Strong-Tie have also seen potentially inferior copies of their products entering the marketplace which could lead to confusion. Kuhn continues: “We are beginning to see generic copies coming into the country which could create an issue for us in that people perceive they are getting quality products but aren’t.” Adrian Pearson from Henkel is also concerned that people aren’t taking a close enough look at what they are buying: “I’ve noticed that some American products have been introduced that market themselves as an epoxy which in our range is a premium priced product. But, when you look at the specs, it’s the same as our standard adhesive, so that’s a little bit misleading as it’s a lower spec product positioning itself with higher spec products.” Educating the market on the importance of quality is certainly top of mind with everyone in this channel, but how do you tell one nail from another? Isn’t stainless just stainless? Not really. “NZ regulations request either 304 which is industrial grade stainless or 316 which is marine grade and there is about $10,000 per tonne different in the price, which is huge. And we are seeing some people bringing in stock that they say is 316 when it’s really 304. And that’s why we put our logo as a head mark on every More at
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fasteners & fixings
single nail as a long term commitment from us to put a little faith in the product and help educate the consumer,” says BBI Fasteners’ Darren Liu. Pryda’s Robert Turner is also concerned that, as companies invest in both broadening their ranges and producing more quality products, their efforts may be undercut: “There are a couple of new players that have entered the New Zealand market with silly pricing which drags the whole industry down. “And for the local product, a heavier structural type bracket will be OK because it’s New Zealand steel and will be up to spec. But with some of the guys bringing in overseas product, we haven’t seen any testing and we don’t know the quality of the steel, which is a concern,” says Turner.
Fix it fast, fix it better Simpson Strong-Tie has released a new range of collated decking screws to save time and produce a better finish by eliminating the need for pre-drilling and countersinking when fixing down timber decking. Working in conjunction with Simpson’s proven Quik Drive systems for efficient stand-up driving, the new decking screws feature spade tips for pre-drilling holes and wings to countersink them, reducing the risk of splitting. The range includes the DHPD for fixing hardwood decking to softwood joist screws, and the stainless steel SSDHSD for hardwood joists. Simpson has also brought out a decking clip for the Quik Drive PRO250 series that locates the exact position of the screw for straight lines and perfect gap spacing for an overall better deck finish. www.strongtie.co.nz
DIY MARKET STILL UP FOR CHEAP TRICKS? In some categories, the industry is talking about a “race to the bottom” in terms of pricing where everyone seems to lose. In fasteners & fixings however the major players seem to be taking a healthy step away from that outlook. “Most builders these days want to limit risk by offering products and systems they can trust,” says Winstone Wallboard’s Lorraine Fitzpatrick. “The emphasis now is on doing the job once
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nzhj | July 2013
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fasteners & fixings
and doing it right and people have really figured out that the opportunity cost gained from purchasing an unproven product is outstripped by a costly callback.” But – and this is a big but – while any tradie worth their salt is going to want quality product, there does seem to be a segment of retail consumers within New Zealand that still want a quick fix.
“Tradespeople we are interfacing with are telling us that stainless is a preference because it takes away the long term concerns of galvanising and has a much longer lifetime” According to Mike O’Brien from Chain & Rigging Supplies, the inevitable poor performance that comes from lower end products is negatively affecting the reputation of quality products manufactured overseas for New Zealand companies. O’Brien has recently returned from a trip to several factories in
True blue MiTek has introduced the BOWMAC Bottom Plate Blue Head Screw Bolt for fixing external or internal timber wall frames onto concrete floor slabs or masonry header block bases to its product line. This screw bolt has been designed to meet recent updates to New Zealand Standards (3604:2011, clause 7.5.12.23) and provides a simple solution for builders to meet these requirements. The distinctive blue coloured head also makes it clear for builders and building officials that the correct fixing has been installed. The BOWMAC Bottom Plate Blue Head Screw Bolt is available in packs of 10. www.mii.com/newzealand
Collated Screws
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• Collated Quick Load Strips – compatible with Quik Drive • Free Driver bits included • Sizes available: 10g x 50mm (2”) 305 Stainless Steel 8g x 50mm (2”) Galvanised 8g x 50mm ( 2”) Yellow Zinc dichromate 6g x 32mm (11⁄4”) Drywall Zinc dichromate
Ph 09 579 8080 | www.toolware.co.nz More at
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TOOLWARE SALES LIMITED
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fasteners & fixings
China where he saw first-hand the range of quality available: “In China you can get the low-end – cheap shackles for 50 cents each that won’t last five minutes – right up to high quality stuff that matches European standards which is what we go for and we pay a higher price for it because we get something that will last a lot longer and do the job people want it to do.
