Global Fastener News

FASTENERS ON THE INTERNET: Partini, Textron, Fastenal

John Wolz

Del Santo Launches Partini B2B Web Site
A new business-to-business web site to connect thousands of fastener distributors with global sources of supply was launched by www.partini.com
Former Distribution Dynamics CEO Larry Del Santo founded Partini.com as an Internet connection between parts distributors and suppliers. Partini.com includes production-line parts known as C-class commodities, such as screws, nuts, bolts, washers, springs and cable ties.
�After building and managing a national bricks-and-mortar C-class parts distribution business, I am excited about the chance to revolutionize the way our industry conducts business by using the Internet,� Del Santo said.
The Partini.com goal is to make distributors more efficient while reducing inventory.
WingSpring, a Palo Alto, CA-based �springboard� for B2B Internet ventures, is the principal source of funding behind Partini.com
Partini.com is located at the WingSpring Incubator and Technology Center in Pleasanton, CA. E-mail: ldelsanto@partini.com
Textron Names E-Commerce Vice President
Textron Inc. promoted Kenneth Bohlen to executive vice president in charge of e-commerce and Ed Arditte vice president of e-procurement..
Bohlen joined Textron from AlliedSignal (now Honeywell) last November as senior vice president and chief information officer.
With the promotion Bohlen becomes the seventh member of Textron�s management committee.
His title also changed from �chief information officer� to �chief innovation officer.�
�We�ve changed the �I� in Ken�s CIO title to �innovation� to underscore the importance of changing our perception of e-business � from one that focuses on technology to one that focuses on fundamentally redefining our business model,� Textron CEO Lewis Campbell explained.
Earlier this year Textron announced a $100 million investment in Safeguard Scientifics, an Internet holding and operating company with 250 web-related companies.
Bohlen directed an e-business council consisting of 30 Textron executives who spent five weeks off-site to identify and develop e-business opportunities.
Providence, RI-based Textron is an $11.6 billion global multi-industry company in aircraft, automotive, industrial and finance businesses. Textron has 68,000 employees and manufacturing facilities in 30 countries.
Textron Fastening Systems, which recently moved its headquarters to Troy, MI, has $2.2 billion in annual revenue and 16,000 employees.
Textron Fastening Introduces Construction Web Site
Textron Fastening Systems announced the official launch of www.fastenersforconstruction.com
The site is designed for architects, builders, contractors, engineers and distributors involved in specification of fasteners for general, residential or metal building construction.
Textron produces Elco and Fabco construction fastener brands.
Www.fastenersforconstruction.com provides technical information on more than 20 construction products, including masonry fasteners, threaded rod anchoring systems and self-drilling fasteners.
Doug Hughes, vice president of sales & marketing for Textron Fastening�s commercial solutions, said the web site gives �the construction industry a fast and effective method to get essential technical data for the application of Elco and Fabco brand fasteners. In addition, this site gives us the opportunity to quickly move forward with other e-business initiatives for the construction industry.�
�Little Distributor� Fastenal Wins Equalfooting Contract
Fastenal Company won a distribution agreement with www.equalfooting.com to integrate its products into the web site�s online product catalogue.
Equalfooting.com was designed for small business owners to carry out their purchasing.
Fastenal is far from a small business seller. As of February 1, 2000, Fastenal had 5,582 employees and 812 stores in 48 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Fastenal also sells from its www.fastenal.com site.
Dulles, VA-based equalfooting.com, founded last May, describes itself as an �online marketplace enabling small businesses in the industrial, manufacturing and construction sectors to efficiently purchase MRO supplies and equipment. The site provides for comparison buying from multiple national suppliers and/or the flexibility of soliciting bids from a larger network of smaller suppliers who can bid on customer requests.