Author Archive: Crescent Fastener Blog

Crescent Manufacturing Fastener Video

Crescent’s Going Even Bigger

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Expanding it's Fastener Manufacturing Facility

Crescent Manufacturing is breaking ground on a 6300 square foot addition to its current facility with a 1000 square foot second story for a total of 7300 square feet. Crescent has well over 100 machines and has out grown its current building. While initially the additional space will be used primarily for wire storage and machine and tooling maintenance, the structural design allows for installation of additional machinery and as well as an additional second story.

 

We are expanding our fastener facility RIGHT now!
The YouTube video slideshow playlist is updated with new photos.
May - We broke ground and worked on the foundation. 7300 square foot addition including: 300 sq ft connector, 6000 sq ft first floor and 1000 sq ft mezzanine with opportunity to add another 5000 sq ft mezzanine.
June - You can begin to see the outline of the addition to our fastener facility with the pouring of the cement slab.
Check back for more updates
Also, Crescent recently acquired 2 die 4 blow machine capability and expanded its product line to include 3/8 (M10) diameter fasteners.
Crescent Manufacturing NEWS

Acquisition of Perfection Screw and Rivet

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Announcement

Crescent Manufacturing is pleased to announce that it recently acquired the major assets including extensive machinery, a broad range of heading and threading tooling, and the customer list and files of Perfection Screw and Rivet.

Perfection Screw and Rivet was founded in 1952 and produced thousands of different cold headed parts for a wide range of hundreds of customers.This acquisition expands Crescent Manufacturing’s tooling and manufacturing capability. Crescent will be able to manufacture smaller diameter parts in longer lengths. Crescent’s product range is from triple ought (000) to 3/8 inch in diameter and up to three inches long. All of this equipment, tooling, and customer files have been relocated from Perfection’s location in Wolcott, Connecticut to Crescent’s newly expanded facility in Burlington, Connecticut.

Crescent Manufacturing fastener articles

Crescent Has Gone Global

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by Ginger Doherty, Domestic & International Sales Manager

Business Focus section in the Distributor's Link Magazine, fall 2015 issue

In 2007 Crescent made the decision to expand our footprint in the international marketplace. We wanted to grow our presence in the “global economy”. We began by attending some trade shows in Europe and added international pages to our website. What we found surprised us a little. Many of Crescent’s domestic customers had distribution offices in other countries. This has served to strengthen our relationships with them. By quoting the satellite offices directly we are able to be more responsive to their inquiries and have a better understanding of the needs of their customers.

To that end we have become very well versed in the environmental regulations of the countries they serve, and strive to work within the regulations. We attended several classes on REACH and regularly review the changes that are made to the regulation to be sure we remain compliant.

It is our commitment to our customer’s needs that gives us the drive to be the best that we can be, and to provide a quality product to the industry both here in the US, and abroad. With faster and more direct contact with our global partners around the world, we are able to provide faster and better service, while still providing the high quality that has made Crescent a trusted partner in the fastener industry.

In an effort to be a more efficient partner we can ship directly to the satellite offices, consolidate shipments, or drop ship to your customers, depending on your needs. Our goal is to continue to grow our business without changing our commitment to trust, quality, and customer service. We believe these values are the foundation of all that we do. Our commitment to our customers will not change and our relationships will only grow and get even stronger as our business continues to grow worldwide.

If you have not already contacted us about your international business, please do, let’s grow together. If you have, THANK YOU.

The Distributor's LINK is the National for Fastener Distributors

expansion complete videos

Crescent Manufacturing Warehouse Expansion Complete

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Expansion Complete

After what seemed a never-ending process, the approximately 6000 sq. ft. warehouse addition is finally complete.

Crescent received our formal certificate of occupancy this past May. The space now houses our raw material inventory and maintenance department, both of which had outgrown their former locations. The height of the addition was designed to accommodate a second floor for a possible expansion of office space down the road. A storage room was put in over maintenance to get things started. With all our raw material inventory now under one roof we have the ability to more quickly access whatever is required to meet our customer’s needs.

The expansion of our maintenance department gives us more elbow room for the routine maintenance, or more extensive refurbishing or rebuilding of any of our machinery. Less downtime of our equipment means fewer delays in meeting delivery requirements. Have a look at the photos of our end results.

 

Watch the entire process

learn more about our capabilities.

Mechanical Fastening, Joining, and Assembly

About a Book

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Originally Posted March 2015

By Jim Speck

With the publication of the second edition of Mechanical Fastening, Joining and Assembly by Taylor & Francis, Mike McGuire asked me a very good question recently -- why? It is a question I had asked Mike many years ago, when he mentioned he was starting a fastener magazine, and would I write an article for it. I have always been an avid reader. Writing followed all of that reading. But to answer the question directly. I look to fastener manufacturing.

