Fastener specialists Bolt and Engineering Distributors (B.E.D.) Group’s Cape Town branch is making a significant impact on major projects across the Western Cape, proving that even the smallest components can play a critical role.

The branch supplies over 25-million fasteners a year to a diverse range of industry sectors, including construction, agriculture and maritime.

B.E.D. operations manager Juan van Zyl highlights that fasteners –  which have been the cornerstone of the company since B.E.D.'s inception – still constitute a major portion of B.E.D. Cape Town’s sales, alongside welding equipment and services.

Diversity sets B.E.D. apart, with its fasteners reaching destinations as varied as Robben Island, the Department of Correctional Services, and major power generation facilities like State-owned power utility Eskom’s Koeberg nuclear plant and its Worcester solar plant.

“Of our nine branches nationwide, Cape Town has one of the most diverse client bases, including private-sector manufacturers, mines and shopping malls, and public-sector entities such as State-owned Transnet, rail operators, and even the navy and defence force,” Van Zyl explains.

The construction sector remains the largest fastener market in the Western Cape, followed by manufacturing sectors such as food processing plants, warehouses, and packing facilities.

Small Component, Big Impact

Van Zyl points out that large projects can come to a halt if a single fastener is missing.

To prevent such issues, B.E.D. Cape Town prioritises meticulous planning to ensure adequate stock.

"We always go back to basics, [in line with our] ethos and tagline - ‘it’s our business to know your business’,” he says adding that B.E.D. understands its clients’ needs and pain points, “anticipating upcoming projects to help clients plan ahead”.

Ensuring product traceability is another critical consideration to combat counterfeiting and poor quality.

"Clients need to know they are getting a genuine fastener product, which sets their minds at rest," he maintains.

However, for Van Zyl and his team, supplying fasteners involves more than just price and availability.

"Providing a sought-after solution is crucial. Solving a tough challenge for a client not only keeps them happy, but secures their ongoing loyalty and business," he notes.

B.E.D. stocks a range of fast-moving fasteners, even supplying obsolete and hard-to-find fasteners.

By collaborating with original equipment manufacturer suppliers, they can also source bespoke fasteners tailored to specific client requirements.

Fastening Knowledge

B.E.D. Group CEO Mike Giltrow highlights B.E.D.’s principle of ‘the perfect fit, fast’ – made possible because the company invests time in getting to know its clients, and in proactively sharing product knowledge with them through product demonstrations, on-site training, and technical consultations.

Speaking to B.E.D.’s aim to proactively engage and educate clients about the important role that fasteners play across industry, Giltrow implores the market to understand that while bolts and nuts may often be perceived as only part of the basics in a project, they are invaluable and should receive “serious attention”.

“Clients should therefore attend to the procurement of fasteners timeously, to ensure that these products are correctly specified, ordered and produced in the appropriate quality material – and according to the required manufacturing processes – to ensure a smooth, yet precise delivery process and ultimately satisfactory performance,” Giltrow says.

Fasteners are available in various specifications, so important factors to consider for best performance include the types and configurations, such as dimensions, material, size, thread specifications, strength, clamping force, diameter, finishes, securing and tightening methods, and torque value, among others.

Further, a good understanding of all these elements is essential. Consequently, no order is simply taken at face value, but is supported by a “dedicated and genuine interest” in the fastener application and end-use, taking potential wear conditions, such as corrosion, rust, water moisture and dust ingress into account.

Client Engagement

B.E.D. employs a strategic team of ‘fastener champions’ comprising specialist technicians and sales personnel who ensure the correct bolt is used in the appropriate application.

It also offers protective insulation, coatings and the recommendation of suitable tightening methods.

Supporting local manufacturers is another differentiator for B.E.D..

“South Africa’s fastener industry can produce high-quality fasteners as effectively as its international counterparts, offering faster supply and competitive pricing,” Giltrow avers.

B.E.D. exemplifies the importance of meticulous attention to detail, comprehensive industry knowledge, and strong client relationships in the supply of fasteners and related products.

With a strategic focus on both local and international markets, the company continues to build on its legacy, proving that even the smallest components can have a significant impact on large-scale projects.