Wafer thin For a smoother finish under plasterboard, GIB’s new wafer head drill tip screws are now available. Previously only available in dome head, the new screw has an ultra-low profile head for a flatter finish when connecting beneath plasterboard. This 13mm screw with self-drilling tip is used to fix light gauge metal to light gauge metal (up to 2mm thick). www.gib.co.nz
Off the shelf packs to suit every need. From small things like screws and fish hooks, right up to large heavy items, Aztec’s versatile clamshell packs are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can accommodate just about anything. For more info call 0800 436 768 or visit www.aztec.co.nz
“In this marketplace you never want to be the person whose offering is based purely on price and not on quality and I think people are beginning to realise that you pay for what you get” “The problem is that there is still a mentality among some New Zealand consumers to buy the cheaper products from Asia which have a huge mark-up on them. And of course it doesn’t last very long so they think ‘cheap Chinese crap’,” which of course tars everything from the country of origin with the same brush,
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nzhj | July 2013
For more information visit: www.miteknz.co.nz More at
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fasteners & fixings
justified or not.” Mike O’Brien among others has even found this short-sighted mentality extends to larger projects, where an insistence from the supply side to provide quality materials has occasionally meant a lost contract. “We don’t like to turn business away but there have been instances where we’ve told people ‘if you want cheap then you have to go somewhere else,” he says. This sentiment seems to be shared by the majority of O’Brien’s category compatriots who understand the long term payoff that providing quality products can add to a business’s reputation. Glen Dobler from MSL is also sticking to his guns with quality products: “In this marketplace you never want to be the person whose offering is based purely on price and not on quality and I think people are beginning to realise that you pay for what you get. It’s taken a few years but people are starting to realise that if they want really cheap they can have it, but don’t come to us.” Where to from here? Judging by what people in the know have told me, it sounds like there are plenty of building consents in the pipeline. In the case of Christchurch, the pipe might be a little blocked but, when it clears, there is bound to be plenty of demand for quality products. It’s just a matter of having the right amount of the right stuff at the right time.
Chain
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Galvo alternatives offer heavy metal Pryda’s new range of Heavy Duty Z600 Galvanised Products are a cost-effective alternative to the hot-dipped galvanised steel traditionally required in Zone B and C sheltered environments. Independent testing has shown that Z600 products perform comparably to hot-dipped ones, particularly in salt spray testing, making them a very viable solution for New Zealand conditions. Z600 products include BPA, and HBA, components and Pryda has also recently introduced framing brackets, nail on plate and multigrips to this range in a variety of sizes. www.pryda.co.nz
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When you need to compliment or extend your exis�ng range of hardware and rigging products contact Chain & Rigging Supplies Ltd. Take advantage of our large stock holding and extensive resource base to ensure the sa�sfac�on of all your customer requirements. We source and stock a vast selec�on of Galvanised and Stainless Steel Fi�ngs and ALL Chain from Marine, Hardware and High Tensile Chains along with a wide selec�on of Wire Ropes and Fi�ngs. Visit our product range at www.chainandrigging.co.nz or phone (09) 636 4775 to talk to our knowledgeable staff. PO Box 13312, Onehunga Auckland 1643, New Zealand Phone: 09 636 4775 Email: [email protected]
136 Captain Springs Road, Onehunga Auckland, New Zealand Fax: 09 636 7543 Website: www.chainandrigging.co.nz
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July 2013 | nzhj
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tty oking pre lo is d n la a in New Ze rtunities s o g p in p n o e t w s e hn et for fa along wit t u The mark b . – t n te reports mome t e e h n t u t r a B y s s health llenges. Je a h c w e n e come som
n o y r o g e t a c A
First things first: most key players in the fasteners, fixings and chains category are reporting some fairly healthy trends. While there have been ups and downs in the last six months, there does seem to be an overall feeling of optimism for the present and the near future. Even those with fairly flat rates of growth are happy to report that no news is good news. But, for those with good news to report, growth is being put down to a number of factors, including the Christchurch rebuild (or repair, depending on who you talk to) and recent investment in the Auckland housing market. This in turn has created increased demand for products, with those able to provide what people need, when they need it, coming off best. Glen Dobler at Manufacturing Supplies Ltd (MSL) explains that having the right stock on hand for their customers has been a priority which has been proven right again and again: “In our traditional area of bolt nuts and wood screws, sales have been firm and improved in certain areas, purely because of the amount of stock we have committed to carrying.” Dobler feels that MSL’s 35 years of local experience has helped inform this decision: “One of the benefits of being a New Zealand company means our owner puts his money back into stock because he knows the long term value of the marketplace. And