Whenever I wanted to learn about tool steels, metal forming or thread forming screw threads, there was usually a book to be found that increased my knowledge I could learn on my own. Technical books have always been a great resource, whenever I had an application engineering problem to solve. After eight formative years in the business, I accepted an application engineering position with Crescent Manufacturing in Burlington, CT. Established in 1960, it had been owned by three partners, who for twenty years poured heart and soul into Crescent to grow the company. Having sold the business and retired, it was under new leadership of Dick Hrinak, with a knowledgeable and skilled sales and manufacturing team. Those were a technically charged and exhilarating times.

I wrote the first edition of Mechanical Fastening during those years. Mike's magazine, American Fastener Journal had taken off. Led by Dick, Crescent had too. Articles I wrote for AFJ were often driven by projects in the works.

Writing is a solitary pursuit, with an interesting lag effect. An article written for the magazine might not appear in print for months, long after the driving force had shifted. Articles were a page or two, and writing them was like talking shop. That first edition of Mechanical Fastening amplified the lag effect. However, even with the Fastener Fundamentals materials I taught in workshops included, some of the material's soul was lost. After publication, I started work on the second edition. Many of the notes and ideas for it were written and then filed away as time and life had other plans.

Contemplating the future a few years ago, I saw this second edition as a job not yet complete. I wanted to give back something for all those authors whose books on tool steels, heat treating , corrosion, and hundreds of other fastener related topics I had found so helpful. I started writing this edition -- with focus. I've written as well as I know how. I hope it reads as if you and I were talking. My wish is to provide a book on fastening that is reader-friendly, and include information to help grow knowledge and skills in handling and solving problems.

Preparing to leave full time employment, I started driving one evening with no idea where to go. Without thinking, I found myself driving up to Burlington and crescent Manufacturing. The new owner, Mr. Steve Wilson is a wonderful steward of the business. A new building was topped out and being finished. On a subsequent visit for this article, I learned that their range is now from #000 - 3/8", with lengths to 3 inches. I want to thank Kim Guerette, whose Dad was one of the original owners, and Steve Wilson for their input on this article. I've been blessed with the friendship of great people and known the satisfaction of good work. It is hoped that this second edition reflects this, provides useful fastener information for a new generation, and honors all who work hard to build good businesses.

 

About the Author

The article "About a Book" was written by Mr. Jim Speck for the "American Fastener Journal". Jim Speck was the Vice President of engineering and Marketing for Crescent Manufacturing's twenty years. Jim is currently completing the second edition of "Mechanical Fastening, Joining and Assembly" by Taylor and Francis.

The Big and Small of Crescent Manufacturing

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Originally Posted September 2014

 

Over the years Crescent has continually tried to offer what our customers have asked us for, which is usually fasteners that they have difficulty finding. So, once again you have asked and we have tried to accommodate your requests.

 

The Big

A few years ago, we purchased two 3/8 headers for the purpose of expanding our fastener offerings include lengths up through 3" and a wider selection of shouldered or grip parts. We had no intent of increasing our size range past the 5/16 diameter parts we have been manufacturing for years.

However, customers starting commenting about the difficulty they were having in sourcing small quantities of 3/8 diameter parts. Well, we had the machines, so why not? Military, Commercial, or Special Engineered. Crescent now will manufacture as few as our standard 1,000 piece minimum up to millions of 3/8 size fasteners. Materials presently available are 302ss, 1018, 4037, 8740 steels and brass but we are certainly willing to quote whatever your need.

 

The Small

Our latest machinery addition at Crescent are two bench headers that are now allowing us to provide even smaller sizes than the 00s we have always offered. This means we can now provide our customers  with parts as small as .020in diameter which covers 000 and M1.2 fasteners as well as rivets. Theses are available in all our standard materials but all inquiries are welcome. Crescent's expansion into micro world of fasteners is something we have looked at fora while.With these machines the door has been opened to many more possibilities, which gives us the opportunity to offer our customers alternative domestic sourcing for micro fasteners.

 

The Possibilities

Crescent has always offered our customers the ability to purchase as few as 1000 pieces of whatever we manufacture. Military parts, Standard parts, Specially Engineered parts, one thousand pieces to millions of pieces manufactured by Crescent in the United states. But.... have you thought of us for prototype development?

We have over 50 years of cold heading, head and shank slotting, and roll thread forming experience at your disposal. we are hands on,  machine savvy, and open to helping you develop the part your customer needs for the job. Our loyalty to our distributors has always assured them that we can work together, with the end user, to get them that part. So now 000 to 3/8, M1.2 to M10, a 1/16 to 3" are all possible with the help form your trusted source -- Crescent Manufacturing.

