Interview with European Fastener Distributors Association Dr. Volker Lederer

1. What kind of important events has your esteemed association held and what kind of achievements or milestones has the association speaking for the interest of your members reached in 2018?

EFDA held its sixth Triennial European Fastener Distribution Conference in Rotterdam in the Netherlands from 13 to 15 June 2018. One hundred and twenty delegates and international guests attended the conference at the stylish Mainport Hotel on the banks of the River Maas. The event clearly demonstrated the membership growth, increasing relevance and expanding global reach of EFDA. President, Dr Volker Lederer, welcomed delegates from EFDA’s constituent national associations and, especially, honoured guests representing fastener industry associations in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, the United States as well as Europe.

During the EFDA Conference, Dr. Volker Lederer, managing director of Lederer GmbH and board member of the German fastener distribution association FDS was re-elected as EFDA president for a further two-year term. Gian Marco Dalpane, president of the Union of Italian Fastener Distributors (UDIB), was elected as vice-president. 

[For more information of the EFDA conference, please consult our EFDA homepage and read the press releases from 14 and 29 June 2018: http://www.efda-fastenerdistributors.org/de/news]

2. Could you please tell us more about the production and trade statistics of the fastener industry in your region in the past few months? What do you think is the reason to cause such a development?

[I am sorry but we do not dispose of any statistics of the last months. We can provide you some general figures]: The sales volume of the European fastener industry is about €15 billion. This is more than one quarter of the worlds’ total volume. The volume of the European fastener distribution is worth about €10 billion. The major share of €7.8 billion is earned through trade within the European Union. Imports from Asian countries into the EU reached €1.8 billion in 2016. Their share is growing and is likely to increase significantly in the future.

3. What do you think are the main trends in fastener businesses? Do these trends cause any challenges or result in any benefits or influences to the fastener industry in your region?

We see three strong trends towards professionalization, concentration, and a rapidly changing regulation.

Modern warehouse and logistic systems require professionalism. High investments of many European fastener distributors in the automation of the logistic processes are a prerequisite to satisfy the growing requirement of industrial customers concerning flexibility, rapidity and process safety. Digitalization requires professionalism. Data management, machine-to-machine communication, automated processes: all this will change our workplace fundamentally. To handle digitalization is our biggest challenge in the near future. Also, the internationalization of our business requires professionalism. Purchase and sale are becoming increasingly global. Many distributors already established an international network of branches or made worldwide company acquisitions to handle this trend.  

A sustainable trend towards concentration in the global fastener business is obvious.

In the last years we have seen for example: the acquisition of the Fabory Group by Grainger, the takeover of the American Acument Group by the Italian Gruppo Fontana, and the acquisition of the privately owned British stainless steel specialist Apex by the Swedish Bufab Group. The Concentration in the fastener industry will for sure continue and might accelerate in the coming years. It is becoming increasingly important for distributors and manufacturers to supply their customers on a global scale. This implies large investments, learning to deal with different cultures, and the ability to control and develop international plants and branches. In many cases only globally oriented and financially strong companies will be able to go this way and satisfy the growing demands of their customers. Fastener distributors need reliable political and economic conditions to further develop their business.

Finally, things keep changing more and more rapidly. The high frequency of changes in today’s business world as well as regulation and bureaucracy have become a true challenge to our companies. Especially to small and medium-sized enterprises!

Today fastener importers spend significantly more time on coping with the growing number of details of customs law, the standardization of products, or regulation on freight services as they did twenty years ago. They have to deal with complex issues from legal fields they never thought would apply to their industry – such as the stipulations of the European Chemical Regulation ‘REACH’ or the legislation on conflict minerals through the US Dodd-Frank Act. These regulatory acts increase the level of bureaucracy within the supply chain as suppliers or customers require declarations of conformity or other certificates.

This trend towards a rapidly developing regulatory environment makes many smaller businesses feel helpless and left behind in their struggle to meet the legal requirements.

EFDA takes this problem very seriously.

4. The ongoing trade war between USA and China has generated many significant influences to the global industries for a couple of months. Do you think that the trade war will cause any concrete influences to the market and region your association represents (please specify)?

A high degree of flexibility is definitely a strength of our industry. However, what fastener distributors need is a stable political and economic environment. Unfortunately, we live a renaissance of protectionism worldwide. The US government imposed high duties on steel imports and China responds. There is a high risk of ‘outbidding’ between the two states. Who knows if and when other political powers will follow. This results in insecurity, what our businesses do not like. Of course, higher duties may affect the fastener prices.

5. As there is still no sign that the trade war will end soon, what do you think your association can do to help members face the challenges?

EFDA lobbies for free and fair trade. We regularly participate in meetings with the European Commission, the European Parliament and other trade associations. We inform Commission officials on the impact trade defense measures and international instability would have on the fastener distributors and on the European industry they supply.

Thanks to EFDA, fastener distributors have an impact on the decisions taken in Brussels. We regularly inform our members about changes in EU trade defense law or    on certain developments which could lead to antidumping duties or other trade defense measures.

Today our members feel well prepared when the European Commission starts antidumping investigations or similar trade defense measures.

6. With the advent of 2019, does the association have any plans to give or participate in any regional or internationals events?

EFDA will definitely be present with a booth at the Fastener Fair Stuttgart in March 2019. It is one of the leading fairs of our industry worldwide. It’s a good occasion for our members to gather and for EFDA to promote its activities.

7. What is your expectation and prospect toward the fastener industry in 2019?

The European market is highly attractive for fastener producers and distributors. Since 2016 the overall economic situation in Europe has improved and the economic growth is getting stronger. As a consequence, the consumption of fasteners is growing faster than in the years before. I am convinced that this trend will continue during the next year.