On first thoughts this is seen to be a adverse, but we see it additional as a positive. It’s therefore important for all of us to not get complacent and to remind customers what we stand for – smoother and easier paying for. With customer requirements and demands escalating, how are fastener distributors changing? Deputy Editor Claire Aldridge frequented Achilles Seibert GmbH, and spoke to Managing Director Timo Scholle about how precisely the role of the fastener distributor is changing to fulfil customers’ needs. Sat in Achilles head workplace in Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany – approximately 10km north involving Hamburg – Timo cuts straight concise: “Simply importing isn’t our business anymore – our business is changing.. These customers are starting to understand the challenges we also face for example delivery times and quality complications, so they are still finding its way back to us to buy the smaller quantities. You can go into any fastener company and find our boxes within their warehouse. Ten or fifteen in years past we were just importing but now anyone is able to do it, it’s not difficult. ” As well as its diverse range of socket and hexagon screws and bolts, typical screws, and special requirement screws – short, long, thick or thin – Achilles now offers additional services and solutions pertaining to flexible C-parts management – framework contracts, own brand sales and also consignation storage. As we sell a done product, we cannot have innovation in this products so we must innovate in various ways with Gypsum Board Screws the added value you can bring and services we present. ” “We are proud that we have been operating in the marketplace for 60 years. We’re seeing a trend connected with customers cutting the corner and trying to import directly