News in Brief: February 2008

The European Industrial Fasteners Institute has made a complaint to the European Com- mission (EC) about the dumping of Chinese made iron and steel fasteners. An investigation has been launched and if the EC finds in favour of the complaint they will impose import duties on these products for five years. Dr David Moore, BCSA Director of Engineering, said: “This will increase the cost of structural bolts in the UK. At this stage it’s difficult to say what the import duty will be, but figures of between 15% and 18% have been suggested.”

The fastener industry is considering the need for a quality management scheme for the supply of mechanical fasteners. They argue such a scheme would be beneficial to stockist distributors who procure and supply mechanical fasteners, contrac- tors who use them and clients who own the infrastructure in which these products are used.

David Cunningham, owner of corporate financiers and tax consultancy Glencairn, is the new majority shareholder of the Allerton Group. He now owns 84% of the Northallerton-based steelwork contractor.

FICEP and HGG Profiling Equipment have joined forces to supply a new pipe cutting machine to the structural steel industry. Known as the Pro Cutter, the unit can process tubular sec- tions with diameters from 50mm to 610mm, and cut centric/ec- centric slot, chamfers, saddles and multiple saddles. For more information on the product contact FICEP on Tel: 0113 265 3921.

Metsec has appointed Michael C. Fina, the world’s first global employee reward and recognition company, to develop and run its employee long-service programme for 650 members of staff.

DGT Steel and Cladding’s Project Engineer Ryan Thurston has been awarded the Denis Matthews prize in his qualifying exam for Incorporated Engineer status by the Institution of Structural Engineers.