 

.....And The Possibilities to Expand

6300 square-feet of new building has added to Crescent with room for another 6000 square-foot second level for the future. We have burst at the seams and out popped an addition. Our new building will house our raw material and our expanded Maintenance Department. We not only maintain our machinery but we also have the knowledge, resources and the ability to rebuild it. With maintenance in the new building, we will be able to expand our Quality and Shipping Department. More space means a greater ability to offer scheduling services to our customers and a staging area for customer weekly shipments. Crescent Manufacturing offers you, the customer, other possibilities, just let us know what they should be. Your trusted fastener source for over 50 years.

PDF download of The Big and Small of Crescent Manufacturing

Announcement- Crescent’s Going Bigger

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Originally Posted May 2014

Crescent's Going Bigger

Crescent is now offering 3/8 (M10) size fasteners

After many requests by our customers for a source willing to manufacture small quantities of large fasteners, we have expanded our size range to include 3/8 or M10 diameters in length up to 3".

Minimum quantity 1000pcs AN, MS, NAS, Commercial and Specially Engineered  all available

We have material

We have tooling

PDF Flyer for 3/8 diameter fasteners

We Want Your Orders

Send Us your inquiry TODAY via EMAIL at: sales@crescentmanufacturing.com

OR

FAX: 860-673-5973

Crescent Manufacturing seeking town approvals to expand

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Originally Posted October 2013

BURLINGTON – Crescent Manufacturing in Burlington is looking to expand its business.

Construction on the project “may start in spring, most likely in spring,” said company owner Steve Wilson. The company is in the process of getting estimates for the work and seeking town approvals.

The plan is to remove a1,000-square-foot garage on the property and replace it with an addition that will be primarily used to store wire.

“Basically, we have an offsite warehouse that we use up by Bradley Airport for our wire that we’d like to bring into Burlington because it would decrease costs and help with our logistics,” Wilson said. “So, we do need the space and that’s the key driver for us behind the expansion. Wire is our major raw material and we use the wire to make a variety of metal fasteners.”

The fasteners the company makes are used in aerospace, military, industrial and commercial markets, he said. According to international sales manager Ginger Doherty, their fasteners are in many of the products people use on a daily basis.

“We are a major supplier to the aerospace industry primarily, about 95 percent of our business, and we make screws, so basically every airplane that’s in the air has my product in it,” she said. “Lots of cars, every computer, every cell phone.”

The company was founded in1960 by three men with no background in the industry, according to Kimberly Ellert Guerrette. Her father, Merwin Ellert, who was areal estate broker at the time, purchased the company from Mildred Tuttle with two partners, one a dry cleaner and the other an auto mechanic.

Tuttle sold the small one man operation after her husband’s death. He had run the operation out of a garage on Crescent Lake in Southington.

Ellert made the first sales call for the new company and was told that when they made their screws, the customer would place an order,Guerrette wrote in an article for the company’s 50th anniversary in 2010.

For the first seven years, the company remained in the small garage and Guerrette remembers spending time there as a child.

“I used to go to work on a Saturday and they’d amuse me, I’d go fishing,” she said. “Then [my dad would] sit me down to sort screws.” Ironically, the plan was that none of the founders’ family members would work for the company.

But after college, she was filling in for someone who was away. At the same time, the business was sold. The new owners kept her on and she has been there ever since.

In 2005, Wilson purchased the company from a group of shareholders.He thinks it was meant to be because of an unlikely connection he had with Dick Gates, who was the principal shareholder when he bought the business.

“Dick Gates’ grandfather was Frederick Taylor Gates. He was born 99 years before me in the same town in upstate New York, so this is like providential,” Wilson said. “[Frederick Taylor Gates] was the person that John D. Rockfeller Sr. relied on. He was his closest and most trusted aid.”

Crescent Zip Lines at System Support’s 30th Anniversary

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Originally Posted September 18, 2013

Crescent Manufacturing's President, president Dick Hrinak and Chairman Steve Wilson, attended System Support's 30th anniversary party at Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park, CT on September 18, 2013.

System Support Group, SSG, has done an excellent job providing computer support services for Crescent Manufacturing for many years. Crescent Manufacturing is pleased that we were able to join SSG for their 30th anniversary celebration.

Video of Dick Hrinak, President of Crescent Manufacturing, zip lining

 

Photograph of Steve Wilson, Chairman of Crescent Manufacturing, Beth Wilson, celebrity Kevin Cottle (From Hell's Kitchen) and Caroline Wilson at System Support Group's 30th Anniversary.