Through the first half of 2024, the truck and trailer market continues to show signs of stabilizing. The market recovery from the excess capacity that originated during the pandemic due to an increase in new trucking companies has been slow. While there has been a reduction in the number of operating carriers, the adjustment and recovery have been slow. According to an article by Trailer/Body Builders, “The good news: The pandemic disruption and recovery have largely run their course, and traditional market cycles seem to be falling into place. The bad news: The freight cycle bottomed out in 2023, and the rebound remains on the horizon; that means that the heavy-duty trailer and truck markets can expect a down year in 2024.”

Companies are encouraged to focus on new trends as the market recovers to maintain competitiveness. Chris Bouchard writes, “The trailer industry is undergoing a transformative period, marked by innovative designs, technological advancements, and a heightened focus on sustainability. Encompassing recreational trailers to tractor trailers, several trends are shaping the future of this essential automotive industry sector.”

OSHA requirement 1910.38 lays out a business’s obligations regarding emergency action plans. These plans must be in place to protect employees, including preparing for severe weather.

Every plan needs to be customized to suit an individual business's specific needs and circumstances. However, here is a general overview of what you may need to consider when developing a plan for your business.

One of the first things every business should do is form an emergency response team to be responsible for developing and implementing the company’s emergency action plan (EAP).

Once established, this team should assess the risk of different severe weather events that are likely to apply to your business’s location. Specifically, an evaluation of the level of vulnerability to various types of weather hazards, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and blizzards.

Blind rivets have several advantages over other permanently installed fasteners, such as solid or semi-tubular rivets, clinch fasteners, and traditional nuts and bolts. Because they can be installed from one side of the application, their use is paramount when the back side of an application is limited or non-existent. This also makes them more cost-efficient and versatile than other types of fasteners.

The Basic Elements of Blind Rivets

There are four basic elements to a blind rivet:

1. 1.  Material
2. 2. Diameter
3. 3. Grip Range
4. 4. Head Style
5.  

Blind rivets are available in a wide range of materials, diameters, grip ranges, and head styles, allowing them to be used in a wide array of applications. We will explore these elements further and discuss their significance in maximizing joint integrity.

MATERIAL

While most common blind rivets are available in aluminum, steel, and stainless steel, they are also available in copper, brass, and plastic. These softer rivets have become more common with the increased use of composite materials.

A good rule of thumb when selecting a blind rivet is to use the same material rivet as the substrate into which it is being installed. If you are riveting sheets of steel together, use a steel rivet. The same goes for aluminum and stainless steel. This is important because, depending on the environment, using dissimilar metals may result in galvanic corrosion. In cases where this rule cannot be followed, consider using Eck Complete Corrosion Control, which you can learn more about HERE.

In the complex automotive manufacturing world, achieving a perfect balance between structural integrity, aesthetics, and durability is paramount. One often overlooked yet crucial component in this process is seam sealer. Seam sealers play a vital role in enhancing the overall performance and longevity of vehicles, particularly in the presence of pre- and post-e-coat processes.

Seam sealants are commonly used in the automotive industry to seal joints, seams, and gaps in vehicle bodies to prevent water, dust, and other elements from penetrating and causing corrosion, subsequently enhancing the overall durability of the vehicle.

Their application occurs at various stages of the manufacturing process, including both pre-electrocoat (e-coat) and post-e-coat stages.

Electrocoating, or e-coating, involves immersing the vehicle body in a tank of electrically charged paint particles. The paint adheres to the metal surfaces electrostatically. After applying the e-coat, the vehicle body goes through a bake oven, where the paint is cured. The high temperature in the oven helps the e-coat form a durable, protective layer.

It's essential to use seam sealants that are compatible with the e-coat process and can withstand the high temperatures of the bake oven. Proper surface preparation and application techniques are also crucial to ensure adhesion and effectiveness.

The pre-e-coat phase involves the application of an electrically charged coating to the vehicle's metal surfaces to prevent corrosion. However, even with the protective layer of e-coat, there are vulnerable areas where water and other environmental elements may penetrate. This is where seam sealers come into play.

Pre-e-coat seam sealers have two significant functions. They function as an added barrier against corrosion and contribute to the vehicle's structural integrity.

Happy New Year! We hope you and your family had a joyous and rejuvenating holiday season.  

The new year is a time when many commit to resolutions. We’re no exception at Austin Hardware®. So here are our five resolutions for 2024. 

#1 More New Solutions for You 

Our engineers will continue to work with customers to understand their needs and goals and design or reinvent products to help meet them. Our Austin Guaranteed Engineered Solutions™ portfolio stands as a testament to that commitment. With several new products in the pipeline, we’re excited about what the new year will bring. 

#2 Redesigned Website 

We’re revamping our website to make doing business with us online faster and easier than ever. The project is in an early stage, but we expect to launch later in the year, so stay tuned. 

#3 Getting the Basics Right 

While many companies get caught up in their revenue goals, they lose sight of doing the basics right. To borrow a sports metaphor, the “blocking and tackling” of their business. At Austin, we strive to get those basics right. Things like having the right stock on the shelves. Packing and shipping your orders with care and on time. Fair pricing for challenging economic times. We’ve never lost sight of that and resolve that we never will.  

Silicone, Silane-modified, and Polyurethane are some of the primary polymers that make up different types of sealants and adhesives. Each brings unique properties, making each of them better suited for different applications. 

While 2023 is winding down, at Austin Hardware, we’re working on some exciting new solutions for our customers that we will be presenting at trade shows in early 2024. Here’s a look at where we’ll be after the new year and the innovative products we look forward to sharing with you.   

Bond strength is a comprehensive measure of an adhesive's ability to hold two substrates together. It measures the resistance to separation and is affected by various factors, including the type of adhesive used, the bonding surface preparation, and the bonding process.

To fully understand the bond strength of an adhesive, it's necessary to understand the types of stress imparted on adhesive joints. The most common stresses include shear, peel, tensile, compression, and cleavage.

All these terms relate to the integrity of adhesive joints while measuring different strength aspects of the adhesive's performance. Below is a summary of each.

Shear strength measures an adhesive's resistance to forces parallel to the bonded surfaces. It represents the adhesive's ability to withstand pull directed across the adhesive, forcing the substrates to slide over each other. It is commonly tested by subjecting the bonded materials to a force applied parallel to the adhesive joint. A strong adhesive joint should exhibit both high bond and shear strength.

Take control of your cleaning. Clean Faster. Clean Better. Clean Safer. 

Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc. is proud to announce the launch of our 4TH GEN Industrial Cleaners. We remain committed to securing solutions for your business, and the 4TH GEN line-up features four professional-grade, uniquely formulated cleaners to meet the requirements of business, commercial, and industrial applications. 

Made in the USA, the product line includes a Multi-Surface All-Purpose Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, Industrial Strength Cleaner & Degreaser, and Adhesive Remover in a variety of sizes in Ready-to-Use and Concentrate options with a dilution control dispenser.

4TH GEN cleaners are made with natural or plant-based ingredients to be eco-friendly and safe as well as highly effective. To learn more about the 4TH GEN Industrial Cleaners, visit https://info.austinhardware.com/cleaners.   

Welcome to the 8th Annual Austin Hardware Charity Football Pool UPDATES Page

Check back here every week during the season for a recap of the week's action and to see how many of our players advanced.

Updates are usually posted on Tuesday.