National Transportation Safety Board investigators said four bolts that hold the door plug in place on the Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing at the time of the January 5 blowout on Alaska Airlines flight 1282.
HEADLINES
![FDI Rises after Soft December](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-08-at-12.28.53 PM-505x306_c.png)
“While there continues to be a healthy mix of both bulls and bears, on balance we felt commentary skewed slightly more optimistic this month.”
![FINdex Rises 44% in 2023 as Markets Stabilize](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/industrial-fasteners-p1smisvq80gszr4n9lxgsepbmiv6jb1fgvuuerynsw-505x306_c.jpg)
The FIN Fastener Stock Index roared back in 2023, more than doubling gains by related industrial stocks in a rocky economic year that produced a “recovery” in U.S. industrial fastener demand.
![FAA: More Boeing Oversight on 737 Max 9](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3610-505x306_c.jpg)
In addition to increased oversight of Boeing and auditing production of the 737 Max 9 jetliner, the Federal Aviation Administration may use an independent third party to oversee Boeing’s inspections and its quality system.
![PennEngineering Acquires Sherex](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-08-at-9.57.19 AM-505x306_c.png)
Sherex president Adam Pratt will assume the role of president of Sherex and ATLAS, and Alex Hsiao will continue as GM of Sherex Taiwan.
![Global Fasteners Market Growth Estimate Rises](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/industrial-fasteners-3-505x306_c.jpg)
The upturn remains “fragile” from ongoing uncertainty around the war in Ukraine, the sluggish decline in global headline inflation, and continued food and fuel inflation in developing countries, a new report found.
![NFDA Panel: AI Attracts Young Employees](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/images-1-505x306_c.jpg)
Adopting Artificial Intelligence can be important in hiring younger employees who want a “forward thinking company,” panelist Lonni Kieffer of SmartCert explained.
![Michigan Subsidizes EV Bolt Factory](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/screenshot-2023-12-12-155329-original-505x306_c.jpg)
State officials approved more than $5 million in incentives for a 365,000 sq ft manufacturing facility owned by Turkey-based Norm Fasteners.
![FDI Signals Fastener Market ‘Recovery’](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-12-at-10.08.47 AM-1-505x306_c.png)
Results “indicative of a true stabilization and recovery in fastener markets for the first time in quite a while,” according to R.W. Baird analyst David Manthey.
![HPF Acquired By Italian Firm](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_0014-1-scaled-e1699376460507-1320x742-1-505x306_c.jpg)
Deal to acquire Houston Precision Fasteners would allow Bologna-based Poggipolini to accelerate growth in aerospace and defense industries.
![Fastenal Fastener Sales Resume Decline](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/images-505x306_c.jpg)
Except for a brief increase in September, fastener sales at Fastenal Co. have declined five of the last six months.
![FDI Rebounds Amid Steadier Market Trends](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-08-at-9.21.00 AM-505x306_c.png)
Soft economic landing tone emerges: “I am beginning to be a bit more confident that the long-promised recession isn't coming,” a respondent noted.
![FINdex Remains Strong Despite Q3 Decline](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/mecalux-505x306_c.jpg)
While the FIN Fastener Stock Index lost 0.9% of its value in the third quarter, gains remain solid for the first nine months of 2023.
The high court turned away PrimeSource Building Products' appeal of a lower court's decision to uphold a 25% tariff on fasteners and other steel derivatives.
![Fastener Price Gains To Slow Through 2027](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-9.23.41-AM-505x306_c.png)
After years of volatile raw material prices, material and energy costs have stabilized, making price increases smaller than during the pandemic.
![Optimas Opening Fastener Plant in Mexico](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-10-at-8.55.17-AM-505x306_c.png)
Cold form fastener facility in Monterrey will continue Optimas Solutions' “near-shoring” efforts to minimize supply chain risk.
![EVs Central to Auto Strike](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/63fd7e20e6687.image_-505x306_c.jpg)
Automotive executives and analysts characterize the evolution to EVs as the biggest technological transformation since Henry Ford introduced his moving assembly line in 1913.
The International Fastener Expo Hall of Fame announced six fastener professionals will be inducted on October 10 during the annual trade show in Las Vegas.
![MWFA Panel on AI: Watch What Partners Do](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_2820-505x306_c.jpeg)
Digital marketing consultant tells Mid-West Fastener Association: “Your competitors are jumping at artificial intelligence.”
![FDI: U.S. Fastener Demand Rebounding](https://www.globalfastenernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-12-at-8.27.02-AM-505x306_c.png)
Three of the four Fastener Distributor Index indicators (sales, employment and supplier delivers) improved, while customer inventories declined.