INSTANT EXPERT – FASTENERS & FIXINGS • As the market picks up, concern for quality is increasing in the commercial sector – but what is the residential builder’s outlook? • Stockholding issues notwithstanding, having stock on hand will be an advantage in a flighty market. • What price a move towards promotional activity seeking advantages around issues of quality rather than price? • A highly risk averse construction industry is showing some resistance to new technologies in fasteners & fixings even though they may offer lower cost and higher quality solutions. • Bottom line? Not all fasteners & fixings are created equal…
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nzhj | July 2013
we’ve noticed that if you aren’t carrying stock you aren’t meeting your customer’s requirements. So, by increasing our stock dramatically over the last 6 months, we have gained sales as we’ve been able to supply our customers, while others have run out.” Pryda’s Robert Turner has been seeing steady growth in fasteners over the last 6 months, with an all-time record amount of sales for the company in May. He attributes this mostly to new housing investment in Auckland which has seen frame & truss booming. Christchurch has also been a major influence on sales, although progress has been slower than originally expected. “There are still hold-ups in Christchurch which are delaying things longer than expected and we have heard about building consents being held up as there is still a lot of repair work going on down there as well,” Turner says. More at
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fasteners & fixings
? p u & p u e th
Lorraine Fitzpatrick from Winstone Wallboards is another to report good returns over the last half year. “Many of our product categories are showing good growth, and I think this is down to our commitment to supplying products that are tested, competitively priced and sustainable,” says Fitzpatrick. So although business seems to be doing well, this is no time to put your feet up. More business means more demand after all. Fitzpatrick continues: “An important topic facing the building industry at large would be around productivity and the availability of skilled labour as the market improves. Industry is looking to manufacturers to lead the way in developing products that are innovative and smart to improve the way we do things which deliver better, faster results.” More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
NEW PRODUCTS FOR A NEW MARKET One thing that everyone I talked to agrees on is that having high quality and innovative new products on hand has paid off in a market where residential house construction is booming, whether it’s in Christchurch or Auckland. “We have been introducing new products to the range around the construction area and that’s increased our sales,” says MSL’s Glen Dobler. “We’ve introduced products that have met very specific needs in the current marketplace which have been especially picked up in the building area. The home building
market has picked up as well and that has really lifted our sales up.” Work in Christchurch may have also created an increased awareness of the value of quality products for every aspect of
July 2013 | nzhj
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fasteners & fixings
secure construction. Herb Kuhn from Simpson Strong-Tie says: “Since the Christchurch earthquake we have been able to supply a range of epoxy products to repair existing buildings within that area and we are heavily involved with this and the contractors there who sell that kind of product.” Kuhn adds that the New Zealand market has been “fairly buoyant” for the company which opened its New Zealand division 18 months ago after recognising potential growth in concrete fixing anchors here. While Christchurch appears to still be primarily in the “repair” rather than “rebuild” stage, Herb Kuhn has seen demand for new fastening products from those on the coal face: “In the next few months we may bring in connectors that are designed in California specifically for seismic regions and the demands they require and this has the support of US design engineers based in Christchurch who know what happens to buildings before and after earthquakes in seismic zones.” But Kuhn has also found that it hasn’t been plain sailing getting this type of fastener accepted in New Zealand, with legislation hindering rather than helping this: “There are a number of organisations in New Zealand that seem reluctant to move away
