'Every Thread Locally Led' - Union Fasteners is creating made-to-deliver solutions on the back of fresh investment

ALCA Fasteners - whose name was taken from Alan and Carole - rebranded to its current name Union Fasteners in 2018 and was sold to TGM Industrial in 2022.

TGM had previously purchased RCF Bolt & Nut just before Covid hit and, because it worked in a similar field, the parent company decided to buy Union Fasteners and merge the two companies together.

Today, Union Fasteners makes and supplies fasteners into a broad range of industries and hostile environments, working with clients in sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, defence and construction.

The team pride themselves on creating made-to-deliver solutions quickly and effectively while putting customers' needs at the centre of the business. It holds more than 20,000 products in stock and offers rapid, next-day delivery, supporting customers in over 20 different global market sectors.

In recent times, Union Fasteners has made significant investment into its plant in Wednesbury while striving to support the local supply chain.

The company has accelerated its production capabilities with the addition of several state-of-the-art machines including two Star CNC Sliding Headstock Lathes, for a combined £290,000, and a Doosan Lynx for £50,000.The business has also invested a further £250,000 in a Star SK-51 Type A Fixed Head Lathe, totalling more than £600,000 worth of investment in brand new machinery between 2024 and this year.

These major investments highlight Union Fasteners' long-term strategy and commitment to enhancing its in-house manufacturing efficiency, improving accuracy and expanding capacity for bespoke and large-volume orders.

Subcontract planners, platers and independent test houses are all utilised from within a 15-mile radius of the main site in Wednesbury, ensuring both sustainability and local community support and a catch phrase of 'Every Thread Locally Led'.

The business plan for the coming year is to invest further in more machinery to keep production in house alongside our continual addition to stock ranges on the shelf.

Our aim is to work closely with our customers, doing more on site visits enabling us to work with them on repeatable parts and intelligent stocking.

Leading the charge will be Managing Director Adrian Garrett and his senior team comprising Sales Director David Barber, Purchasing and Technical Director Paul Hill and Commercial Director Tara Nicholls.

Adrian is known locally as the "local lad done good" and his story is one of determination, dedication and an enduring passion for both his profession and his community.

His career in the fastener industry began quite by chance.What started as a temporary role "just until something better came along" soon evolved into a lifelong vocation spanning 35 years.

A journey that reflects both his natural aptitude for the trade and his relentless drive to excel. As Managing Director, he brings a wealth of experience and a practical, grounded leadership style that inspires those around him.

His deep understanding of the fastener industry's complexities - built through years on the workshop floor and in sales and senior management - equips him to navigate challenges with confidence and clarity.

Under his guidance, the integrated businesses continue to strengthen their market position, driven by innovation, customer focus and operational excellence.

Never one to shy away from rolling up his sleeves, he remains actively involved in day-to-day operations, ensuring the team's goals are met and standards never slip.

Away from the factory floor, he is a long-serving volunteer in search and rescue and has dedicated countless hours to helping locate and save individuals in distress - often in harsh, demanding and dangerous conditions.

Commercial Director Tara Nicholls joined Union the year it was incorporated and has witnessed its evolution over 25 years.

She is proud to say the company still operates with the same strong work ethic and many of the original processes introduced by founder Carole - a testament to the principle that there is no need to fix what isn't broken.

Tara remains deeply committed to staff development and training, championing initiatives that strengthen employees' skills and support their growth.

This dedication is especially vital now as Union continues to invest in new machinery and advanced manufacturing systems that enable precise shop-floor data capture and best-in-class production planning.

Tara's leadership helps ensure the team is equipped to make the most of these innovations while maintaining the values that define the business.