Retaining rings can be an alternative to traditional threaded fasteners for holding components in a housing or on a shaft. They’re installed inside a housing or bore, or into a groove on a shaft to create a shoulder which retains an assembly. They eliminate threading, tapping, drilling and other machining operations associated with screws, nuts, bolts, etc. Because the grooves required for using retaining rings can be machined with other processes, they can help reduce production costs. Retaining rings are more compact than traditional fasteners but no less functional. They can also impact the cost of raw materials and labor, as well as reduce the weight of an end product.

There are two primary types and four main styles of retaining rings.

Companies are looking for ways to safely allow employees to return to the workplace as businesses reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the primary modes of transmission of COVID-19 is via airborne droplets.

A simple solution to mitigate the transmission of these droplets is to place a physical barrier between employees working in an office environment. Placing a partition at individual workstations and other key areas throughout the business can help to insulate workers from the potentially virus-carrying particulates emitted by others.  

What is Time Management?

Your most precious and limited resource is time. Learning effective time management is a valuable skill in and out of the workplace. Time management is essentially the way that you manage your time in business, life, and other aspects of your day today. If you’re busy or have a job where you fulfill a lot of different roles, time management might even be a more significant part of your life than you know it. We are all busy, but finding ways to improve your time management is important for your business and well-being. There are lots of reasons to improve your time management skills and methods that your business will significantly benefit from doing so.

Top Reasons for Better Time Management

• Get more done in less time.
• Structure your tasks with a hierarchy.
• Make your workflow more efficient.
• Increase your and your team’s workflow.
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As you can see, there are many great reasons to learn and master better time management skills, even more than the ones listed above. There are only so many hours in the day, and getting the most out of them will drastically improve all areas of your life. By wasting time or not using time efficiently, it takes longer to complete tasks.

Over time, this can create pain points for your entire business. To learn proper time management, you need to learn to prioritize tasks, responsibilities, and performance as it relates to how much time is required for each job. Mastering time management in your business will help you improve your bottom line and increase your company’s efficiency.

Simplify & Strategize

Once you master time management skills, you can begin to simplify your current processes and therefore strategize ways to improve other aspects of your business. Once you start to strategize ways to improve your business, you can start to create opportunities.

Business is all about new opportunities, and when you have mastered your time well, you can begin to grow other areas of your business. Face it, we all want growth in our business, and by mastering simple skills like time management, you can start to shift focus on long term growth strategies and away from micromanaging daily tasks.

Ready to learn more? Click to download the Austin Hardware® Time Management Guide Here.

Washers are another critical member of the wide world of fasteners. They’re certainly not sexy and can be overlooked at times. However, they play a crucial role in the function and longevity of the majority of products using mechanical fasteners. Like most fasteners, there are many different types and sub-types, with the application ultimately driving the appropriate selection.

According to Engineering360, washers are “… disks of metal or non-metallic material placed beneath a nut, an axle bearing, or a joint, to relieve friction, prevent leakage, isolate, prevent loosening, or distribute pressure.” 

Most people are likely familiar with the typical “Type A plain washer,” otherwise known as a flat washer. These are considered general-purpose washers and are used in myriad applications.  

SAE washers are similar to Type A plain washers but are thinner and approved by the Society of Automotive Engineers for use with fine thread bolts and nuts. Other major categories of washers include Spring or Disc washers (of which there are many styles), Lock washers, Torque washers, and more. We’ll break down the different types of washers and their applications in more detail in future posts. Today’s entry will focus on the common attributes of each washer.  

While very important, the basics of common washer attributes break down quite simply into size, thickness, and material. 

EMT’s and ambulance personnel are under tremendous pressure. They have to concentrate and react quickly to care for their patients, and they have to do it while trying to stay on their feet in a fast-moving vehicle.

A critical moment for EMT’s is when they need to change out IV bags. Most IV hangers used in ambulances today require the EMT to use two hands to thread the bag onto the hanger. The process of identifying the hanger then trying to quickly thread the bag onto a stiff clasp can rob them of critical seconds. Moreover, with no extra hand available to provide balance, they’re exposed to injuring themselves, coworkers, or even the patient in the event of a quick turn or sudden stop.

At Austin Hardware®, we are your source for research and development, design, manufacturing, and more. We have extensive custom engineering capabilities and pride ourselves on providing some of the best engineering solutions across the industry.

Since 1960, we've worked hard to develop quality engineered solutions for the many different industries we serve. What started as a small, family-owned business has grown into the business you see today. We currently have 9 locations strategically located throughout the country to fully serve all regions of the U.S. and Canada.

Today, Austin Hardware® is the go-to specialty product and hardware supplier of choice for businesses in dozens of industries. Our Engineering team will work with your business to understand your needs and help identify your goals. 

Austin Guaranteed Engineering Solutions™

Why should you work with our team? The answer is simple: we have the knowledge, experience, and track record to get the job done right. Our engineering and design team is with you every step of the way, from concept to finished product.

We can help improve product design, functionality, and user experience while assisting with costs, sourcing, and manufacturing time. Combined, our team has over 100 years of experience and more than 25 patents. We are also ISO 9001:2015 certified for hardware and fastener products.

Prototyping Capabilities

Our engineering team is capable of your entire product design process, including the crucial step of prototyping. From research and development all the way to product launch and everything in between, we are your source. Designing your prototype is an essential part of product development.

Our team understands the need to assist with this stage of design. If your business is sourcing a custom-engineered product, you know that the prototype stage is critical to test functionality and meet your specific design needs. Our team carefully evaluates your concept and can choose from a variety of prototyping capabilities to help you design a low-cost and effective prototype.

Industrial Pins are an essential type of fastener with many uses. They are designed to resist shear and torsional forces. 

Engineering360 defines industrial pins as “… varieties of fastening hardware meant to couple, align, mount, assemble or penetrate two workpieces. The operation of the pin depends on design and employment…” 

Roll-formed metal is commonly used in the manufacture of industrial pins for purposes of strength, precision, and functionality. The types of metal used run the gamut- hardened and unhardened steel, stainless steel, brass, Monel®, aluminum, and titanium are all fashioned into industrial pins. Plastic, as well as wood, typically used in furniture because they can be sanded, stained, and painted for decorative purposes, are also common materials used in the production of fastening pins. 

When it comes to work truck safety, staying safe on the road is just as important as keeping your equipment safe, secure, and up to date. In addition to keeping your truck safe, it is essential always to follow DOT guidelines and ensure that your team knows local and state safety regulations.

Keeping your work truck means knowing when to stay safe and finding the right products that assist with your safety and peace of mind. At Austin Hardware®, we know trucks, and we know a thing or two about providing quality parts and products for your work truck.

If you’re in the construction or woodworking business, you’re using nails every day. Homeowners often find themselves looking for just the right nail for their DIY projects. Even the core customers of Austin Hardware®, which are in the transportation and metal fabrication businesses, industries in which nails are not a predominant fastener, find the occasional need for nails for different projects such as constructing shipping containers for their products. 

Clinch Fasteners

Clinch or self-clinching fasteners are typically used for metal assemblies that may be too thin for tapping or in applications where it’s not feasible to employ stamped or extruded threads.

Self-clinching fasteners are found in household appliances, electronics, medical equipment, telecom equipment, automotive and transportation markets, and many other industrial applications.