from 3604 as a standard Building Code and reluctant to embrace new technology because we’ve been doing it one way so long.” Herb Kuhn is careful to stress that the commercial construction sector is an entirely different bag of nails – with the large numbers of people at risk within a single office building, seismic strengthening has become a priority. Not so with residential construction however. “Unfortunately with residential it still comes down to ‘we need to make it as cheap as possible’. And if you are adding just another two or three hundred dollars to make a domestic house seismic
Clash of the Titans NZ Nails is now offering new stainless steel wood screws from Titan Fasteners. Titan’s Star Fix wood screws are made from premium 316 grade stainless steel for optimum corrosion resistance and feature a coarse thread and T20 head recess for increased drive torque. Star Fix screws are available in 8g x 20, 25, 32, 40, 45, 50 and 65mm and come in boxes of 400 screws per with a screwdriver bit included. www.nznails.co.nz
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in its design criteria according to what the US has physically gone through with earthquakes over the years, what effect is that really going to have to the overall cost?” When asked if an increase in the structural strength of houses across the board in New Zealand is worthwhile, Kuhn thinks there is room for improvement. “Christchurch has just gone through the earthquake and New Zealand also has some relatively strong winds so we think we have a lot more to offer in terms of sticking to our real motto which is ‘building safer structures more economically’ and that’s ultimately our aim.” NEW TECHNOLOGY – WICKED WITCHCRAFT? Another area that has seen some resistance from the construction sector is chemical fastenings.
“Our biggest challenge is getting uptake from builders with short attention spans. They have been doing things one way for 20 years and it works fine so if something doesn’t capture their attention in 10 seconds then forget it” Adrian Pearson at Henkel New Zealand has been promoting a new range of Loctite chemical anchors to the New Zealand market over the last 6 months and has found that, while reception has been very positive, for every convert there is a diehard sceptic. “I think people are a bit scared of this product as they don’t know what it can actually do or they just think it’s witchcraft. So our biggest challenge is getting uptake from builders with short attention spans. They have been doing things one way for 20 years and it works fine so if something doesn’t capture their attention in 10 seconds then forget it.” So the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality might be alive and well in some sectors, but if the builder down the road is doing the same job faster and safer than you, then surely something has to change? “Some builders don’t realise that it actually works better for them, especially if it’s a timber frame building that needs to be fixed down to a concrete slab. And there are a couple of things you can do with it that are different to standard mechanical bolts. It definitely means improved point loading in concrete slabs with means greater strength and less risk of breakage,” says Henkel’s Adrian Pearson. Despite the best intentions, price is always an issue however. Are people willing to fork out the extra bucks for another product? “In a lot of cases it can actually work out cheaper,” he says. “We worked out that banging in a mechanical bolt off the More at
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fasteners & fixings
Honey, where’s the trailer? Recognising that when towing a trailer there’s a thin line between success and total disaster, Chain & Rigging Supplies has just released its High Tensile Galvanised Dee Shackle for light trailers. The shackle complies with the Land Transport Safety Authority rating of their existing 8mm trailer safety chain for the perfect towing setup. The shackle is marked with the standard NZS5467 and has a maximum towing mass of 2 tonnes, a minimum breaking load of 6 tonnes and actual breaking load of 8.10 tonnes. The new Dee shackle has an 11mm pin diameter with an opening of 23mm. www.chainandrigging.co.nz
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shelf works out at around four dollars per bolt but if you use this system you can save on that.” Pearson is keen to point out that chemical anchors can also be used very successfully in conjunction with mechanical options and can help to address issues such as thermal expansion or contraction. There have also been rumours circulating (among sources that prefer to remain nameless) that some city councils may prefer the use of chemical anchoring in future builds. Considering this, along with the potential savings in efficiency and performance, the benefits of being on the front foot with products of this nature might be well worth the extra time and effort. QUALITY – ALL ABOUT THE FINE PRINT As I said earlier, the increased ranges of products from companies in the fastening category has been met with an enthusiastic response from builders with plenty of work on their hands. The problem is that an influx of new products in a busy, bullish market can also create opportunities for inferior products and copies to slip through the cracks. Glen Dobler for one says that MSL has increased its range of roofing screws, brick ties, fasteners and bracketry and that
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Look for the yellow strip to ensure you're getting high-quality Quik Drive® fasteners.
