Knowing exactly where each box of screws is located

All mounting materials in the right place at the right time

Dutch company Aramfix supplies fasteners for a wide variety of disciplines worldwide, including for logistics centers and data centers. The company does this without its own stock or a huge fleet of vehicles. However, with the help of smart digital technology and extensive technical knowledge, Aramfix knows exactly which materials can be in which place at which price

An international contractor commissioned by Microsoft to build a data center in the head of North Holland was looking for special safety screws for the data racks in the building. There are several distributors in Europe that can supply this special screw from a particular manufacturer. Nevertheless, the contractor ordered the screws from Aramfix, a Dutch supplier without its own factory or stock. Martijn Wirken, owner and director of Aramfix explains why. "The manufacturer of the safety screws told the contractor, 'Contact Aramfix.' They have their international logistics supply chain in order and can deliver at very competitive prices anywhere in the world. That will save you a lot in overhead costs.' We then made an offer for that one box of screws. Which eventually led to us being allowed to supply all the fasteners for the entire data center. And I now get weekly requests for new screws and bolts."   

Bolts and nuts

The appealing example precisely outlines the strength of Aramfix, which has built a worldwide distribution network from the Netherlands for more than 400 thousand different types of fasteners. "Every day several couriers drive crisscross Europe for us to pick up and deliver bolts and nuts everywhere." 

Jokingly, Wirken always says he only sells nuts and bolts. "That's really all it is. But in the background it is an extremely complex technological matter in which those screws and bolts have to be in the right place at the right time every time. Anywhere in the world and at a competitive price. This makes Aramfix actually more of a technology company than a company that sells screws. Because we control both volumes and stocks and offer a unique range of different materials in many different disciplines," says Wirken. 

Aramfix uses several worldwide distribution channels, allowing the company to deliver the right fasteners for every project on time and at the most economical price. 

Again, take Microsoft's data center. "That project consists of all kinds of different disciplines," Wirken explains. "And so they also need all kinds of different fasteners: from steel construction bolts to roofing and door screws, as well as enormously heavy bolts. In total, those fasteners come from as many as 19 different manufacturers. We manage to relieve the general contractor on that project very quickly and meet all their needs. Where they only have to deal with one point of contact instead of 19 different parties."   

"So we don't pick that one box of screws off a rack in a warehouse ourselves," Wirken explains. We do know exactly which box is where, what it costs and what we have to do to get it to the right customer on time. And we give the right advice on specific applications, make strength calculations, check construction drawings and give material construction and corrosion advice."

Wirken gives another example. "This is a slide nut in a profile with a spring attached. A customer needs 5,000 of these. They cost 3 euros each at wholesale. However, I know that they cost only 15 cents in Asia and that a stock of these is stored in Poland. We take all the loose links out of the supply chain and bring our customers directly to the source."

Material Knowledge

What sets Aramfix apart from other fastener distributors is the extensive materials knowledge of Wirken and his colleagues. "I have 18 years of experience by now. In the world of nuts and bolts, there are many different brands that ultimately have the same manufacturer behind them. Especially in the field of material knowledge and surface treatment, I have a lot of expertise." This regularly leads Wirken to advise his clients at an early stage. "Many applications - take for example the fastening of large wind turbines at sea - are bound by international laws and regulations and strict certification. Sometimes a particular brand of screws is prescribed, but I know that another brand meets exactly the same strict requirements, but is many times cheaper. So we can offer alternatives that allow a client to increase their margin."