Global Fastener News

Many U.S. fastener manufacturers are struggling under the burden of substantial tariffs on steel and aluminum. What was once a 10 cent screw has now increased to 17 cents, according to the Wall Street Journal, an increase that when multiplied by products that are fastened by dozens, hundreds or even thousands of screws, can be substantial.

But not everyone in the screw making business is suffering from the uncertainty associated with Trump’s tariffs, according to the Stamford Advocate.

Specialty fastener producer Waterbury Swiss Automatics hasn’t seen a fall off in orders from customers, although owner Neil Tremaglio Jr. acknowledged it may still be too soon to judge the long-term impacts.

Diversification of industries that Waterbury Swiss serves have a role in that, according to Tremaglio. Customers include medical equipment, electronics and lock making sectors.

“It may be different for other businesses,” Tremaglio said. “But our business hasn’t been hurt at all; if one market is down, the others are up. The ebbs and flows balance each other out.”

Founded in 1949, Waterbury Swiss employs 20 people at a 12,500 sq ft factory in Waterbury, CT.

The metal fastening business is split into two predominant groups: Custom-made precision fastening products for a specific project or customer; and generic fasteners designed for the broader market. The company’s specialty is precision screws, some of which have a diameter 40 times smaller than a human hair.

The company’s business structure has protected it from the perfect storm that Trump’s tariffs. All customers are either headquartered here in the U.S. or are located in territories like Puerto Rico. And companies that supply the metals that Waterbury Swiss turns into screws and fasteners are also domestically-based.

“The volume of metals we use doesn’t warrant going directly to the mills for our supply,” explained GM Jeff Astle. “So we buy from (domestic) distributors. We don’t buy direct.”