Every two years, Koln, Germany hosts the International Hardware Fair. There are almost 3000 exhibitors from the various sectors of the hardware industry and many of Europe’s leading hand tool manufacturers exhibit at this important trade show in order to expose their new and existing products to the many trade visitors.

Considering Anglo American’s product range consists of superior quality Hand Tools from Europe, this is an ideal time to re-connect with existing factory partners, discuss ways of expanding a wider product range into the USA and explore new factory partners that may be complementary to the existing product range.

Anglo American will consist of 3 visitors, including the President, Stephen Tuck, who has attended the show at least a dozen times. “Certainly, it is valuable to meet with existing suppliers and discuss mutually strategic initiatives. However, one must walk the show with their eyes and ears open in order to capitalize on new opportunities”. In addition, Greg Genevro, VP Sales, who attended his first Koln Fair 2 years ago, is anxious about discussing opportunities with new products and ways to increase market share in the USA for each of the factory’s products. Also attending the Fair will be Anglo American’s IT/Marketing Manager, Kyle Williams. Whereas Koln is a far cry from his roots in Nanticoke, PA, he is eagerly looking forward to discussing social media possibilities, expansion of video and YouTube in order to communicate the features and benefits of the hand tools on Anglo American’s website.

There will also be time planned for factory tours at the world famous Knipex factory in Wuppertal, as well as the Kukko factory in Remscheid. Whereas Anglo American has sold Knipex for 35 years, Kukko is a new supplier, yet is an experienced manufacturer in Germany designing and making pullers for industrial and automotive applications.

Stay tuned for our summary of our exciting trip to Germany.

Koln International Hardware Fair

March 4 - 7, 2012
Cologne, Germany

Westec Show

March 27 - 29
Los Angeles, CA

ISA Show - Booth 526

April 21 - 24
San Antonio, TX

National Hardware Show

April 1 - 3
Las Vegas, NV

 

 

SAVANNAH, GA. — Exhibiting at the 2011 AIWD show in beautiful Savannah, Georgia, sparked the opportunity to get our foot in the door of the welding industry. Not only did it give us the chance to show off our large variety of high quality welding tools, but gave us the opportunity to meet and chat with the AIWD members.

The AIWD show consisted of about 125 members, whom all equally expressed their passion for welding and the welding industry. This allowed us to really get in the minds of the people representing the welding industry, and further educate ourselves on the tools welders prefer to use. Not to mention the tools they wish they had and are in search of. Thankfully, we were showcasing many of the unique, high quality, problem solving tools they were looking for.

Some of the most popular tool lines we showcased at AIWD included Urko and Grip-On Clamps, Knipex Pliers, and the NES thread repair tools.

The hydraulic clamp by Urko captured the interest of many members, because of the powerful 130 lbs of pressure that is applied with each squeeze of the hydraulic pump, while the Grip-On MicroGrip2000 clamp intrigued others with its small size and incredible strength.

Another eye-catching product was the Thread Repair Tools by NES. A lot of members were shocked when they watched the demonstration of these hand tools, and their ability to solve such a difficult task with such ease. Although the NES thread repair really isn’t a welding tool, members were still excited about the product.

The AIWD show was a great learning experience and an incredible opportunity to meet the members and other vendors of the AIWD group.

AAPEX - Booth 1146

November 1st – Nov 3rd
Sands Expo Center
Las Vegas, NV

AIWD - Booth 114

November 2nd - 6th
Westin Savannah Harbor Resort and Spa
Savannah, GA

STAFDA - Booth 1157

November 13th – Nov 15th
Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX

The NES thread restoring products received an 'Editor’s Choice Award' from “Popular Mechanics" at the 2010 AAPEX Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The award was given for “outstanding achievement in new product design and innovation”. The show featured over 1000 vendors displaying their products related to the automotive aftermarkets.

This is the second such award Anglo American Tools received from Popular Mechanics for a particular product line, the first being for the Knipex Raptor plier at the “National Hardware Show” 6 years ago. In addition, they have received “Best New Product” at the 2009 National Hardware Show for the “Red Toolbox line”.

“We are pleased that NES is getting the attention they deserve.” said Anglo American Tools President Stephen Tuck. “It is a great rethreading tool program that is universal and offers problem solving features and time saving benefits. It does to taps and dies, what the ‘iPod’ did to CD’s”.

The NES hand tools repair both external and internal stripped pipe threads and eliminate the need for an extensive collection of taps and dies. There is no need to determine bolt size, depth, pitch, metric, standard, left hand or right hand. NES thread repair products self-adjust to left-handed, right-handed, standard, and metric bolts of any diameter, depth, and pitch. In addition, they can repair threads that are at the beginning of a nut or bolt, whereas taps and dies are not able to perform that function.

NES internal and external tools cover a wide range of bolt sizes and are perfect for anyone that works with stripped threads. Internal, external and combination sets are designed for professionals in industries including: industrial, automotive, welding, construction, electrical, HVAC, agriculture, and marine.