Fixings Solutions
©2013 Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. QDNZ13
for Subfloors, Cladding, Decks, Roofs and More
Simpson Strong-Tie, the Innovator in Collated Screw Systems Simpson Strong-Tie® Quik Drive® auto-feed screw driving systems eliminate the need to handle individual screws, turning repetitive fixing into an opportunity to increase efficiency, minimize waste and save time. The systems are easy to use, durable and designed for a wide variety of specific applications for fast, precise and consistent fixing. Extensions enable stand-up driving for appropriate applications, making work faster and more comfortable. The tools feature quick-loading screw strips, a patented auto-advance mechanism and a precise countersink adjustment that prevents overdriving screws resulting in professional performance and finish. Only Simpson Strong-Tie® Quik Drive® collated screws are engineered specifically for your Quik Drive system, ensuring optimum performance every time. For more information, call (64) (0) 9 477 4440 or visit www.strongtie.co.nz.
Simpson Strong-Tie New Zealand 28 Arrenway Drive Albany 0632 Auckland 0632 (64) (0) 9 477 4440 www.strongtie.co.nz
fasteners & fixings
Anchor me – chemical fixing solutions
Deck it – deck it good! Manufacturing Supplies has stainless well covered this year, starting with the new Fortress Fasteners Deck It T304 grade Stainless Steel decking hardware range. Designed for New Zealand conditions and to meet the needs of all professionally constructed timber decking and sub floor structures, the Deck It range includes high quality stainless steel decking screws, joist hangers, product nails, nail plates and Z nails. Another addition to the Fortress range of stainless products is The Ultimate Brick Tie. With two size options covering a broad range of cavity widths from 40mm to 80mm, The Ultimate Brick Tie is available in premium hot dipped galvanised (with 20% more coating thickness than AS 2699.1:200 requirements) and T316 Stainless Steel options. Enhanced features include a 15° angle for reduced water entry, 3-stage mortar locking system and secondary water stop feature. Rated and stamped “Earthquake Heavy”, The Ultimate Brick Tie offers superior grip tension for in and out of plane movement and comes with a 50year durability guarantee. The Ultimate Brick Tie and the Deck It range both meet NZS 3604:2011 requirements for timber framed buildings. www.fortressfasteners.co.nz
Henkel is now offering a revamped set of Loctite chemical anchors for the New Zealand market. The CF920 Vinylester is an economical universal chemical anchor designed as an alternative, or complement to mechanical fixings, with performance properties that significantly outperform New Zealand Building Code requirements and a new formula giving a 25% faster curing time than previous versions. For truly heavy load bearing structures, Loctite offers the CF1100 Epoxy Specialist chemical anchor which now cures up to 66% faster than before, even underwater. Both Loctite products fit standard cartridge guns and are compatible with stainless steel, galvanised and corrosionresistant steel, cracked and uncracked concrete, solid masonry and stone. Vinylester can also anchor hollow brick assemblies. Available in 250ml tubes for Loctite CF1100 Epoxy and 165ml and 300ml tubes for CF920 Vinylester. www.henkel.com
Heavy Duty Z600 Galvanised Products
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fasteners & fixings
BLUE-TIP Screwbolt by TM
this has been met with an enthusiastic response from the trade, especially the stainless steel products. “Some of the galvanised products are not being used as much because they are being superseded by stainless steel throughout the market place which is about longevity and the NZS3604 building standard. And a lot more of the tradespeople we are interfacing with are telling us that stainless is a preference to them because it takes away the long term concerns of galvanising and has a much longer lifetime and that is a concern for tradies who want to introduce quality into their products.” But what does it means when someone says their product is stainless steel? Is that all you need to know? For Darren Liu from BBI Fasteners this is a major area of concern for his business and the market in general: “Overall the market is concerned that about 90% of nails in New Zealand come from overseas now and the quality really varies. You can go from really cheap crap up to above NZ Standard quality. And from a consumables point of view nails are just nails and they can’t really tell the difference.” Robert Turner at Pryda has similar concerns: “The thing about the type of product we sell is that it’s a little hard to tell ours from our opposition’s and some imported products have definitely copied our and our competitors’ designs.”
