Fastener Report: Hillman
Performance has multiple meanings at The Hillman Group. It describes the ability of the company’s fasteners to solve challenges on the job site. And it describes the ability of the company’s network of facilities and teams to keep the right product flowing to the right customers — at the right time.
In 2021, there’s been significant performance enhancements in both meanings of the word.
“We have a lot of really cool stuff coming out this year and beyond,” said Tim Ferguson, VP of marketing & product management, Hardware Solutions Division. Screws that conserve energy, screws that fit snugly with the bit, screws coated with never-before-used materials — all of these are promoting performance on the job site.
A specific example is the newest addition to the Power Pro line — a concrete screw, to join the family of performance wood screws and fiber cement board screws. The patented, ICC -approved products bring improved pullout values, improved shear values, and improved corrosion resistance to the marketplace.
Along with the Power Pro engineered performance line, Hillman Group’s fastener brands include its namesake Hillman brand, the durable Deck Plus line, and in the Canadian market, Paulin. The brands allow Hillman to “target the right audience with the right solution,” Ferguson said.
Across the board, the solution that everyone seems to be looking for these days is speed on the job site. “The guys on the job, they’re jammed right now,” Ferguson said. “With the labor shortages and pent-up demand for remodeling and new construction—they can’t afford to be slow, and they don’t have time for a call back.”
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According to Hillman’s Tony Kovac, Director, Product Management, Hardware Solutions Division, Hillman fasteners are built to perform, and fast. “With all the patented features we have, our fasteners install faster, and they also conserve battery life on cordless tools,” Kovac said. “Especially when you’re driving with a cordless drill, the name of the game is speed, and that conserves battery life. Those factors combine to speed up a project.”
Another performance indicator: in-stock position for Hillman products at hardware stores, lumberyards and home centers. And the company has taken extraordinary steps to keep the supply flowing.
For the first time, Hillman entered the raw steel business, as opposed to sourcing finished goods. The team also kept the supply chain humming by looking at new areas for steel. Hillman made big bets on inventory during the pandemic. It even bought its own truck chassis to move in and out of ports more quickly, another first.
Pushing limits in small packages
New from the Hillman Group is the Fas-n-Tite Fence Post Screw, which installs wire or panel fencing without a hammer or pre-drilling. Use in place of traditional fencing staples on wire up to 6 gauge. Easy to install and remove with a drill or impact driver, the Fas-n-Tite Fence Post Screw installs 10-times faster and is 3-times stronger than traditional fence staples. Designed for all woods, including pressure-treated lumber. Hammer-free installation saves your fingers, and the screws are coated for corrosion resistance. They are available in three sizes for projects large or small.
Service and innovation are building blocks for Hillman’s culture, the executives say. That’s a crucial one-two punch in a competitive environment that’s changed dramatically over the last 10 or 15 years.
“A screw is not just a screw anymore,” said Kovac. “And that’s why we put our best foot forward from an engineering standpoint.”
Packaging and marketing have evolved along with the product. As fasteners take on more features and benefits, packaging at Hillman has worked hard to keep up, educating the customer and serving as a silent salesperson on the retail floor.
“That package is the hero,” Kovac added. “When you pick it up at the store, you know exactly what it is used for and the benefit for the user. We really do our homework to make sure we accomplish that.”
The performance story is taking place on a huge stage. The executives point to a customer base of 40,000 individual doors to supply, served by a field team of 1,000.
“It’s been an effort in agility all year,” said Ferguson. “Our job is to get the parts to the DIYers and the pros through our customers. It always goes back to getting the right products in the right place with the solution that people are looking for. And whatever we have to do, that’s what we’ll do.”
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