“An influx of new products in a busy, bullish market can also create opportunities for inferior products and copies to slip through the cracks” Nigel Cartwright from Toolware Sales and Herb Kuhn from Simpson Strong-Tie have also seen potentially inferior copies of their products entering the marketplace which could lead to confusion. Kuhn continues: “We are beginning to see generic copies coming into the country which could create an issue for us in that people perceive they are getting quality products but aren’t.” Adrian Pearson from Henkel is also concerned that people aren’t taking a close enough look at what they are buying: “I’ve noticed that some American products have been introduced that market themselves as an epoxy which in our range is a premium priced product. But, when you look at the specs, it’s the same as our standard adhesive, so that’s a little bit misleading as it’s a lower spec product positioning itself with higher spec products.” Educating the market on the importance of quality is certainly top of mind with everyone in this channel, but how do you tell one nail from another? Isn’t stainless just stainless? Not really. “NZ regulations request either 304 which is industrial grade stainless or 316 which is marine grade and there is about $10,000 per tonne different in the price, which is huge. And we are seeing some people bringing in stock that they say is 316 when it’s really 304. And that’s why we put our logo as a head mark on every More at
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fasteners & fixings
single nail as a long term commitment from us to put a little faith in the product and help educate the consumer,” says BBI Fasteners’ Darren Liu. Pryda’s Robert Turner is also concerned that, as companies invest in both broadening their ranges and producing more quality products, their efforts may be undercut: “There are a couple of new players that have entered the New Zealand market with silly pricing which drags the whole industry down. “And for the local product, a heavier structural type bracket will be OK because it’s New Zealand steel and will be up to spec. But with some of the guys bringing in overseas product, we haven’t seen any testing and we don’t know the quality of the steel, which is a concern,” says Turner.
Fix it fast, fix it better Simpson Strong-Tie has released a new range of collated decking screws to save time and produce a better finish by eliminating the need for pre-drilling and countersinking when fixing down timber decking. Working in conjunction with Simpson’s proven Quik Drive systems for efficient stand-up driving, the new decking screws feature spade tips for pre-drilling holes and wings to countersink them, reducing the risk of splitting. The range includes the DHPD for fixing hardwood decking to softwood joist screws, and the stainless steel SSDHSD for hardwood joists. Simpson has also brought out a decking clip for the Quik Drive PRO250 series that locates the exact position of the screw for straight lines and perfect gap spacing for an overall better deck finish. www.strongtie.co.nz
DIY MARKET STILL UP FOR CHEAP TRICKS? In some categories, the industry is talking about a “race to the bottom” in terms of pricing where everyone seems to lose. In fasteners & fixings however the major players seem to be taking a healthy step away from that outlook. “Most builders these days want to limit risk by offering products and systems they can trust,” says Winstone Wallboard’s Lorraine Fitzpatrick. “The emphasis now is on doing the job once
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fasteners & fixings
and doing it right and people have really figured out that the opportunity cost gained from purchasing an unproven product is outstripped by a costly callback.” But – and this is a big but – while any tradie worth their salt is going to want quality product, there does seem to be a segment of retail consumers within New Zealand that still want a quick fix.
“Tradespeople we are interfacing with are telling us that stainless is a preference because it takes away the long term concerns of galvanising and has a much longer lifetime” According to Mike O’Brien from Chain & Rigging Supplies, the inevitable poor performance that comes from lower end products is negatively affecting the reputation of quality products manufactured overseas for New Zealand companies. O’Brien has recently returned from a trip to several factories in
True blue MiTek has introduced the BOWMAC Bottom Plate Blue Head Screw Bolt for fixing external or internal timber wall frames onto concrete floor slabs or masonry header block bases to its product line. This screw bolt has been designed to meet recent updates to New Zealand Standards (3604:2011, clause 7.5.12.23) and provides a simple solution for builders to meet these requirements. The distinctive blue coloured head also makes it clear for builders and building officials that the correct fixing has been installed. The BOWMAC Bottom Plate Blue Head Screw Bolt is available in packs of 10. www.mii.com/newzealand
Collated Screws
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• Collated Quick Load Strips – compatible with Quik Drive • Free Driver bits included • Sizes available: 10g x 50mm (2”) 305 Stainless Steel 8g x 50mm (2”) Galvanised 8g x 50mm ( 2”) Yellow Zinc dichromate 6g x 32mm (11⁄4”) Drywall Zinc dichromate
Ph 09 579 8080 | www.toolware.co.nz More at
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TOOLWARE SALES LIMITED
July 2013 | nzhj
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fasteners & fixings
China where he saw first-hand the range of quality available: “In China you can get the low-end – cheap shackles for 50 cents each that won’t last five minutes – right up to high quality stuff that matches European standards which is what we go for and we pay a higher price for it because we get something that will last a lot longer and do the job people want it to do.
Wafer thin For a smoother finish under plasterboard, GIB’s new wafer head drill tip screws are now available. Previously only available in dome head, the new screw has an ultra-low profile head for a flatter finish when connecting beneath plasterboard. This 13mm screw with self-drilling tip is used to fix light gauge metal to light gauge metal (up to 2mm thick). www.gib.co.nz
Off the shelf packs to suit every need. From small things like screws and fish hooks, right up to large heavy items, Aztec’s versatile clamshell packs are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can accommodate just about anything. For more info call 0800 436 768 or visit www.aztec.co.nz
“In this marketplace you never want to be the person whose offering is based purely on price and not on quality and I think people are beginning to realise that you pay for what you get” “The problem is that there is still a mentality among some New Zealand consumers to buy the cheaper products from Asia which have a huge mark-up on them. And of course it doesn’t last very long so they think ‘cheap Chinese crap’,” which of course tars everything from the country of origin with the same brush,
BOTTOM PLATE SCREW BOLT (BPS) ‘Blue head’ system instantly recognised by LBP - Builders and Building Officials Meets NZS 3604:2011 7.5.12.2 proprietary post fixed anchor
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nzhj | July 2013
For more information visit: www.miteknz.co.nz More at
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fasteners & fixings
justified or not.” Mike O’Brien among others has even found this short-sighted mentality extends to larger projects, where an insistence from the supply side to provide quality materials has occasionally meant a lost contract. “We don’t like to turn business away but there have been instances where we’ve told people ‘if you want cheap then you have to go somewhere else,” he says. This sentiment seems to be shared by the majority of O’Brien’s category compatriots who understand the long term payoff that providing quality products can add to a business’s reputation. Glen Dobler from MSL is also sticking to his guns with quality products: “In this marketplace you never want to be the person whose offering is based purely on price and not on quality and I think people are beginning to realise that you pay for what you get. It’s taken a few years but people are starting to realise that if they want really cheap they can have it, but don’t come to us.” Where to from here? Judging by what people in the know have told me, it sounds like there are plenty of building consents in the pipeline. In the case of Christchurch, the pipe might be a little blocked but, when it clears, there is bound to be plenty of demand for quality products. It’s just a matter of having the right amount of the right stuff at the right time.
Chain
&
Galvo alternatives offer heavy metal Pryda’s new range of Heavy Duty Z600 Galvanised Products are a cost-effective alternative to the hot-dipped galvanised steel traditionally required in Zone B and C sheltered environments. Independent testing has shown that Z600 products perform comparably to hot-dipped ones, particularly in salt spray testing, making them a very viable solution for New Zealand conditions. Z600 products include BPA, and HBA, components and Pryda has also recently introduced framing brackets, nail on plate and multigrips to this range in a variety of sizes. www.pryda.co.nz
Rigging Supplies
ltd
When you need to compliment or extend your exis�ng range of hardware and rigging products contact Chain & Rigging Supplies Ltd. Take advantage of our large stock holding and extensive resource base to ensure the sa�sfac�on of all your customer requirements. We source and stock a vast selec�on of Galvanised and Stainless Steel Fi�ngs and ALL Chain from Marine, Hardware and High Tensile Chains along with a wide selec�on of Wire Ropes and Fi�ngs. Visit our product range at www.chainandrigging.co.nz or phone (09) 636 4775 to talk to our knowledgeable staff. PO Box 13312, Onehunga Auckland 1643, New Zealand Phone: 09 636 4775 Email: [email protected]
136 Captain Springs Road, Onehunga Auckland, New Zealand Fax: 09 636 7543 Website: www.chainandrigging.co.nz
Member Of Lifting Equipment Engineers New Zealand Inc.
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